Thursday, December 18, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 2218

Tom Cruise Flick Has Biggest Day-to-Day Drop at Box Office

Roger Friedman
-
7
Tom Cruise Flick Has Biggest Day-to-Day Drop at Box Office

Tom Cruise is not having a good week. “Knight and Day” dropped 8.7% from Wednesday to Thursday, its second day of release. That’s the biggest single drop in top 10– and all the other movies have been out for a week or more.

Something is turning people off to “K&D” in a big way. It did only $3.4 million on Thursday, which means a long, hot weekend is beckoning.

At the same time, for example, “Toy Story 3” dropped only 3%, “Karate Kid” 5.9%, and “Shrek 1000” was up 10%. Even relative dogs like “Sex and the City 2,” “Get Him to the Greek,” and “Killers” were up a little. Of all things, “Robin Hood” was even up 14%!

Today brings Adam Sandler and co. in “Grown Ups.” You know it’s awful, but theaters are air conditioned, babies need to be sitted, and pop corn with a little butter is always a good snack. It’s going to push “K&D” down the list. The only bright spot may be foreign ticket sales. “K&D” was filmed so people in Spain and other non English speaking countries would get a kick out of seeing their locales on the screen. Also, incoherence isn’t an issue with subtitles. So Cruise may make some of his dough back there.

And no one will ask why the main characters are named Knight and Day!

Oscars Invite Precious Actresses, Bono, The Edge, Adam Sandler, Tony Soprano to Join Academy

Roger Friedman
-
2
Oscars Invite Precious Actresses, Bono, The Edge, Adam Sandler, Tony Soprano to Join Academy

Guess who gets to vote this winter in the Oscars? A whole bunch of new, interesting, talented people. Every year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invites in a new group to participate in the Oscar process. This new round will replace some beloved voters who’ve departed, and some who let their dogs and housekeepers decide the Best Picture.

In music, Bono and The Edge from U2 are in, thanks to scores they’ve written for “Gangs of New York” and “In the Name of the Father.”

In the acting category, the Academy has asked the following: “Precious” actresses Mo’Nique–who thumbed her nose at the Oscars all last season, and first timer Gabourey Sidibe; Adam Sandler, who’s a lot of fun but unlikely ever to receive the gold statue; plus last year’s winner Christoph Waltz, nominees Jeremy Renner, Vera Farmiga, Saorise Ronan, Anna Kendrick, and Carey Mulligan.Also on the list is James Gandolfini, Shaun Toub, and, the affable Ryan Reynolds.

There are some nice less glitzy additions, too: Peter Riegert, who’s such a good character actor; the really wonderful LaTonya Richardson (Mrs. Samuel L. Jackson, too); Sam Robards, son of Lauren Bacall and Jason Robards; droll Miguel Ferrer; and past nominee Peter Saarsgard. Zoe Saldana is also joining, but as herself, not her avatar.

On the documentary list: my pal Frazer Pennebaker, who runs the show for Pennebaker Hegedus Films; Davis Guggenheim, Osar winning director of “An Inconvenient Truth;” “Super Size Me” creator Morgan Spurlock; and Nancy Baker, who made the excellent “Born into Brothels.”

New directors include two Oscar nominees from this year: Lee Daniels of “Precious” and Lone Scherfig, of “An Education.”

The new writers comprise Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious,” Tom McCarthy, “The Visitor” and “The Station Agent,” the duo from “District 9,” novelist Nick Hornby, the duo from “Star Trek.” and Oscar winner Mark Boal, from “The Hurt Locker.”

Folks, many DVDs, invites, and cocktails are coming your way. Don’t squander them!

Michael Jackson Criminal Lawyer Will NOT Contest Will

Roger Friedman
-
5
Michael Jackson Criminal Lawyer Will NOT Contest Will

It’s June 25th, and the Michael Jackson stories will go crazy today.

Top of the list: that someone will try and overturn Michael Jackson’s will. Yes, the rumor is that some group of Jackson outsiders have claimed an announcement scheduled for tomorrow. The word was that Jackson’s will would be contested by Thomas Mesereau, who represented Michael in his criminal case in 2005, and Dennis Hawk, a lawyer who works with Tohme Tohme, Jackson’s short time manager, would lead the charge.

“Not true,” Mesereau tells me adamantly. “I haven’t been aproached and I have nothing to do with it.” Mesereau–who generally stays out of the limelight and often represents wrongly accused defendants down in Alabama pro bono–was shocked when I told him the rumor. He knows Hawk, by the way, but that’s the extent of it.

Leonard Rowe, the disreputable concert promoter, has told everyone he thinks Jackson’s will is sketchy. But in a year’s time, no proof has been offered by anyone that the 2002 will is anything but legal and binding.

Meantime, Joseph Jackson–ever on the prowl to make money–has filed a wrongful death suit against Dr. Conrad Murray. Brian Oxman, who’s had many problems with the California Bar Association and never really knew Michael Jackson, is representing him. Oxman was Randy Jackson’s lawyer when Jackson divorced his wife, after she left him for his brother, Jermaine.

