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Bette Midler on Carol Channing: “I flat out adored her…as far as I am concerned, she will live forever”

Roger Friedman
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Bette Midler on Carol Channing: “I flat out adored her…as far as I am concerned, she will live forever”

Bette Midler, the most recent Dolly Levi, has sent out a statement about the original Dolly. Carol Channing, who passed away today at age 97. Carol, by the way, was famed for not missing a performance in the four years she starred in “Hello, Dolly!” from 1964 to 1968.

“There was only one Carol Channing, and there will never be another.  She was that rarest of stage creatures, an absolute original.  From her instantly recognizable voice, to her stature, which was close to 6 feet, with her wide-eyed take on the world she crept into theater-goers hearts and took up permanent residence there.

When Scott Rudin invited me to play Dolly in 2016, I immediately thought of her and went to visit.  How could I not?  She had played the part over 7,000 times around the world, and to the world, she WAS Dolly. It was one of the great afternoons of my life.  She was gracious, and she was generous, sharing with me the legends, the lore and the mechanics of Dolly, much of which had been lost in time.  I will forever be grateful to her for lighting my way to one of the most magical experiences of my performing life, and for the hours I spent in her company.  I flat-out adored her and send her fans, her friends and her son, Channing Lowe, my condolences, although as far as I am concerned, she will live forever.

Crime Pays, After All: Architectural Digest Features Disgraced Cyclist Lance Armstrong’s 6,000 Square Foot Colorado Mansion, Art Collection

Roger Friedman
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Crime Pays, After All: Architectural Digest Features Disgraced Cyclist Lance Armstrong’s 6,000 Square Foot Colorado Mansion, Art Collection

Crime pays, after all.

Lance Armstrong, who’s shown no contrition for cheating, lying, and doping his way to seven Tour de France wins, is back. This is after he was stripped of those seven wins for obtaining them fraudulently.

Architectural Digest is featuring his 6,000 square foot home in Colorado that he shares with his fiancee, who’s also the mother of his two most recent children.

How does he even have a 6,000 square foot house, or a pot to piss in? A year ago, Armstrong settled $5 million with the US government right before a trial that could have cost him $100 million. In 2015 he was ordered to pay $10 million in restitution to his former management company.

This is hysterical. Subway sandwich’s Jared Fogle will be next, I guess. There is no such thing as shame.

AD just pretends nothing ever happened, and the article talks about Armstrong’s art collection, his interior designer, his artist friends, and so on. He says Ed Ruscha is his friend. If so, Ed is an idiot. Robin Williams, who was Armstrong’s friend, was betrayed by Armstrong and told me so. No one can be his friend.

Here’s the quote where I burst out laughing: Armstrong’s love of art goes back decades, to when he was spending half the year racing in Europe. “I used my time [there] as kind of an education in culture and art,” he says.

No, he spent the time in Europe organizing a doping ring so he could win the Tour de France fraudulently.

Wait, you can tour his art collection! Are these people insane? Are there no editors at Conde Nast?

Let’s just over what happened again: Armstrong won 7 Tour de France titles. He was plagued the entire time by rumors of doping. Here’s the entire history of his doping on Wikipedia.

He finally admitted it all to Oprah Winfrey in a 2013 interview. Now, AD acts as if it never happened. This must the Trump effect. A blatant thief shows his bounty off to the public, and brags about it. Armstrong, as you know, is banned from racing. But somehow, like a cockroach, he survives.

Here’s the full confession:

Hollywood Awards Circuit Below the Line: GBK Gift Suite Gives Small Vendors, Entrepreneurs Chance to Shine with Celebs

Leah Sydney
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Hollywood Awards Circuit Below the Line: GBK Gift Suite Gives Small Vendors, Entrepreneurs Chance to Shine with Celebs

The Golden Globes are over, the Critics Choice Awards have passed,  and the Oscars are yet to come.  One of the stand out events was GBK Productions luxury lounge, which was held at the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills.  GBK, founded by Gavin B. Keilly, is always the premiere lounge of any awards season —  so much so that Spike Lee stopped in and made sure to support Peace 4 Animals a world respected organization established in 2012 by esteemed animal advocate Katie Cleary.

What we love about GBK is that it brings in small vendors and entrepreneurs to mix with big names. You meet those most interesting people from around the country piloting their own businesses. On the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards, we ran into eventual Best Supporting Actress winner Regina King. At the Emmys’ GBK suite last fall, Regina bought 100 artfully designed backpacks from small Jacksonville, Florida company Blessed Design. We asked her how it all went. “I loved those people, and their designs. We gave all the backpacks away,” Regina said.

