Nathan Fillion’s priceless Tweet today about his co-star Stana Katic can be summed up by an old adage: “here’s your hat. What’s your hurry?”
— Nathan Fillion (@NathanFillion) April 19, 2016
Or, as Ellen Pompeo said to Patrick Dempsey: “buh bye.”
I don’t think we’ll be seeing “Castle” reunions in 10 years.
Former soap opera actor Fillion might just as well have said: “i’ve got one life to live, and it’s without you.”
“Shuffle Along” was not included in today’s Outer Critics Circle nominations. That’s because producer Scott Rudin told the group the multi million dollar musical directed by George C. Wolfe is not ready. The show opens on April 28th, in 9 days.
The Drama Desk was told the same thing, for “Shuffle Along” not be included in their awards too.
Basically no nominators have seen the musical starring Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Billy Porter.
The show “locks” on April 25th for press, and opens three days later. The Tony voters will have just a couple of days to see it and decide what to do.
“Shuffle Along” certainly wasn’t ready when I saw it on April 1st. It lacked a cohesive second act and an actual ending. The show’s whole point was delivered in Act 1.
A week later, on April 8, nothing had changed according to observers. It’s been ten days since then. Maybe there have been a lot of improvements. But the show I saw, and was seen on April 8th, ran three hours including a 15 minute intermission.
On top of that, Audra McDonald will leave the show after six weeks. She had already agreed to perform “Lady Day at the Emerson Bar and Grill” in London for three months. Who’s going to replace her for ticket buyers? That’s a tough job.
Not being ready on April 19th for awards nominations is like saying My dog ate my homework. This doesn’t bode well for what is otherwise a buoyant celebration of Eubie Blake’s famed 1921 musical.
The OCC voted “Hamilton” Best Musical last year when it was off Broadway, so the show wasn’t eligible again.
The complete list of 2015-16 Outer Critics Circle Asards Nominations follows.
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
Eclipsed
The Father
The Humans
King Charles III
Therese Raquin
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
American Psycho the Musical
Bright Star
On Your Feet!
Tuck Everlasting the Musical
Waitress
OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
The Christians
Familiar
Gloria
Hold On to Me Darling
The Legend of Georgia McBride
OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Cagney
Daddy Long Legs
Dear Evan Hansen
Lazarus
Southern Comfort
OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Bright Star
Daddy Long Legs
Dear Evan Hansen
Lazarus
On Your Feet!
OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
American Psycho the Musical
Bright Star
Daddy Long Legs
Dear Evan Hansen
Waitress
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Blackbird
The Crucible
Fool for Love
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
A View From the Bridge
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
The Color Purple the Musical
Dames at Sea
Fiddler on the Roof
She Loves Me
Spring Awakening
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Evan Cabnet Gloria
Mike Donahue The Legend of Georgia McBride
Rupert Goold King Charles III
Joe Mantello The Humans
Ivo van Hove A View From the Bridge
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Michael Arden Spring Awakening
Walter Bobbie Bright Star
Scott Ellis She Loves Me
Rupert Goold American Psycho the Musical
Michael Greif Dear Evan Hansen
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Joshua Bergasse Cagney
Spencer Liff Spring Awakening
Josh Rhodes Bright Star
Randy Skinner Dames at Sea
Sergio Trujillo On Your Feet!
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Beowulf Boritt Therese Raquin
David Korins Misery
Mimi Lien John
David Rockwell She Loves Me
Walt Spangler Tuck Everlasting the Musical
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN (Play or Musical)
ESosa On Your Feet!
Jane Greenwood Bright Star
Katrina Lindsay American Psycho the Musical
Jeff Mahshie She Loves Me
Tom Scutt King Charles III
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Donald Holder She Loves Me
Natasha Katz Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Kenneth Posner On Your Feet!
Ben Stanton Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend American Psycho the Musical
OUTSTANDING PROJECTION DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Lucy MacKinnon Spring Awakening
Peter Nigrini Grounded
Peter Nigrini Dear Evan Hansen
Finn Ross American Psycho the Musical
Tal Yarden Lazarus
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Reed Birney The Humans
Gabriel Byrne Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Frank Langella The Father
Mark Strong A View From the Bridge
Ben Whishaw The Crucible
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jayne Houdyshell The Humans
Jessica Lange Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Lupita Nyong’o Eclipsed
Nicola Walker A View From the Bridge
Michelle Williams Blackbird
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Alex Brightman School of Rock the Musical
Danny Burstein Fiddler on the Roof
Robert Creighton Cagney
Ben Platt Dear Evan Hansen
Benjamin Walker American Psycho the Musical
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Laura Benanti She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo The Color Purple the Musical
Jessie Mueller Waitress
Ana Villafañe On Your Feet!
