Three time Oscar winner Meryl Streep has given $1 million to New York’s- and Joe Papp’s — Public Theater. The announcement was made last night at the Public as they unveiled their $8 million-plus renovation. Streep gave the money in memory of her pal Nora Ephron, and in honor of the Public’s good works. She got her start there and has been a loyal member of their repertory for the 40 or so years, appearing in many productions. The Public is on a big fundraising drive. On October 24th, Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway is putting on a show in Joe’s Pub at $300 a ticket. She and her friends will be performing songs from “Cabaret.” Meryl is a mensch, that’s for sure. She didn’t even tell her publicist what she’d done. Bravo! Her statement read: “I give this gift in honor of the founder of The Public Theater, my friend and mentor Joseph Papp, and in remembrance of one of the theater’s Board members and greatest supporters, my friend Nora Ephron.”
Exclusive: Rolling Stones Will Play Prudential Center in Newark
Exclusive: The Rolling Stones still have not sorted out their issues with the O2 Arena in London and Barclays Center in Brooklyn. But now I’m hearing they will play December 16th and 17th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Weird, huh? Why not just give into Madison Square Garden. The politics of concert promotions is too much for me to figure out. It’s still with Paul Dainty of Australia and Richard Branson introducing Virgin Live. The Barclays dates of December 6 and 7 will be worked out, I am told. It’s only rock and roll, but we like it! Hey, you know what? This will be the shortest announcement-sell through in history at this point.
Welcome, Rush and Deep Purple Fans
Guys: I was never a Rush fan. Sorry. But everyone’s welcome to their opinion, and Rush fans are welcome here. Petition the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, write to Jann Wenner at Rolling Stone, make your voices heard. As for Deep Purple, I have always loved “Smoke on the Water” and “Hush.” Should they be in the Rock Hall? I don’t know. Again, there are plenty of bands I think that should come before each of these outfits. But maybe one of them will make it. I’m surprised KISS fans are angrier.PS “Smoke on the Water” deserves to be in for one of the most recognizable riffs in history.
A Classic NY Night: Seinfeld, Tony Bennett, Paul Simon, Sting and All Star Rockers
Thursday was the kind of classic night New York night you only get when the stars line up just right.
At the Cort Theater, Paul Rudd and Michael Shannon, with Kate Arrington and the great veteran actor Ed Asner opened in a new play called “Grace.” The theater was literally jammed, with plenty of stars who were friends of the stars. Among them Carla Gugino, and Steven van Zandt with beautiful wife Maureen. The performances in “Grace” are all A plus, but Michael Shannon is the standout this time. And Ed Asner remains a treasure.
Then: quick, uptown to the Beacon Theater for Jerry Seinfeld’s kick off show of his fall tour. Colin Quinn did ten minutes of opening act, very funny, of course, riffing on New York subjects. Then Jerry, The Master: standing ovation. His 90 minute or so show is brilliant, topical, fresh. Years ago Jerry said getting married and having kids wouldn’t become his material. Of course, it has–I do think he’s found his groove there marrying his observational humor with the pace and gentility of the late Alan King. When he gets to that area of the night, it’s a mature Jerry you could never have imagined from the old days.
This is still a PG rated show, too. No cursing, nothing coarse, totally sophisticated, hilarious. The writing and delivery are sharper than ever.
But I prefer the riffs on cell phones, modern communications, language. His opening bit about the audience getting ready for the show is terrific. Jerry mixes in some old routines–star 69, etc–and it all works. The amazing thing is you don’t get tired of hearing the greatest hits. Seinfeld is more fluid than ever on stage, more relaxed, completely at home. Why is he there? He has no place else to be, he jokes. He wants to be out. You think it’s a show about nothing but it’s about everything, deftly woven together. There needs to be a real recording of this show. It’s like medicine. Are there still comedy albums? Wherever Jerry is, don’t miss him.
And back to Radio City for Paul Simon‘s Children’s Heath Initiative 25th anniversary fundraiser. Star studded? Some couples performed together–Sting and Trudie Styler--she was very very cute and sexy in her singing debut–performed after making a pit stop at Tony Bennett’s fundraiser for his Exploring the Arts. Rita Wilson sang and let Tom Hanks accompany her. James Taylor performed with his wife, Caroline. Stevie Wonder pretty much stole the night singing three numbers with daughter Aisha Morris. They also did “Loves Me Like a Rock” with Paul Simon.
