Crimson will keep Epstein's green

Harvard has decided it'll hold onto the fat check it received from Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier who was charged over the summer with soliciting sex from prostitutes. While some others, notably New York gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, have returned his gifts, the World's Greatest University has concluded that returning Epstein's $6.5 million donation would do more harm than good. "Mr. Epstein's gift is funding important research using mathematics to study areas such as evolutionary theory, viruses, and cancers," a Harvard spokesman told us yesterday. "Harvard has no plans to return the gift." (Epstein has pledged up to $30 million to support the research being done by Harvard mathematical biologist Martin Nowak.) Epstein was charged with solicitation in July after several teenage girls told the Palm Beach police they'd given the silver-haired money manager massages in exchange for cash. Epstein, who's being defended by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, has pled not guilty. In 1979, Harvard prez Derek Bok explained his rationale for accepting controversial gifts this way: "I would be inclined to accept such donations on the ground that the tangible benefits of using the money . . . should overcome the more abstract, symbolic considerations that might lead us to turn down such benefactions."

Kyra’s game for role opposite Rock

It'll be Kyra Sedgwick not Bebe Neuwirth playing opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson when Disney finally begins shooting "The Game Plan" later this month. "The Rock" plays a fictitious NFL quarterback in the big-budget football flick, and Sedgwick is his hard-nosed agent. (The movie was supposed to shoot in Boston over the summer, but had to be postponed when "The Rock" ruptured his Achilles tendon preparing for the role.) Neuwirth, who is returning to Broadway in the musical "Chicago," dropped out because of scheduling conflicts, according to published reports. Previously announced cast members, including Madison Pettis, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut, Gordon Clapp, and Boston funnyman Lenny Clarke, all are still expected to appear in the film, which is being directed by Andy Fickman. Judging from a Q&A in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, it would appear "The Rock" can't wait to return to the area. Asked what he'd eaten to put on 30 pounds, the onetime pro wrestler responds: "Large cheese pizza and doughnuts. The pizza needs to be from Avellino's near Boston." . . . In other movie news, Acton's own Steve Carell will provide the voice for the mayor of Who ville in the animated version of "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who" starring Jim Carrey as Horton.

Local author misses shortlist

The shortlist for Britain's prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction has been announced, and Somerville's Claire Messud is not on it. Messud's novel "The Emperor's Children" was one of just 19 books to make the long list. The six novels on the shortlist include: Kiran Desai's "The Inheritance of Loss"; Kate Grenville's "The Secret Lover"; M.J. Hyland's "Carry Me Down"; Hisham Matar's "In the Country of Men;" Edward St. Aubyn's "Mother's Milk"; and Sarah Waters's "The Night Watch."

Denis Leary is sure in demand. The star and executive producer of "Rescue Me" has just inked a deal with Fox to co produce a comedy with Don Reo, one of the creators of ABC's ``My Wife and Kids." The untitled project will be about a thieving 15-year-old boy who moves in with his grandfather, who's also a thief. Speaking of Leary, the Emerson grad returned to his alma mater with his band, the Popes, last night to celebrate the school's 30-year comedy tradition. (Jay Leno, Henry Winkler, Steven Wright, Joely Fisher, Andrea Martin, and David Coss all spent time at Emerson.)

Kevin and Joyce Lucey of Belchertown caught up with writer-director Patricia Foulkrod at a screening of Foulkrod's documentary ``The Ground Truth" at the Boston Film Festival. The Luceys, whose Marine reservist son Jeffrey committed suicide after serving in Iraq, are active in the organization Military Families Speak Out.

Boston Lyric Opera stars past and present will perform tonight as part of the company's 30th anniversary bash at the Wang. Singers Earle Patriarco, Morris Robinson, Michael Hayes, and Lisa Daltirus, and conductor Willie Anthony Waters paid a surprise visit to a BLO board meeting this week.

David Mehegan of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.