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Conrad Murray’s Bad Doctoring: Like Father, Like Son

Roger Friedman
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Conrad Murray’s Bad Doctoring: Like Father, Like Son

I wrote this on July 23, 2009 in this column. But it seemed appropriate to recall in light of the current trial.

Michael Jackson’s Dr. Conrad Murray, now under investigation by the LAPD for possible manslaughter in Michael’s death: medical malfeasance may be in his genes.

Dr. Murray’s biological father, whom he met at age 25, was the late Dr. Rawle Andrews of Houston, Tex. Dr. Andrews died in 2001, but was a respected Houston physician. Both Dr. Andrews and his son, Dr. Murray, are graduates of Nashville’s Meharry Medical College.

However: Dr. Rawle Andrews medical license came under review and was ‘severely limited’ according to the Texas Medical Board, from 1994 to 1999.

Dr. Andrews was found to have prescribed “controlled substances and substances with addictive potential to [two patients, names reduced to initials] for extended periods of time without adequate indication.”

The board particularly cited four “dangerous” drugs in their order:

Stadol — a powerful pain reliever used for migraines after surgery” connected to Demerol

Nubain–another powerful pain reliever, delivered through IV, equivalent to morphine and used as a supplement to anesthesia;”

Talwin –yet another monster pain reliever/narcotic used before surgery and anesthesia

Phenergan — a more moderate pain killer but also an antihistamine used for itching and swelling.

If any of these turn up in Michael Jackson’s toxicology report, the parallels may be more than just a coincidence. What probably killed Jackson was an overdose or misuse of anesthesia-based drug Diprivan. Certainly, Dr. Murray knew that his father had had disciplinary action taken against him for prescribing and administering similar drugs.

The citation reads: “Agreed Order entered restricting license for 5 years for prescribing or administering a drug or treatment that is non therapeutic in nature or non therapeutic in the manner the drug or treatment is administered or prescribed.”

 

 

Flashback: When “Moneyball” was Put on Ice, Now it’s a Hit

Roger Friedman
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Flashback: When “Moneyball” was Put on Ice, Now it’s a Hit

I wrote this on June 21, 2009. Time and patience have paid off for “Moneyball,” one of the best movies of 2011. Sony’s Amy Pascal gets the kudos for figuring this all out. And Soderbergh, replaced by Bennett Miller, went on to his own hit with “Contagion.”

Flashback:

Brad Pitt was supposed to start shooting a baseball movie tomorrow for Sony/Columbia called “Moneyball.” The director is Steven Soderbergh. The screenplay is from Steve Zaillian. The co-star is newly hot Demetri Martin.

For the moment, though “Moneyball” has been halted. The sets are built, everyone’s in place, but Sony chief Amy Pascal got cold feet at the last minute on Friday night. That’s her prerogative, of course. Sources tell me she was worried that the film’s script — as she read it — didn’t have enough emotional pull.

But insiders from “Moneyball” are hopeful Pascal will change her mind. They think she’s worried that Soderbergh is about to give her one of his minor films, like “The Girlfriend Experience” or “Full Frontal.”

“Not so,” says an insider. “It’s going to have the feel of ‘Erin Brockovich’ or ‘Out of Sight’ ” — Soderbergh’s two biggest commercial hits. “It’s got a major movie star who’s passionate about it. And it’s a come-from-behind, win-win movie.”

Indeed, “Moneyball” sounds intriguing. Soderbergh has already filmed interviews with real baseball players from the 2002 season who watched the Oakland Athletics start at zero and wind up winning their division with an astounding’103-59 record.

The story hinges on owner Billy Beane, whom Pitt is set to play when the filming begins. Beane began the season with no star players, just rookies and leftovers from other teams. As told in the book of the same name by Michael Lewis, Beane used something called sabremetrics to calculate his way to a division championship.
Pascal may have bridled at the fact that Soderbergh plans to use real team players from 2003 mixed in with actors to retell their own story. He’s also using those interviews as documentary interstitials to advance the story. Producers say this is like what Warren Beatty did in “Reds,” but not really. It’s very much in keeping with the way documentary filmmaking has been threaded into feature films in recent years.

“The vision Steven has is great,” says a source, “but it’s not all on the page. He was writing so fast, he didn’t have time to catch up to the production schedule. Amy didn’t see the vision. She may not know that the interviews are only 10% of the film. So much of it will be the magic of just filming the story.”

Baseball movies that work are usually about that magic — especially since you’re filming things that can’t be scripted. “Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams,” “The Natural” all sort of depend on what happens on the field in order to make the film feel honest.

