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Oprah-Lance Show 3.2 Mil Viewers for OWN, But Second to Oprah’s Whitney Houston Post-Death Show

Roger Friedman
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Oprah-Lance Show 3.2 Mil Viewers for OWN, But Second to Oprah’s Whitney Houston Post-Death Show

Well, Lance Armstrong’s big confession last night was only the second highest show ever on the OWN network. Oprah’s crazy show with Pat Houston and Bobbi Kristina after Whitney died remains number 1 on OWN. The Lance Show got 3.2 million viewers, which is still pretty good.  OWN just sent out a confusing press release claiming 3.2 and 4.3 mil at the same time. Then Variety sent out a blast saying it was 3.1 million.

So no one really knows. But they do know that it wasn’t as big as Pat Houston saying Whitney was “looking for love in all the wrong places” as an explanation for her death– weeks before the coroner said he found cocaine and paraphernalia in the room. But that’s another story. Anyway, tonight is Part 2 when maybe Lance will explain everything he said last night.

Oh wait I get it. You have no idea how press releases are worded from networks about their ratings. This is what they meant: 3.2 million from 9 pm to 10:30pm first showing, then another 1.2 million for the second showing at 10:30pm. So you decide. But neither number is as big as the Whitney Houston number. In that show, there was no idea that Bobbi Kristina was going to run off with some kid who Whitney had “adopted” and had been been in their house for years.

As far as Lance goes: Who else knew? When did they know it? Did Sheryl Crow not know her boyfriend was doping? Or Robin Williams, his bff? How did Lance keep it a secret? How did he look his mother, wives, and children in the eye? And why does his haircut never change? Those are things I’m interested in now.

Mariel Hemingway Says Father Sexually Abused Two Older Sisters Including Super Model Margaux

Roger Friedman
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Mariel Hemingway Says Father Sexually Abused Two Older Sisters Including Super Model Margaux

Exclusive: In an extraordinary new documentary, actress Mariel Hemingway says she’s realized that her late father, Jack, son of writer Ernest Hemingway, sexually abused her two older sisters. One of them, the famed model Margaux Hemingway, committed suicide in 1996. The eldest sister, an artist, lives a quiet life in Idaho. The film, “Running from Crazy,” directed by Oscar winner Barbara Kopple, debuts at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday night. It was executive produced by Oprah Winfrey for her OWN network.

It’s quite a film, actually. Mariel is now 51 years old and the mother of two beautiful daughters, one of whom–Dree–is now a model. Mariel has aged sort of miraculously on the outside. She doesn’t look much different than she did at 18 when she was nominated for an Oscar in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan.” But her

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story, the story of her family and a grandfather she didn’t know has taken its toll on her. The other miracle is that she’s survived and is able to address a number of subjects including mental health and suicide. She’s become a spokesperson for each, which is admirable considering the legacy with which she was saddled.

And that’s not to say that “Running from Crazy” is depressing because it’s not. Mariel makes the observation that the Hemingways were a little like the Kennedys, a dynastic American family always in the public eye. But there was trouble. “We were WASPS and we didn’t talk about our problems,” she said. Everyone drank. Ernest Hemingway killed himself in 1961; Mariel lives near the house where he shot himself. She didn’t know until she was in her 20s that it was not accidental.

But it’s the wrenching tragedy of her sister, Margaux, the middle daughter of Hemingway’s son Jack, that really informs this film. I knew Margaux slightly in the 1980s. She was incredibly beautiful and troubled, a lot like Lindsay Lohan and some others who appear regularly in tabloids. Kopple has found a lot of amazing archival footage of her, and of a film Margaux was trying to make about Ernest. There’s also a lot of home movies of Jack and his wife at home in Ketchum, Idaho with the girls as kids and as adults. They look like a Norman Rockwell painting. But under the surface there is a lot of pain. A particularly wrenching episode: when Margaux is in recovery at Betty Ford and none of the Hemingways come to see her on family day. It breaks your heart.

I don’t know how Mariel’s older sister, Muffet, who seems fragile, will take to the revelation of this headline. But Mariel is very definite. “When I was really small I shared a room with Margaux. My dad came in the room. I don’t recall what it was, but it wasn’t right. It’s hard to have a visual of that. I know what happened. I think my dad sexually abused the girls when they were young.”

It’s tough stuff. But Mariel comes off as brave and courageous. Kopple has made a compelling portrait of a complex American saga.

