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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.
Daft Punk: other than Nile Rodgers and the guest stars, I don’t get it. But their “Random Access Memories” sold 339,000 copies last week and debuted at number 1. More interestingly, the single “Get Lucky,” which Rodgers is on and is really great, had the biggest single day streaming on Spotify. According to a release, “Get Lucky” has streamed 33 million times since its release in mid April. In the U.S., every track on the album was listened to at least 500,000 times in its first week.
“Random Access Memories” sounds to me like inoffensive background disco music, so why not? “Get Lucky” and “Lose Yourself to Dance” are standouts mostly because Rodgers plays his trademark guitar on the tracks. There are cameos from Pharrell Williams and from legendary songwriter Paul Williams. Daft? A little. Punk? Not really. A hit? Definitely. But I remember when “The Hustle” was a hit you couldn’t get away from. Worse things have happened.
“Get Lucky” is the single of the summer of 2013:
Press release:
· Random Access Memories had the biggest first-week streaming numbers in 22 of Spotify’s 28 territories.
· In the U.S., Random Access Memories has broken Mumford and Son’s previously-held Week #1 record (8 million streams for the first week of Babel)
· In the U.S., 1-in-5 Spotify users listened to the album in its first week.
· Globally, 1-in-4 Spotify users listened to the album in its first week.
· In the U.S., every track on the album was listened to at least 500,000 times in its first week.
For “Get Lucky”:
· “Get Lucky” had the biggest streaming day for a single track in the history of Spotify for the U.S. and UK.
· Globally, “Get Lucky” has the biggest first-day in Spotify history
· Since it launched on Spotify (April 18), “Get Lucky” has been streamed more than 33 million times globally.
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.”
Chow, chow, chow. Or Chaough. That’s the last name of Ted Chaough, new partner of Don Draper and friends, maybe romantic interest for Peggy Olson. Kevin Rahm plays Ted, who’s brought his agent Cutler Gleason Chaough into Sterling Draper Cooper Pryce with a lot of force– and maybe to Pete Campbell’s detriment.
But what kind of name is that? Where did “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner think of this? Indeed, Chaough is a name you will not find anywhere in any listing in the United States. It simply doesn’t exist. It does look like Chat plus Cough. It’s so far not a stand in for “Chow” or shortened ethnic moniker.
Indeed, Matt Weiner, a “Mad Men” source says, totally made it up. “It sounded and looked like one of those ridiculous wasp ad men names. It’s just a writers’ joke.” Well, who knows? Maybe in the the final season Weiner will give Ted some big reveal.
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…
You can only depend on the kindness of strangers in Cannes. That would be, for us, the Protocol office run by Pascal Marchesi and the press office which is reigned over by Christine Aime. I don’t know how I would managed in Cannes without them. For the most part, the movie publicists are worse in Cannes than anywhere else. They lie, they ignore, they fabricate. They don’t care that in the fall, when these movies open, you will remember how much more difficult they made your life when time was tight, nerves were frayed, and deadlines were getting closer. They could all take lessons from the Cannes Festival and the people who work there, lessons in civility and dignity and humor.
Others could take lessons, too. One of the anticipated films this year was James Toback’s “Seduced and Abandoned,” a non fiction film of interviews and observations which the director shot last year in Cannes. It will on HBO this fall and was sold around the world for theatrical release. On the night it premiered, socialite songwriter and ex-American citizen Denise Rich was kind enough to host a dinner and after party on her yacht, called Lady Joy. The yacht is moored in the main marina, alongside many others which are rented out by the night for various parties. I’ll get back to that in a minute.
On Lady Joy, dinner guests included Toback, his wife and son, and many others such as the film’s producer Michael Mailer, son of the late Norman, and a steadfast Toback supporter for years. Jeff Berg of Resolution Agency was aboard, as was the famed British pop star Cliff Richard, American rocker Grace Potter, international jetsetter-writer-producer Taki Theodoracopolous aka “Taki,” plus the film’s backers Larry and Michelle Herbert, and Alan and Marla Helene. Alec Baldwin and pregnant wife Hilaria stopped by the red carpet for a photo op (they were exhausted from travel.) Paris Hilton came to the party. It was a low key elegant night masterminded by New York press whiz Norah Lawlor.
