WHAT’S HE WANT? Around here, Newport Beach...

WHAT’S HE WANT? Around here, Newport Beach may be considered the address with million-dollar homes and white sand beaches that make Waikiki look like a sandbox. But it’s not good enough for some. . . . Larry Hagman, once TV’s J.R. Ewing, was all set to shoot his new fall TV drama, “Staying Afloat,” in St. Tropez. But he refused to go along when producers wanted to change the location to Newport Beach. He told TV Guide this week: “If I give in, next it’s going to be the Oxnard boatyard.”

DOLLAR JUDGING: Who is the hottest act at this year’s Orange County Fair? It’s the comedian Gallagher, if you judge strictly by money paid. Gallagher, who appears Monday night, will pull down $35,000 for two shows, according to a list of Fair entertainment prices. . . . Other big money: The Four Tops will get $30,000 for their oldies routine. That makes them slightly more nostalgic than Frankie Valli, who must share $25,000 with his Four Seasons. It’s not bad money even for the bottom of the list--Eddie Rabbitt at $12,500.

LIVE POETRY: Rancho Santiago poetry professor Lee Mallory gushes that poetry is making a rebound. “Poetry is becoming quite mainstream,” he says, referring to interest shown by even the Wall Street Journal. On Monday, Mallory hosts his second annual performance poetry contest at the Casa Palma Restaurant in Santa Ana. The first 20 poets to sign up at 6:30 p.m. get to participate. “Last year we had just really great stuff,” he says.

TRAIN GAMBLING? If you yearn for a “gambler’s special” high-speed train ride between Orange County and Las Vegas, the idea isn’t dead yet. It stalled two years ago when the Bechtel Corp. withdrew from the project. Now proponents want $100,000 from the county Transportation Authority to match some federal grants for a needed environmental impact report. “We’re working on it,” says transportation chief Stan Oftelie. But officials warn it’s not as high a priority here as it is to officials in Nevada.