CLINTON PULLING FOR `SLING BLADE'.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Sounds like President Clinton is pleased that Billy Bob Thornton received an Oscar nomination Tuesday for his acting in ``Sling Blade,'' and is disappointed the film didn't make the Best Picture slate.

The president's buddy, producer Harry Thomason, arranged for the Clintons to see the Miramax movie the other night, and he tells this column, ``The president felt it was brilliant - the best picture he's seen in years.''

Thomas says the prez sees a lot, ``probably more movies than most critics watch. They've got screening rooms at both Camp David and the White House, and the family watches many double features.''

Thomason reports that another of the president's favorites for '96 was ``Shine'' (a front-runner in the Oscar race with six top nominations, including Best Picture), but notes, ``The movie he's been pulling for is `Sling Blade,' since he and Billy Bob Thornton are both Arkansans.'' Thornton, who also directed ``Sling Blade,'' and is up for a second Oscar as its writer, once worked on a Clinton highway crew in Arkansas, clearing brush - with a sling blade knife.

Back to paradise

Brooke Shields and Andre Agassi have received an invitation to spend their honeymoon in paradise - at Fiji's Turtle Island, where she filmed ``Blue Lagoon'' in 1979. Richard Evanson, who purchased the island in 1972, has made many changes on it since then. Now there are 14 deluxe bungalows on the island, where guests arrive by sea plane - and where a maximum of 14 couples is allowed so staff can pamper them properly. There were only three thatched bures (cottages) when Brooke spent five months there on ``Lagoon'' location. The crew was housed in tents. Still, when they were offered a furlough halfway through production, no one wanted to leave.

It does have that effect. There is a long list of celebs who have gotten away from it all at Turtle Island. They include Vanessa Williams, Andie McDowell, Brian Dennehy, Rob Lowe, Ringo Starr, Axl Rose of Guns 'N Roses, Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli.

The list does not include Robert Redford or Cher. Redford wanted to come, but as a single, and owner Evans felt he might divert the female guests' attention away from their partners. Cher, on the other hand, wanted to bring an entourage, and Evans nixed that idea. He likes people to act just like ordinary people on Turtle Island - and not as stars.

Him again

David E. Kelley, the ``L.A. Law'' wizard and creator of ``Picket Fences'' and ``Chicago Hope,'' has a new law show in the works. No, not his soon-to-premiere ``The Practice.'' We're talking about yet another one - ``Ally McBeale.'' This is a property Kelley, a former lawyer, wrote and will exec-produce for the Fox network, with a pilot to be shot next month. It focuses on a female Harvard grad who leaves a large law firm and casts her fortunes with a pal's up-and-coming practice - only to discover her ex-boyfriend works there. What gives Ally her unique spin is that the series will feature her inner thoughts in voice-over (think ``The Wonder Years,'' only it's not a memory). Of course, the character has a razor wit. Well, at least as long as Kelley's writing her.

Something new, something old

It's double-duty time for ``Roseanne'' co-star Johnny Galecki, who is bicycling between his chores as David on the series and his role as a rich heir in the big-screen ``Bred and Bored'' with Christopher Walken.

Galecki tells us his current ``Roseanne'' contract called for him to be released from duty if other work opportunities came his way. He was written out for some of his ``Bred and Bored'' shooting stint. ``The problem is, I left near the end of Darlene's pregnancy,'' he says of his series bride, Sara Gilbert. Now, with his sitcom child due to arrive soon, he's back on the set, he says. ``We wrap up the movie the end of the month, and the show the second week of March,'' says Galecki, who adds that this time, it's really, truly fini for ``Roseanne.''