Friday, December 19, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1733

Eli Wallach, Famed Actor, Dies at Age 98

Roger Friedman
-
0
Eli Wallach, Famed Actor, Dies at Age 98

Eli Wallach was one of the greats, not just in movies but in television theater as well. He and Anne Jackson were one New York’s most famous and enduring acting couples, as well. Wallach passed away last night at age 98. Awards? Wallach received a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 2010. He won one Emmy, and had four other nominations. But his contribution to the early days of TV, when groundbreaking, important work was shown, cannot be overestimated. When he won his Tony Award on Broadway in 1951 for Best Actor in “The Rose Tattoo,” Eli Wallach had been acting continuously for 6 years on the Great White Way beginning in 1945. RIP. What a life, what a career.

 

Elvis Costello Makes Carnegie Hall Debut On Eve of 60th Birthday

Roger Friedman
-
0
Elvis Costello Makes Carnegie Hall Debut On Eve of 60th Birthday

It’s hard to believe, but rocker-troubadour composer Elvis Costello turns 60 in August. He was once the Angry Young Man of punk rock, making his debut in 1977 with “Alison” and “Watching the Detectives.” He had on air scuffle with “Saturday Night Live,” an unfortunate incident in which he slagged off Ray Charles, and was just a trouble maker. We loved him, and he made wonderful, inventive records.

So 37 years seem to have passed very quickly. And here is Elvis (real name Declan McManus) at Carnegie Hall for the first of two shows. In those years he revealed himself as a passionate musical anthropologist and archivist, whose tastes ran from R&B to country to opera to classical music. He turned what had been a limited voice into a defining instrument that has lasted and grown richer.

The Carnegie Hall gig was solo, no group– no Attractions or Imposters or keyboardist Steve Nieve. It was Costello Unplugged, just accompanying himself on guitar or his own keyboard, for two hours and forty minutes. It was kind of mesmerizing and brilliant. Could the show have been shorter? Sure. But why would you want it to be? Costello is so engaging on stage that between the numerous songs there’s lots of interesting patter, info, and the news that his life now is “awesome.”

Costello weaves his own songs in and out of mini tributes to other musicians. He saluted Teenie Hodges, who just passed away, with a snippet of Al Green’s “Here I Am (Come and Take Me).” The Beatles are given a nod with “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” during Elvis’s own classic “New Amsterdam.” Bob Dylan is cited with a bit of “Time Out of Mind” before Costello delivers a somber version of his almost never heard “Town Cryer.”

He mixes in hits, even though you know he’d rather not. Last night we got “Everyday I Write the Book,” introduced as a song he “hates” but it was “a minor hit.” It’s a great record and a clever song. “Alison,” “Detectives,” “Veronica” were all there. Three songs came from Costello’s best album, “Imperial Bedroom”– “Cryer,” “Beyond Belief,” “Man out of Time.” He also resurrects his song, less well known songs. (See “Come the Meantimes,” a gem.)

There was a surprise addition, not on the set list I swiped later: “Less than Zero,” a song that was misunderstood in the US in 1977 because people thought it was about Lee Harvey Oswald. It was about Sir Oswald Mosely, founder of the British Union of Fascists. It caused Costello to be banned from “Saturday Night Live” (long story) for 22 years. Playing it was a nice bit of closure, as the audience sang along, unaware of the trouble it caused.

The show closed with Nick Lowe’s “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding.” Costello was just on guitar, and you could close your eyes and imagine the pounding drums that usually punctuate this anthem. It was almost 3 hours since he’d begun, and Costello looked like he was just warming up.

I’ve been in this cult since 1977, so I’m sold. It’s been absolutely fascinating watching the evolution of an artist. And he is one of the last (including Sting and a few others) whose musical roots go back through jazz, vaudeville, show tunes, to forge complex new ideas. Let’s enjoy these guys while we can.

Robin Thicke Isn’t Going to Get Paula Patton to Come Back with This New Video (Watch)

Roger Friedman
-
0
Robin Thicke Isn’t Going to Get Paula Patton to Come Back with This New Video (Watch)

Is Robin Thicke nuts? In his new video for “Get Her Back” Thicke is pretty thick– he’s barechested and some hot girl is rubbing her hands all over him. Does he really think his estranged wife, the beautiful and brilliant Paula Patton, will come back after seeing this? I don’t think so.

