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Warren and Annette: The Kids Are All Right

Roger Friedman
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3
Warren and Annette: The Kids Are All Right

I keep hearing and reading about Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. According to “friends” and “sources,” the couple is on the verge of breaking up after two decades and four kids. The ostensible reason: the gender problems of eldest child Kathlyn who, these friends say, is going to have a sex change operation any minute.

This week two people who don’t know each other swore to me this was all about to explode. So I asked an actual friend of the couple. This is what he had to say.

“I don’t believe it for a minute. They are a happy couple. They have four children, not just one. I can’t see them ever parting.”

Now, no one really knows what goes on in a marriage. Anything is possible. But I tend to agree with this assessment.

True, Annette has shied away from doing a lot of press this year even with two movies, “The Kids Are All Right,” and “Mother and Child” putting her in the awards race. But just because you don’t want to be asked questions doesn’t mean the thesis behind them is true. Maybe Annette just doesn’t want to deal with it.

My source, who knows the couple well, also says it seems unlikely that Kathlyn is really considering a sex change operation. Even if she’s asking people to call her “Stephen Ira”–as has been reported–that doesn’t mean she’s going under the knife.

“Knowing Kathryn, this could just be her, being provocative. She’s very bright and very articulate.”

Again, life in a fishbowl. But Warren Beatty, this person points out, has wisely never addressed any rumors about his personal life in over 50 years in Hollywood. He’s not going to start now. Annette has surely learned from him.

As for Ms. Bening: I expect she will be nominated for Best Actres in “The Kids Are All Right,” with co-star Julianne Moore in Supporting Actress, and the movie in Best Picture. It’s a great movie and deserved to make more than $20 million at the box office.

Other potential Best Actresses: Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham Carter, Patricia Clarkson, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams, Freida Pinto.

And that’s just for starters. (I’m sure to get emails from a dozen publicists tomorrow with their ideas.)

My other prediction: Warren and Annette will stay classy, and keep mum.

Mariah’s Last Stand: On Flats

Roger Friedman
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Mariah’s Last Stand: On Flats

A little more on Mariah Carey’s humorous fall on stage in Singapore.

Apparently she twisted her ankle in those high fashion boots. A friend told her she should have packed more sensible shoes. Mariah’s response: “I don’t have any!”

Now Mariah’s publicist, Cindi Berger, is sending her flats via Federal Express.

But still no one is saying anything about Mariah’s much rumored pregnancy. There’s always a chance that she is not pregnant, that her larger size is due to the process of trying to get pregnant–steroids, etc. What way to live, in a fishbowl. You wonder sometimes how people can take being observed and commented on constantly.

One thing about Mariah: she has a sense of humor. And to one commenter who wrote in about her voice: on the You Tube clips, to me, Mariah sounds just fine.

I know there are Madonna v. Mariah fanatics who want to start something but really: no one ever accused Madonna of being a great singer. Madonna has always had the abilities of a great showman and producer. She’s the Flo Ziegfeld of our time.

Sally Menke, Quentin Tarantino’s Film Editor, Dies in Accident

Roger Friedman
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3
Sally Menke, Quentin Tarantino’s Film Editor, Dies in Accident

Sally Menke died overnight in Los Angeles at age 56. She apparently went hiking in Griffith Park with her dog in the crushing heat, and was found hours later.

Sally edited all of Quentin Tarantino‘s films, which quite an achievement. If you’d seen “Inglourious Basterds” at Cannes, you’d know I mean it. At the AmFAR dinner that year, Sally sat next to me and told me all about what was left on the cutting room floor and what she still wanted to do to make the film better. In the next two months, before “Basterds” was released, she turned it into a crowd pleaser. This was no small task.

Her death is a tragedy and a real shame. I just think of Pam Grier coming into that hallway in “Jackie Brown” as Bloodstone’s “Natural High” starts to play. It gives me goose bumps. So cool. Thanks Sally.

Rock Hall Nominations: Neil Diamond, Maybe; No to Elton’s Pleas for Leon Russell

Roger Friedman
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Rock Hall Nominations: Neil Diamond, Maybe; No to Elton’s Pleas for Leon Russell

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations are in.

Sir Elton John was totally snubbed in his quest to get Leon Russell into the Rock Hall. After they win some Grammys in February, Elton and Leon should schedule a show in New York the same day as the Rock Hall show. It will sell out in minutes.

A handful of names haven’t been on the list before: Neil Diamond, Bon Jovi, Donovan, Alice Cooper, and Dr. John are all new.

From ballots gone by: Tom Waits, Beastie Boys, Chic, J. Geils Band, Darlene Love, Lauro Nyro, Donna Summer, LL Cool J, Joe Tex and Chuck Willis.

Who really deserves it from these choices: Neil Diamond, Chuck Willis, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro, Joe Tex, Donovan, Alice Cooper. Bon Jovi would make it a great night and a contemporary touch. They’re a great bar band, and survivors.

