Another change at Herald; Affleck fills in
GULLY TO LEAVE HERALD In a move that follows last month's departure of editor Andrew Costello, the Boston Herald's managing editor, Andrew Gully, confirmed yesterday that he will be leaving by June. "It's been a great run," said Gully, a 21-year Herald veteran. "I appreciate that [Herald publisher] Pat [Purcell] gave me the opportunity he did. Costello is a great editor and a better friend, and working in this newsroom is something I will never forget." Herald editorial director Ken Chandler said: "Andy's made a decision and I respect it, and I'll be very sorry to see him go." Gully's departure is described as "amicable." But it comes as the tabloid is discarding the more sober, traditional news approach favored by the Costello-Gully regime that led the newsroom during the past decade. Asked about speculation that Gully's exit would be followed by the departures of other managers, Chandler said, "It's possible, but not necessarily likely." He added that the Herald is looking at "some extremely strong candidates" to replace Gully and Costello, but "we're not close to making a decision."
THE SHOW WILL GO ON Tonight's and tomorrow's performances at the Boston Ballet's headquarters in the South End will bring his solo tour to an end, but legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov will continue to perform and tour. "He's never going to stop dancing, that's just not him," said Christina L. Sterner, managing director of the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation. Not only will he not stop, he's not even slow-ing down. Baryshnikov attended Wednesday night's dress rehearsal of "Lady of the Camellias" at the Wang Theatre, and last night took in the American Repertory Theatre's production of "The Birthday Party." Tickets are available for tonight's performance, but tomorrow's is sold-out. Baryshnikov will soon begin work on a theater project, a dramatic piece, that will be performed later this year.
LA CAMERA HELD UP Channel 5 president and GM Paul La Camera was held up at gunpoint late last week as he was parking his car outside his Back Bay home. La Camera was approached by two men wearing ski masks who had a gun, according to the police report. La Camera turned over his money and the two were scared off by an approaching car. He was not physically injured, according to the report. "Wisely, he gave them what they asked for and they left," said Channel 5 spokeswoman Caroline Shaw. Police said yesterday that the incident was still under investigation.
TAPED WITH REGIS AND BEN It's called "Live With Regis and Kelly," but Monday it will be a taped show featuring Regis Philbin and the ubiquitous Ben Affleck, star of "Jersey Girl." Affleck will fill in on the morning chat show for real-life Jersey gal Kelly Ripa, who is on vacation. Affleck, who is known for his impersonation of Philbin, will compete with guest Darrell Hammond of "Saturday Night Live" to see who does the best impression of the host. . . . And in other Affleckian news, the Cantabrigian is quoted in People magazine as saying that he enjoys the "psychological aspects" of poker but doesn't believe he has a gambling problem. The magazine also details how he's spent a lot of time with his mom, Cambridge schoolteacher Chris Affleck, since his breakup with Jennifer Lopez, and that he's soon headed to Europe to work on a script with Matt Damon.
Mark Jurkowitz of the Globe staff contributed to this column. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.