And then real life crashed in: from the boat next door, called the Perla Blu, a racket of disco and electronic dance music hit us like a drenching thunderstorm. A bunch of Eurotrash clubbers, who had nothing to do with the film festival, started up their entry plank. The music was so loud that no one could hear anyone on Lady Joy. The revelers were Italians, wealthy, and simply didn’t care. It was war. Taki, the epitome of European aristocracy, knows how to talk to the hoi polloi. Or so he thought. He went next door and reasoned with the family renting the Perla Blu. Could they turn their din down for five minutes so speeches and toasts could be made reasonably. They turned him down flat. The Italian father then sent his children out on their terrace to make faces and cause trouble. It was unbelievable.
If you ever hear of someone trying to rent the Perla Blu, think twice. Even the Cannes police couldn’t convince them to quiet down. Later, the Lady Joy deejay, satsfied that all of the guests on his boat were dancing, turned up his own volume. I could hear the whole thing from the Croisette, to which I had escaped. And it was nice to see Denise, who is living abroad now but is all-American no matter what.
Rain, rain, rain. Most of this year’s Cannes Film Festival was rained out. Parties were ruined or canceled. Almost no one went out to Paul Allen’s yacht on the tender for a late night party, lest they get drenched to and fro. Goldie Hawn made it out there with son Wyatt and two friends. The publicist in charge said the party was “more intimate” this year. This was code for “no celebrities.” After all, Steven Spielberg had his own yacht. Roberto Cavalli had one. So did Len Blavatnik, where Harvey Weinstein entertained stars and financial backers. Who needed Paul Allen?
Same for Johnny Pigozzi. The lumbering giant and Italian heir always gives an afternoon party at his villa behind the Hotel du Cap. Guests came and went quickly when they realized what they were up against: a potential tsunami.
The most pleasant dinner was aboard the Saint Nicolas, where Jeff Berg’s Resolution Agency hosted a party for Roman Polanski. It was filled with A listers, and stars. The boat hummed with a good vibe. Actors Adrien Brody and Christoph Waltz, who’d been in recent Polanski movies, were aboard. If only someone had seen “Mad Men” the night before– but it wasn’t possible. We’d have known that Sally Draper, age 13, was reading “Rosemary’s Baby” back in 1968. Polanski’s classic movie of the novel would have been released just then. A year later, Polanski’s life would be shattered when Charles Mansom murdered his wife Sharon Tate. Nothing for Polanski would ever be the same.
But do watch and listen to Polanski in “Seduced and Abandoned.” It’s his best video interview ever and one that should resonate with an audience that only knows him for scandals and headlines. This is a great filmmaker, still working at 78 despite obstacles that would have been formidable to anyone else.
Let’s just say there will not be a fourth installment of “The Hangover.” This weekend, the third and final installment of this one note joke rang in a grand total of $54 million– that’s starting back on Thursday with four days through Sunday. The last episode, “Hangover II,” had an opening weekend of $86 million. The fans are gone. They can not only smell a rat, they can read about it: “Hangover III” scored a miserable 21% on rottentomatoes.com. Even the junketeers and bloggers who are courted and fed to get nice notices didn’t like it.
I never saw this new movie so I don’t know if it ended with everyone dying, or whatever. But seriously, there will be no fourth episode. Bradley Cooper is now a movie star, and an Oscar nominee. He’s done. The others will go into other comedies, and probably back to TV in some smart shows. In the fall, Michael Douglas, Kevin Kline and Robert DeNiro will headline “Last Vegas,” the senior version of “Hangover,” and that will bring the whole concept to an end. (Women got “Bridesmaids.”)
There’s always room for vomiting, trashed rooms, blackout sex, and miscellaneous animals wandering around, so you know someone will come up with a new twist on all this in three years. “The Hangover” is just “Animal House” with a bigger budget. I look forward to the next iteration. But for now, say goodbye to this gang. Their core audience has, too.