 

Lance Armstrong Tells Oprah “Not Possible” to Win Tour de France 7 Times in a Row (Video)

Roger Friedman
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Lance Armstrong Tells Oprah “Not Possible” to Win Tour de France 7 Times in a Row (Video)

Below in our homepage video player, Lance Armstrong tells Oprah Winfrey that it wouldn’t have been possible to win the Tour de France seven times without doping. The entire Oprah interview is fascinating. The bottom line is that this guy comes off like a sociopath. I do wonder what all the celebrities who gathered around him during his heyday and championed him — people like Robin Williams and Matthew McConnaughey, to say nothing of Sheryl Crow– are thinking right now. Anyway, it’s a sad story of a terrible hoax that was perpetrated on the public, on the people around Armstrong, the cyclists, etc. It’s a miserable way for people around the world to view an American athlete who was held out as a hero.

Paul Dano Excited to Learn Piano to Play Brian Wilson Circa “Pet Sounds”

Roger Friedman
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Paul Dano Excited to Learn Piano to Play Brian Wilson Circa “Pet Sounds”

Paul Dano is the soft spoken but oft-buzzed about young actor who’s already been great in films like “Little Miss Sunshine” and “There Will Be Blood.” Now he’s just been signed to play Beach Boy Brian Wilson in “Love and Mercy,” about the life and times of the troubled genius behind America’s answer to the Beatles. “Love and Mercy” is set to be directed by first timer Bill Pohlad, the money man who’s been funding Terrence Malick’s latest chapter of films, and whose family comes from Minnesota Twins fame. (I wish he’d reconsider; producers rarely make good directors even when their hearts are in the right place.)

Dano was very excited about his new role when I ran into him last night at the opening of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” on Broadway. “I have to learn to play the piano,” he told me. “And I have to work on my singing.” Dano said he plays guitar, so he’s on top of that. And he doesn’t seem daunted by the keyboards. “I can play chords already, and I know enough to get by.” But he’s really going to work on it.

(UPDATED And CLARIFIED) “Love and Mercy” is the name of a late Brian Wilson song from his 1988 solo debut album. At the time, Wilson was still under the sway of his Svengali, Dr. Eugene Landy, now deceased. Dano will play young Wilson around the time of the recording of “Pet Sounds” in the mid 1960s.  Wilson will also be depicted around  the time in the late 1990s when he was finally freed from Landy’s clutches. Depending on how it’s written and who plays the older Wilson and the character of Landy, the movie could be very interesting. I met Dr. Landy at Wilson’s “autobiography” launch in 1996, and he was one scary guy. The fact that he had Wilson under his thumb was made abundantly clear.

Chuck Klosterman wrote in the New York Times in 1996: “If Landy wasn’t around, Wilson was shadowed by two musclebound assistants. (When Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac tried to work with Wilson in the late ’80s, he called these henchmen “surf Nazis.”) Over time, Wilson took to referring to Landy as “my master” and turned over to him the reins of his semiresurrected career. Landy (who managed the jazz guitarist George Benson during the 1960s) began writing Wilson’s lyrics and taking 50 percent of his earnings, plus a monthly $35,000 fee. He became the beneficiary of the musician’s will. He produced Wilson’s 1988 solo record and engineered Wilson’s ghost-written autobiography, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice — My Own Story,” much of which lionized the brilliance of Dr. Eugene Landy. (Later, Wilson would admit that he didn’t even read the book he supposedly helped write.)”

Producers of “Love and Mercy” are looking for someone to play Wilson– who thank god is still very much alive and active–in those years.

PS This is a total non sequitir– but if you’re in New York this weekend and you love good music– Garland Jeffreys plays tonight at the Highline Ballroom, 8pm; and Peter Asher does his one man show at the Iridium Jazz Club on Sunday at 3pm and 8pm.

Scarlett Johansson in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” Brings Out Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, A List Stars

Roger Friedman
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Scarlett Johansson in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” Brings Out Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, A List Stars

Believe it or not, Scarlett Johansson already has a Tony Award– for her work as a featured actress in Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge.” That was in 2010. Now she’s the lead as Maggie the Cat in Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Benjamin Walker, the star of Bloody Andrew Jackson on Broadway and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in film, and Meryl Streep’s real life son-in-law (married to Mamie Gummer) is Brick. Of course there’ s Big Daddy in the person of Ciaran Hinds and Big Mama is Debra Monk. There are worse things you could do to heat up a cold Thursday night in New York.

