“The King’s Speech” swept the BAFTA Awards–given by the British Film Academy–tonight in London. The film–heavily tipped to sweep the Oscars next week–picked up Best Picture, Best Actor for Colin Firth, Best Supporting Actress for Helena Bonham Carter, and Best Supporting Actor for Geoffrey Rush, as well as Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler. Best Actress went to Natalie Portman, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay went to “The Social Network.” There were also awards for “Toy Story 3” and “Inception.”
Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick Head Clive Davis’s A Plus List Party
Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick showed Clive Davis’s A list party crowd how superstars make history last night. In front of a double A list crowd in the Beverly Hilton grand ballroom, the two cousins (their mothers are sisters) brought down the house with “That’s What Friends Are For” in a tribute to Warwick’s 50 years in showbiz. It was the culmination of a magic night that included performances by Jennifer Hudson–who was amazing in her own tribute to Aretha Franklin— as well as Mumford & Son, Mary J. Blige, R Kelly, Janelle Monae, Cee Lo Green, and “Glee” star Matthew Morrison.
And the room was jammed with celebrities, from Cher (who came to honor David Geffen as an Industry Icon), to Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda, Quincy Jones, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, Jon Voight, Neil Young, David Crosby, Usher, Monica, Brandy, Jackie Collins, Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, Randy Jackson, socialite Barbara Davis, Carole Bayer Sager and Bob Daly, David Foster, Leona Lewis, Toni Braxton, Verdine White (of Earth Wind and Fire), Jane Lynch, Suzanne de Passe, Penny Marshall, Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, Tracy Ullman, Gayle King, Ari Emanuel, Barry Manilow, Dave Grohl, Martina McBride, Bill Maher, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Nick Lachey, songwriters Diane Warren and Desmond Child, Narada Michael Walden, Sam Moore, George Schlatter, Kathy Griffin, Nick Jonas, Les Moonves and Julie Chen.
Note to Justin Bieber: both Nick Jonas and Miley Cyrus were in the room and there was not a bit of commotion.
Also–so many legends of the record biz-Mo Ostin, Lou Adler, Doug Morris (who’s taking over Sony Music July 1st, as I exclusively reported), Berry Gordy, Marty Bandier, Evan Lamberg, Michael Lippman, Larry Jackson, Barry Weiss, LA Reid, Arnold Stiefel, Guy Oseary, Elliot Roberts, Richard Palmese, Tom Corson, Randy Phillips, Joel Katz, and so on.
And a stealth guest at the People magazine table: Facebook co-creator Sean Parker, who also invented Napster, the downloading service that brought down the music business. Parker confirmed for me he’s bought the big townhouse he’s been renting in Greenwich Village for a tidy sum of 20 –that’s twenty–million dollars. Welcome, neighbor!
The funniest line of the night about the music business, from Clive: “We had to do the place cards in pencil.”
And Cher, of course, at the podium, introducing one time lover Geffen, who now has a male partner: “I don’t even know what this f—– award is.”
And Clive, at the very end of the show, as Whitney and Dionne finished up, and Whitney had no stage direction: “I found you when you were 19 and I’m still your boss,” he said lovingly, and pulled her to his side.
Martin Short: “I’m Canadian. We’re the Aliens You Dont Deport”
Actor and comedian Martin Short got a lot of laughs last night at the “Umforgettable Evening” EIF dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel–as he accepted the Courage award for his late wife Nancy. She died in August at age 58 after a three year battle with breast cancer. The couple had been together 36 years, Short said; Nancy was incredibly vibrant and popular. “I wish Nan were here to accept this herself,” Marty told me before the program began. After a heartfelt introduction from Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, and Rita Wilson, Short gave a lovely speech about his wife. He explained that he hadn’t spoken in public before about such a personal episode. “Maybe it’s because I’m Canadian,” he said, and then added: “We’re the aliens you don’t deport.”
Short spoke eloquently about the need for universal health care. He blamed “purchased politicians” for attempting to undo Obama care. He said, “The courage of uninsured Americans is the most astounding thing of all.”
Short also cracked a funny, old joke about good marriages in Hollywood: “Always be sensitive to your wife’s needs, and make sure your personal assistant fulfills them.”
Annette Bening Not Totally Ready for Her “Third Act”
Annette Bening was honored in Hollywood last night by the Entertainment Industry Foundation in front of an A list crowd at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Bening accepted the Nat King Cole award for her work supporting breast cancer research, with husband Warren Beatty, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Rita Wilson (Tom Hanks was AWOL, shooting a movie), plus Tobey Maguire, his wife Jennifer and father in law Ron Meyer (head of Universal Pictures) and Martin Short, whose late wife Nancy was honored with a Courage Award. Annette told me that despite Rob Reiner’s announcement in this column–we were first to report this–of her co-starring with Morgan Freeman in “The Third Act.”
“Apparently some one made an announcement fron Berlin,” Bening told me. “But it was a bit premature.”
On a more serious subject, the elegant Oscar nominee gave a beautiful speech when the time came, pointing out that Nat King Cole was only 45 when he passed away from cancer–and how important it is to keeping raising money for research. She is class all the way. Bening almost teared up during her speech. She may have been thinking about her father, who she told me was just diagnosed with prostate cancer.
It was not a somber evening, however. Emcee Conan O’Brien–filling in for Hanks, who usually hosts what is called “An Unforgettable Evening,” had to fend off good natured heckling from Tom Arnold. O’Brien said he asked Ricky Gervais for advice about hosting the event. “Insult the audience,” O’Brien faked Gervais’s answer. “We won’t be doing that,” he promised.
PS Cee Lo Green was a last minute substitute as the evening’s entertainment. He replaced Rihanna, who wasn’t feeling well and canceled at the last minute.
Lady Ga Ga Rips Off Madonna’s “Vogue” for New Single (See Video)
At first I thought every one was being “punked.”
But it does seem like Lady GaGa–aka Stephanie Germanotta–has ripped off Madonna’s hit song, “Vogue,” for her own new single, “Born this Way.” The melody, the spoken word part, the whole thing comes from the Material Girl’s 20 year old dance hit.
How very bizarre. But Lady GaGa’s prior hits and her act in general have always harkened back to Madonna’s halcyon era. Her current cover of Vogue magazine, I guess, is supposed to be some signal of all this but what does it mean? Is this a tribute to Madonna or a send up of her?
And why do it at all? Germanotta has had one hit album that she’s milked for some time. I probably sound very old school when I say this not how long term careers are made. If she is trying to follow Madonna’s career path, Germanotta should know that Madonna’s trajectory brought originality, not just shock, to with all her original moves.
Madonna’s “Vogue”– I want to take this too seriously–also was genius in a way because it distilled a moment in pop culture, bringing the “Vogue” dance crazy from clubs to the mainstream. “Born this Way” does nothing. There are no new ideas here.
Pop music doesn’t have to be refried and packaged. Just go on line and listen to Jennifer Hudson’s gorgeous new R&B single, called”Where You At,” written by R Kelly. In three minutes it not introduces a great catch phrase, but also delivers Hudson’s amazing, unfettered vocal in original setting. It’s A plus, while this is a D, with notations about possible plagiarism.
PS I was surprised about “Born this Way” that I had to compare it from ITunes to make sure it was real.
Billy Joel’s Just Fine, Getting His Book Ready
Billy Joel is a little surprised that Elton John keeps saying he’s in trouble. While Sir Elton no doubt has good intentions, I can tell you that Billy is happily recovering from double hip surgery at his Miami home. He’s doing physical therapy almost every day, and he is, my sources say, certainly not drinking or doing anything else self destructive. In fact, Billy is readying his memoir, called “The Book of Joel.” The tome hits stores and Kindles on April 19th, and I for one cannot wait to read it. Billy wrote the book with rock journalist Fred Schruers, and it addresses just about everything we’d be interesting in knowing about the great pop singer songwriter.
Meanwhile, Billy’s famous, ex, Christie Brinkley, hits Broadway next month. She’s going to play Roxie Hart, in “Chicago,” the musical that has set records for stunt casting. Brinkley as Roxie? What a great idea. When audiences see those legs, they won’t want her to leave! And I guarantee you, Billy and daughter Alexa Ray will be front and center on opening night!
Elaine’s Birthday; Gawker Stumbles; Scientology Responds;
Tonight in New York: I can’t be there, but I think everyone will be. This would have been Elaine Kaufman’s 82nd birthday, so many dozens of her friends will gather at the legendary bistro to raise a glass to our late, very great pal. Kaufman, who died on December 3rd, will never ever be forgotten. It’s already a tribute to Elaine that the restaurant’s business is booming. Happy Birthday, Elaine…Â
…What happened to Gawker? Unless I read it on my Blackberry or Ipad, it’s impossible to figure out what the heck is going on. Nick Denton has redesigned all his sites, including my favorite, Gizmodo, but the results are very weird. Nick, switch back or give us a way to choose “classic” Gawker. This has all the earmarks of the Tropicana or Coca Cola logo switch…
…Scientology is panicking in light of The New Yorker article that just reams them. The sect is running long commercials on local Los Angeles television proclaiming their love of all people, and their loathing of war, etc. Jeez.