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Michael Jackson’s Son Prince, Snake Charmer, On School Trip to Cuba

Roger Friedman
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11
Michael Jackson’s Son Prince, Snake Charmer, On School Trip to Cuba

This is not Snakes on a Plane 2: Michael Jackson traveled all over the planet but he never visited Cuba. So now his son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., aka Prince, gets the chance. Prince sent out an Instagram selfie holding plane tickets to Cuba. He left on Friday with his school group from the Buckley School in Los Angeles. Yes, that is correct. I think when I was 17 our school trips were to the Statue of Liberty and the PT Barnum Museum.  We have stopped at McDonald’s. But times change!

Prince also has become something of a snake charmer. According to his Twitter account, the son of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe is raising snakes at his family home in Calabasas, California. The snakes are named Sparta and Athens, and they live in a cage Prince built for them himself. According to my source: “Basically Prince was raised in a zoo– prince jackson snakesNeverland– so now he’s got all kinds of animals. Katherine [Jackson, his grandmother], isn’t crazy about the idea.”

As for Paris Jackson, although she makes trips home on breaks, it does look like she’s going to stay at her boarding school in Utah until she graduates from high school. Last June she tried to commit suicide, and eventually was sent to the school. My source says she doesn’t like it, but Mrs. Jackson “is afraid to bring her home.” In any case, Paris appeared in a couple of photos on Prince’s account recently and looked very happy.

Meantime, two books are coming in June around the time of the 5th anniversary of Michael’s death. One of them purports to deal with Michael’s finances after his 2005 and then really touts the executors of his estate as miracle workers. (The Jackson fans will probably boycott that one.) The other is by two bodyguards who were with Michael post-trial for a couple of years, but not with him when he died.

One last piece of Jacksonian trivia: Majestik the Magnificent, the Jackson family friend and personal magician, has been quite ill. He just posted– or someone posted for him on Facebook– an update. But I’m told he’s been hospitalized for some time, possibly thanks to a brain tumor that immobilized him. Majestik had been staying at the original Jackson home, Hayvenhurst, thanks to the largesse of Katherine Jackson. Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery.

James Rebhorn, Prolific and Spectacular Character Actor, Dead at 65

Roger Friedman
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James Rebhorn, Prolific and Spectacular Character Actor, Dead at 65

I’m very sorry to report the death of prolific and spectacular character James Rebhorn. He was 65, and well known to movie, TV, and theater fans as a dynamic performer who could literally do anything and always get it right. Soap opera fans will know his name and face from “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns,” where he played unrepentant and scary villains. Rebhorn also appeared in seven Broadway productions including “I’m Not Rappaport”  and “Prelude to a Kiss.”

But it was in movies and nighttime that Rebhorn not only shined, but appeared constantly. He’d been a regular recently on HBO’s “Enlightened,” “Homeland” and “White Collar.” He was the D.A. who prosecuted the “Seinfeld” gang on their finale. Rebhorn’s movie roles were memorable, including “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (he was Jude Law’s father trying to find his son). He appeared in “Scent of a Woman,” “Real Steel,” and “Cold Mountain,” always playing pivotal character roles.

At six foot five, with what they used to call a noble bearing, Rebhorn managed to play both honorable and sleazy at the same time. He was soft spoken and never did publicity. He was what I think of as the kind of actor who should be honored by SAG at their ceremony every year– not a star, but the guy who makes the entire play, movie, or show plausible.

I met him once, we talked about how he played, for a few years in the 1980s, Bradley Raines, the worst bad guy ever on “Guiding Light.” He seemed shocked that I recognized him. What a loss! Condolences to his family.

Aretha Franklin Celebrates Her Birthday in NYC with Denzel and Friends

Roger Friedman
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Aretha Franklin Celebrates Her Birthday in NYC with Denzel and Friends

Aretha Franklin– wearing a cream color St. John knit suit and looking like billion bucks– celebrated her birthday in style last night in New York. First the Queen of Soul took friends to dinner at La Grenoiulle. Then the group limo’d across town to see Denzel Washington and LaTanya Richardson in “A Raisin in the Sun.”