It was literally a night of 100 stars: Vince Gill, Amy Grant and their kids; Steve Martin on banjo; Ann & Nancy Wilson; PAul Simon with talented daughter Lulu (also daughter of Edie Brickell); Ruben Blades with wife Lulu Mason–who has an astonishing voice; lots of videos and presentations– Hillary Clinton, Spike Lee, Julianne Moore, Oprah, Tina Fey. Lorne Michaels was a guest. Aaron Neville sang with Sting and Allen Toussaint. What a night!
Now the weekend comes– Mary Wilson of the Supremes plays a show in Fairfield, Connecticut tonight at the Edgerton Center http://www.EdgertonCenter.org. Trudie Styler is off to be part of the Hamptons Film Festival jury. David Chase premiers his “Not Fade Away” at the New York Film Festival on Saturday and Hamptons Film Festival on Sunday. Steven Spielberg‘s “Lincoln” is the surprise screening Monday night at the New York Film Festival.
Michael Jackson Estate Paid $100K for a Big Family Party, and the Funeral
I’m getting a lot of calls about the Michael Jackson story in Vanity Fair, which is an excerpt of a book by Randall Sullivan. Sullivan long ago wrote the unimpressive story of the Billionaire Boys Club. Now he’s back. Anyway: Sullivan says in his piece that Michael Jackson’s funeral was delayed because of financial wrangling between his estate and Janet Jackson over who was going to pay for everything.
This is incorrect. I know it, and the people who have called in know it. Indeed, the estate paid for everything including the Staples Center memorial blockbuster, a $100,000 party that followed in a hotel, and the eventual funeral at Forest Lawn. For the Staples Center extravaganza, AEG Live kicked in. The funeral was delayed over wrangling among family members and Colony Capital about whether Michael should be buried at Forest Lawn or at Neverland.
http://www.showbiz411.com/2009/07/07/20090707michaels-memorial-louis-farrakhan-david-gest-joe-frazier-more
This went on for weeks. Also, Sullivan–at least in this excerpt– jumps right over the Staples Center deal where Janet pushed Paris Jackson forward to speak, where Louis Farrakhan sat in the row in front of me, and that big party that followed. There is also no mention of Joe Jackson bringing a Michael Jackson impersonator to the BET Awards four days after Michael died. That’s because Sullivan wasn’t there, and doesn’t know what he was talking about.
The Vanity Fair excerpt also deals with Katherine Jackson’s “abduction” earlier this summer. Again, Sullivan doesn’t seem to get it. Katherine Jackson’s lawyer, Perry O. Sanders, a nice guy, went to Arizona to meet Mrs. Jackson with Jermaine and Janet. When he got there, they refused to let him see her. They also told him there were no phones in the rooms where she was staying. This was an out and out lie, which I debunked exclusively.
I do fear that Sullivan’s book is going to be a cover to cover mess after reading this stuff. We’ll see in time what else has to be corrected.
Adele “Skyfall” Download Goes to Number 1 Overnight
UPDATE: “Skyfall” was released at 7:07pm Eastern and it’s already number 1 on iTunes this morning. It may be the fastest trip to number 1 on the downloading service ever. Numbers aren’t in yet for how many people plunked down $1.29 for Adele’s first new record in almost two years.
Earlier: We’re just a few hours away from Adele’s “Skyfall” premiere on her www.adele.tv. This column broke the original story of Adele and “Skyfall” last spring on Forbes.com. We reconfirmed it a couple of times, and published some of the lyrics. A few people wrote in saying they didn’t believe those were the lyrics. But you know, they are–and it’s a tribute to Adele and Paul Epworth that they made a song around the word “Skyfall.” My guess is that the download of “Skyfall” at 7:07pm Eastern tonight on iTunes and from Adele’s site will set a record and cause problems. It’s going to be huge. My Sony sources are being more conservative. But they’ll be thrilled. If only they had B side or an extra track to go with it. Unfortunately, they don’t.
