Tuesday, December 23, 2025
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Carly Simon Takes a Fall, Robert Redford Sends His Best

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Talk about a convergent night: the amazing Carly Simon helped raise some big bucks downtown for Our Time, the organization that helps kids who stutter. Uptown, Robert Redford was at the premiere of his new film, “The Conspirator.” The connection? Redford is about to play Branch Rickey in a long awaited film about Jackie Robinson. Carly’s late parents, Richard and Andrea Simon (yes, Dick Simon was the founder of Simon & Schuster), took the Robinsons in during their first baseball summer in New York. When I told Redford that, he wanted to hear more. My guess is he’ll be on the phone with Carly this week.

Simon did perform one song at the Our Time benefit, and did fine. But later when she was called on stage to help with the live auction, Carly took a spill and cut her leg on the stage. There was blood, but luckily her boyfriend, Dr. Richard Koehler, was on hand. He rushed to the stage and helped the famed long legged chanteuse. She went on to auction off a lunch at her home on Martha’s Vineyard for $12,000. Also honored was “The King’s Speech” Oscar winning writer David Seidler. In the audience: Simon’s long time lyricist and pal, Jacob Brackman; actress Amy Ryan, and the sons of Yankee great Ron Guidry. Check out www.ourtime.org. …

As for Carly, she’s no worse the wear, as they say. And she just signed a major music publishing deal with BMG for her entire catalog of hits like “Coming Around Again,” “You’re So Vain,” and the Oscar winning “Let the River Run.”

…Meanwhile, Robert Redford was accompanied to “The Conspirator” premiere by his longtime publicist Cindi Berger, CEO of PMK-BNC, who was honored at lunch on Monday at the prestigious Matrix Awards. given by New York Women in Communications.  Some of the other honorees included Betty White and Gwen Ifill, and A&E president Abbe Raven. Each of Cindi’s mentors were there–Leslee Dart, who runs competing pr agency 42 West, and the fabulous PMK legend Lois Smith, who journeyed down from “the country” and blissful retirement to toast Cindi. Nice!

Later, at “The Conspirator” party at the Royalton Hotel, Robin Wright Penn, James McAvoy, Stephen Root, and Redford chatted about the film, which tells another side of the Lincoln assassination. Watch out for these performers later this year at awards time!

Chris Doesn’t Exactly Rock in “The Motherf—er with the Hat”

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So the f word, which already makes dozens of appearances in “The Book of Mormon,” is literally all over Stephen Adly Guirgis’s uneven new play, “The Motherf**cker with the Hat.” It’s not just in the title, but in almost every line of dialogue uttered by the mixed cast–mixed by means of accomplishment. Bobby Cannavale is Tony Award calibre as Jackie, who lives with but isn’t exactly faithful to Veronica (Elizabeth Rodriguez, playing the Rosie Perez part). Annabella Sciorra is excellent as Victoria, who’s been cheated on herself by her husband, played by Chris Rock, who is Jackie’s best friend and AA sponsor.

It’s hard to evaluate Chris Rock in this play: he varies from awful to trying to pull it together. He rants very well–just like in his comedy. As an actor, though, Rock is stilted and often hard to understand. He gets credit for attempting this, but of course, a lot of the audience is there to seem him. They don’t realize til they’re seated that Cannavale is the lead; Rock is on stage half as much, if that. You do wonder if a full time actor had been used, would Ralph D. be better? I think so. In the meantime, the show is almost stolen by Yul Vazquez, as Jackie’s maybe gay cousin Julio.  Cannavale is so good, and when he connects with Vazquez in their scenes, it’s like two lights blazing.

“The M*** with the Hat” is a slight play, coming in around 90 minutes without an intermission. It lacks a real ending, so it just sort of tapers off. Guirgis moves his characters through a pas-de-quintet, as everyone struggles with loyalty and love. It’s not easy. Vazquez is the comic relief, and it’s much needed in what becomes an increasingly fruitless exercise.

This kind of play is like an indie film, and felt more like it should be off Broadway than at the Schoenfeld on West 45th St. It would have been perfect at the Public Theater. Even with its many virtues, “The M**” doesn’t stand up to a play like David Lindsay Abaire’s “Good People.” The producers may have thought this too, but it’s too late. Insiders tell me that business is almost non -existent, the play can’t be advertised because of the title. “They thought Chris Rock’s name would do the business, but it hasn’t,” my source said. I sat in the front row of the mezzanine, and there were plenty of empty seats.

