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Emmys Breakthrough: Three Top Acting Prizes for Females in Drama Go to Black Women

Roger Friedman
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Emmys Breakthrough: Three Top Acting Prizes for Females in Drama Go to Black Women

What a historic night at the Emmys! Three top acting prizes went to black women for roles in dramas. Best Actress went to Viola Davis in “How to Get Away with Murder.” Best Supporting Actress went to Uzo Aduba in “Orange is the New Black.” Regina King took home Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series in “American Crime.”

We wake up to a new world, folks. At last. And who stood first to applaud Viola’s win as the first ever black woman to win lead in drama? Another nominee, and a black woman, Taraji P. Henson. Classy stuff!

Jon Hamm won Best Actor in a Drama, finally, for playing Don Draper in “Mad Men.” It took seven tries to get him the award, which he’d deserved years ago.

Alison Janney won Best Supporting Actress in a comedy for “Mom.”

There was a Veep Sweep, as HBO’s “Veep” took five trophies including Best Comedy and Best Actress in a Comedy for Julia Louis Dreyfuss.

Altogether, HBO received 43 Emmy Awards. They swept through every category including Best Drama, for “Game of Thrones” and Best Mini Series for “Olive Kitteredge.” That   movie also got acting awards for Richard Jenkins and Frances McDormand.

Then HBO hosted the most stunning Emmy party of the week at the Pacific Design Center, where  everyone who was anyone– from Mel Brooks to Viola Davis to Steven Soderbergh–dined, gossiped and celebrated until well past midnight. I ran into everyone from Tim Hutton to George R. R. Martin to Justin Theroux there.

Very interesting– with Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon nipping at its heels, HBO pulled off its biggest success yet. A whole round dinner table was festooned with Emmys they’d picked up last night. Quite an accomplishment.

 

Jackie Collins, Hollywood’s Buoyant Cheerleader, Beloved, Dies at 77

Roger Friedman
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Jackie Collins, Hollywood’s Buoyant Cheerleader, Beloved, Dies at 77

What can I say? I loved Jackie Collins. Everyone did. She was so much fun, a great friend, happy happy happy, a cheerleader for Hollywood. She loved it. She loved her sister, Joan, and was so proud of her. The news that she has died after six years of breast cancer is just devastating.

I knew Jackie at least 30 years. I told her how, when her masterwork “Hollywood Wives,” came out in paperback, we had dramatic readings of it on the beach in the summer of 1983. That was some book and TV movie. It crystallized everything about Tinsel Town. Everyone wanted to know who shoplifting, klepto Elaine Conti was based on.  The rumor was it Farrah Fawcett, but Jackie never confirmed it. Probably not since years later Farrah starred in one of Jackie’s movies.

Jackie was a regular at Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy dinner, and a habitue in the last couple of years at Craig’s on Melrose, the hot restaurant in town. She held court there and was always a delight to see. At Clive’s she sat at what I always thought of as the royal table — sister Joan, Quincy Jones, Carole Bayer Sager and Bob Daly, Dick Clark (when he was alive), Merv Griffin. She was the queen. She knew everything and everyone. She was so gracious and glibly fun at the same time.

Years ago– well, 1990 I think– I walked into Spago on Horn Avenue and saw Jackie sitting at the window (best seat in the house) with a bunch of stars. She said to me, “Do you know Gene Kelly?” I plotzed. The real Gene Kelly. She sat me down next to him. I have no idea what I said or what he said. I was awestruck.

Jackie wasn’t a literary writer, but she was a savvy one and knew her audience. She also knew her subject, whether it was Hollywood or the mob. She said she dreamt it all up but she did a lot of research and had met all the people upon whom she based her characters. In the real heyday of her bestsellers, her career was guided by her irrepressible second husband, Oscar Lerman, who knew the ins and outs.

Most of her books were published by Simon & Schuster, and edited by the legendary Michael Korda. Her agent of course was Swifty Lazar. These were the cool kids of the time. Around the time Korda finally left S&S, Jackie’s books finally took a dip in sales. (They came back.) I think she moved to Warner Books for a while. But S&S made a ton of money off of her. They better take out a big ad this week in the New York Times. She was their stalwart and made a lot of people there  rich.

