Here’s the exclusive video clip of Lady Gaga’s amazing performance of “Til it Happens to You.” The song from “The Hunting Ground” is nominated for Best Song this year.
Vanity Fair’s Hollywood Actresses Cover Is Just Right, with Range of Ages and Colors
So happy to see the new Hollywood issue of Vanity Fair.
The fold out cover features famed actresses who cover a range of ages and colors. They are also, smart, sexy, and talented. Photos are by the equally amazing Annie Leibovitz.
Jane Fonda, Helen Mirren, Charlotte Rampling, and Diane Keaton look phenomenal. Their resumes speak for themselves!
Viola Davis, Lupita Nyongo, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are gorgeous, award winners, and here to stay.
Jennifer Lawrence, Alicia Vikander, Cate Blanchett, Rachel Weisz, Saorise Ronan, and Brie Larson are also the Next Generation.
If all of these women show up at the annual Vanity Fair party on Oscar night, there will be pandemonium for sure. Kudos to VF for managing to get this group together in any fashion. (MIA: Kate Winslet, but I’m sure we’ll see her soon. Next year– Penelope, Salma, and who knows?)
P.S. No one can say Diane Keaton hasn’t stuck with her look. And it’s timeless.
“Grease” Is the Word: TV Musical Soundtrack a Hit on iTunes as Ratings Are Huge
Yes, “Grease” is the word. The soundtrack to last night’s live musical “Grease” on Fox has jumped onto iTunes at number 5. It’s right there with Rihanna, Charlie Puth, Adele, and Sia.
The songs are mostly 40 years old, with one new tune written for Carly Rae Jepsen.
Meanwhile, the TV ratings were huge. The total number of viewers was over 12 million, with a 4.3 share in the key demo of 18 to 49. It was easily the most watched show of Sunday night.
The live presentation was filled with music pop icons who don’t necessarily come from Broadway, but were perfect for a one off TV show. Only Aaron Tveit had real Broadway cred, but the public loves Hudgens and Julianne Hough, Mario Lopez and Carly Rae Jepsen — and it worked!
Hudgens had a major star turn singing “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.” The show was dedicated to the memory of her father, who passed away the night before the broadcast.
The Pope Goes Hollywood: Pope Francis to Appear in First Feature Film, “Beyond the Sun”
Pope Francis is rockin’ it again. His Holiness has agreed to appear in his first feature film, called “Beyond the Sun.” He will play Himself. It’s the first time a Pope has appeared in a feature film.
Ironically, the movie– for children of all cultures– will be funded with Bacardi money. AMBI Films is owned by Lady Monika Bacard. She will fully finance the project with her partner, Andrea Iervolino. Co-producers are Graciela Rodriguez and Gabriel Leybu. Rodriguez wrote the screenplay based on her own concept.
Graciela Rodriguez wrote the film’s screenplay based on her own concept.
All profits will go to two charities– El Almendro and Los Hogares de Cristo (located in Argentina) which support Pope Francis’ social and spiritual message within the film. These organizations help aid at-risk children and young adults in need.
From the press release: “Beyond the Sun” is a family adventure story where children from different cultures emulate the apostles while searching for Jesus in the world around them. The film will be uplifting and is intended to spiritually engage and encourage audiences of all ages to transmit Jesus words, to understand them and integrate them to live a better life, make good choices and help others.
Review: “People vs. OJ Simpson” Is a Well Made Fantasy About the Lawyers, Not the Victims or Even OJ
I just finished watching six hours of “The People vs. OJ Simpson.” (It begins this week on F/X.) You must understand, I covered the OJ Simpson criminal trial from several days after the murders in June 1994 until the day of the verdict in October 1995, for New York Magazine. (It was a tough deal because my editor, Kurt Anderson, thought the story was beneath us– he said so– and thought no reader of New York would be interested in it.)
During those months I wrote the Intelligencer column with Pat Wechsler, I visited the Simpson courtroom as much as I could. I also wrote at least one story a week about it, often more. One of my stories, about Kato Kaelin selling a book for a million dollars during the trial– after the preliminary hearing judge ordered all witnesses not to speak to the press– caused such a sensation that Marcia Clark had to turn him into a hostile witness on the stand. Clark was shocked by this revelation when we published it. The reality was, she had no idea what was going on in the Simpson circus, and was outplayed. She either couldn’t keep up with the cast of characters and their shenanigans or didn’t want to. It was her undoing.
