Harvey Weinstein and Jim Dolan just announced that the Rolling Stones are indeed joining the A List all star Hurricane Sandy concert called 12-12-12. The show at Madison Square Garden on December 12th will also feature a bunch of celebrities including Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal, Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, Brian Williams, Steve Buscemi, Chris Rock, Chelsea Clinton and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The Stones, of course, kick off their three nights in New York of anniversary shows tomorrow night with original members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor featured on the program. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards participated in the Concert for New York in September 2001 when Weinstein wrangled most of the same artists to raise money then for World Trade Center victims.

The 12-12-12- show already features Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Billy Joel, The Who, Paul McCartney,Roger Waters, plus Kanye West, Alicia Keys, and a slew of A list performers.

PS The Stones will almost certainly be performing on the Grammys come February. They just hired Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich to produce their Pay Per View special on December 15th. Very good chess move!

UPDATE: Friday evening December 7th–Psy wants to apologize for wanting to kill all of us, especially our daughters, mothers, daughters-in law and fathers. (Not our brothers however). Here’s the link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/12/07/psy-gangnam-anti-american/1755079/

This guy has made at least $8 million on this one time novelty record, most of it in the US. He’s got to backtrack quickly. He’s managed by Scooter Braun, who also manages Justin Bieber. Braun no doubt wrote the apology. Whatever.

Korean performer Psy, the guy who’s made a mint on “Gangnam Style,” has quite an interesting past. CNN reported on a blog in October — and it’s now spreading to blogs and websites–that Psy was once a very outspoken anti-American. On an iReport from October: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-853509 came this reveal: around 2004, Psy performed a song in Korea with other singers that went like this:

Kill those f–ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives
Kill those f—ing Yankees who ordered them to torture
Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law, and fathers
Kill them all slowly and painfully

This posting ran on November 28th: http://busanhaps.com/article/exclusive-psys-once-passionate-protesting-past

You can see the video posted by the iReport poster here from October 31st: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt9O_TjSwxY

Needless to say, Psy is a singing different tune now that he’s made millions here in the US this fall with his crazy novelty single and dance moves. America is the land of opportunity for everyone! It’s also the land of Free Speech. So maybe Psy is just as American as everyone else. But you might think twice the next time you’re dancing Gangnam style….

The Writers Guild announced its television nominees on Thursday. Mad Men, Homeland, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Boardwalk Empire are all up for Writers Guild Awards. Movie nominations are coming soon, but weren’t included in this batch.

TELEVISION NOMINEES

DRAMA SERIES

Boardwalk Empire, Written by Dave Flebotte, Diane Frolov, Chris Haddock, Rolin Jones, Howard Korder, Steve Kornacki, Andrew Schneider, David Stenn, Terence Winter; HBO

Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett; AMC

Game of Thrones, Written by David Benioff, Bryan Cogman, George R. R. Martin, Vanessa Taylor, D.B. Weiss; HBO

Homeland, Written by Henry Bromell, Alexander Cary, Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Chip Johannessen, Meredith Stiehm; Showtime

Mad Men, Written by Lisa Albert, Semi Chellas, Jason Grote, Jonathan Igla, Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Brett Johnson, Janet Leahy, Victor Levin, Erin Levy, Frank Pierson, Michael Saltzman, Tom Smuts, Matthew Weiner; AMC

COMEDY SERIES

30 Rock, Written by Jack Burditt, Kay Cannon, Robert Carlock, Tom Ceraulo, Vali Chandrasekaran, Luke Del Tredici, Tina Fey, Lauren Gurganous, Matt Hubbard, Colleen McGuinness, Sam Means, Dylan Morgan, Nina Pedrad, John Riggi, Josh Siegel, Ron Weiner, Tracey Wigfield; NBC

Girls, Written by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, Lena Dunham, Sarah Heyward, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Jenni Konner, Deborah Schoeneman, Dan Sterling; HBO

Louie, Written by Pamela Adlon, Vernon Chatman, Louis C.K.; FX

Modern Family, Written by Cindy Chupack, Paul Corrigan, Abraham Higginbotham, Ben Karlin, Elaine Ko, Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Dan O’Shannon, Jeffrey Richman, Audra Sielaff, Brad Walsh, Bill Wrubel, Danny Zuker; ABC

