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Oscar Notes: Tom Ford Gets a Who’s Who of Something, Oscars Gets First Female Conductor, “1917” Celebrates End of “War”

Roger Friedman
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Oscar Notes: Tom Ford Gets a Who’s Who of Something, Oscars Gets First Female Conductor, “1917” Celebrates End of “War”

Oscar celebrating has begun in earnest, although it’s not what it used to be since the main player, Harvey Weinstein, is on trial in New York.

But the beat goes on. On Friday, fashion designer and part time film maker held a fashion show  with a Who’s Who of something,I’m not sure what, at Milk Studios. Ford’s Oscar get was Renee Zellweger, who sat in the front row. The rest of the guest list — and the models– were more like ripped from the pages of Us Magazine with Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Demi Moore, and Kate Hudson leading the pack. The show was very Jennerous, with Kris Jenner clucking over various members of her family, while tabloid subjects such as Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet, Rob Lowe, and Patrick Schwarzenegger roamed the room. Jon Hamm came in a strange silvery suit. Miley Cyrus’s brother, her escort, is tattooed from head to foot and everywhere in between. It was very high and low, with the emphasis on low. No Leo, Brad, Joaquin. No Oscar timed fashion show will ever compete with Armani’s literally all A list runway years ago at Ron Burkle’s mansion. But life goes on…

Also on Friday night, Women in Film threw their annual bast at the Sunset Room in Hollywood, with a nod to Idina Menzel, who will sing from “Frozen II” at the Oscars on Sunday night. She can’t “let it go” and why should she?  I ran into the adorable Beanie Feldstein right away (they should package her for mass consumption, everyone would be happy), and there was a big representation from women in music like Diane Warren (11th nomination for Best Song) and Regina Spektor (who got screwed out of a nomination for her “Bombshell” song because of unfiled paperwork!). Spektor emigrated with her family from Moscow to the Bronx in 1989, she told me. What a success story! Now she’s a proud New Yorker. Even though she’s not in this year’s Oscar mix, my guess is she’ll be back soon enough. She was signed to Sire Records years ago by the great Seymour Stein, the man who made Madonna, the Ramones, Pretenders, and Talking Heads. Seymour’s stars have longevity, that’s for sure!

I also ran into Eímear Noone, the very first female conductor of the Oscars orchestra. She’s from Dublin, has a long, stellar career already but now adds this historic honor. She will also conduct the 42 piece orchestra right from the Kodak Theater. Eimar told me that rehearsals have been terrific, beyond her expectations. She has been particularly impressed with Chrissy Metz, who will sing Diane Warren’s “I’m Standing with You” and stars in “This is Us.” Eimar says: “She’s going to blow away the audience.” Eimar has one foot in her hometown of Dublin, and one in Los Angeles, where she’s married to composer-producer Craig Stuart Garfinkle, brother of Broadway producer David Garfinkle. With that connection, I hope we see her in New York soon conducting a hit show!

One of the weekend’s first get togethers was for Sam Mendes’s “1917” at Universal Pictures’ annual soiree at Spago. Mendes hadn’t gotten to town yet from London, but his star, George Mackay, was there and brought his family. The great Jacqueline Bisset was on hand before taking off for a film shoot in Eastern Europe. All the Universal leaders were here including Ron Meyer and Donna Langley, and of course Wolfgang Puck, who looks like he’s getting younger. It must be the pizza with smoked salmon! Universal had a rollercoaster season with “1917” making more than $100 million and winning awards, and “Cats” clawing its way to the bottom. But that’s how it works in big studios. If they win tomorrow night, it will be no surprise.

 

 

Box Office: Warner’s “Birds of Prey” with Margot Robbie Flies Low with $13 Mil Opening Despite Solid Reviews

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Warner’s “Birds of Prey” with Margot Robbie Flies Low with $13 Mil Opening Despite Solid Reviews

The DC Comics universe continues to struggle at the box office.

Warner Bros’s “Birds of Prey” took in $13 million on Friday night including $4 million from Thursday previews. Ouch. A total $33 million weekend awaits them, much much lower than the hoped for $50 million.

Margot Robbie stars as Harley Quinn, who appeared in “Suicide Squad” and was such a hit as a secondary character with Jared Leto as the Joker. Their chemistry was off the charts and would have made for a great movie. But Leto got iced out of playing the Joker again once Joaquin Phoenix was slotted in for the current movie. That left Robbie/Quinn on her own.

