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Miley Cyrus: Raunchy and Topless for Controversial Photog Terry Richardson

Roger Friedman
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61
Miley Cyrus: Raunchy and Topless for Controversial Photog Terry Richardson

Miley Cyrus continues to trash and burn poor little Hannah Montana. Now she’s topless and fully out there on Terry Richardson’s website. You see the pix at http://terrysdiary.com/.

This is great because with Amanda Bynes locked up and Lindsay Lohan sober, life was getting dull. At first I thought Miley was just “taking the piss” to sell albums and get attention. But now, you know, I think “crack up” is coming. No record or CD is worth this.

Adele, Pink, Emeli Sande, even Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga are smart enough not to do down this road. What’s next? You can only imagine.

 

 

 

 

Exclusive: Madonna Malawi Charity Almost Half a Mil in the Red for 2012

Roger Friedman
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0
Exclusive: Madonna Malawi Charity Almost Half a Mil in the Red for 2012

Madonna’s Raising Malawi, her questionable charity that was an off shoot of the Kabbalah Centre cult, is still around. Their 2012 federal tax filing has just surfaced. It turns out that Madonna paid consultants around $500,000 in fees to give away $1 million to the people of Malawi.

Raising Malawi paid Global Philanthropy Partners $355,706 in fees for 2012. On top of that Raising Malawai paid nearly $100,000 for accounting and $25,000 for legal help. They also list $22,061 for travel.

What did they give to Malawi? The total comes to $1,064,287 in grants. These grants are not broken down specifically so there’s no way of knowing where they went except to “Sub Saharan Africa.”

Altogether, Raising Malawi claims it finished 2012 in the red, with revenue less expenses equaling $469,565. Contrast that to 2011, when they finished the year up by $169,976. Net assets fell from $2 million to $1.6 mil by the end of 2012.

Raising Malawi went through a big scandal in 2011 when it was discovered that millions of dollars were missing. Investigations proved very little except that no one knew what had happened and that Malawi — from which Madonna had adopted two children– hadn’t received money and projects that were promised.

Malawi is still waiting for the leadership academy Madonna promised them. She cleared people out of their homes to build the school, then abandoned the project.

Forbes magazine recently listed Madonna as the top earning celebrity of 2013 with $125 million made in the last year. Her recent tour grossed over $300 million. Even though her album was a dud, the Material Mom made money than ever in 2012-13.

Donations to Raising Malawi have fallen precipitously in the last three years. In 2010 it was $5.9 million. In 2011, $1.9 mil, and in 2012 just over $1 million. There’s no breakdown offered of who donated money.

Cyndi Lauper’s “Kinky Boots” Musical Recoups Investment in Record 30 Weeks

Roger Friedman
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0
Cyndi Lauper’s “Kinky Boots” Musical Recoups Investment in Record 30 Weeks

Cyndi Lauper’s Tony winning Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” has recouped its investment in a record 30 weeks. The show was capitalized at $13.5 million. In June, “Kinky Boots”– written with Harvey Fierstein–won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Actor for Billy Porter. It co-stars Stark Sands, who’s also in this winter’s Coen Bros. movie “Inside Llewyn Davis.” Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig are the proud producers. By the way, not only is “Kinky Boots” in the top 3 of the Broadway box office every week, the CD recording of the show is a monster hit. I think now Cyndi, the hardest working woman in pop music, can come off the road and enjoy her success!

Frank Sinatra’s Widow Calls Mia Farrow’s Claim “A Phony Deal”

Roger Friedman
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0
Frank Sinatra’s Widow Calls Mia Farrow’s Claim “A Phony Deal”

Here’s another voice in the mess Mia Farrow and Maureen Orth caused this week. Barbara Sinatra, widow of Frank, was reached by The Desert Sun in Palm Springs yesterday. Barbara, who published a memoir last year, called the “possibility” that Mia’s son Ronan was fathered by Frank and not Woody Allen: “A phony deal.”

Barbara told the Sun:  “It’s just a bunch of junk. There’s always junk written — lies that aren’t true.”

Sinatra also told the paper that Ronan was left nothing in Frank’s will. Sinatra died in 1998 when Ronan was 11 years old.

As I wrote yesterday, when Ronan– originally named Satchel– was conceived in March-April 1987, Farrow was shooting “September” with Woody in Connecticut. She wrote in her memoir “What Falls Away,” that she was Allen’s “constant companion.” The movie “September” was shot and then re-shot with a different cast. Mia was in both casts. Sinatra was performing in Las Vegas. He was 71 years old. Randy as Sinatra was, he wasn’t a time traveler.

