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Beyonce Super Bowl Half Time Show: Swagger But Not Much Singing (Full Video)

Roger Friedman
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Beyonce Super Bowl Half Time Show: Swagger But Not Much Singing (Full Video)

Beyonce put on a good show of pyrotechnics and dancing, but I wouldn’t say there was much actual singing as we used to know it. She has two good songs–“Crazy in Love”–  which is really just a repurposed song by the late great Eugene Record of the Chi Lites–and “Single Ladies.” Another song, “Halo” consists mostly of Bey belting out the word “Halo.”  It was neither terrible nor great. One big problem is that Beyonce doesn’t have much of a catalog to pull from. She just has a great swagger, and no one struts lie her, and that may be all you need these days. Anyway, she sang live and that’s all that matters at this point. No lip synching all night. But the 49ers maybe should have lip synched the first half.

Update: The Ravens just scored again. If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to bring some flowers to their grave…Jeesh…

And quoth the Ravens: Never more, never more.

Super Bowl: Jennifer Hudson Nails It, Alicia Keys Is Just Fine

Roger Friedman
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Super Bowl: Jennifer Hudson Nails It, Alicia Keys Is Just Fine

Super Bowl 2013: Jennifer Hudson has the pipes. She sang “America the Beautiful”  with the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir and nailed it, of course. JHud is the voice of her generation, and she can belt it out in any weather, live, without augmentation. Give her an A plus.

Alicia Keys performed the Star Spangled Banner with her piano, slow and steady and deliberate. Alicia doesn’t always sing on key, but she was flat just once toward the end. Otherwise, she looked beautiful and caused ho harm. Going slow suited her delivery. The fact that the Super Bowl entertainment is Alicia, JHud, and Beyonce, with Jay Z, is very cool, so let’s appreciate it.

Of the movie commercials, “Oz: The Great and Powerful” looked excellent. And “World War Z” has shaped up as the must see End of the World blockbuster. But “The Lone Ranger” is worrying, especially Johnny Depp doing his pirate-as-Indian. I just don’t get it. Maybe more footage will explain. And whoever attempted to sing “Hold on I’m Coming” in that commercial with the Rock–yikes! The worst!

 

 

Justin Timberlake Is Releasing an Old School Album of R&B Songs (Videos)

Roger Friedman
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Justin Timberlake introduced two new songs from his “20/20 Experience” last night at a show in New Orleans. Seems like JT has made an old school album of R&B songs complete with melodies and instruments. If this is the case, what will happen to all the sampled, pre-programmed fake stuff that’s become so popular? Good move, JT. Can’t wait to hear the whole thing.

Ben Affleck Wins Directors Guild, “Argo” Gets Its Own Silver Lining

Roger Friedman
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Ben Affleck Wins Directors Guild, “Argo” Gets Its Own Silver Lining

Ben Affleck won the DGA Award for “Argo” last night, and “Argo” got its own silver lining, so to speak. It does seem as though a Best Picture win is getting more likely for a movie that will not have a Best Director or any acting prizes. While the DGA was gathering last night, I was watching “Argo” at home on my Academy screener, and there’s no denying it: the last twenty minutes are seat of your pants exciting, and that’s what everyone takes away from it. And that at least is what makes him Best Director in a year of great movies and a lot of best directors.

It’s a silver lining for Affleck since he was not nominated for the Oscar for Best Director. Neither were Kathryn Bigelow, Tom Hooper nor Quentin Tarantino. Very strange, indeed.

The other DGA winners are “Searching for Sugar Man” in Documentary,” plus– in TV– the ubiquitous Lena Dunham for the pilot for “Girls,” Jill Mitwell for “One Life to Live,” Jay Roach for HBO’s “Game Change,” and Rian Johnson for an episode of “Breaking Bad.” I’m not taking away from the TV winners, but at this point it would be interesting for some mental health professional to analyze the psychology of the same people winning over and over for the same thing endlessly…

Meantime. Affleck’s win reflects his prior two films, “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town.” After a career collapse as an actor with movies like “Gigli” and “Bounce,” Affleck made a stunning change to the director’s chair. He’s also married to a beautiful, talented actress and has a full head of hair. I hate him. (Just kidding.)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film

Ben Affleck
Argo (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Affleck’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Amy Herman
First Assistant Director: David Webb
Second Assistant Director: Ian Calip
Second Second Assistant Directors: Clark Credle, Gavin Kleintop
First Assistant Director (Turkey Unit): Belkis Turan

This is Mr. Affleck’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

MALIK BENDJELLOUL
Searching For Sugar Man (Sony Pictures Classics)
Passion Pictures Production
Canfield Pictures & The Documentary Company
Red Box Films

This is Mr. Bendjelloul’s first DGA Award nomination.

