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Jackson Browne Is Oceanic, Montauk Gets Panoramic

Roger Friedman
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Jackson Browne Is Oceanic, Montauk Gets Panoramic

Jackson Browne, on tour, stopped at the Oceana event in Watermill on Saturday night and played a full acoustic set on guitar and keyboards, by himself. The songs included “Running on Empty,” “The Pretender,” “Before the Deluge,” and “Rock Me On the Water.” At the end, he said he no longer cared what people thought about the fact that he’d written the Eagles’ most famous song, “Take It Easy,” and played it.

Oceana is the brainchild of Lois Robbins and Susan Rockefeller, with Keith Addis, designed to raise money for ocean conservancy. Could anything be more timely? Caroline Hirsch, of Caroline’s Comedy Club., is also very involved, as are Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen. I ran into Charlie Walk, Kathy Schenker, Jane Rose, Fred Davis, John Howard, Jill Brooke, and Jackson’s girlfriend, Dianna Cohen, an artist from L.A. who created a mural for Oceana with recyclable goods and a bunch of schoolkids from Barcelona.

Jackson told me after the show that he’d never heard a famous urban myth about the “Take it Easy” lyrics. For generations the line “I’m looking for a lover who won’t blow my cover” was mis-heard by young rockers as something else. Jackson demurred, and claimed not to know that. I’m a little skeptical. But he’s a serious guy. If you’re too young to know his work, check out his masterpiece album, “Late for the Sky.”

Out in Montauk–where the totally refurbished Panoramic View in Montauk graciously put me up on Friday and Saturday nights– the big stop was at Sean McPherson‘s secret restaurant. the work in progress re-do of The Crow’s Nest. Sean co-owns the Waverly Inn in Greenwich Village.

In Montauk, where he recently moved, he couldn’t find a place to eat. So he bought the old, decrepit Crow’s Nest and started fixing it up. It won’t open for real until next summer. But it’s actually open now. The stars are pouring in. On Sunday night Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romajn rode their bikes over from Lake Montauk and acted like they were on a third date. They left their one and a half year old twin girls with the grandparents. Jerry is working on the new CBS series, “The Defenders.” Rebecca told me she’s busy raising the kids. No nannies? I asked. Are they really a Hollywood couple? “We tried to shake those kids off,” Jerry laughed. “But they keep coming back!” A funny, charming couple. And Crow’s Nest? Best new place from East Hampton to Montauk Point.

Meantime, the Panoramic is trying to get the word out about 21 new amazing duplex oceanfront condos that are now neighboring the homes of Robert DeNiro, Ralph Lauren, and Jann Wenner, hard by Guerney’s Inn. New owners have refashioned this gem of a resort and the results are staggering. Over 100 people– including two Real Housewives of New York– showed in the rain on Saturday to see a model condo that sells for $6.5 million.

The Panoramic has unique status in Montauk because of its age–the homes are right on the ocean, closer than any new construction is allowed now. The hotel also has a beautiful pool set into the cliff side with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. The A list is already discovering the Panoramic –-Stephanie Seymour was there all weekend with her kids. By the time you read this, more stars will be crowding the pool and taking up chaise longues at the private beach. http://tinyurl.com/2ee4t5u

The English Beat Save it for Now

Roger Friedman
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The English Beat Save it for Now

Are the Hamptons still hot? Oh yes, indeed. So hot that I actually missed Denise Rich‘s cocktail party to celebrate her coming fall extravaganza for her Gabrielle’s Angels Ball. (Denise, we’ll be there in October.) The reason? The sudden booking of the great UK 80s band The English Beat at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett. Dave Wakeling, founder of The Beat (they were renamed such because an American group beat them to the name), wrote some of the catchiest and most alluring pop-reggae records of the early 80s. When The E. Beat broke up, they splintered into General Public and the Fine Young Cannibals. And then they all drifted away.

