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Liza With a Z Visits Valerie with an R (“Rhoda”) on Broadway

Roger Friedman
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Friday night on Broadway: Liza Minnelli and pal Michael Feinstein visited Valerie Harper backstage after one of her last performances in the play, “Looped.” Harper makes for a marvelous Tallulah Bankhead, the celebrity actress of the 40s, 50s, and 60s who boozed, drugged, and slept her way back and forth between Hollywood and Broadway.Bankhead was the original bad girl, Paris, Lindsay, and Britney all rolled into one.

Harper is really brilliant and never a caricature as she portrays the star in her waning days. She deserves a Tony nomination for her excellent work. She is a comic assassin, able to deliver devastating lines and keep moving. While the play isn’t perfect, Harper is riveting. I hope the Tony committee doesn’t write her off as “Rhoda” from TV come to impress on Broadway. She’s too good not to be taken seriously.

Minnelli and Feinstein were wowed and told Harper so. But I winced a little since much of Tallulah’s life seemed similar to Minnelli’s. She was a good sport about it, though, and in fine form following knee replacement surgery from January.

Why is “Looped” closing? The word is a backer backed out at the last minute. It’s too bad. This show should move to off Broadway, like the Lucille Lortel downtown. It could run forever with lower overhead. The Friday night house was sold out…

Dixie Carter: One Degree to Sean Penn

Roger Friedman
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Sad, sad news on Saturday night that Dixie Carter has passed away. The 70 year old actress, famous for starring in “Designing Women,” was elegant, eloquent, and fun. She will be missed.

There’s no word yet on how she died, but it is interesting that there are no pictures of Dixie on WireImage or Getty Images after her appearance at the 2008 Academy Awards. Her husband, Hal Holbrook, was nominated for his role in “Into the Wild.”

Carter and Holbrook recently appeared together in “That Evening Sun,” an independent movie that got nice notices last year. There is scant sign of them having done any publicity for it.

But Carter was very much behind Holbrook when he was nominated for “Into the Wild.” And they told me a great story. When they met in 1981, it was on a film called “The Killing of Randy Webster,” in 1981. Sean Penn was a 21 year old actor on the film.

“It was just about his first job ever,” Holbrook told me. “We loved him. He was always watching what everyone was doing, studying it. When we got home, he sent us a letter, thanking us and telling us how much the experience meant to him. No one does that!

“So when the script for ‘Into the Wild’ came, he just sent a note and said, ‘It would be great if you’re not busy. I hope you can do this.’ I called him right away and said, ‘Even if I were busy with something, I’d cancel it.’ I reminded him about the letter. And he said he’d been waiting all this time to find the right thing.’”

Carter was there, telling me the story along with Holbrook. Her eyes sparkled as she remembered it. A great lady, a great couple.

PS Not to take anything away from Hal Holbrook, to whom Carter was married for 26 years. But her first husband was multi millionaire Arthur Carter, who went on to own the New York Observer. They had two daughters. Her second husband, for two years, was Broadway star George Hearn. What a life!

Date Night A Hit: People Will Watch TV at the Movies

Roger Friedman
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People will watch TV in movie theaters.

That’s what we learn today as “Date Night,” featuring TV stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey, had a huge Friday night. The Fox comedy took in $9.3 million according to boxofficemojo.com, and could reap a $28 million weekend.

Considering that the tepid comedy cost $55 million or so, “Date Night” will earn out nicely. Expect sequels as the studio milks Carell and Fey’s chemistry over and over.

The success of “Date Night” is also good for The Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am. Profiled on Friday in the Wall Street Journal as the most commercial pop star on the scene, the savvy marketer is also featured in “Date Night.” He plays himself, and gets several shout outs concerning his name. It’s a huge product placement. Ironically, the Journal story didn’t mention the “Date Night” connection, even though the paper and studio share an owner.

It’s also good for “Big Love” HBO star Jeanne Tripplehorn, who gets the best shout out of her career in the film as well.

Universal must be kicking itself since Carell and Fey’s shows air on NBC Universal and their film is with Fox. But the movie’s success can only be good for the TV shows. And, with the unlikeliness of sitcom star Kevin James going into movies, there’s more than ever a movie audience of TV watchers. Maybe the next “Date Night” will be in 3D!!

Mel Gibson Divorce: There’s Cash for Robyn

Roger Friedman
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Mel Gibson

TMZ has a strange item this morning. They say Mel Gibson has no cash for soon to be ex wife Robyn. All his money is tied up in property.

Not really, Robyn.

Someone should tell Mrs. Gibson that after 25 years and 7 kids, there is some money.

According to a federal tax filing, Mel parked over $6 mil cash in his A. P. Reilly Foundation in 2008. That donation brought the total assets of A. P. Reilly to $50 million. The filing for 2009 isn’t available yet.

The Foundation is designed to run Mel’s Holy Family church in Agoura Hills. The private church sits on a very desirable piece of land.

And guess who the unpaid Vice President is of A. P. Reilly according to tax documents going back for several years? Why, it’s Robyn Gibson.

Every year of its existence, Mel has made a substantial cash donation to A. P. Reilly, even though it can’t possibly take that much money to support a church that has only 70 members. Maybe this year, Mel can give Robyn the cash and the church can have a bake sale…

Epatha Rep Says Law and Order Decision Final; True Blood Stars Re-up

Roger Friedman
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Yesterday I told you that insiders at “Law & Order” really feel that S. Epatha Merkerson will sign a new contract. She said previously that she was leaving. Her rep told me yesterday that she’s really, really leaving. “It’s not a contract ploy,” he says. Somehow, I still think she’ll be persuaded to stay for one last record breaking season. That is, if Dick Wolf doesn’t kill off her character at the end of this season…

…And I hear the folks at HBO had to ante up “a lot” to get the cast of “True Blood” back for its next season. No, Anna Paquin won’t be paid twice since she announced she’s bi-sexual…

…We know that Matthew Rhys re-signed for another season of “Brothers & Sisters,” as did other cast members. But will ABC renew the show? The ratings are terrible, and the show is simply adrift. What could have been “Knots Landing” meets “thirtysomething” has lost all focus. They should try and get the creator, Jon Robin Baitz, back on board. Especially embarrassing is the waste this season of Rachel Griffiths on an idiotic story line involving a French stud boyfriend…

Here in New York, we lost something special last week: the Joey Reynolds show on WOR Radio. WOR Radio has really become a creepy outpost for right wing conservative radio buoyed by commercials for wacko products. There’s nothing entertaining about listening to hate-filled Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, and even John Gambling III (who has really gone ’round the bend since returning to the station after an 8 year absence) rant on and on. Now the once great station has canned the lovable Reynolds for syndicated George Noory, who talks every night about UFOs, ESP, and cosmic happenings. Reynolds gave the station a heart and soul, now something it lacks sorely other than New York institution Joan Hamburg. I sure hope Joey lands somewhere soon. He knew that New Yorkers have no time for space ship watching. We’ve got real stuff to do…

Will “The Addams Family” Be Critic Proof?

Roger Friedman
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It was a long time coming, but “The Addams Family” opened last night on Broadway. The reviews are scathing, and the question is: Can a show with millions in pre-sales overcome the critics?

“The Addams Family” took in nearly $1.4 million last week in previews. It was third at the box office behind “Wicked” and “The Lion King.” A new show, not even opened, such a hit? It’s never happened before.

You could see why at last night’s premiere. Stars Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth were met with adulatory applause from an audience that was part celebrity and part real people. Among the stars who showed: Matthew Broderick (with a bodyguard no less) plus Bob and Lynne Balaban, Nora Ephron and Nick Pileggi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kodb, Tony Roberts, Tova Feldshuh, and “Ray” director Taylor Hackford.

