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Ryan Gosling May Yet Wind Up Performing “I’m Just Ken” on Oscars After Surprise Win at Critics Choice Awards

Roger Friedman
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Ryan Gosling May Yet Wind Up Performing “I’m Just Ken” on Oscars After Surprise Win at Critics Choice Awards

One of the surprises of Sunday’s Critics Choice Awards was the winner of Best Song.

Almost everyone assumed that Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For,” from “Barbie” would be the winner. Billie and brother Finneas showed up, were very enthusiastic, and also felt like they were on the fast track.

But the winner was “I’m Just Ken,” written and produced by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. But it’s also performed in the Greta Gerwig film by star Ryan Gosling.

At the dinner before the show started, I asked Ryan if he would take the Oscars stage if he and the song were nominated. You see, at the Oscars, only two songs from one movie can be nominated. A third “Barbie” song, by Dua Lipa, is the dark horse.

Gosling seemed skeptical until I reminded him that novelty songs sometimes make the cut. One example is “Blame Canada,” from the movie “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.” It was a big on the 1999 Oscars performed by Robin Williams, although lost to the Phil Collins song from “Tarzan.”

Ryan wouldn’t tell me if the Oscar producers had already asked him to perform “I’m Just Ken.” He’s waiting for Academy Award nominations next week. But he didn’t say no. He fully expected Eilish to win the CCA.

When “I’m Just Ken” did win on Sunday, I went by his table and said, “I told you so!” He shook his head and pointed back to me: “You did!”

My guess is, we’ll be seeing Ryan Gosling return to his musical roots — Mickey Mouse Club, “La La Land” — on March 10th at the Dolby Theater.

Donald Trump Attacks Judge in E. Jean Carroll Trial — Who Tells Him to Keep Quiet in Court, and Re-Defames Carroll

Roger Friedman
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Donald Trump Attacks Judge in E. Jean Carroll Trial — Who Tells Him to Keep Quiet in Court, and Re-Defames Carroll

Donald Trump on today’s proceedings in the new E. Jean Carroll defamation. Remember, he’s aleady been ordered to pay her $5 million for the first defamation.

Here’s what Trump wrote today on Truth Social: “The Judge in the Trial that I am attending today is a totally biased and hostile person—The same Judge that we had in the first trial, which my lawyer asked me not to attend because of the fact he thought the case was so ridiculous and demeaning (and easy to win!) to a former President. In retrospect, I should have been there to watch how unfair and partisan this “Judge” was. The whole New York System is RIGGED against me because of the fact that I’m not only a Former Republican President, but also am the leading Republican Candidate, and beating Crooked Joe Biden, BY A LOT. This case is another example of Election Interference at a level never seen before. Even E. Jean Carroll’s Lawyer is a Democrat Political Operative, and this whole Hoax was funded and conceived of by Reid Hoffman, George Conway, and many others in the Democrat System of Thugs (Perhaps at conflict with Carroll’s testimony this morning).”

So contrition is not coming into play here. The Judge also threatened to throw Trump out of court.

Judge Lewis Kaplan: “Mr. Trump has the right to be present here, but that right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive and if he disregards court orders. Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial. I understand you are very eager for me to do that, I know you would because you just can’t control yourself in this circumstance.”

Trump reportedly replied: “I would love it.”

Then he potentially re-defamed Carroll again at a press conference.

Trump: “It was a very interesting day. As you probably noticed. It’s a big story that the witness today, the person I never knew, I never had anything to do with. It’s a totally rigged deal. This whole thing is rigged. Election interference. But this is a person I had no idea…who she was and nor could I care less. It’s a rigged deal. It’s a made up fabricated story.”

More to come…

Brad Pitt’s Art Gallery Adventure with Ines Ramon– Reported Here Exclusively — Has Really Gotten Blown Out of Proportion

Roger Friedman
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Brad Pitt’s Art Gallery Adventure with Ines Ramon– Reported Here Exclusively — Has Really Gotten Blown Out of Proportion

Last Thursday my old friend Bennett Miller –a really accomplished director movies like “Moneyball” and “Foxcatcher” — invited me to his photo exhibit in Beverly Hills. I went to support Bennett. I had no expectations of seeing anything but the photos at the Gagosian Gallery.

