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Tonight’s “Law & Order SVU”: Mariska Hargitay in an Emmy Worthy Performance

Roger Friedman
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Tonight’s “Law & Order SVU”: Mariska Hargitay in an Emmy Worthy Performance

Two weeks ago I told you that NBC threw a unique small screening party for the 15th season premiere of “Law and Order SVU.” You don’t want to miss Mariska Hargitay in an Emmy worthy performance. It’s a riveting episode to say the least. I can’t wait to see it again. This is what I wrote:

When we last saw Olivia Benson, a crazy rapist killer psychopath played by Pablo Schreiber was holding a gun to her head. As series exec producer Warren Leight said before the screening: “We didn’t know if we were being renewed, so we wanted to give NBC incentive to bring us back.” It’s the 15 th season for the popular show.

Benson and Schreiber go through five “acts” and we saw it all without commercials. You’re unlikely to find anything else this intense on network TV or cable this season. Suffice to say Benson makes it out alive, but the episode is a psychological thriller that will take your breath away. The episode is called “Surrender Benson,” and it features the whole “SVU” crew pulling together including Belzer, Ice T, Kelly Giddish, Dean Winters, and Danny Pino.

The show airs on September 25th. Hargitay, who is beautiful even when she’s being kidnapped and tortured, told me: “This was the hardest work I’ve ever done.” And that’s saying a lot after 15 years. How does she put it out of her mind when she gets home? “I don’t know,” she replied. “You just have to.” She happily took pictures with her castmates and Baldwin, and danced around in a hot red dress.

UPDATE: Scorsese’s “Wolf of Wall Street” Definitely out of This Year’s Oscar Race

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE: Scorsese’s “Wolf of Wall Street” Definitely out of This Year’s Oscar Race

UPDATE WEDS 11AM: I’ve confirmed with sources the Wolf will not be at the door until next year. Disappointing for everyone, but good things come to those who wait.

Earlier: It does seem as though Martin Scorsese’s “Wolf of Wall Street” will not be pawing its way to an Oscar race and 2013 release. I had heard a few days ago, and then yesterday the news started to leak out, that Scorsese wasn’t finished and neither was Oscar winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker. There have been rumors of three hour versions. The movie will not make its November 14th release date. Now Paramount is saying maybe they’ll make it for Christmas.

But that seems unlikely. Scorsese is committed to running the jury at the Marrakech Film Festival from November 29th to December 7th. That’s basically two weeks shot in the schedule. When Scorsese agreed to be the jury president he thought “Wolf” would already be in release. But rushing now, and having to be away for two weeks, seems impossible.

At this point, waiting is a better idea anyway. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConnaughey will want Oscar campaigns. But Lead and Supporting Actor are already very crowded categories. So is Best Picture. Shoving “Wolf” into the mix at the last minute doesn’t sound like such a great idea.  It might be wiser to debut “Wolf” in Berlin or in Cannes, and then have a big launch.

And really, Best Picture is very crowded– Blue Jasmine, 12 Years a Slave, The Butler, Gravity, August Osage County, Mandela, Rush, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska, Dallas Buyers Club, and All Is Lost have all been seen. Still to come, at the very least, are The Monuments Men, Foxcatcher, American Hustle, Captain Phillips, and Saving Mr. Banks. And all those are ready to go now.

“Dallas” Casting for New Bad Boy Villain as First Season Ever without Larry Hagman Commences

Roger Friedman
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“Dallas” Casting for New Bad Boy Villain as First Season Ever without Larry Hagman Commences

“Dallas”– or what I call “Dallas 2.0”– is finally coming back to TNT. They’re going to start shooting a third season next month. Where were they all summer? Who knows? This will be the first ever “Dallas” season without Larry Hagman as JR Ewing. Anyway, they’re looking to cast a new bad boy villain named Nicholas who will obviously come to town and cause trouble for the Ewings.