Not rock, and it’s getting ridiculous already: Donna Summer. LL Cool J, Beastie Boys.

‘Still missing: KISS, Chicago. the Moody Blues, Mary Wells, Billy Preston, etc.

PS As we know, Joel Peresman is paid just under $400,000 a year to organize this list for the Rock Hall Foundation. Also on the group’s 2009 federal tax filing: $25,000 spent on music scholarship, nothing listed for indigent or needy musicians, and between $10 mil-$13 mil in assets. Good job!

Demi and Ashton: The Brad and Angelina of Human Trafficking

Roger Friedman
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1
Demi and Ashton: The Brad and Angelina of Human Trafficking

I know Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are serious about stopping human trafficking of children. They want to be the Brad and Angelina of slavery. Well, why not?

They appeared at the Clinton Global Initiative, where miscellaneous celebrities speak on a variety of topics. The CGI (which does not stand for Computer Generated Images) also this year inspired Jim Carrey, of all people, to come talk about rice. CGI is sort of like the old Joe Franklin Show, where Topo Gigio the mouse would be asked his opinion on nuclear disarmament, or U Thant would review Joey Heatherton’s latest show.

Ashton and Demi, same week, are featured on the cover of People magazine. Are they splitting up? Did he cheat on her, People wonders? If People–not trash mags–are putting this on the cover, there’s something serious going on.

Slavery, Ashton declared from the podium of CGI, is still going on. “I’m sure Abraham Lincoln would be upset about this,” Ashton said. No doubt.

A rep for Ashton and Demi’s new charity, called the Demi and Ashton Foundation, or DNA, not registered anywhere yet, said we have to get the bad guys. She called them “bad actors.” I kid you not.

“When I was in school, I didn’t learn about sex slavery…this is people treating people like people! We can all do something about that…When we’re sitting down with our girls at the dinner table talking about human trafficking, it’s awkward and really gross …It’s not so different as gay rights issues. People got courageous. Men got courageous. They stood up and said, Wait a second. He’s not a fag. He’s a guy. He’s a human being, just like me…”

Ashton’s impassioned speech starts around 24:00

http://tinyurl.com/38wfntj

Meanwhile: Jim Carrey has something called the Better U Foundation. Since 2008. No registration for the charity. But a website.

http://www.betterufoundation.org/#/SRI/About/Article/451

A Night at the Opera: The Met Brings Out the Stars with Wagner

Roger Friedman
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1
A Night at the Opera: The Met Brings Out the Stars with Wagner

Really: dozens and dozens of people huddled under umbrellas on the plaza outside the Metropolitan Opera House last night to watch the Met’s new production of Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” on a large screen. It was raining off and on like crazy but it didn’t matter. Whatever you think of the new productions under Peter Gelb, they’re getting attention.

Inside, there were plenty of stars in the audience. Regis and Joy Philbin, Anjelica Huston accompanied by old friend Earl McGrath, Patricia Clarkson, Kerry Washington, Christine Baranski, Miranda Richardson, Broadway star from London Mark Rylance, and so on. I didn’t see Meg Ryan but apparently she was there; in her pictures, she looks like someone else. So does Holly Hunter. Charlie Rose saw the opera but skipped the lavish dinner in the massive tent set up next door. Patti Smith–yes, the Patti Smith–one of our heroes–loves opera. She was there.

Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga–so good in “Up in the Air” and “The Departed”–is eight months pregnant but that didn’t stop her. She and her husband, producer Ren Hawkey, are expecting their second child. They’ve also just finished making a movie that Vera directed called “Higher Ground.” It stars Bill Irwin, Donna Murphy and John Hawkes, and should be ready, I guess, for spring film festivals.

This is what happens at the Met dinner: the stars of the opera do finally walk in, and receive thunderous applause from the black-tie dressed diners. Then, as they make their way through the room, the singers pass the movie stars. And then all hell breaks loose. The opera stars don’t get much chance to meet the movie stars.

Patty Clarkson and Kerry Washington each said, simultaneously: “I wonder if Bryn Terfel is married.” He plays the lead, Wotan. Stephanie Blythe, who plays Fricka, immediately invited Patty and Kerry to her one woman show at Carengie Hall next month.

PS Both Clarkson and Washington may be in the Oscar race this winter. Clarkson is a hot topic in “Cairo Time” for Best Actress–best reviews of any lead actress this year so far. And Washington is co-starring in “For Colored Girls.”

Hollywood Swinging: Bob Berney’s Back, David Linde’s On His Way

Roger Friedman
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0
Hollywood Swinging: Bob Berney’s Back, David Linde’s On His Way

In the continuing game of musical chairs Hollywood style:

Our pal Bob Berney is back. He’s finalized his deal with Graham King‘s GK Films, which just released “The Town.” Bob is joining Graham and Peter Schessel for FilmDistrict, a new branch of GK. Some of their films will come through Sony’s TriStar and Triumph labels. The main thing is that Bob knows how to find or make good films. He tried to help Apparition last year, but they didn’t have the apparatus. Oh well. Good sense here prevails.

