Support independent journalism, free from the trades and other publications that are part of the tinsel town machine.
For 12 years, Showbiz411.com has been covering Hollywood, Broadway, the music business and the business of celebrity. Ads are our main source of funding, but contributions (not tax exempt) from readers who enjoy the scoops, exclusives, and fact based reports are always welcome and very appreciated. To inquire about ads, email us at showbiz411@gmail.com.
He died today after a long battle with cancer. He was a child star of “Dennis the Menace,” the comedy based on the popular cartoon strip. He played the title role from 1959 to 1963, four seasons. He had a few scattered parts after, but basically he was left adrift in Hollywood.
According to Wikipedia, after leaving show business, he began working with fellow former child star Paul Petersen and the organization A Minor Consideration, using his experiences as a child performer to counsel other children working in the entertainment industry.
North was married three times. He revealed in later years he’d been abused by an aunt and uncle. Luckily, his late mother invested his money wisely unlike other TV stage parents.. North lived well, and retired to Florida. He leaves a wife, Cindy, and lots of happy memories of a fake 1950s childhood.
The winner was already revealed in private newsletters from Jeff Sneider and Matthew Belloni.
But now director Alfonso Cuaron apparently announced it himself in a French interview.
Cuaron is the celebrated director of what’s considered the best “Harry Potter” movie — “The Prisoner of Azkaban” — plus movies like “Gravity” and “Roma.” The latter two won a combination of 10 Oscars.
He’s the perfect choice for producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, who were chosen by Amazon MGM to head up this project. Cuaron and Heyman are close friends thanks to Harry Potter. Heyman and Pascal have great taste and amazing batting averages when it comes to large scale movies.
This news ends the speculation that Christopher Nolan will finally direct a James Bond movie.
Cuaron, who is Mexican, will give James Bond the necessary international feel. Now it’s all about who will play 007? The answer is, the winner of the lottery must be British. Not even Australian. So look for Aaron Taylor-Johnson to likely fulfill the gossip about him.
Henry Cavill was the popular choice, but at 41, he’s considered too old (believe it or not). ATJ is just 34, although it feels like he’s a grandfather by now!
Also PS, who will sing the next James Bond theme song? By 2027, Adele would be ripe for a comeback. And isn’t it time for Diane Warren to write it?
It’s amazing how this announcement backed out of the barn. Robert Simon, a French film distributor, Tweeted out Cuaron’s comments on several subjects from a Paris Cinema Club masterclass.
Alfonso Cuarón confirms he's in talks to direct the next James Bond film.
“There is indeed THIS project under discussion, and I have the desire – if it happens – to revisit this story in my own way.”
Not just “A Minecraft Movie,” but in fact the “Minecraft Movie” is a hit.
The movie based on a video game brought in $157 million this weekend just in the US.
The budget was $150 million, and the movie hasn’t been released yet internationally. It should be a smash hit since it doesn’t require knowing English. Also, its main stars are well known — Jack Black and Jason Momoa.
The weekend take may be even larger after today’s receipts. Black was the host of “SNL” last night, which should drive business.
The economy may be imploding under Donald Trump, but at least one of his extended family members is going into business.
On January 16th, a few days before Donald Trump took office, ex wife Marla Maples filed to start a not-for-profit foundation.
Maples, who was married to Trump from 1993 to 1997, was his second wife. She’s the mother of his second youngest child, Tiffany.
Maples has quietly started a 501c3 organization called The Marla Maples Foundation. Its purpose is “to support non profit activities and organizations that promote health and wellness.”
Maples makes it clear on her website that she’s a staunch supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, conspiracy theorist and wacko who now runs the Department of Health and Human Services for her ex husband.
One of the groups Maples’ website says it supports is Spirituality for Kids, which is part of the cultish Kabbalah Center in Los Angeles.
Who’s funding the Marla Maples Foundation is unclear. The Trump family has a difficult history with not for profit foundations. Donald Trump’s foundation was ordered shut down in 2019 by NY’s Attorney General Letitia James.
James said in a statement: “Not only has the Trump Foundation shut down for its misconduct, but the president has been forced to pay $2 million for misusing charitable funds for his own political gain. Charities are not a means to an end…”
Trump was required to agree to 19 admissions, acknowledging his personal misuse of funds at the Trump Foundation.
Trump’s son, Eric, was also forced to shut down operations when it came under criticism for making it look like he was selling access to his father.
Marla Maples — who I’ve met in the past and is quite lovely in person — has a net worth of $6 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. She moved to Palm Beach, Florida after living in California for a bit. Her documented occupation is actress and filmmaker. She appeared in three episodes of HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones” in 2019.
For some reason, ABC has renewed the moribund “Grey’s Anatomy” for a 22nd season.
This despite really low ratings, the worst in the show’s history and among all TV shows.
Thursday’s episode, for example, was down 12.21% in total viewers from the previous week. Total was just 2.12 million. There are more people watching farm reports.
The rationale I’ve read is that “Grey’s” is popular in syndication on Netflix. But the show’s halcyon days are long since passed. It also airs at 10pm now when most of its old fans are getting ready for bed.
Next season, Ellen Pompeo will be back in a handful of episodes as Meredith Grey even after her recent comments about making $20 million a year — and slagging off past co-stars who were killed off thanks to her displeasure.
