Because so many readers won’t know who he was, I thought I’d mention Michael Sarrazin‘s passing yesterday at age 70. In the 60s and into the mid 70s, Sarrazin was a popular, handsome, but mysterious actor. From Montreal originally, Sarrazin acted with both Jane and Henry Fonda–with Jane in “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They”?” and with Henry in “Sometimes a Great Notion.” They were directed in the latter by Paul Newman. Sarrazin’s big moment was co-starring with Barbra Streisand in a comedy called “For Peter’s Sake.” He had memorable eyes, and a lanky stance, but somewhere between Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, and a few others, he got lost. He was always cast with other top notch actors like George C. Scott. “Star Trek” fans may know him from the series, “Deep Space Nine.” In the end, there’s little publicity about Michael Sarrazin. Julia Phillips only mentions him in passing in “You’ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again.” From 1968 to 1974, Hollywood’s legendary “modern” era, he lived with Jacqueline Bisset. Sarrazin leaves two daughters from another relationship, each of whom works for the Montreal Gazette. Rest in peace.
Exclusive: Michael Douglas on Catherine Zeta Jones and “Liberace”
Michael Douglas: “He’s a rock star,” someone said last night when Douglas came into the Booth Theater to see Kathleen Turner‘s opening night in “High.” He was accompanied by his longtime publicist Allen Burry. It’s true. Everyone wanted to see Douglas, find out how he is, ask after wife Catherine Zeta Jones, etc. He greeted Nederlanders and Shuberts alike. The New York Post’s Cindy Adams, who sometimes bolts during intermissions, was seated next to Burry, and wasn’t going anywhere.
Douglas has survived cancer and kept a mane of shiny, thickish gray hair. Unbelievable. He looks great. At intermission, I asked him about filming his next movie, “Liberace.”
“We have to wait until September, I think,” he said. “Matt Damon’s going off to make a payday picture this summer. And I have to gain some weight.” Damon is indeed filming “Elysium” with Jodie Foster, directed by Neill Blomkamp, for Sony.
And how is CZJ? “She’s off to Louisiana to shoot a new film,” Michael said, making no reference to CZJ’s recent news headlines. I didn’t bring them up. When the film is shot, the family heads to their home in Spain for the summer.
And how is Michael’s dad, Kirk Douglas, who stole the Oscar show? “He’s 94 and doing great,” Michael said. “He did just about steal that show, didn’t he?” He said, and grinned.
Charlie Sheen Has a Bad Day On Both Coasts
I know you’re dying to hear how Charlie Sheen‘s day went. So here it is: in Los Angeles, he lost his custody motion with ex wife and recovering addict Brooke Mueller. The judge did not think their twin boys should be with Daddy on his “Violent Torpedoes of Truth” tour while Mommy was in rehab. So Sheen was thwarted, thank goodness, in that move. He had to skedaddle back to Washington DC for his show in that city at DAR Constitution Hall. So his lawyers had to argue in another L.A. court whether Sheen’s lawsuits with Warner Bros. should be arbitrated or heard by a jury. Sheen wants a jury because in Hollywood, stars win. But the case will likely go to mediation. He got to DC in time to start the show an hour late–it would have been a half hour late anyway, so what’s the diff? He was heckled, there was booing, people left. A Washington journalist who was Tweeting said the only celebs in the audience were those now famous Washington party crashers. Dan Zak notes: “Geez, everybody hates everything,” Sheen says as restive crowd catcalls nearly every line of his or his radio host interviewer. And the beat goes on.
Kathleen Turner Brings Out Her Exes for “High”
Kathleen Turner has a lot of loyal exes, I’ll say that for her. Last night for the premiere of her new play, called “High,” she packed the house with ’em. Michael Douglas, her co-star in three classic films (“War of the Roses,” the two “Romancing the Stone” movies) was on the aisle, center. Douglas, looking great, by the way, was seated right in front of Bill Irwin, who co-starred with Kathleen on Broadway in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Across the aisle from Irwin, Kathleen’s “Serial Mom” director, John Waters. And elsewhere in the theater was Turner’s ex husband, Jay Weiss, with their daughter, Rachel. Apart from the exes, I chatted with Elaine Stritch, Carroll Baker, Tovah Feldshuh, and Alan Cummings.
It was a hot night in the Booth Theater, as Kathleen and her co-stars–Stephen Kunken and Evan Jonigkeit–worked like dogs to make something of a slight, melodramatic play by Michael Lombardo. To their credit, they did it–and Turner–a multiple Oscar and Tony nominee–knows how to work an audience.
The ladies (and maybe a few guys) were happy with Jonigkeit‘s Broadway debut, especially his full frontal nudity. He’s naked on the floor of the stage for quite some time. I asked him if it gets cold up there. “I talk to stage manager a lot about it,” he said. Luckily he’s thrown a blanket at one point.
