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Box Office: Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 Lags 33% Behind Catching Fire from Last Year

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 Lags 33% Behind Catching Fire from Last Year

UPDATE FRIDAY MORNING NOV 21st: Overnight “Mockingjay Part 1” earned $17 million– 33% off of last year’s Thursday night opening for “Catching Fire.”  Not a good sign. And the teens around me are not clamoring to go tonight, as they did last year.

EARLIER: Are people — I mean, teens– tired of “The Hunger Games”? The new soundtrack to “Mockingjay Part 1” is curated by hot teen singer Lorde. Yet it’s listed atnumber 92 on amazon.com. On iTunes, “Mockingjay” is at number 14, even with the Lorde imprimatur. Hitsdailydouble..com is predicting sales of only 20-25,000 for its debut week. The last “Hunger Games” CD sold 55,000 copies– and that was just a year ago– in its first week.

FYI: The first “Hunger Games” CD sold 180,000 copies in its first week back in March 2012, and entered the charts at number 1.

Meantime, the movie itself is not catching fire with reviewers. On Fandango, “Mockingjay Part 1” rates an average of a 67 among reviewers. This may be a better indication than Rotten Tomatoes, where often negative reviews don’t correlate with “Fresh” or “Rotten” status. The consensus so far is that “Mockingjay” is well made but dull. It’s the first part of a book that most fans of the series agree doesn’t kick in until the end.

Of course no one doubts “Mockingjay Part 1” will have a big first weekend. But after that, it may not be so easy. Meantime, it’s interesting that Lions Gate had a premiere only in L.A., and just a stealth screening in New York at the very down-market AMC theater in Times Square. A good movie gets trumpeted with a Ziegfeld red carpet or something up at AMC Lincoln Square.

Robin Thicke Will Join in $45 Charity Concert During Grammy Week to Get Back in Good Graces

Roger Friedman
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Robin Thicke Will Join in $45 Charity Concert During Grammy Week to Get Back in Good Graces

How the mighty have fallen! Robin Thicke will participate in a one night only show during Grammy Week to get back in everyone’s good graces.

Thicke will join Willie Nelson, Cyndi Lauper, Aloe Blacc, Bryan Adams and Melissa Etheridge for “Lean on Me Me: A Celebration of Music and Philanthropy” to benefit the Grammy Foundation on Thursday, February 5th in Los Angeles. The tickets are just $45 in advance only, online or at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. Special guest rock star Neil Portnow, head of NARAS, is the opening act, on stand up microphone (although he could play lead guitar if we asked).

It’s unlikely that if Thicke hadn’t self destructed his whole career that he’d do this show or be in town. He used to be “Robin Thicke.” But now here he is. We’ll see how contrite he is after blowing up his marriage, allegedly ripping off Marvin Gaye, and then releasing the lowest selling album of the year after having the biggest hit of the prior year.

Luckily the other artists are all still hugely popular and really nice people.

The show may already be sold out, by the time you read this. Me, I already bought my tickets. It’s for charity! The Grammy Foundation is the other side of MusiCares, which will have its own swanky evening two night later honoring Bob Dylan down at the LA Convention Center. Those tickets are not $45. But well worth it.

 

Billy Joel Books 18th Monthly Concert at Madison Square Garden for June 2015

Roger Friedman
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Billy Joel Books 18th Monthly Concert at Madison Square Garden for June 2015

If he plays it, you will come. Billy Joel has booked his 18th monthly concert in a row at Madison Square Garden– for June 2015. It will be his 64th lifetime show there, tying Elton John’s record. That means in July 2015, Billy will break the record of all time number of shows at the famed venue. I guess then he moves in with Jim Dolan and his family. It’s quite a feat! The great singer songwriter performer hasn’t released a new album since 1993. But his catalog of hits is huge. And obviously, a lot of people are enjoying singing along to “Piano Man.” Bravo, Billy!