Why don’t they just kill this thing off? Some theories: ABC is having a lot of trouble finding replacements shows. Creativity is dead. ABC doesn’t burn its last bridge with Shonda Rhimes.
Meanwhile, there’s a new hot hospital show on MAX called “The Pitt” starring Noah Wyle. That’s where the action is now. If that show were smart, it would feature Patrick Dempsey in a guest arc!
Last night, Elton John and Brandi Carlile participated in a rare interview and with TCM’s Dave Karger at New York’s 92nd St. Y.
The occasion was the release of their album. “Who Believes in Angels?” A hilarious Q&A followed.
Also on the panel were legendary lyricist Bernie Taupin and producer Andrew Watt — who I didn’t know is a Jewish wunderkind from Great Neck, Long Island — with quite a family story of his own!
The gang admitted the four star album took a lot of work and wasn’t always easy to record. Elton admitted that he didn’t always know what Bernie’s lyrics meant in some of their hit songs — like “Crocodile Rock” and “Take Me to the Pilot” (which is funny because I do). Lavish praise was heaped on Taupin for the new song, “When This Old World is Done with Me.”
Elton also said that Carlile’s next album is going out to push her into international popularity from being a great “American, or Canadian, artist. Can we even say that now?” he joked. The whole audience howled and he added: “The Bay of Pigs is going to be called “The Bay of the United States of America!”
Elton and Brandi are on “SNL” tonight. “Who Believes in Angels?” is number 1 on iTunes today.
“A Minecraft Movie” had a stunning $58 million opening Friday including $10 mil from Thursday previews.
Again, excuse me?
Jason Momoa and Jack Black star in a movie of a video game, the beginning of a franchise. Black hosts “SNL” tonight, which should make tomorrow even crazier.
This movie features the great Danielle Brooks, Oscar nominee from “The Color Purple,” star of “The Piano Lesson” on Broadway.
It also features Jennifer Coolidge. Hello?
Reviews are terrible and it doesn’t matter.
Warner Bros. is saved. Forget “Superman.” Or “Batman.”
Forget all the talk of Mike DeLuca and Pam Abdy leaving WB or being replaced.
Sources tell me Warner Discover owner David Zaslav loves this thing. How do you like that?
Is there a script? Who cares? This movie made $48 MILLION last night! This is more than a half dozen Oscar nominees this season made in total!
When Ariana Grande released her album, “Eternal Sunshine,” in 2024, it was a so-so hit. It sold just 225,000 physical copies, but over 1 million including streaming.
The album didn’t receive any nominations from the Grammy Awards in the big three categories of Album, Song, Record.
But Grammy Award eligibility was September 30th long before the movie, “Wicked,” was released.
Of course “Wicked” went on to make hundreds of millions of dollars. Grande was nominated for an Oscar.
Now everything has changed. Ariana has released a new, deluxe version of “Eternal Sunshine,” featuring six new tracks.
And voila! “Eternal Sunshine” sold 137,000 copies this week — 58,000 physical CDs, LPs, and downloads — and finished at number 1. Ariana is back!
Not only that, the refreshed album has spawned an actual hit single with “Twilight Zone.” It’s not the theme song from the classic Rod Serling TV show don’t worry.
What are the lessons learned here? Just star in a movie that makes $746 million worldwide, and it will revive your career nicely! Imagine what will happen when “Wicked” part 2 comes out this fall? A third edition of “Eternal Sunshine,” no doubt!
PS It must be weird for Charlie Kaufman, who wrote the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” to see his title repurposed as a pop album.
Didn’t Elton John retire recently? The tabloids say he’s near death and completely blind.
Of course none of that is true. Sir Elton just turned 78 and dropped an exceptionally good album today with Brandi Carlile. “Who Believes in Angels?” is one of his best recordings ever.
For one thing, the album ends with a career-best song from Elton and Bernie Taupin called “When This Old World is Done with Me.” It’s sort of their “My Way,” but it’s eons more sublime and features powerful lyrics that Elton sings with the gusto of a 30 year old. Andrew Watt supplies a thrilling production with a unique throwback ending of just Elton, a piano wizard, on the most lovely instrumental ending.
“When This Old World” had better get a Grammy nomination next winter for Best Song.
Brandi Carlile makes for a sterling collaborator on “Angels.” I always forget how much I like her until I hear her voice again. She’s also kind of a unicorn in the way she’s sought out Joni Mitchell and Elton John as elder statesmen. She really loves and admires them for real, and you can feel it. Brandi has her own outstanding solo track on the album, called “You Without Me,” which might be her “Landslide.” It’s deceptively light as a feather. Her fans will be singing it aloud at concerts.
The rest of the tracks on “Who Believes in Angels?” are satisfying, catchy, and brilliantly constructed. My standouts right now are the title track, and everything else on side 2. The albu is sort of divided between a ‘disc one’ of rocky-ier numbers and ‘disc two’ — of more intimate numbers. “The River Man” is the highlight of the duets, matching the best of these two brilliant performers.
“Who Believes in Angels?” is also being marketed with real intelligence. Tomorrow on YouTube we’ll see the Q&A from tonight’s appearance at the 92nd St Y. Tomorrow night, the pair will be on “SNL.” The next morning they’re featured on “CBS Sunday Morning.” You can’t do better than this plan!