What happened was maybe routine in Hollywood but not in New York: an influx of A list names came pouring through the big white box on North Canon Drive. First up was Chris Rock, followed by a bunch of people I recognized including Zachary Quinto, Edward Norton, and Catherine Keener (who starred in “Capote” for Miller), not to mention LucasFilms prez Kathleen Kennedy.

And then there was Brad Pitt. Seeing Brad Pitt in person, not at a movie premiere, is like finding a rare zebra on the African delta. He looks just like Brad Pitt, only better. Remember he was there because he starred in “Moneyball.” With him was his girlfriend, whose name I didn’t know until I shook her hand, Ines de Ramon. She could be a model. Maybe she is. She was also incredibly nice and normal despite being so beautiful. She’s a brunette, and I thought had a slight accent. (It was noisy in there.) She and Pitt were so much better looking than normal human beings, it was hard to remember Miller’s excellent photos were the reason for being there.

Another Oscar winner, Adrien Brody, strode by. He and Brad got into a discussion. As I turned around, in came Oscar winner Jon Voight with his son, James, and some friends. Voight and I have radically different politics, but we like each other a lot. We did a ‘mug’ — a male hug — and immediately caught up on this and that. Also loosely floating around in this group were Lou Ferrigno, Jr. and someone I had never met: Britney Spears‘s ex husband, Sam Ashgari.

They all went to meet Brad and co. as I stepped away. I didn’t see it, but Pitt and Voight — formerly father and son-in-law — had a brief and friendly encounter. A few people had their pictures taken with Brad. Ashgari was completely cool, courteous, and low key. He didn’t use Britney’s name to get anything. He and I talked for a bit and he couldn’t have been nicer.

I left thinking, Nice people. A Hollywood night. No headlines other than so many interesting people. No one had an awkward time. Everyone had a good time. Sorry. No duels called for the next morning.

Afterwards, Brody (with Georgina Chapman), Quinto, and some of the others went to a private dinner. I heard Al Pacino was one of the guests which made sense since his baby mama, Noor Alfallah, had been at the exhibit. I did not speak with her, but others did, and there were no altercations.

As for Brad and Ines: some fansite emailed me, not believing they were dating or together. I can’t imagine having time to speculate on that or care much at all. But that’s the way celebs and fans dance their pas de deux.

Photo courtesy of Lawlor Media

Steely Dan, REM, Timbaland Among Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees, Also Writer of “Fame” and “Footloose”

Roger Friedman
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Steely Dan, REM, Timbaland Among Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees, Also Writer of “Fame” and “Footloose”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame have announced their inductees for 2024.

The members of REM, plus Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, and producer Timbaland are in.

So is Dean Pitchford, who wrote the hits “Fame” and “Footloose.” He also wrote “Love Moves in Mysterious Ways,” an international hit for Julia Fordham.

On the country side, the SHOF will induct Hillary Lindsey, who they say has written a lot of songs with country stars from Martina McBride to Carrie Underwood.

The SHOF will announce a few more prizes chosen by their board. Some will make sense, some won’t.

Truly, the REM guys and Steely Dan should have been in a long time ago. In the case of the latter, the SHOF waited so long that Becker is dead.

The ceremony will take place in New York on June 14th.

Jennifer Lopez Has Full Length Video Coming Next Month to Promote New Album After Single Flops

Roger Friedman
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Jennifer Lopez Has Full Length Video Coming Next Month to Promote New Album After Single Flops

Here comes the rest of the marketing for Jennifer Lopez’s new album.

A full length video directed by Dave Meyers will support the album, “This is Me…Now.” It’s coming to Prime Video on February 16th.

This is after the flop single and video, “Can’t Get Enough.”

Can the video turn around the project? And why wasn’t the “Can’t Get Enough” video an Amazon special? It seems to be part of the bigger project.

Is JLo performing on the Grammys? I’m sure she wants to. It would make sense. At least to her.

Last Weekend in April Goes Crazy: AFI Dinner for Nicole Kidman, Chaplin Award for Jeff Bridges, White House Correspondents Dinner

Roger Friedman
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Last Weekend in April Goes Crazy: AFI Dinner for Nicole Kidman, Chaplin Award for Jeff Bridges, White House Correspondents Dinner

If only there was a time travel machine or the beam-me-up thing from “Star Trek”!

The last weekend of April is going to present some problems for the show biz crowd.