http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/09/13/confirmed-adele-all-set-for-james-bond-skyfall-song
http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/09/23/re-confirmed-adele-singing-james-bond-theme-song
http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/09/25/exclusive-adele-james-bond-skyfall-song-is-classic-007
http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/09/27/adele-james-bond-skyfall-song-written-with-rolling-in-the-deep-writer
http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/10/01/adele-skyfall-lyrics-james-bond-exclusive
New Michael Jackson Book Looks Like Clip Job: Read Original Stories Here
The new Michael Jackson book excerpted in Vanity Fair looks like a clip job. As well, author Randall Sullivan seems to have depended on the most questionable of the Jackson so called “insiders” as his sources. They include Brian Oxman, who was never Michael’s lawyer, was fired by Tom Mesereau during the 2005 criminal case, and is now disbarred finally after many sanctions by the California Bar Association; Howard Mann, a Toronto online gaming entrepreneur who recently lost a major case to the Jackson estate; and Tohme Tohme, Michael’s short-lived manager currently being sued by the estate.
No one I’ve talked to associated with the Jackson estate, or the real “inner circle” has spoken to Sullivan. His book is being published by Grove Press, which sold the rights to Vanity Fair. The magazine can’t know that Sullivan’s sources are highly suspect, or that much of the material they’ve got from him comes other sources including this column. Sullivan never covered Jackson during his life, wasn’t around during his trial or its aftermath, but now pitches himself as an expert.
Sullivan also seems to be, at least in the Vanity Fair excerpt, on the side of the Will-doubters. This is the group that thinks Michael Jackson’s Will was forged or invented. I liken them to the Obama birthers.
Sullivan cites this column toward the end of his excerpt in the new Vanity Fair, but really–most of the stuff in this story comes from other places. It’s a clip job. I suspect his book will be much the same. Look for the fingerprints of other disgruntled ex-Jacksonians.
Anyway, here are some links to stories I wrote where Sullivan may have found inspiration:
http://www.showbiz411.com/2009/06/26/20090626michael-jacksons-last-will-was-completed-in-2002
http://www.showbiz411.com/2009/06/28/20090628jackson-family-where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way
http://www.showbiz411.com/2009/06/27/20090627michael-jackson-burial-neverland-ranch\
Justin Timberlake’s Charity Has Disappeared, And Shriners Kick Him Out
Justin Timberlake is having charitable problems His registered 501c3, the Justin Timberlake Foundation, has a zero balance. Three years ago it had $160,000. Even then it was only giving money to two other charities. Neither of them was the Shriners Hospital for Children in Las Vegas with which Justin was associated through a golf tournament. (keep refreshing)
The Foundation was never much of a big charitable effort. At its height, in 2006-2007, it gave $100,000 each to two Memphis music charities. In 2006, he gave $2,500 to MusiCares in memory of a producer/arranger who worked on an NSync album.That same year, the Foundation had unspecified “outside expenses” of over $40,000.
In 2004, the Foundation gave a meager $5,000 to the Elton John AIDS Foundation but listed $50,000 for salaries.
Timberlake’s parents, Paul and Lynn Harless, have always been listed as the officers of the Foundation.
It’s a little odd, considering how much money Timberlake has made over the years from albums, touring, and movies. But people with charitable foundations sometimes give contributions through other sources. It’s possible Timberlake has done that.
Last week I reported exclusively that very quietly, Timberlake has been recording his first album since 2006. http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/09/30/exclusive-justin-timberlake-finally-recording-new-album-after-six-years
Aside from the Foundation, Timberlake has other problems now with a charitable cause. Known for being happy go lucky and lots of fun, Timberlake is associated with Shriners Hospital for Children in Las Vegas. This included playing in their golf tournament. But after this past Sunday, Shriners and Timberlake are no long associated. But according to the Las Vegas Journal Review, the Shriner’s have given Justin the boot for not fulfilling his duties. http://www.lvrj.com/sports/las-vegas-pga-tour-stop-looks-to-future-172058461.html
According to the article:
While Timberlake did fulfill his obligations to the tournament and helped raise several million dollars through a Saturday concert his first four years, the fact is the pop star and original member of N’Sync wasn’t able to generate greater interest in the tournament, and his star power wasn’t enough to lure bigger-name players to the event on a consistent basis.