In the audience: Ricky Gervais, Jerry Seinfeld, Lucy Liu, Paul Rudd, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose significant other, Mimi O’Donnell, did the costumes. Also on hand, “Anything Goes” star Sutton Foster, who told me she was “showing up for my guy,” Bobby Cannavale. No sign of lead producer Scott Rudin, who doesn’t attend his own premieres.

Ricky Gervais on Future of “The Office”: He’s Not the New Boss

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Ricky Gervais is not going to be the new boss on “The Office.” He told me so definitively last night, at Chris Rock’s Broadway debut in “The Mother-you-know-what With the Hat.” Ricky, decked out in all black formal wear and looking sharp, said: “I could lying to you, but I’m not the new boss. Why would I move to California to get up at 6am when I already own the show? Hello?”

Gervais said that he will do cameo in the final show of this season, but it’s brief. He’s the same guy he played on January 27th, looking for a job. So who will be Michael Scott’s successor? Ricky said: “I already told you I thought Will Arnett was right for it.” But Will has a pilot to shoot, so then what? “I think it’s not who replaces Steve Carell, but who replaces Michael Scott. I think Ed Helms would be great.” Helms, who plays Andy, may wind up as the man. “But I don’t think there is a plan yet,” said Ricky. Hmmm…That seems unlikely, given that new scripts will be ordered soon for the fall season. But at least we know it’s not Ricky.

Meantime, PS: you think Ricky is jaded about celebrities? While we were talking, Richard Thomas–John Boy Walton himself– walked by. Ricky nearly flipped. He said to Thomas: “Your show is one of the reasons I came to America.” I think Richard Thomas was even surprised. He told Ricky, “I’m a big fan of yours, too.” So there you go. Who knew?

Regis Philbin New Show? Not Unless It’s Once a Week

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Regis Philbin has no plans to do a new daily show to compete with his current one. Contrary to reports, Philbin’s future work will be things that require a few days’ worth of taping, or a game show like “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.” Right now Philbin, who turns 80 in August, isn’t looking to ramp up to a full time schedule. He currently only works three to four days a week and has massive amounts of vacation–as it should be. I would guess the last thing Regis wants–and for that matter, his wife, Joy wants–is a grueling schedule of a start up five day a week schedule. Look for Regis to take high paying, classy low impact stints in the future, my sources say. And in prime time, not at 9 in the morning! PS If only Disney and ABC had made him a proper offer to keep going with Kelly Ripa in the morning–then we wouldn’t have these issues to write about!

Katie Couric Still Has to Do CBS “Early Show” Before “Today”

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It’s weird that Katie Couric will be doing a book promotion on the “Today” show this Wednesday. But she’s doing CBS’s “Early Show” first, tomorrow morning, to hedge her bets. Couric still holds out hope of sticking with CBS after she exits the Evening News in June. As I reported first — hello, everyone–Katie had been talking to CBS about being around for fill in stints and doing pieces for “60 Minutes” while she developed her own syndicated talk show for fall 2012. Thus, she must give “The Early Show” the courtesy of first appearance even if her Wednesday to return to NBC and Matt Lauer will generate more publicity. There’s been some talk of Katie and Matt Lauer re-teaming for some kind of “Regis and Kelly” type show if Lauer leaves “Today.” But Lauer’s departure seems unlikely. While Meredith Vieira is definitely leaving “Today,” Lauer is just doing a little public negotiating by reminding everyone when his contract is up. As several of my key TV sources have reiterated, Lauer will stay at “Today” and get a hefty increase in pay rather than cut loose for the uncertainty of syndication. All he has to do is ask Jane Pauley how it worked out for her.

Paul Simon’s New Album Out Tomorrow: So Beautiful, So Great

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If you’ve been complaining about how bad pop music is, how music from the “old days” was so much better, you can’t complain any more starting tomorrow. Paul Simon‘s “So Beautiful, or So What” hits stores and download services. You can get it from his website — www.paulsimon.com–or from ITunes, amazon.com, etc. It is a work of art, which is not unusual for Simon, who’s already created enough masterpieces by this time, from “The Sound of Silence” through “Bridge over Troubled Water,” a couple of my own favorites like “My Little Town” and “American Tune” through an under appreciated gem called “How Do You Live in the Northeast?” from his last album, “Surprise.”

