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Exclusive: Ricky Gervais: “Will Arnett Perfect for The Office”

Roger Friedman
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Readers of this column will recall that two and a half weeks ago, at the HBO Golden Globes after party, Ricky Gervais had an exclusive interview here. He told me that he thought Will Arnett would be perfect to take Steve  Carell’s place on “The Office” running Dunder Mifflin. Ricky also told me he’d be on “The Office” on January 27th (which he was) and that that episode would give a big clue about Carell’s successor. If only someone somewhere had checked this out via a Google search. Gervais wrte this on his blog yesterday which caused a webjam as several sites picked this up as if it were news. It was not. but it was back on Monday January 17th when I wrote it.

Arnett would fit right into NBC’s line up since he’s married to “Parks and Recreation” star Amy Poehler. But I do think that Gervais is probably coming to “The Office” at least for a little while.

Grammy Party Cutbacks: Where Will Lady GaGa Go-Go?

Roger Friedman
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This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since record or CD or download sales are literally at a fraction of what they used to be: on Grammy night, the two biggest record companies are not having after parties. As of now, Universal Music–the leader–has nothing scheduled. It’s unclear where their artists-like Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, and Eminem will go to celebrate. Of course, as one UMG insider pointed out, Bieber is nowhere drinking age and Monday is a school day. Right.

Meanwhile Sony Music–second in the business–is having a small gathering for what they say will be 150 people including execs, nominees, and people like Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. Sounds like fun. Exec wise, Sony is in a muddle over trying to get 72 year old Doug Morris extricated from his UMG contract to come run their company.

R&B artist NeYo has cancelled his annual late night brunch that usually starts at 2am on Sunday after Clive Davis’s Saturday night NARAS backed gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Also not happening: LA Reid’s annual party, even though the DefJam chief is celebrating his producer’s credit on the Justin Bieber 3D movie (which is not called Leave it to Biever).

 The Davis event is still on, honoring David Geffen, with rumors of a Dionne Warwick tribute featuring her cousin, Whitney Houston. The Davis night is one of two big soirees on a weekend that’s incredibly diminished from what it used to be. The other is Friday night’s MusiCares Person of the Year dinner honoring Barbra Streisand, a hot hot ticket at the Convention Center.

At the same time that Sony and UMG have skipped spending big bucks, there’s word that EMI–a company in financial jeopardy and recently seized by Citigroup–his having a “big” party in town. Well, they do have artists to entertain like Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum, so it’s not totally nuts. Past EMI parties have always been fun. And there’s a rumor of a Lyor Cohen after party hosted by the Warner Music exec.

There’s also the NARAS Governor’s Ball right after the show, although it’s not usually a place to see stars. But what a difference in a business that used to live on lavish parties. The heyday is really over.

Annette Bening Next Movie: Morgan Freeman Co-Star, Rob Reiner to Direct

Roger Friedman
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It looks like Annette Bening’s follow up to her Oscar nominated performance in “The Kids Are All Right” will be directed by Rob Reiner with Morgan Freeman as her co-star.

Reiner told our Leah Sydney at the AARP dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel: “I’m working on a film the title of it now is now called “The Third Act”-it looks like we’ll have Morgan Freeman and Annette Bening in it together. I don’t want to tell you more about it because we haven’t  even started shooting yet.  You’re the only person I’ve told. It hasn’t been announced.  I’m directing –producing and doing some rewriting from an original script by a fellow named Guy Thomas.” Rob also told us, “I’m working on the court challenge to Prop 8, trying to overturn it and deliver marriage equality to everybody.”

Reiner accepted an award for his movie “Flipped,” which was not a hit but has its fans. His dad, the legendary Carl Reiner, gave him the award. Carl quipped, “When Rob was very young, we knew he would be special-he as alert all the time. I mean it-this kid never slept.   I shep nachas from him I wish for all of you the same shep nachsing I get from Robbie.”

Rob Reiner then come up and said,  “I want to thank my father for making love to my mother almost 64 years ago. “  Carl, then in the audience shouted out: “My pleasure!”  Then Rob said, “They had sex only three times cause they had three children.” To which Carl retorted: “Ten times!”

Robert Redford: “I Am Not About to Retire”

Roger Friedman
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Robert Redford, honored at Monday night’s AARP star studded Movies for Grown Ups dinner in Hollywood, talked to our Leah Sydney exclusively. Redford, one of the good guys, continues to be the most vocal celebrity on the subject of the environment. Deeply critical of the last Bush administration, Redford told Sydney that improvements have been made, but with caveats. “It’s already been treated poorly, nothing worse than in the eight years before Obama, so he has a pretty big hole to dig out of.  What concerns me, as far as we know it’s the only planet we’ve got-and we better treat it as our home, and we all belong on it.  I think we’re abusing it in the interest of short term profits and money and the corporations that are not interested, like mining, gas and timber and oil companies are interested in profits rather than sustainability, that’s why I’m an environmentalist.”

Redford also addressed the crowd (see Larry Hagman story) including Carl Reiner and Rob Reiner, and a host of stars. He was clear about one thing. Even at age 74, he is not about to entire into retirement.

