Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 2110

Exclusive: Springsteen Sax Man Clarence Clemons Said Seriously Ill from Stroke

Roger Friedman
-
97

Exclusive: We’re sending prayers to The Big Man, Clarence Clemons He is said to be seriously ill after a stroke at his home in Florida. The legendary, magnificent saxophone star of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band has had health complications in the past and overcome them.  But this situation, as described to me this evening, sounds pretty dire. I am told that members of the E Street Band were advised to get down to Florida as soon as possible. Clarence has a history with Springsteen going back to the early 70s. It’s his trademark sound on “Rosalita” and other songs from “The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle” that established Bruce, and moved him from singer songwriter to R&B aficionado. By the time Clarence’s sax is heard on “Born to Run” in 1975, Springsteen’s entire trajectory is changed. More recently, in addition to working with Bruce, Clarence can be heard all over Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” album.

PS Thanks to everyone who gave us credit for this sad scoop–except of course the hacks at the Hollywood Reporter.

Broadway: After Tony Awards, Born Yesterday May Be Gone Tomorrow

Roger Friedman
-
1

Tonight: the Tony Awards on CBS. Don’t miss ’em. You’ll see the best of the past Broadway season. But once the parties and fun are over, get ready for closing notices. “Million Dollar Quartet” has already announced it’s closing today.

I’m told that the highly praised revival of “Born Yesterday,” with Jim Belushi, Robert Sean Leonard and breakout star Nina Arianda, is likely to be the first casualty. Producers have already discussed this with the cast, I’m told. The play took in only $216,000 last week.

“Born Yesterday” is not alone. “Bengal Tiger,” with Robin Williams, is already set to close on July 3rd. The revival of Tom Stoppard‘s “Arcadia”-also so good–will go, too, next Sunday.”The Normal Heart”–which should not be missed–ends next month, as do “The Motherf—- in the Hat,” “The Importance of Being Earnest.” and  John Leguizamo’s “Ghetto Klown.”

Right now the best deal on Broadway has to be “The House of Blue Leaves” with big stars Ben Stiller, Edie Falco, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The show, ending its limited run on July 23rd, is only selling at 69% of capacity. It’s frequently for sale at half price at the TKTS booth on 47th Street. That closing date is still a way off, and seats have to be filled.

August is going to be a quiet month on Broadway. With all these shows closing, though, it may be a good sign for “Baby It’s You,” the fun musical about Florence Greenberg and how she discovered the Shirelles and other groups. We’ll cross our fingers.

 

Judith Light, Tony Nominee, Awaiting Word for Soap Return

Roger Friedman
-
1

Tony nominee Judith Light (“Lombardi”) hasn’t heard yet from the soap “One Life to Live” with an offer to return before the show ends in January 2012. Light appeared on “One Life” in the 1980s and arguably made the single most lasting impression of any actor in that show’s history other than star Erika Slezak. She played Karen Wolek, a housewife who was also a hooker. Coincidentally, the man who played Karen’s pimp, Gus, was actor Dan Lauria–who is now Light’s co-star in “Lombardi” as the famous coach.

Judith and husband Robert Desiderio were among the guests last evening at the Tony Awards cocktail party and presentation of lifetime achievement and special awards. Angela Lansbury, Vanessa Redgrave, and Lily Rabe were also among the notables at the Intercontinental Barclay Hotel event. Phil Smith, who’s been with the Shubert Organization since 1957 and now leads it, was one of the honorees. Manhattan’s Drama Book Store also got an award.

Light has had a pretty terrific career since appearing on “One Life to Live.” She went on to star in prime time’s “Who’s the Boss?” When that ended, Light went to Broadway and got outstanding reviews for her work in Margaret Edson‘s award winning play, “Wit.”The New York Times’ Peter Marks wrote in 1999: “All eyes, though, are on Ms. Light, as well they should be. Her conjuring of an unstoppable life force as it draws to a halt is cause for grief, but mostly exaltation. No wonder the lighting designer Michael Chybowski blankets her final exit — one of the great treatments of nudity on a contemporary stage — in ethereal white light. When she departs, it is truly in a blaze of glory.”

Tonight Judith Light goes up against Ellen Barkin in “The Normal Heart” for best featured actress in a play. She told me Saturday night she doesn’t think she’ll win. “But it’s great being included.”

What about “One Life to Live”? “Let’s get through [Sunday] night first,” she said. But really, she knows it: if the show’s fans could be polled, Judith Light is the one actor they’d want to see return, even if briefly, for a big finale.

