The Jackson family imploded today, publicly. Judge Mitchell Beckloff has appointed TJ Jackson temporary guardian of Prince, Paris, and Blanket. Katherine Jackson’s guardianship was suspended. The judge almost didn’t hear the motion, and said that Debbie Rowe, mother of Prince and Paris, and Diana Ross, named in Michael Jackson’s will as successor guardian, had to be notified. Ross has never shown any interest in this. Rowe has approved of Katherine Jackson’s raising of her kids, but has expressed concern about the grandmother’s safety and condition. Rowe is said to be engaging a family attorney to represent her so she can support Mrs. Jackson and the kids.
Oscars: Academy Clamps Down On Partying–Don’t Feed the Voters!
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is clamping down even more on Oscar campaigning. Basically, they’re cutting off a necessary supply of free food and drink to Oscar voters who are only wined during a small window of time every year. Some of these voters, older actors, don’t get out much are forgotten. But when Oscar season rolls around they appear, wide-eyed and glad to recognized. A free lunch or dinner with a screening doesn’t sway them so much. But it’s a nice perk in a tough town. Anyway, after nominations are announced on January 15th–early this year–these people will have to brown bag it or hide flasks in those little pouches on their walkers. Here’s the press release:
Campaign Rules Announced for 85th Academy Awards®
Beverly Hills, CA – The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has updated regulations for how companies and individuals may market movies and achievements eligible for the 85th Academy Awards® to Academy members. The changes pertain to screenings that feature live filmmaker participation, the formats on which members may receive screeners, and limitations on how mail, email and websites may be used in campaigning.
“These rules help us maintain a level playing field for all of the nominees and protect the integrity of the Awards process,” said Academy President Tom Sherak.
After the announcement of nominations on January 15, 2013, and until the final polls close (February 19, 2013), Academy members may be invited to up to four screenings of a nominated film that are preceded or followed by filmmaker Q&As or other such participation. A fifth such event in the United Kingdom will be permitted. All participants must be nominated or have been eligible for nomination. No screening event may include a reception or otherwise offer complimentary food or beverages. These limitations do not apply to screenings held by the Academy, guilds or similar organizations.
The regulations also now stipulate that members may receive the film both on DVD and as a digital download.
Additionally, each week, members may be sent only one piece of mail and one email per film company. The rules maintain the prohibition on sending members links to websites that promote a film using audio, video, or other multimedia elements, but may include links to the videos in the “Academy Conversations” series on Oscars.org.
The Academy has augmented its existing ban on film companies using third parties to distribute materials that they would be prohibited from sending directly. The regulation now specifies that film companies may not have a publication use its subscriber lists to send stand alone materials to members, except in connection with the distribution of the publication itself. This amendment does not affect a company’s ability to place their usual promotional materials in trade publications.
Similarly, while guilds and other awards organizations may hold non-screening events after the nominations announcement, this rule now specifies that film companies may not use such occasions as opportunities to sponsor promotional events that would otherwise violate Academy regulations.
To read the complete Regulations Concerning the Promotion of Films Eligible for the 85th Academy Awards, go to http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/rules/regulations.html.
The 85th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.
Exclusive: TJ Jackson is Named in Katherine Jackson’s Will as Successor Guardian
Exclusive: TJ Jackson, 34 year old son of Tito Jackson, is actually named in Katherine Jackson’s will as her successor guardian. TJ is in court this morning seeking temporary guardianship of Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson. Katherine Jackson is still back in Los Angeles. The kids are in summer school this morning and don’t need to be in court, sources say. TJ will likely get the guardianship until Katherine returns to Los Angeles. She may even be compelled to explain where she’s been and if she understood what was going on. If not, TJ may become the permanent guardian. But Randy Jackson and his gang are out in the cold.
Mariah Carey Scene Will Open “The Butler” — Quincy Jones Will Do Music
Exclusive: Lee Daniels’s “The Butler” started shooting yesterday in New Orleans. And there’s a lot of news I can tell you EXCLUSIVELY about this film starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. First of all, Quincy Jones has signed to compose the soundtrack. That’s a big big deal. And now I’ve heard that Daniels will film a scene for the opening of the film with Mariah Carey and Vanessa Redgrave far removed from the White House setting of the rest of the film. It sounds pretty cool, but I’ve been asked not to give it away.
Mariah is already said to be complaining about her makeup, which — as in “Precious”–she will be de-glamourized. And there’s more: because Liam Neeson is shooting Paul Haggis’s new film in Italy, he had to drop out of the role of Lyndon Johnson. So Liev Schreiber steps in. (The role of Lady Byrd is said to be minor.) And Olivia Washington, daughter of Denzel and Pauletta Washington, will make her screen debut as a civil rights activist. So far the only actress I’d like hear is in “The Butler” but isn’t is LaTanya Richardson. Lee–find her a role!