On Friday, Wakeling brought his current line up to Amagansett’s famous Talkhouse, a dive with a long, wide stage under a low ceiling. Even though the 9pm temperature was well beyond 80 degrees inside and out, the place was jammed with devoted Wakeling fans who knew every word to the Birmingham Brit’s classics like the extraordinary “Save it for Later” and “Tenderness.” Wakeling is 54 now; I saw him play in 1982 at the Country Club in Reseda, California. He hasn’t lost a “beat,” frankly. Known for his marathon shows, Wakeling kept this one to just a little over two hours. He could have gone on forever.

And oh yes, “Save it for Later”–I can die now, having heard this version, and a whole room of people who didn’t know each other sing this tune loudly and ebulliently. All of Wakeling’s songs are infectious and beautifully constructed, from “Mirror in the Bathroom” to “Tenderness.” But “Save it for Later” is his epic. John Cusack, another rabid fan, made sure to include it in his most recent film.

What kind of guy is Wakeling? I told him before the show that I might have to leave early, and so inquired when “Save it” came in the set. “At the end,” he said, “but I can move it up if you like.” He did–have you heard of such a thing? But the show was so good I had to stay to the triumphant end. The English Beat keeps touring America all summer with Squeeze on some dates, and Bad Manners on others. See them, and understand why the current state of music is so synthetic and dead.

Scorsese Still a Good Fella: Not Sued by Ken Starr, Exactly

Roger Friedman
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Scorsese Still a Good Fella: Not Sued by Ken Starr, Exactly

It’s not Ken Starr who’s suing Martin Scorsese. Let’s all take a deep breath.

Starr is in jail, on ice–so to speak–awaiting anything to happen on his $59 million fraud indictment.

Meanwhile, a receiver has been appointed by the court to go figure out what happened to all the money and to straighten out the accounting of Starr’s investment company.

In all Ponzi cases this happens, and it’s not pretty. The receiver has to go find where money went from one account to another. Even if a client received money that wasn’t theirs for example and it didn’t know it, they have to give it back.

In the 2001 case of Dana Giacchetto, the money manager to Leonardo DiCaprio and Mike Ovitz, this is what happened. It was a mess. The Giacchetto case was very similar to this one, except the total amount only came to $14 million. It seemed like a lot back then.

In today’s case, receiver Aurora Cassirer is a heavy duty lawyer whose job it is to unravel these mysteries. The Scorsese matter–she says his film company should pay back $600,000–won’t be the last. And it’s not a slam dunk either. Scorsese may argue that he lost money with Starr, or found his accounting to be snarled up.

Cassirer will be making more of these moves, believe me. It’s her fiduciary responsibility.

She’s also going after money Starr deposited years ago on a $14 million apartment. So hold on. As we always say, more to come.

Still No New York Times Obit for Ed Limato

Roger Friedman
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Still No New York Times Obit for Ed Limato

Wow–the most obscure people get feature obits in the New York Times. But not a famous talent agent.

Ed Limato died last Saturday, July 3rd, at age 73. He represented some of the biggest names in Hollywood –-Denzel, Mel, Kevin Costner. He was one of the few Hollywood agents whose name was well known outside the confines of studios and Beverly Hills. His pre Oscar party was famous.

And yet: it’s Friday, and no news of his death has made the paper. Consider if you will that producer Elliot Kastner, a contentious man who was always suing someone, got in right away.

The Los Angeles Times ran an obit for Limato the next day. Of course, he lived in L.A. But considering that Limato’s reach certainly encompassed New York, that’s no excuse.

What gives? Who knows? Could Limato have had an enemy at the Times? Perhaps. But that obit page is a weird one. A couple of years ago, when Times freelance writer Monique Yazigi passed away, the paper refused to run something on her, too. She wasn’t important enough. Tough crowd.