He’s described as 35-40 years old, “a powerful billionaire businessman. Self made. Rough childhood. Raised himself up by his bootstrap. He’s charming, sophisticated, smart, cunning…Sexy but not pretty. He comes across as a good,
genuine guy, even though there are darker parts of his personality which he’s hiding. He also has a good sense of
humor and uses that take the sting off his verbal sparring. He should have an International-feel to him. Accent is
not important, in fact less is better, when it comes to accent…”

Let’s just hope series showrunner Cynthia Cidre sticks to the main “Dallas” story and doesn’t go jumping the shark now that JR is gone. That means lots of screen time for Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray, and the return of Judith Light.

Marta Heflin Dies at 68, Favorite of Robert Altman, Friend of Al Pacino

Roger Friedman
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Marta Heflin Dies at 68, Favorite of Robert Altman, Friend of Al Pacino

No one seems to know much about what happened, but actress Marta Heflin died on September 18th. She was 68. Someone put a paid obit in the New York Times but I guess no one bothered to make a real announcement. Heflin was a favorite of late legendary director Robert Altman. She was also a great friend (and I’m not sure but I think long ago ex girlfriend) of Al Pacino. Heflin was always invited to any Pacino opening and treated like a VIP. Her father, Martin Heflin, was a famous PR man. Her mother, Julia Heflin, was a rabble rousing journalist. Uncle Van Heflin, of course, was a famous actor. And aunt Frances Heflin was beloved by viewers of “All My Children” as Mona Kane, mother of Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane. She will be sorely missed.

EXCLUSIVE “How I Met Your Mother” Legendary “Bangity Bang” by Sam “Soul Man” Moore

Leah Sydney
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EXCLUSIVE “How I Met Your Mother” Legendary “Bangity Bang” by Sam “Soul Man” Moore

At long last, ‘Bangity Bang” has been heard! On the second episode of “How I Met Your Mother” last night producers finally unveiled the song that’s been sung (and went viral on YouTube) made up by the cast as a gag. The show’s noted composer John Swihart wrote a whole, serious sort of tongue in cheek R&B ballad around what had been just a joke chorus that was previously sung by cast members.

The HIMYM producers wanted a real soul singer to record the song. So he reached out to R&B legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sam Moore, whose hits include “Soul Man” and “Hold On I’m Coming.”

Ironically Moore, who’s 77 and often noted as Bruce Springsteen’s favorite singer, recorded the song in a Phoenix, Arizona studio–the same place where last night’s episode took place. Sources say Swihart played guitar, bass and piano on the track. The word is we’ll be hearing Moore’s  “Bangity Bang” more during this final season of “Mother.” Maybe he’ll even sing it at Ted and the newly revealed Mother’s wedding at some point!

PS Thanks to the reader who sent this clip:

Nicole Kidman’s “Grace of Monaco” Moved to 2014: Too Many Best Actresses This Year

Roger Friedman
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Nicole Kidman’s “Grace of Monaco” Moved to 2014: Too Many Best Actresses This Year

I told you last week that an early screening of “Grace of Monaco” was a big hit. Nicole Kidman is said to be incandescent as Princess Grace (Kelly). But now I’ve confirmed that “Grace of Monaco” will hold until 2014. The main reason besides the movie still needing a musical score? The Weinstein Company simply has too many women in the Best Actress category.  Meryl Streep from “August Osage County” and Judi Dench as “Philomena” are front runners already.

The company still has to figure out what to do with Julia Roberts from “AOC.” They will also have major campaigns for “The Butler” and “Mandela.” On top of that, let’s not forget that Cate Blanchett remains the original front runner for “Blue Jasmine.”

As for Nicole: not only will she be in lead for 2014-15 with “Grace.” But she also has the highly praised “Railway Man” with Colin Firth for fall 2014, just seen in Toronto.

Good things are worth waiting for! “Grace of Monaco” will be one of them!

Exclusive: Jennifer Hudson Has a Breathtaking, Breakout Hit Single

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Jennifer Hudson Has a Breathtaking, Breakout Hit Single

Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has three movies this fall: “Winnie Mandela,” and the forthcoming “Mister and Pete” and “Black Nativity.” She’s got one song out already from “Winnie,” a Diane Warren ballad. But now, in time to make the Grammy deadline, here’s her new old school release “I Can’t Describe the Way I Feel” with T.I. It’s breathtaking and a break out hit. Listen here:

Exclusive: Elton John’s Four Star Dinner with David Furnish, Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Elton John’s Four Star Dinner with David Furnish, Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp

Monday night at Craig’s, by far the hottest restaurant in West Hollywood and where the stars go to dine on comfort food: Sir Elton John and partner David Furnish celebrated the release of Elton’s magnificent new album “The Diving Board” with two superstar guests: Lady Gaga and Johnny Depp. (Also at Craig’s last night: Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit.)