But by 10:30 the fun really began over at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Central Park South. There Ms. Franklin welcomed the one and only Clive Davis with pals including Nikki Haskell, Rep. Charles Rangel, congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and a ton of well wishers to an elegant soiree in the big lobby tea court. Coming over from Broadway were Denzel, as well as Clifton Davis from “Aladdin.”

Meantime, music was provided by Denise Thimes, St. Louis’s hottest jazz vocalist (she plays on Tuesday at Minton’s on West 118th St.) and the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars– an eight piece jazz ensemble with horns. And they were still rockin’ at 1 am!

And yes, everyone keeps asking me so I will tell you: Aretha looks great, trim and svelte, with a short haircut and a lot of energy. In two weeks she goes into the studio to start recording a great new record for Clive. They are each forever young!

 

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SUNDAY UPDATE Box Office: “Divergent” Falls Short with $56 Mil

Roger Friedman
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0
SUNDAY UPDATE Box Office: “Divergent” Falls Short with $56 Mil

UPDATE SUNDAY 12:30PM “Divergent” actually made only $56 million, falling way short of expectations.

EARLIER I knew “The Hunger Games.” And “Divergent,” you are no “Hunger Games. ”

Indeed, “Divergent” made $22 million last night. The tween action hit, first in a series, will be happy with a $60 million weekend. But it is no “Hunger Games.” The first of those films made $67 million on its opening night, one night, baby. “Divergent” is going to make a fraction of what “The Hunger Games”
made, but no one’s sneezing at it. The budget was around $100 million. Lions Gate will make money. Maybe for part 2, “Detergent” or whatever it’s called, they can make a better movie.

Last night Brian Williams featured a women’s book club on “NBC Nightly News” that not only read “Divergent” but talked about it like it was the tablets from the mount. Williams sounded very thrilled at the discovery that women in their 20s and 30s were reading a Young Adult book. I find it very discouraging, actually. Was public education for that generation so bad that adults can only handle books written for teenagers? Considering all the great female writers of adult level books– from Margaret Atwood to Doris Lessing, Nadine Gordimer, not to mention Mary Gordon, Laurie Colwin, Lorrie Moore, and so on–I’d like to hope for more sophistication, not less, from this readership.

Meanwhile. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is steaming along — a big hit, and for more sophisticated enjoyment. And “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” is chugging along, I’m sure much to the delight of Jay Ward’s heirs. I really miss the Bullwinkle store on Sunset Boulevard across from the Chateau Marmont. I hope you can buy the original “Sherman and Mr. Peabody” shows and “Rocky and Bullwinkle” on DVD. But it was such a pleasure in the early 90s. I think it’s a taco stand now.

MSNBC Collusion? Ronan Farrow Interviews NY Times Reporter Who Trumpeted Sister’s Sex Abuse Claims

Roger Friedman
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1
MSNBC Collusion? Ronan Farrow Interviews NY Times Reporter Who Trumpeted Sister’s Sex Abuse Claims

UPDATE: Ronan ended the interview saying he was “jelly” over Kristof’s 1 million Twitter followers. This means “jealous,” I think. Really? Really? This is on a national TV network?

This is what Spy magazine used to call “log rolling in our time.” Ronan Farrow is just about to interview Nicholas Kristof on his high school call in show on MSNBC. It was Kristof who gave a forum to Farrow’s sister Dylan when she wrote her “open letter” about Woody Allen allegedly  abusing her in 1992. Kristof is also best pals with Ronan and Dylan’s mom Mia Farrow, traveling with her on various world mission adventures. Kristof is talking to Ronan today about Michele Obama visiting China. Of course, only shut ins and coma patients are watching “Ronan Daily” right now, but yikes! Is anyone in charge at MSNBC??? Are they kidding? Kristof is in the studio with Farrow, who doesn’t introduce him by saying “This is the guy we used to try and destroy my father.” Or this is the guy who’s BFFs with my mom. Here’s a nice pic Mia and Kristof:kristof-blog-nick-and-mia

Radio City Scraps Big Budget Rockettes Show That Was Supposed to Launch Next Week

Roger Friedman
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1
Radio City Scraps Big Budget Rockettes Show That Was Supposed to Launch Next Week

Whoops! Radio City Music Hall will not be hosting “Hearts and Lights” starting next week as planned. The big budget Rockettes show was supposed to launch in previews on March 27th with an opening a week later. “Hearts and Lights” was the big Easter show for Radio City. But Madison Square Garden productions just sent out a notice saying they were not ready. The show has been postponed until 2015.

