The amazing Stevie Wonder, 61 years young and kicking it at the Apollo last night, told me he wants to do new albums. This may come as a bit of news to the folks from his record company. Last night, Universal Music’s Barry Weiss, Steve Bartels, and Motown Records general manager Pat Monaco all came to see Stevie, and got a few minutes with him backstage. It’s been six long years since Stevie’s last album, “A Time 2 Love,” and everyone–fans, Universal Motown–wants a new one. So what will it be? Stevie told me he has two projects in mind–a gospel album, and a remixed collection of his unreleased material. “I want to call it ‘I Remember Me,'” Wonder told me. Meanwhile, you might be interested to know what Stevie likes to talk about when he’s relaxing: peace, love, and understanding. On stage at the Apollo, he spoke eloquently about universal health care, accessibility for the disabled, as well as his nostalgia for the Apollo. “There’s no reason why this country can’t be the most accessible in the world. I do believe in health care.” He talked about a friend who he met in school, who’s blind and now can’t afford care. “Don’t get fooled by stupidity,” Stevie said.
Remembering Laurie Colwin, 1944-1992
The great short story writer, novelist, and essayist — and humorist– Laurie Colwin would have been 67 today. Tragically she died in her sleep in October 1992 at the age of 48. I like to celebrate Laurie’s birthday and not her death every year in this column. I was her friend, but also her book publicist in the early 1980s even though Laurie didn’t want a book publicist and didn’t want to do publicity. Luckily she had built a large following from her work in The New Yorker, and from her books–all of which are still in print and are as much fun to read now as they were then. My favorites are “Happy All the Time” and “Another Marvelous Thing.” Hollywood would do well to take another look at Laurie’s work–it would be perfect for Renee Zellweger, Anne Hathaway, or any number of young actresses who complain they can’t find good material. It’s hard to imagine so much time has passed with Laurie in the world. But really, she wouldn’t have been so stoked about all the technology for writers since she left us–Final Draft, Ipads, the internet itself. But she does have a Wikipedia entry, and even some websites. I’m happy to report that her daughter, Rosa Jurjevics, has followed in her mom’s footsteps. A very talented writer, Rosa is now working in New York for a publishing company, and doing great. Laurie would have loved that the most.
Happy birthday, Laurie. http://tinyurl.com/67jjas5
Stevie Wonder Jams in Harlem, Old School Style
It was an old school night for Stevie Wonder as he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Apollo Theater. Several artists performed his hits–Raphael Saadiq, Kim Burrell, Take 6, and Yolanda Adams each did knock out versions of Stevie songs. The amazing Tony Bennett showed up as a surprise and the two singers gave a spontaeous version of “For Once in My Life” at the podium.
In typical Stevie style, he wound up honoring Bennett for all his work in civil rights. “As much as I can’t see the color of his skin,” Stevie said of Tony, “I can see the color of his spirit.” Oh my, get out the handkerchiefs. Maybe now he and Bennett will record their long awaited album together. It’s been in the works for eons.
That wasn’t the only moving speech of the night. Revlon chief Ronald Perelman, accepting the corporate award, spoke poignantly. Instead of thanking everyone for getting the award, Perelman thanked the Apollo for all the great times he’s had there. It was lovely.
And then came Stevie: he played the Barbra Streisand hit, “People,” as well as his own “My Cherie Amour” and “Do I Do.” He had just launched into “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” when the very entertaining special guest emcee Sinbad and music director Ray Chew interrupted him. Out came Questlove from the Roots, who took the drums; Chick Corea and Paul Shaffer appeared at keyboards, and they all proceeded to take over the show. Their own jam session featured many of Stevie’s themes, with him joining in. The show ended with a big flourish of “Living for the City.”
Usually that would have been it. Finito. But not with Stevie Wonder. At the after party in a massive tent like building set up behind the Apollo, Stevie took over the mic from the deejay and proceeded to start his own one man show, sort of doing karaoke to his own songs. Spike Lee popped up with an IPad 2 and tried to film the spontaneity. Doug E. Fresh joined Stevie on the tiny stage, and they did impromptu versions of “Jungle Fever” and “Ribbon in the Sky” interspersed with a rap Stevie made up called “Welcome to Harlem.” Besides Spike, in the audience were Robert DeNiro and Grace Hightower, Gabby Sidibe and Sylvia Rhone, as well as many members of Stevie’s family including wife designer Kai Milla, and singer-daughter Aisha Morris.
More on Stevie shortly…
picture c2011 Showbiz411
“Spider Man” Opens Tonight: Julie Taymor Likely to Attend
“Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” opens tonight after beginning previews six months ago. The good news: I’m told that the show’s masterful creator, Julie Taymor, is likely to attend the premiere. She should, and she should take a big bow at curtain call. Tonight closes almost nine years worth of hard work.