On “So Beautiful,” Simon is full of rhythm, and he says it’s the best thing he’s done since “Graceland.” It’s subtle work, though. First we heard “Getting Ready for Christmas Day” and “The Afterlife,” the more obvious “hits” on the CD. But once the excitement of getting a new Paul Simon collection settles in, there ‘s a lot more. “Rewrite,” which he performed last week for Jimmy Fallon, resonates on many levels. http://tinyurl.com/5wqowed

This sublime album is full of wonderful intricate lyrics. My favorite though is “Questions for the Angels.” Simon sings of his character in the song, a “pilgrim”:

Downtown Brooklyn
The pilgrim is passing a billboard
That catches his eye
It’s Jay-Z
He’s got a kid on each knee
He’s wearing clothes that he wants us to try

Simon also references an old classic, “Homeward Bound.” What if he hadn’t gotten on that train in that song? Would his life have been different?

If an empty train in a railroad station
Calls you to its destination
Can you choose another track?
Will I wake up from these violent dreams
With my hair as white as the morning moon?

Questions about God, love, aging–not much fare here for teenagers. But plenty for adults. Buy this album, guys. It’s a treasure.

 


It’s Steven Spielberg Week on Broadway–Where Is He?

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Steven Spielberg is probably a busy guy, but this is his week on Broadway. Last night, a musical version of his film, “Catch Me If You Can,” opened with a star studded premiere and black tie after party gala at the massive former bank vault known as  Cipriani 42nd St. On Thursday night, the British theatrical experience called “War Horse,” opens at Lincoln Center. Spielberg directed the movie version, which opens next winter.

First, though, “Catch Me”: the premiere, it was like, wow. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick brought their eight year old son, James. Other celebs included Shirley Maclaine, Robin Williams, Martin Short, Hugh Jackman, Mira Nair, Joy Behar, Norman Lear, and Ben Vereen. Frank Abagnale Jr., the man whose story “Catch Me” is, not only came, but spoke on stage at the end of the show, to a cheering crowd, with creators Marc Shaiman and Terence McNally. Best party of the year, sorry “Book of Mormon.”

And even though the New York Times’s Ben Brantley bent over backwards not to like “Catch Me,” it’s a rollicking, old fashioned fun, enjoyable entertainment. Aaron Tveit, Tom Wopat and particularly Norbert Leo Butz, are all wonderful. The songs are fun and hummable. No one curses, as in “The Book of Mormon.”  It may not be cutting edge, but “Catch Me” is completely endearing, and worth the price of admission.

At the end of the show, composer Marc Shaiman (“Hairspray”) broke down in tears on stage dedicating the opening to the memory of Tony winner Butz’s sister. Teresa Butz and her female fiancee were brutally murdered in their Seattle home in July 2009, while “Catch Me” was having an out of town tryout.

But this incredibly talented actor was in good spirits at Cipriani. He told me: “We’ve been practicing this show for five years!” It shows and Butz will likely be nominated for a Tony as Best Featured Actor or maybe Best Actor in a musical. He could win, too.

As for Spielberg, maybe he’ll show up on Thursday for “War Horse.” I’m told he missed a big Lincoln Center fundraiser last week. “War Horse” comes to New York with a huge marketing budget and quite a provenance, with high expectations. I’ve seen it, and I can tell you it’s pretty amazing. More on “War Horse” this week…

Charlie Sheen $15 Ticket Fire Sale in Boston!

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“Warlock magic” isn’t working. After gigs in New York, Ohio, Chicago, and Connecticut, the ticket prices for Charlie Sheen‘s “show” have dropped to an all time low. In Boston, there were about 80 tickets available on Stub Hub for less than $50– some even on the floor. The bottom price as of Monday morning is a stunning $15. Last night, commenting on a Hartford Courant website, some kids wrote in and claimed that they paid $5 apiece to go to the Connecticut show. One guest bragged about getting in for free. As Sheen’s debacle moves forward, things are getting worse. There are a total of 885 seats available for the Boston show. In Atlanta there are 388, Dallas 367. In Atlantic City, where every show plays to a captive audience, there are 263 at Trump Taj Mahal.  There are still 530 remaining for tonight’s rematch at Radio City Music Hall, where the bottom price is $33. My advice to people with bad seats: look around in the orchestra. There were plenty of no-shows on Friday.