The problem there is that the character is not well known enough to carry a whole film. The title doesn’t even explain that it’s Harley Quinn. Outside of hardcore enthusiasts, the attraction isn’t there. The movie had decent reviews, and Robbie has an Oscar nomination, plus she’s very high profile from “Once  Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Bombshell.” But none of that is enough.

So “Birds of Prey” — which could attract the Audubon Society by accident, from the title — is a failed launch. If only Leto had been included despite Phoenix, since director Todd Philips didn’t want “Joker” to be part of the DC Universe. Well, whatever. Cesar Romero never  had these problems!

Catherine Zeta Jones Tells Husband Michael Douglas About Late Father Kirk Douglas: “He loved you so very much my darling”

Roger Friedman
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Catherine Zeta Jones Tells Husband Michael Douglas About Late Father Kirk Douglas: “He loved you so very much my darling”

Michael Douglas has posted a lovely tribute to his dad, Kirk Douglas on Instagram. And his wife Catherine Zeta Jones responded: “He loved you so very much my darling.” Even a cynic like me is tearing up.

Here is Michael’s post:

“It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103. To the world he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.

But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband.

Kirk’s life was well lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet.

Let me end with the words I told him on his last birthday and which will always remain true. Dad- I love you so much and I am so proud to be your son. #KirkDouglas”

Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright Lynn Nottage Rescued After Locking Herself into Lincoln Center Bathroom

Roger Friedman
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Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright Lynn Nottage Rescued After Locking Herself into Lincoln Center Bathroom

The call for help went out at 2:42pm on Thursday, just while Donald Trump was having a nervous breakdown on national TV.

The Tweet: “I am locked in the bathroom at Lincoln Center. I have been banging and yelling if you see this tweet send help!”

It was from Lynn Nottage, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright of “Sweat,” and author of the book for the upcoming Michael Jackson musical.

“Where are you?! I’m on my way.” Evan Cabnet, artistic director of Lincoln Center Theatre, replied immediately.

In the time before Nottage was rescued, a woman named Myra Slotnick wrote on Twitter: “Help is coming, I called security, they’re coming.”

Miranda Haymon tweeted: “evancabnet and I are looking for you!”

A woman named Michelle Guitierrez wrote: “remember when that happened on Kinky Boots? To the cast? During a show?”

Lisa Dickey said: “Given the events of today, it might be safer to just stay in there”

Ned van Zandt observed: “My mother was a big band singer named Durelle Alexander who sang with Paul Whiteman. She got locked in the bathroom at Rockefeller Center Dec 7 ‘41. News had broken about Pearl Harbor, people were panicking, nobody found her for hours.”

At 3:22pm, Nottage tweeted again: “I am out of the bathroom!”

At 4:06pm, she added: Thank you to all that came to my rescue. My appreciation is deep. For a moment I thought I might be stuck for hours.”

Cabnet was hailed by another Tweeter but demurred: “I can take no credit, Phil, but not for lack of effort.”

And that’s the glamorous life in the theater!

Iconic Hollywood Legend Kirk Douglas Dead at 103, Oscar Winner Was Father of Oscar Winner Michael Douglas

Roger Friedman
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Iconic Hollywood Legend Kirk Douglas Dead at 103, Oscar Winner Was Father of Oscar Winner Michael Douglas

Alas, the end had to come eventually. The amazing Kirk Douglas has died at age 103. He hadn’t really been seen since the Golden Globes a year ago.

What an incredible life and career. He was a role model for Hollywood. The father of Oscar winner Michael Douglas, Kirk’s history in Hollywood is legendary. I’m sure the Oscars will acknowledge him in a major way on Sunday. It will be a last minute coup for them to get it right. (Not easy with four days to go.)

Kirk had 3 Oscar nominations for Best Actor in the 1950s. He was finally given a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He won 2 Golden Globes in the 50s, and received their Cecil B. DeMille Prize as well. He also had 3 Emmy nominations.

He starred most famously in “Spartacus,” and won an award from the Writers Guild in 1991 for making sure that screenwriter Dalton Trumbo got on screen credit for the 1960 movie. Trumbo had been blacklisted.

