Showbiz411 » Politics

Michelle Obama Entertains Senate Hopeful Ashley Judd, Now Playing the First Lady in a New Movie

Roger Friedman — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:38:40 +0000

Past Oscar nominee and movie star Angela Bassett just had lunch with First Lady Michelle Obama. In her new movie, “Olympus Has Fallen,” Bassett plays the tough head of the Secret Service. (Only in a movie could a woman have such a job.) In real life, Bassett was a surrogate (meaning, an active supporter) last year for President Obama. Guests at the luncheon, she said, included other “surrogates” ( active supporters), including make up artist Bobbi Brown, Phylicia Rashad, Cynthia Nixon and Ashley Judd, Bassett told our PAULA SCHWARTZ. “The First Lady sat between me and Ashley Judd, running potentially for Congress,” Bassett said. Judd plays the First Lady– and since our interview declared her intention to run for the US Senate, from Kentucky, as a Democrat. (Gerard Butler is the president and the star of the film.) Bassett told Mrs. Obama that she and Ashley Judd, are in a movie together — “and it’s about the White House. We started talking about females in the secret service agency.” The First Lady told Bassett and Judd about the Secret service [...]

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“Silver Linings Playbook” Meets Joe Biden

Roger Friedman — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:57:28 +0000

“Silver Linings Playbook” writer-director David O. Russell missed the Writers Guild panel in Hollywood last night for a good reason. He was in Washington, DC on Thursday, visiting Vice President Joe Biden with his star, Bradley Cooper. They were there to discuss programs and tolerance for mental health issues. “Silver Linings” continues to go nuts at the box office.

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Ed Koch Exit Interview with the New York Times (Video): “I Was Never Going to Retire”

Roger Friedman — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:07:48 +0000

Ed Koch gave this interview to the New York Times in 2007, to be played upon his death. Surprise! He’s left a documentary and this 20 minute goodbye. He gives it to the Cuomos and others. Koch says: “I was never going to retire.” He says Rudy Giuiliani “destroyed the system,” was “mean spirited,” and made everything about politics in New York. Koch also recalls being very depressed during the Donald Manes scandal, and that a call from Cardinal O’Connor saved him. He said that Mayor Bloomberg is “superb” and that David Dinkins was a “bad mayor.”

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Ed Koch Goes Out with a Bang, A Documentary, and One Last Email

Roger Friedman — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:33:42 +0000

Ed Koch died this morning, he was 88 years old. I have the honor of getting one of his last, contentious emails. He sent it on January 7th after I reviewed the documentary about him, “Koch.” The mayor, whom I used to see regularly in the neighborhood, wasn’t happy that I pointed out he was visiting his grave in the film, that it already an inscribed headstone, and that it wasn’t in a Jewish cemetery. He wanted to be buried in Manhattan, he said, and no Jewish cemetery was accepting new burials. He wanted to be where the action was. When he was mayor, he was the action. In his first term, 1977-81, he saved New York after Abe Beame left us for dead. In his second term, Koch continued his programs, and New York became “the city that never sleeps.” In his third term, he was out of control, the outer boroughs crumbled, the drugs situation got out of control and homelessness and begging was epidemic. But think of it: he was so brash that he was the subject [...]

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“Koch” Premiere Will Be a Reunion of Every New York Politician Living (and Dead)

Roger Friedman — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:19:53 +0000

This is going to be wild. I never write about movie premieres before they happen. But the one set for next week for “Koch,” the documentary about Ed Koch, is going to be a memorable one. Look at the list that follows. I hope someone films this. How can any of these people stay away? It’s too crazy. Each guest will get a rubber bat and a water pistol. Seriously. Two names I don’t see here: Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg. Also, no mention of Bess Meyerson. But still…Maybe they’ll crash… 2013 Mayoral candidates: Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, Former MTA Chairman Joe Llohta, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Former NYC Controller Bill Thompson. 2013 Public Advocate candidates: City Councilwoman Letitia James, Reshma Saujani, State Senator Daniel Squadron. 2013 Controller candidate: Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Appearing in the film: Rev. Calvin Butts, Koch Chief of Staff Diane Coffey, Former Bronx Borough President Freddy Ferrer, Koch senior adviser John LoCicero, Former State Controller Carl McCall. Also attending: Former Park Commissioner Gordon Davis, Former Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Rep. Nita Lowey, Former [...]

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Give Beyonce a Break: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Also Had Recorded Help for Inauguration

Roger Friedman — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:37:59 +0000

Beyonce is getting dragged over the coals for singing with a guide track at the Inaugural swearing in. But listen, kids, she was not lip synching. The pre-tapes are done by all live shows just in case something goes wrong. Today I spoke with the pastor from the Brooklyn Tabernacle and guess what? The choir–300 strong– had help during their number from their CD. “It’s impossible to get 300 voices blended in the wind and cold like that,” says Pastor Jim about his amazing group. “They sang live, but they had some help from a track.” Who didn’t have a pre-record? Pastor Jim’s wonderful soloist, Alicia Olatuja. Also, James Taylor and Kelly Clarkson. But “The Star Spangled Banner” is notoriously tough, and Beyonce wasn’t wrong to have a guide track. You can hear her singing live at the beginning of the song, too. Alicia, by the way, comes from St. Louis, home of great singers like the late Fontella Bass. Pastor Jim says, “She’s been getting calls from the media all the time since Monday.” Meanwhile, local Brooklynites and New [...]

