The “American Idol” deal that Benny Medina made for Jennifer Lopez has paid off in buckets of gold. Lopez’s new highly auto-tuned single, “On the Floor,” which had a video debut on “Idol” this week, has hit number 1 on ITunes. The music is produced by Red One, the same guy who’s made Lady GaGa a sensation. RedOne didn’t come cheap, but he was the right choice. Lopez’s music career had pretty much nosedived a couple of years ago with the single “Get Right” with its god awful off key horn sample from an unreleased Usher record. By 2009 she was singing about her shoes in “Louboutins.” Things looked bleak, and Columbia Records said goodbye. But all is changed now with her $12 million deal. Next, I guess, will be an album. More importantly, RedOne is also producing a new album right now for Lopez’s very talented husband, Marc Anthony. It will be his first English language record in 12 years.
Paula Abdul Was Always Simon’s “X Factor”: From August 2010
Big headline this morning that Simon Cowell’s talking to Paula Abdul about joining “X Factor.” In fact, I told you last August 9th that this was already in the works. Cowell always planned on Paula being the “X Factor” in his judge panel. A high up at Sony told me that last fall. And that’s because the whole rivalry between “X Factor” and “American Idol” falls into a war between Universal Music Group, which now has the recording deals for “AI,” and Sony Music, which has “X Factor.” Steven Tyler, who records for Sony and judges for “AI,” is the exception, but he’s not an active recording artist for Sony. Jennifer Lopez, who’s debuting her new video on “AI,” is with UMG. Mariah Carey, therefore, is not likely to be on a Sony panel; that’s her ex-record company. Indeed, “X Factor” has lots of Sony artists to promote. And when Doug Morris, the new head of Sony and ex chief of UMG, starts work July 1st, I am sure he will be right in there with suggestions. I would say the bigger question is who will be Simon’s third judge? And knowing Simon, who’s the PT Barnum of our time, he will tease out many names between now and September. But trust me, he already knows the winner’s names.
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/08/09/paula-abdul-will-join-simon-cowell-on-x-factor
A-Plus “Good People”: Frances McDormand At Her Prickliest
No one plays prickly and contentious like Frances McDormand. It doesn’t matter if she’s the mother in “Almost Famous” who declares that “Rock stars have kidnapped my son” or Charlize Theron’s testy buddy in “North Country.” Even in “Fargo” she was sweetly difficult as the pregnant sheriff who plagues William H. Macy. As Margaret Walsh, in the Manhattan Theater Club’s “Good People.” the South Boston single mother with a grown, retarded daughter (re-ta-ded is a great word to say in a tough Boston accent) she’s like a bowling ball set to knock down pins.
And that’s what she does on stage at the Samuel G. Friedman Theater, rolling right over her friends, her boss, an ex boyfriend, and his young wife. Even so, Margaret gets as good as she gives, making everyone around her up their game– and that includes Tate Donovan, Estelle Parsons, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Becky Ann Baker, and Patrick Carroll.
David Lindsay Abaire wrote this very funny, smooth play set — like “The Town,” “The Fighter.” and almost everything out there right now in Boston with strong flavored accents. He also wrote “Rabbit Hole,” which won Cynthia Nixon a Tony and Nicole Kidman an Oscar nomination. No kidding he’s done it again. The “Rabbit Hole” movie director John Cameron Mitchell was in the opening night audience probably thinking the same thing, along with McDormand’s husband, director Joel Coen, plus Tony Roberts, John Slattery and Talia Balsam, Amy Ryan, Jan Maxwell, Willem Dafoe, Tyne Daly, and Bobby Cannavale, who — at the BB King’s after party– showed off the stitches in his head from “a work related incident” preparing for “The Motherf—er With the Hat” on Broadway with Chris Rock. No, it wasn’t “Spider Man”!
Tony nominations? Yes, indeed, they’ll be coming, especially for John Lee Beatty’s turntable set. Oscar season is over, Tony season starts. Let the games begin!