The wrongful death suit doesn’t have much new in it, except for the assertion that Dr. Murray “solicited” business from Michael Jackson in Las Vegas in 2006. This would seem impossible since Jackson did not return to the United States –from June 2005– until the last few days of December for James Brown’s funeral. In Augusta, Georgia.

In other news, TMZ finally took us up on our lead, and identified Lowell Henry in their photo. They say he’s a “Jackson family financial adviser.” Too funny.

Michael Jackson Saga Gets Famed Film Name in Mix

Roger Friedman
-
2
Michael Jackson Saga Gets Famed Film Name in Mix

We can add one more name to the never ending saga of Michael Jackson, and it’s a famous Hollywood moniker: Wolper.

It turns out that in his quest to monetize his purchase of all that Jackson memorabilia, Toronto online entrepreneur Howard Mann has enlisted Mark and Michael Wolper, the sons of famed television and movie producer David Wolper.

Even though no deal has been struck officially, Michael Wolper told me yesterday that he and his brother are exploring ways to help Mann use the rights he think he’s gained through the purchase of a warehouse of Jackson family possessions. Mann is certain that he now has various rights because he possesses documents, recordings, and videos.

Mann, however, may be in for some fight from Michael Jackson’s estate. It’s more than likely that Jackson’s executors will counter that they control his likeness and image.

Nevertheless, Michael Wolper says the main ideas being discussed right now are Michael Jackson and Jackson family biopics.

In case you don’t know, David Wolper, now 82, is a titan in TV, especially. His credits include “Roots,” “The Thorn Birds,” and “North and South.” He won the honorary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, from the Academy in 1985.

Michael Jackson’s Sister Rebbie Gets Dissed By Family

Roger Friedman
-
10
Michael Jackson’s Sister Rebbie Gets Dissed By Family

You don’t hear too much about Michael Jackson‘s eldest sibling, Rebbie (Maureen) Jackson. She was smart: she got married young and got away from the Jackson family as soon as possible. Apparently, they’ve held it against her all these years.

I am told by sources that Rebbie, now 60, is constantly dissed and used by her family, from the early days right up to this week. In fact, she traveled this week from Las Vegas, where she lives with her husband, to the Los Angeles area to an interview with the UK newspaper, The Sun.

The paper offered her $75,000, and Rebbie, who has done little to cash in on her family’s fame, accepted. She did the interview, and then waited, a friend says, for the paper to call to get her bank information. The call never came. Instead, today The Sun is featuring LaToya Jackson on its website and in the paper. Says a source: “Joe Jackson heard about Rebbie’s interview. He got La Toya to do it, and replaced Rebbie.” The older sister is said to be very upset and rightly so.

According to those who know her, the mild mannered, loyal Rebbie is one of the few Jacksons to turn down offers since Michael died a year ago today. She declined $650,000 from News of the World just five days after Michael’s death. As a performer herself, she’s managed to make a career for herself in Las Vegas. But I am told that both her parents went to a Las Vegas hotel owner and scotched a deal for Rebbie to have her own showcase. “The parents told the hotel owner why did he want just Rebbie when they could offer him a better deal?” In the end, no one got the work.

Last year, after Michael died, my source insists that the Jacksons asked Rebbie to come take care of Michael’s kids. “She stayed for three months until she realized they just did it to keep her from working in Vegas. They never intended for her to actually be involved.” Since then, little has been heard from Rebbie in regard to Michael’s kids or the family.

Interestingly, Rebbie was the last Jackson sibling who Michael ever worked with professionally. He helped her with a single hit, “Centipede,” in the early 90s. In 1998, he helped her with a single and video called “Faithfully Yours.”

Farrah Fawcett Died One Year Ago Today, Too

Roger Friedman
-
2
Farrah Fawcett Died One Year Ago Today, Too

Everyone is going ga-ga over the anniversary of Michael Jackson‘s death on Friday.

But today also marks the first year since the passing of Farrah Fawcett. Her death was a little overshadowed by Jackson’s last year.

Farrah was first and f0remost The Sex Symbol of the 1970s. But she went on to prove herself a dynamic actress who wasn’t afraid to take on challenges. As she got older, she allowed herself to be funny, goofy and mischievous. As good as she was in TV movies like “The Burning Bed” and “A Murder in Texas,” she was also hilarious in her short lived sitcom with Ryan O’Neal, “Good Sports.”

So let’s not forget Farrah today (even though the Oscars managed to last March). She was just as much a part of American pop culture as Michael Jackson, and a helluva lot prettier!

Michael Jackson Memorial Set for Friday Morning

Roger Friedman
-
4
Michael Jackson Memorial Set for Friday Morning

There’s a private memorial service set for Michael Jackson for tomorrow morning, Friday, June 25th, at Forest Lawn Glendale.

Michael’s brother, Randy, sent out the invites. The guests will include his brothers and sisters, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Joe Jackson will be there. Katherine Jackson will not. As I reported before, she and Michael’s kids are out of town to escape the circus like atmosphere already growing around the anniversary of Michael’s death.