Here was the description from last September’s press release:

“This 90-minute show, written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright features a heartwarming journey through New York City, thread through eight production numbers of dynamically different Rockettes choreography, dazzling costumes and innovative technology including 3D effects, elaborate animatronics and GPS elements. Heart and Lights is set to an unforgettable soundtrack of original music coupled with songs by some of the most influential musical artists of the past 50 years. The production presents groundbreaking technology that will immerse audiences in the magic of live theater in a way only Radio City can deliver.”

So much for that! I guess they’ve got some giant Easter eggs in storage, and maybe a chocolate bunny for the Rockettes to dance around!

“American Idol” Hits New Low, Falls to 8.3 Million Viewers

Roger Friedman
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58
“American Idol” Hits New Low, Falls to 8.3 Million Viewers

“American Idol” continued its descent into death spiral last night. The show fell to 8.3 million total viewers, with a 1.9 in the key demo. An 8.3 is very startling for “Idol,” which not so long ago had 10 or 11 million. Fox execs said not too long ago that the show was “winding down” and now it’s come to pass. Will Fox cancel it? I think it’s a strong possibility. It’s not the fault of the judges. And Jennifer Lopez performed last night! You’d think she would have brought in a few peeps. But JLO has also reached the “mature” phase of her career. She’s not the draw she used to be. And the 1.9 rating in the key demo? Ouch! That’s another all time low for “Idol,” which had been up around 2.7. It means no young people are watching the show.

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click here for tickets to see the Legendary Soul Man Sam Moore on April 1st at the City Winery!

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Watch Billy Joel on “Jimmy Fallon”– First Talk Show Appearance in 17 Years

Roger Friedman
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1
Watch Billy Joel on “Jimmy Fallon”– First Talk Show Appearance in 17 Years

Billy Joel made his first late night talk show appearance in about 17 years last night on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. This means he missed most of David Letterman’s run and all of Jay Leno’s two runs. Why? Who knows? But here he is with Jimmy, and it’s brilliant:

Sting Adds Paul Simon, James Taylor, More Stars to Rainforest Concert

Roger Friedman
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0
Sting Adds Paul Simon, James Taylor, More Stars to Rainforest Concert

The Sting- Paul Simon show is not over. Simon is set join Sting at the annual Rainforest Foundation concert– this is the 25th anniversary– set for April 17th at Carnegie Hall. Simon isn’t the only act on the roster. The show will also feature James Taylor, Dionne Warwick, opera great Renee Fleming, hornmeister Chris Botti, and Ivy Levan. Ivy is a star in the making. She recently joined Sting on “Late Night with David Letterman” for a wild version of the Beatles “Drive My Car.”

To purchase tickets for the Silver anniversary celebration of the Rainforest Fund, please visit www.carnegiehall.org or call CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. To purchase benefit tickets and packages, please email rainforest@eventassociatesinc.com or call 212-245-6570.

I am told the show– even before this list was known– was already on its way to being sold out. So hurry!

“Law & Order SVU” with Alec Baldwin Clobbered in Ratings

Roger Friedman
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1
“Law & Order SVU” with Alec Baldwin Clobbered in Ratings

Alec Baldwin didn’t help the ratings of “Law & Order: SVU.” In fact he probably hurt them.

Although NBC heavily promoted Baldwin as guest star his appearance was not a draw for the favored show. “L&U SVU” finished a distant second in total viewers to CBS’s “Criminal Minds.” And in the key demo, it was third, following ABC’s “Modern Family.”

In January, “L&O” was hitting a 2.0 share in the key demo and scoring 7.5 million viewers without Alec. With Alec, the show did a 1.5 in the key demo and 5.82 million viewers. More than a million “L&O” fans tuned out that episode.

The answer may be that Baldwin is simply not a draw for ratings. “30 Rock” was never a high rated show. One insider suggests that women, who watch “Law & Order” for Mariska Hargitay as a strong female lead, don’t care for Baldwin’s recent much publicized antics. I won’t list them all here again.

In any case, the episode was very good, and Baldwin was excellent as a belligerent New York reporter cast in the memory of the late Mike McAlary. Maybe more people will see the rerun.

 

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