Rebekah Brooks is finally gone. The head of News International has resigned, pressured by the phone hacking scandal. She didn’t quit because Rupert or James Murdoch wanted to. According to Reuters, it was Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who owns 7 percent of News Corp. He told the BBC’s Newsnight show on Thursday night: “For sure she has to go, you bet she has to go…Ethics to me is very important, definitely. I will not tolerate to deal with a company that has a lady or a man that has any sliver of doubt on her or his integrity,” Alwaleed said on the broadcast. So at least we know who’s in charge. Brooks will nevertheless have to appear in Parliament to answer questions with both Murdochs next week. There are reports as well that News Corp will take out full page ads apologizing for the phone hacking scandal. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch gave an interview on the matter to the Wall Street Journal, which he owns. According to the New York Times, former staffers of Murdoch’s News of the World are outraged that their livelihoods were sacrificed for Brooks, whom they feel caused the entire scandal. Nine former Murdoch staffers have been arrested in connection with the scandal.
U2 Tour Ending, Group Wants to Sell Its “Claw” Stage
U2 is finishing the most successful tour in the annals of everything. So what’s next? They want to sell their stage–that’s right, I mean, everything they used including The Claw, the gigantic device that moved around and looked like one of those metal picker things in 25 cent candy machines. Only really humungous. You can read all about this at http://www.panthermanagement.com/theclaw/news01.php Who doesn’t want a claw in their backyard? Maybe Julie Taymor can use it, or it can be incorporated into “Spider Man” some how.
Here’s a description: “Designed by Bono, Willie Williams and Mark Fisher, the massive stage structure is an industry first. Tried and tested at over 110 concerts in 78 cities in 30 countries, the in-the-round transportable structure was designed to support up to 185 tonnes and engineered to withstand high winds while sustaining seismic loads. While on tour, “the claw” carried a cylindrical video screen able to open to a size of 14,000 square feet and designed to provide fans with the best possible concert viewing experience ever. It was an overwhelming success.” The last stop on the 360 tour is July 3o in Moncton, Canada. Bring your station wagon if you want to drive the Claw home.
McCartney Ready for Yankee Stadium, But Without Billy Joel
At first it seemed like we’d be getting a tradition. Billy Joel closed Shea Stadium with Paul McCartney as a guest. Then Paul opened CitiField with Billy as a guest. Two years later, fans might hope that Billy would guest again for McCartney at Yankee Stadium. The ex Beatle is playing two shows there this weekend, Friday and Saturday. Alas, it doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Right now Billy is expected to be a seated guest on Saturday night. He has no plans to play with McCartney from what I’m told. Maybe minds will change before Saturday’s show is over. Right now, those of going on Friday night can look forward to a great show, I’m told, with lots of “new” old songs and, of course, fireworks like crazy during “Live and Let Die.” Check here for a full report on Friday, very late.
Murdoch Will Spin Phone Hacking With Pros, But Not Son-In-Law
Rupert Murdoch has hired a crisis PR team in the UK to handle the phone hacking scandal. But according to the Guardian newspaper in Britain, Murdoch did not choose his son in law, Matthew Freud, who runs Freud Communications. Freud is married to Elizabeth Murdoch, daughter of Rupert and brother of James, and is considered a powerhouse in London public relations.
Not picking Freud is a wee bit odd, but hey, everything about this story is strange. Of course it was Freud who seemed to go against his father in law when he told the New York Times in January 2010: “I am by no means alone within the family or the company in being ashamed and sickened by [Fox News chief] Roger Ailes’s horrendous and sustained disregard of the journalistic standards that News Corporation, its founder and every other global media business aspires to.” So maybe it’s best he stays out of this.
