Oscar winner Forest Whitaker is coming for Tony Awards season next spring. He’ll star in Michael Grandage’s production of Eugene O’Neill’s “Hughie.” The Shuberts are producing. It will be a short run to try and get Whitaker a Tony Award, then adios. But we’ll see how receptive the Broadway community– and the Tonys– are to another Hollywood star swooping in to collect a gold statue. It doesn’t work most of the time. But the box office should be big, and that’s the main thing.
One Direction is Breaking Up–“Drag Me Down” Dragged Them Down, So Did Zayn’s Exit
Kids, if you’d been a kid in January 1970, you’d be ready for this. That’s when we knew the Beatles “Let it Be” would be their last album. The party was over.
And so, now, One Direction, hardly the Beatles but meaningful to lots of teen girls, is over. People magazine says when this tour is concluded and their fifth album comes out, 1D is taking a long, long hiatus.
They will only be back if none of them hits like Justin Timberlake. And if they do come back, ask the Backstreet Boys. You’re off to dinner theater, Vegas, and state fairs. The cacophonous screaming of teen girls is in the past.
You know that Zayn Malik already left the group. And “Drag Me Down” has been a drag, not really becoming a hit even with a video.
Now Harry, Liam, Niall, and Louis will go their separate ways. It’s scary out there, particularly since they are not the Beatles.
It’s a little unclear what their individual strengths are. I guess we’re going to find out. They aren’t really songwriters, so teams will have to be brought in. Of the four, Harry Styles has the strongest individual brand, to use a word. He has recognition. But he doesn’t seem like a Timberlake breakout star. He will need a very hands on manager to create an individual career.
Ready to take the place of 1D: Five Seconds of Summer. Will they last longer than five seconds? And who’s coming after them?
Owen Wilson Says His Father Has Alzheimer’s; Robert Wilson Brought Monty Python to PBS
I just read Owen Wilson’s interview in the Dallas Morning News. He says his father, former PBS exec Robert Wilson, has Alzheimer’s. He’s just 74.
Bob Wilson brought “Monty Python” to PBS in 1974 when he was head of the Dallas station KERA. He also gave PBS’s famous newsman, Jim Lehrer, his start on TV when he was a newspaper man. The Wilsons moved from Boston to Dallas in 1963, an auspicious moment in history for that city.
At the 2005 premiere of “The Family Stone,” I met the Wilsons (son Luke is a star of that movie) and chatted with them at length. They were lovely, a really great cool couple.
I asked them what they thought of son Owen’s then-nickname in the press, the “Butterscotch Stallion”?
“I don’t think you should ask my wife that,” Robert Wilson said, with a chuckle.
“I think it’s going away now, I don’t hear it so much anymore,” said Mrs. Wilson.
They also told me neither of one of them expected either of their sons to become movie stars.
It’s nice to hear the family has pulled together during this crisis. Sending prayers and good thoughts to them.
Box Office: “Straight Outta Compton” with $26 Mil Wins Weekend, Repeat Customers
A lot of people are hip hopping to “Straight outta Compton” on repeat visits. F. Gary Gray’s hit made $26 million over the weekend, and crossed the $100 million mark. While the albums connected to it aren’t doing so well, the movie obviously makes a connection. Just anecdotally I’ve heard about people making return visits in droves. They want to see it again. If you’ve heard those stories, please add them into our comments.
Meanwhile, dead dead dead is “American Ultra.” And no one knows what that Pierce Brosnan movie did. So LionsGate has a problem with films that aren’t “Twilight” or “The Hunger Games.” And Kristen Stewart has a problem when she’s not running with vampires.
“The Man from UNCLE” is also a bust. “Hitman: Agent 47” also assassinated its audience.
On the other hand, audiences went to “Grandma” and “Learning to Drive” in big numbers. Keep going. These films are worth it, and will hold on through awards season.
Re Pierce Brosnan, who’s an excellent actor and a fine fellow. He’s appeared six movies in the last two years. The total box office is less than $75 million. He needs a great new agent, manager, and plan. He’d be a rock star in this new TV not on TV world, like Kevin Spacey, with the right show.
“Twilight” Reunion for Nikki Reed, Director Catherine Hardwicke in Lady Gaga Rape PSA
Lady Gaga’s “Til It Happens to You” has been made into a full length video by director Catherine Hardwicke. The song, a potential Oscar nominee from the Kirby Dick documentary about campus rape, “The Hunting Ground,” already appears in that movie.
But Hardwicke has made a full video for the song that can be used as a public service announcement. It could also take off on YouTube and video channels as a standalone.
For Twilight fans, they’ll get a kick out of a reunion between Hardwicke and her “Twilight” star Nikki Reed. Reed stars in the video as well. Reed appeared in all the “Twilight” movies. She also starred in Hardwicke’s memorable debut film “Thirteen.”
So far there’s no word on whether “Til it Happens to You,” written by Diane Warren, and produced with a lush arrangement by Lady Gaga, is going to be a single. To be Oscar nominated actually nothing else needs to happen except for people to vote for it. I think it’s the “Glory” of 2015.
Box Office: “American Ultra” Bombs, Pierce Brosnan Film DOA as LionsGate Hungry for “Hunger Games”
At least there’s another “Hunger Games” movie coming soon.
LionsGate is otherwise having a bad bad time at the box office. “American Ultra” made $2.1 million last night and bombed. Kristen Stewart didn’t pull in “Twilight” fans to this badly marketed comedy (maybe, I don’t know) with Jesse Eisenberg. Will “Ultra” clear $5 mil this weekend?