Without Taymor, there would have been no “Spider Man.” And despite all the jokes–like the ones on the Tony Awards–“Spider Man” is not the worst show in Broadway history. It’s actually pretty good, has exciting special effects, great visuals, and good box office. Taymor’s vision remains intact in the reimagined show. It’s just that dialogue has been sharpened and the story is easier to follow now. The basic show is hers, and Taymor would be remiss not to try and enjoy the opening night.
If there’s bitterness at the show, it has more to do with the choreography situation. I’m told the actors did not care much for late arrival Chase Brock, who replaced accomplished veteran Daniel Ezralow. Brock, who’s never choreographed a Broadway show, has gotten low marks from the cast, crew and preview audiences for changing Ezralow’s work. After tonight though it won’t matter: “Spider Man” is finally sealed. In a perfect world, everyone involved can move on. With any luck, all debts and complaints can be resolved, and the entire episode will be over.
Jamie Foxx for Tarantino Movie? May Join Leo, Sam Jackson, Christoph Waltz
Will Jamie Foxx be joining Quentin Tarantino‘s “Django Unchained”? That’s the talk as the film–which already sounds great and it hasn’t even been filmed. Last night at the Tony’s, Jackson told me that he’s psyched, and that when we hear the whole story and script everyone’s going to go crazy. Tarantino wrote the script for his Oscar winner, Christoph Waltz, who must still be kicking himself that the “Inglourious Basterds” director found him in the first place. It’s an amazing story. Leonardo DiCaprio is also definitely signed. If Foxx joins the cast, it means he’s replacing Will Smith, who was discussed originally for the film. It’s good news for Jamie Foxx, who’s let his music career over take his film side. The Oscar winner for “Ray” could be a great Tarantino addition.
Harvey Weinstein Buys Madonna’s “W.E.”– It’s “Smart and Stylish”
Well, I may have to eat my hat. The inside word from The Weinstein Company is that Madonna’s effort as a movie director, “W.E.,” is really really good. Gregg Kilday is reporting that the Weinstein Company has bought the rights to Madonna’s movie. Now I’ve called some people I know–not Harvey or Bob–and they’ve told me the story. They bought the movie outright–no one else saw it. Madonna showed it to TWC first probably because Harvey Weinstein released her “Truth or Dare” twenty years ago. And the people who saw “W.E.,” including Harvey and Bob, loved it.
My first question: does it have any reference to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as Nazi sympathizers? I am told it’s at least mentioned. But this is also what was said: “It’s a smart and thoughtful and incredibly stylish. A performance by Andrea Riseborough that’s Oscar worthy. I don’t know how the f— she [Madonna] did it. It’s an art picture, there’s no question about it. It’s a picture for women. Bob and Harvey really loved it. This is a lot like Tom Ford’s directing of A Single Man. We were impressed with her. Everyone’s been talking about her in house for two weeks. She’s gotten it all up there on the screen. It’s hard to tell a good story. She managed to do it.”
My sources say this is all really true. They even say that they know there will be skepticism, but that once people see “W.E.,” they’ll get it.
I know, this is insane. People who read this column probably think I’ve been abducted by aliens. I can only go by what I’m told, though. And if “W.E.” is really so good, I’ll be the first to say it. The sales price, by the way, is said to be less than $5 million. More likely in the $4 million range.
Matthew Broderick Will Replace Harry Connick Jr. In Gershwin Musical
One of the big topics last night at the Tony Awards: word that Matthew Broderick will replace Harry Connick, Jr. in a long planned “new” Gershwin musical. “Nice Work If You Can Get It” was announced a couple of years ago as a project for now newly minted Tony winner Kathleen Marshall, director of “Anything Goes.” Marshall left the project at one point, but now I’m told she may be back in. This is considered a “new” Gershwin musical because, like “Crazy for You,” it’s assembled from Gershwin songs with a new book. Originally Connick was going to play the lead. But I was told last night by several sources that Matthew Broderick, so great in “The Producers” (Tony nomination) and many other shows, is replacing him. More info as it comes, but expect “Nice Work” for next year’s Tony Awards….And one nice thing for Matthew: he was denied a Tony for “The Producers” because Nathan Lane was partnered with him and the more flamboyant role of Max Bialystock. Broderick was just as good. This time, he’ll have a clear shot.
Carl Gardner, Leader of the Coasters, Dies at 83
The great rock and roll and R&B singer Carl Gardner, Sr., leader of the Coasters, died yesterday at age 83. “Carl was one of the great lead voices of the early rock and roll era,” says Sam Moore, his Atlantic Records labelmate. Gardner was also a leader in the effort to combat fake groups using the names of early groups. He fought to keep the Coasters name away from pretenders. It was a good thing, too, since the Coasters had lots of good will built up from their hits like “Charlie Brown,” “Poison Ivy,” “Yakety Yak,” “Youngblood,” “Searchin,” “Love Potion No. 9,” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” most of which were written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYnlVu9z1UM Gardner and the original Coasters are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in its early days.