According to the Guardian, Murdoch has engaged Edelman Public Relations. Freud, reached for comment by the Guardian, said: “Neither Matthew Freud or the agency was advising NI on this issue, nor had Freud advised on the closure of the News of the World.” The Guardian says Edelman has been on the case since June 20th. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/14/phone-hacking-rupert-murdoch
George Harrison Memoir Coming From Wife Olivia
George Harrison‘s widow, Olivia Harrison, is set to publish a book this fall from Abrams. It’s going to be published at the same time that HBO broadcasts a two-segment documentary about George from Martin Scorsese called “Living in the Material World.” Olivia has been the most devoted keeper of George’s flame that anyone could ask for. The book should be tremendous. The book is described as “a personal archive of photographs, letters, diaries, and memorabilia from George’s life that reveals the arc of his life, from his guitar-obsessed boyhood in Liverpool, to the astonishment of the Beatles years, to his days as an independent musician and bohemian squire.” Olivia says on the Harrison/Beatles website of the Scorsese movie: “Martin Scorsese’s intuition towards George was evident the first time we met to discuss this project. He sensed what George was about: his music, his strong beliefs, his art, his place in the Beatles story, and his extraordinary life afterwards. Marty’s wonderful film has found all of that and more.”
Emmy Nominations: Jon Cryer, Matt LeBlanc, Gywneth, Mad Men, Modern Family
The Emmy nominations are in, and Jon Cryer has his for “Two and a Half Men.” That’s it for that series, with no Charlie Sheen or the series. It’s no surprise. Matt LeBlanc, whose career you might have thought was over, was nominated for playing himself on “Episodes” for Showtime, There are boat loads for “Mad Men,” “Boardwalk Empire,” and “Modern Family,” of course. And some interesting choices. Robert Morse from “Mad Men,” who’s a series regular, got nominated as a guest actor from that show. Meanwhile, the actresses who played Miss Blankenship (Randee Heller) and Dr. Faye (Cara Buono) also got nominated as guests.
In what seems like a first, maybe, since the early days of “Saturday Night Live,” Kristen Wiig got a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a comedy for her work on that show. She should win, hands down. Missing from all the actress noms: Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths, for “Brothers and Sisters,” and Amy Ryan or Jenna Fischer from “The Office.” Indeed, “The Office” cast, other than Steve Carell, got dissed. All the supporting actor noms for comedy, besides Cryer, went to “Modern Family.” It’s hard to imagine, but even James Spader was snubbed for his guest spot on “The Office”–his consolation is that he was hired for the series.
I do think it’s funny that at the end of the massive list of Byzantine nominations–reality show cinematography, prosthetics, use of interactives–is when the writing nominations are finally listed. That’s Hollywood. Two “Mad Men” episodes were nominated– “The Suitcase” and “Blowing Smoke”–“The Suitcase” will win. And in comedy only one from “The Office,” the episode in which Michael leaves. Totally missed was the episode in which Michael proposes to Holly, which should have been nominated and won. Oh well. You can’t have everything.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • CBS •
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
The Big Bang Theory • CBS •
Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter
Episodes • Showtime •
Matt LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc
Louie • FX Networks • FX Productions
Louis C.K. as Louie
The Office • NBC •
Steve Carell as Michael Scott
30 Rock • NBC •
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire • HBO •
Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson
Dexter • Showtime •
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
Friday Night Lights • DirecTV •
Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor
House • FOX •
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House
Justified • FX Networks •
Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Jon Hamm as Don Draper
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Carlos • Sundance Channel • Daniel Leconte/Film en Stock with the participation of Canal Plus and ARTE in association with Sundance Channel, co-produced by Egoli Tossel
Edgar Ramirez as Carlos
The Kennedys • ReelzChannel • A Muse Entertainment Production in association with Asylum Entertainment
Greg Kinnear as John F. Kennedy
The Kennedys • ReelzChannel • A Muse Entertainment Production in association with Asylum Entertainment
Barry Pepper as Bobby Kennedy
Luther • BBC America • A BBC and BBC America co-production distributed by BBC Worldwide
Idris Elba as John Luther
Thurgood • HBO • A Stevens Company Production in association with Ostar Productions, Cinema Gypsy Productions and HBO Films
Laurence Fishburne as Thurgood Marshall
Too Big To Fail • HBO • A Spring Creek and A Deuce Three Production in association with HBO Films
William Hurt as Henry ‘Hank’ Paulson
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
