Saturday, December 20, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1400

Ben Affleck Says On Facebook He’s Completed Rehab for Alcohol Addiction

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ben Affleck Says On Facebook He’s Completed Rehab for Alcohol Addiction

Ben’s statement: “I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I’ve dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step. I’m lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do. This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.”

This isn’t easy, so kudos to Ben for going through the process and announcing it before the tabs got it. Affleck’s been in a long will they or won’t they divorce with Jennifer Garner, but maybe this will help them. The award winning director of 2012 Best Picture “Argo” may have bitten off more than he could chew with all the Batman movies, plus “The Accountant” and directing “Live by Night.” The latter was a failure, and may have suffered from its creator just being over-extended.

Good news for Ben!

RIP Tommy LiPuma, the Great Producer of Records like “The Way We Were” and George Benson’s “On Broadway”

Roger Friedman
-
0
RIP Tommy LiPuma, the Great Producer of Records like “The Way We Were” and George Benson’s “On Broadway”

OK where do I start? Heartbroken to hear that Tommy LiPuma, one of the greatest record producers of all time, has died at age 80. He was a superstar in jazz and pop. Tommy produced Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” and all of George Benson’s big hits in the 70s like “On Broadway” and “This Masquerade.”

The list of credits goes on and on. A few years ago he and Sting came “thisclose” to working with each other. Tommy wound up working with Paul McCartney on his “Kisses on the Bottom” album of standards. Paul fell so in love with him that Tommy curated Paul’s MusiCares Person of the Year show and worked with him on other projects including a live broadcast from Capitol Studios.

Like Phil Ramone, Tommy was a purist. I went up to visit him at his house in Pound Ridge so he could play me the McCartney album. He was beaming. He was intensely focused on showing McCartney as a crooner, and he pulled it off. Tommy’s other credits included Natalie Cole– he co-produced her Unforgettable album, which sold 7 million copies– and Gladys Knight’s jazz album.

One of the more recent records Tommy was proud of was Leon Russell’s “Life Journey.” (It’s hard to believe Leon is gone now too.) They’d made the record hoping Elton John’s Rocket Records would put it out. But new people at Universal Music didn’t want the project. Ultimately the album was released, and it’s wonderful. (You can buy it or stream it.)

But the way he and Leon were treated was emblematic of the the way musicianship and artistry are no longer celebrated the way they had been when Tommy was a famed producer at Warner Bros in the 70s, or chairman of Verve Records in the last decade. He left his stamp on Diana Krall, Miles Davis, David Sanborn. And on me. Tommy really enjoyed life. He was a raconteur with a broad smile and so much energy and enthusiasm. I will really miss him. Condolences to his family.

First Image: Bette Midler Starts Tonight in “Hello, Dolly!” with Biggest Advance in History

Roger Friedman
-
0
First Image: Bette Midler Starts Tonight in “Hello, Dolly!” with Biggest Advance in History

This is the first image of Bette Midler as Dolly Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” The musical with the biggest advance in history starts tonight with a dress rehearsal. Official previews begin tomorrow night. When I was a kid we saw Ethel Merman on Broadway. Subsequently I also saw Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey.  Barbra Streisand was miscast in the movie version, which was a huge bust. (She was too young.) Now comes Bette. If this isn’t perfect Broadway casting, then what is? And Donna Murphy fills in for her on matinees, maybe takes over when Bette leaves. It’s all good! We’re back at the Harmonia Gardens restaurant on 14th Street, where now there’s a Best Buy and an NYU dorm. Never forget!

“This is Us”: How Does Jack Die? a) car wreck b) terrorist attack c) in a duel d) shot by Sue Ellen Ewing’s sister Kristen

Roger Friedman
-
0
“This is Us”: How Does Jack Die? a) car wreck b) terrorist attack c) in a duel d) shot by Sue Ellen Ewing’s sister Kristen

Last month, the publicists from 20th Century Fox Television and NBC won an award from the Publicists Guild at their annual luncheon. The award was for “This is Us,” a nighttime soap opera on NBC that caught on like wildfire overnight. Or, literally during its first episode when its time shift plot twist was revealed.

Since then, “This is Us” is the most publicized network show since “Dallas.” Those publicists– whoever they are–have worked double overtime stoking interest in what is really just a soap opera. But they’ve ginned up everyone including the highly impressionable Entertainment Weekly.

(I remember years ago at an EW editorial meeting, someone said very solemnly, “This week is Nancy’s second look surgery.” They meant Nancy on ‘thirtysomething.’ I thought they were talking about a real person!)

Tonight ratings should be the roof because they’re going to reveal how ‘Jack’ (Milo Ventimiglia) died. Of course, since the show time shifts, Jack will never really be dead. We will continue to see him in storylines from before he died. He’s a Dead Man Walking for the next five, six seasons. (Please, no more than that.)

How could Jack have died? The magic of PR is that the publicists have worked the fans into a frenzy? It’s almost like a Monty Python routine. Was he garroted? Did he die in a wood chipper? Did Kristen from”Dallas” shoot him?