Oh, wait, did I mention he uses her text messages in the video?

Meanwhile, Thicke is supposedly dropping a new album on Tuesday July 1st. It’s called “Paula.” No one’s heard it, or knows much about it. Remember, the “Blurred Lines” album came once the single was established. Can Thicke top his big big 2013 hit? And will the new album contain lots of Marvin Gaye riffs?

Ladies, tell me if this video would send you back to the guy who cheated on you:

 
PS Here’s the track list for “Paula”:
breakup!

1. “You’re My Fantasy”

2. “Get Her Back”

3. “Still Madly Crazy”

4. “Lock the Door”

5. “Whatever I Want”

6. “Living in New York City”

7. “Love Can Grow Back”

8. “Black Tar Cloud”

9. “Too Little Too Late”

10. “Tippy Toes”

11. “Something Bad”

12. “The Opposite of Me”

13. “Time of Your Life”

14. “Forever Love”

Actor Gary Oldman Ends His Career in Hollywood with Racist, Anti-Semitic Interview (From 2014)

Roger Friedman
-
19
Actor Gary Oldman Ends His Career in Hollywood with Racist, Anti-Semitic Interview (From 2014)

British actor Gary Oldman has had a nice very career in Hollywood. Now, it’s over. Oldman tells Playboy magazine that Hollywood is “run by Jews,” suggests that those Jews make fun of Germans, and says that the policeman with whom Mel Gibson became embroiled in a huge anti-Semitic scandal probably is anti-Semitic himself. Oldman seems unaware that James Mee, the policeman, is Jewish himself.

click here for today’s headlines

Good bye, Gary. We can live without you. And trust me, we will. Oldman was nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.” I hope he enjoyed it.

Here are the quotes:

“I don’t know about Mel. He got drunk and said a few things, but we’ve all said those things. We’re all fucking hypocrites. That’s what I think about it. The policeman who arrested him has never used the word nigger or that fucking Jew? I’m being brutally honest here. It’s the hypocrisy of it that drives me crazy. Or maybe I should strike that and say “the N word” and “the F word,” though there are two F words now.”

“Alec calling someone an F-A-G in the street while he’s pissed off coming out of his building because they won’t leave him alone. I don’t blame him. So they persecute. Mel Gibson is in a town that’s run by Jews and he said the wrong thing because he’s actually bitten the hand that I guess has fed him—and doesn’t need to feed him anymore because he’s got enough dough. He’s like an outcast, a leper, you know? But some Jewish guy in his office somewhere hasn’t turned and said, “That fucking kraut” or “Fuck those Germans,” whatever it is? We all hide and try to be so politically correct. That’s what gets me. It’s just the sheer hypocrisy of everyone, that we all stand on this thing going, “Isn’t that shocking?” [smiles wryly] All right. Shall I stop talking now? What else can we discuss?”

EXCLUSIVE: Streisand, Brolin Will Celebrate Happy 16th Anniversary in New York

Roger Friedman
-
1
EXCLUSIVE: Streisand, Brolin Will Celebrate Happy 16th Anniversary in New York

If you read the supermarket tabloids, Barbra Streisand and James Brolin are on the verge of divorce, have already negotiated a wild settlement, “are living together but living separate lives.” Just like Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, and many others.

Uh, hogwash.

No one gets a better laugh about it than James Brolin, one of the nicest guys ever.  We had a reunion last night at the all star screening of the beautiful documentary about late film critic Roger Ebert called “Life Itself.”

“It’s so funny,” Brolin said, “because Barbra is coming here at the end of the week. We’re celebrating our 16th anniversary together.” The big day is next Tuesday, but Barbra comes in over the weekend. If I were a gambling man, I’d say Donna Karan is involved somehow.

Brolin– who played Ronald Reagan so brilliantly a couple of years ago in a TV movie– is busy shooting “The Nest.” The real life father of Josh Brolin plays the movie father of  siblings Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Dianne Wiest plays his wife. “I’m having the best time,” he told me. “Dianne is great. And can you imagine me with those daughters?”

