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Cecil the Lion’s Killer Tweets: “Did you know that lions go to the dentist too?” and “People care less and less every day”

Roger Friedman
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Cecil the Lion’s Killer Tweets: “Did you know that lions go to the dentist too?” and “People care less and less every day”

The Twitter account for River Bluff Dental, the office of Dr. William Palmer in Bloomington, Minnesota, is full of hubris. Today– in an effort to win back patients– they Tweeted: “The practice is still closed even though people care less and less about CecilTheLion day after day. Fickle people.”

It’s not the wording that smacks of insensitivity– it’s the illustration of a lion accompanying it that should outrage Palmer’s critics.

It’s not the first Tweet from River Bluff Dental to feature a picture of a lion. This was their Tweet on August 10th:

And this:

Back on August 4th, Palmer was convinced his problems were over. Are they? I’m not convinced:

Oscar Winner Paul Haggis Clears Up Misquote About Best Picture: “I am very proud of Crash”

Roger Friedman
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Oscar Winner Paul Haggis Clears Up Misquote About Best Picture: “I am very proud of Crash”

Somehow, some interviewer messed up Paul Haggis’s quotes about his Oscar winning Best Picture “Crash.” Some people don’t like the fact that “Crash” beat “Brokeback Mountain” and “Munich” for Best Picture in 2004. But the Academy voted for it. It was not a mistake. “Crash,” for its time, affected a lot of people. Haggis is a consummate filmmaker who also wrote “Million Dollar Baby.” His excellent HBO mini series, “Show Me A Hero,” starts this week.

Here’s what Paul told me today:

“I am very proud of Crash, and am honored to have been chosen as one of the best films of that year – especially in a year where there were so many terrific and daring films that explored real and pressing issues. It is unfair and rather ridiculous to ask a director if his film is “the best”- being a Canadian I am never going to be one who stands up and announces “Yes, my film absolutely deserved to win over all those amazing films.” It’s not going to happen — and my answers have always been consistent.

“I am very proud of Crash, I am proud to have been able to make an independent film that got people talking more about issues of race and class, especially at a time when everyone was saying “we don’t have these problems in America right now” — as many critics did. And I am proud to now be part of a creative team that is exploring those issues again — because we need to do more than talk about these issues, we need to actually start addressing them.”

John Travolta Charity Funded Scientology Propaganda in Ferguson and St. Louis

Roger Friedman
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John Travolta Charity Funded Scientology Propaganda in Ferguson and St. Louis

Scientology keeps looking for people in distress and duress who might be vulnerable to their gibberish.

According to the 2014 Federal tax filing for the Jett Travolta Foundation, John Travolta pitched in like a good soldier last year.

His Jett Travolta Foundation gave $3,000 to the Way of Happiness Foundation, a Scientology organization started by L. Ron Hubbard. The purpose was to distribute booklets in Ferguson and St. Louis, Missouri after the Michael Brown shooting and during the racial tension there.

Jett Travolta Foundation also threw away $100,000 on something called The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia. Janet Doman, an avowed Scientologist, runs this organization for parents desperate to help their autistic kids. IAHP is on Quackwatch and has been written about by actual scientists as useless.

Travolta also gave his annual donation to a Scientology group that proselytizes in Haiti looking for new members.

Janet Jackson’s “No Sleeep” Gets Radio Love, But Sales Are Still Very Mild at 91k

Roger Friedman
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Janet Jackson’s “No Sleeep” Gets Radio Love, But Sales Are Still Very Mild at 91k

UPDATE: Sales of “No Sleeep” so far come to 91,000 digital downloads according to Nielsen.

EARLIER: Janet Jackson, I hope you know some radio people have been working overtime for you.

“No Sleeep” was kind of a drowsy single when it first launched. Not much love at radio. But here’s some good news: the single is number 2 on Urban Adult Contemporary radio, number 31 on regular urban. Billboard has it at number 1 on a chart they call “Adult R&B Songs.”

“No Sleeep” has not found a pillow on top 40, but no artist has over the age of 40, let alone 35. That’s the way it goes these days.

Still, my old friend Phil Quartararo vowed to me he’d get that single moving, and he did. Let that be a lesson to me and to everyone else– you gotta stick with it to make it happen. That extra e in sleep is for excellent work!

Congrats to all.

Billy Joel on Birth of Baby Daughter Della Rose: “Even sweeter at this age. I’m a lucky man”

Roger Friedman
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Billy Joel on Birth of Baby Daughter Della Rose: “Even sweeter at this age. I’m a lucky man”

EXCLUSIVE I emailed Billy Joel this afternoon to congratulate him and wife Alexis on the birth of their baby girl, Della Rose. Billy responded: “It’s a wonderful life.”

As a follow up, he wrote: Even sweeter at this age. I’m a lucky man. Some people will disagree.
Mostly those who are discontent with the way their own lives went. But, then again, If I listened to those people I’d still be washing dishes at Nick’s Luncheonette in Hicksville.”

Billy is much blessed. He has a lovely new family, and a beautiful adult daughter, Alexa Ray, who is the apple of his eye. He’s one of our great talents, and one of my favorite people. Mazel tov!

PS Maybe all this bliss will inspire him to release some new music. In the meantime, I’ve been humming this all day:

Daniel Day Lewis’s Son Gabriel Lands Calvin Klein Campaign, Mourns Friend Ian Jones

Roger Friedman
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Daniel Day Lewis’s Son Gabriel Lands Calvin Klein Campaign, Mourns Friend Ian Jones

Gabriel Day Lewis is the talented model-musician son of Daniel Day Lewis and Isabelle Adjani. He’s debuting today in Calvin Klein’s fall Platinum campaign. Gabriel is also a musician who’s about to release some new tunes.