Miramax Without Harvey is Neverland without Jacko

Roger Friedman
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Miramax Without Harvey is Neverland without Jacko

Reports are frantic that the bidding for Miramax is almost over. A group of investors, which doesn’t include Harvey and Bob Weinstein, seems eager to get the once great company. Now Colony Capital, the group that is also co owner of Michael Jackson’s Neverland, is said to be in the mix. The total price Disney wants: $675 million.
But Colony’s very astute Thomas Barrack should understand something essential: there is no Miramax without the Weinsteins. The name is too closely identified with the brothers who named the film company after their parents. In the five years since the Weinsteins left Miramax and started The Weinstein Company, Miramax has lost almost all of its name value.
What are Colony and friends buying really? A library of 50 really great movies including Best Picture winners: Shakespeare in Love, Chicago and The English Patient. There’s also The Cider House Rules, Good Will Hunting, Finding Neverland, Fahrenheit 911, Il Postino, Chocolat, In the Bedroom,  Gangs of New York, Frida, Cold Mountain, Emma, City of God, Cinema Paradiso, sex lies and videotape, Bridget Jones’ Diary, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and and the Tarantino movies Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2.

That’s it, really. There are lesser films in the library, and there may be a may to milk some dough out of them with TV sales. But otherwise Miramax is just a name. And it’s a name that means little without the Weinsteins. For quite a while now former Mirmaxers have scratched their heads wondering how Disney came up with their $700 million pricetag. The fact is, the public is smart. They know the Weinsteins are at their own company. Miramax is quickly turning into a name like Orion–one with no history attached to it.

At this point, the Weinsteins–with many potential Oscar nominees set for this fall release– are probably smart to let the whole thing go. True, not having the name Miramax is sad. But in the end, what’s the point? For Colony and whatever combo of investors to make Miramax work, they’re going to have to come to the Weinsteins later and make some kind of deal. Otherwise, they’ve just bought a name and a library. The Weinsteins are what brought cache to it. If you don’t agree, just think of the post-Weinstein Miramax run by Daniel Battsek. It just never got off the ground despite Battsek’s good taste and intent.

And Tom Barrack? He bought Neverland thinking it could be turned into a Graceland for Michael Jackson fans. But that never happened, wasn’t possible. Now Neverland is known as Sycamore Valley Ranch, it’s empty and will be sold off one day. It’s a very similar situation. He might just as well rename Miramax Sycamore Valley Films.

Paging Joaquin Phoenix for Mafia Murders Movie

Roger Friedman
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Paging Joaquin Phoenix for Mafia Murders Movie

Joaquin Phoenix, semi-retired but on the way back, is being sought for a new movie about Mafia murders.

Phil Carlo, the legendary crime writer, has optioned his book, “The Butcher: Anatomy of a Mafia Psychopath,” to New York based Jailbird Productions. Famed “GoodFellas” writer Nicholas Pileggi is penning the screenplay.

Everyone involved wants Phoenix to play Tommy Pitera, now serving multiple life sentences for being the mob’s most vicious hit man from the Bonnano crime family.

Carlo is hot right now. Mickey Rourke is said to be starring in an adaptation of his book, “The Ice Man,” which is not about R&B singer Jerry Butler but about another crazy hit man. And former Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell and his brother in law Nick Karayiannis are co-producing “The Night Stalker,” based another of Carlo’s books.

A new Phil Carlo mob true crime story, “The Killer Within,” hits stores in September from Overlook Press.

It’s maybe instructive to take a look at Phil Carlo’s website. It will scare you straight about hit men. The real guys must look at movies like “Killers” with Ashton Kutcher and laugh til their sides hurt.

Was David Letterman Punished by Emmy Awards?

Roger Friedman
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Was David Letterman Punished by Emmy Awards?

Was Dave Letterman punished by the Emmy Awards?

It sure seems like it. Until this year, Letterman’s talk-variety fests have always been nominated for Outstanding Variety Series. In the years when hosts have been nominated individually, Letterman’s name was always on the list.