“The AARP is about retiring, but I’m not about to retire.  There is just too much work to do.”

Redford then went on to talk about his “Morphing from a painter to an actor-along the way I had a broader focus about my country and realized that America is more complex, complicated and multi layered.  I wanted to tell that story.  As a kid growing up I was given one level, a propagandized, sloganeering level. I wanted to tell the story of America that I love and grew up with-warts and all.  The honor and accolades are always welcome and I’m grateful but it’s always been about the work and the climb up the mountain.  Success and accolades are fleeting but the work remains.  That’s the joy.  You can only keep trying and do the best you can do.”

Redford’s next film that he director, “The Conspirator,” a very cool historical drama starring Robin Wright and James McEvoy–great performances–about the Lincoln assassination–opens on April 15th.

Larry Hagman: “Dallas” Reboot Should Be Shot in Dallas

Roger Friedman
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Leah Sydney reports from the AARP celebrity dinner in Hollywood last night.

Larry Hagman is not happy. He says that the “Dallas” reboot series for TNT may not be shot in Dallas.

“They’re still deciding where we’re going to shoot it-they’re still dickering-and they might make up their mind tomorrow. I’m not happy about it-we should shoot there-it’s called “Dallas” for goodness sake.  Where the hell us should we shoot it?  I can’t believe this is even up for discussion.  It’s all about the hotels, the sets all that stuff-comes down to money. But I’d be less than thrilled if it was not shot there.  I mean, come on people –it’s called Dallas for a reason.”

Hagman did tell us which movies he liked this year. “Black Swan-different, dark –interesting.  I liked The Kids are All Right, too- quirky.  Love Annette Bening.“

Guests at the Beverly Wilshire dinner–hosted by Dana Delany and Peter Gallagher–included Tony Bennett, Mickey  and Jan Rooney, Susan Blakely, Penelope Ann Miller, Brenda Vaccaro, Martin Landau, Andy Garcia, Peter Guber, Angela Lansbury, Ed Begley Jr, Rebecca DeMornay, Mimi Rogers, Michael Nouri, Cheryl Ladd, Jaclyn Smith, John Wells, Alan Thicke, Taraji Henson, Hal Holbrooke, Phylicia Rashad and sister Debbie Allen. Carl Reiner hosted and Robert Redford was honored (see next story).

Warner Music Depends on Mars, But Keeps Losing Millions

Roger Friedman
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Warner Music Group continues to drift lower and lower. Today they reported more huge losses, no surprise. Their morning quarterly call with financial analysts was as painful to listen to as usual. WMG reported a 14% loss, $46 million vs. $18 million the previous quarter. “Cost cutting” didn’t help–they’ve cut everything. And while music sales are down everywhere, WMG is notable for not developing new acts or promoting current acts. “We had a lot of releases in the December quarter,” Edgar Bronfman, Jr. told the analysts. “By and large they did not do as well as we expected them to do versus, obviously, other companies.” Bronfman said he didn’t know whether that was because the public didn’t like WMG’s releases or liked other labels’ more. The reality is that Christmas, the biggest part of the music industry’s year, gave WMG no hits. At the moment, WMG has one album–by 25 year old Bruno Mars–in the top 20.

In the end, listening to this call as I have to so many others on WMG’s finances, I can only blame the analysts. They ask the worst questions, and seem to have no understanding of the music business at all. They are equally pathetic. Instead of querying Bronfman about a possible sale of WMG, or breaking off its Warner Chappell publishing division, they ask about Ringtones (so 2005). You can’t help people who won’t help themselves. The sky has fallen, it’s in pieces all over the ground, and the analysts are trying to determine the shape of clouds.

Mick Jagger Gives “The King’s Speech” Some Satisfaction

Roger Friedman
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Awards season in Hollywood and New York is still going on for front runners “The Social Network and “The King’s Speech. ” Tomorrow night in New York, Tina Brown is hosting an A list cocktail party for the “Network” team. Hopefully, producer Scott Rudin will be well enough to attend and welcome star guests like Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue. Last night in Hollywood: an eclectic group of celebs starting with rock stars like Mick Jagger, Lenny Kravitz, and Marc Anthony and JLO, toasted “The King’s Speech” gang (Firth, Rush, Hooper) at the Chateau Marmont. The Audi sponsored get together included an invite to nominees from all 10 Best Picture candidates who’d been at the Academy nominees lunch earlier that day. Jane Fonda and Richard Perry, Renee Zellweger, “Blue Valentine” nominee Michelle Williams with bff Busy Phillips (they were on “Dawson’s Creek” together), cast members from “Glee” (Cory Montieth) and “Modern Family,” (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). Mickey and Jan Rooney, Don Rickles–yes Don Rickles!, Nikki Haskell, and Lucy Punch helped give nominee Geoffrey Rush a send off to New York where he starts his play, “Diary of a Mad Man,” at BAM on Friday night. (Rush will get a big welcome tonight in New York for his acclaimed stage performance transferring from Australia.)

