Friday, December 19, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1735

Notes: Donovan Rocks, Chicago Eats, Whitey Bulger Shoots

Roger Friedman
-
0
Notes: Donovan Rocks, Chicago Eats, Whitey Bulger Shoots

Here’s a unique story: Donovan, the eternally youthful 1960s troubadour who had a zillion hits like “Mellow Yellow” and “The Hurdy Gurdy Man,” has been with the same music publisher his entire career. Around 1964 he found himself in Nashville, where he signed with Peer Music. He’s been with them this whole time, and unlike a lot of other artists, still owns his music. Now he’s 68, and still releasing new terrific music. (Check it out at www.donovan.com)

Yesterday I interviewed Donovan onstage at the Cutting Room for a huge group of advertising music supervisors and film people. Donovan, still sprightly and lots of fun, is also a great story teller. The room was spellbound. And he played a bunch of hits, acoustic on guitar, no augmentation: “Sunshine Superman,” “Season of the Witch,” “Catch the Wind,” the two I already mentioned, a couple of new songs, and “There Is A Mountain.” Did you know that the Allman Brothers adapted “Mountain” for their own “Mountain Jam” on “Eat a Peach”? Cool!

Donovan’s songs hold up beautifully because they’re based on blues, jazz, and 50s rock and roll. They are composed. It’s amazing how fresh they sound. That’s why they’re classics. Donovan was pretty much the last artist I advocated for at the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he was just inducted. He should have been in there a long time ago…

…Going to Chicago? I did last week for Sting’s musical “The Last Ship.” What did I discover? Coco Pazzo, which closed up in New York years ago, has been there for 24 years. Pino Luongo’s former partner, Jack Weiss, moved to the Windy City and turned their Coco Pazzo into the premiere Italian restaurant. Weiss also has a cozy Coco Pazzo Cafe. On the night I ate there, Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor Ricardo Muti came in after his performance dressed in white tie! This is apparently where the elite meet, and eat. I am still dreaming about the all the different pastas we tried. Chicago is an eating town, but this is where it starts…

…A bunch of interesting celebs turned up the other night for a screening of Joe Berlinger’s film, “Whitey:United States Of America V. James J. Bulger.” Whitey Bulger was played Jack Nicholson in “The Departed.” Then the infamous mobster was caught, tried and convicted of heinous crimes. The movie opens next Friday (June 27). It’s riveting. Among those riveted: Candice Bergen, Robert Wuhl, Peter Riegert, Gay Talese, Barbara Kopple, Clive Davis, Ashleigh Banfield, Nick Pileggi, and both NYC police commishes– past- Ray Kelly, with wife Veronica, and present Bill Bratton with his wife, journalist Rikki Klieman.

“Jersey Boys” Has 2 Sopranos and One Child Star from “My Three Sons”

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Jersey Boys” Has 2 Sopranos and One Child Star from “My Three Sons”

Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys”– which I found very moving– is full of little treats. The well-cast musical, opening tomorrow, of course has lots of music and all of the Four Seasons hits. Audiences tend to sing along, I know mine did.

But a couple of people to  look out for: I don’t know why but whenever I see Barry Livingston in a movie, I can’t get barry livingston as ernieover it. He played Ernie Douglas on “My Three Sons” in the 1960s. He was a huge child star, brought into the Fred MacMurray series when the show needed a new infusion of youth. He was around 8 back then. Now he’s 61. He looks pretty much the same, except in “Jersey Boys” he has a beard. Of course the irony is that Ernie and his brother Chip were probably doing their homework to Four Seasons songs on the radio. Barry Livingston, according to the imdb, works all the time. Bravo!

Sopranos alert: I thought there would be more Sopranos in “Jersey Boys” since Tony and his gang were the later, more violent non singing version of the Four Seasons. But be on the lookout for Kathrine Narducci and Steve Schirippa in early scenes of “Jersey Boys.” Kathy memorably played Charmaine Bucco, wife of restaurateur Artie, and good friend to Carmella. Schirippa, of course, was Bobby Bacala, Janet’s genial husband, Uncle Junior’s pal.

