19th January 2003
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Golden Globe Awards
Bonnie was nomminated for her first ever Golden Globe for the Best Performace by an Actress in a Television Series -- Musical or Comedy
· Bonnie Hunt, "Life with Bonnie"
· Jennifer Aniston, "Friends"
· Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle"
· Debra Messing, "Will & Grace"
· Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City"

The award went to Jennifer Aniston.

Bonnie co-hosted The View 29th January 2003.

Bonnie stars as Bonnie Molloy in ABC's Life with Bonnie 9:30pm Fridays!
ABC unveiled the show during the fall 2002 season.
On the show, Bonnie plays a TV host and working mom. Bonnie created, writes and produces the series along with Don Lake for Touchstone Television. The series received a premium commitment from the network and has been picked up for a second season.

MGM has also bought Bonnie and Don Lakes script for the movie "Black Book Mogul."
Bonnie says it is about "a cab driver who finds a movie star's little black book in his back seat, and "it changes his life."
(Bonnie has written 4 scripts with Lake, so as well as Return to Me, Anniversary and Black Book Mogul, we may get another Bonnie movie in the future!)

Monster's Inc

Bonnie has provided a voice for the new Disney Pixar movie Movie Monsters Inc. Released November 2001. She is playing Flint, who can be seen briefly at the beginning of the film doing the Monster training. Her voice is also on the playstation game.

Anniversary

This is the second film Bonnie will direct and has co-written with Don Lake. In pre-production.

Bonnie was principal for a day at Chicago's Crane Tech High Thursday 24th October 2002
By Lori Olszewski and Ana Beatriz Cholo Tribune staff reporters Published October 25, 2002
The girls at Curie High School swooned Thursday over movie star Vince Vaughn, while writer and actress Bonnie Hunt had English classes at Crane Tech High School on the city's West Side laughing with her one-liners. Hunt, a Catholic school kid from the city's Northwest Side, and Vaughn, a 1988 Lake Forest High School graduate, had come home from California to volunteer in the Chicago Public Schools' largest "Principal for a Day" program. An estimated 1,300 celebrities, corporate executives and civic leaders spent the morning as honorary principals--sometimes as many as five at a time--at the city's 600 elementary and high schools, making public address announcements and visiting classrooms. The annual event, a pet project of Mayor Richard Daley for the last six years, is designed to establish donor and mentor relationships between schools and successful civic leaders. "I hope this gives our students a broader sense of the possibilities of life," said Daley, who returned again to Orr High School, 730 N. Pulaski Rd., to serve as principal for a day.
Hunt, one of the only Chicago principals to be accompanied by her own makeup and hair stylist, said the walk through the hallways of Crane Tech, 2245 W. Jackson Blvd., brought back memories of her days at Notre Dame High School for Girls (class of 79) at Belmont and Central Avenues on the city’s North side and St. Ferdinand Elementary School. "I hope they don't ask me to spell," Hunt said as she entered a British Literature class. Hunt, who described her self as a writer and an actor, confided to the class, "I was a good kid. I thought of school as a captive audience. It gave me a chance to work on my material," "I wasn't one of the pretty and popular kids, I failed many times. You just keep going. "All you need is one good friend. That's enough. Someone to say hello to and tell your secrets to." Sade Harrington, 15, a sophomore in an American literature class Hunt visited, had to explain an aphorism from "Poor Richard's Almanac." "I felt shy at first. But then I got into the rhythm of it. She's really nice and funny," During an exercise on elegies, Hunt was visibly moved when Crane junior Valencia Cammon, 16, said that her regret is that she sometimes disobeyed and was disrespectful to her mother, who now is in prison. Hunt walked over to Cammon and rubbed the girl's shoulders. "I grew up in a working-class neighborhood so there was always a sense of struggle, but we had hope," said Hunt, who worked as a nurse while honing her comedic skills. "I am impressed with these students and their ability to hope." Though a number of students had not seen her new show, her visit helped win some new fans, such as junior Allen Williams, 16, who said he had watched about 15 minutes of the show, but then turned to a Bulls basketball game. Sade Harrington, 15, a sophomore in an American literature class that Hunt visited, said, "I heard she was nice and funny, and she is. I'm going to watch."

