Do people think about what they’re doing or saying before they do it or say it? I just received a press release from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Washington DC for an “All White Charity Event.” They’re honoring Washington Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon, who is Haitian, in a city that is predominantly African American. I know they mean everyone should dress in white, but it’s badly worded and executed. Sean Puffy Combs used to have Fourth of July picnics like this but he just wrote “Dress in White.” I think he borrowed the idea from Ashford and Simpson’s great parties in Connecticut. Will there be a lot of support in Washington for an “All White Charity Event”? This reminds me: in Cannes, we noticed at the end of the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” there was a “Kosher for Passover” sign at the very end of the credits, with a list of made up rabbi’s. At the reception following, the main food was a large pig being carved around its snout.

I’m kind of looking forward to this comedy from Seth Rogen and friends, aka the former Judd Apatow crew. Many of the Freaks and Geeks, plus Craig Robinson and Mindy Kaling from The Office, Michael Cera, and — get this– Rihanna– do a send up of end of the world movies playing themselves gathered at James Franco’s fictional home in New Orleans for a party. Emma Watson, who destroys her Hermione persona in “The Bling Ring,” swings an ax at it in this movie. Watch the clip.

Hi ho! “The Lone Ranger” is coming with Johnny Depp playing Tonto. This is kind of a dicey issue, so Disney is getting out in front of any problems. Either Disney chief Alan Horn or p.r. whiz Zenia Mucha, two very smart people, have come up with some good ideas. First of all, the big “Lone Ranger” premiere on June 22nd will benefit the American Indian College Fund. The premiere is going to be at Disney’s California Adventure Park in Anaheim complete with red carpets and celebrities.

In a statement, Disney chairman Alan Horn says: “We’ve had a terrific collaboration with the Native American community throughout the production of Disney’s ‘The Lone Ranger.” With the world premiere of this exciting film at hand, we are pleased to commemorate the occasion by supporting the American Indian College Fund.”

Here’s more from the release:

Tickets for the premiere event have been donated by Disney to the American Indian College Fund, which will offer them for sale to the public; tickets will be available for purchase at https://community.collegefund.org/the-lone-ranger, starting today. Because Disney is also underwriting the entire cost of the premiere, 100% of the revenues received by the American Indian College Fund for the tickets will be used for scholarships and other support for Native American students. Tickets are priced at $1000.

Fund President, Cheryl Crazy Bull, stated: “The Fund is pleased to be the beneficiary of this event because our scholarships are an investment in a healthier, more prosperous future for tribal students and their families.  We are poised to serve over 20,000 American Indian and Alaska Native students attending the tribal colleges across this country.  Currently our scholarships serve less than 21% of those students so we appreciate any opportunity to bring resources into our scholarship program.”

So: good news. There’s going to be sensitivity on “Lone Ranger.” This should ease things a bit. PS The bigger issue will be how accessible Depp is at the premiere. We were just reminiscing the other day about his “Rum Diary” premiere– one of the most unpleasant New York premieres ever.

News from the pop-rock world: Elvis Costello and the Roots are indeed releasing a secret album they made together. “Wise Up Ghost” comes from Blue Note Records on September 17th. Expect a whole week of Elvis, I hope, with the Roots on “Jimmy Fallon.” Elvis produced the album with Questlove from the Roots.

From the release:

“Most of the sessions took place in secret at Feliz Habitat Studios in the dead of night, while others were in plain sight at Costello’s Hookery Crookery Studios. Elvis described the record as “the shortest distance between here and there” and containing “both rhythm and what is read”. Ahmir says, “It’s a moody, brooding affair, cathartic rhythms and dissonant lullabies. I went stark and dark on the music, Elvis went HAM on some ole Ezra Pound shit.”

…Ringo Starr is releasing an e-book called “Photograph” on June 10th. It costs $9.99. A physical edition from Genesis Publishing is due at Christmas, which will cost considerably more. “Photograph” will be similar to Ringo’s “Postcards from the Boys,” one of my prized possessions. The e-book has according to its release:

“The multi-touch edition allows readers to pick up, play with and zoom in on Ringo’s photographs as they scroll through his memories. Photograph features 69 audio stories and 11 exclusive videos, with music, animation and new interviews from Ringo Starr. Ringo’s first multimedia edition is a must-have for fans of The Beatles and anyone passionate about modern music.”

He’s in, he’s out. That’s been the story with “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes about returning for more James Bond. Now I am told that Daniel Craig has persuaded Mendes to return for Bonds 24 and 25, each written by John Logan as a two parter. Mendes was denying this up to two weeks ago. Inquiries were made, and Mendes insisted that he wanted to stick with his theater schedule. Mike Fleming broke the story a little while ago that Mendes was being wooed back.

But I can tell you that it’s because of Craig, who wanted him to reproduce the “Skyfall” magic. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson have been in London trying to get the Mendes-Craig pieces put together. They want to get started on Bond 24 tout suite. The sooner, the better. The two movies together can soak up five years’ worth of work. And then even Craig will be done as James Bond.

When “Skyfall” went through the roof last year I told you Mendes would return. But between money– always it’s money– and his desire to be a big big power in London and New York theater, it was bleak. A rumor floated last week that Christopher Nolan would direct the next Bond, but that fell flat. It’s always been Mendes. “Skyfall” made $1.1 billion worldwide.