Jackie had the big teased hair, and the leopard print pants, and she was just a sensation. I went to a party a few years ago given by Sandy Gallin with a lot of A list movie stars and celebrities of the 60s, 70s, 80s– the real A list– sister Joan, Jane Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, Streisand, etc. It was winter and cold out. All the fur coats were piled up on a sofa. At the end of the night it was Jackie sorting them out like a fabulous coat check girl.

The party was a buffet and indoor picnic– and the most fun people were the Collins sisters. With that English accent you thought of they’d be stuffy, but they were passing the rolls, giving up seats, gossiping like crazy. My condolences to Joan, who is bereft, and to Jackie’s kids, and to all her friends and extended family. A real light has gone out in this world.

 

Emmy Parties, Presentations: Kimmy Schmidt’s Tituss Burgess Tells Lily Tomlin: “I’m Obsessed With You!”

Roger Friedman
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Emmy Parties, Presentations: Kimmy Schmidt’s Tituss Burgess Tells Lily Tomlin: “I’m Obsessed With You!”

Emmy parties in full swing all day Saturday, many outdoors even though the heat was scorching. Hollywood parties are noted for the huge amount of food available everywhere in chafing dishes. Yet no one eats it because they’re all on weird diets so they don’t look like blobs on TV. Hah! The New Yorkers were all happy to dig in.

At the Pacific Design Center, the television academy threw its annual performers reception. All the nominees are invited. The bulk of those who actually attend are in supporting categories mostly, although Oscar winner Adrien Brody, one of our New York faves, came with his parents. (His mom is legendary photographer Sylvia Plachy.) Christina Hendricks was there with husband Geoffrey Arend, who’s so good on “Madame Secretary.”

Best talk was with William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman, who stayed til the end and brought along the creators of “American Crime Story,” my favorite show of this past winter.

On stage, the magnificent Lily Tomlin, a Governor of the Academy, handed out certificates to the nominees. Among them was the effervescent Titus Burgess, from “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” As he crossed the stage, Tituss took his certificate and then just about pounced on Lily, saying, not once but twice, loudly: “I’m obsessed with you!” Tomlin looked frightened but in a good way.

Earlier, at the BAFTA tea at SLS Hotel: a flurry of “Downton”-ites including Julian Fellowes and statuesque beauty of a wife, Emma, who were treated like rock stars along with Lesley Niccol (Mrs. Patmore), Jim Carter (Mr. Carson), and Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith). The final episode has been completed. The first new episode airs tonight in the UK. Mum’s the word on what happens and how it all ends. But Emma Fellowes told me she cried all the way through the finale. And through the penultimate episode. I’m pretty sure Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess will be offed at the very very end, but no one would confirm it.

My new favorite people are Uzo Aduba, the amazing actress who plays Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on “Orange is the New Black,” and her sister, Chioma. Totally charming and fun. Chioma works in advertising in Massachusetts. Uzo told me that since “Orange” is a bona fide hit she’s finally gotten a real apartment in hip hip Brooklyn. Overnight sensation? This woman is a serious theater actress with a list of credits and reviews to be envied. And let me tell you, crazy eyes she’s not. Beautiful eyes.

Finally: Tara Reid at every party, a slip of a thing. Welcomed by all like celebrity royalty.

At Soho House last night: Kelly Rutherford, having a low key dinner with friends. She told me she’s getting back to work and planning her next trip to Monaco to see her kids. Everyone is outraged that American judges let her ex husband take the kids back there. There’s more to this story…

photo c2015 Showbiz411 by Melissa Rappaport, RappAroundPR (many thanks)

Emmy Buzz: Alan Cumming Goes to the Cabaret of Charity Gift Giving

Leah Sydney
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Emmy Buzz: Alan Cumming Goes to the Cabaret of Charity Gift Giving

Gavin K Keilly’s GBK suites always attract buzz and celebs. Gavin’s recent GBK Pre-Emmys Gift Lounge was no exception. Held at the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, with DJ Goodboy spinning, GBK ‘s presenting sponsors were LifeCell anti-aging products and Venetia Vodka, charity beneficiaries included the Stray Cat Alliance, American Friends of Magen David Adom, Alfalit International and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Celebs such as Steven Bauer (Ray Donovan) and Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) cuddled the kitties as they perused the sensational Artisan Group’s, designed by artisans across the country, handcrafted items, including bath products, jewelry, clutches, candles, fine art photography and more. Hollywood has wisely caught on to this talented group of collective artists and features their unique products in many productions.