Jennifer Hudson’s Big Movie Making Summer

Roger Friedman
-
0

Once Jennifer Hudson gets over her food poisoning–she really got hit with a bad bout of it yesterday–she’s got a busy summer making movies. While her Winnie Mandela movie, “Winnie,” is being readied for film festivals, Hudson has two big summer projects. First she plays a nun in “The Three Stooges,” which should be a hoot despite the strange casting of the main guys. (Sean Hayes? Really?) Then in August Hudson will star in “Mister and Pete,” directed by George Tillman, Jr. and produced by Alicia Keys (among others). This indie film will show Hudson in a gritty role, as a mother who goes to jail and leaves her two young sons to care for themselves. And then, of course, there should be a Grammy push for her latest album and hit single, “Where You At?” She deserves to be not just in best R&B vocal, but Best Female Vocal period. Hopefully, J Records will release one of the there Alicia Keys-penned songs from the album as the next single–considering how much trouble those songs caused in the first place. (That’s another story.) Hudson, I think, is the best singer of her generation, and needs to be treated by the Grammys like a new generation Aretha Franklin. (PS–Get Aretha’s new album on the Walmart website. It’s great.)

James Franco Gets His MFA from Columbia University

Roger Friedman
-
1
James Franco Gets His MFA from Columbia University

Oscar nominated actor James Franco has received his Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University. His diploma–it’s real–is right here. This is quite an accomplishment for anyone, but a working actor with a tough schedule–this is near impossible. Franco is currently enrolled in Yale University’s PhD program. This summer he’ll take classes at Warren Wilson College before heading back to Yale. Franco’s educational journey began with him completing UCLA while he was shooting “Spider Man 2.” Mazel tov!

And no,Franco is NOT making an album of experimental music with anyone. That story, like many about Franco, is untrue. And yes he did look at Earth art out west on a recent road trip. But I am advised that this means Michael Heizer’s “Double Negative” in Nevada,  Robert Smithson‘s “Spiral Jetty” in Utah and Walter de Maria’s “Lightning Fields” in New Mexico. The latter work is said to have inspired part of Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian”–a novel Franco had hoped to direct on screen.

Joan Jett Sues to Stop Charity Tribute Album

Roger Friedman
-
0

Joan Jett may be very charitable but not–her detractors say–when she doesn’t approve it. Jett and former Runaways partner Cherie Currie are now suing MainMan Records to stop them from distributing a charity tribute album of Jett/Runaways songs. The album, “Take it Or Leave It,” features Runaways covers from The Donnas, Shonen Knife, Bebe Buell Band, Care Bears on Fire. members of the Beastie Boys and others. MainMan’s Keith Roth had planned to give proceeds to the American Cancer Institute in memory of Sandy West, the Runaways drummer. But apparently, according to sources, Jett’s manager Kenny Laguna didn’t like the project because he wasn’t involved in it. Now Jett and Currie have filed suit using law firm Baker Hostetler to enjoin the release. Ironically, I’m told, Currie actually sings on one of the tracks–“American Nights” the one Roth produced with his own band, Frankenstein 3000. http://tinyurl.com/3ow37wp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf49Ti7wMRg

PS A source says all the songs were cleared for use. If so, it sounds like Jett and Laguna may just have to endure having good artists play their music for charity. Yikes.

Phoebe Snow’s Pals Jam at a Memorial Tribute

Roger Friedman
-
1

The late great singer Phoebe Snow was memorialized beautifully this week at the Bitter End by her real friends and fans. Phoebe’s great pal May Pang organized a jam session with many of New York’s top session musicians, all of whom had played with Phoebe at some time in the last 35 years. There were cheers and toasts, with lovely ones from producer Russ Titelman, from May herself, talented vocalist Deena Miller, and Phoebe’s closest friends, the Sussman family. Alan St. Jon led the crack band, and there was a hot horn section —Wayne Cobham, Richie Cannata, Frosty Lawson–and backup singers like magnificent Elaine Caswell.

There was also much funk–which Phoebe loved–from covers of “Shaky Ground” to “Mississippi Queen” with the great Mountain drummer, Corky Laing and superior blues vocalist Josh Horton .

The event was organized to raise a little money for SKIP (Sick Kids Need Involved People) http://www.skipofny.org, a group that helps terminally and developmentally disabled children. The whole thing was a joyfest for Phoebe from her real friends, and the people who cared about her before her untimely brain hemorrhage in January 2010.