Venality and stupidity were all around her. She had no idea what the defense attorneys were capable of doing pr-wise, or what skillful manipulators they were. She was clueless, and Chris Darden even more so. Plus Judge Ito was basically an idiot. I reported on January 30, 1995 that Larry King, his daughter, and his producer, grand-standed in Ito’s courtroom for 38 minutes. While everyone waited, King got a private meeting in chambers with Ito. WTF? as they say. When Larry et al emerged from chambers, he proceeded to shake hands with the defense lawyers. He tried to shake hands with OJ but was stopped by a court officer. The trial was completely tainted.
This is not in the mini series. Neither is the fact that by the end of January 1995, as the trial began, Simpson published a book called “I Want to Tell You,” essentially defending himself. That’s just skipped over, as is the Kaelin book revelation. And errors include Clark, not Darden, examining Rosa Lopez, the maid who worked in the house next to Simpson’s, about details of the night of the murder. This is one of those kinda-sorta factual movies.
Some quick thoughts about everything else: “The People vs. OJ Simpson” is beautifully made. Sarah Paulson is so brilliant as Marcia Clark she will win an Emmy Award. Even I’m sympathetic to Clark, watching Paulson play her, and I thought Clark was a dope. Cuba Gooding Jr., Courtney B. Vance, David Schwimmer, Nathan Lane, Sterling K. Brown, Bruce Greenwood, Robert Morse as Dominick Dunne, Connie Britton as sleazy Faye Resnick– there isn’t a flawed performance in the first six hours. As much as I write about John Travolta’s crazy personal life and Scientology, hear this– his Robert Shapiro is brilliant. Brilliant.
But there’s something vitally wrong here. Ryan Murphy’s series is about the lawyers. It’s told from their perspective. Some of it is made up or changed to dramatize the story and make Clark sympathetic. (I love that when Darden visits her in her office late at night, the soundtrack is R&B, Otis Redding, Average White Band. This is to indicate “soul”.) There are big elements missing, however. The victims are totally absent– Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman are secondary to their own murders. OJ himself is under developed. I give credit to Cuba Gooding, Jr. because the writers are not that interested in Simpson, per se. This movie is not about him. Weird, huh?
Indeed, so much of what really happened during the course of the nine month trial is missing that it kind of cuts against the quality of the series. This is the writers’- and Ryan Murphy’s– take on the trial. Now, maybe in episodes 7 through 10 it changes. But what I’ve seen shows that the source material was limited. And way too much time is spent building up to the trial, which doesn’t really start until episode 5.
So sure, that’s entertainment. But it’s not history, and it’s very inaccurate. A lot of people key to the story simply aren’t there, starting with OJ’s loyal secretary, Cathy Randa, as well as the avaricious Brown family, Ron Shipp, or a half dozen key players. (There is so far no mention of the defense team’s private investigators.) Instead, we get Robert Kardashian (played so well by David Schwimmer) having lunch with his kids because we know (wink wink) they’ve become fame whores in current time. (Really, who cares?) We see Faye Resnick meeting for the first time with sleaze ball publisher Michael Viner. (Again, really?)
Maybe the real story of O.J. Simpson will come out in the ESPN documentary later this spring. Maybe this series will right itself in the last four episodes. But I doubt it will. So, enjoy it for the acting and the production values. But remember, this is a “fictionalized” account of something we still don’t have a handle on.
from what I wrote in New York Magazine, January 30, 1995:
January Wrap Up: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Christian Bale, Leslie Mann, Bebe Buell, Aretha Franklin
January is over! Didn’t we just have New Year’s Eve?
Natalie Cole died on New Year’s Eve, which was really terrible. Then came Bowie, Frey, Clarence Reid, and Paul Kantner, the founder of Jefferson Airplane. Abe Vigoda’s death was snubbed at the SAG Awards. Lots of sadness.
At Mohegan Sun on New Year’s Day, Miss Aretha Franklin sang Natalie’s “Inseparable.” Amazing. Grace.
Aretha Franklin’s moving tribute to Natalie Cole on New Year’s Day:
What a month! I got a call early in January from a friend who said, “Christian Bale is dropping out of Michael Mann’s Enzo Ferrari movie.” Great story! This person always knows what’s going on. At the same time, I did hear that Jennifer Aniston was leaving Taylor Hackford’s “The Comedian.” Leslie Mann might replace her. So a nice item was born.