To keep the VIP’s camera ready, GBK had Aesthetica Cosmetic contouring kits, PlaqueHD toothpaste, Heather Marianna’s yummy Beauty Kitchen skin products, Alumine haircare products and more. Burke Williams Spa, the ultimate LA luxury, sampled their H2V exclusive skincare line. VIPS flock especially to the Burke Williams in West Hollywood, their services and heavenly spas, no matter where they are, are just the best.

Belmond La Samanna had their ocean room getaways at their Baie Longue Beach in St Martin, comes with breakfast too! Peta Phipp’s Caribbean Living Magazine was gifting stays to the uber popular Moon Palace, and other popular resorts that the Hollywood folk flocks too. The celebs gobbled up Olga Kay’s Moosh Walks socks, Urban Golf Performance’s coaching certificates as well as Lalo Fitness sessions, Grande Naturals Grande Lash and mascara while they sipped Jonata wine and green sheep water.

Speaking about gobbling, Ike Shehadeh’s “Ike’s Love and Sandwiches,” the self described, ‘sandwich wizard,’ gave out certificates and his truly delicious fare. Watch out for Ike, his restaurants will soon pop up all over the country. Bottom line….GBK hit it out of the showbiz park yet again!

Emmys: Style Lounge at Fig and Olive Brings Out Elliott Gould, Eric Roberts and More

Roger Friedman
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Emmys: Style Lounge at Fig and Olive Brings Out Elliott Gould, Eric Roberts and More

Doris Bergman once again held her Style Lounge and Party, honoring the Emmy’s at the tony Fig & Olive in West Hollywood. Hosted by Maserati and The Auto Gallery, this lounge had a sensational array of fashion, beauty and skin care, jewelry, spirits, footwear, yummy eats and the advance McLaren 570S Coupe, which is not yet available to the public.

Emmy Nominee Khandi Alexander chomped at the bit to get behind the wheel, as did Eric Roberts, Esai Morales, Elliott Gould and more. Doris always gives back; the charity that benefitted was ‘Wednesday’s Child,’ which helps foster children find adoptive families.

The lounge included: Twisted Silver’s wildly popular jewelry, Single Underwear, the equally popular Purse Case, featured on ‘Shark Tank,’ GUESS, Veved Ice Vodka, Model in a Bottle, My Dog Nose it, My Dog Nose It, NuBra, Personal Touch, Arbonne, My Saint My Hero, Samiah Fine Clothing, Color Wow, Authors Lacretia Palmer’s ‘Billy The Bully,’ and Debbi DiMaggio, (Contained Beauty,) Spongelle, Sue Wong Fragrances, Josh Cellars Wine, McLaren, Takeen, Timmy Woods Handbags, Twiistii Hair Accessories, Hattie Bags, Hint Water, Telic Footwear, Radar Watches, Clif and Luna Bars, Savannah Hair Therapy, (Jason Ritter was a fan of that,) Hattie Bags, Blue Can Water, Saavy Natural Soaps and FoxTales. Whew! All the while, Doris made sure the VIPS ate a delicious lunch at this Hollywood hotspot.

Go Doris! Till the Oscars!

Emmy Sweets: Laverne Cox Has New Balance, Jon Lovitz and His Dog Jerry Get “Extra”

Leah Sydney
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Emmy Sweets: Laverne Cox Has New Balance, Jon Lovitz and His Dog Jerry Get “Extra”

Jon Lovitz was pimping his dog Jerry at the plugged in Extra + On3 Productions 1st Annual Weekend Of 1 Lounge, produced by On 3 Productions to celebrate an EXTRAordinary year of television.  Held at the chrome-y London West Hollywood, this hopping event was hosted by Extra’s Mario Lopez, Tracey Edmonds and Charissa Thompson.

The uber popular New Balance was front and center, gifting their newest Vazee Rush running shoes and apparel from its upcoming Fall 2015 collections.  New Balance made a significant donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundations on behalf of each and every talent that stopped by.  The celebs also donated a pair of the pink Lace Up for the Cure Vazee Pace shoes to a breast cancer survivor of their choice.  Los Angeleno’s way love their New Balance.  Speaking about love, who doesn’t love to sleep and Simmons Beautyrest let celebs take a much-needed rest and gifted their Diamond Lux pillows and Recharge Hybrid mattress.  Celebs jumped into bed, including Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Edwards and Felicity Huffman.

But the funniest of all was natch, Jon Lovitz, who brought his dog Jerry with him.  Jerry made himself quite comfy and Jon quipped, “hey you want to use him, pay me!”

