Wednesday, December 17, 2025
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Missing: “Tommy” the Chimpanzee Featured in New Documentary about Animal Rights and Subject of Famous Lawsuit

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TommyThere’s no amber alert for chimpanzees, but maybe there should be. Tommy, the chimp who was at the center of a much publicized lawsuit over his rights and “personhood” last year, is missing.

Tommy is featured in an Oscar worthy documentary opening today in New York called “Unlocking the Cage” by Oscar nominee Chris Hegedus and lifetime Oscar winner DA Pennebaker.

Last night the film was screened at HBO (which will air it once “ULC” has a theatrical run across the country over the next few months) for a bevy of impressive filmmakers including Joel Coen, Nancy Biurski (“The Loving Story”) and Oscar and Emmy winner Karen Goodman.

Florida based attorney Steven Wise, who teaches at Harvard Law School, has devoted himself now to animal rights. With his Nonhuman Rights Project, Wise has become internationally known as an animal rights advocate. He sued in 2013 to have Tommy moved from a horrible cage in upstate Gloversville, New York to the beautiful Save the Chimps sanctuary in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Wise got the case all the way up to State Supreme Court in New York.

In the interim, Tommy was moved from his Gloversville cage to a roadside zoo in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Tragically, reports now are that Tommy has disappeared altogether. So far, there’s been no report of his death– which must be reported. Wise and his staff are now on a furious mission to find Tommy.

“A wealthy benefactor has even offered to buy him and bring him to Save the Chimps,” Wise told me last night. “But there may be issues there, too.”

“Unlocking the Cage” traces Wise’s transformation from a lawyer with a large full time human practice to an advocate determined to secure “personhood” rights for all animals. He is not a animal fanatic– he just has a cute dog. But he is insistent that- so to speak– every dog have its day.

Like all Pennebaker Hegedus Films, access here is mesmerizing as the filmmakers managed to get into places like courtrooms where cameras are never allowed. You get to see surprising and disappointing examples of how an appeals court is run by justices who you hope you’ll never have to depend on for human rights.

And where is Tommy? The hunt is on. Believe me, once you see the chimps featured in this film you’ll want them all moved to Save the Chimps by federal decree.

 

Bill Cosby to Stand Trial in 2004 Sex Case, But Financial Reward for Alleged Victims A Question

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Bill Cosby has been ordered to stand trial in the alleged 2004 sex attack on Andrea Constand, Fifty eight accusers later, Cosby will finally have to answer in open court for his decades of allegedly attacking women using booze and pills. It’s not going to be a pretty sight. If the trial happens, it will be another one for the Century.

If Cosby is found guilty, there will be another civil case against him. There are already cases pending against him. But getting money from him will probably be as easy as getting it from O.J. Simpson. This is despite Cosby’s net worth being valued at around $350 million.

Lawyers point out that Cosby has probably transferred most of his assets to his wife and children, to trusts, and to off shore accounts.

The net gain for Constand and all the women involved will be moral vindication.

Cosby has no doubt worked with lawyers and accountants in the last year to shield himself from civil lawsuits. It may be more important than ever since he has no career left, and future royalties from books and records or movies, even public appearances, will be nil whether or not he’s found innocent. “The Cosby Show” is no longer shown much, for example. For his family, Cosby has destroyed their future earnings from his estate. His legacy is over.

“American Horror Story” Star Lily Rabe Will Play Silent Film Legend Mary Pickford in Film Co-Produced by Julie Pacino

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There’s a lot of Hollywood royalty in this story: “American Horror Story” star Lily Rabe, known to New Yorkers as the best young theater actress, is going to play silent film star Mary Pickford in a new film.

Rabe, of course, is the daughter of playwright David Rabe and the late great actress Jill Clayburgh.