What happens next? Indignant publicists who I really like double team me in a conference call. “Not true! Christian is in the movie. Please take down your story.” Imagine that in the days before the internet, there was no “taking down.” It was already printed. I like these PR ladies so I said, in a good mood, okay, I’ll amend. Christian is staying, no truth to the rumors.
At the Golden Globes, I actually see Christian Bale, one of my favorite actors, who is so good in “The Big Short.” I say, “Are you still doing Ferrari?” He doesn’t hesitate: “Yes!” And “Of course!”
The next day, Bale bailed out. For “health reasons.” He either didn’t want to gain weight or lose it to fit in a Ferrari. I don’t blame him. I can barely fit in the back of the new taxis these days. But really…this is what went on in January.
Oh yes, Leslie Mann did step in for Jennifer Aniston. A bunch of sites, starting with Deadline, just went and wrote it, no credit.
I did write on January 14th that the Oscars would look like the Grammys with Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Sam Smith all performing. They were all announced this week.
Warren Beatty will have to release his movie this year, good or bad, come rain or come shine.
Sean Penn and Madonna played some kind of PR game at Sean’s annual Haiti fundraiser during Golden Globe weekend. They raised a lot of money for Haiti, so that’s good. And Madonna played the ukulele. Justin Bieber was bored.
Shia LaBeouf and director Tony Kaye are making a secret movie, and think Alec Baldwin will join them.
January bonus: Patricia Clarkson and Josh Charles were two of the celebs who turned out on a cold cold night for Linda Lavin’s amazing performance in “Our Mother’s Brief Affair” at Manhattan Theater Club. I found Richard Greenberg’s play a lot more interesting than some reviewers. MTC is great because they’re trying new plays all the time, and not just reviving everything for the umpteenth time. Lavin is excellent but she kind of dimmed my enthusiasm when I tried to congratulate her at the after party. “I’m talking to my family,” she said, and turned away. She may still have been in character.
I ran into “Sopranos” creator David Chase at a little reception Maureen and Steve van Zandt had at the Garden before Bruce and the E Street band played last week. For some reason, former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer, despicable and icky, was on the other side of the room. I said to David, “That’s Elliot Spitzer.” Chase replied: “Really? I thought it was an actor who looked like him. That’s really him?”
Bebe Buell, Garland Jeffreys, Lenny Kaye and Richard Barone were among the terrific performers this month at the Cutting Room for Max’s Kansas City 50th anniversary. The show was a tribute to Lou Reed, but David Bowie had just died so he was celebrated, too. Bebe wowed the crowd with Lou’s “Satellite of Love” and dedicated it to him. Garland Jeffreys performed his own classic “Wild in the Street” which is being used in the promos for Baz Luhrmann’s TV show, “The Get Down.” It may be the show’s theme opener, which would be very cool.
Bebe Buell performing at the Lou Reed/Max’s Kansas City 50th anniversary show:
My February prediction: Will Smith surprises everyone and hands out the Best Picture award at the Oscars. Even better, Will and Jada together.
MDA’s Hail Mary Pass: Bring Back Jerry Lewis as Contributions Slide by $35 Million, Salaries Increase
Is Jerry Lewis back with MDA?
It’s hard to say, but on Friday, Lewis sent a video message to the MDA annual meeting urging support for the first time in five years.
That’s because in 2010, Lewis was ousted from MDA after over 50 years of dedicating himself to the eradication of Muscular Dystrophy. It was a shock that reverberated everywhere. His legendary Labor Day Telethon was dismantled, Jerry’s Kids were wiped out, and all mention of Lewis was scrubbed from the MDA website.
For MDA, it was a total disaster. In 2010, they listed over $171 million in total public support. By 2014, the number was down to $135 million.
According to their 2014 Form 990, the grants they gave dropped to $29.4 million from $38.7 million in 2013.
Meanwhile, salaries in the organization have risen sharply. Steven Derks, the new CEO, takes home just over $500,000. The 2014 Form 990 lists a total of around $17 million in compensation and benefits to top staff.
The Lewis scandal just about did them in, as did the wiping out of their network of local TV stations, the Telethon itself, and the cheesy pre-taped specials that replaced it. (Not to say the original telethon wasn’t cheesy– but a higher grade. Even Velveeta is better than spray cheese.)
