Carly Simon surprised a crowd of 50,000 last night at Taylor Swift’s stadium show in Foxboro, Mass. Dressed ever so hip and chic, Simon– who rarely performs and certainly not in stadiums– sang her mega hit “You’re So Vain,” the 1972 classic, with Swift. Carly is a real rock star– and Swift was wise to invite her to the show. Swift’s confessional songs still have a long way to go to get this good.
“The Wolverine” Howls: $55Mil Weekend Far Lower Than Expected–Another Bust
Fox’s “The Wolverine” took in $55 million over the weekend– $10 mil less than hoped for by the studio and $15 mil less than some prognosticators thought. “The Wolverine” cost between $150 mil and $200 mil at least, and had no competition this weekend. But something went wrong, just as it has for several big studio releases this summer. From “After Earth” to “The Lone Ranger” to “RIPD” and many others, the summer of 2013 will go down in history as the season when sequels bombed. The only true hit was “Man of Steel,” and it wasn’t even a very good movie.
“The Wolverine,” a sequel to “X Men Origins: Wolverine” and the sixth time Hugh Jackman has played the character, didn’t have good word of mouth. Even though it had an A- from Cinemascore, when audiences finally saw it they didn’t recommend it. On Friday it took in $21 million, but then declined on Saturday and Sunday. That’s a bad sign. The Saturday night audience dropped by 12 percent. It was only the movie on Saturday night that dropped from the previous night. Perplexing, to say the least.
On the flip side, “Fruitvale Station,” an indie movie that could find its way to the Oscars, expanded to over 1,000 theaters. And it’s a hit. “Fruitvale” now has over $6 million in the bank. The coincidence of the Trayvon Martin trial helped. But “Fruitvale” is a powerful, unforgettable film on its own. The family of Oscar Grant, the 22 year old who was killed in Oakland, California by a cop in 2009, should feel some vindication. The transit cop who shot unarmed Oscar in the back and then served only 11 months in jail is finally getting justice served. The whole world is seeing what he did.
Cannes: $53 Mil Jewel Heist at Carlton Hotel Is Third Since Festival
The Carlton Hotel, part of the Intercontinental chain, was hit today by a $53 million jewel heist– in broad daylight. This time the jeweler Lev Leviev. This is the third blatant theft of a major jeweler since the film festival in May. Back then first Chopard got hit in a weird saga that involved thieves drilling through a wall safe at the off -the -track Novotel. Then a $2.6 million necklace was stolen at the Eden Rock in Antibes during the zoo-like De Grisogono fete. Cannes is obviously not the place to have expensive jewelry without guards. The Carlton often hosts jewelry displays in its much-trafficked lobby. Police reports say the theft took place at noon Sunday–6am New York time. This should give Woody Allen something to think about. He’s shooting his new movie right now in and around the hotel.
Rock Stars Mourn Sudden Passing of Syndicated DJ Kidd Kraddick
Kidd Kraddick, a popular top 40 deejay, passed away unexpectedly yesterday. He was 53. Kraddick, who did his show out of Dallas, suffered a brain aneurysm while attending one of his own charity functions in New Orleans for his organization, Kraddick’s Kidds.
Immediately rock stars began Tweeting their shock and dismay. Kelly Clarkson was among the first. “Oh man, I just heard Kidd Kraddick died! He’s my childhood dj. What a sad day. His poor family. He was always nice 2 me from the beginning.”
Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun also sent out two messages calling Kraddick: heard the awful news that my friend @KiddKraddick , a man who always #gaveback to those in need has passed away. RIP Kidd. U will be missed…have to add…some people talk it and some people live it. @KiddKraddick lived it! he cared, he put in the time and he gave back. #RIPKidd…”
Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and actor Rainn Wilson also sent messages on Twitter.
Condolences to his family and many fans around the country and in Dallas.
Alan Thicke’s Two Sons Are Very Different Indeed: The Sexy and the Seer
TV star and performer Alan Thicke has two sons: one is biological, the other is fictional. His biological son is Robin Thicke, the white soul singer who is married to scrumptious Paula Patton. The other is Kirk Cameron, who played Alan’s son the TV show “Growing Pains” in the 1980s. The boys have turned out very differently. Which do you like best? I give you Robin’s NSFW video for “Blurred Lines” and Kirk’s trailer for his new movie. You decide:
Robin Thicke:
Kirk Cameron:
JJ Cale, Writer of “Cocaine” and “After Midnight,” Dead at 74
JJ Cale was a great Oklahoma bluesman and essential guitarist who finally rose to fame in 1970 thanks to Eric Clapton. Cale’s songs, “Cocaine” and “After Midnight” became Clapton hits and put Cale on the map at last. He died yesterday in La Jolla, California at age 74 from a heart attack. If you have Spotify or Pandora, check out The Definitive JJ Cale to hear his incredibly important and influential songs. Of course, he is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, because that would mean they understood where everything came from.
2013 Summer Curse: Is “The Wolverine” Another Box Office Disappointment?
So far the summer has not been going too well for blockbusters. Now Fox’s “The Wolverine,” which was well reviewed, looks like it’s not going to meet studio expectations. Last night the Hugh Jackman feature did $21 million– a lot less than it needed to make the weekend numbers everyone had hoped for. Originally Fox thought they were going to get between $60-$65 million. Boxofficemojo.com had suggested $72 million considering no competition and those good reviews. Now “The Wolverine” will be extremely lucky to hit $60 million. But if big waves of fans didn’t come out on Friday night, they’re probably not coming this weekend. Without hardcore interest, “The Wolverine”– which cost the usual $150-$200 million– could open with a $55 million plus weekend. And that would not be good for momentum. Let’s put it this way: the first “Wolverine” had an opening night of just under $35 million.