In the audience: Meryl Streep with husband Don Gummer, Mamie and Grace Gummer, Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Tracy Ullmann and her daughter Mabel (who is all grown up and works for The Daily Beast), as well Sarah Paulson (one of my personal faves) and Jessica Hecht (another), ABC’s Cynthia McFadden, Perri Peltz, Peggy Siegal, lots of agents and managers from Hollywood, plus all the Broadway cognoscenti who’ve experienced many cats on many tin roofs over the years. Streep, by the way, is a trouper. She is still getting over the flu, but persevered for family.

The cast in this production all very winning, starting with Scarlett and including the many supporting players like Michael Park and Emily Bergl. We see so much of Debra Monk around New York that we forget she is phenomenal and can do anything. She makes for a wonderful Big Mama.

Benjamin Walker is right on the precipice of being a big star. His Brick is a brooding hunk, but he’s also got a good sense of humor. Hinds, of course, is a most relaxed Big Daddy, very at home on stage as the leader of this warring clan. His second act with Walker rings very true.

Scarlett Johansson is a theater actress. When I asked her about doing movies and returning to theater, she sighed and kind of brushed off the movies. Her next one is “Captain America” Pt. 2 with Chris Evans. “This is where I want to be,” she said. “It’s a relief. I feel so free on stage.” Her Maggie has a soulful strut, and a deep Southern accent that Scarlett has invented. “It comes from some place deep,” she said. “From the Delta.” She gives one hell of a performance, and she’ll be back soon. I have no doubt.

 

Obama Inauguration Heavy Hitters AWOL: No Bruce, Aretha, Barbra or Bon Jovi

Roger Friedman
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Obama Inauguration Heavy Hitters AWOL: No Bruce, Aretha, Barbra or Bon Jovi

Where have all the superstars gone? In 2009, the Obama inauguration was so filled with A listers they caused gridlock. Aretha Franklin and her famous hat sang at the swearing in. She also did a free concert at the Kennedy Center. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsNHhJTZAM0  An ABC special featured a dozen or so performers including Sting, Stevie Wonder, and Mariah Carey. They all sang Stevie’s “Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours.” Sting and Stevie performed “Brand New Day.” Over at The Creative Coalition Ball, Sting, Elvis Costello and Sam Moore performed. Elsewhere, there were musical extravaganzas galore. Bruce Springsteen performed at the Lincoln Memorial for free with a half dozen stars at least.

Alas, this won’t be the case this year.

The heavy hitters are staying home. Neither Bruce, Jon Bon Jovi nor Aretha Franklin is coming to Washington. They’ve all passed for a variety of reasons– schedule, exhaustion, etc. And that’s interesting because they were all big Obama supporters during the election.

The only holdovers are Beyonce and James Taylor, whose participation is not very intense this time around. Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Alicia Keys are set to perform at a children’s event on Saturday of Inauguration weekend. Kelly Clarkson is singing at the inauguration. Of course, the number of Inaugural balls is way down too. But the talent is very B list. The Creative Coalition was only able to secure The Goo Goo Dolls. Lynyrd Skynyrd is said to be at another. John Legend, who’s game for anything, will be at one of the events.

But no Bruce, Aretha or Bon Jovi. And not a peep out of Barbra Streisand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rL9AIW9TzEI#!

It’s very different. Look at this story I wrote in 2009: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/01/05/obama-picks-stars-inaugural/

And here’s what I wrote on January 21, 2009:

Even though Barack Obama‘s Neighborhood Ball was beaten in the TV ratings last night by “American Idol,” it was without a doubt the hottest of the official inaugural events.

Stevie Wonder, Sting, Mariah Carey, Aicia Keys, Queen Latifah, Jay Z and Beyonce were just some of the performers who wowed the crowd of 2,000 or more former Obama campaign workers and residents of Washington, DC.

And there was plenty of Hollywood star power with Denzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jamie Foxx all hanging out backstage and introducing segments. Leo brought his dad, who took video footage on a minicam of the acrobat troupe that formed a human pyramid. Denzel took a large freight elevator to the stage with a costumed gospel choir. They sang to him and asked if he had a voice. “Not me,” he laughed. “My wife can sing. You don’t want to hear me.”

At the back of the elevator Sting, incognito in his brown beard, almost went unrecognized until one of the ladies gasped and the attention shifted.

