Thursday, December 18, 2025
Home Blog Page 2197

Project Runway Host Tim Gunn Says His Father and J. Edgar Hoover May Have Been Lovers

6

Yeah, I can’t believe it either.

But in a book published today by Project Runaway host Tim Gunn, the fashion expert says he thinks his father and J. Edgar Hoover were lovers.

Yup, that’s right. The book is called “Tim Gunn‘s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making it Work for You.”

Gunn writes that his father was a special FBI agent based in Washington. He was Hoover’s ghost writers of all his speeches and books.

“I have no proof and I’m going to say right now, my mother would deny it up and down, and so too would many biographers of Hoover. I’m likely just totally wrong about this. But…The men were incredibly repressed. So even if they were sleeping together you can bet they never would have admitted it, even to themselves. He would have really beaten it back. He certainly wanted to knock it out of me, literally.”

Gunn calls his father possibly a “big closet case” and notes that most of his FBI colleagues committed suicide. His father was the only one of his group who died a natural death. The wives, Gunn says, were “barely functioning alcoholics.”

I’ve never watched “Project Runway.” I know it’s popular. I don’t even really know who Tim Gunn is, or what he does. But god bless. This should get more people to tune in.

Elton John Petitions Rock Hall for Leon Russell Induction

23

You may wonder, what happened to our “friends” at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

They’re meeting on September 13th to have the annual fight over who will get onto the ballot and who won’t. As usual, it will be a slugfest between Jann Wenner‘s minions and the few independent voices left on the nominating committee.

I’m told that Leon Russell‘s chances have gotten a lot better since Elton John made an album with him and went on tour together. Elton has petitioned everyone on the nominating committee for Russell. His induction is long overdue. Russell is not only a seminal influence as a rocker, but he wrote some of the best pop songs ever including “A Song for You” and “This Masquerade.”

But that leaves a lot of question marks. Sting is eligible this year as a solo artist. He’s had had too many hits and influenced so much of the music business that he’s the only cinch.

From there things look bleak. Wenner and company have made a point of skipping over some key people from the late 70s to the mid 80s. Cyndi Lauper should be in. The Cars have been overlooked. Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, as well.

Then there’s the holdovers from the 70s. Wenner bears everyone a grudge for something, so this group is hard to navigate. Chicago, Hall & Oates, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, The Moody Blues and Todd Rundgren are on that list.

Going backwards, there are a whole roster of important musicians and stars, many of whom are now gone including Billy Preston and Mary Wells.  Dionne Warwick, Chuck Wills, Chubby Checker. and so on. And let’s not forget Neil Diamond and Neil Sedaka.

Or, of course, the nominating committee can choose from a list of one hit wonders who first released albums in 1985. We love ’em but still: Fine Young Cannibals, til Tuesday, and Simply Red. If they’re not available, Pet Shop Boys are ready and waiting from last year.

And PS Isn’t it time for producers to be honored? Phil Ramone, Richard Perry, Richard Gottherer, Russ Titelman, Lenny Waronker, Tommy LiPuma, and posthumously Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd are just a few that come to mind.

Michael Jackson’s New Album: So Close And Yet, So Far Away

54

An album of Michael Jackson‘s unreleased music is still for a November release from Sony.

But really, among the insiders, no one knows what’s going to be on it. Or if it will be ready in time. The word is that Sony/Columbia Records chief Rob Stringer recently made a trip west to see what the heck is going on. It’s unclear what he found.

In the Jackson world, things are vaguer than ever on this subject.

My sources say there are different camps working on different tracks, and that at some point someone is going to have to make some decisions. One thing is for certain: no one is talking to Jackson’s long time engineer, Bruce Swedien, the man who actually knows what music is available from all his different sessions.

So producer Rodney Jerkins is working on a few tracks, I am told. Some of them may be from that group of songs Michael recorded with Eddie Cascio in his New Jersey home studio three summers ago.

On the other side, John McClain — Jackson’s co-executor and long time family friend– is said to be working on some songs with Michael’s brother Jackie Jackson. Jackie was recently put on the estate’s payroll as a family liaison. He’s said to be the “most reasonable” of the Jackson brothers, and the one with whom everyone gets along. Akon is also said to be working on one or two tracks.

But McClain is another issue. It was under his aegis that the unearthed song, “This Is It,” was produced and released as part of the movie and soundtrack of the same name. But the song wasn’t a hit. One listen to Paul Anka‘s version of it, live, and you see what could have been. Anka has another unreleased track in the Jackson archives.

But the clock is ticking: two months from a release date, and there’s no concept, title, artwork or marketing plan.

John Travolta Drops Extortion Case in Bahamas, But Has Other Problems

6

John Travolta has dropped the extortion case in the Bahamas against two people he claimed were shaking him down for money for info about his late son Jett.

The original case ended essentially in a mistrial. Travolta would have had to return to the Bahamas and testify again about the two men who wanted $25 million from him. Otherwise, Travolta claimed, they were going to expose details and photographs about the last minutes of Jett’s life.