Movies: Amazing “Boyhood” with Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette Filmed Over 12 Year Span

Roger Friedman
-
0
Movies: Amazing “Boyhood” with Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette Filmed Over 12 Year Span

Richard Linklater’s amazing “Boyhood” opened the 6th annual BAM Cinematek Festival last night in Brooklyn. Yes, I went to Brooklyn to see this movie I’d hear about for years. “Boyhood” was shot in real time with the same actors for a dozen years. It chronicles the life of a family through the eyes of a boy from ages 6 to 18, his school years, and everyone around him. “Boyhood” is quite extraordinary.

In the audience last night: Maggie Gyllenhaal and her director mom Naomi Foner, plus director Julie Taymor, “Foxcatcher” director Bennett Miller, and writer Kristin Gore (Al and Tipper’s lovely daughter).

What’s so special about “Boyhood”? It’s just “life.” Or a gimmick. But Linklater knew he was making his masterpiece, I’m sure, as the filming stopped and started over the years. During that time he made “Bernie” and about 10 other films including “School of Rock,” “Before Midnight,” “Before Sunrise,” and so on. He was just biding his time. The idea of using these actors– Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane and his own daughter, Lorelei Linklater– straight through lends an incredible gravitas to the proceedings. “Boyhood” is funny and sad and poignant.

The story: Arquette and Hawke have the two kids, divorce soon after, and he disappears. When he comes back into the kids’ lives, it’s with good intentions but no career, money, or focus. Hawke’s Mason Sr. is Peter Pan. Meanwhile, Arquette’s Olivia is a struggling single mom with her eye on the prize: a college education and more.

Olivia moves her little family in near her mother in Houston, Texas, and sets off to change their lives. She makes a misstep: a second marriage to a college professor with two kids. For a while their blended family works, then it doesn’t. Again, Olivia and her kids move forward toward independence. On the other end, Mason Sr. remarries and starts a new family to “get it right.” Sound familiar?

It’s an elegant, simple story. There are no big tragedies– this isn’t “The Fault in our Stars.” But you come to care for the characters so quickly that any possible peril any one of them may be in– Linklater throws in some red herrings–makes you worry something bad will happen.

Apparently, “Boyhood” is Linklater’s autobiography. I’ve heard that it’s very close to his own story of growing up in Texas. In that sense, this is for what “Almost Famous” was to Cameron Crowe. You can feel its authenticity. Like that film, “Boyhood” will catch audiences by surprise. It’s a surefire sleeper hit, with loads of awards potential.

 

Michael Jackson’s Father Tweets “Thanks” to Son’s Executors

Roger Friedman
-
0
Michael Jackson’s Father Tweets “Thanks” to Son’s Executors

Joseph Jackson just posted an unexpected Tweet: “I would like to thank the Estate of Michael Jackson for taking care of my wife Katherine and my grandchildren Prince, Paris and blanket.” …

Huh? Mr. Jackson is not dying, I am assured by sources. “He’s had a change of heart. He’s tired of fighting. He thinks the Estate has done a great job with Katherine and the kids.”

Jackson, who’s in his early 80s, used to say that the Estate and everyone else “killed” Michael. But with the court fights all done, and the fifth anniversary of Michael’s death approaches, wily Joe is ready to make peace with everyone. “He’s getting nicer as he gets older.”

If only that had happened a long time ago.

Anyway, an olive branch to the executors is probably a good idea as Mr. Jackson gets older. He’s going to need their help.

Emmy Nom Ballots Due Friday: All About “Mad Men,” “Veep,” “Tanning of America”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Emmy Nom Ballots Due Friday: All About “Mad Men,” “Veep,” “Tanning of America”

The trade papers are full of copy about the Emmy awards: nominating ballots are due in to the Television Academy on Friday. The amount of money spent on the advertising of For Your Consideration ads, plus campaigns for shows that will never be nominated, it’s all out of control. The Emmys are also kind of a static deal– the same things, people, get nominated over and over. By now everyone on “Modern Family” has a mansion full of statues. I’ve never watched an entire episode. What can you do?

