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Aretha Franklin: Have A Little RESPECT–She’s OK

Roger Friedman
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5
Aretha Franklin: Have A Little RESPECT–She’s OK

Reports of Aretha Franklin‘s demise are a little premature.

The rampant rumor that she might have pancreatic cancer is just a rumor. It hasn’t been confirmed.

I spoke to someone with Aretha at the hospital today. She’s resting comfortably, and “improving” since her surgery.

When I spoke to Franklin the day before Thanksgiving she was upbeat and positive.

Aretha is a fighter. She’s survived the deaths of her two beloved sisters, her brother, friends like Wilson Pickett, Levi Stubbs, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin of the Temptations.

Never ever count her out.

I had lunch with Miss Franklin this summer in East Hampton. She and her sister-in-law made us Aretha’s Special Chile, and we dined on corn bread they’d found at one of the fancy markets in town. We spent the afternoon listening to tracks she’d recently recorded for a new album. They were wonderful. When I spoke to her before Thanksgiving, Aretha was enthusiastic about her prognosis and surgery, and looked forward to working this winter.

Again, don’t rumors become fact. Let’s have a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T for America’s great treasure of a performer.

Music Biz: Sony and UMG Trading Execs–Doug Morris Going to Sony

Roger Friedman
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1
Music Biz: Sony and UMG Trading Execs–Doug Morris Going to Sony

Reported elsewhere, but I’ve done a little confirming of my own:

If he can get out of his remaining contract at Universal Music Group, Doug Morris will become the head of Sony Music. Yes, he’s 72. He’s fit as a fiddle and wants the job, says my knowledgeable source.

Morris will then have run all the major companies–from Atlantic, to Universal to Columbia. Not bad.

L.A. Reid will stay at UMG and run his own label, I am told. He will exit Island Def Jam. He will stay under the corporate umbrella, and perhaps join “American Idol.”

Barry Weiss, of course, leaves Sony (really RCA) and becomes the head of New York operations for UMG.

Whew!

Morris is the perfect fit at Sony, and very close to Clive Davis, who’s had a bunch of hits this month with the likes of Rod Stewart and Santana. And Morris can figure out how to revive moribund (but not dead) Epic Records. They’re about to have a big hit with Michael Jackson‘s album. Maybe it will re-ignite the label.

Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp “Tourist” Shellacked in Reviews

Roger Friedman
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1
Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp “Tourist” Shellacked in Reviews

Well, that’s it for “The Tourist.” Sony Pictures is looking at quite a little disaster with the expensive Angelina Jolie-Johnny Depp star vehicle.

In his review just published, Todd McCarthy gives the movie a shellacking in The Hollywood Reporter. There’s nothing juicier than a bad review. Sony made some huge marketing mistakes here. Instead of trying to spin the situation, cultivate press, or smooth things over, they created an antagonistic situation and made it worse. Here’s some excerpts from McCarthy’s review:

“What’s served under a label promising first-class champagne tastes like last night’s prosecco in The Tourist. Staggeringly misjudged in virtually every department…”

McCarthy on Jolie: “Embalmed in makeup and elegant gowns that puts one in mind of Loretta Young and employing a reserved English accent that allows no possibility of genuine emotional expression…

[Director] Donnersmarck, along with his multitude of producers, must have dreamed that, with two of the most glamorous and best-looking stars in the business, he had a shot of making a modern Hitchcock romantic thriller along the lines of The 39 Steps, To Catch a Thief and North by Northwest. Well, dream on. No one here evinces the slightest feel for that sort of sly sophistication….

Looking puffy and unassertive, Depp never has registered less effectively in his entire film career. For Jolie’s part, the nature of her role doesn’t allow her to show her hand to anyone, severely limiting the extent of characterization. This is where wit and lively banter would come in handy, but this is more difficult to appropriate from old movies than is format.

Surely Donnersmarck did not set out to remake Death in Venice, but artistically, that is what has been achieved.

Also Owen Gleiberman writes in Entertainment Weekly:

“You go into a movie like The Tourist hoping for a feast of personality from the stars. What you get, in this case, is a waxworks version of chemistry.”

