WHOOPI GOLDBERG - GOLDBERG TURNS TOUR GUIDE FOR UNIVERSAL

WHOOPI GOLDBERG thrilled visitors to Universal Studios in Hollywood last week (ends21JUL06) when she took over the theme park's famous Backlot Tour and acted as a guide. The comedienne/actress has recorded a new video guide for the backstage trek at the park, which attracts 125 million visitors every year - and she launched the initiative by getting up close and personal to fans. Goldberg hopped on board a tram full of surprised tourists and knowledgeably navigated them through the Backlot Tour, offering anecdotes, jokes and film information, pointing out sets where she'd filmed some of her movies. The new video is part of a revamp planned for this summer (06), which also includes new attractions like the CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION set and a chase sequence inspired by new film THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT. Meanwhile, movie moguls like ROBERT ZEMECKIS and SYDNEY POLLACK have been brought on board to help train up new tour guides and actors employed by the theme park.