Parks and Recreation, Written by Megan Amram, Greg Daniels, Nate Dimeo, Katie Dippold, Daniel J. Goor, Norm Hiscock, Dave King, Greg Levine, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Nick Offerman, Chelsea Peretti, Amy Poehler, Alexandra Rushfield, Michael Schur, Mike Scully, Harris Wittels, Alan Yang; NBC

NEW SERIES

Girls, Written by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, Lena Dunham, Sarah Heyward, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Jenni Konner, Deborah Schoeneman, Dan Sterling; HBO

The Mindy Project, Written by Ike Barinholtz, Jeremy Bronson, Linwood Boomer, Adam Countee, Harper Dill, Mindy Kaling, Chris McKenna, B.J. Novak, David Stassen, Matt Warburton; Fox

Nashville, Written by Wendy Calhoun, Jason George, David Gould, David Marshall Grant, Dee Johnson, Todd Ellis Kessler, Callie Khouri, Meredith Lavender, Nancy Miller, James Parriott, Liz Tigelaar, Marcie Ulin; ABC

The Newsroom, Written by Brendan Fehily, David Handelman, Cinque Henderson, Paul Redford, Ian Reichbach, Amy Rice, Aaron Sorkin, Gideon Yago; HBO

Veep, Written by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Roger Drew, Sean Gray, Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, Tony Roche, Will Smith; HBO

EPISODIC DRAMA

“Buyout” (Breaking Bad), Written by Gennifer Hutchison; AMC
“Dead Freight” (Breaking Bad), Written by George Mastras; AMC

“Fifty-One” (Breaking Bad), Written by Sam Catlin; AMC
“New Car Smell” (Homeland), Written by Meredith Stiehm; Showtime

“The Other Woman” (Mad Men), Written by Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner; AMC

“Say My Name” (Breaking Bad), Written by Thomas Schnauz; AMC

EPISODIC COMEDY

“The Debate” (Parks and Recreation), Written by Amy Poehler; NBC
“Episode 9” (Episodes), Written by David Crane & Jeffrey Klarik; Showtime
“Leap Day” (30 Rock), Written by Luke Del Tredici; NBC
“Little Bo Bleep” (Modern Family), Written by Cindy Chupack; ABC
“Mistery Date” (Modern Family), Written by Jeffrey Richman; ABC
“Virgin Territory” (Modern Family), Written by Elaine Ko; ABC

LONG FORM – ORIGINAL
Hatfields and McCoys, Nights Two and Three, Teleplay by Ted Mann and Ronald Parker, Story by Bill Kerby and Ted Mann; History Channel
Hemingway & Gelhorn, Written by Jerry Stahl and Barbara Turner; HBO
“Pilot” (Political Animals), Written by Greg Berlanti; USA

LONG FORM – ADAPTED
Coma, Nights 1 and 2, Teleplay by John McLaughlin, Based on the book by Robin Cook; A&E
Game Change, Written by Danny Strong, Based on the book by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann; HBO

ANIMATION

“A Farewell to Arms” (Futurama), Written by Josh Weinstein; Comedy Central
“Forget-Me-Not” (Family Guy), Written by David A. Goodman; Fox
“Holidays of Future Passed” (The Simpsons), Written by J. Stewart Burns; Fox
“Ned and Edna’s Blend Agenda” (The Simpsons), Written by Jeff Westbrook; Fox
“Treehouse of Horror XXIII” (The Simpsons), Written by David Mandel & Brian Kelley; Fox

COMEDY / VARIETY (INCLUDING TALK) – SERIES

The Colbert Report, Writers: Michael Brumm, Stephen Colbert, Rich Dahm, Paul Dinello, Eric Drysdale, Rob Dubbin, Glenn Eichler, Dan Guterman, Peter Gwinn, Barry Julien, Jay Katsir, Frank Lesser, Opus Moreschi, Tom Purcell, Meredith Scardino, Scott Sherman, Max Werner; Comedy Central

Conan, Writers: Jose Arroyo, Andres du Bouchet, Deon Cole, Josh Comers, Dan Cronin, Michael Gordon, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Rob Kutner, Todd Levin, Brian McCann, Conan O’Brien, Matt O’Brien, Jesse Popp, Andy Richter, Brian Stack, Mike Sweeney; TBS

