What a shame: Bob Welch, who played with the original Fleetwood Mac, died yesterday at age 66. Reports say he committed suicide. Welch was part of the original band, before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the group, and before the career changing “Fleetwood Mac” and “Rumours” albums. He managed to circle around and get two hits off the later Mac’s success, re-recording “Sentimental Lady” and adding a new hit, “Ebony Eyes.” Welch also wrote “Hypnotized,” from the 1973 album “Mystery to Me” that was real Fleetwood Mac for the band’s original fans. He also played lead guitar and sang lead vocals during their “Heroes are Hard to Find” and “Bare Trees” periods. But because he wasn’t an “original” member of the group, he was denied induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame. Reports say he had health issues. He will be sorely missed.
“Prometheus” Looks Like a Hit for 20th Century Fox
It looks like “Prometheus,” directed by Ridley Scott, is going to be a big hit. It opens tomorrow with a high Rottentomatoes.com rating and amazing 3D. Our LEAH SYDNEY saw the film this week and she reports: “Visually stunning with seamless and dazzling CGI, Scott’s film expertly blends crisp 3-D effects and suspense along with the nerve-wracking tense drama and intense paranoia of the characters. So well paced was the film that I was gripping my seat handle in a packed screening room practically the entire 123 minutes of the film.
“While over the top avid geek fans might not feel the same gut wrenching affect that they had with his previous films, (think John Hurt’s chest exploding scene from “Alien,”) “Prometheus,”set in 2093 roughly thirty years earlier than “Alien,” bedazzles with visual fireworks that will impress even the most jaded moviegoers.
“A crew of space explorers are traveling on a trillion dollar mission to a remote moon hoping to find answers to mankind’s beginnings. The actors all deliver with strong performances, especially Idris Elba as the ship’s sexy albeit no-nonsense captain, Noomi Rapace and Logan Marshall-Green as a pair of in love scientists, Michael Fassbender as an eerily precise android and the icy corporate supervisor Charlize Theron.
“Scott, who teamed with writers Damon Lindelof (“Lost,”) and Jon Spaihts, create a story that questions mankind’s origins, touching on science vs. belief and Darwinism vs. creation. Though these ideas are not quite fully developed, they are fascinating and worthy of continuation, where it indeed seems like “Prometheus” is headed”
Jane Fonda– Two Time Oscar Winner–Wants to Take Acting Classes Again
Jane Fonda–winner of two Academy Awards for Best Actress–wants to go back to acting classes. She told the audience at the Film Society of Lincoln Center last night–in an interview with Hilton Als of the New Yorker–that she wants to “update her instrument.” Later she told me, “I don’t know who I’ll go to. But I want a class with other people, not private lessons.”
Fonda was at the Film Society after a long day of promoting her new film, “Peace, Love and Misunderstanding.” It opens tomorrow from IFC Films. Today she’s on “The View.” Tomorrow she takes her grandkids to Chicago to see son Troy Garity on set –where he’s doing a knockout jon on the Starz show “Boss.”
Fonda was pretty candid with Als and the audience about her recent choices of movies. Talking about “Monster in Law” with Jennifer Lopez, she said she did it because she was nervous a new generation wouldn’t know who she was, but they’d know Lopez. “And then they’d get to see me.” She said when she’s walking in the street, she gets more shoutouts for that movie than any other. Her Oscars, by the way, were for “Klute” (1970) and “Coming Home” (1977). Before Fonda stopped acting in the late 1980s, she was the number 1 American actress. Meryl Streep, who succeeded her in that title, got her start in a Fonda film–“Julia.”
Alana Stewart vs. Rod Stewart: Dueling Memoirs Set for Fall
Who remembers what, and when? Still producing progeny rocker Rod Stewart is releasing a memoir this fall, in keeping with recent books by Keith Richards and Steven Tyler. Richards had an excellent memory, but Tyler’s was so-so and Mick Jagger — who claims to remember nothing–was not so happy with Kief’s precise recollections.
Now comes Rod, who will tell it like he kind of remembers it. But now his ex-wife (and still good pal) Alana Hamilton Stewart is also publishing a book, called “Rearview Mirror.” And it’s coming right at the same time. Alana, once married to George Hamilton, has total recall. She’s not so sure Rod does. (And this is the problem with a lot of rockers.) Alana, you see, has kept extremely annotated journals.
She told me last night at People magazine’s book party at the Top of the Standard her book is not a tell -all. But it chronicles her life from poverty in Texas to life in Hollywood, and her steadfast friendship with Farrah Fawcett through her death. It’s going to be a fascinating read. Alana also recently became a grandmother–her daughter Kimberly (with Rod) recently had a baby with actor Benicio del Toro. The two were not a couple, as it were. But Alana reports that Benicio has been “an excellent father” and “very devoted.”
Alana also continues to run the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, despite false accusations last year of malfeasance. In fact, she’s done a great job keeping Farrah’s memory alive.