Centrum was showing their newest, “VitaMints,” a multi vitamin that’s taken like a mint.  Jane Lynch was an instant fan, along with the Fitbit activity tracker to monitor your health.  Cottonelle, with their “commando campaign,” had celebs posing for famed “butt sketch” artist Krandel Lee Newton drawing their respective tushes, which most were game to do, along with laughing a lot.  Cottonelle also gifted concierge cards for a one-year supply of toilet paper, a Queen Bee Salon & Spa house call and a one-year subscription to Apple Music.  Guests were also thrilled with the Luxe App station, an app and service that sends valets to park your car no matter where you are, and they gave out one year unlimited on-demand personal valet parking services.

Shea Chic owner San Diego based April Leffingwell had her proud Mom helping her out, and the celebs loves her brand of specialty, as she says, “handmade with love,” natural products including soaps and lotions and heavenly shea butters. .  Shea is an avid pet rescuer and her dog Soap, was being loved on by the VIP’s.

Dancing with the Stars Maksim Chmerkoskiy Emmy winner Tony Hale, Jeff Bridges, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, “I Am Cait’ co-star Candis Cayne and more perused through Le Mieux, advanced skin care solutions four-in-one skin perfecting tool, laptop trolley bags, tablet cases by Bombata bags, WowWee selfie taking pet cameras, along with their robot enhanced vehicles, Jamberry nail wrap manicures, Sania’s Brow Bar brow shaping.

If that weren’t enough, Extra and On3 also gifted  Batiste Dry Shampoo, Mira Books, Donsuemor Artisanal European baked goods, Andiz one of a kind handmade boots, RA_Bar Beauty services, Matcha Marketplace Green Tea Oatmeal and Dr. Sam Saleh Laser teeth whitening.  The crème de la crème was a one year membership to Crunch, hands down the most popular gym in LA and across the country.

Guests munched on delish Sabra hummus and sipped signature cocktails by Rum Diplomatico. No wonder On3 Productions hits a grand slam every time!

Monica Lewinsky Makes Surprise Appearance at Pre-Emmy Party, She’s Pals with “Good Wife” Actor Alan Cumming

Roger Friedman
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Monica Lewinsky Makes Surprise Appearance at Pre-Emmy Party, She’s Pals with “Good Wife” Actor Alan Cumming

Monica Lewinsky– you know her from the 1998 TV drama “I Didn’t Have Sex with That Woman” starring Bill Clinton as president of the United States.

Monica, looking trim and acting sassy, made a surprise appearance last night at the Creative Coalition’s Television Industry Advocacy Awards. She presented an award to “Good Wife” actor Alan Cumming, who — it turns out– is her great friend. Why was she there? Even she asked that question when she took the microphone. But she handled herself with aplomb.

The Advocacy Awards were like a little oasis of intelligence in the middle of an ocean of ridiculousness. Not all the attendees were Mensa members, however. Sitting on a couch and listening to the proceedings, I joked to the very short skirted, high heeled young woman next to me that all anyone was talking about was LGBT. “No one mentions the BLT community,” I lamented. She looked up from her phone, where she’d been studying pictures of herself, and said, “What? I don’t understand.”

Luckily, just about everyone else was on point. All the winners spoke from the heart and extemporaneously. Alfre Woodard, Christina Hendricks, Constance Zimmer, Beth Behrs from “2 Broke Girls,” Neal Baer, Laverne Cox, and Jeffrey Tambor among them. Creative Coalition chief Robin Bronk put on a solid and inspiring presentation.

I was most impressed by Eva Longoria. Did you know she was awarded a Master’s Degree from Cal State Northridge in Chicano studies? She did it while she was in “Desperate Housewives” and got the degree — a real one, not honorary– in 2013.

I also really enjoyed meeting Lana Parilla, the bad witch from ABC’s “Once Upon a Time.” She’s a real beauty, and couldn’t be nicer.

Also in the audience: Cinedigm’s Chris McGurk and wife Jamie, producer Cassian Elwes, and famed legendary songwriter Mike Stoller (of Leibera and… fame).

Nicely done– and refreshing to hear actors talking in a non partisan way about giving back on civic projects. Just hearing Alfre Woodard talking about her work in education and the arts makes you want to sign up right away!

NY Daily News Eyes Oblivion with Dismissal of Star Writers, Reporters; Newsday Next?