Bill Cosby: Carla Ferrigno, Wife of The Hulk Lou Ferrigno, Says She Was Assaulted

Roger Friedman
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Bill Cosby: Carla Ferrigno, Wife of The Hulk Lou Ferrigno, Says She Was Assaulted

Carla Ferrigno– by coincidence, I know her. She’s a lovely woman. She called into KFI in Los Angeles yesterday with a story about Bill Cosby assaulting her in 1967. What’s so interesting is that Carla says Camille Cosby has been complicit in Bill’s relationships with these women. Carla, of course, is married for 35 years to Lou Ferrigno, aka The Incredible Hulk. They are two of the nicest people in the world.

 

EXCLUSIVE Al Pacino: “Mike Nichols Was the Best Director I Ever Worked With”

Roger Friedman
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EXCLUSIVE Al Pacino: “Mike Nichols Was the Best Director I Ever Worked With”

The whole world of showbiz is reeling from the death of Mike Nichols. Simply, he was beloved. A lot of his actors and friends are still adjusting to the news. At lunch today at the 21 Club for his new movie “The Humbling,”

Al Pacino told me: “Mike Nichols was the best director I ever worked with.” Pacino was really shattered by this morning’s news. Nichols directed him to several awards including an Emmy for their HBO  adaptation of “Angels in America.”

Pacino explained: “I’m really devastated by this. He was my friend, I loved him. I’m just trying to compute it.” He paused. “I’ve never met anyone as civilized. That was the epitome of what you wanted in a human being. He was the best director I ever worked with. It wasn’t necessarily the end result. Just the feeling he gave actors when they were around on set. It was the highest form of acting, being around him….There are people who when they go, you really feel it. Like Joe Papp, Sidney Lumet, Lee Strasberg, Marlon [Brando]. When they’re gone, there’s this emptiness. And it’s palpable.”

Pacino, by the way, is very much in the Oscar race this year for his phenomenal performance in Barry Levinson’s “The Humbling.” Millennium is releasing the comedy with Pacino, Greta Gerwig, and Nina Arianda in Los Angeles for one week in mid December to qualify for the Academy Awards. The movie’s full release is mid January. I am hopeful that Bill Lee, Avi Lerner, and Mark Gill of Millennium do a December week in New York too. It’s Pacino’s best work in years. The film itself is terrific. Levinson is an Oscar winning director. Pacino is a double Oscar winner. Nina Arianda has a Tony Award. “The Humbling” may be the dark horse of this Oscar season!

I was enlisted to interview Pacino and Levinson today at the ’21’ lunch and it was a lot of fun. I asked if either had met Philip Roth, the famed author of “The Humbling.” Pacino said they were introduced. Roth’s reaction? “He said, I know who you are.” Al recalled. Roth didn’t mention liking “The Godfather” or any of Pacino’s classic films. “It ended there,” Pacino said, getting a big laugh from the crowd that included Regis and Joy Philbin, James Toback, Lawrence O’Donnell, Rosanna Scotto, Dan Hedaya, and Alan Alda.

Justin Bieber’s “Pastor” Runs NYC Branch of Controversial Aussie Cult “Church” Whose Founder Confessed to Molestation of a 7 Year Old Boy

Roger Friedman
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Justin Bieber’s “Pastor” Runs NYC Branch of Controversial Aussie Cult “Church” Whose Founder Confessed to Molestation of a 7 Year Old Boy

You cannot make this up. Justin Bieber, not exactly the brightest bulb in any lamp, is a follower of a sketchy Virginia man who calls himself a pastor and runs a church every Sunday at the Manhattan Center on West 34th St. Carl Lentz portrays himself as the Punk Pastor, and says he’s Pentacostal. His latest iteration is called Hillsong NYC church. But what his American, Canadian followers– and Bieber– may not know is Hillsong NYC is a branch of Hillsong Australia. That organization is considered by many in that country to be a cult.

