Julia Roberts to Host 'Old Friends'

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ ``Ocean's Eleven'' star Julia Roberts is concentrating on friendships. <br><br>Roberts will be the host of the A&E documentary ``Old Friends,'' which examines the

Thursday, December 13th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ ``Ocean's Eleven'' star Julia Roberts is concentrating on friendships.

Roberts will be the host of the A&E documentary ``Old Friends,'' which examines the enduring nature of friendships. It's scheduled for broadcast next year.

``Old Friends'' focuses on three women from a small town outside Chicago. Mildred Mulligan, Helen Klipinger and Ann Pritchard met in elementary school in 1906. Now, 95 years later, they remain good friends.

Mulligan and Klipinger live in a retirement community in West Covina, where the three women celebrated Klipinger's 103rd birthday. The event was filmed for the documentary.

The documentary, now in production, also includes interviews with individuals of all ages and varying backgrounds about what it means to be a friend. ``Old Friends'' hopes to capture the art of friendship, as well as the essence of growing up in America, A&E said.

``Old Friends'' is produced by Revolution Studios and Roberts' Shoelace Productions.