Here are a couple of thoughts: “Mad Men” only had seven episodes this season but they were hugely impressive. Jon Hamm is overdue for an Emmy, and so is John Slattery. Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss had excellent material in this short season.

The writing, particularly in the 5th, 6th, and 7th episodes was far beyond anything else from American TV. Matt Weiner deserves all the Emmy praise we can heap on him. My favorite moments: John Slattery in the opening orgy scene, later going to see his daughter in a commune– outstanding. Jon Hamm sitting in a little chair in the copy room while we he waits and waits for Roger Sterling (Slattery) or someone to show up. Hamm looked a like an adult who’d returned to grade school. It was so uncomfortable, you could feel it through the screen. And the Man vs. Machine episode about the introduction of the computer into Sterling Cooper had incredible religious overtones. I hope “Mad Men” and all its players are front and center this year.

“Veep” is the best comedy on TV. This season was sublime, of course. Julia Louis Dreyfus can do no wrong as Selina Meyer, the Michael Scott of politics. Armando Iannucci is a genius. His movie “The Loop” is worth seeing as a blueprint for all this governmental zaniness. I’m in love with Anna Chlumsky’s Amy. Also, Reid Scott has really come into his own as Dan.  Why isn’t Kevin Dunn more celebrated as a supporting actor? The highlight of the season: Selina’s hair cut. How will she ever become President of the United States? I long for and dread the next season.

Steven Stoute got famous in New York for being a record executive beaten over the head with a Champagne bottle by Sean Diddy Combs. Those were the wild days of hip hop and rap. Things have progressed so much that Combs actually sat for an interview and was thoughtful in a VH-1 doc series called “The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop.” Emmy voters can put this into the non fiction category. Do it. The series is terrific on how rap and hip hop were born and came to influence fashion and politics. I was knocked out by it.

In “The Tanning” we get some startling face time with rap mogul Rick Rubin, who never ever does interviews. Mariah Carey gives an extremely insightful moment into how she changed from Tommy Mottola’s ballad queen into a hip hop queen. And you’ll see rare footage of Combs himself interviewing Barack Obama when he was running for Congress. You can see Combs falling in love with him on camera. The rest of the country followed.

I spoke with Stoute yesterday from Cannes, where he’d just spoken to at the Cannes Lions advertising conference. He arranged for a whole session on hip hop and its power in the marketplace. He was with Kanye West at the Hotel du Cap in Antibes. “He’s never been here before,” Stoute told me. “He can’t believe it.”

He’s come a long way from his famous scuffle with Puffy in the bad old days, I said gently. “Having kids has changed everything,” he replied. “It changes everything.”

Stoute says of the four part doc: “It’s been an unbelievable journey. We started it from the 70s, and you have it give it a little time.” The doc played on VH-1 he said because “I wanted to connect with a large audience. We got a million people to watch it. That’s a big deal. It’s not a documentary that chronicles the hip hop you already know.”

Stoute cited Combs and Mariah Carey among others as standouts. And Dr. Dre, who’s become a billionaire with the Beats-Apple deal since he made the film. And that deal proves the whole point of his mini series, Apple, the biggest company, is now tanned.

Who was his favorite? “Norman Lear,” he said of the TV innovator who brought race and black life into living rooms for the first time. Lear gave us “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons,” two shows that everyone in the doc still cite as influential.  Said Stoute: “His take on it was so fresh. He’s been doing this for 40 years. I appreciate his courage.”

Emmy voters, take heed.

 

 

Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols Ruin Faye Dunaway’s Plans for “Master Class”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols Ruin Faye Dunaway’s Plans for “Master Class”

Poor Faye Dunaway. The Oscar winning actress has long planned on starring in the movie version of Terrence McNally’s play “Master Class.” Dunaway herself played opera star Maria Callas in the national tour of “Master Class,” and trooped around the world trying to put a movie together. She gave millions of interviews about the project, and even Tweeted a picture of herself in 2012:

 

 

Alas, all is lost now. Meryl Streep and power partner producer director Mike Nichols have signed up with HBO to make the film about Callas and a music student.Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald won Tony Awards in 1995 when the play first appeared on Broadway. Tyne Daly won kudos when she played Callas on Broadway four years ago in a revival.

