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Ian McKellen Still Has No Contract for “The Hobbit”

Roger Friedman
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Ian McKellen Still Has No Contract for “The Hobbit”

Sir Ian McKellen, once and always Gandalf from “Lord of the Rings” hosted the annual Only Make Believe benefit last night at the Shubert Theater.

Later, at Sardi’s, he told me still has no contract for “The Hobbit.” The Peter Jackson directed movie should start sometime this winter.

“I haven’t heard anything,” he said, reiterating his situation from a month ago, when I ran into him in London. But: “Peter and I have been talking. And I know the picture has just been greenlit. So we’ll see.”

McKellen had bigger fish to fry last night, helping out old friend Dena Hammerstein as she raised money for this foundation. Only Make Believe brings theater to sick children all over the country. Last night, the casts of “Billy Elliot” and “Memphis” were among those who performed and helped raise funds.

At Sardi’s we also ran into Dena’s son, Simon, proprietor of the famed and risque New York nightclub, The Box. (Just to explain: Dena is the widow of James Hammerstein, youngest son of Oscar Hammerstein II, the famed Broadway composer.) It was a family affair: Simon even brought some of the folks from the Box, who were having a night off.

And Sardi’s? Still going strong after all these years. The place was packed, and tickets were not checked carefully. A couple of the usual Broadway crashers made it inside. And really, watching them, you wish Robert Altman were still alive. They are like extras from his movies, skulking around, grabbing food off trays. One of them even asked a waiter when dessert was being served. Hilarious!

Ian McKellen c2010 Ann Lawlor

Renee (Zellweger) and Bradley (Cooper) Join Up with Pacino, Keitel, Burstyn

Roger Friedman
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0
Renee (Zellweger) and Bradley (Cooper) Join Up with Pacino, Keitel, Burstyn

Harvey Keitel took his first audition with director Martin Scorsese too seriously. When Scorsese sent him to wait in a darkened room at New York University, Keitel wound up getting into a fight with a guy who was already there.

“We were using language I can’t use here,” a dapper Keitel told an invited group that included Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper, Steve Buscemi, and James Lipton last night at the Actors Studio. (See the end to find out where Renee was on Halloween.)

Things were getting pretty heated until Scorsese burst into the room. “Harvey! Stop! It’s an improv,” Scorsese said. Keitel replied, “Well then you should let the person in the improv know that!”

Keitel’s speech came in between ones delivered by no less than Al Pacino and Ellen Burstyn at a small gathering called at the Actors Studio to start a discussion about the famed theater center’s future.

A little of that future was represented by Cooper, an Actors Studio alum who brought not only girlfriend Renee, but his Philadelphia native parents. (And PS, you see where Brad gets his sense of humor. They were a stitch.)

The big treat of the night: seeing Martin Scorsese‘s one hour film about legendary and controversial director Elia Kazan, a founder of the Actor’s Studio with Lee Strasberg. Scorsese’s film is part documentary and part master class on Kazan’s films “America America,” “On the Waterfront,” and mostly, “East of Eden.” It’s passionate and fascinating, of course. And quite personal.

But wait, yes, there was Pacino, looking a lot like Shylock. Wild hair, wild eyes. “Are you coming to my opening?” he asked.  I answered in the affirmative. “Don’t tell me! I don’t want to know.” Ellen Barkin got a kick out of that. (She looks great. She’s the Benjamin Button of New York actors.)

When the small group, including James Lipton— whose “Inside the Actors Studio” made the place a household name–and former HBO chief Michael Fuchs, were all seated, Pacino took the stage. For a man who looks like he’s either just come from or is in a hurricane, Al spoke eloquently about the history of the Actors Studio. Ellen Burstyn spoke last, revealing that before Lipton’s TV show provided a steady stream of revenue for the Studio, Paul Newman’s salad dressing sales kept it alive for years and years.

“We own our building and we’re not in trouble,” said Burstyn. The Actors Studio will next form an advisory board to figure out ways to best maximize their assets.

PS Since you read this far, what did Renee Zellweger do over the weekend? She trick or treated on Sunday night her young nephew and niece. Nice. “I was aunt Renee, of course,” reported the Oscar winning star of “Cold Mountain.” It must have seemed like a trick but turned out to be a treat for the houses where she was recognized.