“The Butler” will be Daniels’ first PG-13 movie after more adult fare with “Monster’s Ball,” “Precious,” and “The Paperboy,” his wild new movie that opens this fall with an Oscar tipped performance by Nicole Kidman.
Exclusive: Katherine Jackson Speaks To Grandchildren at Last!
Exclusive: Katherine Jackson finally spoke to her grandchildren by phone from Phoenix this morning. A source says the conversation “lasted a while.” The kids are said to be very relieved. But despite Randy Jackson’s statement this morning, Mrs. Jackson is still in Phoenix. It does like the guardianship hearing may take place anyway, with TJ Jackson, 34, being put forward as a temporary replacement. But the phone call, and the idea that Mrs. Jackson may return soon from Phoenix to Los Angeles, is an indication that Randy Jackson’s “palace coup”–which has very hurt Janet Jackson’s image–is coming to an end.
For the kids, it was 11 days of silence from their legal guardian and beloved grandmother. Her cell phone and laptop were taken from her. Her friends who play “Words with Friends” with Mrs. Jackson on the internet were very worried, too. “She loves playing with them.” Her kids, Janet, Randy, Jermaine, and Rebbie, isolated her from all regular activity.
Paris Jackson just Tweeted: “everyones taking control of me , it seems that the worlds got a role for me .. im so confused will u show to me you’ll be there for me” from the song “Will U Be There” by her father. What a day. What a weird situation!
“Glee” Seeks New 16 Year Old Girl, Possible Series Regular
“Glee” is set in high school, but three quarters of the people on it look they’re ready for pensions. (Just kidding!) So now a casting call has gone out for a recurring character, possible series regular. Here’s the description: GIRL] Female, 16 and above (to play high school) -PRETTY, star quality. SHE MUST SING
WELL…we are looking for more of a pop sound rather than Broadway. Please submit all ethnicities. RECURRING WITH SERIES OPTION. In other words, with Chord Overstreet returning as a regular, the show’s producers are obviously trying to regain their younger audience. The question is, without Emmy nods and after its heat-years have passed, how much gas “Glee” has left in the tank is anyone’s guess. Season Four begins next month. But the casting call? Other than Overstreet, it looks like none of the 20 or so already recurring characters is being promoted to full time.
PS I’m surprised Fox hasn’t figured out a way to cross over “Glee” into “American Idol” and vice versa. Before they each bite the dust, it might give them a little juice.
Guardian Gambit Worked: Katherine Jackson on Way Back to Los Angeles
Katherine Jackson coming back to Los Angeles? That’s what Randy Jackson, the mastermind of her vanishing, told “Good Morning America” this morning. If so, the gambit by Katherine’s lawyers and the Jackson children’s guardian ad litem to seek temporary guardianship in court, has worked. They’ve forced Randy, Jermaine and Janet to bring their mother home.
That should be some reunion. Wait until Katherine Jackson’s lawyers explain to her what happened, and what four of her kids (Rebbie included) did.
Randy Jackson will have lost all his power in the family. Last night three of his brothers went on “The Insider” to denounce him, if not by name. A fourth Tito, recanted signing the infamous letter to the executors. Jermaine has gone silent, suddenly. La Toya and Joseph Jackson have stayed out of the story entirely.
Possibly ruined from this: Janet Jackson, who’s wound up on the front page of every tabloid this morning allegedly calling niece Paris a bitch. Janet, who was always regarded as above it all, has let Randy pull her into his mud fight for money. Her declining career has now taken a beating. She barged into her mother’s rented estate and is seen on a security camera pulling a phone out of Paris’s hand. And yelling at her. What she called her doesn’t matter. It looks like a home invasion.
And the children: they’ll never forget the chaos into which they threw their lives. Paris, particularly.
But this is Randy Jackson’s history:
He was not a member of the Jackson 5, doesn’t sing, and doesn’t have gainful employment. He’s the Randy Jackson who’s been through at least one divorce and one bankruptcy. He’s relied heavily on Brian Oxman, an ex attorney recently disbarred for life in California.
Randy Jackson almost cost Michael $45 million in sour deal and lawsuit from a company called Prescient Capital. The case was finally settled for a few million– of Michael’s, not Randy’s, money. This is the same Randy Jackson who fired Raymone Bain, Michael’s publicist, on the eve of the jury announcement in his child molestation trial June 2005. Michael had no press rep when the verdict came back “not guilty.”
He’s the same Randy Jackson who sold pictures and video of his family fighting among themselves to media outlets. One of Michael’s ex bodyguards claimed in the British press that Michael wanted to have Randy killed. And now Randy Jackson has caused permanent rifts in his family between Michael’s children and everyone else, with Michael’s mother, and among his siblings.
Not very well played.
