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Iron Man 2 Full of Weird Cameos, But It’s Robert Downey Jr.’s Movie

Roger Friedman
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Iron Man 2 Full of Weird Cameos, But It’s Robert Downey Jr.’s Movie

“Iron Man 2” hits theatres on Friday and it’s chock full of strange cameo appearances.

Oracle’s founder Larry Ellison gets to say a line and some face time. It also looks like he may have put quite a bit of money into “Iron Man 2.” Oracle is the most prominent advertiser on screen. Its logo turns up constantly. It’s worse than when Starbucks plastered its name all over one of the “Austin Powers” movies years ago. Yikes!

There are also appearances by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour and Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly. Your heart kind of sinks when you the the former, a supposedly “serious” journalist. O’Reilly is just there as a punch line.

Of course, Marvel’s Stan Lee shows up. But the saddest cameo is from DJ Adam Goldstein, who subsequently killed himself with drugs. He looks bright and happy in the film.

All that aside, “Iron Man 2,” again directed by Jon Favreau, is a lot of big studio noisy fun. It’s going to make a mint, too, when it arrives on Friday. Early word was that it wasn’t as good as the first “Iron Man.” But guess what? It’s just fine, a solid A minus I think, with a witty script from Justin Theroux. The first “Iron Man” was a novelty, and Robert Downey Jr was a surprise as Tony Stark. Now we’re used to it. But that doesn’t mean anything negative.

In fact, Favreau, Theroux and Downey have really pulled it together. Gwyneth Paltrow is back and her role is larger this time as Tony Stark’s pining love interest and assistant. Plus, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, and without a doubt Sam Rockwell are all excellent additions to the group this time around. Rockwell just about steals the movie, and he gets to dance–he’s a great improvisational dancer–on top of it. Don Cheadle also joins the cast, replacing Terrence Howard, and doing a fine job.

But “Iron Man 2” is all about Robert Downey Jr. Tony Stark has a line early in the script about life, death and redemption that really sums up Downey’s life and career. After all his personal disasters, who could have guessed that he’d triumph in the end. And he’s a pleasure all the way through. Considering the abundance of plot points and characters this time around, it’s a tribute to Downey that he keeps it all straight, and leads this crazy Chapter 2 with authority, wit and grace.

So now what? The whole movie is a set up for Chapter 3, as well as “Thor” and “Avengers” movies. You almost can’t wait to see Jackson and Johansson in “The Avengers.” When I saw Scarlett over the weekend, I said, “So now you’re a super hero.” She replied, without flinching, “I was always a super hero.” It does seem like that, seeing her in “Iron Man 2.” Quentin Tarantino‘s going to be calling her for “Kill Bill Part 3” when he sees her here!

Get ready for box office alerts all weekend. “Iron Man 2” is going to set records.

Sting’s “Soul Cages” Headed to Broadway

Roger Friedman
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Sting’s “Soul Cages” Headed to Broadway

The cat is out of the bag. On his blog today, Mike Fleming writes about Sting making a deal to write a musical with Pulitzer Prize winning playwright and composer Brian Yorkey, of “Next to Normal.”

I knew about this weeks ago, but was waiting until the rest of the story firmed up.

I will tell you the part that Mike doesn’t have: Sting and Yorkey are going to adapt Sting’s amazing 1991 album, “The Soul Cages,” for the theater. (That album included the hits, “All this Time” and “Mad About You” as well as the title track.) This autobiographical work will likely include other songs, maybe new music, and certainly encompass Sting’s memoir, “Broken Music.”

Yorkey has already traveled with Sting to his place of birth in Newcastle, England, met his relatives and friends, seen all the landmark spots that appear in Sting’s songs and writing. What comes out of these trips and meetings should be quite wonderful, but we won’t see the fruits of it for some time. First, Sting has to complete his symphony tour this summer, play the Hollywood Bowl on June 15th and the Metropolitan Opera on July 13th and 14th.

There’s also the matter of the Rainforest Foundation concert at Carnegie Hall on May 13th with Elton John and Lady GaGa. The next morning, Sting kicks off the Today show concert series on Rockefeller Plaza. Whew!

youtube.com/watch?v=2vAQx1y1CcE

Tony Awards Snub Morticia, Gomez But Cite Rhoda, Frasier

Roger Friedman
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Tony Awards Snub Morticia, Gomez But Cite Rhoda, Frasier

Rhoda Morgenstern has finally gotten her great citation. Valerie Harper, very deservedly, has been nominated for a Tony Award for Lead Actress in a Play, in “Looped.”  It’s a nice vindication.