There was plenty of talk about the “real” Phoebe–her crazy, fun beliefs in aliens, strange religions, messages from outer space, all of it. For a while, Phoebe even practiced psychometry and started getting “ready” from people’s jewelry. She did it once to Columbia Records boss Walter Yetnikoff and freaked him out. Singer-songwriter Drew Yowell told his dumplings/fat bastard story and got tears and laughs.  Everyone mentioned Phoebe’s smile, too, and her big laugh. Phoebe, the music keeps playing.And thanks to May Pang.

This weekend, download Phoebe singing “At Last.” It will change your life.

Cancelled: Black Eyed Peas Show in Central Park

Roger Friedman
-
0

The big Black Eyed Peas show in Central Park has been cancelled, thanks to rain and thunderstorms. By all accounts on Twitter, it’s been a disaster of 50,000 people waiting around in pouring rain for someone to pull the plug. Shades of Diana Ross, on July 21, 1983. Ross wound up coming back, doing a show, and donating a playground. This Peas show was for the Robin Hood Foundation, a group that gives away $100 million a year from extremely wealthy backers. They also pay about $10 million in salaries according to their Form 990 tax filing. It’s an odd organization because they do good deeds but hate the press and are extremely exclusive about their events. Anyway, tonight was a bust but it doesn’t matter to the Foundation. You see, the Black Eyed Peas already played for their big heavy hitters at the Apollo Theater a couple of nights ago. Oh yes. It all worked out where it mattered. Maybe they’ll reschedule this show.

“Spider Man”: $70 Mil Spent, and Only $150K on the Creator?

Roger Friedman
-
0

Here’s a shock. “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” is now at $70 million, maybe more. And Julie Taymor, who created the show from her vision, and worked for nine years on it, has only been paid roughly $150,000. That seems a little ridiculous. Taymor is now seeking $300,000 in back royalties from the show’s production company. The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society has filed for arbitration on her behalf.  “Spider Man” opens officially next Tuesday, June 14th.

I’m kinda shocked. With that big budget, you’d think Taymor would have been getting at least a million dollars. All that money couldn’t have been spent on pulleys and bungie cord.

Playbill.com picks up the story: Laura Penn, executive director of SDC, said in a statement, “Taymor has given nine years of her life to this project. The Producer has absolutely no right, legally and ethically, to withhold royalties that are due to her. In fact, the right to use her work, on Broadway or anywhere else, is dependent upon the payment of royalties.”

The producers have, according to a press statement, “failed to pay to Ms. Taymor any royalties for the run of the production in violation of both the SDC collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and her individual contract. SDC is asking for an accounting from the Producer to determine the precise amount of royalties due to Ms. Taymor, payment of all royalties due to Ms. Taymor, and continued payment of royalties and all other compensation due now and in the future.”

In exchange for royalties, directors and choreographers license their creative work to producers. SDC states that the producers of Spider-Man do not have the rights to use Taymor’s direction unless she is receiving royalties.

According to Karen Azenberg, SDC president, “Royalties are the foundation of the compensation structure for directors and choreographers on Broadway. SDC exists to protect and enforce the rights of our Members to be paid for their work and for ongoing use of their property.”

Seinfeld’s “Marriage Ref,” Vanished in March, Now Set for June 26th

Roger Friedman
-
0

I told you in November that episodes of Jerry Seinfeld’s “The Marriage Ref” had been taped for a second season. I told you then that Regis Philbin, Tracy Morgan, and Susie Essman had taped episodes. Then “The Marriage Ref” went on NBC’s schedule for March 6th. It never aired, and no one ever explained what happened. Now comes word that the show, hosted by Tom Papa, will return on June 26th. Maybe. Who knows? As I reported in November, at least Regis and Tracy are in the first episode. Was this the one taped in November? That’s a long time ago. But classic comedy is timeless. According to a press release, Julianne Moore, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Ellen Pompeo, Joel McHale, Rachel Ray, Bill Maher, Patti LaBelle, Seth Meyers, Judah Friedlander, Will.i.am and Ali Wentworth are all scheduled to make appearances. Remember this show is about those guests and not the daffy real life couples. I still refer to the Larry David, Madonna, Ricky Gervais show as moment of actual brilliance. Let’s hope lightning strikes again.

1...2,1092,1102,111...2,322Page 2,110 of 2,322

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com