Guilty in Gambling Scam: DiCaprio, Maguire Pal, Producer of “Ray Donovan” Cable Series
Bryan Zuriff, the executive producer of the Showtime hit “Ray Donovan,” pleaded guilty today in a high-stakes illegal sports gambling business run by the mob. The announcement was just made by Preet Bharara, US Attorney in the Southern District of New York. Zuriff will pay a $500,000 fine and could be sentenced to up to five years in prison in November.
Zuriff also produced Tobey Maguire’s still born dark comedy “The Details” and Oren Moverman’s “The Messenger.” It’s not the first time Maguire’s name has turned up in a major gambling sting. Like pal Leonardo DiCaprio, Maguire is close pals with Helly Nahmad, also recently indicted for being part of an international gambling scheme. Nahmad is awaiting trial. Zuriff is part of the same group as Nahmad.
Zuriff, who has a short Hollywood history, lives in a 6,500 sq foot house in Brentwood, California– the same mansion used for Judd Apatow’s “Knocked Up” and “This is 40.”
Bharara said in a statement: “Bryan Zuriff spanned the coasts with his crimes, by operating his own illegal gambling enterprise in Los Angeles, and helping to operate a vast illegal gambling enterprise in New York. With his plea, he becomes the first defendant, but not the last, to be convicted in this sprawling script of criminal conduct.”
For a short time DiCaprio distanced himself from Nahmad after his arrest spring. But sources in the Hamptons spotted the pair, with a posse of friends, making the scene over July 4th weekend. These people are not DiCaprio’s first friends to wind up in trouble with the government. In 2000, DiCaprio’s pal Dana Giacchetto went to jail after he bilked celebrities and New York locals out of at least $14 million.
Here’s the full press release:
ZURIFF was charged in April 2013 in a 34-defendant indictment charging members and associates of two Russian-American organized crime enterprises with various crimes, including racketeering, money laundering, extortion, and various gambling offenses. ZURIFF is the first defendant in the case to plead guilty.
According to the Indictment, other documents filed in this case, statements made at various conferences and at the guilty plea, and other information in the public record:
ZURIFF operated his own illegal gambling business that catered to gamblers seeking to bet on the outcome of various sporting events (commonly referred to as a “sportsbook”) in Los Angeles, California. He also assisted Hillel Nahmad, Illya Trincher, and others in operating their own high-stakes sportsbook in New York that catered to millionaires and billionaires. Those clients typically placed bets online through various accounts maintained on gambling websites that were operating illegally in the United States. Tens of millions of dollars in bets were placed through those online accounts each year.
ZURIFF, 44, of Brentwood, California, faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and three years of supervised release. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to forfeit $500,000 to the United States. ZURIFF is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Furman on November 25, 2013 at 3 p.m.
The charges against Hillel Nahmad, Illya Trincher, and the other 31 defendants in this case are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and the New York City Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harris M. Fischman, Joshua A. Naftalis, Peter Skinner, and Kristy J. Greenberg of the Organized Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wilson of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Unit is responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.
“Law & Order SVU” Casting for Cleveland Kidnapper Ariel Castro Story
Ariel Castro, the man who held three women captive for ten years in his Cleveland house– and fathered a child with one of them– is getting TV treatment. “Law & Order SVU” starring Mariska Hargitay is casting for an episode called “Imprisoned Lives.” The show shoots New York between August 5th and 14th.
Castro was sentenced today to life in prison plus 1,000 years for kidnapping and torturing three women for a decade. He pleaded guilty rather than stand trial.
For the TV show, the casting sheet is looking for a few additional characters besides Castro and the women. One character, called George Brown, is clearly fashioned on Charles Ramsey, the neighbor who shot to fame when he inadvertently rescued the women. He’s described as “Male; African American; Early 30s- Late 40s; Right out of the Blacksploitation” genre;
loquacious; blue collar when he discovers the horrors taking place in his neighbors house he fancies himself a hero
and has no problem telling the world how so on national tv.”
“Law & Order SVU” is still exec produced by Dick Wolf. Warren Leight is the actual producer and headwriter, however. The show has improved tremendously under his watchful eye. It’s now in its 78th season on NBC.
Weiner: New Yorker Cover as King Kong Atop Phallic Empire State Building
If Anthony Weiner doesn’t get it now, he never will: the new cover of The New Yorker shows him as King Kong atop a phallic Empire 
State Building. He’s got a smartphone camera in his hand so he can take pictures of er, his impressive skyscraper manhood. He’s also hounded by news helicopters. Does Weiner know it’s over? He will not be the mayor of New York.
Artist John Cuneo says of his “Carlos Danger” painting: “With a topic like Anthony Weiner, how can you find anything broad or funny that he hasn’t already personally breached? Free association made me think of the Empire State Building, and then King Kong, the iconic image of him straddling it. And then Weiner sexting, his head tilted and looking a certain way—I just stumbled upon the image as I was sketching. But all I could think about while working on this piece was, ‘Will Weiner still be in the race by the time it runs?’”