The Big C • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Sony Pictures Television, Perkins Street Productions, Farm Kid, Original Film
Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison
Mike & Molly • CBS • Bonanza Productions, Inc. in association with Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. and Warner Bros. Television
Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn
Nurse Jackie • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber, A Caryn Mandabach Production
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton
Parks And Recreation • NBC • Produced by Deedle-Dee Productions, Fremulon, 3 Arts and Universal Media Studios
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope
Raising Hope • FOX • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Martha Plimpton as Virginia Chance
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Friday Night Lights • DirecTV • Imagine Entertainment in association with Universal Media Studios and Film 44
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick
Harry’s Law • NBC • Bonanza Productions, Inc. in association with David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television
Kathy Bates as Harriet “Harry” Korn
The Killing • AMC • Fox Television Studios
Mireille Enos as Sarah Linden
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Cinema Verite • HBO • A Pariah Production in association with HBO Films
Diane Lane as Patricia Loud
Downton Abbey (Masterpiece) • PBS • A co-production of Carnival and Masterpiece
Elizabeth McGovern as Cora, Countess of Grantham
Mildred Pierce • HBO • A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
Kate Winslet as Mildred Pierce
Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story • Lifetime • High Street Films, Inc in association with Lifetime
Taraji P. Henson as Tiffany Rubin
Upstairs Downstairs (Masterpiece) • PBS • A co-production of BBC Wales and WGBH Boston
Jean Marsh as Rose Buck
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • Ryan Murphy Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Ed O’Neill as Jay Pritchett
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Game Of Thrones • HBO • Bighead, Littlehead, 360 Television, Grok and
Generator Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Josh Charles as Will Gardner
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Alan Cumming as Eli Gold
Justified • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions
Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
John Slattery as Roger Sterling
Men Of A Certain Age • TNT • TNT Original Production
Andre Braugher as Owen
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
The Kennedys • ReelzChannel • A Muse Entertainment Production in association with Asylum Entertainment
Tom Wilkinson as Joe Kennedy
Mildred Pierce • HBO • A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
Guy Pearce as Monty Beragon
Mildred Pierce • HBO • A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
Brian F. O’Byrne as Bert Pierce
Too Big To Fail • HBO • A Spring Creek and A Deuce Three Production in association with HBO Films
Paul Giamatti as Ben Bernanke
Too Big To Fail • HBO • A Spring Creek and A Deuce Three Production in association with HBO Films
James Woods as Richard Fuld
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • Ryan Murphy Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester
Hot In Cleveland • TV Land • Hudson Street Productions
Betty White as Elka Ostrosky
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristen Wiig as Various characters
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire • HBO • Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Kelly Macdonald as Margaret Schroeder
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
Justified • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions
Margo Martindale as Mags Bennett
The Killing • AMC • Fox Television Studios
Michelle Forbes as Mitch Larsen
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Downton Abbey (Masterpiece) • PBS • A co-production of Carnival and Masterpiece
Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Mildred Pierce • HBO • A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
Evan Rachel Wood as Veda Pierce
Mildred Pierce • HBO • A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
Melissa Leo as Lucy Gessler
Mildred Pierce • HBO • A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
Mare Winningham as Ida
Upstairs Downstairs (Masterpiece) • PBS • A co-production of BBC Wales and WGBH Boston
Eileen Atkins as Lady Maud Holland
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
The Big C • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Sony Pictures Television, Perkins Street Productions, Farm Kid, Original Film
Idris Elba as Lenny
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Nathan Lane as Pepper Saltzman
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Zach Galifianakis, Host
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Justin Timberlake, Host
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Matt Damon as Carol
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Will Arnett as Devin Banks