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Sanjit De Silva Dry Powder
Matt McGrath The Legend of Georgia McBride
Jim Norton The Crucible
Robert Sella Sylvia
Michael Shannon Long Day’s Journey Into Night
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Pascale Armand Eclipsed
Zainab Jah Eclipsed
Judith Light Therese Raquin
Saycon Sengbloh Eclipsed
Myra Lucretia Taylor Familiar
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Nicholas Barasch She Loves Me
Roger Bart Disaster!
Michael Esper Lazarus
Christopher Fitzgerald Waitress
Terrence Mann Tuck Everlasting the Musical
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Danielle Brooks The Color Purple the Musical
Andrea Burns On Your Feet!
Sophia Anne Caruso Lazarus
Jane Krakowski She Loves Me
Helene Yorke American Psycho the Musical
OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Mike Birbiglia Thank God For Jokes
Kathleen Chalfant Rose
Anne Hathaway Grounded
James Lecesne The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
Daphne Rubin-Vega Empanada Loca
JOHN GASSNER AWARD
(Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Lindsey Ferrentino Ugly Lies the Bone
Lauren Gunderson I and You
Martyna Majok Ironbound
Marco Ramirez The Royale
Anna Ziegler Boy
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Houghton Signature Theater Company
EXCLUSIVE “Spider Man: Homecoming” starts shooting in June and wraps in October. Jon Watts’s film will open on July 7, 2017.
From the sounds of a new casting call, however, it does seem like Peter Parker– played by British actor Tom Holland, now 19– will still be in high school. The “Homecoming” of the title is probably the big end of the year dance.
There’s already some confusion, too. All the trade and fanboy sites announced Tony Revolori as Manuel Nguyen, Peter’s nemesis and villain. But “Manuel” is still being cast, so Revolori may not be playing that role after all. And Manuel is described as “uber-nerd, endearing and funny.” Doesn’t sound like a villain.
Many of the other parts being cast right now include an English teacher, principal, physics teacher and of course, a newscaster. After five Spider Man movies, a musical, a TV series, and 40 years of reading comics, I feel like I know Peter Parker’s high school life better than I know my own. It’s hoped that “Homecoming” will be different, somehow.
OK, this is downright weird. Stana Katic is beautiful and smart. She’s the only reason I’ve ever looked at an episode of “Castle,” usually in reruns. Okay. I also like Susan Sullivan a lot.
But Katic’s chemistry with Nathan Fillion gave the show a “Moonlighting” feel. Guess what? Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis hated each other. And we knew it the whole time the show was on the air.
Evidently, Katic and Fillion are not fond of each other either. So yesterday ABC announced that if they renew the show for a 9th season, Katic won’t return. Last year they signed her to a one year deal. Deal is up now. Her character, Beckett, may get killed so they can retool the show as “Archie Bunker’s Place.” In that show, they killed off Edith Bunker so Carroll O’Connor could go on a few seasons more.
It was a bust. And this will be too? Does anyone want to see Beckett killed next month, and have Castle move with his his family and friends to a new location? No, I didn’t think so.
Katic knew this was coming. She’s got four movies in the can according to the IMDB. She’s already made the transition off the show. She’s all set.
But really, more years of “Castle”? Eight is enough. Let this thing die already.
Ouch! It’s a new world at the Hollywood Foreign Press. Rule changes announced today will cut back severely on the conspicuous partying and junketeering of some of the more, uh, sociable members.
The Globes announced they will take place on January 8th– a week earlier than usual. And now there’s no campaigning or carrying on between nominations announced– usually a month earlier– and the awards day.
That will be a big change for certain members of the HFPA who love a good canape and a glass of white wine. Now the studios won’t be able to wine and dine them during that crucial month long period– which is also during the Christmas holiday time.
Academy voters, however, will be able to feel the benefit of studio largesse until mid January, when Oscar nominations are announced.
The other biggest change will be dramas actually being in the Drama category. Musicals and comedies will adhere strictly to those real words. A few jokes or a little music will no longer push a drama into the latter category because the studio thinks it can win that way as a strategy.
The HFPA continues to struggle with change, to be taken seriously. They’re making progress.