“The First” is being produced by Jen DeLia and Julie Pacino, who is also the daughter of Al Pacino. They’ve been working on this project a long time and now it’s ready to roll. They’ve also got Michael Pitt as ‘Owen Moore’, Julia Stiles as ‘Frances Marion’, Billy Magnussen as ‘Jack Pickford’, Louisa Krause as ‘Lottie Pickford’, Josephine de La Baume as ‘Elsie Janis’, and Ryan Simpkins as a younger ‘Mary Pickford’. 

More names are to come soon including D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Adolf Zukor, Samuel Goldwyn, Lillian Gish and Charlotte Hennessy (Mary’s mother).Of course, Lily Rabe’s real life boyfriend and frequent acting partner, Hamish Linklater, would be a great Fairbanks.

DeLia is directing from a script written by her with Josh Fagin.

“The First” will be cast by Bonnie Timmermann and Adrienne Stern, with cinematography by Larry Smith who shot Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, production design by Oscar-nominee Anastasia Masaro, costume design by Amit Gajwani, and hair and make-up design by Oscar-winner Jan Archibald.  The production companies are Poverty Row Entertainment, Katsize Films, and IMC Entertainment.

This movie will not be silent, by a long shot. Pickford, Fairbanks, and Chaplin were among the group that founded United Artists Pictures in the 1920s.

Exclusive: Katy Perry to Tour in 2017 For New Album She’s “Working On”

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Katy Perry has been off the music map for a while now since “Roar” and her “Prism” album were worldwide hits.

But she’s coming back. Perry told me during the Cannes Film Festival: “I’m touring in 2017.” A new album? “I’m working on it,” she said.

Perry and boyfriend Orlando Bloom were all over Cannes, and she was one of the delights of the festival. Why was she there? To perform at amFAR’s dinner. Someone asked her how many songs she would sing? “Five!” she laughed. “That’s enough.”

Well, the Perry-Blooms stayed in Cannes for most of the festival, leading some to believe that amFAR footed the bill. (They love giving donations to celebrities.)

But Katy and I discussed the quality of her records– I am always impressed about how good they sound, and how well produced. “There’s a reason for that,” she told me, citing her team. Her shows are also huge sellouts as they are family friendly– and certainly not like some of the junk we saw on the Billboard Music Awards.

A new Katy Perry record? I’ll bet we have a single before the Grammy deadline of September 30th. It will be a welcome addition to the airwaves.

Exclusive: Grateful Dead Documentary is Now a Four Hour Mini-Series Set for Fall Reveal

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As Grateful Dead fans know, their songs– their live jams– can be very, very long. Their rare standard hit– like “Truckin”– was edited to radio length.

So we shouldn’t be surprised that the official Dead documentary, announced two years ago, has expanded its boundaries.

Still untitled, I’m told the film directed by Amir Bar Lev is now a four hour  mini series. We may be seeing it at the Toronto Film Festival.

Originally intended as a modest project, the Dead film grew and grew like a good jam. Now everyone who was ever attached to the group has been included, all the members and families and musicians. The archival footage is said to be amazing.

One thing we won’t see is testimonials from outsiders, not even Phish or Dave Matthews or even Bob Dylan. It’s just going to be the essential Dead, which should please fans and purists.

Eric Eisner, Nicholas Koskoff and Justin Kreutzmann are the main producers. Martin Scorsese’s  Sikelia Productions is executive producer.

More to come..

 

Ratings: Billboard Music Awards Lowest Since 2012, Lose Millions of Viewers

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You could feel it while it was happening. The Billboard Music Awards crashed and burned last night. They went went from 11.1 million viewers last year to 8.87 million last night. They lost a full million just in the key demo.

What did they expect? The show began with a huge dollop of a big mess with Britney Spears. The co-hosts talked about themselves. There was the complete feeling that this was an infomercial with no redeeming features.

The women in particular made the show look like it was live from a strip club. Justin Bieber made no effort at all. The so called winners were all pre-arranged and it was not hidden.

None of the acts by the way got a bump in sales. On iTunes, everything is pretty much as it was prior to the show. No outstanding performances.