She won’t win; that distinction will go to Viola Davis, in “Fences.” But still: Harper is in pretty swell company, with Laura Linney, Linda Lavin, and Jan Maxwell.

And Frasier Crane, aka Kelsey Grammer, is in for Lead Actor in a Musical, with his colleague Douglas Hodge in “La Cage Aux Folles.”

But there’s no love from the Tony’s for “The Addams Family,” a critic proof musical that’s making millions even as we sit here snapping fingers to the TV theme song. Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth were each skipped over, as was the show. Go figure: the rotten score by Andrew Lippa did get nominated. In “Full Disclosure”: it shouldn’t have.

Also completely overlooked: last fall’s “A Steady Rain,” which had very good performances by Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. That’s too bad, because Craig especially deserved it.

But the rest of the Tony nominations are in sync with the prior Outer Critics Circle, which turned out to be a good predictor. The OCC remembered Jude Law for “Hamlet” and cited Jan Maxwell twice. So did the Tonys. The kooky Drama Desk, however, simply nominated everything — just to cover themselves.

This year’s Tony Award show on CBS–Sunday, June 13th–should be pretty good. In addition to Harper and Grammer, the other well known faces will be Jude Law, Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johansson, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Catherine Zeta Jones, Angela Lansbury, and so on. Lots and lots of stars should produce some good ratings. Maybe Green Day will appear for “American Idiot.” Cool.

PS The original musical category is a mess. “American Idiot” is in my opinion the Best New Musical. But its director, Michael Mayer, wasn’t nominated. Instead, the most deserving director of a Musical who was nominated should be Marcia Milgrim Dodge. She made the revival of “Ragtime” important and moving. She reinvented the show entirely from its original laborious production.

Lynn Redgrave: A Tragedy

Roger Friedman
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Lynn Redgrave: A Tragedy

Lynn Redgrave could actually boast that her Oscar nominations were three decades apart. She made an indelible impression in 1966’s “Georgy Girl” and was up for Best Actress. In 1999, she was back at the Oscars for Supporting Actress in “Gods and Monsters.” Just three years before, in 1996, she came ever so close with an outstanding performance in “Shine.”

Her dozens and dozens of roles also included a couple of unique ones: she was featured in Woody Allen’s adaptation of “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex.” And she played the title role as Xaviera Hollander in “The Happy Hooker.”

And that was just her movie work. She also had three Tony nominations for Best Actress in a Play.

In 1981, Redgrave had an Emmy nomination when she took over Glenda Jackson’s role in the TV version of “House Calls.”

While her sister Vanessa may have been known for more “serious” work, Lynn Redgrave held her own with the best. She could do anything, from comedy to drama to the absurd. She could be absolutely hilarious on screen or stage. Devastating in fact.

In person, Lynn Redgrave was never less than a delight. She held her head high during a period of crazy personal turmoil when her husband turned out to be a bona fide rat.

I do remember Lynn, Vanessa, and Natasha Richardson all at the premiere of “The White Countess” in 2005–in which they all starred for Merchant-Ivory. What a grand, fun night. How very sad to lose so many people talented people–Lynn, Natasha, Corin Redgrave–too soon, and in such a short time. It’s our loss.

New Michael Jackson Album May Pose Legal Problems

Roger Friedman
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New Michael Jackson Album May Pose Legal Problems

The newly discovered Michael Jackson album I told you about –exclusively–yesterday may pose some legal problems.

The album was recorded by Michael in the fall of 2007 with Eddie Cascio at his home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. No one knew about it until earlier this year. Cascio, 28, is the second oldest son of longtime Jackson friends Dominick and Connie Cascio, Michael’s surrogate family.

Yesterday I wondered in this space if Michael’s recordings with Cascio would be covered by his estate’s recent $200 million deal with Sony. I thought maybe not, since no one knew about the tracks at the time of the deal.

But things could get sticky between the Jackson estate and Cascio. I am told that Cascio has engaged a top music entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, Don Passman. And sources do say that Cascio is “covered,” whatever that means. There’s no word on whether Jackson–who used to put his “M” signature on anything in front of him–signed a piece of paper with Cascio.

There will be some tough questioning by the estate over who wrote the songs Cascio recorded, and whether Michael was their author or co-author. I’m told that may be “covered” as well by copyright registrations.