Douglas was also a bestselling author. His autobiography, “The Rag Man’s Son,” told the story of his life as the son of a poor Jewish immigrant who rose to fame and success. It’s still a great read.

Douglas’s other famous roles included “Lust for Life,” “Young Man with a Horn,” “Detective Story,” “Town Without Pity,” and so on. His resume is long and full of highlights.

One of his mourners today was R&B legend Sam Moore of Sam & Dave. When the great duo finally appeared on “SNL” in the 1980s, Kirk was the show’s host! “We spent all week together, and loved him!” Sam told me just now. As did everyone.

Kirk leaves his second wife, Anne, whom he married in 1954. They had two children, Peter and Eric (deceased). With Diana Douglas, he had Michael and Joel.

All Eyes Now On Elton John’s Oscar Party as Vanity Fair Throws a Pre-Oscar Party and Only 3 Actual Stars Show Up

Roger Friedman
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All Eyes Now On Elton John’s Oscar Party as Vanity Fair Throws a Pre-Oscar Party and Only 3 Actual Stars Show Up

What if you gave a party and no one’s heard of the people who showed up?

Seems like that’s what happened last night in Hollywood when Vanity Fair threw a pre-Oscar opening at the Wallis Annenberg Center. This is the space they rent for the weekend, so why not maximize the effort?

But only three actual stars showed up: Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, and Demi Moore. In the novelty tier was Caitlyn Jenner. And then? I’ve never heard of the people they photographed on the red carpet. I’m sure they’re lovely, but really. Things were so bad that one of the photos taken was a close up of a ring on the hand of Ashley Greene (not sure who she is). It’s not the days of Graydon, that’s for sure. Most celebrities will use Sunday’s Vanity Fair party as a photo op before they whisk away to grander adventures.

All of which points to Sunday night, when Elton John’s AIDS Foundation dinner will be the center of attention following the Oscars. This is especially true if Elton wins the Oscar for Best Song, from “Rocketman.” Elton, Bernie Taupin, and David Furnish will arrive from the Academy Awards as heroes, and I’m sure Elton will want to play “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” for his star studded guests. Burgeoning star Sam Fender will entertain the crowd until the conquering heroes arrive.

Other parties Sunday include Byron Allen’s now traditional gathering at the Beverly Wilshire, with performances from Jamie Foxx and Maroon 5; a Netflix do that’s private (licking wounds, perhaps, press isn’t invited), Warner Bros. celebrating “Joker,” and Jay Z’s taking over of the Chateau Marmont garage — yes, garage– with Beyonce, of course, and who knows?

The Party No One Can Get Into: Madonna’s deal after midnight. Of course, Madonna won’t be there. You know she’s in London trying not to miss performances of her “Madame X” show. But the celebs will troop up there, like Leo and Brad, etc. And we’ll get reports the next day of festivities ending at 4am.

 

SOTU: Ratings Last Night Were Donald Trump’s Worst in Three Years, Down 21 Percent, Only 2.8 Mil Watched on CNN

Roger Friedman
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SOTU: Ratings Last Night Were Donald Trump’s Worst in Three Years, Down 21 Percent, Only 2.8 Mil Watched on CNN

Donald Trump’s 3rd State of the Union address, last night, was his lowest rated so far. Trump scored just 37.1 viewers across all cable and broadcast networks. That’s down 21 percent from last year’s 46.8 million.

On Fox News, Trump had his highest number: 11.6 million, which was up by .3 million from last year. But on CNN, only 2.8 million people tuned. On MSNBC, it was lower than 2.3 million.

On the networks, CBS was the highest– 4.5 million at the start, 3.8 million in the second hour. ABC and NBC notched fewer. In fact, Trump’s SOTU scored almost the same numbers as a daytime soap opera.

Altogether, “NCIS” on CBS and NBC’s “Ellen’s Game of Games” each at 8pm, won the night handily.

And back to those 11.6 million people on Fox News: 165 million people voted in the last presidential election. That Fox number is minuscule. But it shows that the conservatives are focused. Liberals didn’t watch MSNBC with as much interest and enthusiasm. That’s the takeaway from those numbers. 

The people who tuned up had better turn up in November, and vote Trump out of office. If they abdicate responsibility, the next four years won’t be pretty.