Read:
http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/07/24/lawyers-will-seek-temporary-guardianship-for-michael-jacksons-kids
TV: “Modern Family” Cast Sues Fox, Actors Don’t Show for First Day Back to Work
The cast of “Modern Family” didn’t show up on Tuesday for the table reading of the script for the first episode of the new season. They’re suing 20th Century Fox TV instead, invoking the “seven year law” that binds them to Fox and ABC exclusively and limits their pay. All of them are Emmy nominees–Sofia Vergara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell. Not included in the suit, but apparently in sympathy, is the other cast member, Ed O’Neill. The lawsuit is about money, of course.
The actors want significant raises so that when the show is over, and they’re typecast or work is harder to find, they’re in good shape. Similar situations have happened with shows like “Friends” and “Mad About You” where the actors negotiated together and wound up winning large sums. But the “Modern Family” cast is invoking an unusual law that prevents a company from tying up a performer for more than seven years. For some reason, all of their contracts do just that.
“Modern Family” is ABC’s jewel in the crown right now, with lots of prestige and awards. I’m surprised they let this go so far and become so public.
John Mellencamp to Get First Steinbeck Award Since 2003
The last time the Steinbeck Award was given out was in 2003, to Joan Baez. Named for the famed author of “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men,” the award will now go to John Mellencamp. Good for him. Mellencamp has stayed true to his roots over the years, writing and singing about hard working men and women. He and Baez have also each won the Woody Guthrie Award. Other winners of the Steinbeck Award include Bruce Springsteen, Arthur Miller, Studs Terkel, Dolores Huerta, John Sayles, Jackson Browne, Garrison Keillor, Joan Baez, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, and Rachel Maddow. Good for John Mellencamp, whose “Little Pink Houses” and “Jack and Diane” are just a few of his vignettes that are emblematic of John Steinbeck. (So too really is “I Need a Lover Who Won’t Drive Me Crazy.”) He’s also one of the last story teller songwriters– something that’s become a lost art, sadly, in an age of tripe lyrics.
According to a press release:
The Steinnbeck Award will be given to Mellencamp on Monday, July 30, at the historic California Theatre in San Jose, CA, Thomas Steinbeck will present the John Steinbeck Award to singer/songwriter/activist John Mellencamp. “A Conversation and Special Performance” will include a talk with Mellencamp, moderated by Robert Santelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum, and musical performance from Mellencamp.
The John Steinbeck Award has been called “a beacon for the left” and its list of recipients “a who’s who of disturbers.” Previous recipients of the John Steinbeck Award are: .
The Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University is the world’s leading archive of Steinbeck materials, with over 30,000 items. The Center has been authorized by the Steinbeck estate to present awards to those artists and activists whose work exemplifies the themes and values found in the writings of John Steinbeck: in particular, his concern for the natural environment, his commitment to the common people, and his willingness to critique the contrasts between the powerful and the poor.
Of John Mellencamp, Thomas Steinbeck, noted author and the surviving son of John Steinbeck, said: “My father always carried a deep and profound respect for songwriters and musicians. He felt they were the voice of the people and had the unique opportunity to reach the very souls of the people. Like Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, and a handful of others, John Mellencamp has done just that. He has spent his life serving as a voice for the people.
“John’s 40-year career makes one marvel. As an artist, John Mellencamp has been a superb singer-songwriter-storyteller; as an exemplary activist, and as a creator and longtime champion of Farm Aid, he has maintained the true spirit of John Steinbeck’s compassion for the worker. Without question, John Mellencamp has earned the John Steinbeck Award, and it will be my great pleasure to present it to him.”
John Mellencamp commented, “John Steinbeck’s remarkable ability to give voice to the common man and to people on society’s margins, to describe their plight and aspirations, continues to inspire us more than a century after his birth. I’m very honored to be the recipient of an award given in his name.”
The John Steinbeck Award, “in the souls of the people,” was first given in 1996. Nominations for the award are made by a committee of members of the board of the Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University.
Randy Jackson, Michael’s Delusional Brother: “We Were Denied Access to Our Own Home”
Just a little while ago, on MSNBC, Rev. Al Sharpton interviewed Randy Jackson, Michael’s brother, about yesterday’s fracas. Randy says quite clearly. “We were denied access to our own home.” Is Randy delusional? The home, in a gated community in Calabasas, is rented by the Michael Jackson estate for Katherine Jackson and her three grandchildren. Also living there is Joe Jackson’s nephew, Trent, whom Randy and Jermaine despise. But Trent was hired by Michael Jackson years ago to take care of his mother. It’s the estate on the lease, with occupants listed as Katherine, the kids, and Trent. Randy Jackson, accusing the executors of Michael’s estate of criminal misconduct, now believes that house in Calabasas is his, too.
Meanwhile, Randy, Jermaine, Rebbie and Janet have caused a huge problem in their family. Tonight, Marlon, Tito, and Jackie appeared on “The Insider.” Marlon broke down in tears claiming they don’t know where their mother is, and that they’ve been prevented from speaking with her. What a nasty situation the others have wrought. It’s going to end very badly. And it’s all because of money.