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Writers: Rory Albanese, Kevin Bleyer, Richard Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, Hallie Haglund, J.R. Havlan, Elliott Kalan, Dan McCoy, Jo Miller, John Oliver, Zhubin Parang, Daniel Radosh, Jason Ross, Jon Stewart; Comedy Central

Jimmy Kimmel Live, Writers: Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Bess Kalb, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Loveness, Molly McNearney, Bryan Paulk, Danny Ricker, Rick Rosner; ABC

Key & Peele, Writers: Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Keegan Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Sean Conroy, Colton Dunn, Charlie Sanders, Alex Rubens, Rebecca Drysdale; Comedy Central

Portlandia, Writers: Fred R. Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Karey Dornetto, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley; IFC

Real Time with Bill Maher, Writers: Scott Carter, Adam Felber, Matt Gunn, Brian Jacobsmeyer, Jay Jaroch, Chris Kelly, Mike Larsen, Bill Maher, Billy Martin; HBO

Saturday Night Live, Head Writer: Seth Meyers, Writers: James Anderson, Alex Baze, Neil Casey, Jessica Conrad, James Downey, Shelly Gossman, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Zach Kanin, Chris Kelly, Joe Kelly, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Lorne Michaels, John Mulaney, Christine Nangle, Mike O’Brien, Josh Patten, Paula Pell, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schneider, Pete Schultz, John Solomon, Kent Sublette, Bryan Tucker, Additional Sketch By Emily Spivey, Jorma Taccone, Additional Material By Frank Sebastiano; NBC Universal

COMEDY / VARIETY – MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES – SPECIALS

66th Annual Tony Awards, Written by Dave Boone; Special Material by Paul Greenberg; Opening and Closing Songs by David Javerbaum, Adam Schlesinger; CBS

2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Written by Billy Kimball, Wayne Federman; IFC

After the Academy Awards, Head Writers Gary Greenberg, Molly McNearney; Writers Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeffrey Loveness, Bryan Paulk, Danny Ricker, Richard G. Rosner; ABC

National Memorial Day Concert, Written by Joan Meyerson; PBS

DAYTIME DRAMA

Days of Our Lives, Written by Lorraine Broderick, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Christopher Dunn, Lacey Dyer, Janet Iacobuzio, David A. Levinson, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Melissa Salmons, Roger Schroeder, Elizabeth Snyder, Christopher J. Whitesell, Nancy Williams Watt; NBC

One Life to Live, Written by Lorraine Broderick, Ron Carlivati, Anna Theresa Cascio, Daniel J. O’Connor, Elizabeth Page, Jean Passanante, Melissa Salmons, Katherine Schock, Scott Sickles, Courtney Simon, Chris Van Etten; ABC

The Young & The Restless, Written by Amanda Beall, Jeff Beldner, Brent Boyd, Susan Dansby, Janice Ferri Esser, Jay Gibson, Scott Hamner, Maria Kanelos, Natalie Minardi Slater, Beth Milstein, Michael Montgomery, Anne Schoettle, Linda Schreiber, Lisa Seidman, Sarah K. Smith, Christopher J. Whitesell, Teresa Zimmerman; CBS

CHILDREN’S – EPISODIC & SPECIALS

“The Good Sport” (Sesame Street); Written by Christine Ferraro; PBS

CHILDREN’S – LONG FORM OR SPECIAL

“Girl vs. Monster,” Story by Annie De Young; Teleplay by Annie De Young and Ron McGee; Disney Channel

DOCUMENTARY – CURRENT EVENTS

“The Anthrax Files” (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk; PBS

“A Perfect Terrorist” (Frontline); Written by Thomas Jennings; PBS

“Lost in Detention” (Frontline), Written by Rick Young; PBS

“Money, Power and Wall Street: Episode One” (Frontline), Written by Martin Smith and Marcela Gaviria; PBS

“Money, Power and Wall Street: Episode Three” (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS

“Money, Power and Wall Street: Episode Four” (Frontline), Written by Marcela Gaviria and Martin Smith; PBS

DOCUMENTARY – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS

“The Amish” (American Experience), Written by David Belton; PBS

“Clinton” (American Experience), Written by Barak Goodman; PBS

“Death and the Civil War” (American Experience), Written by Ric Burns; PBS

“The Fabric of the Cosmos: The Illusion of Time” (Nova), Written by Randall MacLowry; PBS