Jeff Bridges Will Record New Album with “Crazy Heart” Crew

Roger Friedman
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Jeff Bridges Will Record New Album with “Crazy Heart” Crew

Jeff Bridges– you remember, he won the Oscar last March for playing country singer Bad Blake in “Crazy Heart”?

I know, it seems like a long time ago.

But you’ll be interested to know that Bridges is set to record an album of songs written by him and/or by Ryan Bingham, the singer songwriter who penned the hits from “Crazy Heart.”  T Bone Burnett, who produced the “Crazy Heart” music, will produce the tracks.

Bridges’ deal is with EMI/Blue Note Records, headed up by the valiant Ian Ralfini, one of the last great music men in the industry.

EMI is otherwise really a mystery at this point. Although Katy Perry has been a big seller for them, and the Beatles, of course, EMI/Capitol etc is suffering through the current trial that pits Guy Hands and his Terra Firma fund against Citigroup.

(I should say that Capitol Nashville is doing great with Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker.)

When the trial is over, expect even more layoffs at the beleaguered company. I was surprised to learn that recently Jeanne Meyer, the long time head of corporate PR was gone.  Jeanne has gone out on her own, and will do spectacularly, I am sure. But she’s been the mainstay of EMI as far as I can recall.

One last thing: I was wondering what happened to Ryan Bingham. He won so many awards for “Crazy Heart,” you’d think he’d have exploded. Turns out he released an album in August on Lost Highway called “Junky Heart.” Some of the song titles were “Depression” “Yesterday’s Blues” and the title track. His group is called the Dead Horses. So now I know what happened: he could cheer up a bit, right?

Women on the Verge Musical: Something Stinks

Roger Friedman
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Women on the Verge Musical: Something Stinks

A musical adaptation of Pedro Almodovar’s great film, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” opens this Thursday on Broadway.

The show has a lot of negative buzz. A blog in the New York Times (which helped itself to our “King’s Speech” scoop last week) noted that the opening number from the Second Act had recently been moved to the opening of the First Act.

Still: there’s bad a smell in the Belasco Theater, recently refurbished most beautifully.

The problem comes from a fire that’s started on stage. A real fire. As in the movie, the main character, Pepa, sets her bed ablaze. At the Saturday matinee, the fire was quite lively. And when it was put out, the white smoke it generated billowed up to a giant fan set way above the stage. Unfortunately, the odor from the smoke never subsides. Through the rest of the show, it smells like rubber and steel are burning. Even toward the end of the show, there’s a faint memory of the fire.

And the fan: during quiet scenes, you can hear it. Either that, or Madrid is just noisy 24/7.

“Women on the Verge” has a bunch of big Broadway stars: Patti LuPone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Laura Benanti, and Sherie Rene Scott are mixed in with a pretty big cast. I kept wondering if they could smell what was going on. I guess we’ll find out later this week!

Paul Simon Announces New Album Title, Reviews Sondheim

Roger Friedman
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Paul Simon Announces New Album Title, Reviews Sondheim

Paul Simon announced his new album in an unsual way this weekend: in his bio note from the New York Times Book Review. Simon reviewed Stephen Sondheim’s autobiography, called “Finishing the Hat,” on the front page of the Book Review. At the very end a little bit of news” his new album is called “So Beautiful or So What,” and it will be released in early 2011.

You may recall that last Simon told me he’d moved his entire solo catalog back to Columbia Records, away from Warner Music Group. It’s still unclear who’s releasing the new album. Anybody will be better than WMG which botched his last two releases, “Surprise” and “You’re the One.” The former should have been a hit, and remains a forgotten gem. Simon told me back in May that this new album, he thought, was his best work in 20 years. That’s saying a lot.

Meanwhile, he retells a good story in the Sondheim review about writing “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Simon deeply admires Sondheim’s song, “Maria,” from West Side Story. But he reports that Sondheim thought the song had a kind of “overall wetness” — “a wetness, I regret to say, which persists throughout all the romantic lyrics in the show.”

Simon observes:
“Sondheim’s rule, taught to him by his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, is that the book and composer are better served by lyrics that are “plainer and flatter.” It is the music that is meant to lift words to the level of poetry.