Hillsong’s founder, Frank Houston, had to resign in 2000 after confessing to having molesting a 7 year old boy in 1969. He was never prosecuted, and the case haunts Hillsong and the Houstons, and now Lentz to this day. Even though Frank Houston is now dead. the story isn’t over. A recent hearing in Australia revealed that Frank’s son Brian, who now runs Hillsong. trivialized the incident and let his father continue to preach as part of their church, albeit surreptitiously. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11339319 He is also accused of trying to bribe the victim.

Bieber’s pastor, Carl Lentz, only became involved with Hillsong four years ago. In the video above, he explains how he hooked up with the Houstons– that’s Frank Houston’s grandson Joel with Lentz in the video, looking like Jay from “Silent Bob and Jay.” These two are supposed to be religious leaders; they are Justin Bieber’s spiritual guides. Joel has been running Hillsong NYC with Lentz since 2010.

Before he hooked up with the Houstons, Lentz operated Cal Lentz Ministries out of Washington state. The IRS recently revoked the 501 c 3 status of that outfit after Carl Lentz Ministries failed to file tax returns for three years. Lentz runs Hillsong in New York as a straight ahead business with no tax free standing. He’s registered Hillsong out of his father’s law office in Virginia, but hasn’t filed any paperwork. There is no transparency at all.

The connection between Lentz and the Houstons, and the history of Houston’s father, finally came to a boiling point in October in New York at a Madison Square Garden  conference of Hillsong followers. Not only was Frank Houston’s molestation case examined, but also multiple scandals about finances at Hillsong and the cult’s attitude toward homosexuality. Brian Houston’s sidestepping has caused a lot of controversy among the followers.

I spoke to Carl Lentz’s father, Stephen Lentz, an attorney in Virginia Beach. He couldn’t have been nicer. Mr. Lentz explained that churches don’t have to file Form 990s, so nothing is amiss. He said he knew nothing about Hillsong Australia, and very graciously invited me to the Manhattan Center. Entrance to the services, which run all day long every Sunday, he says, is free. You donate what you want. But the Manhattan Center isn’t free. They charge $17,000 a day for the Grand Ballroom where the Hillsong services take place. Someone is paying for that, most likely Hillsong Australia.

Watch this video about Hillsong Australia:

Mike Nichols Dies at 83, the Great– Brilliant– Director of Plays and Movies

Roger Friedman
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Mike Nichols Dies at 83, the Great– Brilliant– Director of Plays and Movies

UPDATE: just a little update…Mike was just about to shoot “Master Class” with Meryl Streep for HBO…and I can tell you exclusively that he and Diane had visited Steve Martin in San Diego at his musical with Edie Brickell called “Bright Star.” Steve wanted Mike to produce the show on Broadway. Mike would probably have been executive producer, putting his name above the title to entice ticket buyers…

Mike Nichols has died at age 83. I almost don’t know how to categorize him– brilliant director, comedian, person? He’s been such a big part of our lives for so long, and has given us so much in the way of smart entertainment. Director of The Graduate and The Birdcage on film, to begin with. Director of The Real Thing and Death of a Salesman on Broadway. Angels in America on TV for HBO. Husband of Diane Sawyer. Hilarious comedic partner of Elaine May. His health has been in question for the last several years. But there he was just a couple of weeks ago in the audience on opening night at the revival of The Real Thing. He was so enthusiastic and generous at intermission about the new cast and the new director. “They’ve really got it, don’t you think?” he said.

Mike won 9 Tony Awards, 1 Oscar and 1 Emmy, by the way.

RIP Jimmy Ruffin, Motown Singer of “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?”

Roger Friedman
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RIP Jimmy Ruffin, Motown Singer of “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?”