“The Fabric of the Cosmos: Quantum Leap” (Nova), Telescript by Josh Rosen and Julia Cort, Story by Joseph McMaster and Josh Rosen; PBS

“Johnny Carson: King of Late Night” (American Masters), Written by Peter T. Jones; PBS

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT

“Tragedy In Colorado: The Movie Theatre Massacre,” Written by Lisa Ferri, Joel Siegel; ABC News

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

“The Ghost of Joe McCarthy” (Moyers & Company), Written by Bill Moyers, Michael Winship; Thirteen/ WNET

“Making History at Ole Miss,” Written by Polly Leider; CBS News

“The Regime Responds” (Frontline), Written by Marcela Gaviria; PBS

“Stem Cell Fraud” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Michael Rey and Oriana Zill de Granados, CBS News

RADIO NOMINEES

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED OR BREAKING REPORT

“CBS Radio News,” Written by Duane Tollison; CBS Radio News

“Local and National News,” Written by Mark Hugh Miller; CBS Radio News

“Remembering Andy Williams,” Written by Arlene Lebe; CBS Radio News

“World News This Year 2011,” Written by Darren Reynolds; ABC News Radio

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE OR COMMENTARY

“Dishin Digital,” Written by Robert Hawley; WCBS-AM

“Pre-existing Conditions and the Affordable Care Act,” Written by Scott J. Saloway; CBS Radio News

“Tributes,” Written by Gail Lee, CBS Radio News

PROMOTIONAL WRITING AND GRAPHIC ANIMATION NOMINEES

ON-AIR PROMOTION (RADIO OR TELEVISION)

“Partners”, Written by Dan A. Greenberger; CBS

TELEVISION GRAPHIC ANIMATION

“CBS News Animations,” Animation by David Rosen; CBS News

“The Oscars” (Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood), Animation by Bob Pook; CBS

Peter Jackson‘s take on “The Hobbit,” his fourth Tolkien movie, got an A list premiere last night at the Ziegfeld with all the trimming, plus a swanky no holds barred party at Gustavino’s. The guests included Ben Affleck, whose own Warner Bros. movie “Argo” is about to get full on Oscar treatment (and maybe Golden Globes, too) plus Liv Tyler, who’s still in the Tolkien circle after three Jackson “Lord of the Rings” movies.

The star of “The Hobbit” is Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins. But let’s face it: the audience wants to see Andy Serkis, who lights up the screen once again as Gollum, sort of your best old evil friend. “The Hobbit” is long and filmed in a kind of wonky 3D that I wouldn’t recommend necessarily for parts 2 and 3 of “The Hobbit’ unless someone can figure out the lighting problems. The movie often looks too bright and a little cheesy. It’s missing the grand richness of the “LOTR” movies.

But “The Hobbit” is a showcase for special effects and CGI, like the big finale featuring flocks of gigantic broadwinged eagle-types who save the day in Middle Earth. A lot of “The Hobbit” is breathtaking, and some if it is just exhausting. I think you go through at least 90 minutes before Gollum appears. Freeman has been a capable guide until then. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf and appears in most of the movie–ironic since it took so long for the producers to make a deal with him. And plenty of familiar faces from “LOTR” appear– Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee.

Next time, Mr. Jackson, bring back Liv Tyler and Viggo Mortensen. Why not at this point?

http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/11/02/ian-mckellen-still-has-no-contract-for-the-hobbit

(I know Tolkien purists are freaking out that a lot of this “Hobbit” includes bits of other things, but that’s a an acceptable license in order to make a movie for the audience. If you want genuine “Hobbit, read the book.)

Still it’s Serkis who nails the movie down. When Gollum and Bilbo finally interact in their “riddle” scene, “The Hobbit” is at last alive. They’re still fighting over that damn gold ring. And while the trade reviewers suggested that “The Hobbit” is overlong, and padded to make three movies, no one will care. Trust me. People have been flocking to Wagner’s 20 hour “Ring” cycle for 100 years over and over, all over the world. They’re coming to “The Hobbit” 1, 2, and 3. Just try and stop them.

But please, producers– no more fancy 48 frames per second. You don’t need it, and it’s distracting. It also shows off flaws in the filming because it’s just too accurate. Peter Jackson is so good at telling these stories–just tell ’em.