Now Travolta says he can’t put himself and his family (Kelly, little Ella Blue) through all of that again. So the men go free. End of story.

Meantime, the National Enquirer has Travolta on the front page with some wild claims and a terrible, terrible photograph. Coincidentally, the three main stories on this week’s Enquirer cover are all about famous Scientologists. The other two are Kirstie Alley, who had a reality show on A&E earlier this year; and Lisa Marie Presley.

But Travolta remains front and center this week, especially since it’s a surprise he decided not to go through and conclude the case for Jett. But perhaps he was afraid of what would come out this time. Last time around, Travolta was forced to admit — after 16 years of public denials–that Jett was autistic. It was revealed in a police report that Travolta fessed up to the Bahamian police about Jett’s true condition. For Jett’s whole life, the Travoltas maintained publicly that Jett suffered from something called Kawasaki Syndrome. It wasn’t true.

At the time of Jett’s death it was also revealed that his “manny” was a Tampa based wedding photographer named Jeff Kathrein. Six months earlier, Kathrein, a Scientologist, had taken a course called “NED Drug Rundown,” according the watchdog website www.truthaboutscientology.com. Kathrein’s wedding photos are good (www.kandkweddings.com) but it’s unclear what experience he had to be the caretaker of an autistic teenager who suffered from severe seizures. Kathrein did get a big break a couple of years ago when a photo portrait by him–of Kelly Preston–appeared in TV Guide.

“Mad Men”: Don Draper In Tears

3

“Mad Men” — episode titled “The Suitcase” and written just by Matt Weiner was a winner and a return to form. A nearly all Don and Peggy episode, “The Suitcase”–Samsonite, for which the gang is trying to come up with an ad–is full of secrets (product placement?–urggggh). Don and Peggy shared secrets from the beginning, principally the one about her pregnancy. And tonight, Weiner decided to reconnect these two characters. Nicely done.

Mentions of New York places: The Palm (now a chain, and please don’t tell me that was product placement, too), The Forum of the Twelve Caesars, and Keane’s. The former was born the same year as this reporter and closed when I was 18. The latter is still in business on West 36th St., believe it or not, and as good as ever. I’m still waiting for a reference to Henry Stampler’s Filet Mignon, on Central Park West, and Elaine’s.

The Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight was a nice touch, too.

But it was all about Peggy’s story with Pete, the appearance again of his pregnant wife, and their secret of the baby that was given away.

At the same time, Don breaks down in tears at the news of Anna’s death. Jon Hamm got some good Emmy worth scenes in with a little drama. I liked his boxing routine.

First scene: Harry, who used the word “goniff” a couple of weeks ago, now making “Jew” jokes. This is why Roger’s wife’s cousin, Danny, was introduced–counterbalance to what now seems to be the underlying anti-Semitism. Rich Sommer sort of warned us about this last week at the Emmys. It’s getting ugly.

A major theme, though, is the alcoholism: Freddie’s return, Duck’s return, and now Don tossing his cookies violently. Only Roger Sterling’s jolly handling of the drink is kind of a sad comic effort to make it seem like nothing bad is happening. I just don’t want to see Don in AA. Not Don.

An ‘A’ outing.

“Law & Order CI” Could Bring Back Original Stars

19

You may wonder whatever happened to “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”?

It was this column that reported the scandal when stars Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, and Eric Bogosian were all fired. Producer Dick Wolf was all set to make Jeff Goldblum the permanent star. He filmed one season with Goldblum and Saffron Burrows.

But then Jeff Goldblum quit. Surprise! He went back to movies and to theater. He’s currently appearing in London’s hit West End production of “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.” He has a small role in the current Jennifer Aniston movie, “The Switch.”

Meanwhile, the original “Law & Order” was cancelled, and Wolf started up “Law & Order Los Angeles,” or “LOLa,” as it’s known among insiders.

And “CI”? I’m told the new thinking is that D’Onofrio and Erbe will be asked back, if they haven’t been already. It’s impossible to bring back Bogosian because his character was killed off–unless it was all a dream. Maybe Bogosian, like Bobby Ewing, will return in a shower.

Even if D’Onofrio and Erbe return, sources say there is still no renewal from NBC and USA Studios. It could be NBC is waiting to see how their new shows pan out this fall before they send an order for episodes. Looking at their lineup, it would seem that “CI” should start shooting pretty soon.

American Idol: Randy Jackson in the Dark About New Judges

4

Say goodbye to Kara DioGuardi. Fox has sent out a press release saying she’s “stepping down” from her judgeship. We know she was fired, but heck, whatever.

DioGuardi will continue to have a great career as songwriter-producer.

Meanwhile, even though press reports keep insisting on Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler as the new judges to sit around Randy Jackson, I wouldn’t bet the farm on it. Sources tell me nothing has been decided, and that no one has told Jackson anything. “He was never even told about Kara,” says a source. Calls to Jackson were not were not returned. But the word is that he was not informed of DioGuardi’s official departure. And he knows as little as we do about who his fellow judges might be.