Down in the dressing rooms – thin curtained partitions with card tables and couches – Sting and Stevie Wonder were next door neighbors. While Stevie practiced his harmonica riffs, Sting listened to an instrumental track of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” for the big group superstar singalong.

Suddenly Stevie started playing along from his side of the curtain while Sting tried out the lyrics on his side. Then Stevie went into a jazz riff that stopped everything. It was an extraordinary moment, topped only by the pair’s show closer on Sting’s “Brand New Day.”

Meanwhile in the holding area, Alicia Keys greeted Queen Latifah. Their moms talked about how much they loved the women’s performances in “The Secret Life of Bees.” Latifah looked sensational in her gown. Sean Diddy Combs, dressed to the nines in a spiffy tux, lingered in a corner ,even though he wasn’t on the show. Later Latifah went up on stage with the moms to watch Alicia’s knockout performance of “No One” and took pictures with a beautiful nine-year old girl in a formal white gown. The mother was over the moon.

And then, of course, there was Mariah Carey with her young husband, Nick Cannon. The latter was perched above the stage where was deejaying, playing the songs that went with the artists. When Wonder finished his terrific new single “All About the Love Again” from the new Obama CD (on Hdden Beach Records), Cannon launched into a medley of Stevie’s classic hits.

“Do you do bar mitzvahs?” I asked. He laughed. “Why not? It’s good money!”

Mariah meantime was glowing (but not pregnant) and very happy with her performance of “Hero.” “Was it ok?” she asked me when we ran into each other. Her next question was maybe more relevant. “Is Randy here?” She asked of pal Randy Jackson, our mutual friend.

Alas he wasn’t. Jackson was busy on “American Idol,” the ratings king, listening to “Gong Show” types. Something tells me he would have been happier here.

Hanging Out At The All-Star Obama Party

It was supposed to be an intimate affair but Arianna Huffington‘s gala last night in Washington was a wildy overbooked media bash for thousands.
They came to celebrate the inauguraiton of Barack Obama, and so they did, greeting the chiming of the clock at midnight as if it were New Years Eve. Huffington’s peeps handed out a ton of New Years Eve tchochtkes like hats and horns to make the most noise when the clock struck midnight.
At that point Sting had just finished singing “Brand New Day” and “Every Breath You Take,” as well as joining in with will.i.am on his remake of “Englishman in New York.” The Black Eyed Peas leader also performed a couple of his own hits.
Among the stars we saw were Robert DeNiro, Ben Affleck, Josh Groban, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Norman Lear, Rosie Perez, Gerald Butler, Marisa Tomei, John Cusack, Kerry Washington, Leigh Taylor-Young and kind of an endless list of bold face names who must read The Huffington Post blog site, or at least just wanted to be seen. The stars had total access, and the result was a hot mix of Hollywood and politics that only Huffington could pull off.
Things were a little different this morning—Tuesday—as some stars made it in to the swearing in and some didn’t.
The crowds were so huge and the disorganization of security so massive that thousands of ticket holders were kept from seeing or hearing the Obama swearing in. I ran into actress and writer Anna Deveare Smith, an Obama supporter, who simply gave up rather than brave the bone chilling cold. Dana Delany hunkered down at a brunch where other luninaries watched ceremony in safety and warmth.
But plenty still made it, some with the Creative Coalition group, including Anne Hathaway, Tony Goldwyn, Tim Daly, Adrian Grenier, Barry Levinson, Matthew Modine, Gloria Reuben, Tamara Tunie, Lynn Whitfield, Giancarlo Esposito, and Rachel Leigh Cook.
More to come … stay tuned tonight as the A-list really rolls out the red carpet. But some are wondering why it’s Beyonce and not R&B legend Etta James who’s singing the Obamas’ favorite song, “At Last,” tonight to the First Couple. James is alive and well, and it’s her hit the Obamas have swooned to all these years.
The White House needs a director of music, I think—a new cabinet post!