Then there’s Pierce Brosnan in “Some Kind of Beautiful.” This film has a ZERO score on Rotten Tomatoes, 12 bad reviews, none positive. Did it screen? What is it? Again, who knows? Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba co-star. Luckily each is financially independent.
“Straight Outta Compton” sails to $100 million today. “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation” crosses $150 million. “The Man from UNCLE” hopes to cross $25 million by Sunday night.
Justin Bieber Cancels Montreal Appearance, Accuses Promoter of Lying and “Breach”
UPDATE The Beach Club says they’re angry with the promoter, called Team Productions. But Beach Club and Primeau’s names are on all the posters and promotion this appearance. Plus, Team Productions doesn’t seem to exist for anything other than Primeau related shows. If anyone knows who the owners of Team Productions are, please email me at showbiz411@gmail.com
EARLIER If you’re in Montreal today and thought you’d be seeing Justin Bieber, c’est la vie.
Bieber has canceled his highly promoted appearance at the Beachclub, a daytime outdoor nightclub that’s zoomed in popularity this summer.
The clever owner, Olivier Primeau, who poses for a photo on his website holding a Chihauhau like Dr. Evil, even had those hideous Kardashians up there this summer.
But Bieber writes on Twitter that Primeau is in breach of his contract and accuses him of “lying.”
Montreal due to the promoter of today's event breaking his contract and lying I will not be able to attend today's event. I'm sorry
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) August 22, 2015
I look forward to coming back to Montreal in the future to do a proper show but I will not be able to attend 2day due to this breach. Thanks
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) August 22, 2015
Compton Collapse: Dr. Dre Album Drops 85%, AppleMusic Stream Dries Up As Rapper Apologizes for Past Violence Against Women
“Compton” is the first new album by Dr. Dre in 16 years. Last week, tied to the release of “Straight Outta Compton,” the hit movie, the album sold 286,000 copies and finished second on the charts to country’s Luke Bryan.
But this last week, “Compton” collapsed. It dropped 85% in sales. That may be the biggest drop ever, beating even Madonna’s famous fall from grace a few years ago with “MDNA.” Compton sold just 42,732 copies.
Even worse: offered digitally as an exclusive on AppleMusic, which made Dr. Dre (real name Andre Young) a fortune buying his Beats headphones company, “Compton” scored only around 9,000 streams for listening. That brought “Compton”‘s total to 52,000 copies.
Part of the problem could be directed at Dr. Dre himself. In the last few days he’s been forced to apologize for his violent behavior against women from years ago. He told the New York Times in a statement:
“Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I’ve been married for 19 years and every day I’m working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again…I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.”
There are numerous stories coming out from women whom Dr. Dre abused years ago. One woman, Dee Barnes, a hip hop journalist, wrote on Gawker: “I suffer from horrific migraines that started only after the attack. My head does ring and it hurts, exactly in the same spot every time where he smashed my head against the wall.” She called the movie revisionist history.
So while the movie “Straight Outta Compton” continues to do very well at the box office with a fictional Dr. Dre, real person is finding it hard to sell his own related merchandise. Will it also affect the unfortunately named Beats headphones and brand? That remains to be seen.
Jimmy Fallon Chips Tooth While Trying to Open Gel Tube for Nearly Chopped Off Finger
Yes, it’s true. Jimmy Fallon just posted this picture to Instagram with this caption: Chipped front tooth trying to open tube of scar tissue repair gel for recovering finger injury. Thank you Dr. Jobe DDS! #BestSummerEver Brand new Tonight Show tonight!
Earlier this summer Jimmy nearly ripped his finger off in a weird home accident. He missed 10 days of shows and has been wearing a huge white bandage on his hand until recently.
Why was he opening a tube with this teeth?
Thank god it’s Friday.
Tony Bennett, 89, Has a New Album Ready for September Post-Lady Gaga
What have you been doing all summer? Tony Bennett, who turned 89 on August 3rd, has made a new album. Didn’t he just have a new album with Lady Gaga? Think about it– while Adele naps and Macklemore looks for change in cushions, Tony Bennett went back into the studio.
The result is “Silver Lining: Songs of Jerome Kern,” recorded with Bill Charlap. The new album hits stores and digital whatevers on September 25th, just in time for–wait for it– the Grammy Awards deadline. We’ll be seeing Tony in February at the afternoon ceremony.
OK, I don’t get it. It’s some kind of trick, isn’t it? Tony’s never sounded better. His show with Lady Gaga was beyond great. And now, this, a real jazz combo album. It’s no Bieber, but it will do!
TONY BENNETT & BILL CHARLAP
THE SILVER LINING: THE SONGS OF JEROME KERN
Musicians:
Vocals: Tony Bennett
Pianos: Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes
Bass: Peter Washington
Drums: Kenny Washington
Arranged by Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap
Tracks in Alphabetical Order (14 total)
ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE (single piano)
DEARLY BELOVED (trio)
I WON’T DANCE (trio)
I’M OLD FASHIONED (trio)
LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING (piano duet)
LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY (piano duet)
MAKE BELIEVE (single piano)
NOBODY ELSE BUT ME (trio)
PICK YOURSELF UP (trio)
THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (piano duet)
THE SONG IS YOU (piano duet)
THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT (single piano)
THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE ME (trio)
YESTERDAYS (trio)
*Single piano is Bill Charlap
*Piano duet is Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes