Thursday, December 18, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 2146

“King’s Speech” Smooth Talks Past $100 Mil

Roger Friedman
-
0

Tipped to win the Oscar this Sunday for Best Picture, Tom Hooper’s “The King’s Speech” passed the $100 million mark this weekend. While other Oscar nominees are also there or more–“Black Swan,” “Social Network,” “True Grit,” “Inception,” etc–for “The King’s Speech” and The Weinstein Company this is truly an accomplishment.

The latter film company had struggled at the box office for four years. Quentin Tarantino’s wild, violent, and fun “Inglourious Basterds” was its only other big hit. Now “King’s” is set to pass it– a British film about a man cured of his stuttering through friendship. There are no explosions. This is no sex. The climax of the film, set 75 years ago, is the delivery of a speech set not to a pop song but Beethoven’s 7th Symphony.

So far “The King’s Speech” has earned an equal amount abroad, bringing in just over $209 million worldwide. That’s pretty astounding for a $15 million movie, although that number has certainly changed by now as total costs for the Oscar promotion, etc surely have been around $50 million. Even so, The Weinstein Company will have spent far less than, say, Columbia Pictures for “The Social Network” or Fox Searchlight for “Black Swan.”

And what a twist for those nattering Oscar nabobs who long ago called the Oscar race for “The Social Network” when it won all the critics prizes. They did not anticipate “The King’s Speech” sweeping the all important guild awards–Directors, Producers, Screen Actors.  The professional prognosticators will now spend this week explaining how all this happened, their past pronouncements lost in the wind.

Now the Weinstein Company can get positioned for next fall, particularly with Michelle Williams in “Marilyn and Me.” They’ve also bought “The Details” at Sundance, with Tobey Maguire and Laura Linney heading a phemonmenal cast in a hoot of a dark comedy. But shhhh…You won’t be hearing any more buzz on these films until much later in the year. Timing, as everyone learned this season, is everything.

And PS, because of just that, don’t be surprised if Julian Schnabel’s “Miral” doesn’t take on new meaning because of events in the Mid East. It’s set for release next month.

How Janet Jackson Paid for Michael’s Funeral

Roger Friedman
-
15

Janet Jackson indeed paid for her brother Michael’s “second” funeral in August 2009. According to papers just filed in the Los Angeles probate court by Michael Jackson’s executors, Janet wrote a check for just under $50,000 so that the Jacksons could stage Michael’s internment after the infamous Staples Center show earlier in the summer.

The funeral did indeed cost just over $1 million in the end, for which the estate wrote checks to Forest Lawn Cemetery. The funeral incurred a lot of other expenses, too, including $35,000 for Michael’s “funeral costume” and $21,455 for catering.

The estate’s records also show specific payments to Katherine Jackson, listed under different headings for “allowance.” For example, Mrs. Jackson receives $50,000 a month for her own allowance, plus all expenses reimbursed without question. This is all separate from mortgage payments on her home, payroll for her staff, and a brand new 2010 Escalade that cost approximately $83,000.

Line by line, the report–part of a petition to the court–shows that the execugors and lawyers–who themselves have made millions in fees–have carefully attempted to clean up an estate that was in total disarray when Michael Jackson died.

Michael Jackson Estate: Spent $159 Mil So Far on Kids, Mom

Roger Friedman
-
10

The Michael Jackson estate has spent $159 million so far cleaning up his finances and taking care of his mother and three children. Let’s recall Katherine Jackson’s assertion — particularly through new business partners– that she’d been left high and dry by the executors. In fact, the estate paid off the mortgage on her Encino home, called Hayvenhurst, and is currently renovating. The estate is paying for temporary digs for Mrs. Jackson, her employees, and the children in beautiful Calabasas, California.

It also turns out that Michael –no surprise here–filed no tax returns for 2006, 2007, or 2008. So the estate and its accountants, according to a petition filed with the court, has rectified all that. According to the petition, the estate has also loaned Mrs. Jackson large sums of money so that she and the children can live properly. The funds will be repaid when her trust account, left to her by Michael, is funded.

The estate has also fended off 65 different lawsuits, including one by a man who said Michael stole his formula for healing herpes. Most of the suits were frivolous, but all had to be dealt with. According to the petition, the estate has also restructured Michael’s famous gigantic loans, reducing the debts considerably.

One thing that Michael Jackson’s super fans might take note of –the executors came in and revised the agreements Michael had signed with AEG Live. Of course, those agreements were not made with Michael’s current lawyers, but through his former manager Tohme Tohme. When Michael died, he was already in debt to AEG for $40 million. That number came from expenses Jackson had incurred before even starting to perform in London.

Michael Jackson Estate Report: Debt Slowly Being Erased

Roger Friedman
-
8

Michael Jackson’s estate is in great shape considering how broke he was at his death. TMZ is all excited today because a filing on the estate shows that Michael was more $400 million in debt at the time of his death. This is not a headline. Readers of this column and my old column know the story quite well: Michael had borrowed more than $300 million against his ownership of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and tens of millions against his MiJac Publishing. He’d been sued by everyone and had lost ownership of his Neverland Ranch.

For years prior to making a deal with AEG Live for the “This Is It” concerts in London, Michael had refused to work. He simply kept refinancing and borrowing. My older readers may recall Michael’s banker from Bank of America, Jane Heller, telling me tne years ago: “I’ve kept Michael alive.” It was Jackson’s own financial irresponsibility that caused his problems.

Frankly, if he hadn’t agreed to do “This Is It,” Jackson would have been out of business. He had nowhere to live, and would not return to Neverland. All of this was becausde he refused to sell his stake in Sony/ATV, relieve himself of the staggering loans, and start fresh. When he died, it became easier for his executors to make decisions that would improve his finances considerably. If only Jackson had listened to his advisors when he was alive–but he refused, and frequently went behind their backs to make deals– all failures that had to fixed later.

More to come on the estate report….

On the Town: A Rod, Cameron, Elton, Bill Clinton

Roger Friedman
-
0

Soho House in West Hollywood has become the go to spot for the A list at lunchtime, as well as late night. Yesterday, Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez had lunch with two guys who were either lawyers or accountants. Prenup? Moving in? Who knows? Let the guessing begin.

Near them, past Oscar nominee Djimon Honsou chatted with “Star Shape” guru Nikki Haskell, whose new appetite suppressant is a hit in Hollywood with all the gals. Toward the end of lunch, none other than Sir Elton John arrived from his nearby palatial digs. Elton’s trying to get some sleep these days since he and David Furnish welcomed a son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John. The famed rocker is getting ready to host his annual Oscar gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, on Sunday night, February 27th.

Meanwhile the one and only former president Bill Clinton dined at Phillippe Chow in Miami last week. Phillippe Chow in New York has also hosted Barack Obama and Al Gore. It’s the executive branch of Chinese food, apparently.

Rod Stewart: And Baby Makes Eight

Roger Friedman
-
1

Rod Stewart has added an eighth child to his burgeoning family. He and wife Penny Lancaster welcomed a second son, Aiden, who joins brother Alistair. If you’re keeping count, Rod has a big brood. Penny is his third wife, although he had  a secen year relationship with Kelly Emberg in between wives number 1 (Alana Hamilton) and number 2 (Rachel Hunter). He also had relationships with two other beauties–Britt Ekland and Bebe Buell.

He has two children (Sean and Kimberly). With Emberg, he has daughter Ruby. With Hunter, he has Renee and Liam. Stewart recently issued his fifth Songbook album, produced by Richard Perry. And he also is releasing a best of the Songbooks album this month. To us all old guys, though, Rod is the guy from the Faces, from “Maggie May” and “Stay with Me.” The 66 year old former rocker, now crooner, could write a book as good as Keith Richard’s, I should think. Rod, we’re waiting!

PS the question now is, can he go for 10? Anything’s possible! But Rod won’t be changing diapers for too long. He starts an arena tour on March 11th with Stevie Nicks.

Is American Idol Having Real Ratings Trouble? Yes

Roger Friedman
-
0

“American Idol” is still a powerhouse show for Fox, but last night’s ratings surprised me. The show is trending down, down, down without Simon Cowell snarking around in the background. Last night’s show, according to tvbythenumbers.com, was down 4% from last Wednesday, and 21% from last season’s fifth Tuesday (10.2 rating). The experts at that site report that Idol’s 8pm hour was down 14% (7.2 rating vs. 8.4 rating) vs. last Wednesday’s one hour episode. Tonight’s show, if it follows the trend, will be way off from last night. Last week, for example, “Idol” did well on Wednesday, but collapsed on Thursday.

You can’t fault Randy, Steven Tyler or even Jennifer Lopez, because the show is aging, and people aren’t as devoted to as they once were. But still, adding the new judges were supposed to invigorate ratings, not reverse them.

Also, the show is supposed to grow in interest as the weeks go by. This is not a good sign. Is it the crop of contestants? Maybe. I do feel as though any time one of them tells a sob story to Tyler and Lopez they’re automatically invited in. Simon would have been harder on these people.

One “Idol” source I spoke to confirmed my fears. “They did Hollywood Week a week early this year because they were nervous. It didn’t work. There was a 7 million fall off from last year. ”

Can “Idol” come back? As a fan, I must say I’m going to pay more attention now to what’s happening ratings-wise. With Cowell’s “X Factor” looming out there–and new rumors of Paula Abdul joining that show–suddenly there’s a lot at stake.

Justin Bieber: “Abortion is Like Killing A Baby”

Roger Friedman
-
8

From Rolling Stone’s website, an extract of an interview with Justin Bieber by Vanessa Grigoriadis:

He isn’t sure what political party he’d support if he was old enough to vote. “I’m not sure about the parties,” Bieber says. “But whatever they have in Korea, that’s bad.” He does have a solid opinion on abortion. “I really don’t believe in abortion,” Bieber says. “It’s like killing a baby.” How about in cases of rape? “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I don’t know how that would be a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.”