Anne Hathaway, Bradley Cooper in New David O. Russell Movie

Roger Friedman
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13
Anne Hathaway, Bradley Cooper in New David O. Russell Movie

David O. Russell is hot right now thanks to “The Fighter” — totally set for the Top 5 Best Picture picks along with “The King’s Speech,” “Social Network,” “Toy Story 3,” and “127 Hours.”

Now I’m told that Russell’s next big project will likely be “The Silver Linings Playbook,” based on the novel of the same name.

Anne Hathaway has quietly signed on for this one. And now the word is that Bradley Cooper is being wooed for the male lead.

The novel, by Matthew Quick, is about a former high school history teacher who gets out of a mental hospital and is placed in the care of his mother. His goal is to win back his ex wife.  But he winds up in a romance with a kooky neighbor who also has mental problems. With Hathaway and Cooper set, all The Weinstein Company needs to cast is Cooper’s mother. Here’s my candidate: Jane Fonda.

Maybe one day Russell will get to finish the movie he was forced to abandon two years ago, “Nailed,” with Jake Gyllenhaal, Catherine Keener, James Marsden and Jessica Biel.

All that wasted talent sitting in film cans because of greedy, petty producers.

Hear the Whole New Michael Jackson Album From Beginning to End

Roger Friedman
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8
Hear the Whole New Michael Jackson Album From Beginning to End

http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/listen-entire-michael-album

You can hear the whole new Michael Jackson, “Michael,” on his website. You can hear the real “Breaking News” at a little after 25:00.

Read Liz Smith’s Tribute to Elaine Kaufman

Roger Friedman
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1
Read Liz Smith’s Tribute to Elaine Kaufman

http://www.wowowow.com/culture/liz-smith/

“If you can’t eat a Dove bar now and then, life isn’t worth living!”

This is an Elaine Kaufman truism direct from the famous café owner who left us bereft last week as she ended her legendary saga. I continue with my report on the late Elaine from a book I wrote in 2005 called Dishing.

“I KNEW Elaine Kaufman back in the early fifties, when she was a waitress at Portofino in Greenwich Village. She was then in love with the café owner, Alfredo Viazzi, a charming Italian guy who was soon outstripped when Elaine left him and became a restaurant legend of her own. We have had many adventures since 1953 , or was it 1954?

“I have enjoyed a lot of caviar and smoked salmon from Elaine Kaufman over the years but it was a Tex-Mex evening that almost did us both in. Elaine and I once left the confines of New York to go to Fort Worth, Texas, where our pal, former TCU beauty queen June Jenkins, was opening a restaurant in the downtown, newly refurbished by Sid Bass, which is fondly called ‘Cowtown.’  (June is wed to the writer Dan Jenkins, who I call ‘the chicken-fried steak novelist.’ All of his wonderfully funny books contain prominent mentions of this Texas delicacy. His wife’s restaurant at the time also featured C.F.S. but leavened in some hot Tex-Mex.)

continued at www.wowowow.com

Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams Get Oscar Buzz from Pals

Roger Friedman
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7
Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams Get Oscar Buzz from Pals

Harvey Weinstein prepared to fly to Los Angeles today to appeal the NC-17 rating for “Blue Valentine.” He’s bringing his lawyers and a lot of charm. Really, the idea of an NC-17 for Derek Cianfrance‘s searing, serious drama is utterly ridiculous. There’s racier stuff on “The Young and the Restless.”

But I digress: last night, “Blue Valentine”–a Sundance crowd pleaser–got its official premiere at the Museum of Modern Art, followed by one of the great parties of the fall season–thrown by Oscar guru Peggy Siegal–at the “Boom Boom Room” atop the Standard Hotel (the whole thing sponsored by Stoli Vodka and Quintessentially).

Stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams were both there, the first time they’ve been together, I think, since Sundance. Their eclectic audience included everyone from  Lance Bass (not together) to Lord and Lady Astor, Parker Posey, Jonathan Ames (he writes the “Bored to Death” series on HBO), “Half Nelson” co director Ryan Fleck, the movie’s producer Jamie Patricof, and “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively, who is dating Gosling.