Indeed, two days after Jackson died–on June 27, 2009–Cascio filed a copyright claim along with Michael Jackson and another songwriter for something called “MJ Songbook.” The filing is just for lyrics. An earlier filing. from March 2008, is labeled “JPEC Collection.” The song titles in each collection are not specified in the Library of Congress’s database, but it’s possible that Cascio updated his 2008 filing after Jackson died to reflect the superstar’s contribution to  material Cascio had already written–and wisely registered.

What everyone who’s heard the tracks agrees on is that Michael Jackson’s vocals sound great. At the time, Jackson was getting good sleep, and lots of Italian homecooking from the Cascios, who are restaurant owners. It was probably the best time Jackson had had since his November 2003 arrest.

Meanwhile, executor John McClain–who’s had health problems— is going through some 60 other unreleased tracks, selecting what he thinks are the best ones for a Jackson album to be released this fall by Sony.

McClain is not considered a Clive Davis, really, in the business. But he helped Janet Jackson, whom he grew up with, start her career at A&M Records. And he briefly co-managed Michael in the early Nineties with Trudy Green. McClain, unlike Jackson intimates Frank DiLeo and John Branca, has so far not heard the Cascio tapes, I am told.

“He’s resisting it,” says a source, while he’s busy sorting through those 60 tracks.

Is Travis Garland the Next American Idol? Sort of?

Roger Friedman
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Is Travis Garland the Next American Idol? Sort of?

Here’s a name we’re going to get used to, fast: Travis Garland.

The 20 year old singer songwriter is about to get a big push now that’s he’s split from his group NLT.

Garland is now being managed, sources say, by Joe Simpson–father of Jessica and Ashlee. And also co-managed or co-something by gossip blogger and wannabe record mogul Perez Hilton.

The result of all this is that Travis is said to be appearing on “American Idol” possibly on May 18th. Is this really happening? I think so. Why not? Justin Bieber is a pop star, so anything can happen. Plus, Garland seems like he might actually be talented. Plus. Joe Simpson is an interesting guy. He’s made a lot of money with Jessica and Ashlee. When I ran into him in Washington, he was wearing a platinum and diamond men’s bracelet, cufflinks, watch, the whole thing. Tasteful bling. He’s not fooling around.

Joe has been telling people that Travis is the next Justin Timberlake. Again, why not? Justin isn’t doing anything really, and his fanbase is aging. Bieber isn’t going to replace him. So, enter Travis Garland. Let the starmaking machinery begin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei4ZoLIbIak

Oliver Stone Sets South American Dictators (Er, Presidents) Film Tour

Roger Friedman
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Oliver Stone Sets South American Dictators (Er, Presidents) Film Tour

Oliver Stone is a busy man. On Friday, May 14th, he’ll debut “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” at the Cannes Film Festival.

But he won’t be sticking around Cannes for long.

Stone will take his documentary about South American dictators, called “South of the Border,” to Madrid on May 18th for its worldwide premiere.

Ten days later he’ll show “South of the Border” in Caracas, Venezuela, to film buff and evil dictator Hugo Chavez and other officials at a premiere in that country.

From there, Stone will be all over South America with the film, described as a “political road movie.”  The tour includes the “first-ever film premiere” in Cochabamba, Colombia. (A red carpet always seems more official with machine guns!)

“South of the Border” features “intimate conversations” according to a press release with Chávez, Evo Morales (Bolivia), Lula da Silva (Brazil), Cristina Kirchner (Argentina), as well as her husband and ex-President Néstor Kirchner, Fernando Lugo (Paraguay), Rafael Correa (Ecuador), and Raúl Castro (Cuba).

So far, there are premieres set for each of these countries except for Cuba. But that’s the one–should it occur, and why not?–that would be the hot ticket.

The presidents of these countries will no doubt have controversial, anti-American things to say, many of which will then be ascribed to Stone himself. But I want to hear every word these guys have on their minds. “South of the Border” should be powerful and memorable, to say the least!

Helen Wagner, “World Turns” Matriarch, Was 91

Roger Friedman
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Helen Wagner, “World Turns” Matriarch, Was 91

Helen Wagner passed away on Saturday at age 91. As Nancy Hughes, she uttered the first words on “As the World Turns” in April 1956. Her last episode aired just last month, marking the return of Oscar nominee Julianne Moore as her granddaughter.

It’s ironic, because “World Turns” only has about fifty episodes or fewer left to tape. It was canceled last year by CBS and will end its 54 year run on September 17th.

Somehow, I think, Wagner didn’t want to give CBS and Procter & Gamble the satisfaction of sticking around. Now they will be forced to make almost the end of the run a tribute to her.