Jackson will remain with the show, however. “He has a contract,” says a source.

But every name is still in motion with executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. Remember Lythgoe told me in February that he wanted Elton John.

http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/03/11/20100311american-idol-producer-elton-still-best-simon-replacement

“He’s not going to get him,” says a source. Chris Isaak‘s name is still in the mix. Frankly, they’d be better off getting Gene Simmons, someone who has nothing to lose by being hard on the contestants. Tyler and Lopez will be hard pressed to make fun of people who are their fans in real life.

Lythgoe has two weeks or less to make his final decisions.

And this: there’s still a persistent rumor that Paula Abdul is being talked to endlessly about coming back. It’s hard to since she has a contract with CBS.

George Clooney Set to Take the Weekend with “American”

2

George Clooney’s “The American” looks like it’s in good shape to take the weekend box office.

“The American” opened Wednesday and already has $3.1 million in the till. It could come out of the holiday weekend with $20 million or more.

As I wrote a couple of days ago, “The American” has been a strange deal. No publicity and little marketing. Just ads. And hope. Clooney got a big boost at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night when he received a humanitarian award. His speech was superb, and if he wasn’t running for office, then it was for box office king.

Anton Corbijn has made a stunning, compelling little film. Clooney is excellent as a hit man from the old Clint Eastwood days, a loner who says little as he survives various attempts on his life.  A beautiful naked Italian girl is really all you need besides the hero, and Corbijn delivers. I think “The American” will have a reputation that builds over time. And it’s nice to see an intelligent film in which not everything needs to be explained and laid out.

Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls” Will Have November Debut

7

Tyler Perry is making an Oscar run on November 5th with his much anticipated “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf.”

Lions Gate just announced they’ve moved up their release from a planned January 14th.

The film has a bevy of possible Best Supporting Actresses including Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, and Janet Jackson.

There are plenty of other big names, like Whoopi Goldberg, in what could be the “Precious” of 2010.

This was the film Mariah Carey had to drop out of last spring. You can see why now.

Nevertheless, this is Tyler Perry’s first attempt to try and get into the Oscar race. The question is will critics and awards voters treat this movie as they did “Dreamgirls” and “Precious.” Last year, the National Board of Review ignored “Precious.” It went on to get 6 Oscar nominations. “Dreamgirls” produced only an Oscar win for Jennifer Hudson, and no other key nominations.

“For Colored Girls” is based on the play by Ntozake Shange. It’s been in development for more than 30 years. The play opened on Broadway in September 1976 and played 742 performances. I just hope the film’s ads and one sheets retain the gorgeous iconic poster from the play. It’s a classic.

All New IPods, More Digital Music: A Generation Misses the Point

14

Yes, there’s a whole new line of IPods announced yesterday. They have phones, cameras, and frappe blenders attached to them.

What they don’t have is...music.

Whether you listen to digital music on an IPod or — my personal favorite–a Creative Zen XFi2-– it doesn’t matter. You simply aren’t hearing what was recorded. This is especially true for classical, jazz, and classic rock records. No matter how good the earbuds– from the Klipsches we heard last week in L.A. to my preferred Ultimate Ears— 50% of the music is lost.

Some digital music is called “lossless” but that’s not true. In order to get the big sound of a beautiful recording into something the size of pack of cards, precision has to be dumped. And it is. Further, to then force the music into those ear buds–ouch! Forget about hearing loss. The richness of the sound is simply gone.

I’ve been traveling for the last few weeks, so I’ve had the Zen and Ultimate Ears to entertain me. They’re fine; very good in fact. But they’re not intended for anything than on the go listening.

Today, finally resettled in my apartment, on went the solid state Conrad Johnson amp, the Rogue tube pre-amp. I let everything warm up. Then I put the Arif Mardin tribute CD, “All My Friends Are Here,” into the Creek CD player. The orchestra opened up, and Bette Midler‘s beautiful voice swam through the Sequerra Met 7.7 speakers. Nirvana. More CDs followed, including Arcade Fire’s “Suburbs” and Mozart piano concertos played Robert Casadesus, the Beatles, Sting‘s “Symphonicities,” and — when we were sure the amp was awake– a little Led Zeppelin remastered.

I write this now because I realize: compressed music is hurting my head. The musical palate is disappearing. Digital music is convenient, but it’s not an artistic experience. Yes. it’s grand to have 160 GB stored in a device. But it’s better to have a single great recording envelope a room. Kids, there’s nothing like it.

Please do click on the link at right for Dick Sequerra Speakers, or go to www.stereophile.com, or better yet, visit a high fidelity stereo store in your town (not Best Buy, etc). In New York, we have Stereo Exchange, Sound by Singer, Park Avenue Audio, and Innovative. Read www.audioadvisor.com. Lament not the IPod wheel. Celebrate the breadth and depth of music.