The crowd loved the show, as did the “real” audience I saw it with a couple of weeks ago. But “The Addams Family” is taking a drubbing from theater critics. And they’re right. The show is a mess, from top to bottom. The songs by Andrew Lippa are so awful that one of them includes a comedy line about “Schindler’s List.” Ouch! What was Lippa thinking? The songs do nothing to drive the story along; many of them are just self contained, with terrible lyrics. A couple of them sound like Meat Loaf’s cast offs.

And then there’s the script: it is baffling how this slight plot line mirrors a movie in which Nathan Lane once starred: “The Birdcage.” In this version, Wednesday Addams is now more Marilyn Munster, the “normal” member of an odd family. She wants to marry a normal boy and so invites his normal family to dinner. Sound familiar? Soon this conservative Ohio couple (Terrance Mann, Carolee Carmello) are loosening up and getting wild.

“The Addams Family” grinds to a halt somewhere in there. I particularly objected to the constant references to death and love of it; the Addamses are obsessed with it, but nothing explains why or who they are. And in this version, their mansoleum of a mansion is planted in Central Park. Huh? Cousin It is seen in passing, and Grandmama (Jackie Hoffman) is the most annoying character on Broadway in many seasons.

But still: the audience wants to see this show. It various flaws will matter not, I think, to the average theatergoer. No Tony’s for the show, book or score unless the committee takes one of Grandmama’s potions before voting. But the actors will be nominated, and that should give it some help. My guess is “The Addams Family” runs for as long as Lane and Neuwirth can stand it, or need the paycheck.

And they are the pleasures of seeing the show. Lane is full of shtick. Neuwirth is quintessential Morticia even though they haven’t given her enough to do. You really have to wait into Act 2 to see Neuwirth, the former star of “Chicago,” show her stuff. She’s worth the price of admission.

Law & Order: Epatha May Stay, Meloni In, Erbe Back?

Roger Friedman
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It’s spring, and a young man’s fancy turns to the soap operas at the various “Law & Order” shows.

I can tell you that sources say S. Epatha Merkerson may not be leaving “Law & Order” so fast. Even though Merkerson announced that she was exiting her role after 20 seasons, I am told that this is just a negotiating ploy. “L&O” grand poobah Dick Wolf is notoriously tough on money. But Merkerson is the show’s only tie to its past. She started there in 1993. Next season, if it’s renewed, “L&O” would become the longest running series ever. It doesn’t seem possible that NBC and Wolf won’t make that p.r. hook happen. And they can’t do it without Merkerson. So hold on. Lt. Anita van Buren may yet play out a final record breaking season.

And there’s more: Chris Meloni is now saying he’s staying with “Law & Order: SVU.” In February, he gave some quote that he was out. But “SVU” can’t function without Meloni and Mariska Hargitay, who’ve become savvy negotiators themselves. Merkerson probably took a page from their book. See how this works?

And finally: the word from the set of “Criminal Intent” is that Jeff Goldblum and Saffron Burrows are not getting along, that Burrows may not be working out, and the stage could be set for Kathryn Erbe–whom I reported exclusively months ago was purged along with Vincent D’Onofrio and Eric Bogosian–might be brought back around Episode 5.

Hold on, because it’s all volatile, and anything could happen. One thing’s for sure: fans continue to write this column saying they are agree that D’Onofrio and Erbe are gone, and that they won’t watch a Goldblum-only show.

As far as the original “L&O”: Wolf should make sure Merkerson is there, and bring back as many of the living alumni as possible next season for an all-star send off. Fans want to see Paul Sorvino, Michael Moriarty, Richard Brooks, Jill Hennessy, Angie Harmon, etc. It could be a bonanza!

Can TV’s Two Best Comedy Stars Have a Movie Hit?

Roger Friedman
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Shaun Levy’s new comedy asks the question: “Can TV’s two biggest sitcom stars have a movie hit?”

The answer is: maybe.

