Traditionally, the Mets have sided with high-profile veterans in the final years of their career rather than rushing young pitchers who might not be ready.

Despite an ensemble featuring high-profile veterans of stage, film and television, sitting through "Steel Magnolias," which is set in a beauty parlor in a small town in Louisiana, is like watching nail polish dry.

There has been a tremendous amount of turnover, as the Giants cut such well-liked and high-profile veterans as O. J. Anderson, Eric Dorsey, Johnson, Stephen Baker and kicker Matt Bahr.

Each brought in high-profile veterans - Gary Payton and Karl Malone for the Lakers, the former Knick Latrell Sprewell and the two-time N.B.A. champion Sam Cassell for the Timberwolves.

The most interesting development was that at least six young Americans showed signs that they could overshadow some of the league's high-profile veterans.

But despite an ensemble featuring high-profile veterans of stage, film and television, sitting through this portrait of friendship among Southern women, set in a beauty parlor in small-town Louisiana, is like watching nail polish dry (2:20).