On April 27th, things will be really rough. That’s the night of the Nicole Kidman tribute in Hollywood from the American Film Institute. Most of Hollywood will be in attendance as Kidman has worked with every major player and has lots of friends. The whole cast of “Big Little Lies” would be just a beginning, not mention Hugh Grant, George Clooney, Hugh Jackman, and on and on.

The same night, the White House Correspondents Dinner takes place in Washington, DC. Although attendance from celebs has been spotty in recent years, this is an election year. The pressure will be on to turn out for Joe Biden. The WHCA hasn’t announced a host for the night yet, but the pressure is on there, as well.

Now the Film Society of New York has announced Jeff Bridges for its annual Chaplin Award. That will be given out on Monday, April 29th in New York. Bridges also has worked with every top actor and director. So his list of presenters should be a good one. Possible names would be Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jane Fonda, Karen Allen, Beau Bridges (of course), Chris Pine, Ben Foster, et al.

So fuel up the private planes!

AARP Chooses “Killers of the Flower Moon” for Best Picture, Nolan Best Director, Bening and Domingo Best Actors

Roger Friedman
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AARP Chooses “Killers of the Flower Moon” for Best Picture, Nolan Best Director, Bening and Domingo Best Actors

The AARP’s Movies for GrownUps Awards go to…”Killers of the Flower Moon” for Best Picture. AARP has a huge audience, so these awards are no trifle. Best Director goes to Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer.” Surprise best actors are Annette Bening for “Nyad” and Colman Domingo for “Rustin.”

The rest of the list is below.

I gather there is no show to present these awards this year. “It’s been a good year for shows and movies by and for people over 50,” says AARP TV and Film Critic Tim Appelo. “Grownup talent and stories are being recognized across the board, and ageism in Hollywood does seem to be gradually eroding, with help from AARP. In 2000, shortly before the Movies for Grownups Awards began, only one of the top ten box office stars was over 50; today, half are.”

The complete list of the Annual Movies for Grownups Awards Nominees and Winners:

  • Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups:

Winner: Killers of the Flower Moon

Nominees: Barbie, The Color Purple, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, and Oppenheimer.

  • Best Actress:

Winner: Annette Bening(Nyad)

Nominees:  Annette Bening (Nyad), Juliette Binoche (The Taste of Things), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Origin), Helen Mirren (Golda), and Julia Roberts (Leave the World Behind).

  • Best Actor:

Winner: Colman Domingo (Rustin)

Nominees: Nicolas Cage (Dream Scenario), Colman Domingo (Rustin), Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), Anthony Hopkins (Freud’s Last Session), and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction).

  • Best Supporting Actress: 

Winner: Jodie Foster (Nyad)

Nominees: Viola Davis (Air), Jodie Foster (Nyad), Taraji P. Henson (The Color Purple), Julianne Moore (May December), and Leslie Uggams (American Fiction).

  • Best Supporting Actor: 

Winner: Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon)

Nominees: Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon), Colman Domingo (The Color Purple), Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer), and Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things).

  • Best Director:

Winner: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)

Nominees: Ben Affleck (Air), Michael Mann (Ferrari), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Alexander Payne (The Holdovers), and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon).

  • Best Screenwriter:

Winner:  Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig (Barbie)

Nominees: Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig (Barbie), David Hemingson (The Holdovers), Tony McNamara (Poor Things), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer) and Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth (Killers of the Flower Moon).

  • Best Ensemble: 

Winner: The Color Purple

Nominees: American Fiction, The Color Purple, Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, and Rustin.

  • Best Actress (TV):

Winner: Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus)

Nominees: Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus), Jennifer Garner (The Last Thing He Told Me), Imelda Staunton (The Crown), and Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building).

  • Best Actor (TV):

Winner: Bryan Cranston (Your Honor)

Nominees: Brian Cox (Succession), Bryan Cranston (Your Honor), Oliver Platt (The Bear), Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat), and Henry Winkler (Barry).

  • Best TV Movie/Series or Limited Series: 

Winner: Succession

Nominees: The Bear, Fargo, Only Murders in the Building, Succession, and The White Lotus.

  • Best Reality TV Series:

Winner: The Golden Bachelor

Nominees: The Amazing Race, America’s Got Talent, The Golden Bachelor, Jury Duty, and The Voice.