The “Moneyball” gang now has four options: make’a deal with a currently interested studio, make one with someone else, replace Soderbergh, or have Sony give them the go-ahead to steal home. They do say that former Athletic Scott Hatteberg, 39, who is set to play himself in the movie, will be the hot story when “Moneyball” is finished. Hatteberg is an unsigned free agent this year, and is ready for his close-up.

Don’t believe everything you read about the “Moneyball” budget, either. The total — $50 million — includes about $15 million to Pitt, and a chunk to Soderbergh. I’m told otherwise this a relatively inexpensive film to make. And what a coup for Columbia if they wind up with the “Rocky” of baseball movies starring Brad Pitt.

(Here’s an idea, PS: Why not put this under the Sony Pictures Classics rubric? It could be “Bend It Like Beckham” all over again?)

Sylvia Robinson Cooed “Pillow Talk” and Godmothered Rap

Roger Friedman
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Sylvia Robinson Cooed “Pillow Talk” and Godmothered Rap

Sylvia Robinson died today at age 75. She’d been sick for some time. Sylvia had two hits of her own–“Pillow Talk” and her big original hit as Mickey and Sylvia with “Love is Strange” in 1957. The former was scandalous in 1973 because it simulated an orgasm. Donna Summer picked it up a couple of years later for “Love to Love You Baby.” The latter track has been covered over and over, but Mickey Baker’s plaintive blues guitar resonates through the ages. But that wasn’t all for Sylvia. She married Joe Robinson in 1964 and started producing records. Some of their hits included the Moments’ “Love on a Two Way Street”–which Alicia Keys sampled so well for “Empire State of Mind”– and the great disco 45 “Shame Shame Shame” by Shirley Goodman (Shirley of “Let the Good Times Roll” fame) and Donnie Elbert. And that wasn’t all–the Robinsons started Sugar Hill Records, and gave birth to hip hop and rap with Grandmaster Flash and “The Message.” Sugar Hill Studios became famous. Of course the Robinsons went in to business with Morris Levy, the most notorious crook in the history of the record business. There are tons of colorful stories about them, but that doesn’t diminish their contributions to pop music and R&B. As someone once said, you have to break a lot of legs–er, eggs–to make an omelette. And PS, the records were great. Thanks, Sylvia.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpEA5QGYJFQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlhCYC_TEFw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J9iSpA9QTs

Daniel Craig “Dream House” Gets No Premiere, No Previews

Roger Friedman
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0
Daniel Craig “Dream House” Gets No Premiere, No Previews

Do you know much about “Dream House”? It’s opening on Friday, sort of slid in among a selection of oddities from the very good “Take Shelter” to a bunch of weird releases like the long, long shelved Kenneth Lonergan movie,  “Margaret.” (Can’t wait to see that, actually.) “Dream House” stars international sex symbol and James Bond actor Daniel Craig, his Oscar nominated wife Rachel Weisz, and the equally talented Naomi Watts. Yet, there has been no premiere anywhere for “Dream House.” There have been few if any screenings. Rotten Tomatoes still hasn’t posted any reviews and the movie opens tomorrow. Several movie blogs, notably Cinema Blend, have chronicled the film’s disastrous life. It’s a shame because Jim Sheridan, one of the greats, directed it. But Sheridan, it’s said, fell out with Morgan Creek’s Jim Robinson, and I’m he walked away–or was pushed away–from the final cut. But no premiere, not even a Cinema Society screening in the basement of a trendy hotel? “Dream House” must be very bad for everyone to have abandoned it. That may be $70 mil out of the window of that house. The only good thing to come of it, for Craig and Weisz but neither of their romantic partners, is that the actors reconnected and wound up getting married.

NYC Wrap Up: Jane Fonda’s Boswell, French Cinema Pix

Roger Friedman
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NYC Wrap Up: Jane Fonda’s Boswell, French Cinema Pix

Jane Fonda‘s biographer, Patricia Bosworth, was saluted last night by Broadway producer Judy Gordon on the Upper East Side. Patti’s book, “Jane Fonda: The Public Life of a Private Woman,” is a New York Times bestseller, the latest of Bosworth’s many terrific tomes (do read her much acclaimed bios of Montgomery Clift, Diane Arbus, and of her own father, the lawyer for the Hollywood Ten). Gordon’s A list guests included famed actor Michael Murphy, Kathryn Altman (widow of famed director Robert Altman), author Stephen Schlesinger and his legendary mom Alexandra, former French Vogue editor Joan Juliet Buck, Olympic champ and sports analyst Dick Button, writer David Black, famed director (and yes, the father) Robert Downey Sr., legendary Broadway and “Saturday Night Live” choreographer Pat Birch, producer Dennis Grimaldi, and writer-producer Maria Cooper Janis (who also happens to be the lovely daughter of Gary Cooper). After the party, a few of the guests repaired to Elio’s on the Upper East Side where we reminisced about the much missed Elaine Kaufman. Elio, owner of the restaurant, once worked for Elaine. His restaurant, long established down the street, is one of its successors…(Note to Elaine, who considered Elio a traitor: we have to eat somewhere!)…