Sondheim’s regret about “Maria” reminded me of my own reluctance to add a third verse to “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” I thought of the song as a simple two-verse hymn, but our producer argued that the song wanted to be bigger and more dramatic. I reluctantly agreed and wrote the “Sail on silvergirl” verse there in the recording studio. I never felt it truly belonged. Audiences disagreed with both Sondheim and me. “Maria” is beloved, and “Sail on silvergirl” is the well-known and highly anticipated third verse of “Bridge.” Sometimes it’s good to be “wet.”

George Hickenlooper, RIP

Roger Friedman
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George Hickenlooper, RIP

I am so sad about the passing of George Hickenlooper, the fine director and a great guy. He was only 47. Reports say he died of “natural causes” Saturday morning in Denver. It’s unbelievable.

I got to know George when he made “Factory Girl” starring Sienna Miller. There were many cuts, and he had a crazy time. Ultimately he was ok with the finished product. I still love that movie. It was just rushed into release. Somewhere there’s a montage he cut to Donovan’s “Wear Your Hair Like Heaven” that should have stayed in the film. It was so cool.

This year George invited me to a screening of “Casino Jack,” the film he made about Jack Abramoff starring Kevin Spacey. It was back during Oscar week, and they showed it at CAA. Spacey has had kind of a negative vibe in recent years, but I thought George put him back where he belongs, playing great, weaselly characters. The film is very, very good and should be seen by a wide audience.

My condolences to George’s family and close friends. He was way too young, had much to do, and will be very, very missed.

As We Said: Cat Stevens Among Rally Artists

Roger Friedman
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0
As We Said: Cat Stevens Among Rally Artists

http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/10/14/colbert-stewart-rallies-book-elvis-costello-want-cat-stevens

Not to be mean. But I told you on October 14th that Yusuf Islam, aka Cat Stevens, Mavis Staples, and Jeff Tweedy from Wilco would likely be the performers at Colbert-Stewart rally in Washington, DC.

Immediately, someone from Comedy Central called to insist I was wrong, and that no one had been selected. Boo hoo.

Gawker says today they were surprised that Cat Stevens made an appearance. I wasn’t. Neither were the Showbiz411 readers.

Also on today’s bill were Tony Bennett, Sheryl Crow, and Kid Rock.

Back on the 13th I was told that the gang also wanted Elvis Costello. Unfortunately, he was booked. They also wanted Toby Keith.

Stick with me, kids.

Keith Richards, Bookworm, Plays the New York Public Library

Roger Friedman
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1
Keith Richards, Bookworm, Plays the New York Public Library

It was about time one of the Rolling Stones came to the library.

Last night it was Keith Richards‘ turn, and he didn’t take out any books. But he allowed himself to be interviewed for about an hour and twenty minutes in the magnificent Celeste Bartos Forum of the New York Public Library. In front of a few hundred lucky souls, Keith answered questions gently–but precisely–presented to him by rock journalist Anthony DeCurtis.

In the audience: two of Richards’ kids, as well as wife Patti Hansen; also, Lou Reed and Steve van Zandt, and Lorne Michaels and Jimmy Fallon. Also there, Keith’s collaborator, the writer James Fox.

But mostly it was the public, who’d paid to get in. There was a long line going east on 42nd St. from the side entrance of the library, with hopefuls holding signs to get in. The event, we were told, sold out in 42 seconds.

Richards did not disappoint. There to promote his bestselling memoir, “Life,” Keith appeared about 20 minutes late. Forty minutes into the interview he got up and took a two minute bathroom break. But otherwise, he was on point, as they say. He didn’t avoid any of DeCurtis’s questions, although he was more reticent in person about discussing his romantic history than in the book.

“It’s very futile to say anything bad about women,” Keith told DeCurtis, and got a knowing laugh from the audience. He added: “I love them dearly.”

He also didn’t want to say much about his notorious and legendary relationship with drugs. “I haven’t been a junkie for 30 years,” he said. “Drugs seep into your life. You’re not aware of it at first. Getting in is easy. Getting out is difficult. I could give you a lecture all night about…quality [of drugs]. Anyway, all my news is out of date.”

Richards was more open about songwriting and how he’s dealt with Mick Jagger all these years. On the Stones’ classic fertile stretch from about 1967 to 1973, he said: “It seemed very easy. Songs were just popping out.”

He met Jagger in a rail station. Mick was carrying records under his arm by Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. “I probably wanted to steal them,” Keith laughed. As his partner for over forty years, Richards says: “from my point of view, I’m covering Mick’s ass. I have to make sure he’s supported and confident, whatever he does. I’m like a safety net.”

