Thursday, December 18, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1891

Paris Coming To Cannes? Michael Jackson’s Daughter May Appear

Roger Friedman
-
7
Paris Coming To Cannes? Michael Jackson’s Daughter May Appear

EXCLUSIVE And keep checking for updates: It’s a great headline– Paris coming to Cannes. But I’ve been told that Paris Jackson, who just turned 15, is indeed being brought to the Cannes Film Festival. I told you exclusively a couple of weeks ago that Paris recently signed with Hollywood super agent Rick Yorn, who also reps Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Martin Scorsese as a manager.

If Paris does indeed make the trip it’s unclear if it’s because Yorn has plans for her already, although he’s told friends he’s convinced Paris can be a huge star. “He just wants her to finish high school,” says a source. Ironically, I’d only recently heard that Paris’s grandfather, wily Joe Jackson, was considering a Cannes appearance as well. And Janet Jackson often makes an appearance at a charity event or two.

So we’ll see how many Jacksons make the trip to the south of France– and who’s talking to whom. That will be most interesting since it was less than a year ago that Paris clashed with Janet publicly when Janet and several siblings “kidnapped” Katherine Jackson.

UPDATE: In any case, Paris is coming to Cannes during the first week of the festival. So she will indeed not overlap with Janet’s visit.

It would also be a good distraction for her while the AEG wrongful death suit continues in Los Angeles.

Stay tuned…

 

Barbara Walters Retirement: This Time It’s for Real

Roger Friedman
-
0
Barbara Walters Retirement: This Time It’s for Real

How do we know Barbara Walters will really announce her retirement this morning? This time, as opposed to in March, it’s a well organized pageant. Walters gave an exit interview to Bill Carter in the New York Times, which was published just after midnight. This  morning on “The View” she will make the announcement herself and hope that she gets a standing ovation from the audience (of course).

This is a little different than in March when Walters was “retired” by ABC on the Thursday night before Good Friday when “The View” was in reruns and everyone was away. Walters was surprised then. She’d told close pals that she wanted to leave ABC News but keep doing The View. ABC wanted her to take a victory lap and say goodbye. In this new scenario, she will indeed leave but she gets to keep her name on the The View as Executive Producer.

Walters will go out with a bang at the end of May sweeps in May 2014. There will be lots of specials and apparently one more Oscars special, which she hasn’t done in three years. She can ask all the nominees, one more time, what kind of tree they’d like to be.

In the Times interview, Walters says what she’d like to do after retiring is travel more. There is no mention in that interview or in a statement she issued of “spending more time with family.” At least she’s honest. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/business/media/barbara-walters-to-announce-2014-retirement-on-the-view.html?hp&_r=0

But the wrangling that went on since the March faux announcement must have been something. Walters has lived on TV since her debut on The Today Show in 1961. Until Ted Koppel was himself “retired” from ABC’s “Nightline,” Walters used to appear on that show as well as “20/20,” “The View” and occasionally even on “Good Morning America” in addition to her many specials.

Now it will get interesting on “The View.” Walters evidently wanted Joy Behar to leave, according to sources, and got her wish. She also wanted Elisabeth Hasselbeck out. My sources insisted that the latter would make her own announcement in May. So that may come before the month is out as well. But now it will an afterthought.

“Great Gatsby”: Too Early or Too Late for the Oscars? A May-December Romance

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Great Gatsby”: Too Early or Too Late for the Oscars? A May-December Romance

Now that “The Great Gatsby” is here, and it’s a hit, the question remains: is it too late or too early for the Academy Awards? “Gatsby” was supposed to be released last Christmas and in the running for this past February’s Oscars. When it was pushed to May, that changed the Oscar landscape.

Quick– which film actually did win Best Picture? Why, it was “Argo.” Would the “Gatsby” we see now have made the short list? Probably. In the end, 9 movies were nominated. “Gatsby” could have been the 10th. But Leonardo DiCaprio, if nominated, would never have been Daniel Day Lewis in “Lincoln.” The film that “Gatsby” might have hurt: “Les Miserables.”

Now “Gatsby” comes out seven months before the next Oscar season. Is it too early? In a word: yes. But the time the fall rolls around, “Gatsby” may be long forgotten. This year’s field of potential Best Picture nominees is already pretty crowded. We can already look forward to “The Butler,” “August: Osage County,” “Monuments Men,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Blue Jasmine,” one of two movies starring Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman in “Grace of Monaco,” and so on.

And those are some we know about. Believe me, something’s out there that no one is aware of yet. For “Gatsby” to come back with momentum in the fall it’s going to need a massive amount of goodwill from the press. I’m not convinced Warner Bros. really gets that yet. How “Gatsby” fares in Cannes will be one major indicator of what’s to happen next now that the film has a great first weekend in the U.S. A May- December romance needs a lot of courting, and a lot of care.