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Obama Inauguration Heavy Hitters AWOL: No Bruce, Aretha, Barbra or Bon Jovi

Roger Friedman — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:28:27 +0000

Where have all the superstars gone? In 2009, the Obama inauguration was so filled with A listers they caused gridlock. Aretha Franklin and her famous hat sang at the swearing in. She also did a free concert at the Kennedy Center. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsNHhJTZAM0 An ABC special featured a dozen or so performers including Sting, Stevie Wonder, and Mariah Carey. They all sang Stevie’s “Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours.” Sting and Stevie performed “Brand New Day.” Over at The Creative Coalition Ball, Sting, Elvis Costello and Sam Moore performed. Elsewhere, there were musical extravaganzas galore. Bruce Springsteen performed at the Lincoln Memorial for free with a half dozen stars at least. Alas, this won’t be the case this year. The heavy hitters are staying home. Neither Bruce, Jon Bon Jovi nor Aretha Franklin is coming to Washington. They’ve all passed for a variety of reasons– schedule, exhaustion, etc. And that’s interesting because they were all big Obama supporters during the election. The only holdovers are Beyonce and James Taylor, whose participation is not very intense this time around. Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, [...]

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Tags: Aretha Franklin Bruce Springsteen inauguration jon bon jovi obama

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Mark Ruffalo, Natalie Merchant Will Lead Fracking Protest in Albany on Wednesday

Roger Friedman — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:38:35 +0000

The Incredible Hulk and the leader of 10,000 Maniacs are getting together to protest fracking. Actor Mark Ruffalo and singer Natalie Merchant are leading a group to Albany this Wednesday to register their anti-fracking feelings with Governor Andrew Cuomo.They’re planning an all out campaign to appear at Cuomo’s State of the State Address. You can read about it at www.nyagainstfracking.org.”Fracking” has become a hot button issue, especially in New York and Pennsylvania, along what’s known as the Marcellus Shale. Actors Matt Damon and John Krasinski have been drawn into the war because of their new movie, “Promised Land.” The documentary, “Gasland,” was the first to address the dangers of fracking in farm lands. My own thought, is you don’t fish in your own pond. It’s as simple as that. Both Ruffalo and Merchant live in the area, so it’s important to them. Here’s what they say: The New Yorkers Against Fracking coalition is calling on all New Yorkers to come to Albany for a rally to keep fracking out of our beloved state. We will take our message right to [...]

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Rolling Stones Not Participating in All Star Hurricane Sandy Concert

Roger Friedman — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:16:23 +0000

The announcement this week of the 12-12-12 concert for Hurricane Sandy relief included all the big rock star names–Springsteen, Joel, The Who, etc. But one name that wasn’t in the mix was the Rolling Stones. Both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards participated in the Concert for New York after September 11th back in 2001. This time around, by coincidence, the Stones are all in New York on December 12th. They’re playing a show on December 8th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and two shows December 13th and 15th at the Prudential Center in Newark. But sources tell me there are no plans for the Stones to join the 12-12-12 festivities as a group, and that Keith Richards is definitely doing it either. It remains to be seen if Jagger will participate or show up at all. (I have a great idea for him: let Mick come alone and sing “Salt of the Earth” with the house band. He’ll steal the show. “Let’s drink to the hard working people…”) To be fair, they could use the night off before the [...]

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Rupert Murdoch: No Tweets on Election, But Now He Likes “Law Abiding” Hispanics

Roger Friedman — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:36:12 +0000

Rupert Murdoch has been Tweeting away since Election Day. But so far he has said not one word about the election, Obama, or Romney. How incredibly curious. What has he been interested in? Petraeus, the economy and immigration. Murdoch now thinks there should be sweeping immigration laws to allow existing “law abding” Hispanics to remain in the U.S. He’s obviously read the stats on who voted for Obama and who didn’t vote for Romney and wants them as subscribers to The Daily. He’s also having a lot of fun with the BBC scandal. I’ve told you before: Murdoch is restraining himself from saying anything against Obama, not with the phone hacking scandal still hanging over his head. He must be going crazy. Here are the Tweets: Rupert Murdoch ‏@rupertmurdoch BBC mess gives Cameron great opportunity to reshape and improve. And listen to non LibDem cabinet colleagues. 20h Rupert Murdoch ‏@rupertmurdoch BBC mess gives Cameron golden opportunity properly reorganize great public broadcaster. Fast inquiry to Include both critics and supporters. 11 Nov Rupert Murdoch ‏@rupertmurdoch Benghazi hearings next week without two [...]

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