Meantime, Streisand, I hear, had a reading this past week in Hollywood of yet a new script for a movie about photographer Margaret Bourke White and writer Erskine Caldwell. I told you about the long painful history of this project a while ago. Now Streisand has a new script, and is trying to realize this film as her next directing project. Producer Linda Yellen used to be involved in this. Maybe they can get it back together.

Brolin was just one of many familiar faces who came to pay tribute to Roger Ebert via filmmaker Steve James and Ebert’s widow Chaz. All I can say about Chaz Ebert from knowing her and watching the very candid, tearful film is that she’s a saint. Everyone admires this woman so much. Roger and Chaz were such a love match, and she did everything she could to alleviate his suffering. What he endured with cancer of the jaw was inhuman.

Other guests at the screening and the dinner following at the Lincoln restaurant included Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal, Bob Balaban, Griffin Dunne, the doc mob– DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, Michael Moore, and Barbara Kopple–plus Morgan Spurlock, Jonathan Demme, Carol Kane, James Toback, and JC Chandor. Whew!

And what a New York night: Peggy Siegal had to balance two big events, this one and the HBO premiere of “The Leftovers” downtown. Their guests only included Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston, Liv Tyler, Josh Charles, Jill Hennessy, and Taye Diggs. Plus Liv’s mom Bebe Buell looked gorgeous, and her ex-step dad famed rocker Todd Rundgren reminisced over delicious food at Tao Downtown.

And this was a Monday! Plus my twin 14 year old nieces, Hannah and Charlotte, graduated from 8th grade on the Upper West Side.

Time for a nap!

Walk Like a Man! Frankie Valli is Number 1 on Amazon, with “Jersey Boys” Close Behind

Roger Friedman
-
0
Walk Like a Man! Frankie Valli is Number 1 on Amazon, with “Jersey Boys” Close Behind

Want to know the difference between people who buy CDs on Amazon and who download them from iTunes? It’s easy. The number 1 album on Amazon this morning is “The Very Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.” And right behind, at number 4, is the soundtrack to “Jersey Boys.”

Over at iTunes, Frankie’s hits are number 15– which isn’t bad at all. And “Jersey Boys” is number 48.

Amazon is older and wiser. iTunes, well, they’re those young whippersnappers.

Either way, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons may not be a draw at the movie box office– “Jersey Boys” made a very meager $13.5 million this weekend and finished in 4th place. But the music lives on. Frankie, who reportedly doesn’t care for the movie very much, must be getting a kick out of this. He should thank Clint Eastwood for putting him back on top of the charts!

 

At Last! Adam Levine Singing “Lost Stars” from Begin Again (Watch Video)

Roger Friedman
-
0
At Last! Adam Levine Singing “Lost Stars” from Begin Again (Watch Video)

At last here’s Adam Levine singing “Lost Stars” from “Begin Again.” The movie opens June 27th in New York and L.A. and then expands. A great movie, with great songs. You have to see this film. “Lost Stars” was written by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois. It’s a hit!

“Teenie” Hodges, Famed Memphis Guitarist and Al Green Songwriter, Dead at 68

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Teenie” Hodges, Famed Memphis Guitarist and Al Green Songwriter, Dead at 68

Mabon Lewis “Teenie” Hodges, the famed Memphis guitarist and co writer of many of Al Green’s most famous hits, has died in Dallas at age 68. Among the songs he wrote with Al Green and/or the late Willie Mitchell: “Take Me to the River,” “Love and Happiness,” “LOVE (Love),” and “Here I Am (Come and Take Me).” Teenie and his brothers Charles and Leroy made up the Hi Records Rhythm section, a killer group that played on all those hits as well as Ann Peebles’ many hits (“I Can’t Stand the Rain”) as well as those by Syl Johnson and Otis Clay. It’s a sad sad day in Memphis.

Brad Pitt Movie World War 2 Epic Movie “Fury”: Reshoots in July for November Release

Roger Friedman
-
0
Brad Pitt Movie World War 2 Epic Movie “Fury”: Reshoots in July for November Release

Will “Fury,” Sony’s big World War II epic, make its November release date? Hard to say considering that a casting call went out today for re-shoots beginning July 1st in Los Angeles. The mega-expensive looking explosive fest is seeking two new actors to play SS officers, even though characters sounding like them already appear to be in the film.