Salma Hayek? Call Her Salma Hayek Pinault Now

Roger Friedman
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Movie star, producer, Oscar nominee for “Frida”– Salma Hayek is all those things. But she’s also married to Francois Pinault, a nice man who is a billionaire and runs Gucci among other things. Our LEAH SYDNEY reports from Golden Globe week that Salma now would like to be called Salma Hayek Pinault. Last weekend Salma and new-almost dad Jeremy Renner cohosted Film Independent’s Annual Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch held at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

Leah reports: Jeremy started off the ceremony by looking at Selma and joking, ” Oh great, instead of us having an amazing weekend together, we have to hand out these checks.”  Salma looked simply smashing in basic black, white pearls and a pink coat. As the duo handed out the various honors to the worthy filmmakers, Salma quipped as she was trying to say a particularly difficult name, “Great, this one they give to the Mexican dyslexic.”

This worthy group gave four Spirit Filmmaker grants out, including: Peter Nicks, director of ‘The Waiting Room’, who received the Stella Artois Truer Than Fiction Award, Jason Tippet and Elizabeth Mims for ‘Only The Young’ and Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel for ‘Leviathan.’  Mynette Louie received the Piaget Producers Award and Laura Colella got the Jameson FIND Your Audience Award for ‘Breakfast with Curtis.’  Jeremy ended the ceremony by saying, “Go spend the money on booze or whatever, but have a great time!”

This brunch always attracts the VIPs, including Film Independent co-chairs Josh Welsh and Sean McManus, Jack Black, producers Bruce Cohen and Cathy Schulman, “Beasts Of The Southern Wild’’ star Quvenzhane Wallis and director Benh Zeitlin, actress Rosemarie DeWitt, Warner Brothers’ Sue Kroll and many more.

I spoke with the lovely Rashida Jones, who was there for her “Celeste & Jesse Forever.”   She told me that she dosen’t think she’s going back to the “Office” finale, because of her work on NBC’s other hit, “Parks and Recreation,”  Her famous Dad, Quincy Jones, is set to celebrate his 80th birthday this March 14th.

Seems like Quincy and his good pal Michael Caine, were born on the same day, same year and at the same hour.  Rashida told me that “they will be celebrating with parties all year, all over the world.”  Rashida’s co-star in the film, SNL’s Andy Samberg will serve as host of the Spirit Awards ceremony which will be broadcast on IFC on Saturday, February 23rd…

Julianne Moore won what was presumably her last award for playing Sarah Palin in “Game Change” on Sunday night. She’s won everything imaginable. So The Gold Council’s Sally Morrison hosted a chic soiree for her at the Selma House at the Chateau Marmont, a new little quaint cottage right off the hotel.  The Gold Council has been based there with their stunning jewelry they’ve been lending to celebrities.  When party goers were telling her she was a sure thing for winning, Julianne said: “I’m so happy that the film is getting the recognition that it deserves. And I don’t want to jinx anything!”

The co-author of the book that the film was based on, Mark Halperin, said that he was currently writing  a sequel to “Game Change,” called, “Double Down,” this time about the Obama/Romney campaign.  Talented actor– and now writer as well-Danny Strong who wrote the screenplay for “Game Change,” also came out to support Julianne as did Garcelle Beauvais, Sarah Paulson, Dita Von Teese and “Les Miserables” star Eddie Redmayne, who memorably played Moore’s uh, different, son in “Savage Grace.”



Elton John Has Oscar Nominee Hugh Jackman As Co-Chair of 21st Annual Oscar Party

Roger Friedman
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Elton John Has Oscar Nominee Hugh Jackman As Co-Chair of 21st Annual Oscar Party

The Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar party is turning 21! Can you believe it? Sir Elton and David Furnish just announced the arrival of their second child, Elijah Joseph Daniel, last week. Their older son is Zachary Jackson Levon. (You’ll notice the third name is familiar to Elton John fans.) Bravo! Mazel Tov!

But their actual “first child” is EJAF and the big annual Oscar dinner and show. This year’s event will be a big one since the co-chairs are a knock out list: they include Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra Lee Furness, Quincy Jones and his famous actress daughter Rashida, Sharon Stone,Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. Heidi Klum, Katy Perry. director John Waters, “True Blood” star Ryan Kwanten, Tyler Perry, Chris Colfer, Miley Cyrus, Eric McCormack and his wife Janet,  Bill and Tani Austin of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, plus Elton’s great managers Johnny and Edwina “Eddie” Barbis, as well as Joseph Blount,  John Demsey, Alec Gores, Tim Hanlon and Anthony Klatt, Diana Jenkins,  Fred Latsko, “first Lady of New York” Sandra Lee, “Great Gatsby” director Baz Luhrmann and his wife costume designer Catherine Martin, Caroline Scheufele, and my pal from Pittsburgh and beyond, Ed Walson.