I’m not one to defend “Les Miserables.” I’m not a particular fan of the musical, and the producers have made so much money over the last two and a half decades that they can insulate themselves from bad reviews. But overall I quite liked Tom Hooper’s movie. And I’m a little surprised that the Hollywood trades came down so hard today on the film. “Les Miserables” is going to be a big, big hit all over the world. And deservedly so.

What I said after that first screening on November 26th stands today: Hooper has done an exceptional job of bringing history to life. “Les Miz” is by its nature a big bombastic spectacle– it tells the story of a freakin’ revolution. Hooper’s job was to humanize what’s become an institution on stage. He succeeds completely.

Believe me, if “Les Miz” were a huge waste of time, I’d be the first to say so. But Hooper is too smart to let that happen. each character is delineated in such a way that you know their back story and predicament very quickly. Of course, Fantine’s story is the most compelling, and Anne Hathaway goes a long way to demonstrate the bleak nature of her fate. You have to mourn Fantine for “Les Miz” to work, and Hathaway leaves an indelible impression.

The entire main cast breathes life into the musical. Even Russell Crowe, whom we’ve criticized for his singing, is a capable Javert. Hugh Jackman and  Eddie Redmayne are real standouts. I loved Samantha Barks and Aaron Tveit, as does everyone who sees the movie.

From the beginning Hooper knew he’d have live singing, and the actors would just sing right through the film. There’s no dubbing or lip-synching. This naturalistic approach is very different from the usual musical, where everything is recorded to perfection and then mouthed on screen. That’s a welcome relief in 2012. So some audiences may be put off by this but you get used to it fast. You don’t want people just breaking out, ridiculously, in song on film. I think Hooper’s been very ingenious the way he’s woven it in.

“Les Miz” is an exciting shot in the arm for an Oscar season. Nothing is perfect, but Hooper has done what seemed like the impossible. And the time flies by because he keeps the action moving. Maybe he’s getting a little backlash for all the success of “The King’s Speech.” But massive audiences are awaiting “Les Miz”–and ready to heap praise on Hooper and company.

by PAULA SCHWARTZ, Special to Showbiz411— Dustin Hoffman has made his directing debut with “Quartet,” a beautiful and funny movie about formerly famous and distinguished musicians – Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, Billy Connolly, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon head the cast  – who live out their old age in a British nursing home for old stage-folk.

The movie’s adapted by Ronald Harwood from his 1999 play. It would be a crime if it’s overlooked in the crowded awards season. Extremely well made, witty, beautifully filmed, “Quartet” features awards worthy performances from Maggie Smith and Billy Connolly, at least. It’s a little like “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” but with classical music and set on a sumptuous English estate.

The revelation is that a film about old age can be so funny.  “I guess it’s the only real defense you have against mortality,” Hoffman explained.

Getting older has been very good to the 75 year-old actor, who looks great and  has a full head of foxy grey hair.  He introduced me to his wife of 32 years, Lisa, who stood next to him.

The obvious question was why did he wait so long to direct a movie? “That’s the obvious question!” he agreed, adding, “And I don’t know the answer.”
Maybe it was the subject that inspired him I suggested.

“It was a combination. It’s like people that wait a long time to get married and they say, ‘Why’d you wait so long?’ You say, ‘Well, there were other people’ but somehow I met this one person that I liked at the same time and I felt maybe it’s time to settle down. So I did respond to material but also I felt, now or never, cause I’ve been wanting to direct for so long.”

Surprisingly Hoffman told me his first love was directing. “I used to take acting class. I would coach and direct my fellow class mates, who were doing scenes and they said, ‘You should be a director.’ You’ll be a Kazan.”

“The Graduate” actor told me he had some reservations. “I thought if I go into directing that means I’ve given up on acting. I admitted that I’m a failure, cause I waited tables for about 10, 12 years to get acting jobs.”

Then Hoffman went back my original question. “Why did I wait so long?”

“You were busy,” his wife suggested.

“Busy. That’s a good answer,” Hoffman replied.

I repeated a line from the film. “Great performers need great directors.” Is it true?

“Sometimes,” Hoffman laughed.