“Fury” stars Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf, with a huge cast that includes Logan Lerman, Scott Eastwood, and Michael Pena. (It’s all guys, too. There are no women, which means no love story. There isn’t even a token well-known young actress.) David Ayer, who made the highly respected but grim “End of Watch” iwth Pena and Jake Gyllenhaal, directs.  John Lesher and Bill Block are the producers.

For Pitt, troubled reshoots are no stranger. “World War Z” endured almost an entire reshoot before it became a big hit. But “Fury” isn’t produced by Pitt’s company, Plan B. And the need for two more actors (at least that’s what’s public) suggests either the story doesn’t make sense, or has to be altered.

Last week, Sony released a mini teaser trailer for “Fury” and it looked pretty good. But it also looks pretty expensive, too- a lot more than the advertised $80 million– at least twice that.

Will “Fury” make November? Or will it join Warner Bros’ Wachowskis’ movie in February 2015? This is why everyone in Hollywood still lives on Mylanta and Xanax!

Daytime Emmys: “GMA” Beats “Today,” Eileen Davidson Best Actress in a Soap

Roger Friedman
-
0
Daytime Emmys: “GMA” Beats “Today,” Eileen Davidson Best Actress in a Soap

Daytime Emmy awards winners: “Good Morning America” beat the “Today” show, which seems ridiculous, but what do I know? “GMA” most mornings is a jackal-fest. One morning in this last year they were having a game show in the middle of the program. This is what people want or think is good, I guess.

On soaps, Eileen Davidson finally won Best Actress after 20 something years on “Young and the Restless” and “Days of Our Lives.” (She hasn’t aged, either, which is worth an award.) She won for “Days,” a show that is mostly unwatchable. But Davidson is the rare beauty with a brain. She deserves it.

“Young and the Restless” was named Best Daytime Drama, which it wasn’t (General Hospital should have gotten that). Interesting, Best Directing team was from “One Life to Live,” which was online after being cancelled by ABC. “All My Children” and “OLTL” won some technical awards on Saturday night, too. They’re both gone now. ABC should really figure out how to bring them back.

Here are the winners:

Outstanding Drama Series
“The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS)
“Days of Our Lives” (NBC)
“One Life to Live” (TOLN.com)
“The Young and the Restless” (CBS)

Outstanding Children’s Series
“Animal Science” (Syndicated)
“Game Changers With Kevin Frazier” (CBS)
“R.L. Stine’s the Haunting Hour: The Series” (Hub Network)
“Sea Rescue” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Culinary Series
“A Moveable Feast With Fine Cooking” (PBS)
“Beer Geeks” (Syndicated)
“Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction” (Food Network)
“Giada at Home” (Food Network)
“The Mind of a Chef” (PBS)
“My Grandmother’s Ravioli” (Cooking Channel)

Outstanding Game Show
“The American Bible Challenge” (Game Show Network)
“The Chase” (Game Show Network)
“Jeopardy!” (Syndicated)
“Let’s Make a Deal” (CBS)
“The Price Is Right” (CBS)
“Wheel of Fortune” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Show
“Divorce Court” (Syndicated)
“Judge Judy” (Syndicated)
“Justice for All With Christina Perez” (Syndicated)
“The People’s Court” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Morning Show
“CBS Sunday Morning” (CBS)
“CBS This Morning” (CBS)
“Good Morning America” (ABC)
“Today Show” (NBC)

Outstanding Talk Show/Information
“The Chew” (ABC)
“The Dr. Oz Show” (Syndicated)
“Dr. Phil” (Syndicated)
“Steve Harvey” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (Syndicated)
“Live! With Kelly and Michael” (Syndicated)
“Rachael Ray” (Syndicated)
“The Talk” (CBS)
“The View” (ABC)

Outstanding Entertainment News Show (Tie)
“Access Hollywood” (NBC)
“E! News” (E!)
“Entertainment Tonight” (CBS)
“Extra” (Syndicated)
“TMZ” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Special Class Special
“A World of Dreams: Voices From the OUT100″ (Here TV)
“Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” (ABC)
“mun2 News Special: Hecho en America” (mun2)
“The Young and the Restless: Jeanne Cooper Tribute” (CBS)

