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Confirmed: Oscar Winner Woody Allen at 90 Preparing to Shoot 51st Film in Spain This Fall, Also Finishing Up New Book and Stage Play

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Exclusive:

Woody Allen will turn 91 this November but that’s not stopping him.

By the time the Oscar winning director and writer reaches his birthday, he will have filmed his 51st movie in Madrid, Spain.

I’ve confirmed that Woody will make the film, possibly called “Madrid,” in September and October. No cast has been announced yet. This was the film he was supposed to shoot last spring, but now he’s ready.

I’m also told that Woody is putting the finishing touches on a second novel, and on a stage play.

Spain has proved to be a good luck setting for Allen. His “Vicki Cristina Barcelona” is a classic, and Penelope Cruz won her Oscar in that film. An all time classic.

Allen’s last movie, “Coup de Chance,” shot in France, received raves and a healthy life on video after its release.

His most famous movie, “Annie Hall,” was recently shown on TCM as part of a Diane Keaton tribute. Now 50 years old, the film — like all of them — stands up beautifully. There’s always been a lot of talk about how “Annie Hall” was shaped from footage shot with a different idea. Who cares? The finished product is so full of heart, humor, and wisdom, not to mention laugh out loud funniness.

I can’t wait to see “Madrid,” or whatever it’s finally called. A Woody Allen movie these days is a gift!

PS Don’t forget, I told you the Carnegie Deli is re-opening soon on Seventh Avenue. It was the setting for one of Woody’s most hilarious films, “Broadway Danny Rose.” The Carnegie should definitely have a Danny Rose sandwich!

Gwyneth Paltrow Strikes Out Sending Herself Up After Sam Altman Dinner Invite Incites Mass Disappointment That She Embraces Open AI Chat GPT

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I told you a couple of days ago that Gwyneth Paltrow was hosting a celebrity dinner in the Hamptons for Open AI/Chat GPT creator Sam Altman.

The invite for August 29th leaked out, and immediately Gwyneth was denounced for supporting AI at a time when original content creators are suffering at its hands.

Paltrow thought she’d fight back by posting send ups of her own invite, making the honoree either “Sex and the City” character Samantha Jones, or Shrek. See below.

This only made things worse. Paltrow has now called attention to this regrettable decision. Granted, her Oscar is almost 30 years old and Paltrow doesn’t do much acting anymore. She’s basically the president of Goop. But Hollywood, music, theater, publishing are all under attack from AI. She did not take the side of human artists. Imagine if her beloved parents — Blythe Danner and the late Bruce Paltrow — had their work stolen or desecrated by AI.

(Listen) 17 Time Oscar Nominee Diane Warren May Finally Have Oscars Best Song with “By Any Means,” Featuring Isley Brothers and David Kushner

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Songwriter Diane Warren has 17 Oscar nominations for Best Song, and no wins.

It’s become the inside joke of Hollywood. Diane is the Susan Lucci of the Oscars!

But she may have her winner at last. Her song, the title track from the new movie “By Any Means,” is a hit. “By Any Means” is performed by the famed Isley Brothers with Nashville artist David Kushner (no relation to the Trump people).

There are actually two versions. The film version is the ‘real’ one, the soundtrack one is edited. I like the first one better. In each, the production swells with blues and gospel, and is maybe Warren’s catchiest song in years — which is saying something!

Also anything with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Isley Brothers — now in business for over 60 years — is a treat. Superstar music supervisor Bonnie Greenberg knows that, and worked to pull this unique collaboration together.

“By Any Means” opens September, directed by Elegance Bratton and starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. Also in the wildly talented cast are the great Giancarlo Esposito, Oscar nominee David Straithairn, Josh Lucas, Nicole Beharie, Tony winner LaChanze, Lisa Gay Hamilton, and Ethan Embry. Sounds promising!

Watch: Rosie Taunts Trump “You’ll Never Be Obama,” Savages RFK Jr “SpongeBob Small Pox” on Final Night of Kimmel Guest Run

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updating…

Rosie O’Donnell closed out her incredible four night run tonight guest hosting for Jimmy Kimmel.

The big finale was a killer version of “Oh Danny Boy” changing the name to “Donny.” Trump finally got a hilarious kick in the pants from Rosie, but done with elegance and wit — two things he lacks! See video below.