Here are the areas rule changes:
Defining the drama/comedy distinction
Defining “original score” and specifying who should receive that award
Specifying who should receive the screenplay award
Providing procedures for determining whether motion pictures meet the “foreign language” requirements
Changing the foreign language motion picture eligibility period to a 15-month period to coincide with the Academy’s eligibility period
Specifying that qualifying motion picture screenings may not be held at HFPA offices
Changing the requirement of screeners (in addition to screenings) for foreign language motion pictures to a strong recommendation
Revising the distinction between motion picture and television categories to recognize the development of pay-per-view television series
Including a reference to “special” Golden Globe awards (already provided for in the bylaws)
Providing more details on the reminders list process and specifying our use of the 2/3 rule to overturn a studio’s category submission
Providing for a blackout period when studios and publicists may not lobby HFPA members about award classification issues
Allowing for advance determinations of categories upon request in August each year
Including the rule against inviting members to events with nominees during the period after the nominations are announced
Providing rules for advertisements referring to the Golden Globes
The best of this year’s Pulitzer Prizes goes to “Hamilton,” the genius of a musical by Lin-Miranda Manuel. When he heard the news, he immediately Tweeted: “Grateful” for 140 characters. “Hamilton” will also win the Tony Award for Best Musical and all the other awards it’s eligible for. It’s a rare piece that actually feels like art, and needs to be publicly rewarded.
Grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful grateful great full
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 18, 2016
2016 Pulitzer Prize winners
JOURNALISM
Public Service: The Associated Press
Investigative Reporting: Leonora LaPeter Anton and Anthony Cormier of the Tampa Bay News and Michael Braga of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Explanatory Reporting: T. Christian Miller of ProPublica and Ken Armstrong of the Marshall Project
Local Reporting: Tampa Bay Times
National Reporting: The Washington Post
International Reporting: Alissa J. Rubin of The New York Times
Feature Writing: Kathryn Schulz of The New Yorker
Commentary: Farah Stockman of the Boston Globe
Criticism: Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker
Editorial Writing: John Hackworth of Sun Newspapers, Charlotte Harbor, Florida
Editorial Cartooning: Jack Ohman of The Sacramento Bee
Breaking News Photography: Mauricio Lima, Sergey Ponomarev, Tyler Hicks, Daniel Etter of the New York Times; and the photography staff of Thomson Reuters
Feature Photography: Jessica Rinaldi of the Boston Globe
LETTERS, DRAMA & MUSIC
Fiction: Viet Thanh Nguyen for The Sympathizer
Drama: Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton
History: T.J. Stiles for Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America
Biography or Autobiography: William Finnegan for Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life
Poetry: Peter Balakian for Ozone Journal
Music: Henry Threadgill for In for a Penny, In for a Pound
There was a lot going on at last night’s screening of “The Good Wife” with cast and crew. The big news came when the show’s co-creator Robert King (with wife Michelle) admitted why Will Gardner was shot dead in season 5.
“I always knew someone would die during the telling of the story,” said King. “But when they told me Josh Charles didn’t want to renew his contact, I said, F— him. He’s the one.”
And that’s how these things work, you know. The Kings were joined by Julianna Margulies, Cush Jumbo, and Matt Czuchry for a Q&A after the screening of the episode that aired later last night.
The actors were asked which other character they’d like to play on the show. Margulies, who plays the lead, Alicia Florrick, responded with “Eli Gold.” That’s the character played by Alan Cummings.
Margulies just wrapped the last episode. She told me: “Kerry Washington said I should just take long vacation now.” Margulies added: “I told my agents I don’t want to see anything for a while. I want people to miss me a little.” In other words, she’s not jumping right back into a new series or a movie.
The Kings, meantime, are three episodes into shooting a new show for CBS called “Brain Damage,” a spoof about politicians in Washington, DC. Aaron Tveit, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Tony Shalhoub star. King told me the show is about people who’ve had their brains damaged by bugs. Hmmmm…
Other news: it seems like despite being dead, Will Gardner– aka Josh Charles– will make a ghostly appearance in the final episode. And it did seem as though Alicia will end up with Jason (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Actress Cush Jumbo did say, “Everyone should feel satisfied” by the ending.
inside photo by Paula Schwartz c2016 Showbiz411
When Clive Davis was the head of Columbia Records, he sent out a promo video (this was in 1973) of him reading the lyrics to Bruce Springsteen’s “Blinded by the Light.” It’s a hoot, but it sold Bruce’s first album.
Three years later, he went to meet Eric Carmen, former leader of the Raspberries, in his apartment in Cleveland to hear a bunch of songs for Carmen’s first solo album. Carmen said in a video shown last night at the first ever Arista Records reunion: “Cleveland? Can you imagine?” Davis heard the hit “All By Myself” and the rest is history.