Since Jack was seen getting into a car, drunk, last week, the good money is that he died in a car crash. Whoops! Also, tonight there’s a big scene of him as a mechanic in his youth. If that’s not what happened, he was eaten by an elephant. Really, who cares? But kudos to those publicists. They’ve done an extraordinary job of making something fairly uninteresting compelling to the TV audience.

PS Once Sterling K Brown’s career takes off in movies this year, they’ll have to think up a way to kill him, off.

Rock Hall: Yes Says No to Original Guitarist Being Inducted, Pearl Jam Bringing All 5 of their Drummers

Roger Friedman
-
0
Rock Hall: Yes Says No to Original Guitarist Being Inducted, Pearl Jam Bringing All 5 of their Drummers

pearl jam noteThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame brings out the worst– and sometimes the best– in people.

Mostly it’s the worst. But the other day it was reported that Pearl Jam will bring all five of their drummers to the induction ceremony including Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain, Dave Abbruzzese, Jack Irons and Matt Cameron.

yes original lgoNot everyone is so magnanimous. The progressive rock group Yes, which has waited and waited for induction, is behaving badly, I am told. They’re excluding Peter Banks, the original guitarist for Yes and creator of their original logo. Banks played on the group’s first two albums but left before they hit it big with “I’ve Seen All Good People” and  “Roundabout.” Banks died in 2013.

Yes already has had problems in their induction. Rick Wakeman was angry that it had taken so long to get in, and announced he wasn’t coming. But he’s coming now. Founding member Chris Squires’ widow will receive her husband’s statue.

Well, this sort of thing goes on and on at the Rock Hall. I was there a few years ago when original members of Blondie were denied acknowledgement.  Nigel Harrison, Gary Valentine and Frank Infante were pretty vocal in their unhappiness.

The Rock Hall’s theory seems to be if you weren’t on the hit records, and the consequent stars of your group don’t want you there, fuhgeddaboutit. But in Banks’s case, he’s dead, they could give him a nod.

Starts at 11:16

Happy Birthday Neil Sedaka! Listen to “The Immigrant,” His Very Timely Song from the 1970s

Roger Friedman
-
0
Happy Birthday Neil Sedaka! Listen to “The Immigrant,” His Very Timely Song from the 1970s

Neil Sedaka is 78 today. Happy Birthday, Neil!

Sedaka wrote “The Immigrant” when John Lennon was having issues with his citizenship in the 1970s. I always loved this song (I never knew this was the title.) Listen to it now. “The Immigrant” has never been more timely.

And of course, thanks, Neil for “Laughter in the Rain,” “Solitaire,” “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” and all the others. You should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You’re in our Hall of Fame!

Harbors opened their arms to the young searching foreigner
Come to live in the light of the beacon of liberty
Planes and open skies, billboards would advertise
Was it anything like that when you arrived
Dreamboats carry the future to the heart of America
People were waiting in line for a place by the river
It was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room that people could come from everywhere
Now he arrives with his hopes and his heart set on miracles
Come to marry his fortune with a hand full of promises
To find they’ve closed the door, they don’t want him anymore
Isn’t anymore to go around
Turning away he remembers he once heard
A legend that spoke of a mystical magical land called America
There was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room that people could come from everywhere
There was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear
There was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear

Songwriters: Neil Sedaka / Phil Cody
The Immigrant lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Heinz is Using Fictional Ad Campaign from “Mad Men” in Real Life, No Kidding

Roger Friedman
-
0
Heinz is Using Fictional Ad Campaign from “Mad Men” in Real Life, No Kidding

Heinz ketchup is using the ad campaign created for them by fictional characters on “Mad Men.” Remember when Don Draper pitched his Heinz campaign? You know that Don is not a real person. But now Heinz, the real company, is using Don’s campaign in 2017 in real life.

“Pass the Heinz” was obviously developed by Matthew Weiner, the creator of “Mad Men,” and his writers. The episode aired originally in April 2013. Anselmo Ramos of an agency called David (just David) told Ad Age that they watched the episode and decided that was the best campaign they could come up with.

MTV Movie Awards, Basically An Affront to the Culture and All That is Holy, Will Now Include TV Shows

Roger Friedman
-
0
MTV Movie Awards, Basically An Affront to the Culture and All That is Holy, Will Now Include TV Shows

The MTV Movie Awards, an affront to the culture and all that is holy, will return May 7th with two changes. First, they will include TV shows– meaning “Game of Thrones” has already won– and they’ll be live. Apparently they were pre-taped last year. Who knew?

MTV continues to struggle with finding a purpose. Last year this was a summary of what won:

Films with multiple nominations

  • Eleven – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Eight – Deadpool
  • Six – Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Four – Mad Max: Fury Road, Pitch Perfect 2, The Revenant, Trainwreck
  • Three – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Jurassic World, Straight Outta Compton
  • Two – Concussion, Creed, Fifty Shades of Grey, Furious 7, Joy, San Andreas, Spy.