Also at the People party full of writers and publishers: People editor in chief Larry Hackett, plus “Endless Love” novelist Scott Spencer (a horror novel coming out under a pseudonym), Chris Colfer (see elsewhere in today’s items), Tony Danza (who has a book coming out this fall), Lee Woodruff (a novel), publishers Jamie Raab of Grand Central Books, David Rosenthal from Viking, Lori Glazer from Houghton Mifflin, and Roger Cooper of Vanguard/Perseus. I also spotted Damien Echols of the West Memphis Three with wife Laurie. You’ll recall I announced last year– as he was getting out of jail– that he was writing a book for Viking.
Just a note: how odd it was to be in the Top of the Standard aka the Boom Boom Room, in daylight. It’s very nice up there and the view actually is stunning.
“Glee” Star Chris Colfer, 22, Sells Hot Film to DeNiro Company, and Publishes First Novel
You may know Chris Colfer from “Glee.” He’s just turned 22, and he’s threatening to become the next James Franco. The terrific film he wrote and starred in, “Struck by Lightning.” has been sold, I’m told, to Tribeca Films, Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal’s company. This very mordant comedy hits every note just right, in the same vein as “Juno,” “Little Miss Sunshine” or “Napoleon Dynamite.”
The word is that Tribeca will release it in mid -December. Colfer, who has to return to “Glee” soon, is keeping busy sort of 24/7. He’s written a horror film he hopes to shoot next winter in Louisiana. “We were going to shoot it in August,” he told me at People magazine’s swanky party for the BEA Book convention last night at the Top of the Standard.
“Then we realized there’s no snow in Louisiana now.” Whoops! So Colfer will keep busy promoting his new book, “The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell,” the first part of a trilogy for teens, which Little Brown for Young Readers publishes on July 17th.
And yes, he is just 22 (on May 27th). This Colfer kid is a keeper. More projects are coming. And what about “Glee”? He told me the actors don’t know exactly what’s happening until they get their first scripts. But Colfer’s character graduated from high school, so now he and the other grads will head to New York as “Glee” becomes a show within a show.
Mel Gibson in Joe Eszterhas’s New Book: “The Holocaust is Horseshit”
Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas has published an e book for Amazon about the time he spent trying to work with Mel Gibson. Eszterhas is a controversial figure himself. After a brush with death, he writes, he became a born again Christian. He also discovered that his own Hungarian father was a Nazi collaborator. His recounting of the time he worked with Gibson is called “Heaven and Mel.” It’s a fascinating read and only costs $2.99. It confirms every bad thing about Mel Gibson from the inside: the anti-Semitism, alcoholism, rages, anger, etc.
Here are a few excerpts, with some foul language that I have not redacted:
“Mel lit up another Winston as soon as he finished the first one and I saw now that he was a chain smoker, just like I had been for so many years. This time he made less of an effort to blow the smoke out the door. I started to cough a little bit and cleared my throat. “Geez, I’m sorry,” Mel said. “It’s okay,” I said, and Mel kept smoking. “How old is your priest?” Mel asked. “In his forties somewhere.” “He’s not really a priest then.” I didn’t understand. “Any priest who came after Vatican II in the Sixties isn’t a real priest,” Mel said. I still didn’t understand. “That’s when the church got ruined,” he said. “Read Bella Dodd.” “Who’s Bella Dodd?” I’d never heard of Bella Dodd. “She’s a former Commie who testified about the Commies taking over the Catholic Church.”
HE TRASHES PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. Of his co-writer on “The Passion,” Benedict Fitzgerald, he says, “He can’t write. I wrote that whole script. And then he had the balls to sue me for more money! I’m the best thing that ever happened to him.” Of Randall Wallace, who wrote “Braveheart” and has worked on other films with him: “He’s a loser. He’s worthless. He wouldn’t have a career without me.” Of Brian Helgeland, who wrote and directed “Payback” and wrote “Edge of Darkness”: “I got him his first directing job and he turned on me. He’s an ingrate. He used me.”
Of James Carroll, Catholic author and a columnist for The Boston Globe: “He’s a grade-A number one asshole!” Of Philip Anschutz, the head of Walden Media: “They fucked me in the ass. They ripped me off. He’s supposed to be a great Christian.” Of his longtime and loyal publicity manager Alan Nierob: “Don’t ever mention his wig to him. It’s the ugliest wig anyone has ever seen. He’s a fucking pussy. When his sister died, I literally had to hold him in my arms.” The only person I hear him praise is the director Dick Donner, with whom he did five films. Donner, an underrated director and a nice man, also once said, “I have a bust of Abraham Lincoln in my office. And it’s not because of the greatness he did for our country. It’s because whenever I look at it, I have to remember that an actor killed him.”
SAYS TO ME, “I’ve tried therapy and it doesn’t work.” He says to Naomi, “I have so much rage and no one can tell me where it comes from.” Naomi says, “Did your dad get that angry?” Mel says, “No. Hutton could work up some steam, but nothing like me.” Naomi says, “Did your brothers?” Mel grins and says, Oh, yeah.”