And the history was all on display last night at the Cutting Room, where former Arista exec Ken Levy and a bunch of Clive “grads” put on an unexpectedly emotional and fun first ever reunion. It’s 42 years since Clive took over Bell Records, kept three of the artists, and built Arista. Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” was the first hit and the golden streak didn’t stop until around 2000, when Davis started his J Records and launched Alicia Keys. Arista went on without him, but not for long.
I think Clive was fairly shocked at the turnout last night, and the time his former employees put into this event. First of all, two big artists– Dionne Warwick and Alan Parsons– showed up. The Cutting Room featured an Arista museum with artifacts from hit records by Whitney, Barry, Dionne, Aretha, Rod Stewart, and so on. (It should all go into the Grammy museum.)
There was a cake in the shape of the old combo record/tape player Clive used to listen to his cassette tapes on, of demo songs for the artists. Beautiful.
So many important people from the Arista years were there– Pete Ganbarg (now at Atlantic, where he’s made 21 Pilots a hit), Richard Palmese (rocking on the west coast with Live Nation), Roy Lott, Donny Ienner (who went on to an infamous career with Tommy Mottola at Sony), Clive’s beloved secretary Rose Gross-Marino, Gerry Griffiths– he signed Whitney Houston to her contract, and so on.
Some went back to the Bell days right after Clive came from his fabled run at Columbia Records. The only act Bell really had was the Fifth Dimension (who should be in Halls of Fame). Many warm greetings in the room from all kinds.
(I overheard not a few say “Is that so-and-so? They fired me! I want to say hello!”)
Many people came from Columbia to Arista with Clive after he was fired (a set up, politics, etc) because they believed in him. It paid off.
Clive was overwhelmed. He brought his friends– Nikki Haskell, Beverly Johnson, and Greg Schriefer. His 20 minute speech was so lovely, and heartfelt. Here’s a clip from it. The meat of it starts around 7:17 to 8:52, and you can see what a mensch he is and why these people loved him.
I sat with the publicists– Gwendolyn Quinn, Tracy Jordan, Lynne Volkman, Carol Klenfner, and of course Melani Rodgers. What a gang!
Yes, Whitney’s name was invoked a lot. There was a beautiful in Memoriam section where I saw my old (and much missed) pal Michael Klenfner. Aretha Franklin’s ear must have been burning– she was spoken about a lot.
And so many hits– Clive revived the Grateful Dead, the Kinks, and Santana, among others. It wasn’t all just Whitney. And he presented Patti Smith to the world– the most cutting edge influence ever. Wow.
Twenty years ago, Jon Favreau made his debut co-producing and starring Doug Liman’s “Swingers.”
This weekend, Favreau directed “The Jungle Book,” and it swung all right– to $103 million for the weekend. That’s $28 million more than Disney’s other current huge hit “Zootopia” did in its first weekend, by the way.
(Just to add in generational clarity: Doug Liman directed “Swingers.” Now he does things like the terrific “Edge of Tomorrow.”)
“The Jungle Book” is second among PG Disney films only to “Alice in Wonderland” (2010). And “Jungle Book” is way ahead of Oscar winner “Inside Out.”
Disney may have problems in their executive suite, but in the movie division, Alan Horn is hitting home runs.
Elsewhere, Lions Gate release “Criminal” was a huge loser, making just $5.8 million. LGF is already in hot water, their stock is sinking. This bad news won’t help. “Criminal” has to be a $40 million bloodbath at the very least.
Not many people ran to see Vogue editor Anna Wintour snarl at her staff in “The First Monday in May,” which opened the Tribeca Film Festival. Twenty theaters, total $105K. A table at Wintour’s Met Ball costs $240,000 by the way.
Here’s a clip from the ‘real’ “Jungle Book:”
Stay tuned here…
Beyonce is making lemonade out of lemons. Just as I said weeks ago, Beyonce is getting ready to drop new music and a video album (whatever that is) on April 23rd. She released a teaser a couple of days ago. I told you she wouldn’t go out on her tour without something new.
Alicia Keys is hosting “Saturday Night Live” on May 7th. Yesterday she posted a teaser to Twitter– she’s got new music (it’s been a while) and she’s playing a “secret” New York show any minute. I was thinking about Alicia last night at the Arista Records reunion — Clive Davis launched her 15 years ago! Time flies!
I’ve been dying to tell you this…. #NewAKMusic Snap: AKStreetGoddesshttps://t.co/dCcnyLpLMr
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) April 16, 2016