Orth is the worst kind of journalist. She’s colluded with Farrow to “get” Woody Allen. She questions nothing that Farrow tells her for the Vanity Fair article. She simply accepts and presents it. Why didn’t she call Barbara Sinatra? Or look into the timeline of where both people were physically in that time period?

I’ll tell you why: because she didn’t care if it was true. Nice work.

Sting Celebrates 62nd Birthday with AfterShow Bash, Stars in the Audience

Roger Friedman
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0
Sting Celebrates 62nd Birthday with AfterShow Bash, Stars in the Audience

Sting — everyone should look as good and sound so swell at age 62. The bard of Newcastle, father of six, husband of Trudie Styler, grandfather (yes!) celebrated his birthday last night with a super energized show for fans at the Public Theatre. Sting has been performing songs from his upcoming Broadway show “The Last Ship” at the Public for the last week to raise money for Shakespeare in the Park. Last night, PBS taped “The Last Ship” for a future showing.

After the show, Sting, Trudie, actress daughter Mickey Sumner and filmmaker son Jake Sumner partied with pals at the new Bar Nana on Gansevoort Street. Even though the Public Theater crowd serenaded him with “Happy Birthday” so did these friends as well. They also surprised him a “Last Ship” cake.

Spotted in the crowd were Broadway biggies Jimmy Nederlander Jr. and Manny Azenberg, as well as theater producer Jeffrey Seller, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Brian Yorkey and Oscar winning director Paul Haggis, as well as actress Mamie Gummer, Peggy Siegal, actor Ronald Guttman, Donna Karan and Jane Rose, longtime manager of Keith Richards.

“The Last Ship” only sails to October 9th. Tickets are scarce. On Tuesday night, Hugh Jackman and wife Debora-Lee were just a seat away from Stephen Sondheim.

Meanwhile, Trudie Styler starts previews tonight at the Culture Project on Bleecker Street for “The Seagull.” Opening night is October 13th.

Michael Jackson’s Life Was Trashed for No Reason Thanks to Family

Roger Friedman
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0
Michael Jackson’s Life Was Trashed for No Reason Thanks to Family

Well, that’s it. If there are any more skeletons in Michael Jackson’s closet even I would be surprised. Thanks to his family’s single minded effort to get his money, Michael’s whole life was trashed in public for no reason. His finances, personal life, peccadilloes, love life, marriages, parenting skills, and drug abuse have all been laid open to inspection.

And what was accomplished? Nothing. We know now what we knew before: Michael was the architect of his own demise. He hired a bad doctor who needed money and was vulnerable. He did what Michael asked. And he wound up killing him. The doctor went to jail for a short time. Soon he’ll be out. He’ll write a book, get publicity, and move on.

What won’t be changed is Michael Jackson’s musical legacy. Tonight in some club a deejay will put on “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and everyone will dance. The music will never end.

But that’s it for Michael’s siblings’ quest for his money. There will be no Rolls Royces or big houses or fancy clothes. The Jacksons will have to keep touring and playing casinos and state farms. Randy Jackson will have to get a job. There will be no more kidnappings of grandma. Joseph Jackson has finally been stopped. Katherine will have to say no when relatives come to her for money.

What a crazy, long trip this has been. Four years, three months, and a few days since Michael Jackson died, he can finally be put to rest.

What’s next? Who’s going to pay that legal bill for Brian Panish, et al? This will not be pretty.

Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Verdict: AEG Owes Nothing to Jackson Family

Roger Friedman
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0
Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Verdict: AEG Owes Nothing to Jackson Family

The jury in the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial has decided that AEGLive did hire Dr. Conrad Murray. And the jury did not think Dr. Murray was unfit or incompetent to take care of Jackson.

Jackson, of course, died on June 25, 2009. Ever since that moment his estate has been the subject of a tug of war between his executors and the Jackson family. This means that AEG Live does not owe Katherine Jackson and her family anything. The avaricious Jacksons will not be able to collect a thing from them.

The jury did not believe that Dr. Murray was unfit to perform his duties. That’s it, it’s all over. This. Is. It.

Interesting that the jury thought Dr. Murray was competent to perform the duties for which he was hired. In the end, the jury confirmed that Michael Jackson really brought about his own demise. It’s something the Jacksons will have to live with.

I do think that the Jackson family’s cause, and the belief that people “conspired” against Michael to kill him, or wear him down on purpose, was what did the whole thing in. It was ridiculous to believe this. I’ll get into it more later this evening.