At Friday’s meeting, Derks looks wrung out in the video. Jan Carl of “Entertainment Tonight” reads a speech specifically thanking Jerry and mentioning his accomplishments. It’s first time since 2010 that MDA has even acknowledged him. Lewis’s son Chris and his family are sitting at a table in the conference room. And then there’s Jerry’s message, which you can see below starting at 45:00.
Will this latest move bring back the MDA faithful? Again, that form 990 indicates a shocking drop in Net Assets or Fund Balances, from $21 million in 2013 to $6 million. Total assets are down as well. But total liabilities increased by $10 million, from $81 million to $91 million in one year.
MDA has also suffered another PR hit: out of nowhere, ALS launched its ice bucket challenge two summers ago and it went viral. Suddenly ALS was the neurology illness in the spotlight. The result was huge donations and an announcement of possible breakthroughs attributed to the money raised by the campaign. MDA’s rebranding now, and their olive branch extended to Lewis, is their only way to regain some luster.
Watch Screen Actors Guild In Memoriam Snub Abe Vigoda, Yvonne Craig, Others
After all the years of joking about Abe Vigoda being dead– and then SAG snubs him in their In Memoriam video. Really? Also, the great actor David Margulies and Dan Haggerty. All three were on TV for eons.
Here, Susan Sarandon presents the In Memoriam, which should have been up to date.
PS I don’t see Sam Simon, who produced “The Simpsons,” Jackie Collins, whose books turned into movies provided a lot of employment for actors, and so on. If you’re going to stretch to include pop singers, it might have been nice. Others missing: Grace Lee Whitney from “Star Trek,” Yvonne Craig, who was “Batgirl,” Jason Wingreen, from “Archie Bunker’s Place” and “GEneral Hospital,” Ron Moody, who was the brilliant Fagin in “Oliver!”….
SAG Awards Four Main Prizes to Black Actors, Best Cast to Oscar Fave “Spotlight”
The SAG Awards were quick and painless, and surprising. In a good way. Four black actors won prizes, including Idris Elba (who won two– one for Best Supporting Actor in a Fil, the other for Best Actor in a Limited Series), the mighty Viola Davis for “How to Get Away with Murder,” Uzo Aduba for “Orange is the New Black,” and Queen Latifah for “Bessie.”
Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” won for Best Cast, aka Best Ensemble. With this award and the Critics Choice, “Spotlight” looks like the Oscar pick for Best Picture. Deservedly so.
Surprises: “Mad Men” failed to win Best TV Drama or Best Actor for Jon Hamm. “Downton Abbey” won the former, and Kevin Spacey the latter.
Alicia Vikander bettered her Oscar chances with a win for Best Supporting Actress, in “The Danish Girl.”
The win for Elba dented Sylvester Stallone’s awards run. But Elba isn’t nominated for an Oscar at all. Stallone should prevail on February 28th.
Leonardo DiCaprio won Best Actor for “The Revenant.” Brie Larson won Best Actress for “Room.”
Here’s the complete list of winners:
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
SPOTLIGHT (Open Road Films)
BILLY CRUDUP / Eric MacLeish
BRIAN D’ARCY JAMES / Matty Carroll
MICHAEL KEATON / Walter “Robby” Robinson
RACHEL McADAMS / Sacha Pfeiffer
MARK RUFFALO / Michael Rezendes
LIEV SCHREIBER / Marty Baron
JOHN SLATTERY / Ben Bradlee, Jr.