Multiple winners

  • Three – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Two – Pitch Perfect 2, Deadpool

This year, “Star Wars: Rogue One” will win most of the awards. Also nominated will be “Logan,” and all the the other comic book movies and movies that had soft core sex and came out since May 2016 including Doctor Strange, Suicide Squad, Fast and Furious 8, Beauty and the Beast, Fifty Shades Darker, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which releases two days earlier.

It’s doubtful that La La Land and Moonlight will have much to do with this awards show. Maybe for fun, at the end, they could say La La Land won, and then give the award to Rogue One. Best Kiss will go to Ryan Gosling and Andrew Garfield at the Golden Globes.

 

Obamas’ $60 Million Book Advance Will Get Tax Breaks from Massive Donations to Charities

Roger Friedman
-
0
Obamas’ $60 Million Book Advance Will Get Tax Breaks from Massive Donations to Charities

Barack and Michelle Obama are each getting $30 million book deals from Penguin Random House. So how will that affect taxes for all concerned? This morning a press release from the book company gives some idea;

“In support of the mission of The Obama Foundation and Penguin Random House’s own commitment to social responsibility, the company will donate one million books in the Obama family’s name to First Book, a longstanding Penguin Random House non-profit partner and the Washington, DC-based partner for the 2016 White House digital education initiative, Open eBooks. First Book is dedicated to promoting equal access to education by providing new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need in the United States and Canada. Consistent with their past practice, the Obamas also plan to donate a significant portion of their author proceeds to charity, including the Obama Foundation.”

I’ve never heard of First Book, but according to GuideStar, which is funny because they pay a PR firm called Drascena Communications $956K in fees.

Even funnier: Drascena has no website or any footprint on the internet. But according to Politico, which mentioned them in another context a couple of years ago they’re part of the Pearson Foundation. Pearson owns Random Penguin etc. First Books claims $37 million in net assets.

And get this: Pearson paid Drascena $5 million in fees in 2012-2013 according to documents. Drascena’s only listed address is an apartment in Mill Valley, California.

The other news from Random Penguin is that the books will be issued under the Crown Books logo. That’s surprising because Crown is a lot less prestigious than Random House, Penguin or Viking. When I think of Crown, I think of cookbooks and so on. But maybe that’s changed. In English language territories, however, the books will under Viking Press. Those include the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa.

In every other territory around the world, different Random Viking Penguin labels will handle the books.

I’m hopeful that these books will describe the reason that Valerie Jarrett has moved into the Obamas’ new home in Washington, DC instead of Ms. Jarrett getting her own pad. You’d think after 8 years in the Whie House, the Obamas would want to be alone. Very “Three’s Company.”

Broadway: “Come from Away” is the Pleasing Sleeper Hit of a Very Busy Season

Roger Friedman
-
0
Broadway: “Come from Away” is the Pleasing Sleeper Hit of a Very Busy Season

“Come from Away” has no stars and no big songs that stop the show. Still, it’s the sleeper hit of a very Broadway season in which musicals that stayed away last year while “Hamilton” ate up all the attention are coming in one after another.

This is the story of what happened when more than 7,000 airline passengers descended on Ganderm a small town in Newfoundland, Canada on September 11. 2001– when US airspace shut down and the planes had just one place to land. Maybe I’m particularly sensitive to this because my own parents wound up spending several days in neighboring St. John.

The passengers were terrified of being cut off from US news, and their families. But the Canadians responded with a huge amount of hospitality and warmth. (It was warm anyway, thank goodness, in September.)

About a dozen cast members, mostly unknown, play the passengers of one flight and their famous female captain; the townspeople; and miscellaneous other roles including George W. Bush. Christopher Ashley directs. The songs are by first timers, a married Canadian couple named Irene Sankoff and David Hein.

“Come from Away” is described by some as earnest and hopeful. But this isn’t “Mayberry RFD.” The Ganderians are smarter than that, and more resourceful, and though they live in an isolated place they’re not out of touch with the world. They ‘get it’ faster than the exhausted and mystified passengers. And they’re on the move right away.

There’s an indescribable charm to “Come from Away” despite the fact that it’s an ensemble, and that there are no big “eleven o’clock” songs. You will not come out humming. The songs, as such, are sort of a continuously pleasant loop. But I do think the ensemble is so well directed, and energized, that they manage to infect the audience with a real sense of pathos about the situation.

Also, and this to thanks to Sankoff and Hein’s book, there’s nothing maudlin going on. Indeed, the words “World Trade Center” aren’t uttered almost until the very end. Instead of exploiting the various 9-11 cliches, the pair concentrate on what’s happening in Gander. You learn just enough about the passengers and the townspeople to follow their brief adventure together and care about it.

Among the standouts: Q. Smith as the mother of a missing NYFD firefighter, on her way home from a vacation; Lee McDougall and Sharon Whealtey as a mismatched couple who meet on the plane; Chad Kimball and Caesar Samayoa as a gay couple; and Jenn Colella as the captain of the flight. (All the actor play multiple roles.) For awards consideration, Kimball and Colella will likely go into featured categories. But the whole cast should be praised. This is a show with a lot of heart. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns into quite the little surprise hit of the season.

1...1,3991,4001,401...2,324Page 1,400 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com