Roger Friedman
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NY Daily News Eyes Oblivion with Dismissal of Star Writers, Reporters; Newsday Next?

The world of print publications is shrinking fast now.

Yesterday, the New York Daily News laid off whoever was left among its star writers and reporters. Among them: David Hinckley, Jim Farber, Bill Madden. Mike Lupica apparently will be gone before the end of the year. Filip Bondy and Hank Gola are also gone.

At this point, there is no Daily News without these guys. But Mort Zuckerman can’t find a buyer for the paper. The rumor is he’s going to cut the print editions until it’s almost all on the web. The News was famous for photographs, but their most famous picture taker– the legendary Richard Corkery– is long gone.

Last week, the editor in chief, Colin Myler, was sacked as well.

I’m not even sure where the Daily News offices are anymore. In its heyday the paper was on East 42nd St. in a building likened to the Daily Planet of “Superman” fame. The lobby there was a work of art. Then Zuckerman moved the paper to far west 33rd Street in an anonymous slab of concrete. For all I know, they’re in Hoboken now.

Meanwhile, the death of Newsday seems imminent. It was sold this week by Cablevision to a French company. AM New York may have been sold with it, but no one’s mentioned it. All the people who remain at these papers labor out of love at this point. They’ve been whittled to nothing.

In the the late 80s, Newsday–which serves Long Island– moved into Manhattan for a short glorious run. Don Forst made New York Newsday a must-read. Now things are so bad that their stories are behind a paywall. When they reported the Cablevision sale this week, you had to pay to read about Newsday’s fate. I’m sure few did.

This will be Zuckerman’s legacy in journalist. He bought the Atlantic Monthly, the Atlantic Monthly Press, US News an World Report and the Daily News to change his standing from Canadian realtor to international world pundit. In 30 years all the publications were either sold off (Atlantic) or destroyed (all the others).

Congratulations.

Box Office: Johnny Depp’s Bad Movies Catch Up to Him as “Black Mass” Has Rocky Start

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Johnny Depp’s Bad Movies Catch Up to Him as “Black Mass” Has Rocky Start

You can only make so many bad movies before the movie audience gives up on you. Such may be the case for Johnny Depp. His new film, “Black Mass,” well regarded, directed by Scott Cooper with a terrific supporting cast, had a rocky launch last night at the box office. The gangster movie about Whitey Bulger took in just $8.8 million. Original estimates of a $30 million weekend seem overly enthusiastic now, with $25-$27 million more realistic.

That’s not good. “Black Mass” was being trumpeted as an Oscar candidate. A lot of money has been spent on promotion.

This was supposed to be Depp’s comeback from a run of miserable films. They include the huge disaster, “The Lone Ranger,” and the mild disaster “Mortdecai.” Aside from “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, Depp hasn’t had anything resembling a hit in a long long time.

Earlier this week, Depp appeared at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of “Black Mass” looking bloated and uncomfortable. He’s clearly aiming to follow the path of the late Marlon Brando, and you wonder why. Brando was not a role model for anything except self indulgence. Depp would do a lot better to shake that idea off and come back to Earth immediately.

That said, “Black Mass” is very entertaining and well worth seeing this weekend. Joel Edgerton and Julianne Nicholson are among the stellar players in it. Cooper did a great job. Forget comparisons to Scorsese or anyone else. Just enjoy it for what it is.

Broadway: “Finding Neverland” Snags Terrific Terrence Mann, Kelsey Grammer Still MIA

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Finding Neverland” Snags Terrific Terrence Mann, Kelsey Grammer Still MIA

First the good news. Broadway’s “Finding Neverland” still going strong with Matthew Morrison, has snagged the great Terrence Mann to play Charles Frohman and Captain Hook. Terry starts on September 29th, succeeding Anthony Warlow, was who equally terrific in the role.

Mann is coming off a Tony nomination for “Pippin,” also directed by Diane Paulus. His credits list is long and storied. Everyone loves him. And he’s married to Charlotte d’Amboise. He and Matt Morrison will be a wonderful team.

But what the heck happened with Kelsey Grammer? He started the show in March, was there on opening night in April, and left in late June. He said he was coming back in September, but that never materialized. He just left the show– which was quite good in. And he hasn’t turned up on TV or anywhere else since then. He’s not ill– his photo has popped up from time to time and he looks fine. Did he just miss California?

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