Steve Carell comes from “The Office,” Tina Fey from “30 Rock.” Their shows play back to back on Thursdays on NBC, which also begs the question: why isn’t this movie with Universal instead of 20th Century Fox? But that’s another story.

Together, Carell and Fey play a married suburban couple looking for a little fun in the city on “Date Night.” The movie premiered last night at Ziegfeld in a rather odd opening. Aside from the cast and a few of Tina’s 30 Rock-ers like Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski, there were no celebrities except for Hugh Jackman, Regis and Joy Philbin, and Dick Cavett. It was a little weird. The premiere had no introduction either; the film started, albeit 30 minutes or more late.

“Date Night” is a solid popcorn comedy for spring. Need a grade? I’d say Bplus with potential. It does have many cameos, from Mark Ruffalo to Mark Wahlberg to James Franco (who almost steals the film) and Mila Kunis and Ray Liotta. It runs the gamut from the cerebral to the ridiculous, with heavy doses of Tina Fey’s comedy strewn throughout the mix.

“Date Night” is also mercifully short. They don’t belabor the point. The movie is really just about Steve and Tina goofing off each other. There’s a little bit about marriage to make things thoughtful. But then again, for a cerebral comedy, I’ve never heard the words penis and vagina so often.

What “Date Night” did make me think is that it would be funnier if Carell’s crowd from “The Office” got tickets to see Tina’s show on “30 Rock” and the two groups wound up crossing paths.

Meanwhile, the after party was one of these “filmmakers only” things, so others made the best of it. Over at Sirio Maccione’s perenially great Osteria del Circo (run by his famous son Marco), several audience members decided to treat themselves including producer Marty Bregman, the Philbins, Peggy Siegal and Susan Hess.

I don’t know if Regis liked the movie; he’ll talk about it on his show. But I should think this Friday, at least, will be “Date Night” everywhere. It’s worth just seeing the two stars do their thing. And PS: Mark Wahlberg does a perfect job spoofing himself.

Sting Will Make His Debut at NY’s Metropolitan Opera House

Roger Friedman
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It seems like it should have already happened by now. Sting, the world renown rock star, is going to make his debut at the Metropolitan Opera.

He won’t be doing “Tosca” or “Aida,” though. Sting is going to bring himself and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra into the famed met for two nights — July 13 and 14– as part of his summer symphony tour. Those famous Chagalls in the front windows are going to get a taste of “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “Brand New Day” in bold new ways.

Well, nothing is new for Sting who has been in movies, on Broadway, led lute concerts, performed in sacred cathedrals, gone unplugged, plugged, you name it. He even performed in an opera in Paris written by Elvis Costello cohort Steve Nieve. Oh yeah, and he wrote a bestselling memoir.

Sting is currently on a symphony tour, but will also play the “Today” show plaza next month and host the Rainforest Foundation concert at Carnegie Hall. He’s also participating, with wife Trudie Styler, in a big Earth Day celebration on April 25th in Washington DC.

Sting is very busy and a man who tries to be in more than place at one time. That’s why I think it’s funny that Xerox is sponsoring the tour. Maybe they can help him!

Spider Man Broadway Show Promised for Fall (Or Winter)

Roger Friedman
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“Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” is coming. Really. This fall.

Original producer David Garfinkle tells me the $45 million Julie Taymor-U2 extravaganza has its money in place. There will be announcements shortly concerning a schedule and a replacement for Evan Rachel Wood, who bowed out of the part of Mary Jane.

Garfinkle says it’s all in hand, and that Alan Cumming and Reeve Carney are still all set. “Everything is ready. We’re getting ready to make some announcements.”

“Spider Man” has been in trouble forever. Recently a Broadway investor told me the budget was up to $52 million and that it would take five years to recoup investments if the show sold out every night and the entire audience bought T shirts. Who knows? The beauty of “Spider Man” succeeding is that would put the naysayers in their places forever.

So who should play Mary Jane? They’re going to need a name, a great girl who can sing and dance and be funny. It’s so hard to find one of those in New York!

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