Exclusive: Rush Limbaugh May Have Had Cancer Longer Than He Says, Set Up $5Mil Tax Free Foundation, Donated $500,000 to Famed Clinic in July 2018

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Rush Limbaugh May Have Had Cancer Longer Than He Says, Set Up $5Mil Tax Free Foundation, Donated $500,000 to Famed Clinic in July 2018

EXCLUSIVE Rush Limbaugh only announced yesterday that he had Stage 4 advanced lung cancer. He made it seem like this was a new thing, discovered only back in January.

But the right wing radio host may have known two years ago that he had cancer. The only surprising part may have been the Stage 4 news.

In July 2018, Limbaugh and his current and fourth wife donated $500,000 to the Dana Farber Cancer Clinic in Boston. It came at the same time that he and the wife started a brand new 501 c3 called the Rush and Kathryn Limbaugh Family Foundation. They put $5 million into the Foundation and sent a tenth of it to Dana Farber. They had never had a foundation before, nor given money to Dana Farber. They made no other donations from the $5 million.

The couple’s 501 c3 Form 990 was received by the IRS on May 20, 2019, ten months after the donation. The foundation lists Kathryn Adams Limbaugh as President, Rush Hudson Limbaugh as treasurer, and Penelope Adams Rogers as secretary.

On Monday, Limbaugh concluded his show saying “I have been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Diagnosis confirmed by two medical institutions back on Jan. 20.”

The 69-year-old continued: “I thought about trying to do this without anybody knowing because I don’t like making things about me,” he said. “But there are going to be days that I’m not going to be able to be here because I’m undergoing treatment or I’m reacting to treatment.”

What’s really been going on? We may be hearing about it on his show soon enough.

That’s Entertainment: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Rips Up Trump’s SOTU Speech and Makes Strongest Statement of Night

Roger Friedman
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That’s Entertainment: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Rips Up Trump’s SOTU Speech and Makes Strongest Statement of Night

Before tonight’s State of the Union address, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi extended her hand to Donald Trump in line with civil behavior.

Trump, impeached by the House, on trial in the Senate, snubbed her and turned away. He’s a boor, with no decency, a man who only respects dictators and goons. Didn’t he think there would be consequences?

Sure enough, Pelosi got him back in the most stunning statement of the night. When Trump was finished, and taking kudos from his illiterate, self serving all white followers, Pelosi slam dunked him. She stood and ripped up her copy of his speech. Trump, with his back to her, had no idea what was going on. Then Pelosi shook hands with Vice President Pence. who accepted her gesture.

Pelosi 1, Trump 0.

 

Oscar Surprise: Longtime (Anonymous) Academy Member Chooses “Jojo Rabbit,” Joaquin, Renee, Scarlett, Hopkins

Roger Friedman
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Oscar Surprise: Longtime (Anonymous) Academy Member Chooses “Jojo Rabbit,” Joaquin, Renee, Scarlett, Hopkins

I had a chance meeting with a longtime Academy voter tonight. Since voting has closed, this person shared their main choices for the Oscars with me.

Remember, this is a member probably for 40 plus years. They made a lot of movies before moving to TV, where they had profoundly long lasting success. They are also Jewish, which matters because of their Best Picture choice: “Jojo Rabbit.”

What? I gasped. I said, I found it anti-Semitic.

“No, you didn’t understand it,” they said. “You realize that the mother– superbly played by Scarlett Johansson– hates them. She is trying to teach her son a lesson. She does, too. I thought it was brilliant.”

Consequently, this voter’s choice for Best Supporting Actress was Scarlett, not Laura Dern. “Marriage Story,” they said, “was my second choice film.”

Third choice? “1917.”

Best actor? No hesitation: “Joaquin! That’s an amazing performance. And the movie was wonderful. What he did…”

Best actress? “Renee Zellweger.” Even though the movie may not be factual? “Doesn’t matter. She got Judy.”

Here’s a surprise: no Brad Pitt for Best Supporting Actor. This person selected Anthony Hopkins, from “The Two Popes.” They said, “I just loved listening to him [and to Jonathan Pryce]. I voted for the screenplay, too.”

At this point were interrupted. I said “The Irishman” was my favorite movie of the year. They replied: “That was low down on my list. I felt like I’d seen it before.”

Well, it’s just one vote, but from a veteran with good taste.  Just FYI. We never discussed “Parasite,” but I got the feeling they weren’t a fan.

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