Burt Reynolds slaps TV producer _ 'playfully,' his spokesman says _ outside Manhattan movie premiere

Wednesday, May 25th 2005, 8:27 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Burt Reynolds slapped a television producer in the face while a camera was rolling at a movie premiere, but the actor's spokesman said he was just being playful after the man acknowledged he hadn't seen Reynolds' latest film.

The producer was asking Reynolds about his new movie ``The Longest Yard'' outside the premiere Tuesday night when the actor appeared to become annoyed.

``You don't know anything about the movie?'' Reynolds, 69, asked the producer for CBS News PATH, which provides video footage to affiliate stations.

The producer acknowledged he hadn't seen it or the original 1974 version _ and then Reynolds smacked him. ``What ... kind of guy are you?'' Reynolds asked.

WCBS-TV aired the footage Wednesday morning. The producer was just outside the camera's range when Reynolds delivered a quick but audible slap.

WCBS declined to give the producer's name.

Jeff Lane, a spokesman for Reynolds, said in a statement that Reynolds ``playfully tapped (the producer) on the cheek, as if to say, 'Well, that's not very nice.' He was kidding.''