Not everyone made it down to Madison Square Park on 26th St. for the after party at SD26. They made a big mistake. Tony May has transplanted his famous San Domenico to this spot, and the food was the best so far this theater season. It certainly helped put the unsavory subject matter of “High,” the story of a recovering alcoholic nun/social worker who tries to help a 19 year old junkie. A little good pasta goes a long way!
P Diddy: Unusual Twitter Appeal for More Acting Work, Offers to Donate Pay
Sean Combs, aka P Diddy et al, really likes acting, maybe more than rapping, making records, and selling vodka. He had such a good time guest starring on “Hawaii 5-0” last night that he’s sent out a bunch of unusual Tweets to his followers. In his latest he wrote: “ATTN all independent film directors+producers-if im blessed to be in ur film ill donate my pay to charity+bring soulfood to set 4 everyone!!” But that’s not all: “For all acting inquiries pls contact my agents at CAA-Nick Styne @tricky44 and David Bugliari.” There was even this one: “I take direction well. I’m always on time. I don’t come with a entourage! and I know how to play my position! No EGO! I wanna work! Hire me!”
and this one:
“Attention all Film directors, casting agents, producers, writers! I am a aspiring actor for Hire! Pls call me if you have a job 4 me! 4real”
So, he’s a nice boy and he needs a break. Can’t someone help him? Indie filmmakers take note: he’ll donate his pay to charity! (Note: you should donate the pay, and take the tax deduction.) Combs has 3.6 million Twitter followers, so he should get some bites!
Jeff Bridges New Album–Scooped Here November 1st; “Idol” Conspiracy?
The trades are reporting that Oscar winner and now six time nominee Jeff Bridges “has inked a contract with Blue Note Records.” Yes, well, we told you this on November 1, 2010.See here: http://tinyurl.com/3gmlarf That was how many months ago? By now, the album should be recorded and ready to go, frankly. Anyway, just as I wrote almost six months ago, the album will have songs by Bridges as well as the writers whose songs made “Crazy Heart” so memorable.
Maybe Jeff will get a chance to play on “American Idol” or “X Factor”…If he gets on the former, beware the voting process. “AI” fans are still up in arms over the expulsion of Pia Toscano a couple of weeks ago. But producer Nigel Lythgoe tells our Leah Sydney— at the HRTS Hollywood Radio & TV SocietyNewsmaker Luncheon in Beverly Hills– that Toscano was never a contendah. .Her voting-off was “a surprise-but at the same time just part of the process. I’m quite shocked about the furor over it all. She was never in the top five. There are always conspiracy theorists. It’s going to happen every week now. I don’t think about the conspiracy theorists because they’re impossible. We get the voting from AT&T and from Telescope. Delighted with the judges and how tremendous they’ve been. We have huge talent this year-and I’ve really appreciative of that.”
The HRTS brought out all the reality Kingpins including Thom Beers (“Deadliest Catch”), Stephen Lambert, (“Undercover Boss”) and J. D. Roth, (The Biggest Loser) and Sally Ann Salsano (Jersey Shore). They could have had a panel discussion about the destruction of scripted TV and the undermining of intelligence in America–but that’s for another lunch!
Uma Thurman, Jude Law Join Robert DeNiro Make Cannes Jury Star Power High
It’s a very star studded jury next month for the Cannes Film Festival. Uma Thurman and Jude Law are going join head juror Robert DeNiro on the main jury, along with director Oliver Assayas– a Cannes favorite–and Hong Kong filmmaker Johnny To, Argentinian actress Martina Gusman, American-Norwegian writer Linn Ullman (daughter of Liv Ullmann), Chad filmmaker Mahamat Saleh Haroun, and Chinese producer Nansun Shi. DeNiro, Thurman, and Law– sounds like a law firm–add to the star power coming to Cannes like crazy. The restaurants, nightclubs and hotels are going to be jammed with them, and the likes of Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Woody Allen, Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp, and so on. And that’s just people associated with films. The word is that Jane Fonda will be there, too, with L’Oreal, and even more Hollywood luminaries. It’s going to be a crowded Croisette, that’s for sure!
Hoover Hoses ABC, Pulls Ads In Protest Over Soap Cancellations
I’ll tell you what: I’m going to buy a Hoover vacuum cleaner today. The company is pulling its ads from ABC in protest over the cancellations of “One Life to Live” and “All My Children.” It’s a bold statement for an advertiser to take such a position. But good for Brian Kirkendall, VP of marketing for Hoover. He’s like Don Draper taking out his ad on “Mad Men” against smoking. Kirkendall obviously sees what’s coming at ABC: No Regis or Oprah, no two hour block of soaps to which viewers were loyal. Other advertisers should hop on board. ABC has left you all with a mess. (Just the way CBS has done by replacing “As the World Turns” with dreck.) The curious thing is that ABC always put a lot of money and time into soap promotion; CBS did not. For ABC to turn against its audience may become a historic mistake. Here’s the Facebook posting from Hoover:
To all the loyal ABC soap fans,
I want you to know from me personally that we hear you loud and clear. My wife and mother are both passionate viewers of All My Children and One Life to Live, as are many of my colleagues here at Hoover. We were and are as disappointed with this news as you are.