This year, he’s been omitted. Only Letterman’s directors gained nominations. Otherwise, zilch.

Of course, this was the year when Letterman was rocked by scandal involving extortion and the on air admission that Letterman had sex with women on his staff. At the time Letterman seemed like he’d managed to handle the brouhaha by getting “in front” of it. But apparently the whole business didn’t go over well with the Emmys.

The Emmy committees obviously also didn’t care for Jay Leno’s behavior during the whole Tonight show debacle. Leno was totally ignored this year even though he had two shows to choose from. It’s especially embarrassing since the Emmys are on NBC this year. But that had little impact apparently on the committees.

Emmy Awards Honor Conan, Snub Jay AND Dave

Roger Friedman
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Emmy Awards Honor Conan, Snub Jay AND Dave

The 2010 Emmy Award nominations are out. And guess what? Conan O’Brien‘s short lived version of “The Tonight Show” got several nods including Best Variety series, and writing and directing mentions. But Jay Leno–in two shows– and Dave Letterman–got pretty much zilch.

Leno’s “Jay Leno Show” and his “Tonight Show” were omitted. And Letterman’s late night show got only directing nominations. The nominees for Outstanding Variety series were for Conan, the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, Bill Maher, Saturday Night Live. The Letterman people must be incensed. One can only wonder if Dave’s private life problems seeping into the show didn’t somehow affect what happened here.

For O’Brien the nominations, and the obliteration of Leno, have to be sweet revenge. Also the Emmy telecast is on NBC this year, on August 29th. Imagine if O’Brien wins–just the thought of it is too tantalizing.

Other Emmy nominations — there are zillions of them–went to a host of deserving people including this year’s IT girl, Betty White, as well as Mary Kay Place, Bobby Morse (Mad Men),  and Matthew Fox (Lost), plus two for Jon Hamm (Mad Men and 30 Rock), Peggy and Joan from Mad Men–Elizabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks, 93 year old Eli Wallach (please–he should win!) and of course a raft of nominations for 30 Rock and Glee.

Plus–HBO got over 100 nominations. Is that possible? Well, they have True Blood, Al Pacino in the Kevorkian movie with that entire cast, The Pacific, etc. Showtime also did well with Nurse Jackie.

http://www.emmys.com/sites/emmys.com/files/62ndemmys_noms.pdf

Harvey Fuqua, the Man Behind Motown, Dies at 80

Roger Friedman
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Harvey Fuqua, the Man Behind Motown, Dies at 80

I am heartbroken to report that Harvey Fuqua has died of a heart attack at age 80.

A splendid person, a real gentleman, and just a good guy, Harvey was the man behind Motown. He was first the leader of the Moonglows in the 1950s, and wrote the hit “Sincerely.” But then he went to work for Berry Gordy at Motown.

Fuqua’s jobs were myriad–writing, producing, and teaching the Motown acts how to behave in public. His best pal was Marvin Gaye, whose records he produced. Both he and Marvin wound up marrying Gordy’s sisters, respectively, Gwen and Anna. Harvey also worked on dozens of other Motown hits, including many with Johnny Bristol including his classic “Hang On In There Baby.”

Harvey’s place in R&B history cannot be overstated. The fact that it took so long to get him into the Rock and Roll Hall of (Shame) Fame is a…shame. But he was a trustee of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in its heyday. A big man, with a rolling gate, and penchant for golf, he didn’t pull punches.

A few years ago I was in the ticketing office of the R&B Foundation’s Pioneer Awards with him. Someone called from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame demanding tickets–and good ones– to the Pioneer Awards. Said Harvey: “Let them sit in the back, where they put us for their show.”

And that’s what happened.

Harvey, you will be missed, missed, missed. God speed. I mean it, “Sincerely.”

Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono Surprise Ringo Starr on Stage at Radio City

Roger Friedman
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Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono Surprise Ringo Starr on Stage at Radio City

What a night for Ringo Starr: Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono put aside their usual differences and surprised the ex Beatle on stage at Radio City Music Hall for his 70th birthday on Wednesday night.

McCartney was a total surprise to Starr–he appeared at the end of show, strapped on a guitar and launched Ringo’s band into the Beatles’  “Birthday.” It was historic since the Fab Four never played the song live anywhere. Tonight, Ringo played drums and Radio City was like Shea Stadium in 1966. McCartney was spot-on, too. Brilliant.

Just before that, Ringo had been celebrated by a raft of stars and musicians at the end of “With A Little Help from My Friends,” his Beatles signature song. Suddenly on stage was Yoko Ono, looking grand in a white hat, and boogeying like she was half her age. At one point, Ono grabbed a mic and signaled for it to be turned on. Wiser heads prevailed because they thought she might warble. Instead, Ono sweetly wished Ringo a happy birthday.

In the audience was Olivia Harrison, the lovely and loyal widow of George Harrison. Also on hand were Peter Asher, the record producer and long time pal of the Beatles (his sister Jane was once engaged to McCartney) plus McCartney’s lawyer and brother in law, John Eastman, with wife Jody; and Ringo’s stepdaughter, Francesca Gregorini, co director of the film, “Tanner Hall.”

But the stage was filled with stars, and so was the backstage, starting with Keith Richards and Patti Hansen, Steve and Maureen van Zandt, Max Weinberg. Foreigner’s Mick Jones with ex wife Ann Dexter Jones, Nils Lofgren, and Jeff Lynne, as well as Barbara Orbison (devoted widow of Roy and astute businesswoman), Ed Begley, Jr., Apple Records’ excellent chief Jeff Jones, concert producer David Saltz, and Paul’s girlfriend, the beautiful Nancy Shevell, as well as legendary drummer Jim Keltner, and mogul about town Steve Bing.

And surprise! actor Hayley Joel Osment–all grown up and graduating from NYU on August 5th. He doesn’t see dead people any more–but does see a great film career in front of and behind the camera.

When a cake was wheeled out on stage, the audience pushed forward and sang “Happy Birthday.” Perhaps over saturated with birthday wishes, Ringo waved the crowd good night and sang “Happy Birthday to me…” as he wandered off stage.

As for the main show itself, it ran a little less than two hours and was the usual hodgepodge party that Ringo’s All Starr Band endeavors usually are–the musicians are all great, but sort of two hit wonders who create a jukebox effect around the famous drummer. The outstanding moments belonged to Edgar Winter, whose “Frankenstein” is an epic masterpiece. Winter plays almost all the instruments, too, from sax to keyboards to vibes. This man is underrated. Rick Derringer was also very, very good, first playing “Hang on Sloopy,” his 1965 hit, and then “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo” from almost a decade later. These are consummate musicians.

The show itself was a little Ringo-lite. But maybe as he celebrates 70 Ringo is happy to turn over the showier aspects to his compadres, and just relax. No one can say he doesn’t deserve it. And if you went to Radio City for a birthday party, you got a great and memorable one.

Do we feel old? Why yes: Ringo’s grand kids also came out at the end. But he’s young enough looking that he’s no grandpa. Still think of it: Ringo is indeed a grandfather. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney is such a mensch–he really looked like he was going to cry as he and Ringo hugged on stage. Later I overheard Nils Lofgren–the amazing guitarist–introduce himself to Paul. “You know, I play with Bruce Springsteen, I played on Ringo’s first solo albums,” the legendary musician said to Paul. McCartney looked astonished. “Of course I know who you are!” he said, pumping Lofgren’s hand vigorously.

PS I did run into Sid Bernstein, now 92 and going strong, the original promoter who brought the Beatles to America. He’ s never let them forget it, too. God bless Sid Bernstein. Without his ingenuity and foresight, none of this would be happening now.

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