“We’re a world-class organization,” Frevel said. “At the time we got involved with golf, we were told by the Tour we needed a big name, and that’s how our relationship with Justin came about.
“Justin’s a wonderful person. But we tried everything we could to get him more involved with our kids and the hospitals. But it seemed that when the TV cameras weren’t on, he disappeared.”
“American Idol” Auditions Head to Baton Rouge for More Fake Fireworks
“American Idol” auditions head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana now, with more fake fireworks planned among the judges. As everyone knows by now, in Charlotte, North Carolina Nicki Minaj picked a fight with Mariah Carey. The news mushroomed into World War III and cast a big spotlight on “Idol” sure to build ratings when the show returns in January.
All of this is planned, dear friends. Back in the day, it was Simon vs. Paula. And whether Simon would leave the show. Or Paula. This is what Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe were so good at: creating huge amounts of contentious publicity designed to attract viewers. You need it in the first few weeks before viewers have favorite singers to root for.
I was discussing this with a Fox TV exec, reminiscing about the PT Barnum days of fake “Idol” publicity. And now, it’s back! Nicki Minaj has been assigned the role of instigator. Mariah Carey is the victim. Who knows what they have planned for Keith Urban? Something wicked this way comes.
Baton Rouge may not be ready for this gumbo.
Rock and Roll Hall of Shame: Nominees So Bad Press Release Issued After Midnight
You want press for your nominees list? Release it at 4pm. You want to hide it and keep it out of newspapers, let alone web reporter who are awake>? How about midnight? The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame put out its list of possible inductees after midnight this morning because it is so freaking embarassing they’d rather not discuss it. It’s a pathetic selection that includes rap groups Public Enemy and NWA, followed by mediocre (to say the least) rockers Deep Purple and Rush (I didn’t think this was possible).
Many of the nominees were already on the short list as recently as last year including the late Donna Summer (disco), Chic, and Heart.
The only people who should make it from the list are singer-songwriter Randy Newman and original Motown group the Marvelettes.
Paul Butterfield Blues Band is a nice idea, however odd at this point.
But not on the list, and far more worthy are Sting (individual artist), Bon Jovi, Chicago, Hall & Oates, the Moody Blues, the late Mary Wells and the late Billy Preston. Female pop stars Carly Simon and Linda Ronstadt are also missing. Cyndi Lauper would have been appropriate. How about a true original and influence like George Clinton? or the Eurythmics? Or if you’re so into rap, how about Kurtis Blow, or the Sugarhill Gang, the original rappers?
But at this point, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. They’ve painted themselves into a corner by skipping almost completely over the 1970s and then starting to include rap groups who sampled rock and roll had no absolutely no influence over anything. At least Nile Rodgers and Chic have had a worldwide influence with songs like “We Are Family” and “Good Times.”
But I dare you to name a “song” by Public Enemy or NWA (can you remember what this stood for? The N is a play on the N word.) Chuck D from Public Enemy is a nice guy, but really…
This is what Joel Peresman, who runs the Rock and Roll Hall Fame Foundation here in New York, gets a salary of $400,000 a year for. To come up with these names.
The other names are Joan Jett, Kraftwerk, the Meters (sort of New Orleans R&B– and a good vote), Procol Harum (beloved for one hit–“Whiter Shade of Pale”), and blues artist Albert King.
Rush? Rush? Can Kansas and Styx be far behind?
Jann Wenner must be hanging from a chandelier. This group, no matter how it turns out, will not be selling seats next March at the Waldorf Astoria.
But the fact is, this thing is over. The original purpose of the Hall of Fame was long ago achieved. Early rockers, British invasion, singer songwriters, early R&B, the people who invented rock and roll–they’re mostly in. Only Chubby Checker and Bill Haley and the Comets have been locked out.
Sad, sad, sad.
Oh yeah: who would I choose from this miserable collection? The Meters, Randy Newman, Paul Butterfield, Chic, and Joan Jett.