…Meanwhile: until October 4th, you can see the startlingly wonderful photographs taken by France’s most treasured film export (and expert) Catherine Verret at the Furman Gallery in Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater. Catherine is well known to the New York film crowd as the doyenne of French cinema in this city. Her photography turns out to have been a hidden second career. The exhibit, “New York Mon Amour: A View of French Cinema,” includes Jeanne Moreau. Charlotte Gainsbourg. Isabelle Huppert, Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu, Jean Reno and many others. It’s very interesting since Catherine has been responsible for almost 40 years for exposing America to French film through UniFrance and the French Film Office. She was celebrated last week with a magnificent reception at the French embassy on Fifth Avenue in the landmark former Payne Whitney mansion designed by Stanford White. (Yes, those Whitneys.)  PS In real life, so to speak, Catherine is long married to Pierre Vimont, the former French ambassador to the United States…

Erin Burnett Gets the CNN Top Brass Out for Her Debut

Roger Friedman
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Erin Burnett Gets the CNN Top Brass Out for Her Debut

Erin Burnett is about to take over CNN’s 7pm spot, and everyone is happy about it. On Tuesday night, the top brass from CNN tossed Erin quite a lovely pre-debut gala at Robert restaurant on Columbus Circle that was so packed with important peeps that it was almost frightening. My favorite moment: talking to Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman and journalist Judith Miller, when all of a sudden a man arrived bringing Zuckerman a glass of liquid refreshment from the bar. It was none other than JP Morgan chief Jamie Dimon, who’d volunteered to snake through the packed room and return with beverages. How incredibly helpful!

And then Time Magazine’s John Huey and CNN’s Greg D’Alba were chatting, while Anderson Cooper, Erin Moriarty, ABC News’s Bill Blakemore, and Dan Abrams were all milling about. CNN was represented by chiefs Ken Jautz and Mark Whitaker, who greeted veteran White House reporter Bob Jamiesen, Connie Chung and Maury Povich, Gerry Byrne, Jill Brooke, Jami Floyd, Bonnie Fuller, CNN.com’s Susan Grant, Joy Behar and Piers Morgan. There was much talk about how well CNN is doing, beating MSNBC and finally gathering a head of steam under its new regime– a relief after a couple of years of reorganization.

Erin Burnett, by the way, is smart — and fun. Her show may indeed by the lynchpin CNN needed now that their other shows–Cooper’s 360, Piers Morgan etc–have all fallen into place.

PS Network news correspondents don’t always get a lot of attention. But I really loved meeting Bill Blakemore, who’s been at ABC a long, long time doing great features. It turns out he’s a big of Stanley Kubrick and is something of a Shakespeare fan. Who knew?

Exclusive: Sly Stone is NOT Homeless (Update)

Roger Friedman
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2
Exclusive: Sly Stone is NOT Homeless (Update)

Rock icon Sly Stone is NOT homeless even though he’s living in a van. The New York Post story that’s caused such a sensation was paid for by the writer of the piece. I can tell you both of these truths are according to a source close to Stone. This isn’t to say that Sly–real name Sylvester Stewart–isn’t in perilous financial shape. It’s also not to say that his $50 million lawsuit against former manager Jerry Goldstein isn’t valid. I’ve been writing about Goldstein’s abuse of Stone for years–I wrote about it in the New York Post at least 15 years ago.

And Goldstein is famous for his financial problems with former clients–the group War is primary among them. But just to clarify–Sly is living in that van by his own choice. My source says that Sly’s attorney, Robert Alan, rented him a very nice home in Woodland Hills, California with four bedrooms, a pool, etc. (Alan declined to comment.) Sly just refuses to go there. Another friend tells me, “Sly always liked living in Winnebagos. He never liked being in a house.”

Indeed, Stone is going to look at a couple of new vans this week, I’m told. And it’s not like he’s living in a beat up panel van. His accommodations are fine for what they are. “He’s too paranoid to come inside,” says a friend. This is the result of 40 years of drug abuse.

But this is the way Stone has operated for more than 25 years–sell anything for quick cash.

There’s so much more about his lawsuit against Goldstein that will come to light soon. Once depositions are completed, and a trial date is set, things will get very interesting.