TELEVISION

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

RIAN JOHNSON
Breaking Bad, “Fifty-One” (AMC)

Mr. Johnson’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Stewart A. Lyons
Assistant Unit Production Manager: James Paul Hapsas
First Assistant Director: Ben Scissors
Second Assistant Director: Louis Lanni
Second Second Assistant Director: Anna Ramey
Additional Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly

This is Mr. Johnson’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies For Television and Mini-Series

JAY ROACH
Game Change (HBO)

Mr. Roach’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Mary Kane
First Assistant Director: Josh King
Second Assistant Director: Emily McGovern
Second Second Assistant Director: Brian F. Relyea

This is Mr. Roach’s second DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for Recount in 2008.

Jay Roach won the Emmy for the same film about sarah Palin. “This is unbelievable to win this award… in a room filled with my heroes,” he said onstage. Roach noted that he grew up in a very conservative New Mexican family where his mother made a rule to never talk about politics at the dinner table. “And I stuck to that for most of my life – at least at home,” he said. “But when I watched John McCain in 2008 rush to propose Sarah Palin be the next in line for the President of the United States, I said, ‘We’ve got to talk about this’.” The remark drew a mixture of laughter and applause.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

LENA DUNHAM
Girls, “Pilot” (HBO)

Ms. Dunham’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Regina Heyman, Ilene S. Landress
First Assistant Director: Mark McGann
Second Assistant Director: Jason Ivey
Second Second Assistant Director: Marcos Gonzalez Palma

This is Ms. Dunham’s first DGA Award nomination.

Box Office: “Silver Linings” Breaks Out, Cosette from “Les Miz” Gets a Manager

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Silver Linings” Breaks Out, Cosette from “Les Miz” Gets a Manager

Last night’s box office was kind of a watershed moment for “Silver Linings Playbook.” David O. Russell’s Oscar nominated serio-comedy not only held its own in third place, but nudged up to cross the $75 million mark. “Silver Linings” has now also nosed ahead of “Zero Dark Thirty,” which is sort of amazing. For thirty days, “SLP” languished in limited release while other, bigger movies came and went. “SLP” and “ZD30” were neck and neck in the same number of theaters once they each went wide.

But now “SLP” had broken from the pack. It’s going to make $100 million, and be the next Weinstein Company movie to hit that mark. Maybe a landmark: I can’t recall a time that the Weinstein Company has had two movies in the top 10 at the same time. Yet, now they have the Russell and “Django Unchained.” And they’re each nominated for Best Picture.

Of the two, “Playbook” has a stronger shot at winning Best Picture. But again, I told you this when I saw “Playbook” in Toronto. It’s such a terrific film, and it’s the one with heart this season. People feel good when they see it. That’s not to diminish “Zero Dark Thirty.” But audiences love “Silver Linings Playbook.” Jennifer Lawrence is on her way to Best Actress, too. “SLP” and maybe “Lincoln” are the two realistic rivals to “Argo.”

The surging success of “SLP” means that by February 24th, Oscar audiences will really have seen all nine nominated Best Pictures and care about them. That, plus the show itself, should add up to solid ratings for the Academy Awards telecast.

Meanwhile, the little girl who knocks everyone out as young Cosette in “Les Miserables” has gotten herself an A list manager. Ten year old Isabelle Allen, who’s also the face of the poster for “Les Miz,” has signed with Jason Spire of Inspire Entertainment. The child star is already represented by Hobsons International in the UK. Allen has won over audiences and critics with her poise and beautiful voice opposite such A listers as Hugh Jackman playing the young Cosette. She was first seen in a local production of “The Pied Piper” by the head of the British National Youth Music Theatre who identified her vocal and acting talents. Spire has a bunch of hot actors such as Anthony Mackie, Oscar Isaac, and Benjamin Walker. Those three are in everything these days. Little Isabelle won’t be far behind!

Anne Hathaway Gets a Delicious Oscar Parody in YouTube Hit (Video)

Roger Friedman
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Anne Hathaway Gets a Delicious Oscar Parody in YouTube Hit (Video)

It couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Anne Hathaway, who’s taken a lot of ribbing this Oscar season, is actually a doll. Now she’s getting the ultimate hilarious send up of her role in “Les Miserables” singing “I Dreamed a Dream.” A YouTube parody has already been seen over 500,000 times and counting. It’s a must see from beginning to end, and the end–in which Anne’s name is spelled wrong– a reference to her Critics’ Choice Awards speech– is the cherry on top. Anne can take a joke, and I’m sure the Academy will too. I expect to see this played in the Dolby Theater during a commercial if (when) Hathaway wins Best Supporting Actress on February 24th. The singer is Emma Fitzpatrick, and the director is USC film student Alberto Belli.

