Director Bryan Singer– sued and publicly shamed in the past with charges of pedophilia and sexual misconduct– is off the 20th Century Fox lot for good. He cleared out his offices this week after disappearing from the London set of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Singer claims he returned to the US to take care of an ailing parent. He says Fox knew this and wouldn’t give him the time. This doesn’t ring true.

Singer has made four blockbusters for Fox since 2003, all  “X Men” movies. Worldwide they grossed almost $2 billion. If he’d needed time off for a family emergency, the studio would have agreed.

But that’s not it, is it? Singer was already involved in a high profile sexual harassment case in 2014. Although it was withdrawn and dismissed, the stench lingers on. Singer is also the subject of what we call a Hollywood legend from the movie “The Usual Suspects.” Now actor Gabriel Byrne has alluded to trouble on that set because of star Kevin Spacey’s misconduct. The dots are all about to connect.

Singer and Spacey aren’t alone. More stories are coming and they won’t be pretty. Some, like theirs, are hiding in plain sight. It’s just a matter of time. Hollywood, as a friend says, is eating itself. And it won’t be done until everything has been vomited up. It’s going to be a long winter. Even Wolverine won’t be able to help.

Thanks to Steve Zeitchik of the Washington Post and others who are down at an anniversary screening of Barry Levinson’s “Wag the Dog.” This is happening in NY right now at the Tribeca Film Center.

At a panel discussion moderated by John Oliver with Levinson, Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman, Oliver has apparently broken the conversation to attack Hoffman over sexual misconduct charges. It sounds wild. Zeitchik and some others are Tweeting out the extraordinary story as it unravels in real time.

Newest:

Oliver cited Hoffman’s response to an accuser that his behavior on set was “not reflective” of who Hoffman is. “It’s that kind of statement that pisses me off,” Oliver said. “It’s ‘not reflective of who I am.’ But it IS reflective of who you were.”

— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017

All hell has now broken loose on this Wag The Dog panel. The subject seemed over after seven minutes but Hoffman brought it up again, saying Oliver is not keeping an “open mind” and is unquestionably believing accusers, and a testy five minutes followed.

— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017

Oliver just asked people to stop recording his argument with Hoffman on their phone. “That’s what I hate about the Internet.” But i mean, isn’t that why he brought it up? To have a public conversation?

— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) December 5, 2017

“You’ve made this incredible assumption about me, sir.” Hoffman said to Oliver. Oliver says it’s something he had to bring it up before we watch the film #wagthedog

— Laura Podesta (@LauraPodestaTV) December 5, 2017

UPDATE Singer issued a statement saying he was treating an ill parent and that they wouldn’t give him time off. Doesn’t sound right since Singer had made millions for Fox with “X Men” movies. Something else is going on. Here’s his statement:
“With fewer than three weeks to shoot remaining, I asked Fox for some time off so I could return to the U.S. to deal with pressing health matters concerning one of my parents. This was a very taxing experience, which ultimately took a serious toll on my own health. Unfortunately, the studio was unwilling to accommodate me and terminated my services. This was not my decision and it was beyond my control,” Singer said in the statement. “Rumors that my unexpected departure from the film was sparked by a dispute I had with Rami Malek are not true. While, at times, we did have creative differences on set, Rami and I successfully put those differences behind us and continued to work on the film together until just prior to Thanksgiving. I wanted nothing more than to be able to finish this project and help honor the legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen, but Fox would not permit me to do so because I needed to temporarily put my health, and the health of my loved ones, first.”

EARLIER Where oh where is Bryan Singer? Is he trolling junior high schools for pals? He’s certainly not in London directing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the Fox film about Freddie Mercury and Queen.

No, Singer has gone AWOL and Fox has fired him. That’s it. Two weeks before finish, Singer– who has still not shown up with an explanation — is out. His cinematographer, Thomas Newton Sigel, has been filling in for him.