So celebrities can really help the products.  Chaz Dean WEN Hair and Body care was on hand with their own mini salon and previewing their new winter line.   To get in shape Fit-Farm spa/resort in Nashville, Tennessee had the VIP’s create their own personal fitness plan.  “Vice” director Adam McKay tried the Story Electric Bike, they give a bike to charity for every bike sold.  The Artisan Group founded by Valerie S. Guerrero, is always elegant and filled with lovely products from all over the country.  Linda Cardellini loved Yomo Studio Jewelry and perused Seraph design clothes and accessories, Wonderlash, Go Donut smartphone stand as well. Prospeck, a Canadian start up company, offered their Spektrum computer glasses which helps with eye strain.  Keidrich Sallati, as did all the other celebs, ‘test drove’ the Kahuna Chair which offers the coolest, soothing best 4D massage out there, as well as their new LED anti-aging mask.

And more: The Queen of Wakanda, Angela Bassett, just loved the popular Comfitude blankets and chatted with the President of the company, New Yorker Jimmy Steindecker.  Danny Huston confabbing about Italy with the Italian luxury resort of La Corte Dell’Astore, which looks just stunning, no wonder it is a go to destination for savvy travelers.  The lovely “Dumplin” star Danielle Macdonald was excited about going to the hot spot Turks & Caicos Sailrock resort.  Steven Cunningham’s handcrafted quality Warther Cutlery, Nicole Frank’s TWE Wardrobe Evolution for women, Snow Teeth Whitening, Total Life Changes skincare/teas/coffee/oils and delicious Heitz Cellars wines were all popular stops.  Anthony Anderson spent much time at the Knot Standard menswear room, stylish clothes for men. Jennifer Contini’s aka Jenakziti Painted Hearts, showed her off hip, pop fun art, which have long been a staple in Manhattan, Hamptons and more.

And everyone got a little tipsy trying JCB truffle or caviar flavored vodka. Their carafe is a knockout, too! The JCB folks made it a little hard to concentrate toward the end– just try some and you’ll see: Oscar-Emmy-Tony winner Viola Davis tested the product to see if she could get away with murder! (You don’t remember a thing!)

Tons of other celebs and VIPS always show that GBK’s suites are the ones that the A list never miss!

TV: Roseanne Spin-Off “The Conners” Will Be Renewed for Second Season, Even as Ratings Level Off

Roger Friedman
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TV: Roseanne Spin-Off “The Conners” Will Be Renewed for Second Season, Even as Ratings Level Off

The “Roseanne” spin off, “The Conners,” is getting renewed for another season. Two cast members have indicated to me that they already know the good news, both Laurie Metcalf and Sarah Gilbert.

The renewal comes despite a rocky first season. They debuted with 10.5 million viewers and last week, their 9th, brought 6.85 million. They have two more episodes in this season, tonight and next week.

What’s interesting is that “The Conners” brings in an extra 2.5 million people who DVR the show. They have a big audience who save it for later. That’s helping them.

Also, aside from juggernaut “NCIS” opposite them, “The Conners” brings in the highest ratings of the night. They also provide a lead in for ABC’s comedy lineup, which doesn’t do as well as “The Conners.” But you’ve got to fill the time with something. And for now, “The Conners” will do just fine.

Metcalf, by the way, is coming back to Broadway this spring with John Lithgow in “Hillary and Clinton.” She’s won back to back Tony Awards in “A Doll’s House Pt. 2” and “Three Tall Women.” She’s one of our great actresses. One upside of “The Conners” is that we’ve gotten to see more of her character, Jackie. That’s a good read to keep the show going!

Alicia Keys Announces on YouTube She’s Hosting the Grammy Awards Next Month

Roger Friedman
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Alicia Keys Announces on YouTube She’s Hosting the Grammy Awards Next Month

Surprise! Multiple Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys is hosting the show this year, February 10th on CBS. She announced it just now on YouTube. She’ll be great, and it opens up a new whole chapter in her career. What a refreshing idea!

Watch First Trailer for “Spider Man: Far from Home” with Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Venice Canals

Roger Friedman
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Watch First Trailer for “Spider Man: Far from Home” with Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Venice Canals

The first trailer for “Spider Man: Far from Home” is here, and it’s a winner. Tom Holland takes Peter Parker to Venice, Italy, where he’s enlisted by Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury to save the city of canals and bridges. Jake Gyllenhaal is the new villain. Marisa Tomei is back as Aunt May (now known just as May), and “Iron Man” actor- director Jon Favreau is her love interest. Coming this summer, on the heels of the animated “Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse.” RIP Stan Lee, who knew there would be an endless appetite for this story. In every format. All the time.

RIP: The Original Dolly Levi, Sparkling Broadway Legend Carol Channing, Dies at Age 97

Roger Friedman
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RIP: The Original Dolly Levi, Sparkling Broadway Legend Carol Channing, Dies at Age 97

Long before Bette Midler charged thousands of dollars to see her on Broadway, there was an original Dolly Levi. Carol Channing, who created the role in 1964, has died at age 97. Her sparkling personality let her transcend Broadway. Channing was a regular on talk shows, and often toured with George Burns or Jack Benny.