Actor Carroll O'Connor Dies at 76
Carroll was one of Bonnie's heroes and friends. His role in Return To Me was his first in 25 years and meant a great deal to Bonnie. Bonnie appeared on Larry King Live via satellite from Chicago 6/23/01 to pay tribute to Carroll. This is what she had to say:
KING: And Bonnie Hunt, how did you come to direct him in his last movie?
BONNIE HUNT: Well, you know, I was so fortunate, and just couldn't believe that Carroll would do something like this, that he would actually be in my movie. When we were writing it, we wrote it for Carroll, just because, you know, he is the kind of actor that gives any writer's words instant credibility. And -- but we never in a million years imagined that we would be fortunate enough to have him work with us.
And I wrote him a letter, begging him to at least read the script, and he read the script and called me and told me I didn't have enough money to hire Carroll O'Connor, "but listen, sweetheart, I'll have dinner with you just because your letter was so nice." And I said OK.
So, my husband and I went out to Malibu and had dinner with Carroll, and we spoke very little of the script. We spoke mostly about his son Hugh and my family, and you know, at the end of the meal, he said: "I'm doing your picture, kid." And I cried all the way home in the car, because I couldn't believe it.
KING: And he was brilliant.
HUNT: Wasn't he great? He was so great.
KING: What was he like to direct, Bonnie?
HUNT: Well, for me it was joy because I, you know, I'm the type of actor that comes to set with many things in my head about the story and the character. And Carroll was so intelligent on just so knowledgeable on so many levels that his characters, whatever he played, whomever he played, he had so many levels to them, so he was always worried about every aspect of every scene and every moment. And I was so flattered that at this point in his career, you know, 25 years since made his last movie, that he was on the set of my film and he was caring so much to worry about every last detail and contribute and give me his ideas. I felt so fortunate and I, too, learned so much from him. It really wasn't about his ego. It was, he cared so much about the story, the character, the layers. I mean that is that is what it was. And I looked forward to him coming up to me and whispering in my ear every single day on that set.
For the full transcript go here: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0106/22/lkl.00.html
He will be missed.

CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) - Carroll O'Connor, whose portrayal of irascible bigot Archie Bunker on ``All in the Family'' helped make the groundbreaking TV comedy part of the American dialogue on race and politics, died of a heart attack Thursday. He was 76.
O'Connor collapsed at his home and was taken to Brotman Medical Center, publicist Frank Tobin said. He said O'Connor died with his wife of nearly 50 years, Nancy, by his side. The actor had diabetes and had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery in 1989. O'Connor was hospitalized in November at the UCLA Medical Center, where he had a toe amputated because of a circulatory problem related to diabetes.

May 26 2001
Gene Siskel Film Center Opens New Facility
CHICAGO, May 26 /PRNewswire
On May 31, the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago dedicated its new state-of-the-art facilities at 164 N. State St. The Film Center was renamed last July to honor the late film critic Gene Siskel. The Gene Siskel Film Center, the most technologically advanced facility in the Midwest. The Gene Siskel Film Center and citysearch.com presented a public opening with Starring Chicago!, a series of films shot or set in Chicago. Running June 1st through June 23.
After the marathon, the Starring Chicago! series continued with personal appearances, including: Bonnie Hunt; film critics Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper and Michael Wilmington; actors John Mahoney; and author Studs Terkel and screenwriter Tim Kazurinsky.
To cap the third week June 19th 8:00pm Bonnie appeared in person to present her acclaimed directorial debut RETURN TO ME.

In her post-showing talk to the audience, Bonnie was both quite funny and informative regarding how the film eventually got made (in 55 days of shooting). She revealed that Tom Hanks and George Clooney were at times considered for the role which eventually went to her friend from the "Beethoven" films, Duchovny.
Bonnie related how difficult it was to get CARROLL O’CONNOR to play the role of Minnie’s father. As she put it, when she was trying to get him for the role, he was "old, tired, and rich" [-- from his marvelous accomplishments in ‘All In The Family’ and ‘In the Heat of the Night' on TV-- ]; besides not "needing" the work, he was at the time still grieving over the loss of his son (to drug problems).
After initially giving "gruff" responses to the idea of appearing in the film, he agreed to meet her, and eventually - because of how extraordinary the script was--, he agreed to take the part of the Irish father. To some people's surprise, Carroll "rejuvenated" himself and earned a number of awards for his warm-hearted portrayal-- which especially pleased her, because the role was in large part based on elements of her OWN father, and his performance actually REMINDED her of her dad.
At one point, Bonnie commented that, she’d always remembered movies where, she fell so in love with the characters, "I wanted to crawl INTO the SCREEN" to be with them-- and that's the kind of movie she wanted to create with her "RETURN TO ME" film. Perhaps amazingly, she actually SUCCEEDS in doing that with this film:
"RETURN TO ME" (as Bonnie commented) has a real "Chicago" flavor to the characters (and locations).
When asked how she feels about the film today, she said she's pleased with it overall, and there's nothing major she would change-- but she wishes her sister could have gotten more recognition for her acting work.
At one point, Bonnie talked of the new film Stolen Summer she was making in Chicago with Aidan Quinn, backed financially by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and written by Chicagoan Peter Jones. As to the possibility of her returning to doing TV work-- she said, she might, although "the politics of TV exhausted me." Two days after Bonnie's talk, Carroll O’Connor DIED, at age 76, of heart problems.

May 10 2001
Bonnie Hunt and actor Mike Nussbaum were honored at a gala for the DePaul Theatre School's Awards for Excellence in the Arts on May 10 2001. Bonnie reprised her infamous "We're walking, we're walking" line from the movie "Dave"--then proceeded to march across the stage, grabbed her award and then just kept walking offstage. . . . Actor George Wendt hosted the event, which began at 6 p.m. at DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre, it was followed by dinner and dancing at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. Tickets were $250, with proceeds going to The Theatre School Scholarship Fund and Chicago Playworks.