Wagner’s character, Nancy Hughes, started out as a meddling mother-in-law and sister-in-law. But over the years, she mellowed and become a matriarch to generations of crazy stories and a variety of characters. Nancy, however, never lost her edge. Wagner, according to people I’ve spoken to over the years, had one, too. That’s probably why she lasted so long. She’s in the Guinness Book of Records for playing the same character the longest on television.

With Wagner’s passing, the era of soaps and in particular P&G’s role in them, is coming to a close. Just recently, Frances Reid of “Days of Our Lives” passed away, as did James Mitchell of “All My Children.” The few remaining soaps rarely feature people with white hair. Older people are not welcome as they once were on daytime. It’s one of the mistakes that’s cost the business of daytime dramas its future.

During the show’s heyday, from the mid 80s to the mid 90s, Wagner played some juicy stuff, too. She was the main actor in scenes with a very green Lauryn Hill, believe it or not. It might be nice to hear from the Fugees singer about her pre-fame era.

Let’s hope that CBS gives Helen Wagner a proper send off. They’ve canceled the show; there’s nothing to lose. And everything to gain.

One more thing: Julianne Moore did tell me recently that on the day she made her appearance, Wagner was still giving her direction about where to sit, and how not to cast a shadow or block the elder actress. You have to love it. We should all be that way at 91! Nancy Hughes, rest in peace.

Exclusive: Michael Jackson Recorded A New Album in 2007

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Michael Jackson Recorded A New Album in 2007

This is a copyrighted story.

Bombshell exclusive:

Michael Jackson recorded a whole new album of material in the fall of 2007. The information about the album was only recently revealed by sources close to the late pop star.

Readers of my old column will recall that I reported on November 19, 2007 that Jackson spent three months with the Cascio family in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey after decamping from a Northern Virginia home he’d been renting courtesy of then manager Raymone Bain.

Jackson, his kids, nanny and tutor landed on the Cascio doorstep at the end of the summer of 2007 and stayed until November 7th. During that time Michael was not idle, as some thought. He recorded at least a dozen tracks with Eddie Cascio, who is also known as Angel.

I’m told that Jackson’s manager and adviser, Frank DiLeo, knew that Jackson was working on a new album. DiLeo and the Cascios all declined to comment for this article.

The song titles that I’m aware of include: “Water,” a song Michael actually sang a little bit of in the movie, “This is It” (Jackson fans have commented on this on fan blogs), plus “Breaking News,” and “Burn Tonight.”

According to one source who’s heard the material, Michael’s vocals are “perfect.”

The question now, of course, is what happens next. The Jackson estate just signed a record deal with Sony Music that could be worth $200 million, but it includes re-releases of previously recorded music, live albums, and an album of unreleased songs that were in the Sony vaults or recorded during Jackson’s contracted time with the label.

That deal does not include newly discovered material. This could mean that other record companies could bid for the collection of songs.

Eddie Cascio, who’s 28, is the second oldest son of Dominick (Sr.) and Connie Cascio, who were friends of Jackson since the 1990s, Dominick Cascio Sr. met Jackson in 1984-85 when he was the general manager at the Helmsley Palace Hotel in New York City. Jackson recognized the Cascios immediately as a “normal” family, and quickly befriended them. Since Jackson’s death, the Cascios have been frequent visitors at Katherine Jackson’s home in Encino, California.

Over the years, Jackson reciprocated the Cascios’ hospitality with enormous generosity. Although the Cascios were not named in Jackson’s will, the song tracks should prove to be multi-million dollar bonanza—and a lasting gift to people whom he really considered family.

The Cascio’s were so close to Jackson that a message from them, written by Eddie, was included in the booklet distributed at Jackson’s Staples Center memorial service in July 2009. Here’s what it said:


“Doo Doo, It is only once in a lifetime where you meet a true Angel sent
from the Heavens above. I count my blessings each day for I have experienced Heaven on
Earth. The wisdom, guidance, and knowledge will always be remembered and put into
action. I thank you for the memories, for they will remain in my heart forever and ever.
Our friendship will always be treasured. I write on behalf of my family.
We promise to always remain ‘The First Family of Love’.
From the Bottom of our Hearts
WE THANK YOU and will love you FOREVER and ALWAYS.
ANGEL ‘Dr.Heat’ Cascio and the Cascio Family”

c2010 Showbiz411.com

Leno Bombs, Obama Kills, Katie Couric Coos

Roger Friedman
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Leno Bombs, Obama Kills, Katie Couric Coos

Jay Leno‘s comedy routine at last night White House Correspondents dinner was indeed a bomb. You can see it all over the internet, but there was nothing like hearing the silence in the ballroom at the Washington Hilton. Leno was just really off his usual rhythm.  