Jimmy Ruffin has died at age 78. His biggest Motown hit was “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted”– one of the great classics of all time. He was the older brother of David Ruffin of the original Temptations, who died much too young in 1991. Rest in peace. There must be some reunion in heaven, with the Ruffins, Eddie Kendricks, Levi Stubbs, Marvin Gaye, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Florence Ballard, Harvey Fuqua, Cholly Atkins and Mary Wells et al…

 

Broadway: Glenn Close and Cast Strike “A Delicate Balance” on Roughest Critics Night Ever

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Glenn Close and Cast Strike “A Delicate Balance” on Roughest Critics Night Ever

I bought a ticket to see Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Bob Balaban, Martha Plimpton and Lindsay Duncan in ” A Delicate Balance.” It cost $225, so I still haven’t gotten over that. My intention was to review the play, which opens tonight on Broadway. But what happened made it impossible. Lax producers, publicist and theater managers allowed a woman– albeit a courageous one– in a motorized wheelchair to sit up front around the fifth row. It was an impossible situation. The woman’s breathing apparatus echoed through the theater, loudly.

It sounded at first like someone was snoring, and it was being broadcast over the PA system. The actors, who did not know what was going on, struggled to be heard over the machine. This is a two and a half hour Edward Albee masterpiece that requires focused attention. And what can you do? Complain? It was like an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” It might have been funny but it was the performance before opening night, many critics and press were there, as well as some well known actors. It was a mess. No one was in charge.

On top of that,  a woman’s phone went off in Act 2, and she answered. Plus an adult man across the aisle from me was playing a video game with his iPad during the breaks. What has happened to this world? The guy reminded me of the fellow who makes a bouquet of a shredded TV Guide for Elaine on “Seinfeld.”

Through it all the cast maintained a very delicate balance. The play opens tonight but I will tell you now that you can’t miss these performances– including British actress Clare Higgins. Albee’s play is a masterpiece and this group conveys it very well. There is some shaky direction by Pam McKinnon, but again, it was hard to really judge because of the racket in the theater. (We felt so bad for this woman. It was maybe the worst experience I’ve ever had in the theater.)

Albee’s play about family, friendship, love, and loss is devastating. “Balance” maintains its own balance as a conventional drawing room comedy of manners that becomes an existential jigsaw puzzle.  Close and Lithgow have an amazing rapport, as do Balaban and Higgins.  Martha Plimpton gives it all heft as the voice of reason. The amazing Lindsay Duncan is there for upheaval, and for playing the accordion. I wish she did more on Broadway.

A trivia note: Close and Duncan each have played the same character from another work– The Marquise de Merteuil. Duncan played it on Broadway in the famous 1988 “Les Liaisons Dangereuses.” Then Close played her in the movie version, “Dangerous Liaisons.”  Close told me last night after the show that if the Broadway show had been extended, she was set to replace Duncan. “Now we’re playing sisters in the same play,” she observed, with a big grin.

All’s well that ends well– a spontaneous party followed at Bar Centrale, where Close and Balaban dined with producer Bonnie Timmerman and British director Adrian Noble. They had a  “Damages” reunion with Rose Byrne, currently on Broadway in “You Can’t Take it With You” and the very funny Stephen Merchant (he’s on HBO this weekend). Matthew Broderick and Stockard Channing came over from the hilarious “It’s Only a Play.” Everyone had deviled eggs and commiserated about a long Wednesday– matinee day.

Someone at the Golden Theater had better get it together for opening night tonight, that’s for sure.

 

Chris Penn, Dead for Almost Nine Years, Being Touted in the Long-Shelved “Aftermath”

Roger Friedman
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Chris Penn, Dead for Almost Nine Years, Being Touted in the Long-Shelved “Aftermath”

A decade after it was made, a movie called “Aftermath” is being released at the end of this month featuring Chris Penn. The brother of Sean and Michael Penn died in January 2006. He’s not even on the imdb cast list for this film, but he’s being touted in the press release and promo clip. The movie stars a much younger Anthony Michael Hall and a lot of people who are a decade older like Lily Rabe, Tony Danza, and Frank Whaley, who plays a character called Ray Donovan. Freestyle Releasing, exhumation experts, are sending “Aftermath” into the world for one week in New York and then Los Angeles probably before a DVD and cable launch. Chris Penn was a good actor who died much too soon. We’ll see how much he’s really in this movie….

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