Madonna’s tribute to Prince? Eh. She’s not a great singer, but I did feel that her heart was in it. The show could have done a lot better. And Stevie Wonder, god bless him, was used by the producers. Stevie is such a mensch, he’s game to help out anywhere. But he shouldn’t have done it.

PS The worst– the endless presenters from ABC shows. Give me a break.

 

Billboard Music Awards Play the Race Card: “The Oscars of Music Except with Black Nominees”

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The Billboard Music Awards? Why, Ludacris says they’re the “Oscars of music except with black nominees.” Oh yes, both shows air on ABC. It was a nice way to kick off a three hour crap fest full of lip synching.

Britney Spears? A Zombie wind up doll who clearly doesn’t sing.

Madonna’s tribute to her “collaborator” Prince? Well meaning, but lacking soul. It would be as if Justin Bieber saluted Stevie Wonder.

And Bieber? Like Britney, kept the live vocals to a minimum. Mostly pre-recorded. At least he kept his clothes on.

Some great moments? Rihanna. Oh boy. The GoGos– sang live, it was the realest part of the show.

Pink: sang live before she was hoisted into the air, but what a performance! Nice to have her back.

Shawn Mendes: He’s trying to be real. Keep it up.

ABC stuffed the show with presenters from their various shows, all of whom had nothing to with music. What you get with this show is no sense of a music business or world, no community, just a jukebox of unmemorable top 40. Singers with voices (Ariana Grande) are forced to sing pedestrian throwaway jingles. There was very little emotion or real feeling, with the exception of Celine Dion (who’s still belting it out) and Kesha, who’s become her own movement.

Last year’s show drew 11.1 million viewers. Let’s see how this one did– tomorrow.

 

O.J. Simpson Steroid Doctor Blamed by TV’s “Biggest Losers” For Weight Gain, Illness, Depression

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EXCLUSIVE The doctor who helped get O.J. Simpson acquitted of double murder in 1995 is in hot water today. Contestants from “The Biggest Loser” on NBC are accusing Dr. Rob Huizenga of doling out over the counter drugs to help them lose massive amounts of weight.

In an excellent NY Post story by Maureen Callahan, Dr. H– as he is called– is cited by former contestants for contributing to their weight gain after the show, physical and mental illness.

Huizenga denied the charges to the Post. But what the Post doesn’t realize is that Rob Huizenga is the doctor hired by Robert Shapiro to help O.J. Simpson after the murders of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1994. (He’s also the doctor Charlie Sheen says he’s using for his HIV treatment.)

Huizenga was then an expert in steroid addiction who’d published a book about working with the L.A. Raiders including tales of NFL football players who struggled with drugs.

I wrote about him extensively during the Simpson trial in New York magazine. But Marcia Clark and her team of geniuses never asked Huizenga about Simpson and steroids when he was on the stand.

Ten years later, I interviewed Huizenga about the Simpson trial. He told me that since no one asked him while he was on the stand, he certainly wasn’t offering any information. He concluded: “Some guilty people are set free.”

Here’s the full text from my 2004 story:

“My take, and what I say now, is that Simpson was innocent in the trial,” Huizenga told me, referring to the criminal trial in which a jury acquitted Simpson. A civil jury later held him responsible for the murders. “That doesn’t mean he did or didn’t do it. Let’s face it, the evidence is completely suspicious. Some guilty people are set free.”

Huizenga saw Simpson once on the morning of June 15 at Shapiro’s request. “Shapiro said to me, ‘Take every test. Let the chips fall where they may.’” The doctor saw Simpson again on June 17, two hours before the infamous Bronco chase commenced, and later in prison. At the time, the notoriety was scary, he said. “I got hundreds of letters saying ‘You’ll die for representing this man’ — which I didn’t — to ‘You’re the best person in the world.’ It was eye opening.”

But what was most alarming, Huizenga told me, was how prosecutors treated him. His direct questioning by the state was from Deputy District Attorney Brian Kelberg, who worked for Marcia Clark.