Outstanding Lead Actress Drama
Eileen Davidson, “Days of Our Lives” (Kristin)
Katherine Kelly Lang, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (Brooke)
Heather Tom, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (Katie)
Arianne Zucker, “Days of Our Lives” (Nicole)

Outstanding Lead Actor Drama
Peter Bergman, “The Young and the Restless” (Jack)
Doug Davidson, “The Young and the Restless” (Paul)
Christian LeBlanc, “The Young and the Restless” (Michael)
Billy Miller, “The Young and the Restless” (Billy)
Jason Thompson, “General Hospital” (Patrick)

Outstanding Supporting Actress Drama
Melissa Claire Egan, “The Young and the Restless” (Chelsea)
Jane Elliot, “General Hospital” (Tracy)
Amelia Heinle, “The Young and the Restless” (Victoria)
Elizabeth Hendrickson, “The Young and the Restless” (Chloe)
Kelly Sullivan, “General Hospital” (Connie)

Outstanding Supporting Actor Drama
Bradford Anderson, “General Hospital’ (Damian)
Steve Burton, “The Young and the Restless” (Dylan)
Scott Clifton, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (Liam)
Eric Martsolf, “Days of Our Lives” (Brady)
Dominic Zamprogna, “General Hospital” (Dante)

Outstanding Younger Actress Drama
Kristen Alderson, “General Hospital” (Kiki)
Lindsey Godfrey, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (Caroline)
Hunter King, “The Young and the Restless” (Summer)
Kim Matula, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (Hope)
Kelly Missal, “One Life to Live” (Danielle)

Outstanding Younger Actor Drama
Bryan Craig, “General Hospital” (Morgan)
Chad Duell, “General Hospital” (Michael)
Max Ehrich, “The Young and the Restless” (Fenn)
Chandler Massey, “Days of Our Lives” (Will)
Daniel Polo, “The Young and the Restless” (Jamie)

Outstanding Culinary Host
Bobby Flay, “Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction” (Food Network)
Giada De Laurentiis, “Giada at Home” (Food Network)
April Bloomfield, “The Mind of a Chef” (PBS)
Rachael Ray, “Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day” (Food Network)

Outstanding Game Host
Wayne Brady, “Let’s Make a Deal” (CBS)
Jeff Foxworthy, “The American Bible Challenge” (Game Show Network)
Steve Harvey, “Family Feud” (Syndicated)
Todd Newton, “Family Game Night” (Hub Network)

Outstanding Talk Show Host (Tie)
Dr. Mehmet Oz, “The Dr. Oz Show” (Syndicated)
Katie Couric, “Katie” (ABC)
Rachael Ray, “Rachael Ray” (Syndicated)
Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler, Sheryl Underwood, “The Talk” (CBS)
Whoopi Goldberg, Jenny McCarthy, Sherri Shepherd, Barbara Walters, “The View” (ABC)

Outstanding Drama Series/Writing Team
“The Bold and the Beautiful”
“Days of Our Lives”
“The Young and the Restless”

Outstanding Drama Series/Directing Team
“The Bold and the Beautiful”
“One Life to Live”
“The Young and the Restless”

Outstanding Drama Series/Casting Dept.
“The Bold and the Beautiful”
“Days of Our Lives”
“General Hospital”
“The Young and the Restless”

Outstanding Drama Series/Original Song
“Parachute,” “All My Children”
“A Love That Never Ends,” “Days of Our Lives”
“Make Me Remember,” “The Young and the Restless”
“While We Can,” “The Young and the Restless”

Outstanding Drama Series/Costume Design (Tie)
“The Bold and the Beautiful”
“Days of Our Lives”
“General Hospital”
“The Young and the Restless”

Outstanding Drama Series/Hair Styling
“The Bold and the Beautiful”
“Days of Our Lives”
“One Life to Live”
“The Young and the Restless”

Outstanding Drama Series/Makeup (Tie)
“The Bold and the Beautiful”
“Days of Our Lives”
“General Hospital”
“The Young and the Restless

1...1,7321,7331,734...2,324Page 1,733 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com