This may have been the biggest star wattage per square inch (or however it would be calculated) in some time. They sat in a secluded banquette with Gaga between David and Elton, and Depp to Elton’s left. Gaga wore a large flowing pink gown with a gigantic blond wig right out of Marie Antoinette. “Actually it’s two wigs,” she told me after I’d made it past the four huge bodyguards in tow.

I did not check their orders. But I do know that Craig’s famous truffled-oiled fried chicken with mashed potatoes and spinach was consumed. It’s the hot spot’s signature dish.

So what was going on? We talked about “The Diving Board,” Elton’s first solo album in 7 years (not counting “The Union” with Leon Russell). The album is released in the U.S. today and it’s already causing a stir. If it’s not nominated for Album of the Year at this year’s Grammys, something is very very wrong.

I was waxing on and on about it until Gaga. who was very amusing, said: “You know, we went to the listening party. I know you think we’re just  a pop star and an actor but we did get invited.”

Gaga then showed David, Elton and Johnny– and yours truly by default — a picture of her album cover on her iPhone. It’s a collaboration with famed artist Jeff Koons, and quite stunning. She also told us a story about going to play at the original Cutting Room in New York, and realizing that she looked just like Amy Winehouse. I think that’s when she went blonde.

Johnny Depp mostly listened, and was incredibly polite. As a musician I think  he was taking it all in, too.

Meanwhile, a table of twelve people in their 30s, almost all from the record industry, were celebrating a birthday at a long table that ran perpendicular to this star setting. Somehow they kept their cool. But it was probably a very memorable night.

And that’s a Monday night in La La Land at Craig’s. It reminded me of the old Mondays at Morton’s from the 1980s.

PS David showed me pictures of his and Elton’s two little boys, Elijah and Zachary. They are very very cute. And he did tell me that their Elton John AIDS Foundation has just gotten a huge donation in the United Kingdom to help them keep battling AIDS and various diseases. Bravo!

Emmy Ratings–Front Loaded– Got Big Boost from NFL Lead In, Then Fell Off

Roger Friedman
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0

The Emmy ratings last night got a huge boost from the NFL. The spillover from the football game to the Emmy telecast gave the first hour of the show millions more eyes than in the past. But as you can tell, from half hour to half hour, the Emmys lost steam. Knowing that viewers would start leaving for the “Dexter” finale on Show time and “Breaking  Bad,” CBS cut “60 Minutes” and threw in lots of big categories early. They also added non sequitur performances by Elton John and Carrie Underwood. There were several oddities including Jon Hamm’s beard, which he stole from Zach Galafinakis. Still, Neil Patrick Harris has now become the George Jessel of awards shows. They’re his for life.

Anyway here are the fast ratings. Cable ratings are coming soon.

 

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 16.28 million, NBC: 15.19, ABC: 3.28, Fox: 2,61

-Adults 18-49
NBC: 5.5 rating/15 share, CBS: 4.8/13, Fox: 1.1/ 3, ABC: 0.6/ 2

———-

7:00 p.m.

ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos (R)
Viewers: 4.63 million (#3), A18-49: 0.7/ 2 (#4)

CBS – NFL Overrun
Viewers: 19.28 million (#1), A18-49: 6.2/20 (#1)

NBC – Football Night in America, Part 1
Viewers: 6.04 million (#2), A18-49: 1.8/ 6 (#2)

Fox – American Dad (R)
Viewers: 2.86 million (#4), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#3)

———-

7:30 p.m.

ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos (R)
Viewers: 5.58 million (#2), A18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#4)

CBS – NFL Overrun
Viewers: 19.19 million (#1), A18-49: 6.0/18 (#1)

NBC – Football Night in America, Part 2
Viewers: 7.52 million (#2), A18-49: 2.5/ 7 (#2)

Fox – The Simpsons (R)
Viewers: 2.50 million (#4), A18-49: 1.1/ 3 (#3)

———-

8:00 p.m.

ABC – Once Upon a Time (R)
Viewers: 2.99 million (#4), A18-49: 0.6/ 2 (#4)

CBS – “The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards” (includes a few minutes of football)
Viewers: 19.28 million (#1), A18-49: 5.6/16

NBC – Football Night in America, Part 3
Viewers: 14.53 million (#2), A18-49: 5.0/14 (#2)

Fox – The Simpsons (R)
Viewers: 3.00 million (#3), A18-49: 1.4/ 4 (#3)

———-

8:30 p.m.

ABC – Once Upon a Time (R)
Viewers: 2.75 million (#3), A18-49: 0.6/ 2 (#4)

CBS – “The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards”
Viewers: 17.22 million (#2), A18-49: 4.9/13 (#2)

NBC – Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
Viewers: 19.68 million (#1), A18-49: 7.1/19 (#1)
Fox – Bob’s Burgers (R)
Viewers: 2.50 million (#4), A18-49: 1.2/ 3 (#3)

———-

9:00 p.m.

ABC – Revenge (R)
Viewers: 2.44 million (#4), A18-49: 0.5/ 1 (#4)

CBS – “The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards”
Viewers: 15.69 million (#2), A18-49: 4.4/11 (#2)

NBC – Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
Viewers: 20.30 million (#1), A18-49: 7.2/18 (#1)
Fox – Family Guy (R)
Viewers: 2.71 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 3 (#3)

———-

9:30 p.m.

ABC – Revenge (R)
Viewers: 2.33 million (#3), A18-49: 0.5/ 1 (#4)

CBS – “The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards”
Viewers: 14.54 million (#2), A18-49: 4.0/10 (#2)

NBC – Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
Viewers: 19.58 million (#1), A18-49: 7.1/17 (#1)
Fox – Family Guy (R)
Viewers: 2.08 million (#4), A18-49: 0.9/ 2 (#3)

———-

10:00 p.m.

ABC – Revenge (R)
Viewers: 2.66 million (#3), A18-49: 0.6/ 1 (#3)

CBS – “The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards”
Viewers: 13.31 million (#2), A18-49: 3.8/10 (#2)

NBC – Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
Viewers: 17.23 million (#1), A18-49: 7.1/17 (#1)
———-

10:30 p.m.

ABC – Revenge (R)
Viewers: 2.89 million (#3), A18-49: 0.6/ 2 (#3)

CBS – “The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards”
Viewers: 11.72 million (#2), A18-49: 3.3/ 9 (#2)

NBC – Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
Viewers: 16.65 million (#1), A18-49: 6.5/18 (#1)

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

 

“Downton Abbey” Exclusive: Show Creator Julian Fellowes on Actor Dan Stevens (Matthew)

Roger Friedman
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“Downton Abbey” Exclusive: Show Creator Julian Fellowes on Actor Dan Stevens (Matthew)

Sunday night in Britain: “Downton Abbey” returned for Season 4 with a huge 9.5 rating, up almost a million viewers from the UK season premiere. The show picks up six months after the death of Matthew Crawley, played by Dan Stevens. Viewers no doubt were curious to see what happened to Lady Mary and her baby. “Downton Abbey” season 4 doesn’t start in the US until January 5th.

Last night at the Emmys I talked to my old pal Julian Fellowes, the brilliant mastermind behind “Downton.” You know, the seeds of “DA” were in his Robert Altman film, “Gosford Park,” which every “Abbey” fan should rent or buy to see how all this started.

Fellowes was not pleased when Dan Stevens decided not to return as Matthew after three seasons. “We begged him to stay one more week, and film the Christmas episode. We could have a happy ending for Matthew and Mary. Then we would have started season  with his death. But refused. To come back for a week!”

Despite killing Stevens’ Matthew off most graphically last year, Fellowes still wishes him well. Still: “I really think if he’d waited one more season, he would have left with a bigger following.”

 

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