 

Seth Meyers Finally Named Host of “Late Night” After Jimmy Fallon

Roger Friedman
-
0
Seth Meyers Finally Named Host of “Late Night” After Jimmy Fallon

NBC has officially announced what I told you some time ago and several times at that: as Jimmy Fallon takes over the Tonight show, Seth Meyers gets Late Night. This was in Lorne Michaels‘s plan for a long time. Last summer I reported that Meyers was first in line to succeed Regis Philbin on his show. This was absolutely true. They really wanted him. But Michaels convinced Meyers to hang on. Now Lorne has Tonight, Late Night, and SNL. It’s going to be a golden age of comedy in New York on NBC and coming from 30 Rock. Myers is perfect for Late Night. Fallon will be just great on Tonight.

Next up, as I also told you, more network changes. First, Elisabeth Hasselbeck will leave The View “of her own accord.” That announcement should come soon. Then we’ll see if ABC made a deal with Brooke Shields, who just bought a house in New York. I told you about that first, and quite a while ago.

And then: what will happen with David Letterman? Will he sign a new contract? Will CBS make the change to Jon Stewart, as I predicted? Something about the month of May, when network execs’ dreams turn to youthful demographics…

Do click on those blue links — they’ll take you to the original exclusives I wrote about all this stuff starting last July 4th…

PS If Bill Hader can be persuaded to tough out one more year on SNL, he will get “Weekend Update.” Otherwise, Taran Killam and Kate McKinnon would be perfect co-anchors.

 

TV: “Smash” Among Terrible Shows Finally Cancelled

Roger Friedman
-
26

“Smash,” one of the worst and most expensive TV series, is cancelled at last after two miserable seasons. Indeed, a huge chunk of broadcast prime time will be new this coming fall and winter–which is good news, because this has been a fallow time for television. NBC says goodbye to most of its roster including the perplexing “New Normal” and Matthew Perry’s “Go On.” CBS is finally axing “Rules of Engagement.” (No one even knew this show was still on the air–and for 7 seasons apparently). “CSI New York” is also gone after 9 seasons. (Was Gary Sinise still there?)

ABC is almost as stable as CBS, with lots of renewals. But NBC’s disasters include Brian Williams’ unwatched news show “Rock Center.” For some reason, NBC did renew “Community,” although without its creator Dan Harmon. NBC is losing both “The Office” and “30 Rock” to retirement. And while “The Voice” started strong this season, it’s now in declining health.

All the shows people talk about are on cable, from Mad Men and Walking Dead to Homeland to Game of Thrones to True Blood and Nurse Jackie. Now Netflix is making incursions with House of Cards, and Arrested Development, and Amazon is coming into the game. Cable TV seems to be about the actual shows. Broadcast TV is about the politics among executives. And I don’t think that’s going to change.

The biggest news: Robin Williams is coming to CBS in a series with Sarah Michelle Gellar. If Williams is allowed to be himself, then watch out. If the show fails, I do hope HBO or Showtime will step in right away with something for him. Williams is one of our real true comic geniuses. A buttoned down Robin Williams — Mork as Jessica Fletcher– is a terrifying thought.

DeNiro Advice to Spielberg on Leading Cannes Jury: “Have Fun With It”

Roger Friedman
-
0
DeNiro Advice to Spielberg on Leading Cannes Jury: “Have Fun With It”

Robert DeNiro ran the Cannes Film Festival jury in 2011.  He told me that when Steven Spielberg was named the head of this year’s jury, the “Lincoln” director called him for advice. “I told him, Have fun with it. It’s hard work but he’ll enjoy it.” DeNiro also says Spielberg will not be able to screen the movies on his yacht anchored off of Cannes that resembles a floating country. “You have to be in the theaters,” said DeNiro, who was a constant and genial presence in 2011 all over the Croisette. “He can’t watch them on a boat.”

Spielberg has chosen an all star jury to help him cast ballots this year. Among his choices: Oscar winner Nicole Kidman and two time Best Director Ang Lee, as well as two time winner actor Christoph Waltz. The jury is as well known this year as the stars in the movies, say some wags.

But in reality, Cannes is going to be jam packed with stars and parties for movies. Forget about the Paris Hilton type events that have nothing to do with the festival. Cannes is so busy that those tabloid celeb gatherings don’t really register. It’s not that Cannes isn’t fun. But it is about real stars and real movies, not sideshows.

To wit: movies by the talented directors Alexander Payne, Sofia Coppola, Joel and Ethan Coen, James Franco, James Toback are tops on the lists. Hollywood legends Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Jerry Lewis and Kim Novak are all coming to town. Petra Nemcova is hosting a fund raiser for Haiti. Amy Sacco is bringing Bungalow 8 to a yacht. Denise Rich is hosting an all star party for Toback’s “Seduced and Abandoned.”