No one’s been announced yet for the student part, but you know that Anne Hathaway is probably making breakfast for Streep and Nichols this morning, and possibly getting their dry cleaning. “The Devil Sings Puccini,” you know.

Ah, Faye. Barbra Streisand probably felt this way when she heard Ryan Murphy was making “The Normal Heart.” Life’s a bitch. Please, no jokes about getting out the wire hangers!

 

Happy Birthday Paul McCartney! The Forever Beatle Turns 72

Roger Friedman
-
0
Happy Birthday Paul McCartney! The Forever Beatle Turns 72

Paul McCartney is 72 today. Happy Birthday Paul! The forever Beatle is recovering in New York after a nasty viral infection cut short his tour in Japan. But really, what 72 year old continues to carry his own rock show solo? Crazy. But Paul loves it, and has endless energy on stage, as if he were 42! Paul picks up his tour in Albany, New York on July 5th. With or without John Lennon, Paul is the most successful songwriter in history. Let’s hope he has a nice vegetarian meal today, capped off with some good Champagne. He deserves it!

Ken Roberts, the Other “Jersey Boy,” Remembered at the Friars Club

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ken Roberts, the Other “Jersey Boy,” Remembered at the Friars Club

“Jersey Boys” the musical is still running. The movie is about to open. But one of the men behind the scenes in the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is gone. Ken Roberts, a larger than life operator who made and lost several fortunes in his lifetime, was remembered at the Friars Club on Monday by his pals. The former manager of Frankie Valli, among others, was 72 when he died last month after a series of illnesses.

Ken “was the whitest man I ever met,” recalled comedian Stewie Stone, who helped organize the small memorial service in the upstairs parlor of the East 55th St. clubhouse. Indeed, Ken, who was Irish, had white white hair and the palest complexion, bright blue eyes that flashed when he was thinking up a great new idea. One of those ideas was to buy a little Southern California radio station called KROQ in the mid 1970s. After many legal battles, he turned the station into a powerhouse, and sold it for $88 million in the mid 1980s.

ken.robertsBy the end of the stock market crash in 1987, Roberts was completely broke again. He went on to make and lose a lot more money. He bought the most expensive piece of real estate in Southern California and lost that too. For a long time, he managed Frankie Valli, and he was there on opening night of “Jersey Boys” on Broadway. He also worked with Sly Stone, trying to rescue him from greedy managers. Lawsuits are still raging.

At Monday’s service: old friends, newer friends, fans. Everyone had a good story. Joey Reynolds, former WOR Radio star, who played the Four Seasons record “Sherry” over and over on the same day in the early 60s and “broke” the record, was there. Frankie Valli was not. That’s the way it goes. Walk like a man.

In January 2011, Ken lost his big house to creditors and moved for a time into the Beverly Hilton. He was quite ill, and had surgery. It was at the same that Frank DiLeo, Michael Jackson’s manager, was staying there. Frank went to visit Ken in the hospital, and remarked that he wasn’t feeling well.

A few months later, Frank was dead. Ken lived on, and moved home to his deluxe apartment in the sky at Trump Tower. But during that short episode he was a great friend to Frank. These two guys, who were not that old really, had lived hard and fast and had done everything they wanted to. There was a buzz in the air at the Beverly Hilton. Everyone liked them. They were real.

Only at the Friars does a memorial service turn into a roast. Only at the Friars does your lawyer recall your many crazy lawsuits as a eulogy. Everyone got a good sweet laugh and a little choked up about their friend who never failed to pick up a check at dinner, “even when he didn’t know where his next meal was coming from.”

The Jersey boy part? He came from Hoboken, and idolized Frank Sinatra. And to a certain extent, Frankie Valli.

Ken Roberts was a dreamer, a tummler, a larger than life guy who made show biz glow with mystery. I’m really glad I knew him.