Soap Opera Cliffhanger for “One Life to Live” Characters on “General Hospital”

Roger Friedman
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Soap Opera Cliffhanger for “One Life to Live” Characters on “General Hospital”

OK, it’s getting weird between ABC and Prospect Park, the company they licensed “One Life to Live” to for airing on the internet in 2011. When Prospect Park, which is owned by Jeff Kwatinetz, didn’t pull their plans together by early 2012, ABC took three actors and their characters from the cancelled “One Life” and migrated them to “General Hospital.” They were a hit, and “GH” has become a revived smash.

Now PP, which says it’s finally going to produce “One Life” and “All My Children,” wants the actors and characters back. They are willing to share, however.  But they’ve issued a mysterious statement that only mentions Michael Easton, who plays John, and Kristen Alderson, who is Starr. Pointedly missing in the new announcement is Roger Howarth, popular from “One Life” as rapist-turned-anti-hero (only on a soap) Todd Manning.

Kwatinetz is well known to us in mainstream entertainment, but I doubt soap people have any idea of what they’re dealing with. The one time owner of The Firm has had a Renaissance with “Royal Pains” on USA Network. But he has a long and contentious past as a manager that includes nearly tanking Kelly Clarkson‘s career. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287075,00.html

Kwatinetz still hasn’t made a deal with super soap star Susan Lucci, of “All My Children.” And there are doubts that Prospect Park can pull off the internet launches at all.

What will happen next is a soap cliffhanger.

Here’s what Prospect Park sent out tonight:

Prospect Park released the following statement regarding its licensing agreement with “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” In 2011, when Prospect Park decided to put everything on the line to reboot these shows, they lent characters to “General Hospital” until shooting began for the new programs so that the characters could stay alive with the fans and also so that the actors could remain working.  Everyone at ABC and on the production staff of “General Hospital” understood that this was a temporary arrangement until production started once again on “One Life to Live.”  Now the time has come to start production and Prospect Park needs to, once again, cast these characters including Llanview transplants Michael Easton (John) and Kristen Alderson (Starr). See statement below:

“Prospect Park understands that ‘General Hospital’ has featured Llanview transplants Michael Easton (John) and Kristen Alderson (Starr) among others while we arranged production of the new version of ‘One Life to Live.’ These characters, who we own under our agreement, are obviously essential to our production efforts, and a large reason we licensed the program. We also understand that legions of ‘General Hospital’ fans have grown to love these actors and characters in a short time. So even though we are paying ABC millions of dollars to license the shows, we have been, and continue to be willing to equally share the characters with ‘General Hospital’ and ABC. It’s a win-win for the actors, the shows and fans, who love all of the shows and storylines. We hope to work out these agreements with ABC and the actors.”

Adam Lambert, Grandmaster Flash Help Chic Raise Dough; Jude Law Pushes Pills

Roger Friedman
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2
Adam Lambert, Grandmaster Flash Help Chic Raise Dough; Jude Law Pushes Pills

A New York night: not only did Liza Minnelli and friends celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Cabaret,” but movies were opening and charities were raising money.

Uptown: Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, and Catherine Zeta Jones premiered Steven Soderbergh’s excellent little mystery thriller, “Side Effects.” Scientology will lose this movie. It’s very anti-psychotropic drugs. Jude and CZJ are shrinks, Rooney’s depressed even though she’s married to Channing. He’s just of jail from insider trading. There’s a neat unexpected twist about twenty minutes into the film. Soderbergh announced in his intro that he was taking beta blockers and feeling fine. I think it was a joke. I had no idea people take beta blockers for fun, but it’s mentioned in the movie along with Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and a half dozen other antidepressants. Jude Law is sensational — Soderbergh has him just right. CZJ is sharp as a villain. I ran into the star of Fall 2013, Oscar Isaac, on the way in….Jill Hennessey also on hand… and our old friend, Polly Draper, of “thirtysomething,” has a big part in the movie! She still has that sexy voice and looks terrific. Bravo! Plus Michael Douglas, Mr CZJ (so to speak for one night) in fine form…

Midtown: Famed record producer and musician Nile Rodgers, leader of Chic, and b.w. Nancy Hunt started the We Are Family Foundation in 2001 right after 9/11. Every year they throw a jubilant fundraiser at the Hammerstein Ballroom. This year’s was supposed to have been on October 30th but Hurricane Sandy got in the way. Last night they picked up where they left off, and it was the most fun night. Adam Lambert, Grandmaster Flash, Mel Melle, performed with Nile and Chic (with Fonzie Thornton!), turning the Hammerstein into Studio 54. There were lots of cool guest and performers, from Taylor Dane ( she still those pipes!) to Rosie Perez, Bebe Buell, architect David Rockwell, photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Montell Williams, Kate Pierson of the B52s, a bubbly Sean Young and assorted Real Housewives.