 

Tony Bennett Hits #1, Beats Demi Lovato and all the Young Kids

Roger Friedman
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0
Tony Bennett Hits #1, Beats Demi Lovato and all the Young Kids

Tony Bennett’s “Duets II” comes in at number 1 this week. It sold over 166,000 copies according to hitsdailydouble.com, beating Adele, Demi Lovato, Lady Antebellum and all the kids in the top 10. Bennett is 85 years young, so this some achievement. The only older act out there right now is Doris Day, who’s having a hit in the UK and soon here with her “My Heart” album. Bennett almost got himself in trouble last week with odd comments about 9-11 he made on the Howard Stern radio show. But the combination of the album’s strengths, Bennett’s good will, and the pr effect of his 85th birthday celebration at the Metropolitan Opera really helped. He’s also getting a pr boost from Amy Winehouse’s final recording. Congrats, Tony! “Duets II” is on its way to the Grammy awards, and probably Album of the Year.

“Gotti” Casts for 80 Roles, Including Sammy the Bull and “Veal Chop”

Roger Friedman
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0
“Gotti” Casts for 80 Roles, Including Sammy the Bull and “Veal Chop”

“Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father,” has sent out a casting call for 80 roles. The Barry Levinson-directed film, produced by Marco Fiore aka Marc Fiore (see this column: http://tinyurl.com/5u5mxx9), has also added writer James Toback and a man named Salvatore Carpanzano as executive producers. Toback is highly regarded and well established. Salvatore J. Carpanzano, touted as an “international business man who’s helping with the financing of the film,” has no movie credits but a very colorful resume within the judicial system nonetheless. The only references to a Salvatore Carpanzano anywhere on the internet all involve lawsuits and arrests.

As for the 8o roles: several are for children, but there are plenty of spots for adults. They’re casting the whole Gotti family (the Von Trapps of 2012) including Grandma (her nickname is “Fresh Mouth”), plus faves like Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, Anthony “Gas Pipe” Casso, Vinnie “Veal Chop” Lombardo, and Tony “Roach” Rampino (description: “he enjoys breaking heads”). There will also be real life types like Gotti attorney Bruce Cutler, nasty hotel owner Leona Helmsley (she apparently held a screening for the Gottis in her hotel kept the FBI out), and Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes” portrayed in “Gotti.”

Sounds like fun!

 

Rock Hall 2012: No Sting or Bon Jovi, But The Cure Makes the Cut

Roger Friedman
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Rock Hall 2012: No Sting or Bon Jovi, But The Cure Makes the Cut

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has issued its list of nominees for 2012, and it’s a doozy. No Sting or Bon Jovi, but plenty of stale weirdness. Among the oddest choices: new wave pop group The Cure, rappers The Beastie Boys, and Eric B. and Rakim, and disco queen Donna Summer. On the holdover list from ballots past: Donovan (who’d have gotten in 25 years ago if anyone would vote for him), the deceased Laura Nyro (who makes almost every ballot just for kicks), Freddie King. The Spinners--well, they’ve waited so long there almost are no Spinners; Rufus with Chaka Khan–a strange choice; War– a good choice, and then a clutch of middling rockers: Heart, Guns ‘N Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and one stand out–Joan Jett.

There’s also the oddest one: The Small Faces/The Faces, which was probably chosen so that Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood could be exhumed for the ceremony. There’s no Sting, no Bon Jovi (and I’m told they are not pleased at all at this point). Steve Cropper‘s bid to get the 5 Royales in by making an entire all star album of their music– called “Dedicated”– fell on the deaf ears of the Jann Wenner run nominating committee.

The Cure? Eric B. and Rakim? It’s a joke. Look. I love one Cure single–“Just Like Heaven.” Two percent of the population even knows who they are, maybe apart from “Friday I’m In Love.” Why not Billy Idol? And still, not in the Hall, and never to be I guess at this point, are Chicago, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, The Moody Blues, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, the 5 Royales, Mary Wells, Hall & Oates, Todd Rundgren, and so on. (Fill in the blanks.)

One irony: The Cure and the Spinners are each led by men named Robert Smith. The Spinners’ Bobbie Smith–who I’m sure has never heard of The Cure– is one of two original members of that group who are still active. He’s 75 and sang lead on most of their hits. Most of the past Spinners are in heaven including Phillippe Wynne, who sang the lead on a lot of those hits. But it would be nice to show some respect and vote them in already. Other than that, my guesses for finalists would be Donovan, Guns ‘N Roses (just for the drama of Axl Rose and Slash at each others’ throats), Laura Nyro (enough already), War, and Joan Jett.

All in all: blech.

PS Joel Peresman, the exec in charge of this catastrophe, earned $500,000 last year according to the group’s latest tax filing. Nice work if you can get it.

 

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