Both Ryan and Michelle are consistently mentioned for Best Actor and Actress nominations. Academy members should be studying their “Blue Valentine” DVDs–which just arrived this week–to see how good they are.

Funniest bit of the night: Peggy Siegal, probably gaga from giving screenings, lunches and dinners every day and night., mistakenly introduced Gosling to the Astors as “Derek Cianfrance.” Then he was introduced to a couple more people that way. A good sport, and very polite, Ryan then chatted up his new friends as Cianfrance. He got a kick out of it. “It was some of my best work,” he told us later. “And no one got to see it!” He added, amused: “But you do it for the personal satisfaction. That’s the reward!”

PS Listen–we’re all tired. At dinner at the Standard Grill, I asked the blonde sitting with Gosling and another couple what she did for a living. Everyone started throwing things at me. “That’s Blake Lively,” they all yelled in unison. They were so right, and I was so amiss. For the record, Blake was excellent in “The Town.” I will write it 100 times on a blackboard!

Scientology Needs An Actor for Its Pitch Film

Roger Friedman
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8
Scientology Needs An Actor for Its Pitch Film

You know, most religions make industrial films to get new members. Doesn’t yours? The Jewish one was “Portnoy’s Complaint.” The Catholic one was “The Godfather.” The Protestant film was “Ordinary People.”

Now Scientology, which can call itself a religion based on its tax status, is shooting its own new pitch film. I’m told they do it all the time. They recently placed a casting call in the trades for an actor to star in such a film. Why they don’t call Tom Cruise or John Travolta is a mystery.

Anyway, the part is for a “Scientology Practitioner.” The description:  “Lead Male / 30 to 40 / Caucasian, Ethnically Ambiguous, Mixed, Multi-Ethnic     Looking for a handsome, athletic gentleman that has a military/rugged look with great stage presence and commanding voice. This is a very intense role so preferably with Theatre background.”

No mention of meeting Xenu, or even Travolta.

Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer Will Join Sarah Jessica Parker Film

Roger Friedman
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1
Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer Will Join Sarah Jessica Parker Film

Exclusive: Sarah Jessica Parker‘s next feature film is shaping up nicely.

SJP starts shooting “I Don’t Know How She Does It” in mid January, with Douglas McGrath directing. McGrath is the congenial man behind the “other” Truman Capote movie, called “Infamous” (well worth renting), “Nicholas Nickelby,” and “Emma” with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Now I’m told that Pierce Brosnan has signed on to the Weinstein Company feature as SJP’s love interest. Also being made an offer this week–and likely to accept–Kelsey Grammer. Kelsey is wrapping up a long run on Broadway in “La Cage Aux Folles,” and ready for a new challenge. I’m told that TWC’s Donna Gigliotti ran into him in the last few days and literally told him he was coming to work. She wants him!

For Parker, this film will set the tone for her post- “Sex and the City” career. Her past tries–“Family Stone,” “Failure to Launch”– fell a little short, But there’s no reason why she’s not a movie star of smart romantic comedies.

Exec Shake Up at Sony Music; Michael Jackson Album a Factor?

Roger Friedman
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6
Exec Shake Up at Sony Music; Michael Jackson Album a Factor?

Well, Barry Weiss is out at Sony-BMG-RCA- whatever. He’s leaving for Universal Music Group.

Barry was not a popular figure at Sony etc. And in the mix of candidates to replace Rolf Schmidt Holtz as head of Sony Music, Weiss was a candidate without porfolio.

What figured in his decision to leave? It might have been the Michael Jackson album. Rob Stringer actually pulled it off. The album is done, and it’s very good. It will sell like hotcakes, or IPads, or something. Stringer may be poised to take Schmidt-Holtz’s position now. His only competition within the company is Steve Barnett.

Weiss had a major blow out with a favorite Sony Music employee earlier this fall. It’s gone unreported so far, but suffice to say the whole saga didn’t set well anywhere. It may have just been timing and chemistry. At UMG, Barry could have loads of hits and smooth sailing. The industry reshuffles fast. There are second and third acts galore. Good luck to him.

More to come…

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