THE SUN IS SETTING IN MALIBU and Mel and I are out on the patio talking about Alan Nierob, my former publicity agent and Mel’s present one, a man both of us view as a friend. “Do you know his dad is a Holocaust survivor?” I ask Mel. He looks at me with that flinty eye. “The Holocaust is mostly a lot of horseshit,” he says. I know he’s goading me. He knows how I feel about the Holocaust…
“They’re just a bunch of oven dodgers,” he smiles. It is an actorly smile, the kind of smile Robert Mitchum did so well in “The Night of the Hunter.”
More to come…
Billy Preston Remembered: Six Years Gone, and His Estate is Still in Chaos
Billy Preston, the Fifth Beatle, long time accompanist for The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, and a pop star in his own right, died six years ago today. He was 59 and had been in a coma for months. Billy’s still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even though he had major hits like “Nothing from Nothing” and “Will it Go Round in Circles.” He is the only artist ever to be featured on a label with the Beatles– on “Get Back.” His keyboard playing is heard throughout the “Let it Be” album. Keith Richards has credited him for inventing the sound of “Miss You.”
Believe it or not, Billy’s estate is still in chaos after six years. His manager, Joyce Moore, a friend of mine in full disclosure, took such excellent care of Billy in his last few years. She was also his business partner. Preston did not have much use for his own family. He thought he was leaving his estate in good hands with Moore. Nevertheless, his sister and half-sister have continued to fight Moore. Also, celebrity bankruptcy receiver R. Todd Neilson has waged a crazy war against Moore in the courts. It’s a shame. The case is very convoluted, and misguided. More on that soon.
Meantime, here’s a video link for Billy and Sam “Soul Man” Moore singing Billy’s “You are So Beautiful.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG0p15k8pIQ
“Book of Mormon” Added to Tony Show Sunday, Even Though It’s From Last Year
“The Book of Mormon”–still the biggest hit on Broadway–is going to be featured on this year’s Tony Awards. (This Sunday, CBS.) A little weird since “Mormon” won last year’s Best Musical. But the Tonys are about featuring Broadway’s best material, and “Mormon” continues to have them rolling in the aisles. Who exactly is going to perform on the Tonys from “Mormon” should be interesting. Last year, Josh Gad–who was nominated for Best Actor–didn’t get to be on TV. His co-star Andrew Rannells sang solo. Today is Gad’s last day with the show, so it’s unlikely he’ll be on the Tonys. Rannells is leaving shortly, as well. They each have TV shows.
“Mormon” will be featured along with this year’s musicals like “Once,” “Newsies,” and “Peter and the Starcatcher.” The Tonys are hosted again by Neil Patrick Harris, with performers and presenters including Ellen Barkin, Candice Bergen, Matthew Broderick, Jessica Chastain, Sheryl Crow, Nick Jonas, Angela Lansbury, Ricky Martin, James Marsden, Ricky Martin, Jim Parsons, Mandy Patinkin, Tyler Perry, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Bernadette Peters, Christopher Plummer, Paul Rudd, Amanda Seyfried, Ben Vereen among others.
Updated: Christian Borle Leaving “Starcatcher,” Heading Back to “Smash”
It does seem like Christian Borle, star of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” is leaving the kooky play soon after Sunday’s Tony Awards. A casting call has gone out for his character, “Black Stache,” the antagonist of everything that goes on in the play with music. (This has been a confusing year of plays with music and musicals with plays–or something like that.) Borle probably has to leave to get ready for second season taping of the NBC show, “Smash.” Even though “Smash” won’t return to the NBC lineup until after the beginning of next year, the episodes for season two begin filming in July.
The casting call sheet is looking for a new “Stache” immediately. The first performance is set for either July 2 or July 9. Borle is nominated for a Tony Award as a featured actor (he’s been nominated before, for “Legally Blonde”). This year he’s up against Michael Cumpsty, Andrew Garfield, Tom Edden, and Jeremy Shamos. He’s great in “Starcatcher,” but the show itself is only doing so -so at the box office. Without any Tony wins, “Starcatcher” — which started off Broadway– may be facing a closing notice by the end of the summer. (Try and see it–it’s a very clever show.)
A rep for “Starcatcher” says that they know Borle has to leave for “Smash”–they just want to be ready when he does.
Debra Winger Making Broadway Debut in David Mamet Play
Debra Winger is going to make her Broadway debut this fall. She’s signed on to a David Mamet two hander (that’s two actors) called “The Anarchist.” Broadway legend Patti Lupone is her co-star. Winger, once one of the most in demand actresses in movies, sort of took herself out of the business and slowed down her trajectory around 20 years ago. After hits like “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Urban Cowboy,” and “Terms of Endearment,” Winger just cooled it. Every once in a while she turns up in something. but it’s a rarity. In 2010 she had a recurring role in HBO’s “In Treatment.” She’s also featured in “Lola Versus” with new star Greta Gerwig. A few years ago, when I interviewed her about not working, Winger said, “I don’t think I’ve missed anything.” She’s going to be just great on Broadway. “The Anarchist” will be a hot, hot ticket.