I asked if the actors improvised, especially Connolly, a stand-up comic (he’s at the Beacon Theater Thursday and Friday) who’s got some very funny stuff in the film about lessening of inhibitions, senility, sex.  “I let all the actors have free range in the sense that I do in the films that I’m in,” “The Tootsie” actor said. “You have a framework and if the actor feels like moving within that framework then go. You don’t hold them down.”

Is the idea of the movie to also make people feel better about aging? “The idea is we kind of have it upside down as a culture,” he said. “God knows it’s transatlantic and that is at a certain point people are afraid to look at what they’re going to become, for whatever reasons, and people who are wonderfully gifted, no one’s ringing their phone. Ronnie Hughes, who plays the jazz trumpet, is 82 years old. He hasn’t lost any ounce of his chops but no one called him for years before I did. And that’s a kind of interesting question of why?”

So what’s his next movie? “I don’t have one,” the legendary actor said. “I finished this movie in March and then I went into the cutting room, and I said to my agent,” that “I need a fall movie. I’ve been doing this for three years and he said, ‘This is your fall movie,’ meaning I have to go around and try to expose it to the people, because Maggie’s busy and there wasn’t anybody else. This is harder than anything I’ve ever done. You go from one film festival to another, all over the world,” he sighed.

Connolly, whose own mane of grey hair is nearly to his shoulders, told me Hoffman originally had Albert Finney in mind for his role but Finney got sick, so when Hoffman asked him to be in the film he “was more than delighted,” adding he thought Hoffman “was a great director.” As for whether Hoffman wanted him to improvise, the comic said, “he encouraged it. I’m a free bird. I just do whatever comes into my mind.”

What a night at the Marriott Marquis. Aretha Franklin, now dubbed “Cleopatra Franklin” for her stunning black and gold sheath and blunt cut shiny black wig, helped the Salvation Army celebrate its 65th annual holiday dinner. She also came to toast 14-Grammy award winning record producer Phil Ramone (Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Tony Bennett, etc) who was honored for the amazing work he’s done with the Salvation Army over the last two years bringing music education to school kids. Franklin performed boffo versions of “Chain of Fools” and “Respect” bracketing a sensational version of “Try to Remember” which she played on piano, solo.

Franklin was preceded on stage by superstar songwriter Valerie Simpson, who moved the crowd with Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight” and “Reach Out and Touch,” her signature hit written with late husband Nick Ashford.  Young crooner Peter Cincotti opened the night with rendering of Billy Joel’s Ray Charles tribute “My Baby Grand” and one of his original. more pop-rocky songs. Cincotti should be a bigger star. He’s terrific and the crowd loved him.

In the crowd: many members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, who came to support Phil, as well as singer Monica Mancini (daughter of the late great Henry) and Geraldo Rivera.

What Phil has done for the Salvation Army is remarkable. He’s produced a children’s orchestra that really plays like crazy. Some of the kids spoke about how the orchestra has changed their lives. For those of us who think the S.A. is just about the holiday and ringing bell, or dropped off old clothes, we got quite an education last night. The Salvation Army took the lead when Hurricane Sandy hit, providing swift assistance to victims and survivors. They need donations now, and deserve them because the work is not done.

Check them out at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf

Both pictures c2012 Showbiz411

The Broadcast Critics group has its ballots, and the votes are due back by the end of the day on Sunday. One of the categories is Best Action Film and there are three slots. Sadly, one action film will simply not be included. Tom Cruise in “Jack Reacher” is not being screened by Paramount before the deadline. That’s too bad– there was some positive buzz on “Reacher” despite the criticism by fans of the books that Jack Reacher is six-foot-five and Tom Cruise simply is not.

Cruise isn’t doing very much press for “Reacher” either– no morning shows, and maybe “Letterman” or “Jimmy Fallon,” where he’ll be safe from any deep questioning about his year (which wasn’t very good–see “Katie Holmes”). Indeed, the premiere for “Reacher” is in Pittsburgh, which is very nice but not exactly the media center of the world.

Paramount needn’t worry as it has “Flight,” which should be a Best Picture nominee, and the fun musical-esque “Not Fade Away” plus “Rise of the Guardians” in animation (maybe a sleeper), and the Barbra Streisand-Seth Rogen comedy “The Guilt Trip.” Also, “Paranormal Activity 4” raked in big bucks.

