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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.

Beatle Tribute to Broadway: At All Star Memorial, Paul McCartney Calls Jerry Herman “One of the All Time Greats”

Roger Friedman
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Beatle Tribute to Broadway: At All Star Memorial, Paul McCartney Calls Jerry Herman “One of the All Time Greats”

The Lunt Fontanne Theater was bursting with stars and heavy hitters of renown yesterday afternoon to say goodbye to the great Jerry Herman, composer of “Hello, Dolly!” “Mame” “La Cage Aux Folles” and many other hits. Herman died on December 26th at age 88. I did not know him, but I was always proud to say we lived on the same block.

The show — produced by Michael Feinstein, Jane Dorian, and Terry Marler– was dedicated to celebrating Jerry’s life, boasted 9 Tony winners including Harvey Fierstein, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, Kristen Chenoweth, Tyne Daly, Sutton Foster, Kelli O’Hara, Leslie Uggams, Debby Gravitte, plus stars Ron Raines, Jeremy Jordan, Marilyn Maye, Klea Blackhurst, LeRoy Reams, and Lorna Luft, who came in from L.A. for the occasion.

Spotted in filled to the gills theater: Michele Lee, Loretta Swit, Donna MacKechnie, Brenda Vaccaro, Sheldon Harnick (going strong at almost 96!), Billy Stritch, composer/pianist Ron Abel, and “Frozen” writers Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez.

The show was brilliantly conceived by Michael Feinstein and directed by Michael Bruni. The memorial was about the music and terrific songs from Herman’s shows, which are standing the test of time – are fun, emotional, optimistic in keeping with Jerry’s own attitude toward entertainment and life. There was a 29-piece orchestra on stage and 20 members of a Broadway vocal chorus who were able to create the moments from classic shows and add value to particular numbers. Herman’s musicals always had a huge place for the chorus in songs. A great emotional moment, was when famous Broadway conductor Don Pippin, the original conductor of “Hello Dolly,” came on to conduct. Very respectful and the audience got it. Huge applause on his entrance and for Betty Buckley, who just closed the national tour of “Dolly!”

Other standouts included Kelli O’Hara singing “Before the Parade Passes By” and Ron Raines leading the ensemble with “Mame.” Sutton Foster wowed the crowd with “I Don’t Want to Know” from “Dear World.”

The capper: Angela Lansbury and Paul McCartney each sent video tape presentations. Angela talked of her first meeting with Jerry which enabled her to move to the Broadway stage. She seems to have been an intimate very personal friend of Jerry’s. McCartney talked of Herman being “one of the all-time greats” whose music will last forever. McCartney should know: back in 1964, Louis Armstrong’s recording of “Hello, Dolly!” stopped the Beatles from having a 15th week at number 1!

Beach Boy Mike Love Confuses “Surfin’ Safari” With the Real Thing, Group Founder Brian Wilson Urges Boycott of Group Plan to Play Hunting Convention

Roger Friedman
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Beach Boy Mike Love Confuses “Surfin’ Safari” With the Real Thing, Group Founder Brian Wilson Urges Boycott of Group Plan to Play Hunting Convention

Beach Boy founder Brian Wilson and original bandmember Al Jardine are urging former bandmate Mike Love not to play a hunting convention on Wednesday in Reno, Nevada.

Apparently Love, a cousin to Wilson, has the rightx to tour with the Beach Boys name. Always a villain in their 50 plus year saga, Love has confused the band’s 1962 hit “Surfin’ Safari” with the real thing– big game hunting. He’s planning to have his Beach Boys– which don’t include Brian Wilson or Jardine — perform at the SCI Hunters Convention in Reno this week. The hideous Donald Trump Jr. is the keynote speaker.

A petition has gone up at change.org to stop Love, et al from wrecking what’s left of the Beach Boys name by participating in this crap fest. I’m curious to hear what John Stamos– who has played with the band over the last years– thinks of this situation. Also, Bruce Johnston, who– like Wilson, brothers Carl and Dennis, Love, and Jardine– was a founding member. (Carl and Dennis Wilson are deceased.)

On Twitter, Wilson writes: “It has been brought to my attention that on Wednesday February 5, The Beach Boys touring group licensed by Mike Love are headlining at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada…This organization supports trophy hunting, which Both Al and I are emphatically opposed to. There’s nothing we can do personally to stop the show, so please join us in signing the petition at change.org.”

Wilson is the musical genius behind the Beach Boys’ greatest compositions from “Good Vibrations” to “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows,” and “Surf’s Up.”

When he wrote “Surfin’ Safari” it was about loading up surfboards on a wood paneled station wagon and cruising the coast for good waves. It was NOT about murdering endangered species around the world.

This is absolutely repugnant behavior by Love, who doesn’t have a great reputation in Beach Boy history. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Southern Africa twice in my lifetime. Once you’ve seen the majestic animals who inhabit the continent, all you want to do is protect them from vulgarians like the Trumps. Photo safari, surfing safari, yes! Hunting, no!

 

Hips Don’t Lie: Super Bowl Conquest Sends 2001 Shakira Song to Number 1 on iTunes, Plus 9 More Onto the Top 100

Roger Friedman
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Hips Don’t Lie: Super Bowl Conquest Sends 2001 Shakira Song to Number 1 on iTunes, Plus 9 More Onto the Top 100

You just think the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. The real winner was Shakira.

The hot 43 year old Latinx singer was such a hit at the halftime show that she’s having the biggest run on the charts since Lady Gaga did the Super Bowl a couple of years ago.

Shakira’s “Whenever, Wherever” has hit number 1 on iTunes. It was released on August 27, 2001. There are four more Shakira tracks in the top 10 including her “Hips Don’t Lie” duet with Wyclef Jean. Five more follow from number 11 to 100.

The people want Shakira!

Jennifer Lopez didn’t too badly, either. She has nine tracks on the iTunes top 100, although the highest is number 23, “Waiting for Tonight.”

So forget the “criticism” of their performances. Shakira and JLo rocked that football stadium. I think JLo deserves a lot of credit for having Shakira join her on the show, too. Jennifer Lopez words hard for the money. She is persistent. Diva? Maybe? But you don’t there by being lazy.

On the iTunes album charts, Shakira has five albums in the top 100. Lopez has one. But to be fair, JLo is not an album artist. So we’ll cut her some slack.

Apart from the Super Bowl, CBS This Morning can take credit for two James Taylor collections of hits arriving on the iTunes chart. Jane Pauley interviewed him on Sunday and managed to not once mention his marriage to Carly Simon. I found that pretty funny. JT has an audio biography coming on Audible.com that takes him conveniently almost up to the day he met his first wife and mother of his oldest two children. Carly Simon and James Taylor were like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in their day. They made the cover of Rolling Stone. They were married for 11 years. But hey, CBS Sunday Morning, facts are fungible.

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