 

Rock Hall of Fame: Rufus Thomas’s Daughter Wants to Know Why Her Father Isn’t In There

Roger Friedman
-
0
Rock Hall of Fame: Rufus Thomas’s Daughter Wants to Know Why Her Father Isn’t In There

Vaneese Thomas, the most sought after live back up singer in New York, wants to know why her father isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rufus Thomas is considered the king of Memphis soul, a legendary performer with many hits. He also introduced Elvis Presley to the black radio audience on Memphis’ WDIA. He also had hits on Stax Records with Vaneese’s sister, Carla. She’s also not in the Rock Hall. It’s a scandal.

Last night, Vaneese introduced her new album. “Blues for My Father” with a sizzling one hour show Chris Noth’s Cutting Room on East 32nd St. This was after two nights of singing backup for Aretha Franklin at Radio City Music Hall. The pair have a long family connection: Aretha’s father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, married Vaneese’s parents in Memphis way back more than 70 years ago.

On Vaneese’s new album (www.vaneesethomas.com) she shares a duet with big sister Carla. She also went back and, with producer husband Wayne Warnecke, created an “Unforgettable” type duet with Rufus. If you like authentic, genuine blues, and R&B, “Blues for My Father” is a treat. Most of the songs are original, with the exception of a rocking version of  John Forgerty’s “Old Man Down the Road.”

As for Rufus, and Carla, the whole story at the Rock Hall is so screwed up at this point, they will probably be passed over for who knows what? Cutting Crew, Bananarama? It’s a sad state of affairs. But you can sign a petition on Vaneese Thomas’s website.

Martha Stewart, Fashionistas Swan Around at “Yves Saint Laurent” Opening

Roger Friedman
-
0
Martha Stewart, Fashionistas Swan Around at “Yves Saint Laurent” Opening

Yves Saint Laurent: are you interested in him? If so, good news, there are two films coming out. One is called “Yves Saint Laurent” and the other is called “Saint Laurent.”

Who was he? A big French designer. Both movies are similar, even though only “YSL,” coming from the Weinstein Company, is authorized. The other is not.

But here’s the story: he was thin and quiet and French. He had a lot of sex with various young men, did a lot of drugs, moped around, then stumbled around, and then died. Is there an audience for this? Perhaps.

Last night, real designers Martha Stewart, Nicole Miller, and beloved Vogue editor Grace Coddington. as well as  some otherwise pretty, vacant people turned up at the Museum of Modern Art to see the movie. Later, we went to a restaurant next to the Paris Theater called “Beaute.” I ran into Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas and his beautiful wife Marisol. Sarah Green, the pretty young Irish actress from “The Cripple of Inishmaan” on Broadway, came with Vogue’s Jill Demling. Gina Gershon waved to me. The rest of the guests were so thin that you could literally read between their lines. Models. Stick figures.

The “YSL” movie is well made. But like the other one, it has problems: they’re in French, and not much happens. They’re beautiful to look at. The people drape themselves this way and that. In “YSL,” Pierre Naney is very good at wearing chunky glasses and looking wan. It’s hard to imagine the real YSL becoming so famous and having so many designs because in the movie he does very little except pout. Guillaume Gallienne is a little more interesting as the enigmatic Pierre Berge, who was YSL’s lover, business partner, and heir. In this movie, he darts about like Inspector Clousseau.

In “Saint Laurent” not much else happens. Pretty people slouch around in well tailored outfits and drape themselves on divans. In this film, which Sony Pictures Classics picked up in Cannes, there’s full frontal male nudity and more vivid gay sex scenes. The actor who plays Saint Laurent looks, wearing glasses, like Andy Samberg. I kept thinking he was going to start making jokes. The actor (Jeremie Renier)  playing Berge, resembles the late David Groh, the husband on “Rhoda.” He’s sharp and pointy, unlike Gallienne. Berge remains a mystery.

A French bulldog completely steals the movie and should be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He turns in a superb death scene.

 

 

1...1,7341,7351,736...2,324Page 1,735 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com