Other guests will be similar to last year’s final funeral, including Jackson’s executors, his former lawyers like Tom Mesereau, and perhaps a few celebs like Macaulay Culkin. Otherwise, there will be no press this time. Last year, the first speaker was ex-con and Joe Jackson intimate Leonard Rowe. One can only hope there’s no repeat of that episode.

Rowe is not the only Joe Jackson crony lurking about these days. TMZ printed a picture today of Katherine Jackson with her business partner, Howard Mann. They failed to recognize the man on her left. It’s Lowell Henry, a one time “assistant” to Berry Gordy in the Motown days. Henry has somehow re-inveigled his way into the Jackson family. When I met him the other day at the Beverly Hilton–where he’s working on Saturday’s event–he tried to pretend he was someone else.

Hilarious. The cast of Joe Jackson supporting players never ceases to amaze me. Last year it was Marshall Thompson of the Chi Lites, wearing a wide brim white hat and a zoot suit, carrying Joe’s water.

Tom Cruise Film Flop: Meager $3.8 Million Opening for “Knight and Day”

Roger Friedman
-
15
Tom Cruise Film Flop: Meager $3.8 Million Opening for “Knight and Day”

It’s bad news for Tom Cruise. “Knight and Day” took in only $3.8 million last night at the box office. The $100 million film now stands to make around $20 million, if 20th Century Fox is lucky, for the five day opening run.

What makes this worse than ever: Cruise’s last movie, the godawful “Valkyrie,” made $8.5 million on its opening day. Of course, it was Christmas, but still…”Valkyrie” didn’t even have Cameron Diaz in a bikini or fancy exotic locations.

After the millions Fox has spent to promote this thing, especially overseas, “K&D” is a disappointment, certainly. But there were warning signs, as I said last week: no U.S. premiere, and then the 500 sneak previews on Saturday.

Bad reviews didn’t help. “K&D” has registered only 52% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even those reviews counted as positive weren’t so good. They were stretching. And hyping “Jerry Maguire” in the TV ad quote has only made the studio seem more desperate.

Is Tom Cruise washed up? No, because no one ever is in Hollywood. Look at Elliot Spitzer. He spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on hookers while he was Governor of the State of New York. Now he’s gotten a prime time show on CNN.

But Cruise is going to have to do some serious re-thinking about his career and public stance. And it doesn’t mean more of the annoying and slightly anti-Semitic Les Grossman character.

To be continued…

Michael Jackson Finances: Bloomberg, Most Everyone Else Gets It Wrong

Roger Friedman
-
8
Michael Jackson Finances: Bloomberg, Most Everyone Else Gets It Wrong

The proliferation of articles about Michael Jackson‘s finances is getting stronger as tomorrow approaches. Most of what you’re reading is incorrect.

The strangest story came today from Bloomberg News. It was titled, “Jackson Advisers to Keep Stake in Beatles Catalog.” It should have been followed by a story called, “The Sky Is Blue.”

There’s no question that Michael Jackson’s estate will continue to be a partner in Sony/ATV Music, the company that contains the Beatles catalog. And there’s no consideration about selling the fifty percent stake. I’m not sure how that became a headline.

For one thing, Michael’s executors, John Branca and John McClain, hold seats on the board of Sony/ATV. They’re not going to give those up. They represent power and a certain standing in the music business.

Second, even though Michael’s famous $500 million or so loans with Barclays come due this year, Sony Music will be right there to refinance them. Sony, as I’ve said in the past, has no interest in shutting Jackson down, etc. They’re in business now with Michael Jackson forever. Forever. And it’s a big business. On their bottom line, Michael Jackson CDs did better last year than almost any other acct. There’s an unlimited future in unreleased tracks and repackaging.

I was the first to write about Michael Jackson’s perilous financial state way back in 2001. It amuses me to see all these newcomers getting spun, especially by “financial advisers” whom no one has ever heard of.

Jacksons: As Tributes Near, Family Leaves Town-Book Sells 25,000 Copies

Roger Friedman
-
6
Jacksons: As Tributes Near, Family Leaves Town-Book Sells 25,000 Copies

Michael Jackson‘s immediate family will not be around this week for all the tributes that are about to take place.

As preparations occur at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for Saturday’s Jackson Family Foundation event, fans may be disappointed not to see the main players: Katherine Jackson and her grand kids.

I am told that Katherine has already left the L.A. area has headed to Michael’s birthplace in Gary, Indiana.

And Michael’s kids–Prince, Paris, and Blanket–will also be far removed from the circus planned across the street from their home in Encino, California. There was a plan to take them to London. They may also be somewhere else. But they’re not in California, trust me.

Meantime, Katherine Jackson‘s book publisher, Howard Mann, tells me he’s sold 25,000 copies of her book, “Never Can Say Goodbye,” since Monday. That’s quite an accomplishment. The book will be sold physically at the Bev Hilton event. Otherwise, it can only be obtained online.

But there are issues with that book, and possibly, Mrs. Jackson’s partnership. Stay tuned…

1...2,2172,2182,219...2,323Page 2,218 of 2,323

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com