Cory Monteith Coroner’s Final Report: Drug Paraphernalia In Room, Including a Spoon with Residue and Hypodermic Needle

Roger Friedman
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0
Cory Monteith Coroner’s Final Report: Drug Paraphernalia In Room, Including a Spoon with Residue and Hypodermic Needle

The British Columbia Coroner has just issued their final report on Cory Monteith. Here’s the press release. More to come:

The BC Coroners Service has completed its investigation into the death of actor
Cory Monteith and has released its final report into Mr. Monteith’s death.
Coroner Claire Thompson concluded that Mr. Monteith, aged 31, died of mixed drug toxicity,
involving intravenous heroin use combined with the ingestion of alcohol.

The death has been ruled Accidental.

Mr. Monteith was found deceased in his room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in downtown
Vancouver, B.C., shortly after noon on July 13, 2013. He had checked into the hotel on July 6
and had been expected to check out on the 13. When he had not done so, hotel staff checked
his room and found him unresponsive on the floor.

Investigators at the scene found drug paraphernalia, including a spoon with drug residue and a
used hypodermic needle, along with two empty champagne bottles and glasses. The
investigation confirmed that hotel video captured Mr. Monteith returning alone to his room at
2:16 a.m. on July 13, and that he was not seen alive again.

It was also confirmed that he had a history of illicit drug use with intermittent periods of
rehabilitation and of abstinence from drugs. It is noted that if someone has abstained from
using opioids (which include heroin) for a period of time, tolerance may be lessened.

RIP June Springer, Actress and Wife of Late Great Press Agent John Springer

Roger Friedman
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1
RIP June Springer, Actress and Wife of Late Great Press Agent John Springer

Sad news: one of the great people of New York and theater and Hollywood, June Springer, passed away last week. June was the wife of the late great legendary press agent John Springer. Their son, Gary, is one of the most popular press agents working in New York, a chip off the old block. June was 85, and had been living with one of her daughters in California. The Springers were just about the nicest people whoever graced New York showbiz. They were elegant and funny, and navigated the craziness around them with dignity. Of course, John had been Marilyn Monroe’s guy and had helped Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh get married. Whenever I see Clint Eastwood we always wind up talking about the Springers. An era is really over. Condolences to Gary and his whole family.

Here’s the obit Gary sent me about his mom:

JUNE REIMER SPRINGER, of New York City, died peacefully on September 27, 2013 in Chico, CA at the age of 85.  Born in 1928 in Hackensack, NJ to Alice and Rudolph Reimer, she grew up in Bogota NJ. June became a professional singer at 18, appearing in several musicals on Broadway (including “Kiss Me Kate” for which she recalled auditioning before Cole Porter; Sigmund Romberg’s “My Romance;” and “Three Wishes For Jamie,” among others); and on national tours including Romberg’s “The Student Prince”, in which she starred as the Princess. In the 1950s, under the stage name Monica Lane, June joined crooner Cass Franklin as a popular singing duo playing New York nightclubs such as The Latin Quarter, pioneer television variety shows such as The Colgate Comedy Hour, and Catskills resorts (Monica’s publicity pin-up became the source material for Roy Lichtenstein’s famous “Girl With Ball,” in NYC’s MoMA). In 1953, June married John Springer, whose career as a film and theater public relations agent became legend. With John, she enjoyed the glamour of the New York and international entertainment, arts and journalism worlds, but she was far more devoted to family: children Gary, Alicia, and Cynthia; grandchildren Nicholas and Olivia Springer, Zachary Gilman, and Anthony and Zora Thomas; and her sister Marilyn and family. Warm, funny, beautiful, and generous, June was beloved by loyal friends and family. A Memorial will be held later in October in New York City at the Players Club.

Hollywood Hiccup: Focus Features Loses Its Leader, Will Go Mainstream

Roger Friedman
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0

The big news in Hollywood today is that James Schamus, the long time head of Focus Features, is out. Universal Pictures removed him and replaced him with Peter Schessel, the man who runs FilmDistrict. This is a signal that Focus, which specialized in art house releases, will be doing more mainstream fare.

Schamus tried valiantly for years to make Focus work. But it was an uphill battle. Too many of their highly touted productions fell short of Oscars or box office success. Movies that missed the brass ring included “Atonement” and “Brokeback Mountain.”

Schamus is something of a genius, a great writer who worked with Ang Lee before starting Focus. But he was not a studio head. His exec partner, David Linde, and then John Lyons, all went by the wayside. Schamus meantime grew in stature by teaching, and by wearing great bow ties. But Focus’s marketing was always an issue. And they have always been hostile to the press.

Schamus will return to working with Ang Lee, and probably win an Oscar down the road for writing a screenplay. Focus/FilmDistrict will probably drop the art house movies and look for genre fare. That will be sad especially for indie filmmakers who counted on them to pick up gems at film festivals.

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