She also called Trump “the orange Voldemort.”

Rosie began the monologue by joking that Trump, who is obsessed with her, spent more time with her this week than Melania! She also attacked RFK Jr brilliantly:
She said: “According to new reports cases of COVID are surging in almost every state right now but don’t worry people because our fate is in the hands of the secretary of health and human sacrifice.”

She called RFK Jr “SpongeBob Smallpox” and asked “if you can trust the medical advice of a guy who pulled over during a road trip to cut the penis off a dead raccoon? Strange man, strange and I don’t like any of his thoughts on autism.”

Rock Legend Neil Young Drops Stunningly Beautiful 11 Minute Single Called “Second Song,” Leading Up to New Album Next Month (Listen)

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Neil Young — we know he’s a genius. He also has a voluminous catalog, akin to Bob Dylan — that you can study on his brilliantly curated website.

Most people think of “Heart of Gold” or “After the Gold Rush,” or Crosby Stills & Nash, but Neil Young encompasses a huge amount of space in the rock canon.

Now he’s dropped a stunningly beautiful 11 minute song. Eleven minutes seemed daunting but once I heard it, I was hooked. It’s like a folk incantation, and a dreamy waltz. What’s even more exciting — “Second Song” is produced with another legend, Lou Adler, who’s 93. Adler is responsible for a huge chuck of rock history, from “Monterey Pop” to Carole King’s “Tapestry” to being there when Sam Cooke recorded “A Change is Gonna Come.”

“Second Song” is also the title of a new album coming out on September 18th. But listen to this now, just take the time with it. We’re so lucky to get something of this magnitude these days.

Two of the verses:
“I dream a way of living
A way of sharing what we find
A way of walking slowly
Through the smokey leaves of time”

“The world needs all her song birds
She needs her music in the sky
Guiding souls both in and out
Showing weakness how to fly”

Rupert Murdoch Donated $2 Million Today to Melania Trump’s Bogus “Be Best” Campaign with Inappropriate Check from Fox Corporation

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Melania Trump resurfaced today at the White House.

The main focus was that she joked about being back after presumed missing for weeks. Or that the Trumps had little contact because of his latest personal issues.

What everyone missed was the inappropriate was the presentation of a $2 million check from Fox Corporation, aka Fox News, aka Rupert Murdoch, for Melania’s bogus Be Best Campaign and Fostering the Future network.

On August 22nd and 23rd, IndyCar will race cars around the White House on Fox TV and Fox One Sports for its Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

Be Best, aka Melania, says that it’s given millions to foster care for children. But there is no public accounting for any money that’s gone in or out of the fund. Nothing. It’s just a big money swamp with no information. They claim that Twenty-six colleges and universities across the nation have established Fostering the Future programs.

There is no actual evidence of foster children benefiting from Be Best, but Trump has broken up thousands of families via mass deportation. In a sense, he’s created a foster child emergency.

The Trumps have already used the White House as a stage for World Wrestling, so race cars seem like an obvious choice in the destruction of the property while they add their $400 million bunker. Monster Trucks should probably come next.

But wait — $2 million from Fox Corporation? For a show already being broadcast on the Fox network?

This sort of thing used to be inappropriate, and a conflict of interest for any news organization. But Fox News is Trump’s state media no matter how much he complains about them. Murdoch pandering to the latest Trump grift is no surprise. The surprise is that no one complains about it. This kind of corruption has become accepted during the Trump administration.

Madonna’s Truly Terrible Movie Acting Will be Celebrated by Criterion Channel Next Month Including “Body of Evidence,” “Dangerous Game”

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Pigs are flying.

It’s end of days.

The Criterion Channel — which movie fans hold in high regard — has made an excruciatingly strange choice for a celebration next month.

The esteemed group is going to highlight Madonna’s truly terrible acting in movies.

They’re showing three movies featuring the famous pop star including “Desperately Seeking Susan,” “Body of Evidence,” and “Dangerous Game.”

The first one, directed by Susan Seidelman, is the outlier and easily the best of the trio. But it’s really more about Seidelman and Rosanna Arquette than Madonna.