What else? Will Adele return? Maybe. But I’d think they have many others to wrangle for a Bond theme song. Some big stars like Sting and Elton John have never done one. And then there’s newcomers like Emeli Sande. So we shall see. And Dame Judi Dench? I wish they could un-kill her M.

Uncharacteristically elegant for CBS Daytime: the network saluted the late Jeanne Cooper today with a whole hour devoted to the actress, the star of “The Young and the Restless” for 40 years. She died three weeks ago (May 8) at age 84 after a brief illness. The hour long special shows clips of her from the show and photos from her movie career that preceded joining the fledgling soap in 1973, six months after it first aired. All the show’s main actors are included, and some that have left for other programs. Also included are Cooper’s three adult children including actor son Corbin Bernsen. Most moving are the tributes at the beginning and end from actress Jess Walton, who played Cooper’s foil for three decades. Jeanne Cooper had quite a run, really extraordinary. Even as soaps are struggling to stay on the air– especially at CBS where they cancelled two in the last three years–this was an elegant pause in the ratings war. Now all the great older actors from soaps are gone, and the shows are overpopulated by young people — many of whom cannot act even the slightest bit. It was nice to year the younger folks on “Y&R” reminisce about Cooper’s mentoring.

I told you a couple of weeks ago that Paris Jackson was going to the Cannes Film Festival. That was certainly supposed to be the situation. She and her manager Rick Yorn were going there, and Paris was supposed to meet Yorn’s super client Leonardo DiCaprio on a yacht. But Yorn’s wife is nine months pregnant– she may have given birth by now– so he scotched the trip after debating if he could get back in time.

But there’s a lot more going on with 15 year old world wise Paris. She’s spending a lot of time with her mother, Debbie Rowe. I was first to write this a couple of months ago– that Paris wanted to live with Debbie, spend the summer at her ranch, etc. I think this is great news. A teenage girl should want to be with her mother. So far brother Prince hasn’t come around, but he will. The kids are lucky to have a living parent.

Nonetheless, there are issues. For one thing, Paris has two guardians– her grandmother and her cousin. The family court is unlikely to change that or emancipate her. Sources say Debbie Rowe is fine with that and is in constant touch with Katherine Jackson.

But there’s another player involved– Lowell Henry, the man who’s been advising Katherine for the last couple of years. He made the connection with Rick Yorn, and has plans for Paris. I am told that Debbie Rowe isn’t so keen on him. That may cause trouble. But if anyone can smell trouble, it’s Rowe.

Meantime Paris will spend the summer at the horse ranch. And it may be causing some discussion at home. She tweeted on May 27: “Can’t satisfy anyone.”

can’t satisfy anyone

— Paris Jacksoη (@ParisJackson) May 27, 2013

Now that we’re back from Cannes, it’s time to look at the Tony Awards. And the biggest news is that “Kinky Boots” seems to be in lead over “Matilda” as new musical of the year. The Cyndi Lauper-Harvey Fierstein production is a smash at the box office. But it’s also won Best Musical from the Outer Critics Circle and the Drama League. Only the Drama Desk went for “Matilda,” a British import that is genius and admirable, but not quite in the Broadway spirit. Lets’ face it: “Kinky Boots” is fun, original by true New Yorkers, and has an eminently singable score.

On top of all that, Billy Porter is three for three as Best Actor in a Musical for “Kinky Boots.” Like the show and its score, Porter is headed for a Tony also. The sex, as Cyndi puts it, is in the heel.

So what else is happening Tony wise? For Best Play, Christopher Durang’s “Vanya” et al seems to have the edge over the late Nora Ephron’s “Lucky Guy.” But I do think Tom Hanks should be getting Best Actor for his work as Mike McAlary. Nathan Lane has been picking up awards for “The Nance” with most groups. We’ll see how that plays out. But Hanks, I thought, was superb.

Best Actress in a Play: Kristine Nielsen had the edge in “Vanya” until Cicely Tyson, age 88, turned up in “The Trip to Bountiful.” No kidding, Nielsen should be given ten statues. Everyone loves Cicely Tyson, but really, she has a lot of awards and accolades.

For Featured Actor: I say, Richard Kind in the still playing “The Big Knife.” Again, Kind has been kind enough to work and work and work, doing great things and culminating in this disarming performance. Tom Sturridge stole “Orphans,”  but it’s his first time on Broadway. He’ll be back.

Featured Actress in a Musical: Andrea Martin is a wonder and a half in “Pippin,” the best revival of a musical in years. Maybe she’s using an avatar. But however she’s playing that role, a gold statue isn’t enough reward.

More tomorrow…But what a nice turn for Cyndi Lauper. She and Madonna started around the same time. Lauper, unlike Ms. Ciccone, was a serious composer and musician. She had to wait and fight for recognition. Her story is really the moral of “slow but steady.” A Tony victory for “Kinky Boots” will be a sweet vindication. I just hope the Tony committees and the Theater Wing realize what a damn good writer she is. I always send everyone back to  Lauper’s “Hat Full of Stars” album — a lost gem from 20 years ago…