photo c2011 Ann Lawlor/Showbiz411

Sidney Lumet, Famed Director, Dead at 86

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Sidney Lumet, the great and famed director of such classic films as “Serpico,” “Network,” “Prince of the City,” and “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” has passed away from lymphoma at age 86. Lumet had been ill for some time, and people in the New York film community had been visiting with him for weeks to keep his spirits up. You may recall a piece I wrote during Oscar week about Lumet. I knew he was gravely ill, but his family had asked me not to say anything. I knew Sidney a long time, and, as with my friend Robert Altman, admired him. He leave a terrific family including his screenwriter daughter Jenny. Here’s a link to the piece from February. Sidney, New York loved you and vice versa. You will be sorely missed.

http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/02/28/sidney-lumet-thinking-of-a-film-great-who-never-won-an-oscar

Charlie Sheen Attacks Brother Emilio, Oliver Stone, Weinsteins

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What’s left of Charlie Sheen took the stage at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night a half hour late. The theater was not full. I managed to move down from Row T to Row RR, two free seats on the aisle and there were plenty around me.

And those people booed Sheen from the beginning despite a half-hearted standing greeting. The “show”–it’s not a show, but an interview with a friend–lasted under an hour including a ten minute or so video in which Sheen has re-recorded his answers in an ABC interview, demeaning and mocking reporter Andrea Canning. When ABC News gets a load of this, it will be yanked.

Sheen was prodded by his friend on stage to tell stories–salacious ones, please– but came up with very little. Gone was the fast talking Thesaurus of a human being. He was either very stoned or completely not stoned; Sheen seemed like he’d prefer to be asleep. The audience jeered him, and he cussed back at them for not listening closely. To what, I don’t know. Sheen’s major themes are that he’s had a lot of sex with hookers, strippers, and the like–which isn’t hard, if you pay them. And that he’s done a lot of drugs, which we know.

On stage, he lit up a cigarette despite New York City anti-smoking laws. Or maybe because of them. (Photo c2011 Ann Lawlor/Showbiz411)

Gone now are the diatribes at ex wife Denise Richards. He informed the audience he’d received lawyer’s letter, and so it’s over. Instead he took shots at Oliver Stone, the Weinsteins, and even his own brother, Emilio Estevez. “Is Emilio here?” he asked early on. “I thought we banned him.”

Putting on sunglasses, Sheen told the audience he wanted his job on “Two and A Half Men” back. He offered an open invitation to the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre, to come on Sunday to Radio City and hash it out with him. Sheen asked the audience, didn’t they want him to return? There was very little enthusiasm, and a lot of booing. A shirtless male fan ran down the center aisle, waving his t-shirt over his head. He was followed by a young woman. They were caught by security and removed.

Otherwise, the audience–buzzed on beer served everywhere in the theater– was nonplussed. This is New York, and so they waited for Sheen to produce some reason for their $100-plus tickets. He had nothing. Time and time again, the interviewer tried to start new areas of conversation, only to be shot down. Sheen did recall that at age 9 he explained what the Prince song “Head” meant, to his parents. No one bought it. He called the New York hooker he got in trouble with, Capri Anderson, a “hosebag.” Nicolas Cage is “a genius who went broke” and also revived the term “goddess.”

Also: “Tiger Blood” is a reference to a scene in “Apocalypse Now,” his father’s film. Dennis Hopper, he says, was “high on 97 tabs of acid all day” while making that movie, too. He said he’d been “Weintsteined” by Harvey and Bob, who evidently forced him to make “Scream 3.” And he railed against Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street” sequel, saying it was so bad they used a line from the first film for this one’s subtitle: “Money Never Sleeps.”

The only, ahem, celebrity, in the audience was Kelly Benssimon, of “The Real Housewives of New York City.” But three blazing blondes, all strippers with extraordinary fake breasts, shiny manicures, and stiletto heels sat front and center. They were like characters from a modern “Guys and Dolls.”

It was, as a friend of mine likes to say, a “shit- show.”

Outside Radio City, when the show was over, two young women were hailing cabs. They’d paid $70 apiece for their tickets. One of them said, “I felt like I was watching Charlie Sheen dying…on stage.”

Here’s the link to the spoof video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LtBSqGzi3o&feature=player_embedded