Last night in Hollywood: Women In Film held their Crystal + Lucy Awards at the Beverly Hilton.  Jenna Elfman deftly hosted the gala, which celebrated WIF’s 40th anniversary.  Jenna quipped, “Forty is the new kick ass.  We know that for actresses there still is work to do done.  We’re always cast as the love interest, now we have to compete with Matt Damon.”

WIF’s President, Producer Cathy Schulman relayed to the VIP crowd, which included Rose McGowan, Diane Warren, Diahann Carroll, Holly Robinson Peete, Elizabeth Rohm, Debra Messing, Stana Katic, Gail Berman Masters,  Ilene Kahn Power, Nancy Meyers. Dolores Robinson and more, the troubling statistics that still make it tough for women in Hollywood to get traction in the work place. “To boil it down, when the money and stakes increase, the opportunities for women decrease.”

The dynamic evening though was still all about lady power.  The event honored some of the industry’s powerful women and one man, no less then George Lucas.

Kathleen Kennedy, who now runs George Lucas’s empire, gave The Norma Zarky Humanitarian Award to Lucas.  George said that, “This award will have a prominent place in my house, it’s important to me.  My sisters took care of and trained me.  Then my daughters kept me going and keep me honest.  Now my soon to be wife Mellody (Financial Analyst Mellody Hobson) is definitely qualified to keep me in my place.  I like being surrounded by women; it’s more comfortable and less combative.”

George also revealed his daughter Katie, who was his date for the evening, is on her way to also becoming a filmmaker. “Katie is now following in my footsteps. She was inspired by Sofia Coppola who followed in her fathers.  I know it’s a lot harder for women, in the end I know you will win. ”

Sofia Coppola followed by accepting her Dorothy Arzner Directors Award.  Sofia said, “I’m proud to now have a body of work that expresses my point of view.  I hope this award will help other women express theirs.”

The witty Holly Hunter then presented the ladies of “Mad Men” their award.  The Oscar winner joked: “For six seasons the women of Mad Men have held their own against those combative advertising men.  They even got to drink through their pregnancies and take handfuls of estrogen.  Hell, without the women, those men would be nothing but masturbators.”

After the laughter died down, Elisabeth Moss, who plays Peggy, spoke for the group said that, “Mad Men has taken an unintentional political stance by simply treating women like human beings.  Our show is a truly special and spirited place in Hollywood. ” Jessica Pare, January Jones and Kiernan Shipka (Christina Hendricks was shooting a film) then thanked the women producers and crew members who make the show happen.  Moss ended their speech with, “We hope to continue to do you all proud.”

Hailee Steinfeld also received the Max Mara Face of the Future Award, Filmmaker Rachel Morrison got the Kodak Vision Award and finally Laura Linney was awarded the Crystal Award for Excellence in Film.  All in all, a wonderful night honoring some of Hollywood’s  most talented ladies.

Are Steven Spielberg and George Lucas prescient? Or have they seen the rest of the summer’s blockbuster releases? The duo said at a USC unveiling this week that Hollywood would go through a drastic change after three or four blockbusters, costing $250 million or more, blew up in studios’ faces. So far, “Jack and the Beanstalk” would be number 1, a total disaster. “After Earth” would be number 2 on the list. It’s a total dud.

“Man of Steel” would be number 3, with a teetering 60% approval rating of critics and frankly, a mind numbing plot. Coming directly after are “World War Z,” “White House Down,” and “The Lone Ranger.” So far the only blockbusters that worked were “Iron Man 3” and “Star Trek: Into the Darkness.” I’ve seen “World War Z” and it’s pretty good after producers reshot at least half the film. The result is that movie actually makes sense and has a third act.

But the others are all problematic. “The Lone Ranger,” especially looms large, especially after Disney’s “John Carter” did so badly last year.

One thing Lucas said in his comments that I have to take issue with. He and Spielberg talked about “Lincoln” almost going to HBO and Lucas’s “Red Tails” not doing well. I’m a huge Lucas fan but “Red Tails” was a terrible movie. And it lost all its movie because of that. So I don’t think “Red Tails” can be considered part of the conversation.

I have to laugh, this is too much. Katherine Jackson and Michael’s kids are suing AEG Live; the trial is proceeding in downtown Los Angeles. Meantime, Michael’s brothers– the Jacksons–including Jermaine– are set to perform on June 30 a few blocks away at the Staples Center. The show, billed as the BET Experience, features R. Kelly, who his own scandals, New Edition with the infamous Bobby Brown.They should change the name from the Unity Tour to the Infamy Tour.

So let me lay this out for you. The Jacksons will do their show in the Staples Center, the place where Michael Jackson was eulogized during a big memorial on July 7, 2009, as well as almost four years to the day of his death — June 25th–and then buried from.

On the stage of the Staples Center friends and family spoke. Michael’s coffin was front and center. AEG produced the memorial in 2009, and now the Jackson brothers  are working for the same promoter while they hope for a jury decision and big money. A Jackson lawyer said today that the boys have no choice. He said AEG is the only promoter in the world. I guess they haven’t heard of Live Nation. Or any of the other concert promoters.

You’d think Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie would think being at the Staples was too hard or too tacky. That working for AEG might look bad. But no such luck. Where there’s money, there’s a Jackson. And don’t stop til you get enough.

What happened to will.i.am? The leader of the Black Eyed Peas released an all-star album six weeks ago. And it’s an all-out flop. “Willpower” dropped on April 23rd, just ten weeks ago. It’s currently number 96 on Billboard. On Amazon, it ranks at number 555,644– that’s right, you didn’t read that wrong. The sales are a total write off, an unmitigated disaster.

Evidently music fans had plenty of real will power– “Willpower”  sold a shockingly meager 55,000 copies. That’s right– fifty five thousand dollars. Or what will.i.am spends at a nightclub on bottle service.

What makes “Willpower” — with a hashtag– all the more perplexing is that it’s filled with top of the pops guest stars. Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus– certainly marketable names among disposable stars– are featured on singles. The Britney single, “Scream and Shout,” made it to number 1.

But it turns out that the singles from the album sold over 4 million copies. Soundscan tells me Britney’s single moved 3 million units. And over a million more went to other individual tracks.

But the Bieber single, “ThatPower,” only got to number 17. And now, that’s it. I’m told that will.i.am, real name Will Adams, –who I think wrote a great album of pop hits–thinks he can revive “Willpower” by making a new video with Miley Cyrus for her song, “Fall Down.” The concept is supposed to be a take off on Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” in which Miley– now making a big career jump with a new look and her own new hit–would play a plantation owner’s daughter.

Yes, a plantation owner’s daughter.

But the 55,000 copies is something of a shock, and a head scratcher. It certainly shows how difficult the music business is these days. My guess is that Will learned a lesson as he tried to make a Quincy Jones-type album with lots of guests. His audience–used to Fergie singing lead– didn’t want three white teenyboppers. If he re-records those songs with serious singers, of appropriate ages, and a little multicultural, he could have a hit.