There were lots of reunions, too: actor brothers Keith and Robert Carradine were on hand. And a bevy of actors who worked in classic Miramax films were there like Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgard (with son Alex, the hot star of “True Blood”) from “Good Will Hunting”; Timothy Spall from “The King’s Speech” and  “Love’s Labours Lost”; plus Anthony LaPaglia, Amanda Seyfried, “Lord of the Rings” guys Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, Elizabeth Banks, Gerard Butler, Jennifer Beals, Jeremy Piven, and Brit superstar Anthony Andrews, who’s in “TKS” but is fondly remembered here for “Brideshead Revisited.”

The New Yorker Magazine Takes on Scientology in Hollywood: Bravo!

Roger Friedman
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The New Yorker– venerable and respected–has taken on the Church of Scientology.

Lawrence Wright’s piece, called “The Apostate: Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology,” chronicles the Oscar winning screenwriter and film director’s departure from Scientology after 34 years. It’s something this reporter has written about often, not only Haggis’s exit but that of other Hollywood stars. Wright goes even further: he has actor Josh Brolin describe his brief encounter with Scientology. It scared him. Brolin–smart, respected–has taken a big chance here because Scientology is vindictive. They’ve already called him a liar less than 24 hours since his anecdote was published.

I know Josh Brolin, and he’s no liar. He says he saw John Travolta try to “heal” Marlon Brando using Scientology techniques. “It was f–ing bizarre,” Brolin said.

I told readers of this column last year that Haggis left Scientology for two reasons: their campaign for Prop 8 against gay marriage, and for their treatment of former members. Haggis told me that when his in-laws left the Church, he and his wife were told to have nothing to do with them anymore. They banned the Haggis’s child from seeing his grandparents. This went on for a year, Paul told me. The toll it took was brutal on the family. Haggis’s in laws sued to see their grandson. Finally, Haggis and his wife, actress Deborah Rennard, caved in, reunited with the grandparents, and exited Scientology. The whole story, in detail, is in The New Yorker piece.

For years I’ve written about the horrors of Scientology, right up through Kelly Preston, John Travolta’s wife, confronting me in Memphis on the night before Isaac Hayes’s bizarre Scientology tinged funeral. Preston and Tommy Davis, chief celebrity wrangler for Scientology, then went to my bosses at Fox News to complain about me. Or more. I’ve also written about Tom Cruise‘s antics, Kirstie Alley‘s Scientology based diet plan, about Davis’s wife, Jessica Feschbach, who was Katie Holmes’s “monitor” when she first was scooped up into Cruise’s world and cut off from family and friends.  I also wrote about actor Jason Beghe, and how he escaped after 14 years. And lots more. Lawrence Wright‘s piece–which is long and incredibly detailed and comprehensive–is a brilliant job and a must read.

Bravo!

Spider Man Musical: Told Not To, the Critics Review it Anyway

Roger Friedman
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The New York Times, trade papers Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, as well as USA Today and Bloomberg News, all disregarded the set opening date of “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” and reviewed it tonight.

The opening had been set for tonight after several postponements. The new date was March 15th. But all three publications said enough was enough, and went ahead with reviews.

Only Elyse Gardner in USA Today “got it.” She wrote that “Turn off the Dark” was really an old fashioned musical at heart.

Variety’s review was mixed, at best. Steve Suskin took issue with the “book” or plot, and the musical score.

David Rooney in The Hollywood Reporter was less kind. He really lacerated the show.

It’s unclear whether other publications–even the New York tabss–will now follow lead and review “Spider Man.” I can tell you that this ambush was just that, and unexpected. I happened to be with one of the show’s producers, Norton Herrick, at the premiere tonight of a movie he backed called “Vanishing on 7th Street.” (Very creepy, cool, post apocalyptic horror film.) Herrick was gobsmacked when he got the news of the reviews.”That’s not right,” he said. You betcha.

It does seem from the trade reviews that what’s really galled the critics is that “Spider Man” is a hit. It’s the second highest  grossing show on Broadway, right behind “Wicked.” Lately it’s been outselling even “The Lion King.” The reviewers want to make a case that it’s all about curiosity. They think audiences are coming to see a train wreck. Quite the opposite: if the show were so bad, word of mouth would kill it. Honestly, people really like “Spider Man.” And frankly, why not? The sets, costumes, and aerial arrangements are fantastic. Seventy five percent of it works. And by March 15th, when reviewers are really supposed to review it, “Spider Man” should be up around 90%. That’s better than a lot of Broadway shows.

Aretha Franklin Will Send Video Message to Grammy Awards

Roger Friedman
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The great and legendary Aretha Franklin, contrary to crazy web reports, is not appearing live on stage at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Miss Franklin, if you are new to this planet, travels by bus. She does not fly. She rarely travels west of the Rockies, and she’s still recuperating from her winter illness. So she’s taped a video message that will be played during the show for her fans–who are everyone, really. She is fine and dandy. She will look a lot thinner, I think, than in her last public outing. But she is healthy. There will be a tribute to her on stage, which there should be every year. But it’s not a send off. Aretha will be back, and soon!

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