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Big Love • HBO • Anima Sola Productions and Playtone in association with HBO Entertainment
Bruce Dern as Frank Harlow
Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Beau Bridges as Nick Brody
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning
Harry’s Law • NBC • Bonanza Productions, Inc. in association with David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television
Paul McCrane as Josh Peyton
Justified • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions
Jeremy Davies as Dickie Bennett
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • Ryan Murphy Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Kristin Chenoweth as April Rhodes
Glee • FOX • Ryan Murphy Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Beiste
Glee • FOX • Ryan Murphy Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Gwyneth Paltrow as Holly Holliday
Raising Hope • FOX • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Cloris Leachman as Maw Maw
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Tina Fey, Host
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Elizabeth Banks as Avery
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
The Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Mary McDonnell as Capt. Sharon Raydor
Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Chip Johannessen Productions
Julia Stiles as Lumen Pierce
Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Loretta Devine as Adele Webber
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Randee Heller as Miss Blankenship
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Cara Buono as Faye Miller
Shameless • Showtime • Showtime Presents, John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television
Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson
True Blood • HBO • Your Face Goes Here Entertainment in association with HBO Entertainment
Alfre Woodard as Ruby Jean Reynolds
“Glee” Star Lea Michele At “Hair” Premiere After Pink Slip
Poor little Lea Michele. Imagine getting fired from your wildly popular TV show and the news breaks while you’re sitting in a Broadway premiere. A premiere, by the way, filled with press people. And so, as the revival of “Hair” went into intermission, many of us got messages on our electronic devices that Michele, Cory Montieth and Chris Colfer were not going to make it into the fourth season of “Glee.” Ryan Murphy, the show’s creator, told the Hollywood Reporter this, and the news spread like wildfire. You look down at the Blackberry and then behind me four rows is the very same Lea Michele, squirreled into her seat and buried beneath large hat, hidden by boyfriend Theo Stockman, a former member of the “Hair” cast (and son of novelist Jayne Anne Phillips).
Timing is everything. Lea — who will likely headlining a revival of “Funny Girl” headed to Broadway– was not so pleased to be recognized, but polite nonetheless. This reporter tried to make it seem like an opportunity–“You could star in a Broadway show,” I said to her with hopefulness. “I’ve never been in a Broadway show,” she replied. I’m sure she was thinking that she’d signed a five or six year contract with “Glee,” so what gives? Good question. Even the kids from “Beverly Hills 90210” were allowed to age into college.
Meanwhile, “Hair” — now in its third or fourth version since its 2008 smash in Central Park–is better than ever. Who’da thunk it? This cast has been on the national tour, and will play the St. James Theater–once home to “Hello, Dolly!” and “The Producers” — for ten weeks. It’s joyous, ebullient, raucous and satisfying. The songs remain timeless and perfect. The staging is tighter than ever. Creator James Rado, who sat in front of me, confided, “They’ve been doing a lot of work on it.” You can see director Diane Paulus is still fine tuning. Like “A Chorus Line,” “Hair” started at the Public Theater. That group’s leader, Oskar Eustis, was sitting right up front. “Hair” makes the money so that Eustis can stage things like his very fine “Measure for Measure” in Central Park this summer. It’s the one place where art and com
merce meet nicely.
Also at “Hair”: former cast member Will Swenson, now star of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” He brought superstar girlfriend Audra McDonald, who won a Tony for the original version of “Master Class”–which just got revived on Broadway, too. “I went last night with Zoe Caldwell,” Audra said of her co-star in that show. “I’d never seen it before”– because of course she was on stage. Audra has left TV’s “Private Practice” to return to Broadway in “Porgy and Bess” later this year. It’s about time. If she’s not singing, it’s a waste of super powers.
PS Kudo’s to the “Hair” cast, but I especially liked Caren Lynn Tackett, who gets to sing the show’s big numbers “Easy to Be Hard” and “Good Morning Starshine.” Her four year old daughter Raven, full of blonde curls, sat in the first row like a lady, drawing pictures and occasionally looking up to mouth the words to the songs. Raven has done the whole national tour and knows the show by heart. When a member of the “Hair” tribe comes and sits with her during the show, Raven barely registers surprise. It’s her life.