Courtney Love Twitter Case Settled– Reported Here January 31st Exclusively
It’s a flashback! I told you on January 31st that the Courtney Love Twitter case was being settled. The amount involved was confidential. But Bryan Freedman, the attorney for the designer in the case, decided he needed some publicity. So he released the figure — $430,000 — to the Hollywood Reporter, and now they’re claiming an exclusive. Ha ha. Well. Dawn Simorangkir gets that money in monthly payouts over three years. It’s not exactly a windfall. Simorangkir sued for a million dollars. No one took the cast too seriously, alas. I’m told Freedman may have lost money on the case. If he’d had a strong case, he would have tried it–that’s what happens. Congrats to the Reporter for getting this scoop a month after we did! Good work! See http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/01/31/courtney-love-twitter-law-suit-will-be-settled-no-trial
James Franco Directed Two Videos for New REM Album
Okay yes, I know, enough already: but what the heck? I told you the other day that Michael Stipe had commissioned a bunch of videos for the new REM album, Collapse Into Now. The album–which is great– and is streaming now on NPR’s website–hits stores next week. Now it seems that of the 12 tracks, James Franco has directed two: for the songs “Blue” and “That Someone Is You.” Franco apparently did this during “alternate” hours on Earth’s mirror planet, Franconia. Some of the other directors on the “Collapse”project are Britain’s Sam Taylor-Wood, who directed “Nowhere Boy,” famed documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, Tom Gilroy, and Stipe’s sister, Lynda.
Mariah Carey: New Song “Save the Day” To Raise Money for Human Rights Issues
Mariah Carey‘s had a slight pr problem recently. She and other acts like Beyonce and Usher have performed in St. Barts over the last few years at New Year’s Eve parties thrown by the sons of vicious, crazy dictator Muammar Ghaddafi. At the time, Libya was not in the news. The shows were booked by a name promoter who probably was not forthcoming about the true nature of the underwriters. Now it’s become an issue in hindsight, which is sort of ridiculous.
Anyway, Mariah is not happy about what occurred and is stepping up to the plate. First, she tells me that a song she will record for her album, called “Save the Day,” will only generate funds to be donated for human rights issues. She may even set up her own foundation. She’s done this before. All the money ever made from the song “Hero” has gone to charity–millions. She’s also donated millions from DVDs and from the song “One Sweet Day,” which she recorded with Boyz II Men.
Carey has always been very philanthropic. She still runs her annual Camp Mariah through the Fresh Air Fund; she supports it financially. She’s even given her image to PETA to sell, although considering the weather today she might want it back!
Mariah’s official statement about the birthday event: “I was naïve and unaware of who I was booked to perform for. I feel horrible and embarrassed to have participated in this mess. Going forward, this is a lesson for all artists to learn from. We need to be more aware and take more responsibility regardless of who books our shows. Ultimately we as artists are to be held accountable.”
Charlie Sheen Tweets 19 Times, Gets 1 Million Followers
Charlie Sheen is fast becoming like a character from a Kurt Vonnegut novel. He is nothing, sheer dross, and people are following him. He’s L. Ron Hubbard and Kilgore Trout rolled into one. Sheen joined Twitter, sent out a scarce 19 messages–mostly pictures–and now has over 1 million people signed in is Twitter account. Sheen has nothing to say of any value, yet he mustered that much attention thanks to his four day media barrage. One person who has a lot of say, on the other hand, is his live in porn star girlfriend, Bree Olson. No, I cannot reprint or re-tweet almost anything she has addressed in her truly vulgar, porno prose. I hope Brooke Mueller‘s lawyer is printing out Olson’s bon mots, and reads them into the record during Sheen’s next custody hearing. A good influence on two year olds? Hmmmm….Maybe only in Hefner’s grotto. Anyway. Who is Charlie following on Twitter? Just 23 people including Brett Ratner, P Diddy, Sarah Silverman, Sly Stallone. Nicky Hilton, George Lopez, Piers Morgan, Alyssa Milano, Fred Durst, Minka Kelly, Howard Stern, Will Arnett, and Yankee slugger Nick Swisher. If we could just figure out what this eclectic group has in common, maybe we could unlock the key to Charlie’s madness. Oh wait: he also follows Bree, who says on Twitter that she is going home to Indiana soon, thought her computer guy was cute, and wants to be sodomized. Please.