Backstage at the Tony’s: Christie Brinkley Wins A Diamond Watch
What a scene backstage at the Tony Awards, in a room next to the cramped Beacon Theater. Audemars Piguet watches had a contest for the celebrity presenters–stick your hand in a bowl of keys, pick one out, and then open a locked cubby. If the key worked, you got a solid gold diamond encrusted watch worth, like, a lot of money. Christie Brinkley turned her key once, and it failed. But a photographer asked her to try again, and voila! The “Chicago” star, dazzling in a floor length blue gown, walked away with a new timepiece. Word came back that Hugh Jackman had also won one.
“Wait a minute,” said Matthew Broderick, who’d come to the gift suite, he said, because he knew no one sitting around him in the theater. SJP was home with their three kids. “Something’s fishy,” he joked. Broderick got to hang out a bit with Daniel Radcliffe, who’s now playing his old role in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Joel Grey accepted kudos for his early direction of “The Normal Heart.”
Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin chatted up a very young brunette, Paul Shaffer introduced his teenage daughter around, Robin Williams came roaring in from the stage with his big white beard. Everyone got boxes of very dry cookies from Armani. Kelsey Grammer and his new wife, Kayte, met Daniel Radcliffe.
Elsewhere there was much the public didn’t see, including Vanessa Redgrave stopping to shake hands and take pictures with senior citizens in the West 74th St. Nursing Home. She was the only celebrity to do so, even though everyone had to pass this group assembled in front of their entrance on the way into the Beacon. The Brooke Shields saw what was happening, so she stopped, too. Redgrave is a mensch.
Inside the theater, during a commercial break, Frances McDormand got locked out in the lobby. She told me then–before winning–she didn’t have a speech and didn’t know what to say if she did win. Then we had to convince a security guy to let her back into the theater. “She’s nominated for Best Actress,” I said.
Up in the loge is where you’d find the press–not bad seats, all things considered. But what was Andrew Lloyd Webber doing all the up there with us?
Best line of the night, from Whoopi Goldberg when we said hello on the red carpet: “I have hot dog breath.” We love Whoopi.
In the party at the Plaza Hotel: McDormand and husband Joel Coen chatting with playwright David Rabe and now famous actress daughter Lily Rabe (whose mom and his wife was the great Jill Clayburgh). Jerry and Kate Hathaway, parents of Anne Hathaway–who’s in London filming “The Dark Knight Rises,” came to hang with out one of the “War Horse” producers. Best actor winner Mark Rylance showing us the print out of the Louis Jenkins poem he read as an acceptance speech. He read a Jenkins poem when he was last Tony, too, for “Boeing Boeing.” (The poem is “Walking Through Walls” http://www.louisjenkins.com/Louis_Jenkins/Poems.html)
And: Tamara Tunie, of “Law & Order: SVU” and “As the World Turns” fame, chatting up the parents of famed director/choreographer siblings Rob (“Chicago,” “Pirates of the Caribbean 4”) and tonight’s Tony winner Kathleen Marshall. Tamara and Rob were college pals at Carnegie Mellon.
Chris Rock and Annabella Sciorra, co-stars of “The Motherf—- with the Hat,” exiting the Plaza, he with wife, she with boyfriend: “See you… in 48 hours.” The party’s over, the show must go on.
Jon Cryer Still Hasn’t Heard from Charlie Sheen, Doesn’t Know Who Ashton Kutcher Will Play
Believe it or not, Jon Cryer still hasn’t a word from his former co-star, Charlie Sheen. Cryer and Sheen were co-stars for eight seasons of “Two and A Half Men.” But since Sheen’s unwinding this past winter and spring, Cryer tells me there’s been no communication. “He has my number,” Cryer told me last at the Tony awards. “I don’t have his.” That’s because, Cryer says, Sheen has changed his number so many times. Cryer also told me he still has no idea what or who Ashton Kutcher will be playing on the show. “They haven’t told me anything,” he said. “But I think I have good chemistry with Ashton.”
The season begins shooting on August 1st. Cryer does know that the writers met this past week. “Chuck [Lorre] called to say they have great ideas,” said Cryer, who also told me he never had any concept that Sheen’s behavior would grow into such a major disaster. He said Sheen had had episodes before, and they’d all been weathered. Meantime, he’s happy to say that so far Angus T. Jones, the 17 year who plays his son on the show, has not outgrown him yet. “He had a big growth spurt and then he stopped,” said Cryer, indicating around his own height. “So I think I’ve won my bet. But his father is very tall, so it could still happen.”
Jon, if you don’t know, comes from a showbiz family. His father was an actor. His mother, Gretchen Cryer, launched a famous off Broadway show in 1979 called “I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking it On the Road.” It played for over a thousand performances at Joe Papp’s Public Theater. Next weekend, there’s a revival of the show and a showcase of a new one by Jon’s mom. But Cryer can’t be there, he said. “We’ve got, you know, little kids at home in L.A.” Oh yes, kids!
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