Exclusive: Sources tell me that Mitt Romney, who’s running for president as the Republican nominee, is coming to morning TV. I’m told he’s taping a segment for “Live with Kelly and Michael” that will air tomorrow, Friday will air on Tuesday. It’s all supposed to be hush hush and could fall apart at the last minute. If Romney does the gogo dancing during the contest giveaway, history will be made. But more importantly, this is obviously his effort to reach women–“Live” is the number one place to get young mothers. Of course, this does mean President Obama will be visiting “Live” next. Really, the two candidates should go on “The Price is Right.” Romney would win the expensive categories like yachts and race cars. Obama would guess at inexpensive jewelry and vacuum cleaners.
Mitt Romney Headed to “Live with Kelly and Michael” Next Tuesday
Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin Among Stars for Marvin Hamlisch Memorial
Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin are among the stars set for Marvin Hamlisch’s Sept 18th memorial service. Also set are Liza Minnelli, who was Hamlisch’s lifelong pal and attended all of his memorials and funeral, as well as Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, Michael Feinstein, Chris Botti, Maria Friedman, Brian d’Arcy James, Carter Brey, Essential Voices USA, former cast members of A Chorus Line and cast members of The Nutty Professor. The memorial will take place at the Peter Sharp Theater in the Julliard School at Lincoln Center. And it’s by invitation only. Hamlisch was truly beloved: people are still coming up to me with stories of his random acts of kindness and generosity.Â
Jeff Buckley Film Gets New Director, While Penn Badgley Shines in Tim Buckley Film
Exclusive: “Mystery White Boy” directed by Jake Scott was supposed to shoot this summer with “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” star Reeve Carney as late singer songwriter Jeff Buckley. It never happened. Now it seems that Amy Berg, director of “West Memphis Three,” has replaced Scott. Carney could be out, which is a mistake. Berg is “obsessed” with Jeff Buckley, a source tells me. So she’s Bogarted his movie, much the way she pushed herself into making yet another documentary about the West Memphis Three after Joe Berlinger made three prize winning films for HBO on the same subject. This woman has brass. “Mystery White Boy” is based at least in part on David Browne’s excellent biography, “Dream Brother.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CckFYoYq8GI
But another movie with Jeff Buckley– who died in 1997 at age 30 from an accidental drowning– as a central character is ready for release: “Greeting from Tim Buckley” stars “Gossip Girl” actor Penn Badgley as Jeff Buckley. Badgley will leave “Gossip Girl” when it ends this season to have a movie career thanks to his surprising works as the late, lamented singer. He turns out to be a charming musical presence in “Greetings,” a would be John Mayer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=lpx7Wgx0bvg
Full disclosure: I have never watched an episode of “Gossip Girl.” I met Badgley outside Shake Shack years ago and didn’t really know what he did. But I can tell you that as Jeff Buckley he is a most pleasant surprise. Dan Algrant has made a semi-biographical concert movie about Jeff’s famous dad, Tim, the singer songwriter who died in 1975 at age 28. Tim Buckley had already been releasing albums for about 8 years, and was a cult hero. He preceded James Taylor, who was his age. If he’d lived, Tim would have been a star on the level of Taylor or Jackson Browne. But his drug problems overwhelmed him.
As Tim Buckley, the other revelation in “Greetings” is Ben Rosenfield. He’s been described to me as “the next Jesse Eisenberg.” Rosenfield is a total charmer as Tim, who really never knew his son, was not a very faithful husband, but was a musical genius. Hopefully his music will get a new life now. Download it, buy it, whatever. He puts contemporary composers to shame.
Director Algrant reproduces a 1991 tribute concert dedicated to Tim held at St.Ann’s Church in Brooklyn. Jeff Buckley, on the verge of releasing his only album, which would make him famous, participated in the show. Much of the movie is a dramatized version of the concert, with Badgley stepping out. Algrant had to do it this way: he doesn’t have the rights to Jeff’s music because of “Mystery White Boy.”
Up in heaven, it must be extremely curious to the Buckleys that there’s such a fuss being made over them. After all, where’s the Jim Croce movie? Tim Buckley was an underground star during his career. He never had a hit single. He was known entirely to the world of FM progressive rock. Jeff Buckley only released one album, and is best known for his cover of a Leonard Cohen song, “Hallelujah.” And yet, their stories remain fascinating enough to inspire two movies.