Bieber Fever: Hundreds of Kids Post Videos for Born to Be Somebody
Hey kids: famed songwriter Diane Warren is really happy that hundreds of you have posted You Tube videos for her song “Born to Be Somebody.” Diane was beaming over the weekend showing me all the different versions–1200 to 1500–that kids have posted–boys, girls, children–from all over the place. Diane wrote the song for Justin Bieber to sing in his “Never Say Never” movie. The song has touched a nerve, and now everyone’s doing it. I’ve put four of the amateur You Tube creations in the video box below, and we’ll change them a couple of times to get some more in. They aren’t professional; this isn’t “American Idol.” But it reminds me of the old days when kids were trying to learn songs like Joni Mitchell’s “The Circle Game” or anything by James Taylor or Neil Young. Songs become anthems for generations, and something tells me Warren has written a timeless one. Do I hear a Grammy nomination for Best Song, 2012? Maybe! If you have more suggestions of amateur videos for this song, send them to me.
Why is the “Mad Men” Negotiation Taking So Long?
It’s March 1st, do you know when “Mad Men” is coming back? No? Neither does anyone else. As of this weekend there has been no movement in the negotiations between Lions Gate, AMC, and show creator Matthew Weiner. Over the weekend, I ran into Jon Hamm, the nominal star of the show. He says nothing’s happened. He and girlfriend (accomplished writer director) Jennifer Westfeldt just wrapped their indie film, “Friends with Kids,” and now head off to edit it. I saw Jared Harris at SoHo House one night. Like most of the “Mad Men” actors, he’s trapped. He can’t really start anything because the show could come back at any moment. Indeed, the way Weiner works, if “Mad Men” were all set to begin pre-production today, Weiner wouldn’t be ready to shoot until June 1st. At least. Maybe July 1st. We wouldn’t see new shows until September. Last time, “Mad Men” debuted on July 25th. Certainly AMC’s strength is to debut in summer, away from the new fall season on the broadcast networks. But now that hope is dashed. By procrastinating so long, they’ve pushed “Mad Men” to a late fall run at best. Get with it, AMC, Lions Gate! Wrap this up. There’s nothing Weiner could want than any other star show runner has ever gotten. This stalling is only making the companies and the network look bad, and not attractive to other TV producers.
Halle Berry Loves Women (So Do We)
So much to catch up on from Oscar weekend besides the actual Oscars. Our Leah Sydney reports that the Women in Film event, held on rain drenched Friday night at SoHo House, scared up Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jackie Weaver, Hailee Steinfeld and David O. Russell. Halle Berry was honored; producer Cathy Shulman, president of Women in Film, spoke to Leah.
“We are still dealing with the situation of that of the top 100 films annually I think now four years running we’ve only got about 7 % of women at best, working in the roles of writers, directors and producers and less in other areas. It remains a problem. Since 1998 we haven’t increased the numbers, we’ve actually decreased them.I think the best way to solve it is to train and instruct women as they’re coming into the media business as to survival skills in the business. And also to really work to educate them that this is not just show, this is show business. There is a very solid business aspect to the jobs. It’s important to understand the context of how the movies are working and how they sell, etc. “
So it’s still a Good Old Boys Network?
Cathy answered:
“I see more proliferation actually in the executive ranks of women. I wouldn’t say in the executive side that’s it’s only it is a good old boys network. What’s really shocking even with executives in high level positions within the studios, we’re not seeing an increase an increase of the hiring of women from the creative side. I would like to see a more concerted, focused effort in hiring women into jobs. Only if the women are prepared and ready and appropriate for those jobs. The way we can focus on making women ready is to teach them to the necessary skills. To work on the kind of genres that work in the business. To steer away from a tendency to work on personal and particular stories which often times don’t have a wide distribution. It’s hard. If you’re making a movie of an experience that only happens rarely-it’s harder..If it’s a four quadrant movie, a universal theme, people all over the world can relate to it.”
Halle then told the crowd, “ I love women, I love supporting them, I do whatever I can to be a part of it.” She didn’t talk to the press otherwise, but after all, she’s got a baby at home.