STANLEY TUCCI / Mitchell Garabedian
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / Hugh Glass – “THE REVENANT” (20th Century Fox)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
BRIE LARSON / Ma – “ROOM” (A24)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
DOWNTON ABBEY (Masterpiece/PBS)
HUGH BONNEVILLE / Robert, Earl of Grantham
LAURA CARMICHAEL / Lady Edith Crawley
JIM CARTER / Mr. Carson
RAQUEL CASSIDY / Baxter
BRENDAN COYLE / Mr. Bates
TOM CULLEN / Anthony Gillingham
MICHELLE DOCKERY / Lady Mary Crawley
KEVIN DOYLE / Mr. Molesley
JOANNE FROGGATT / Anna Bates
LILY JAMES / Lady Rose
ROBERT JAMES-COLLIER / Thomas Barrow
ALLEN LEECH / Tom Branson
PHYLLIS LOGAN / Mrs. Hughes
ELIZABETH McGOVERN / Cora, Countess of Grantham
SOPHIE McSHERA / Daisy
LESLEY NICOL / Mrs. Patmore
JULIAN OVENDEN / Charles Blake
DAVID ROBB / Dr. Clarkson
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham
PENELOPE WILTON / Isobel Crawley
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
VIOLA DAVIS / Annalise Keating – “HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER” (ABC)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
IDRIS ELBA / DCI John Luther – “LUTHER” (BBC America)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
QUEEN LATIFAH / Bessie Smith – “BESSIE” (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
IDRIS ELBA / Commandant – “BEASTS OF NO NATION” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
ALICIA VIKANDER / Gerda Wegener – “THE DANISH GIRL” (Focus Features)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
MIKE BIRBIGLIA / Danny Pearson
MARSHA STEPHANIE BLAKE / Berdie Rogers
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
LAVERNE COX / Sophia Burset
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
CATHERINE CURTIN / Wanda Bell
LEA DELARIA / Carrie “Big Boo” Black
BETH FOWLER / Sister Jane Ingalls
JOEL MARSH GARLAND / Scott O’Neill
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Black Cindy
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren – “ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
JEFFREY TAMBOR / Maura Pfefferman – “TRANSPARENT” (Amazon)
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“MAD MAX: FURY ROAD” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)
At the EDDIE’s: Steve Martin, J.J. Abrams, And the Lady Who Edited “E.T.” and “The Big Chill”
The unsung heroes of Hollywood, the Editors, had their due last night at the 66th annual Ace Eddie Awards at the Beverly Hilton. Usually these award shows are filled with jaded Hollywood types ready to bolt after their category is announced. But not last night, the crowd was friendly, respectful and obviously deliriously happy to be out of a room with no windows.
“The Big Short,” “Max Max,” and “Inside Out” were the big winners. But before we got there, there were jokes and special prizes.
The talented actor and comedian Adam DeVine proved an adept host, telling the game crowd that, “We have surprises and explosions, nah, put that in post. Welcome to the darkness into the light. “ He then joked about the junk food that editors notoriously eat, “I was in the editing bay for a week one time, I gained 38 pounds, mostly in my neck. Hey, most kids idolize celebrities and sports figures, me, I’ve been a ‘cut nut’ forever. My # 1 top edit of all time, he then pointed to the screen to the infamous shot of Jeff Goldblum in “Jurassic Park,” walking to a pile of manure saying, “That is one big pile of shit.” I’m including the clip, because this got the biggest laugh of the night.
J.J. Abrams followed to honor student editors but couldn’t stop himself from ribbing his “Star Wars” co-writer Lawrence Kasdan. “I’m honored to be here, but Larry not so much. He literally complained about the fish for 7 minutes.” Adam McKay, before he gave the award to “The Jinx,” quipped, “I know I’m just a presenter, but I want to thank my life guru, Anthony Robbins.” Ted Rich was given a Career Achievement Award which treated the audience to classic clips from ‘Hill Street Blues,’ ‘St Elsewhere,’ ‘Mary Tyler Moore,’ ‘Rhoda,’ and more.
Kasdan, was there, then came up give the same award to his longtime editor Carol Littleton. Among her credits: “E.T.,” “The Big Chill,” and “Silverado.” Kasdan said, “she is completely loyal to her director, even though when she knows her director is full of shit.”
Steve Martin then came up to present the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker Award to Nancy Meyer. Steve joked, “I’ve always admired and honored editors but this is neither the time nor the place. “ Steve continued, “Editing has saved some great films, ‘Schindler’s List’ for example, by editing out the Jerry Lewis scenes. Nancy and I have talked about making a third ‘Father Of The Bride,’ but we both decided nether of us had the energy to deal with Martin Short.”
Steve went on to say, “Nancy has worked with some of the greatest actors, please take a look.” He pointed to the screen with of course all Steve Martin scenes. He continued, “Here are a sum of her clips from her greatest films,” which of course still offered only Steve.
Nancy addressed the lack of women in the industry. “It’s unusual for a woman to receive an award in Hollywood that doesn’t have the word ‘woman’ on it.” She said her process of collaboration with editors was “a glorious one.”
The night went on with ‘Inside Out,’ ‘The Big Short’ winning. The final award went to “Mad Max”’s Margaret Sixel, who thanked her real life husband, “Mad Max” director George Miller. She said, “George always sets the bar so high. Next time please set it lower. It was exhausting.” ‘ So the night ended with pretty much everyone still in the room. Indeed, the editors were thrilled to be out on the town. Well deserved.