Chopard, Neuro Drinks and Wells Fargo, plus Audi, Grey Goose, and MAC Viva Glam are the sponsors. How do you attend? Tickets sell out pretty much as fast as I am typing. But you can also contact Matt Blinstrubas at 212.219.0670 or matt.blinstrubas@ejaf.org.

American Idol Returns: No Fights Between Mariah and Nicki, But Lots of Talent

Roger Friedman
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American Idol Returns: No Fights Between Mariah and Nicki, But Lots of Talent

“American Idol” returned last night with a lot of fanfare. The pretaped two hour episode showed the audition process in New York. Considering all the hype that’s been created, you’d think this was the Thrilla in Manila– Mariah Carey v. Nicki Minaj, 15 rounds, or that an armed camp of security guards would be separating the famed songbird from the hip hop star. Alas, in two hours there was barely a squawk between the two women. Everyone was on their best behavior.

The judges– Mariah, Minaj, Randy Jackson, and Keith Urban– were kind and sympathetic to the many naked souls who appeared before them. All in all they approved 41 different people, many of whom seemed pretty talented singers. Mariah and Nicki were separated in the seating by Urban. But they acted like old girlfriends. There was barely a spark. A friend of mine who watching in Miami kept emailing me during the show to say it was all “boring.” Well, I thought the singers were interesting.

If you remember what happened, the gang moved auditions from New York to Philadelphia. That’s when the “trouble” started. Guards were called in, there were threats and a lot of headlines. Suddenly this peaceful group was having a civil war. We will see all that tonight. Clearly, someone (hmmm, could it have been someone at Fox?) obviously said some kind of attention making friction was needed. Really, last night Nikki Minaj was incredibly courteous. Tonight we’ll see how she was transformed into Idol-Zilla.

New Scientology Book Identifies Who Named L. Ron Hubbard “The Master”

Roger Friedman
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New Scientology Book Identifies Who Named L. Ron Hubbard “The Master”

A lot of people leave Paul Thomas Anderson‘s movie “The Master” scratching their heads. It does feel as though some explanations are missing. And that feeling has translated into the movie not doing so well at the box office, while the main actors–Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams— have all been nominated for Oscars. Did Anderson leave something out, especially after showing the movie to Scientology enthusiast Tom Cruise? We just don’t know, for example, why the movie is called “The Master.”

But in the new exhaustive (and yet curiously incomplete) study of Scientology called “Going Clear” by Lawrence Wright, there’s finally at least some kind of actual tie in between the term “The Master” and Scientology–which is veiled as The Cause in “The Master.” Wright cites Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s chief associate Peggy Conway as the person who dubbed Hubbard “The Master.”

Wright writes that Hubbard, back in his early days in the 1950s, was pursuing actress Gloria Swanson to join Scientology. Wright says Conway, a South African who died in 1957, left behind papers describing her activities as chief “auditor” (the person who listens to ‘confessions’ of others). Conway wrote to Swanson in 1956 about being audited– or worn down psychologically– by Hubbard: “The Master did his Sunday best on me. He never went to bed–we talked the clock around–day after day, night after night– I was six thousand light years above Arcturus–what a genius is our Great Red Father!” (Arcturus is a bright star in the Milky Way that often turns up in sci-fi fiction.)

Wright and/or Anderson may have been trying to get more information about Conway back in 2008. (She died in 1957.) One of the very few references to her on the internet turns up on an Ex Scientology message board. http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?7149-Peggy-Conway. Someone logged in as “Anonymous Scientologist” writes: “Are there any oldtimers or researchers out there that have any information on Peggy Conway, a South African entertainer who became an auditor in the 1950s and was a “longtime friend” of Hubbard. She died in 1957 and Hubbard talked about her in the tape “Individuation”, using her death as an example of what can happen to a person who’s withholds are not cleaned up. He also wrote a poem, “Eulogy for a Friend” which has been published in the Ron the Poet/Lyricist mag. I would also like to find out if there are any pictures from the early days of Dianetics where she is included and identified. Thanks!””

Wright’s book is not the only big volume on Scientology coming out this winter. In three weeks we’ll have a memoir from Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Scientology head  honcho and Tom Cruise bff David Miscavige. That book is still under wraps but should be explosive. Jenna left Scientology several years ago and has since been a vocal critic of the cult.

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