Natasha Lyonne Joins American Pie Reunion–Scooped Last Week
Was July 8th so long ago that Nikki Finke can’t look this up? I reported that Natasha Lyonne was joining “American Reunion” back on July 8th. Here it is again, for her edification: http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/07/08/tyne-daly-soars-on-broadway-natasha-lyonne-goes-for-pie To wit: I ran into Natasha Lyonne, who would have been a hit comedic actress I think long ago if personal problems had not sidetracked her. It’s okay, she’s only 32, and has plenty of time. Lyonne –I can tell you exclusively–has just signed on to reprise her role of Jessica in the “American Pie” reunion movie called, surprise, “American Reunion.” She joins Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Eugene Levy, and Sean William Scott in the comedy. Lyonne, I believe, was the last holdout from the original 1999 cast. Since the original, she made her name in “Slums of Beverly Hills” and Woody Allen‘s “Everyone Says I Love You.” Lyonne is ready for an HBO comedy series–she could be a real “overnight sensation.”
Murdoch, News Corp Give Up BSkyB Bid
We knew it was over, but here’s the official announcement. Rupert Murdoch and News Corp have been forced to drop the quest to take over BSkyb in the UK. The phone hacking scandal is getting worse, from all reports. Is this the end? News Corp may always return in a couple of years. The public has a short memory. It all depends on how much worse this thing gets. Murdoch, by the way, may make an appearance in the Hamptons this weekend at a screening of a documentary his wife, Wendi, produced. That event should be the p.r. Armageddon of the summer. PS NY Post still ignoring the story, Foxnews.com burying it on web site.
NEWS CORPORATION WITHDRAWS PROPOSED OFFER FOR BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
News Corporation (“News Corp”) announces that it no longer intends to make an offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC (“BSkyB”) not already owned by it.
Chase Carey, Deputy Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation, commented: “We believed that the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation would benefit both companies but it has become clear that it is too difficult to progress in this climate. News Corporation remains a committed long-term shareholder in BSkyB. We are proud of the success it has achieved and our contribution to it.”
Aretha Franklin Visits, Sings Along to “Baby It’s You” on Broadway
What a night for the cast of Broadway’s “Baby, It’s You”! The one and only Queen of Soul, Miss Aretha Franklin, arrived a couple of minutes late at the Broadhurst Theater and had to wait –with her guests–at the top of the aisle until the first scene was over. Then Aretha and her gang of 8 (including boyfriend Willie Wilkerson and singer Fonzie Thornton) quickly took their seats in the fourth row, center, and settled in to enjoy the proceedings. During much of the show about the Shirelles and Scepter Records founder Florence Greenberg, Aretha could be heard singing along to the hit songs or reminiscing about various acts highlighted in the terrific musical including pals like Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson.
It didn’t take too long before not a few of the audience members realized who in their midst and began whispering about their good fortune. Indeed, after the show, Franklin and co. got stuck in front of the Broadhurst waiting for her car–the driver had edged up West 44th St. towards the show “Memphis” which was just getting out. Suddenly a huge group of people five deep encircled Franklin and friends, with people cheering and shouting, “We love you!” Franklin was moved and waved to one and all.
By the way, she’s lost a good amount of weight and looks great. Contrary to reports of her imminent death in the National Enquirer, Franklin is in town for a bit this month to take classical piano lessons and enjoy New York. She performs July 27th at Jones Beach. Her album, “A Woman Falling Out of Love,” has been a huge hit for Walmart.com and Wal Mart stores.
Oh yes, she told me she loved “Baby It’s You,” especially the choreography. “I didn’t know Florence Greenberg,” she said, “or her story. But I certainly know Chuck and Dionne.” When one of the actresses came forward to sing “I Say A Little Prayer” during the encore, the girl looked like she was going to faint when she spotted Aretha in the audience. Franklin, of course, had a big hit with that song with a much different arrangement than the Dionne Warwick version back in the early 70s.