Friday, May 11th 2001
Lions Park School was visited by Bonnie. Bonnie is the sister of the first grade teacher Mary. According to the Lions site Bonnie spoke to the student body about how the traits taught in the Character Counts! pillars of trustworthiness, fairness, caring, respect, responsibility and citizenship are a part of her life and how important they should be in the student's lives.
Some students were chosen to ask Bonnie questions. Bonnie also visited Mary's 1st grade class.
For pictures of this event go to these pages:

http://lions.dist57.org/TPages/mboggins/bonnie/bonnie.html

http://lions.dist57.org/TPages/mboggins/bonnie/bonnie2.html

http://lions.dist57.org/TPages/mboggins/bonnieclsweb/cls.html

March 21st 2001
Bonnie received the John Templeton Foundation Epiphany Prize for Most Inspirational Movie for "Return To Me" which was $25,000, at the 9th annual Movieguide awards gala, held March 21st 2001 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Bonnie also accepted the Grace Prize for most inspirational acting for Carol O'Connor, who was ill. The event was broadcast on PAX-TV Easter Sunday. In accepting her award for directing and co-writing RETURN TO ME, Bonnie said, "I didn't expect this. Thank you so much. What an honor." Backstage after the show, she said that the religious faith of her parents, including her father who died when she was a teenager, played an important part in crafting the story for RETURN TO ME, where Carroll O'Connor of TV's ALL IN THE FAMILY plays a godly Roman Catholic grandfather to actress Minnie Driver. "They continue to be an inspiration to me," she added. Don Lake, her writing partner for RETURN TO ME, also came on stage to accept the Epiphany, as did Executive Producer "Doc" Erickson.

Monday February 26 2001
At the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre at Navy Pier Bonnie was honored at the Chicago Film Critics
Awards where she was given a special Commitment to Chicago award for her work in the city. Tom Hanks attended, and won for his role in Cast Away.
Tom Cruise sent dozens of roses to Bonnie’s hotel.
Bonnie said backstage that she had just taken several months off work to care for her dog Lacy, as the dog died of cancer.
Once during the dog's illness, Bonnie and her husband waited outside their neighborhood church until it was empty. Then they carried Lacy into the sanctuary and dipped the dog's face in holy water

The Board of Directors annually selects an individual who has contributed to the growth or prestige of the film/arts/theatre community. This individual receives the Commitment to Chicago award.

12th Annual Chicago Film Critics Awards Monday, March 13, 2000.
Presenters at the awards ceremony included Bonnie Hunt

Sightings:

May 27th 2001
Bonnie was spotted with Brian Dennehy and the Goodman Theatre's Robert Falls dining at Gibsons on Rush in Chicago.(Brian is in Stolen Summer also.)

May 30th 2001
Chicago Sun Times reported that Bonnie has been a regular at one of her favourite restaurants Topo Gigio, joined by co-stars in Stolen Summer Aidan Quinn and Kevin Pollak.

I am from Chicago, and I met her in (of all places) a Target store on the northwest side. I was on my way home from school and I decided to stop in. I saw her looking at some clothes, and I thought, wow that woman must be mistaken for Bonnie Hunt a lot. So I kinda followed her around trying to make sure that it wasn't her, and then I heard her talk, and I knew that it was her. Well then I had to get the guts to talk to her. So (trying not to make it obvious) followed her a little more until I got up the guts, and REALLY made sure that it was her. Then I went up to her and said, "Excuse me, are you..." and she interrupted me and said yes. Well then I just gushed about Return to Me, and how my friends and I watch that all the time and I told her that I thought that she did a brilliant job, etc.She said "Oh thank you very much!" Then she introduced me to her sister and explained that they were there to get an outfit for their friend to get her out of the house. So we talked a little and then I said thank you to her for all her wonderful work, and she said "Thank you, you made my day!" I made HER day? That made my week!
So it was very exciting to see her and to meet someone whom I admire. She was very friendly and down to earth, as she seems like she would be from her films.
It was so thrilling. I went home and called all my friends!
Heather Schubring

5/9/01 A couple of years ago, some friends of my wife were in a restaurant in LA and Bonnie was sitting across the way with 3 men. The waitress goofed the order or something like that and one of the guys was giving her a hard time (they sound like studio types) Anyway, from what she could hear, our friend said Bonnie jumped in to diffuse the moment with some kind of joke and got everyone laughing about it. And then continued to look after the waitress who had been noticeably upset. But everyone left the place happy in the end. Jeff Allen

5/5/01 Bonnie Hunt was in my store The Gap in Chicago today! It was GREAT! I didn't think it was HER, so I said "You look like WHATS HER FACE"....her name escaped me at the time....her friend replied "She IS whats her face"....we all laughed, she was VERY gracious, and bought a bunch of clothes...she is so sweet, and VERY funny in person. I am more of a fan than ever. We see many celebrities, but try to ignore their fame in order to spare them any embarrassment. Bonnie came in with a friend, and was wearing a jacket with a "Return to Me" logo on it, yet I STILL didn't recognise her! LOL! She AND her friend were very funny. She bought two pair of denim capris and a pile of tank tops. She thanked us (myself and two of my employees) by name, and waved on the way out.
Jason Mercer