I was lucky enough as a teenager to see her and Benny perform once, and they were magic. She had a sly sense of humor that belied wide, innocent looking eyes. (She could bat an eyelash, that’s for sure.)

There aren’t many legends left. But Carol Channing sure was one. You can bet they’ll be dimming the lights on Broadway tonight.

Tom Cruise Will Make Two More “Mission Impossible” Movies Back to Back Because What Else Is He Going to Do?

Roger Friedman
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Tom Cruise Will Make Two More “Mission Impossible” Movies Back to Back Because What Else Is He Going to Do?

Tom Cruise is going to make two more “Mission Impossible” movies. They’ll be filmed back to back, for release in 2021 and 2022, when Cruise turns 60. Christopher McQuarrie will write and direct them.

At the same time, Cruise will appear in his “Top Gun” sequel, which will be released in 2020.

What else is Cruise going to do? He doesn’t appear in comedies, romcoms, or dramas. He doesn’t make love stories or westerns. At age 55, even with the best cosmetic surgery and working out day and night, life takes a toll. Ask Stallone or Schwarzenegger.

Also, Cruise’s non “Mission Impossible” movies are not money makers. The bad ones, like “The Mummy,” and the good ones, like “American Made,” are non starters at the box office. And it’s not like we’re going to get Tom Cruise on Broadway in “Death of a Salesman.” He’s boxed himself into the Ethan Hunt role. As long as Cruise can hang from helicopters, planes, space shuttles, whatever, he can keep the franchise going.

What’s kind of sad is that the Tom Cruise of “Jerry Maguire” and “Risky Business” seems to be gone. But hey– he’s not crying about it, so we won’t weep too long.

Box Office Update: “The Upside” Actually Did Much Better Than Predicted, Broke $20 Mil Over the Weekend

Roger Friedman
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Box Office Update: “The Upside” Actually Did Much Better Than Predicted, Broke $20 Mil Over the Weekend

Box office update: “The Upside” directed by Neil Burger did much better than $19.5 million over the weekend. The Bryan Cranston-Kevin Hart remake of “The Intouchables” actually broke $20 million when all the chits were counted, bringing it to $20,355,000.

This is rather amazing since “The Upside” was fished out of the Weinstein Company bankruptcy. It premiered to standing ovations in Toronto in 2017.

The movie was a passion project for Harvey Weinstein, who released the original French film, than designed the American remake. Ironically, “The Upside” was the kind of hit that eluded Harvey, a full out comedy, not designed for the Oscars, but for big audiences. He’d been pursuing that for years.

Alas, “The Upside” got shelved after Weinstein’s sex scandals broke and the company went belly up. But STX rescued it, took Harvey’s name off the credits. and voila!

Aretha Franklin Gets An All Star Memorial Tribute from the Grammys and Clive Davis with JHud, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Gospel Greats

Roger Friedman
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Aretha Franklin Gets An All Star Memorial Tribute from the Grammys and Clive Davis with JHud, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Gospel Greats

It’s only three weeks until the Grammys, but somehow executive producer Ken Ehrlich put together a smash all star tribute to Aretha Franklin last night at the Shrine Auditorium. The show was taped for CBS and will be aired sometime this spring.

This was the only date that could be arranged so a slew of superstars participated. Clive Davis and NARAS chief Neil Portnow joined with Ehrlich and bent over backwards to make something special for Aretha. I think she’ll be pleased.

The performers are a Who’s Who from Clive’s Rolodex: Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Rob Thomas, Fantasia, Patti Labelle, John Legend, Janelle Monae, SZA, HER, Yolanda Adams, Common, Alessia Cara, Brandi Carlisle, Andra Day, Shirley Caesar, Bebe Winans, Celine Dion, with Tyler Perry as host. A taped piece from Elton John will be added for airing. Smokey Robinson appears but doesn’t sing.

The show is a comprehensive look at Aretha’s career, covering gospel, pop, and R&B. The performances I saw were all thrilling. Special mention to Fantasia who gets better and better, is very underrated. Jennifer Hudson, who will play Aretha in a feature film, of course, opened the night with a killer medley of “Think,” “Ain’t No Way,” and “Respect.” She’s a hard act to follow!

Production values are very high. The Shrine, which can look a little woebegone, was glowing. The set is excellent. Ehrlich keeps the trains running– there was none of the usual stop and start that accompanies a taping.

In the audience were plenty of fans, as well as The Supremes’ great Mary Wilson, Oscar songwriter Diane Warren, and Aretha’s son, grandkids, niece Sabrina and lots of pals. Among those on stage were musical director Rickey Minor and singer Fonzie Thornton, and Aretha would have approved.

Bravo!

 

 

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