There’s something magical about We Are Family (www.wearefamilyfoundation.org). They build schools, sponsor all kinds of pro-tolerance activities, and do a great job. Nile and Nancy deserve much kudos. Plus the music at their events is worth every penny and more!

Next event: April 11th, with Sting and Trudie Styler.

Ed Koch Exit Interview with the New York Times (Video): “I Was Never Going to Retire”

Roger Friedman
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0
Ed Koch Exit Interview with the New York Times (Video): “I Was Never Going to Retire”

Ed Koch gave this interview to the New York Times in 2007, to be played upon his death. Surprise! He’s left a documentary and this 20 minute goodbye. He gives it to the Cuomos and others. Koch says: “I was never going to retire.” He says Rudy Giuiliani “destroyed the system,” was “mean spirited,” and made everything about politics in New York. Koch also recalls being very depressed during the Donald Manes scandal, and that a call from Cardinal O’Connor saved him. He said that Mayor Bloomberg is “superb” and that David Dinkins was a “bad mayor.”

Liza with a C: “Cabaret” Returns, 400 Fans Get DVDs After Anniversary Screening Sells Out

Roger Friedman
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0
Liza with a C: “Cabaret” Returns, 400 Fans Get DVDs After Anniversary Screening Sells Out

It was a little wild outside the Ziegfeld Theater last night. There were so many people outside when I arrived that I thought they had not let the audience inside yet. Turns out these were the 400 or so people who couldn’t get in. The place was filled to capacity between invited guests, Turner Classic Movie and Warner Home Video employees, and actual fans. So Warner Home Video announced they were giving new DVDs to the fans outside. Did it happen? (You tell me– roger@showbiz411.com).

Meantime, for a movie about debauchery, starring a Hollywood and Broadway legend (Liza Minnelli) who is the daughter of a tragic mega legend (Judy Garland), directed by larger than life personality (Bob Fosse), “Cabaret” has survived nicely. The four principal actors are still here, and making the rounds– Minnelli, Joel Grey, Michael York, and Marisa Berenson. York is frightfully ill with something, but plugging along and everyone loves him. Berenson is absolutely gorgeous, unchanged it seems, a natural beauty. Joel Grey, we see all the time, and he’s terrific. And then there’s Liza.

Minnelli sat with TCM’s Robert Osborne at the bottom of the steep stairs to the Ziegfeld’s “green room,” just inside the little door from the lobby. These two were not climbing that flight. She moved to a chair in the wings at the top of the aisle down to the stage area. When her name was called–“Liza!”– the entire theater jumped up and gave her a massive standing ovation as she sailed down to the spotlight. She knows how to make an entrance.

Our PAULA SCHWARTZ observes:

When someone asked Minnelli, now 66, what she thought of movie musicals Hollywood was making now, she said, “I’m just glad they’re making them.” What did she think of “Les Miz”? “I didn’t see ‘Les Miz.’ You know I just got back from a tour.” It was a great way to evade the question that every other person on the red carpet asked her.

Looking back, she was asked about the hardest part about playing Sally Bowles. “Nothing. I knew her. I was directed brilliantly. I loved doing it. And it was so differently done.” When I asked what it was like to see the film celebrated tonight, she sighed, “Oh it’s wonderful! I wish Fosse were here! You know, it’s all about him.”

I asked her about filming “Smash,” and she would only say that she sings on the show and that she had a good time shooting it.

Before she dashed into the theater, Minnelli, who was dressed in a big fur poncho, responded to a remark by a reporter who said the cast seemed to get along so well. “We had such a good time. We were so isolated. They didn’t know what to do with us. Nazi musical. Send them to Germany,” she laughed. “And they did it, and it worked.”

(Arlene Dahl, Bernadette Peters, Alan Cumming and Phyllis Newman were in the audience and TCM host Robert Osborne introduced them before a Q&A with the cast.)

Minnelli told Osborne, “I asked my father, [egendary director Vincent Minnelli], after he saw the film, what did you think of the film, daddy?’ And he said, ‘It’s strange and wonderful.”

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