In fact, we will discontinue our advertising with ABC this Friday, 4/22. We’re making every attempt to pull our spots from these programs sooner.
Because we feel that’s not enough, we also want to help get your voice heard with ABC. So, we’ve set up a special email address, SaveTheSoaps@Hoover.com, to help pull together the mass emotional outpouring of support for our beloved ABC soaps and get it to our contacts at ABC. Please, send your emails to us at SaveTheSoaps@Hoover.com, and we’ll get every, single last one of them to ABC.
We’re 150% committed to doing what matters most to you – so if there’s anything else we can do to help or you have any ideas, please email this address, and we will respond to you personally.
Thank you for standing up for what matters to you! We need more of that in this world.
Brian Kirkendall
Vice President of Marketing
Hoover
Tokyo Film Festival Will Go On In the Fall Despite Tragedies
The Tokyo International Film Festival is going to happen this fall despite all of the recent tragedies. It’s amazing, considering what Japan has been through, but more power to them! Here’s the press release that was sent out this morning:
We sincerely thank everyone for all of the heartfelt sympathy, support, and
assistance extended to the people of Japan after the earthquake and tsunami on
March 11, 2011.
After a lot of serious discussions on our mission and role, we have decided to
hold the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) from October 22 (Sat) to
30 (Sun) as scheduled even in these difficult times.
The mission of TIFF is to seek out the finest films from around the world and
present the fruits of Japan’s culture to the world. We believe that our
determination will contribute to the restoration and recovery of the industry
and Japan.
Therefore we will start accepting entries to the Competition from this week,
April 20 (Wed) to July 15 (Fri). A summary of the Regulations for the
Competition 2011 is provided below.
TIFF looks forward to even a larger number of submissions for this year from
around the world.
“Spider Man” Takes A Broadway Break, Will Return with New “Angle”
“Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” played its last preview Sunday afternoon after more than a 100 performances. Without ever officially opening, the $65 million musical closed for three weeks to retool– without its creator and visionary, Julie Taymor. In the audience at the Foxwoods Theatre sat Daniel Ezralow, the fired choreographer, and The Edge (aka David Evans) of the band U2, co-composer with Bono (Paul Hewson), of the show’s songs. There was a rumor that Bono was also in the house, unconfirmed. But missing from the final performance was Taymor, who rightly should have taken a big bow at the end of the show.
This time, as with most “Spider Man” performances, there was a tech glitch. It left Peter Parker (Reeve Carney) and Mary Jane (Jennifer Damiano) dangling on their makeshift fire escape for a nanosecond before their scene started. No harm done. And all you could think, these kids are brave.
The theater was full, thanks in large part to tourists and foreigners. One woman, sitting on an aisle, pointed to masking tape marking the space around her chair and asked an usher, “Is theese for Speederman?” She was from Brazil, and very excited. Indeed, the whole theater was excited, and the performance was treated like an occasion, with heroes (producer Michael Cohl) and villains (Michael Riedel of the New York Post) lurking about just like it was a comic strip.
During the curtain call, someone on stage held up a sign that read “Back May 12th.” That’s the day “Spider Man” will return with a new book, or a modified one, at best. Not a lot of the existing Taymor and Glenn Berger story can be changed. Taymor’s puppets will remain, so will the acrobatics and flying, most of the songs. The Green Goblin, played so well by Patrick Page, will be pumped up. Arachne, the female “spider woman” portrayed by T. V. Carpio–who was in great form Sunday afternoon–will be rearranged and minimized. But sources tell me Arachne will not disappear altogether. Her weaving scene from Act I, for example, will remain, although moved.
What will become of “Spider Man?” It’s due to open, for real, on June 14th. But don’t set your calendar by that information. That’s like saying you parked your own car in a mall “next to the green car.” Whoops! Everything is always moving. Right now, the actors and musicians get a week off while the tech people do the massive rearranging for the new book. Presently, Bono and The Edge are here in New York. But, ironically, their tour picks up in Mexico City on May 11th–meaning they won’t be here again when the show resumes. It’s just like Deja vu since they weren’t here last November when the show first began.
As for “Spider Man” itself, I watched with some awe today especially as Reeve Carney, who plays Peter Parker, and was a rock musician before this project started, flies over the audience, climbs on netting, does somersaults in the air. The whole cast is remarkable in the sense that they put themselves through these paces for eight shows a a week and acquit themselves beautifully. Everything else now is in the hands of the people Bono and Cohl thought would be better than Taymor–including an inexperienced choreographer. Can they really make changes so profound? Or was this whole new effort just a matter of ego and personality? We’ll see in three weeks.