David Linde, ex of Universal and Universal Focus, and another good guy with good taste, I hear may also be striking out on his own. He has a production company called Lava Bear. Look for an announcement soon.

We need the good guys! And their good movies.

Mariah Falls on Stage, Keeps Smiling–And Singing

Roger Friedman
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10
Mariah Falls on Stage, Keeps Smiling–And Singing

Mariah Carey fell on stage last night in Singapore during a one-off show to celebrate the Formula 1 Grand Prix. (She’s not on tour.)

But she popped right back up and kept singing. And smiling. In fact, she stumbled, regained her stance, signaled for an assistant. The woman came on stage with a bottle of water, but Mariah really wanted help fixing her boot strap. She certainly was not going to bend over and fix it herself! Mariah kicked off her shoes and kept going.

Considering that everyone thinks she’s pregnant, Mariah took the whole thing literally in stride.

She’s a trouper, that’s for sure.

If Mariah is pregnant, she’s definitely covering it up artfully. She’s heavier than in the past, but frankly, looks damn good. Check out the second video, for “Touch My Body.” The strawberry pink maternity outfit is very clever.

Her Christmas album is coming on November 9th, by the way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV1KDFVojGc&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mel0Vw8qcBY&feature=related

Michael Jackson New Album: “Before End of Year”

Roger Friedman
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27
Michael Jackson New Album: “Before End of Year”

An album of new Michael Jackson recordings–songs left behind and remixed since his death–is on its way.

The question, though, is when?

A Sony source confirmed for me that the album will arrive before Christmas. So far, the date can’t be set because the work isn’t finished.

In the end, four of what might be 12 tracks will be derived from sessions Michael did with Eddie Cascio in his suburban New Jersey studio three years ago. At least one of those tracks was originally co written and produced by Eddie’s brother Frank Cascio for an R&B singer named Bobby Ewing.

Some of the other tracks will be outtakes from Jackson albums, a Paul Anka song called “Love Never Felt So Good” from the session that produced the title track for “This Is It.”

Jackson co-executor John McClain is in charge of the project. Sources say that McClain’s been relying heavily on Michael’s brother, Jackie, for help since he’s not, technically, a music producer. Rodney Jerkins and Akon are also working on tracks. It’s unclear whether so many producers can affect a consistent sound.

Last week, Sony chief Rob Stringer went out to Los Angeles, I am told, to supervise and give comments on the progress of the album. After all it’s part of his $200 million deal with the Jackson estate. Sony wants the album to be a huge smash.

The Jackson estate, by the way, is working on several more projects including a documentary or reality show about the putting together of the new live Cirque du Soleil project.

Rod Stewart Swings Again On “Fly Me to the Moon”

Roger Friedman
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1
Rod Stewart Swings Again On “Fly Me to the Moon”

About ten years ago, famed producer Richard Perry played me some tracks he was working on in secret with Rod Stewart. Those tracks became half of the first Stewart “Song Book” album. (Phil Ramone produced the other half.) You could say a Frankenstein was created. More cover albums, all hits, right through a rendition of missed songs from the 70s in 2007. And like a copy of a copy, the albums faded until Stewart’s persona was almost gone.

So it’s good news: Perry is back with Rod. Their “Fly Me to the Moon”–the newest “Songbook”–gets Stewart back to the original plan from a decade ago. Perry hadn’t worked on a “Songbook” album since around 2003, so the time was right. Don’t forget, he’s pretty much the single most successful top 40 producer ever of quality music. He did all the big hits from Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, the Pointer Sisters, you name it. His Harry Nilsson albums–particularly the hit “Without You”–are colossal achievements. Simon’s “You’re So Vain” gets better and better after 38 years.

Arista is releasing “Fly Me to the Moon” tomorrow on vinyl to make the Grammy deadline on Thursday. The CDs and full album downloads come early next month. I heard the tracks just before they were finalized about a month ago. Perry has revived Rod from a coma. It’s a miracle. Stewart sounds energized and excited. His phrasing is back. He’s engaged in the music. And Perry has chosen a group of songs that suit the singer to a ‘t.’ Songs that we know–some from Sinatra– get a whole new life, from “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” to “I Get a Kick Out of You.”

But I really enjoyed some songs that are less well known now: “My Foolish Heart” and “Love Me Or Leave Me.” There are also neat versions of “September in the Rain” and Bobby Darin‘s “Beyond the Sea.”  No one knows how to orchestrate and produce like Perry. Rod hasn’t sounded this good in years and years. No, it’s not “Maggie May.” But Rod’s done that. And with “Fly Me to the Moon,” it does sound like he’s made a graceful transition to a new phase.

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