Shall we study this? An almost 17 year old (March 1st) who travels around the world–“whatever they have in Korea.” Missing his education seems to have been a problem. Now we’d like to ask him if he understands what’s happened in China.

He has no compassion for a rape victim who becomes pregnant. “…everything happens for a reason.”

Here’s the thing: he could have said that he didn’t believe in abortion, and that he couldn’t judge of cases of rape. He could have been more prepared on the subject of politics. But he wasn’t prepared for a professional interview, and this is the result.

What about the fact that he’s a kid, why not just leave him alone? The answer is that he wanted to be on the world stage, he wanted to be a celebrity, and that the world has rewarded him with millions and millions of dollars to leave school and be in our faces 24/7.

On the plus side, Justin Bieber may be a popular campaigner for the next Republican presidential candidate. They will have never had one so popular with the non-voting under agers.

Also on the website: Justin does not believe in pre-marital sex, and thinks America “is evil” because of its health care policies.

The full interview appears on Friday in Rolling Stone.

NY’s Downtown Restaurant Wars: Lion in Winter

Roger Friedman
-
3

The New York Observer has a great piece today on New York’s downtown restaurant war between Graydon Carter and the Waverly Inn vs. pretender to the throne The Lion, invested in by Dan Abrams and Dave Zinczenko. Here’s the truth: The Lion is the most pretentious, awful place that’s ever come to the central part of Greenwich Village.

http://www.observer.com/2011/media/lions-catty-boys

Strangely enough, I can see right into their front windows and entrance from my perch above them. Still, after a year, they place a henchman on their front steps who obnoxiously grills potential clients. Do you have a reservation? What do you want? Etc. This little drama takes place not in some cool out of the way spot in the city, but across the street from the big PATH train entrance on 9th Street and Sixth Avenue, next to a Korean grocer.

The Observer story chronicles the disharmony among the various investors. It could have gone farther to detail how much its neighbors loathe the Lion. Limos double park on both sides of narrow West 9th St., idling for–not celebrities, but visitors from that other planet, New Jersey. It’s a hoot. Inside the Lion said patrons are four deep at the bar, banging into diners who’ve been forced to consume a $150 meal at crowded, cacaphonous “inn” tables. It’s a bar. The back room? I don’t know. I saw it once: it’s got a medieval setting.

Dan Abrams and Dave Zinczenko were patrons of both Elaine’s and the Waverly Inn when they started their own place. I don’t know about Graydon Carter, but Elaine Kaufman was furious with them when they started The Lion. She didn’t want to hear about. Zinczenko had made a lot of his connections at Elaine’s and used it as a watering hole. To Elaine, and I’m sure to Graydon, their move was an act of disloyalty.

These days I hear nothing about The Lion that would make me want to return. It is not a spontaneous drop in spot for the A list, the way Elaine’s was and the Waverly is. On New Year’s Eve, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt, Scarlett Johannson, Bryan Lourd, Ellen Barkin and Sam Levinson were among those who dined at The Waverly. That should tell you everything. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker are often in the house. Where the Lion grabs “celebrities” by booking corporate parties, The Waverly remains an organic hot spot. Case closed.

PS John deLucie, the affable chef at the Waverly, left with Abrams and Zinczenko to start The Lion. But first deLucie opened Charles restaurant around the corner, while he was at the Waverly. Charles was hot for three months. It is now closed.

Sting, Trudie Styler Make “Spirits” Fly in LA Theater Premiere

Roger Friedman
-
1

Sting was back in Los Angeles last night, fresh from a wildly successful symphony tour of Australia, Japan and New Zealand. He’s on his way to Cleveland, Newark, and Lima, Peru, but managed to make a stop at the Mark Taper Forum to co-star in a one off night with wife Trudie Styler in “Twin Spirits,” a dramatic program performed with classical musicans based on the letters of Robert and Clara Schumann. The evening was a charity fundraiser for the Culture Project, and drew the likes of actress Maria Bello, Chad Lowe, and dozens of media types to the sold out theater to see the couple and John Lithgow–who pitched in on an off night from his neighboring one man show–and violinist Joshua Bell.

Sting and Trudie have filmed “Twin Spirits” for video (you can get the DVD on www.twinspirits.com) but the more they perform it live, the better it gets. The Schumanns’s love story has humor and pathos, and is quite romantic. Styler especially underscores their doomed relationship, as Schumann died young. (And Clara– a gifted concert pianist–went on to become the paramour of Brahms–a whole other story!) Styler got rave reviews from the audience–the former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company should be acting more!

After the show, Sting–who’s been halfway around the world since the beginning of January–did ask me to catch him up on a few things, like Ricky Gervais on the Golden Globes, and Lady GaGa. He thought Ricky was great, by the way, but went over the line with his attack on Robert Downey, Jr. “It wasn’t funny because it was an old story, it wasn’t topical,” Sting observed. How true!

Next up for  Sting: work on the Broadway musical version of “The Soul Cages.” It will not, he promised, feature any flying or aerial acrobatics! What a relief.

1...2,1452,1462,147...2,323Page 2,146 of 2,323

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com