He’s also mourning the loss, he says on Instagram, of two friends. One of them is Ian Jones, the model-photographer who died tragically this past week in the kayaking accident that involved Annie Lennox’s daughter (who survived).

Gabriel writes: “I simply cannot believe that I’ve had to say goodbye to two of my friends this week. What an improbable, heart breaking tragedy. Losing those with whom you were close is devastating. I’m trying to get back on my feet, the kind words that have been said both to me and Ian’s family have given me some of the strength that I’m in dire need of. Though I know that future opportunities with these friends are no longer existential, I cherish and value the moments that were spent with these two amazing guys. I love you so much Ian. I know you are up there amongst the Angels, looking down on us. I love you so so much. Thank you for being a part of my life.”

This is tough at 22. Gabriel also wrote of losing his friend, Jordan Boris, who died in a riptide in the Hamptons:
“I’m speechless. I found out today that my friend Jordan passed away. I haven’t been able to stop the tears. He was so dear to me, a beautiful soul that had an irrevocable impact on mine. You left us too soon my brother. Your light will never be extinguished as it lives on in our hearts. My prayers and profound thoughts go out to his family and his beautiful little girl. What a tragedy, our lives are so fragile. Every moment alive is a moment to cherish. I love you man. Rest in beautiful peace.”

Gloria Allred Brings 3 More Cosby Accusers: See Video of Eden Svendahl from “Cosby Show”

Roger Friedman
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Gloria Allred Brings 3 More Cosby Accusers: See Video of Eden Svendahl from “Cosby Show”

Eden Svendahl was recruited by Bill Cosby for a role on the Cosby Show. She says Cosby told her she had “it” and “was I willing to do what it took?”

Svendahl was one of three women whom Gloria Allred presented today as accusers of Bill Cosby– all three said they were molested, harassed, or raped in different ways. These three women all seem like their stories are worse than the others, but of course they are all terrible.

The two other women really have awful stories–Linda Apollo Whitedeer, and Colleen Hughes. I’ll embed the press conference. Keep refreshing.


Samuel L. Jackson Hasn’t Seen a Bit of “Hateful Eight” Except for Trailer (Watch)

Roger Friedman
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Samuel L. Jackson Hasn’t Seen a Bit of “Hateful Eight” Except for Trailer (Watch)

Here’s the trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” starring Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Dern, Kurt Russell, and a sterling cast.

Jackson told me the other night he hasn’t seen a bit of the movie yet. “Quentin’s just doing his thing,” he told me. “He’ll show us when he’s ready.”

Keith Richards Goes Digital on Friday, Solo Albums Hit Spotify, Other Platforms

Roger Friedman
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Keith Richards Goes Digital on Friday, Solo Albums Hit Spotify, Other Platforms

Keith Richards goes digital in 48 hours. His first two solo albums, Talk is Cheap, and Main Offender hit Spotify and other digital platforms for the first time on Friday. These albums feature my favorite two Keith singles, “Make No Mistake,” featuring the stunning Sarah Dash of Labelle, and “Hate it When You Leave.”

PS Sarah Dash is having a birthday brunch show August 23rd at 54Below in New York. Tell her you heard it from me, and say I was pissed she didn’t invite me properly!

HBO’s “Show Me a Hero” Too Late for Emmy’s, Woulda Won: Oscar Isaac Amazes, Winona Ryder Comeback

Roger Friedman
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HBO’s “Show Me a Hero” Too Late for Emmy’s, Woulda Won: Oscar Isaac Amazes, Winona Ryder Comeback

So, why the heck did HBO’s “Show Me a Hero” miss the Emmy cut off? Timing is everything! The Paul Haggis directed mini-series, written and produced by David Simon of “The Wire” fame, is the one reason to watch TV in August. The next awards it can be up for will be Golden Globes.

“Show Me a Hero” is like a great Sidney Lumet movie about politics and corruption in New York, with a heavy dose of Haggis, an expert at following different story threads to a conclusion.

Oscar Isaac, soon to play Han Solo’s kid in the new Star Wars and already a star from “Inside Llewyn Davis,” is Al Pacino-like riveting as real life Yonkers, New York mayor Nick Wasicsko who had to guide the city through a violent housing desegregation in the mid 1980s. Winona Ryder, who doesn’t work enough, makes a sensational comeback of sorts as a local councilwoman who stood up against the local Yonkers bigots who didn’t want blacks and low income families living in their neighborhoods.

The whole cast is top notch, with Bob Balaban, LaTanya Richardson, Alfred Molina, Jim Belushi, Catherine Keener, Peter Riegert, and Jon Bernthal among the standouts. The whole show is like a Who’s Who of the Best Actors Around as the tragic story of Wasicscko’s ride as the youngest mayor of a major city plays out.

Yonkers, if you don’t know, is a hidden big city directly north of New York’s City’s the Bronx in Westchester County and very much like that borough– except instead of the Yankees, it has a lot of inner city problems.

How hard was “Show Me a Hero” to make? When principal photography concluded, the show’s co-writer and executive producer, Simon’s long time partner, actually had a stroke. Simon joked, “He was back in time for post-production.”

Last night’s premiere brought out Marisa Tomei, Samuel L. Jackson, Joel Coen and Frances McDormand, and my old friend, designer Kai Milla (ex-Mrs. Stevie Wonder) who told me she’s bringing a new line of clothes to Fashion Week next month with a big show at the snazzy Baccarat Hotel.

And Oscar? Are you following this guy? His career is a straight trajectory up for the last 10 years. He’s got Star Wars and X Men coming up. I’m certain he will have his own Oscar before he turns 40. Nice guys finish first sometimes!

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