Popular publisher and p.r. consultant Charles Finch is throwing his annual dinner for the A list at the Hotel du Cap’s Eden Roc– plus he’s behind the New York Film Festival’s new filmmaker venture with Jaeger LeCoultre now under way. Naomi Campbell has her famous fashion show. And the very in the know crowds will be buzzing around Antibes hot spots Michelangelo, Tetou, and Bacon, as per usual.

 

“Gatsby” Soundtrack Race to top of Charts Blocked by…Zooey Deschanel?

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Gatsby” Soundtrack Race to top of Charts Blocked by…Zooey Deschanel?

The Jay Z executive-produced soundtrack to “The Great Gatsby” is a hit. Currently, it’s blazing up the iTunes chart. Over on amazon.com, where sales skew older, customers have put two editions of the soundtrack at numbers 2 and 3 respectively (the second one is a deluxe edition).

But what’s keeping “Gatsby” from the top spot on amazon? None other than TV star Zooey Deschanel’s new album with partner M. Ward. They call themselves “She and Him.” It’s their third edition of songs together. Interesting–that the likeable Deschanel is holding Jay Z and friends back.

In physical sales of CDs, amazon has “Gatsby” at number 12. Combined with iTunes and whats left of record stores, “Gatsby” should finish in the top 3 when sales are added up beginning tomorrow.

What’s interesting about the “Gatsby” soundtrack: many of the tracks are only available if you buy the whole album for download. Customers can’t cherry pick nine of the 14 tracks and call it a day. I often wonder why this isn’t usually the case for albums. This was a smart move on the part of Interscope. And so while you can get Lana del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” off of “Gatsby” as a single, tracks by Florence and the Machine, will.i.am, Beyonce, Jay Z and Emeli Sande are “album only.”

PS all the “She and Him” tracks are available singly or as a collection.

“Gatsby” Opens Big, Has One Week til “Star Trek”

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Gatsby” Opens Big, Has One Week til “Star Trek”

Sandwiched in between “Iron Man 3” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” came last night “The Great Gatsby.” Counting $3 million from Thursday night, Baz Luhrmann’s extravaganza made just over $19 million in 24 hours. It finished in second place on Friday night, but came within a whisker of tying “Iron Man 3.” Of course, the IMAX and 3D raised the ticket prices for “Gatsby,” so basically it’s twice the amount it might have made had it been in 2D.

Now “Gatsby” has six more days basically to rake what it can in. On Wednesday, “Star Trek” lets loose. And “Star Trek” will be BIG. I mean, BIG. It’s going to bring in men of all ages, plus lots of women who are secret Trekkies. Plus there will be other audiences as each “Star Trek” actor has his own fan constituency.

But that doesn’t diminish the accomplishment of Luhrmann here. This is his biggest opening ever. It raises the profile of everyone involved, not the least of whom is co-exec producer and soundtrack guru Jay Z. There’s no doubt that some young audience members knew about the movie solely because Jay Z’s name was on it.

“Gatsby” opens Cannes on Wednesday the 15th with a lot of pageantry. And this reporter will get to see it a third time in less than 30 days. I’ll be the guy with the martini, trust me.

“King Kong” Coming to Broadway: Listen Here to Musical Sampler of Blockbuster

Roger Friedman
-
1

Now that Tony season is over, we look forward to the shows of 2014. The big one will be “King Kong,” brought to us by Cameron McKintosh and friends. “King Kong” starts previews on May 28 in Australia. And now we have a musical sampler from the show. You can listen to it here. The show will be in 3D (ha ha). Anyway, this should be the “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” of 2014. Big budget. Big expectations.

Michael Jackson Defended By Former Employee From Mid 90s

Roger Friedman
-
6
Michael Jackson Defended By Former Employee From Mid 90s

Scottie Shaffer worked for Michael Jackson from approximately 1992 to 1997. He was known around Neverland by the nickname “House.” Shaffer went off to start his own business- he does product placement for movies and is very successful. But he always stayed friendly with all the Jacksons. He’s invited to a Jackson wedding this summer, in fact. And Scottie is outraged by Wade Robson’s accusations that Michael molested him.

“For all the time I was in the inner circle, working for Michael, I never observed any inappropriate behavior. It’s impossible for me to believe,” Shaffer told me the other night.

Scottie started working for Michael in late 1992, when the “Black and White” video was shot. He stayed until 1997-98. He was present through the whole debacle with Jordan Chandler. He was also there as Jackson entertained many kids at Neverland. His title was Special Projects Coordinator. Shaffer was with Michael when they met Omer Bhatti, the kid who Michael later referred to as his son, and who now uses that distinction to stay with the Jacksons. (He is not in any way related to them.)

“People are just after the money now,” Shaffer says. “And it sickens me.”

Shaffer– who’s a nice guy and a straight shooter– also adds that the Robsons didn’t spend that much time at Neverland. His website is www.turnkeyproductionllc.com

1...1,8901,8911,892...2,323Page 1,891 of 2,323

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com