But no “Reacher” for the Critics Choice Awards, airing live on January 10th on the CW Network. The best action movies of 2012? “Skyfall,” “The Avengers,” “The Dark Knight Returns.” There’s a lot of action in “Django Unchained,” but I don’t think that’s what they mean. I will vote for Jamie Foxx, though, as one of the three Best Actors in an Action Film. That’s another category that Tom Cruise will be excluded from this year.

For once, the Grammy committees have gotten it just about right. Not one single nomination for the junk that Justin Bieber has foisted on the world. Five really good choices for Album of the Year from Mumford and Sons (my choice to win), Black Keys (excellent), Frank Ocean (cutting edge), Fun (stupid pop), and Jack White (real rock). Plus “Call Me Maybe” is the Song of the Year- Ken Ehrlich should make the entire audience become a flash mob at the Staples Center. And Record of the Year is “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

It’s interesting that the Best Pop Solo category– now gender free–is all women. I’m a little disappointed that One Direction’s “You Know You’re Beautiful” didn’t make Best Group Performance.  That may be taking the bubblegum backlash too far.

Best New Artists are actually five good acts. There’s no junk, Bruce Springsteen got a couple of important nods. They certainly had to nominate Bruce since he’s the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights earlier. But these nominees, plus near likely appearances by Justin Timberlake, maybe the Rolling Stones, and a few others could make this Grammy show next February one of the best in history. And no Bieber means a triumph of substance over inanity. He can stay home and work on his haircut or drive his borrowed $100,000 sports car around Beverly Hills.

Big snubs: Paul McCartney’s “Kisses on the Bottom,” John Mayer’s “Born and Raised,” Lionel Richie’s “Tuskegee,” albums by matchbox twenty, Green Day, and No Doubt. I have never heard “Adorn,” by Miguel’ but I’ll check it out right away.

Record Of The Year:
“Lonely Boy” — The Black Keys
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” — Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” — Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
“Somebody That I Used To Know” — Gotye featuring Kimbra
“Thinkin Bout You” — Frank Ocean
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” — Taylor Swift

Album Of The Year:
El Camino — The Black Keys
Some Nights — Fun.
Babel — Mumford & Sons
Channel Orange — Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss — Jack White

Song Of The Year:
“The A Team” — Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
“Adorn” — Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
“Call Me Maybe” — Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” — Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
“We Are Young” — Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)

Best New Artist:
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Following is a sampling of nominations in the GRAMMY Awards’ other 29 Fields:

For Best Pop Solo Performance, the nominees are “Set Fire To The Rain (Live)” by Adele; “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson; “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen; “Wide Awake” by Katy Perry; and “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna.

The nominees for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance are “Shake It Out” by Florence & The Machine; “We Are Young” by Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe; “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra; “Sexy And I Know It” by LMFAO; and “Payphone” by Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa.

For Best Dance/Electronica Album, the nominees are Wonderland by Steve Aoki; Don’t Think by the Chemical Brothers; > Album Title Goes Here < by Deadmau5; Fire & Ice by Kaskade; and Bangarang by Skrillex.

The nominees for Best Rock Performance are “Hold On” by Alabama Shakes; “Lonely Boy” by the Black Keys; “Charlie Brown” by Coldplay; “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons; and “We Take Care Of Our Own” by Bruce Springsteen.

For Best Alternative Music Album, the nominees are The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do by Fiona Apple; Biophilia by Björk; Making Mirrors by Gotye; Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. by M83; and Bad As Me by Tom Waits. 

The nominees for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration are “Wild Ones” by Flo Rida featuring Sia; “No Church In The Wild” by Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream; “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” by John Legend featuring Ludacris; “Cherry Wine” by Nas featuring Amy Winehouse; and “Talk That Talk” by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z.

For Best Country Album, the nominees are Uncaged by Zac Brown Band; Hunter Hayes by Hunter Hayes; Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran by Jamey Johnson; Four The Record by Miranda Lambert; and The Time Jumpers by the Time Jumpers.

The nominees for Best Americana Album are The Carpenter by the Avett Brothers; From The Ground Up by John Fullbright; The Lumineers by the Lumineers; Babel by Mumford & Sons; and Slipstream by Bonnie Raitt.

This year’s Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominations go to Dan Auerbach, Jeff Bhasker, Diplo, Markus Dravs, and Salaam Remi.