  • Best Intergenerational Film:

Winner: The Holdovers

Nominees: American Fiction, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Holdovers, Leave the World Behind, and Poor Things.

  • Best Time Capsule: 

Winner: Maestro

Nominees: Ferrari, Maestro, Oppenheimer, Priscilla, and Rustin.

  • Best Documentary: 

Winner: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Nominees: Invisible Beauty, Judy Blume Forever, The Lost Weekend, The Pigeon Tunnel, and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.

  • Best Foreign Film:

Winner: The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom)

Nominees: Amerikatsi (Armenia), Perfect Days (Japan), Radical (Mexico), The Taste of Things (France), and The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom).

Exclusive: Seth Rogen On Listening to Barbra Streisand’s Audio Book: “I Come Off OK” — Plus the Future of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Seth Rogen On Listening to Barbra Streisand’s Audio Book: “I Come Off OK” — Plus the Future of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

One of the highlights of the past awards weekend was spending time with the very funny and canny Seth Rogen. I had never really talked with him before, but I always liked his movies, especially Kevin Smith’s “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” with Elizabeth Banks. They made it for Miramax.

Harvey Weinstein drove them crazy on it, Seth said when I talked to him at the swanky BAFTA tea at the Maybourne Hotel on Saturday.

More importantly, I wanted to know if he’d read Barbra Streisand’s 992 page autobiography, “My Name is Barbra.” Rogen played Streisand’s son in the 2012 comedy, “Guilt Trip.” The movie was about a road trip with a mother and son.

Rogen said, “As a matter of fact I’m on the 41st hour of listening to the audio book. I had a good time making that movie so I’m glad I come off pretty well.”

In the book, Streisand writes: “Seth Rogen, who played my son, is as funny off-screen as on, and I liked the way he could insert something a little unexpected into a comic tirade.” She even made him ice cream cones from her favorite ice cream.

Considering the long list of more critical observations of her co-stars, Rogen did get off easy!

The BAFTA tea was on Saturday. On Sunday, I sat with Seth and the other producers of last year’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” It was up for Best Animated Feature but lost to “Into the Spider Verse.” Rogen voiced a character and also contributed to the screenplay.

The movie made $180 million around the world.

When I asked all of them if there would be a sequel, the group raised their glasses and toasted each other. “It made enough to make a sequel,” Rogen said.

PS Even though they were often collaborators, Rogen is not in touch with James Franco. Let’s leave it at that.

Broadway: Barry Manilow Original Musical “Harmony” to Close February 4th After 96 Performances

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Barry Manilow Original Musical “Harmony” to Close February 4th After 96 Performances

It’s virtually impossible to launch an original musical on Broadway without stars.

The latest casualty is Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s “Harmony.” It will close February 4th after 96 performances.

“Harmony” was a valiant effort but needed a marquee name to keep it going. The show did star Chip Zien, Sierra Boggess, Julie Benko, Allison Semmes, Andrew O’Shanick and the Harmonists: Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, and Steven Telsey.

But they weren’t enough, and neither was Manilow’s name. Nevertheless, it was a good try. “Harmony” could certainly be produced in summer stock and other national venues. But it was too expensive to keep it on Broadway playing to half-filled theaters.

Maria Shriver Congratulates Son Patrick Schwarzenegger on Getting Cast in New “White Lotus,” Also Plugs Brands

Roger Friedman
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Maria Shriver Congratulates Son Patrick Schwarzenegger on Getting Cast in New “White Lotus,” Also Plugs Brands

Maria Shriver hasn’t done too badly in the parenting department.

Her daughter, Katherine, is married to movie star Chris Pratt. So she’s all set — along with a career writing books.

Now son Patrick, who’s been trying to get a break in Hollywood, has been cast in third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus.” He’s playing The Good Looking Young Guy, which is not a bad way to start out. Plenty of stars have had that role.

Maria, a great broadcaster, author, and philanthropist, Tweeted her congrats to Patrick this afternoon. She also plugged a brand –Armani — and her wellness charity for Alzheimer’s research. Mother and son have a protein bar called Mosh that they sell online. Portions of the proceeds go to the charity.

Patrick joins a cast that includes Walton Goggins, Aimee Lou Wood, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Natasha Rothwell, and Parker Posey. It may also include the ghost of Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Tanya, and possibly also Kieran Culkin.

Anything is possible at The White Lotus.

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