The other two are historically and hysterically unwatchable.

“Body of Evidence,” from 1992, has an 8% on Rotten Tomatoes. I was there when it premiered, and we howled at this bizarre movie that otherwise had a stellar cast including Willem Dafoe and Julianne Moore.

“Dangerous Game” was also called “Snake Eyes” back in 1993. Abel Ferrara, who is is an acquired taste to begin with, directed Madonna and Harvey Keitel to a 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. I believe this one, or “Body of Evidence,” that features wax dripping during a sex scene.

There were so many better choices like “Swept Away,” “W.E.,” and so on for bad Madonna movies. For better ones, there’s always “Dick Tracy,” and “A League of Their Own.” But Criterion could have gone for “Shanghai Surprise” or “Bloodhounds of Broadway.”

Madonna is a great entertainer and personality. She’s an okay singer. She’s a terrible actress. Maybe Criterion will feature her in the Criterion Closet, picking out her favorite movies. That would be worth watching!

Very Rosie Ratings Picture: O’Donnell’s Kimmel Guest Host Premiere Beat Jimmy Fallon Monday Night, Barbra Streisand Raves!

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Rosie O’Donnell has a very rosy ratings picture so far.

Her opening night guest hosting for Jimmy Kimmel was a smash hit.

Plus, she got a most ecstatic email from the one and only Barbra Streisand. (See below.)

According to Late Nighter, Rosie’s first show brought in 1.87 million viewers, beating Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show.

Views of her monologue on YouTube were huge, too, with 2.5 million people taking a look at her hilarious opening night. Her second night monologue is up to 1.2 million views.

Rosie’s getting raves on social media, too. Viewers are loving the Rosie Renaissance, and admiring her deft way of handling Donald Trump. She just drops a zinger at the start, and then moves on. The rest of the show is just fun stuff, lots of showbiz gossip with each guest. It’s kind of a relief.

Rosie’s numbers aren’t topping Kimmel’s during the regular season, but they’re a sign that she’s still got ‘it’ and could easily make a roaring comeback in 2029 if that’s what she chooses.

One more night, tonight — and we’ll be glued to our screens!


Rosie O’Donnell Night 3 on Kimmel: Calls Trump “Petty Roosevelt,” Makes Joke About Natalie Harp Tucking Him In, and Refrains From Name Calling

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Rosie O’Donnell keeps playing it just right as guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Rosie knows everyone expects her to make jokes about Donald Trump. But she’s too smart for that. She doesn’t say his name at all. Tonight, she opened her monologue with this:

“A special hello to those of you watching from home and from the White House but I do have some bad news for President Petty Roosevelt. That’s all I’m going to say about you. You got to realize it’s time to hang up your wig and let Natalie tuck you in.” She waved at the camera, indicating Trump at home. “It’s time to go!”

And that’s it.

Otherwise, you feel like Rosie is an old school professional at running a talk show. She’s so confident and heart warming. Her bit tonight with Kimmel sidekick Guillermo was just charming, and Guillermo reciprocate with a funny report about his time on “Dancing with the Stars.”

She’s Really Rosie, and we’ve been the beneficiaries of her talents.

Trump must be seething that Rosie isn’t giving him anything to chew on.

Rock ON: Chris Rock’s Cousin April Rock Could Be a New Cast Member on “Saturday Night Live,” No Nepo-Baby — Watch Her Videos Here

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It could be all in the family at “Saturday Night Live” this fall.

Comedian April Rock is being considered as new member of the cast. Reportedly, “SNL” is looking for a Black female cast member since the great Ego Nwodim left in 2025.

The family part: April is a cousin of former “SNL” cast member Chris Rock, who has since become a huge star. (He’s directed a new movie coming soon, FYI). April was born in tony Woodbridge, Connecticut. Her father is a doctor and professor at Yale.

April Rock is no nepo baby. She has the goods, and if she’s chosen it will be on her own merits. You can click on some of her work below. She’s a multi-talented comic-actor-singer-writer-director.

Family members have always been part of “SNL.” Bill Murray’s brother Brian Doyle Murray was part of the show years ago. Jim Belushi joined the show after his brother, John, died. They worked out just fine, so I’m rooting for April to land a spot on “SNL” this season.

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