Paul Simon Throws All Star Charity Show with Sting, Vince Gill, Tom Hanks, Stevie Wonder
You may not know this, but Paul Simon’s been behind a massive children’s charity for years called the Children’s Health Fund. They took trucks of medical supplies to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and do all kinds of good works. Now Simon is putting on a 25th anniversary concert on October 4th at Radio City Musical Hall. Sting, Stevie Wonder, Vince Gill, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, James Taylor and a bunch more A listers are set to perform. Julianne Moore and Jane Pauley are going to host a VIP event before the show. If we’re lucky Artie Garfunkel will be drafted to sing with Simon. And Simon Fuller, creator of “American Idol.” is being honored. It’s the same night Jerry Seinfeld is playing the Beacon Theater and there’s a Broadway opening, too. New York fall season is here! Go to http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/annual-benefit
Clive Davis Book Will Hit at Grammy, Annual Party Time
When else would Clive Davis publish his autobiography but in February? That’s when he throws his annual Grammy eve dinner and concert, which last winter was brutally marred by Whitney Houston dying upstairs in the Beverly Hilton two hours before showtime. Clive’s book, published by Simon & Schuster, will be a reason to celebrate this February.
It doesn’t hurt that Bruce Springsteen will get the MusiCares Person of the Year Award the night before: Clive was there at Columbia Records when Bruce delivered “Greetings from Asbury Park.” It was Clive who suggested Bruce try to write a couple of singles for the album. “Spirit in the Night” and “Blinded by the Light” were the result.
Clive’s book (his second, actually) will rake through his 25 years with Whitney Houston, the formation of Arista Records after he left Columbia in 1973, and maybe how he survived a near-ouster in 2000 to start J Records and bring along Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, and Santana, among others. Anthony DeCurtis is the writer of record.
Will he tell the real story of Milli Vanilli? And how about how he reeled Kelly Clarkson back in when she tried to commit career suicide? And yes, all the stories from Columbia, from Joplin to Simon and Garfunkel to how Philadelphia International had all those soul hits like “Backstabbers” and “When Will I See You Again?” And maybe he can explain what he was doing at Monterey Pop, sitting there in the crowd, rocking out!
It’s going to be a great read.
Liv Tyler Heading Into Outer Space
Exclusive: Actress Liv Tyler, who’s coming off a hit in “Robot and Frank,” is heading into outer space. I’m told she’s just closing a deal to star in “Space Station 76,” an indie project. Her co-stars are set to be Matt Bomer and Patrick Wilson. (This is will be a good looking film, at least.) The first time director is Jack Plotnick, a highly regarded acting coach who teaches lots of stars. Here’s his acting reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgvLPV-Fpgc&lr=1 Among Plotnick’s students are Allyson Hannigan and Stiller and Meara, as well tons of character actors all working away in Hollywood. More to come…
Kennedy Center Shuns Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary for a Stairway to Heaven
Someone on the Kennedy Center committee must be a huge Led Zeppelin and blues fan. Out of nowhere, the Kennedy Center Honors have chosen Zep and Chicago blues guitarist Buddy Guy for Kennedy Center nods this December. This is a shock because the Rolling Stones 50th anniversary is here, they’re far more original and influential than Zeppelin, and deserved to get the award. But it’s Led Zeppelin, which created most of its music from existing American blues including most of the Robert Johnson songbook. Again, a KC committee member must be a huge fan of “Stairway to Heaven.”
The other pics this year are good, Dustin Hoffman being the absolutely best choice. David Letterman was selected; it will be interesting to see if he brings his wife, or admits to having a personal life. Even he said today something to the effect that there must be a mix up. Natalia Marakova, the ballet great, danced at the first Kennedy Center Honors, so she makes sense too. No one was chosen from the dramatic arts, and writers don’t even exist in the Kennedy Center world.
Also passed over this year were Billy Joel, Carole King, Eric Clapton, Shirley Maclaine, Doris Day, and so on. The Kennedy Center honors airs December 2nd to a select audience on CBS.
Michael Jackson “Bad25” Box Features Dedication to Frank DiLeo
Michael Jackson’s “Bad25” boxed set is one of the best packages I’ve ever seen. Beautifully executed in a CD sized box (and not all the unnecessary packaging that often comes with these things), “Bad25” has four discs, two four color booklets, a poster, and stick on decal of the “Bad” cover if you want to add it to the package. The box itself is simple and elegant. Executors John Branca and John McClain dedicate the box to Katherine Jackson and Michael’s three kids. And on the back page of the main booklet, there’s a beautiful dedication to Michael’s late manager, Frank Dileo.
There’s a full page picture of Michael and Frank, with this inscription: “We would like to this opportunity to acknowledge the passing of Michael’s friend, Frank Dileo, who, as Michael’s then manager, played such an integral role in the BAD album and subsequent tour. As we listened to the music, looked through photos and watched videos, while working on this album and the documentary by Spike Lee to celebrate this era in Michael’s career, Frank was always in our thoughts. We miss his friendship, humor and spirit.”