“I told them that Simpson appeared to be limping when he came into my office. Instead of asking me about that, they said, ‘He wasn’t limping, you’re lying, we have tape of him from two months before.’ It’s odd that the prosecutors didn’t even bother to ask about the sequelae,” he said, tossing some much-needed Latin into our conversation. In other words: Clark’s team never asked why Simpson had been limping, or what would have brought him to that point.

Huizenga is not wrong to question that moment in his testimony 10 years later. On the stand he told Kelberg that Simpson walked into his office three days after the murders “like Tarzan’s grandfather.” Instead of exploring how Simpson could have come to be in that condition, Kelberg replied: “…perhaps Mr. Simpson was faking a limp in your office?”

“They assumed I was lying,” Huizenga said to me. “They didn’t ask me if it was possible that he’d been in the greatest fight of his life just a few days before.”

“I was dumbfounded by their approach,” Huizenga said. “And they’ve become celebrities since then.” He continued: “But they were set on a course. They wanted to prove I was stupid instead of saying, ‘You’re an honest person, what happened here?’”

Huizenga testified in the trial that he tested Simpson for several drugs, among them anabolic steroids. All the tests came back negative. The FBI lab had tested Simpson a couple of days earlier for the same drugs, without the steroid component. During the trial, a Harvard forensic psychiatrist with a connection to the case conjectured to me that Simpson might have killed his ex-wife Nicole and Ron Goldman in some kind of steroid rage. Huizenga says now that it’s unlikely based on the tests.

“Of course, the original tests had much higher detectable limits. We set ours much lower. Look at all the pictures that were taken. They were all from my office. All the cuts on his hands, none of that would have been known without us. They” — he said, referring to the police and FBI — “did a terrible job.”

 

Fail: Billboard Awards Choose Madonna Instead of Real Prince Artists for TV Tribute

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The Billboard Music Awards– contrived in recent years — have done something really crazy. They’ve chosen Madonna to perform a tribute to Prince tonight on TV instead of real artists associated with Prince like Sheila E., The Time, Chaka Khan, Judith Hill, etc.

Why Madonna? She never covered a Prince song, and probably hadn’t seen him in 20 years. Is it because of Michael Jackson, Prince and herself, she’s the only one who’s still alive?

On top of this, songwriter Linda Perry, who slagged off Diane Warren and Lady Gaga early in the Oscar season, appeared on “The Talk” and said all those real Prince artists weren’t relevant anymore.

Good grief. So Prince will get a very white tribute from someone who had nothing to do with him. It’s like having Celine Dion salute James Brown.

Here’s Sheila E.’s response. Sheila Escovedo (who by the way is the biological aunt of Nicole Richie) had a massive hit called “The Glamorous Life,” written with Prince. They toured together for years and were close friends.

And the Billboard awards are remiss in not having Chaka Khan perform “I Feel for You” or the Bangles sing “Manic Monday.”

Exclusive: John Sayles Will Direct and Write “Django Lives” with Franco Nero

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Django lives, and he’s still played by Franco Nero.

I can tell you that John Sayles, one of my all time favorite directors, has agreed to direct “Django Lives.” It was announced last October that he’d write the screenplay.

“Django Lives” has nothing to do with Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.” This film will be the third to star Franco Nero as the title character. It’s set 50 years after the first movie. Django is now a horse handler and an extra on the set of D.W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation.”

Louis Black, Carolyn Pfeiffer, David Hollander and Nancy P. Sanders are the producers.

Sayles, of course, has a long list of great films including “Lone Star,” “Passion Fish,” “Return of the Secaucus 7,” “Matewan,” “Eight Men Out” and “Silver City.” Hard to believe, but he’ll be 66 years old this September when he starts shooting “Django Lives.” He’s due a lot of lifetime awards already and some real recognition as an outstanding filmmaker. I can’t wait to see this one.