As for the actual songs, many of which Richards wrote first and then Jagger elaborated on or added lyrics: “They’re tailor made for Mick, although I’m not that good a tailor.”

Richards has four children from two different women–Hansen, to whom he’s been married for almost 27 years and with since 1979; and girlfriend Anita Pallenberg. When DeCurtis asked him about parenting, Keith lit up. “Wife, family kids. Nothing can come between them.”

He paused, and maybe the Rolling Stones, who’ve also been his life, came to mind. “What is a family?” he asked rhetorically. “It sticks together.”

Keith Richards photos c2010 Ann Lawlor. Reproduction prohibited.

Six Degrees of Angelina Jolie, James Taylor and the Beatles

Roger Friedman
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0
Six Degrees of Angelina Jolie, James Taylor and the Beatles

Angelina Jolie and James Taylor are connected to each other and to the Beatles–did you know that?

The linchpin is Peter Asher, the famed music producer and one half of Peter & Gordon. He’s bringing his one man show to New York on December 3rd.

It was Angie’s uncle, Chip Taylor, whose real name is James Wesley Voight, and is Jon Voight‘s brother, who worked with James in New York on his first recordings in 1966– when James was just 18.

http://tinyurl.com/23nha95 Rare footage of James Taylor, Paul McCartney, and Badfinger.

Chip, who is not related to James, was the guy behind James’s initial group, the Original Flying Machine. It’s all in the terrific liner notes for James’s album, just re-released and remastered by the Beatles’ Apple Records. Angie’s Uncle Chip also wrote two huge 60s hits–“Wild Thing.” for the Troggs, and “Angel of the Morning,” for Merilee Rush (and later, Juice Newton).

There’s more: Peter Asher, brother of Paul McCartney‘s long ago girlfriend, Jane Asher, was the guy who then brought James into Apple in 1968. Peter also had been one half of the famed singing duo, Peter & Gordon, who had a #1 hit with Paul’s song, “A World Without Love.” Peter went on to produce all of Linda Ronstadt‘s famous albums (“Heart Like a Wheel” is a desert island disc), many of James’s and to manage James as well. Whew! He recently produced James Taylor and Carole King‘s big duet comeback.

Now Peter is coming to New York’s Iridium Jazz Club on December 3rd with his one man show about all of this. He just sent this email:

“I have recently put together a kind of one man show.  Following Gordon’s untimely death, I was not willing to accept that I could never sing those songs again at all, even though there could never be another Peter & Gordon concert.   So I assembled an experimental mixture of story-telling, music and memorabilia; and I wanted to let everyone know that I am going to be trying it in New York on Friday December the 3rd.  I am bringing a great band, some rare video clips and photos and all of my hazy recollections of the sixties and beyond.”

You can buy tickets to Peter’s show at www.iridiumjazzclub.com

And the James Taylor album–with Paul McCartney playing bass on “Carolina on My Mind”–and a demo version of “Sunny Skies” is just out, solo or in the great Apple box set of 17 CDs including Beatle-backed efforts from Doris Troy, Billy Preston, and Badfinger.

PS The James Taylor album is really amazing–a work of art by a 21 year old. It’s hard to imagine any singer songwriter now pulling off such a feat. The album also includes “Something in the Way She Moves” and a couple more songs–“Don’t Talk Now,” “Rainy Day Man,” and “Night Owl”–which Carly Simon recorded four years later–that are quite remarkable and became instant classics. And this was two years before “Sweet Baby James.”

Celine Dion Doesn’t Name Her Twins for Josh Groban of the 1940s

Roger Friedman
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10
Celine Dion Doesn’t Name Her Twins for Josh Groban of the 1940s

Celine Dion has named her twin boys Nelson and Eddy.

They are not named for Nelson Eddy, the famed singer-movie star of the 1940s who co-starred with Jeanette MacDonald in a bunch of hit movies. Nelson Eddy was like the Josh Groban or Michael Buble of the 40s–a trained opera singer who turned pop.

No, the twins are named Nelson–for Nelson Mandela–and Eddy for the producer who worked with Celine on her first five albums.

But still, anyone over 70, upon hearing the names, will think otherwise. Keep that in mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-6ToFUId4o&feature=related

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