Everything about “Bad25” is well done, perfect. The demos are a treasure trove. The live album from Wembley Stadium is a collector’s item. The remastered “Bad” shows Michael at his peak performance. Ironically, this is from before everything “Bad” happened. It goes on sale next Tuesday, the 18th. Don’t download it. You want the box.
Alicia Keys New Music: The Good, The Bad, and the Sampled
Alicia Keys is getting ready to release a new album, so new music from it is dribbling out. It’s the good, the bad, and the sampled. The first track that appeared was called “New Day” and it’s very annoying. “New Day” has an insistent mechanical drum from a marching band, and not much of an idea lyrically. Yes, it is a new day. Every day. The song is designed to be performed live, not listened to at home. Or god forbid in earphones. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-FEKPZ_Yy0&feature=relmfu
Next, on September 4th, Keys posted “Girl on Fire,” the title track from her November album. The song already has its detractors. One of them won’t be the estate of Leon Carr, the late composer of Eddie Holman’s wonderful 1969 classic “Hey There Lonely Girl.” Maybe Alicia is giving a nod to an old standard, but she’s sampled a little of “Lonely Girl” in “Girl on Fire.” Ka-ching for the estate of Leon Carr and partner Earl Shuman.
Another issue with the song: Katniss, the central character of “The Hunger Games,” is known as “the girl on fire.” An independent Los Angeles singer songwriter called Arshad posted a song to YouTube with that name last January: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRSvoKoU3kk
Now we have “Not Even the King.” This is a song. This is what Alicia Keys is good at. Even though “King” recalls her best original piece so far, “If I Ain’t Got You,” it’s still catchy, thoughtful, and original (I hope, I don’t think there are any samples per se). It’s written with hot-as-a-pistol UK artist Emeli Sande. Check out her album, “Our Version of Events,” released in June by Virgin in their hide-the-music program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahsFa6AYRaQ
Keys is an astute sampler. Her hit, “Empire State of Mind” was based on “Love on a Two Way Street.” An older hit, “You Don’t Know My Name” came from a song from The Main Ingredient. Her weaving in of old R&B songs into her own music–which she’s quite capable of writing–is either an homage or is lazy, depending on your opinion.
As for “Hey There Lonely Girl”: Carr wrote it with Earl Shuman. But this isn’t the first time he’s been paid a tribute, so to speak. In 1953, Carr had a hit he wrote with our recently departed pal, Hal David. Theresa Brewer had a big hit with it. This was waaaay before the Burt Bacharach years. Its name? “Bell Bottom Blues.” Of course, a dozen years later, Eric Clapton wrote his own song with that name.
There’s nothing new, kids. Not anymore.
Hey There Lonely Girl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lscp1GCjUQ
Bell Bottom Blues:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62rPcrUzDTs
“The Master” Premiere: No Protesters, But Lots of Celebs
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” got a proper premiere in New York at the Ziegfeld Theater last night. There were no Scientology protesters, but plenty of celebs. Harvey Weinstein kicked off his introductions with some good thoughts about 9-11 and waved a little pro-Obama flag at the same time. Then he brought out Amy Adams and Madisen Beaty, the only members of the cast who are in town. Director Anderson is in Austin, Texas showing the movie at one of his pop up screenings, apparently. Philip Seymour Hoffman is shooting the “Hunger Games” sequel. No one has any idea where Joaquin Phoenix is.
Anyway, the Z was filled with interesting people, from Edward Norton to Trudie Styler, daughter Mickey Sumner (who’s a hit in the new Noah Baumbach film “Frances Ha”) with Rosie Perez, Fisher Stevens, Adrien Brody, Bob and Lynn Balaban, and Lily Rabe, Grace Gummer and brother in law Ben Walker, actor Josh Hamilton all pouring into the theater to see Hoffman, Phoenix, and Adams in their tour de force. Also in the audience: newly minted Oscar recipient DA Pennebaker with filmmaker wife Chris Hegedus, and documentary pioneer Albert Maysles. Al said after seeing the film, “I don’t think anyone will be joining that cult.”
Let me tell you: every single seat in the Ziegfeld was taken. It was all to wall, which is unusual even for hit movies. Everyone wants to see “The Master.” It’s an epic, a classic, and some hard work at times. But when it opens Friday, expect high interest. For yours truly it was especially interesting to see it on a 70mm widescreen. This film is a work of art, stunning to experience and to look at. Oscars, here they come!