Singer– who’s made plenty of movies– is telling someone that he has PTSD from the stress of shooting a movie about rockers and fat bottomed ladies. My guess is he’s given the people on set PTSD.

The word around town is that one of the major publications– Times, Post, Variety, etc– is about to spring a big story about Singer’s sexual malfeasance. He’s been the subject of lawsuits and stories in the past.

For Fox to fire him is a big deal since Singer is closely associated with their “X Men” movies. But enough’s enough. Someone will replace him immediately. The Directors Guild will have to come in and see what’s going on and who gets final credit.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” stars Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury and Anthony Scaramucci– no just kidding.

The LA Film Critics’ votes are in. So  interesting: they completely ignored “Get Out” and threw “Mudbound” a bone. They also snubbed “The Post” and “Phantom Thread.”

They tell you who the runners up are, just to make those people feel bad. And here’s the things with critics’ awards. They don’t affect the Oscars one iota. Nothing. So don’t get excited.

Best Picture— “Call Me By Your Name”

Best Director— tie- Luca Guadagnino “Call Me,” Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water”

Best Actor— Timothee Chalamet, “Call Me”

Best Actress– Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”

So runners up in Best Supporting Actor/Actress are Sam Rockwell, for Three Billboards, and Mary J. Blige for Mudbound. There was too much drama for Mary J. apparently.

The winners are William Dafoe for The Florida Project, just like the New York Film Critics; and Laurie Metcalf for Lady Bird, the likely Oscar winner.

Roger Deakins, the great cinematographer, was the runner up for Blade Runner 2049. They couldn’t just give him the top spot. The winner was Dan Laustsen for The Shape of Water.

Documentary winner: Agnes Varda for “Faces Places”; runner up “Jane” by Brett Morgen.

The whole runner up thing is very Los Angeles/Hollywood. They’re going to make you feel bad for doing something great.

Friday was Woody Allen’s 82nd birthday. It brought the release of his 52nd or 53rd film depending on how you count them. He didn’t direct “What’s New, Pussycat?” He just wrote it. And he only directed a third of “New York Stories.” But still, it’s quite an achievement.

And I know, you don’t like him because of Mia Farrow, etc. I’m skipping that part. Woody’s been married to Soon Yi Previn for 25 years and has two terrific daughters who are now adults. Everyone else skips that part.

But I’m wishing Woody a happy birthday. His work speaks for itself. Of 52 movies, more than two thirds are excellent. Among the others some are ok, some are boring, some are bad. They’re never not interesting. I could pick five favorites and maybe two I don’t like or didn’t get. (Those would “Cassandra’s Dream” and “Curse of the Jade Scorpion.”

On the plus side there’s his Oscar winner, “Annie Hall,” and its companions, “Manhattan” and “Hannah and Her Sisters.” There are the outrageous comedies “Bananas,” “Take the Money and Run,” and “Sleeper.” There’s the great mid period with “Broadway Danny Rose,” “Zelig,” “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” etc. There’s a late- mid period with “Bullets Over Broadway” and “Mighty Aphrodite.”

And then there’s the late period: “Match Point,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” “Midnight in Paris,” and “Blue Jasmine.”

So that’s 15 really really great movies. What other filmmaker make that claim? Plus, I have a soft spot for “Alice,” and for “Deconstructing Harry,” and for Patricia Clarkson’s part of “Whatever Works,” and Elaine May in “Small Time Crooks.” And I skipped “The Purple Rose of Cairo” (magic) and Tony Roberts constantly changing his number with his phone service in “Play it Again, Sam.”

Let’s not forget all the Oscars for actors: Diane Keaton, two for Dianne Wiest, one each for Mira Sorvino, Cate Blanchett, Penelope Cruz. And there are dozens more nominations.

So I’m celebrating Woody this weekend. “Wonder Wheel” may be flawed, but it doesn’t matter. There’s always “Rainy Day in New York.” Woody Allen’s canon is forever.