Meantime, President Obama had all the right stuff. He even went after Leno. And that was the problem. Obama’s material–largely written and shaped by Jon Favreau (the speechwriter not the actor/director) and David Axelrod-– was so good and comprehensive that it left Leno with no place to go. You could sense that he sort of it knew it, too. He was not happy when he reached the podium.  

Anyway,  Leno will be forgiven. (Except for Conan, but that’s another story.)  

Meanwhile, the WHCA dinner was notable for its flood of celebs. As one insider said, during the Bush administration you had to beg people to come. Last night, and all weekend, we were tripping over bold face names.  

The big “get” at Jason Binn‘s after party for Niche Media and Microsoft Bing, I thought, was actor Ewan MacGregor. Very cool. The party was at the Mayflower Hotel, where disco music pounded from one end. The place was filled with attractive young people who read Jason’s “Capitol File” magazine. He also managed to land both Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews, plus Ashley Judd, Kim Kardashian, Tory Burch and Lyor Cohen, Ben Silverman, Chris Tucker, and so on. Mike Zimet did a bang up job with security, considering so many official Washington types showed up–many bedecked in military awards…This was the the heavy DC crowd…  

Meantime, Vanity Fair set up shop at the French Embassy on spectacular Kalorama Road, a sort of astounding mansion built in the early 1900s and set on a little hill. It was quite magnificent. There was no sign of Leno or Obama, but plenty of A listers to keep the night rolling well past 2am.  

Just in the grand marble foyer, we saw Katie Couric sitting on a cushioned bench, her shoeless legs extended and being massage by…Morgan Freeman.  

Jimmy Fallon, hanging out a few feet (get it?) away, with producer wife Nancy Juvonen, exclaimed, “That’s Morgan Freeman!” He was filling in for the President. “I don’t think he has any idea who I am,” Jimmy said sheepishly.  

Freeman did, in fact. And he overheard us discussing a recent brilliant Fallon show–which will go out for Emmy consideration–in which Jimmy did charades with Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, and Tina Fey. It was a sublime, Jack Paar-like effort. Fallon’s show is outstanding.  

But back to Morgan Freeman: Katie cooed and wiggled her toes. It had been a long night of standing.  

And then, as we left the Fallons and Katie and Morgan and headed inside, they all came whirling around:  

Michael Douglas, Jon and Dorothea Bon Jovi, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, likely Tony Award nominee Scarlett Johansson, Dee Dee Myers and Todd Purdum, the Oscar gang from ’10–Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal, Jeremy Renner, Gaby Sidibe from “Precious,” — as well as Mariska Hargitay–who had Tim Daly and Steven Weber–the Wings brothers–fighting for her attention (husband Peter Hermann was home in New York); George Stephanopolous and Ali Wentworth (she is very funny even in person), my buddy Joy Behar and her great producer Todd Polkes,  plus Julianna Margulies, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, Brad Cooper and Zach Galifianakis, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni, Kristen Davis, Jeremy Renner, the Jonas Brothers, Jessica Simpson and manager dad Joe; Chelsea Handler, Senator Chris Dodd, and so on…  

I mean, it was very hard to get through this gang quickly. Everyone had a good story. Of course, it was also well after midnight…  

Later the Vanity Fair publicist asked me, “So what did you think? Was it all right?”  

I ean, like, yeah. And in typical VF style, they featured micro mini hamburgers and tater tots among the gourmet food. You gotta love it…  

Wait, more! Christiane Amanpour, John and Elaine Mellencamp (John using a gold knobbed walking stick to very classy effect), T Bone Burnett and Callie Khouri (“Thelma and Louise”), Paris Match’s Dany Jucaud with New York florist to the stars Olivier Guigni, and of course the hosts–French Ambassador Pierre Vimont and his wife, our old friend from the French Embassy in New York, the elegant Catherine Verret.  

Keep reading this week as I will sprinkle in a few bon mots from this eclectic, electric crowd…Also thanks to WireImage. They took my picture with the Ambassador. I think this was just as I was threatening to move in! 

And PS: everyone loves Vanity Fair publisher Ed Menicheschi. Not that Graydon Carter isn’t a standout at all events, but Mr. Mensicheschi was getting a lot of attention on one of the grand outside staircases from admiring guests…He’s kept VF awash in ads during the worst period in magazine publishing history.. 

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