Want to know what keeps Dick van Dyke young at 96? Watch this video directed by his wife, Arlene Silver, and sung by her. Dick shimmies around and if you wait for it, at the end, there’s a cute nod to his famous TV series. And well sung by Arlene! These two are having fun!
UPDATE Actress Missing in Los Angeles: Lindsey Pearlman Found Dead, Says Cousin, From Suicide
UPDATED Cousin Savannah Pearlman: “I’m deeply sad to report that they have found Lindsey, and it was too late. I have no other information about the location or circumstance. Lindsey was a fierce animal advocate and a talented actress. Please consider a donation to @SanteDOr in her honor.”
Saturday morning: Savannah posts that Lindsey’s sister urges anyone needing help to call the Suicide Prevention Line. “Please know that you are never truly alone. Lindsey’s sister has asked that we share the National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.”
Condolences to the family. Tragic.
EARLIER Actress Lindsey Pearlman is missing in Los Angeles. Her cousin Savannah has filed a Missing Persons report which I’ve reproduced below.
Pearlman, from Chicago, is 43 years old. She has a long list of credits including the recent “Selena” miniseries and a short run on “General Hospital.” She’s recurred on several series in the last couple of years.
If anyone has any information please use the info below immediately.
Savannah says on Twitter: Lindsey drives a dark silver 2015 Honda Fit. CA license plate # 8ASD502.”
Her car has this bumper sticker on it. pic.twitter.com/w7GZiW0pJQ
— Savannah Pearlman (@Savannah__P) February 18, 2022
Vindication: “Young and the Restless” Star Victoria Rowell Set to Recur on CBS Hospital Drama “Good Sam”
Good news for “Good Sam.”
The CBS hospital drama has booked Victoria Rowell for a recurring role.
It’s about time Rowell returned to CBS. From 1990 to 2007 she was a regular on CBS’s “Young and the Restless” playing Drucilla Winters. But in 2007 her character was killed off in a vague way, and Rowell wound up suing the network over diversity. She also wanted her job back, and she should have gotten it. She was treated very badly by the show and Sony Pictures TV.
The fact is, Rowell was ahead of her time. She was demanding parity and diversity a decade or more before there was support for the cause. The case ended in a confidential settlement. The complaint garnered national and international press attention, with Rowell claiming victory in the (UK-based) Daily Mail, noting, “As for winning, I have won, exposing this unacceptable racist and retaliatory behavior in 21st century America.”
Rowell was twice nominated for Daytime Emmys and has won 11 NAACP Image awards. She stars in, writes, directs, and produces “The Rich and The Ruthless” on BET. I had lunch with her once years ago when she published a book about trying to survive in Hollywood. And she’s done it, beautifully.
Friars Club Keeps “Scribe” Who Cost Them $1 Mil In Sex Harassment Suit, But Sues Ex-CEO For Embezzlement
The Friars Club. Yes, it still exists.
So they’re suing the ex CEO who they all ran down to court and supported in 2020. That’s Michael Gyure, ironically pronounced “jury.”
You may recall that Gyure was found guilty of tax evasion, and caused the club to be raised by the feds. All the members went down to the federal courthouse to support Gyure despite his breaking the law. And then they let him return to the Friars Club like nothing happened.
And now the Friars are suing Gyure for embezzlement. There is no honor among thieves, you see.
Meantime, the Friars think they’re having a ‘roast’ in May and honoring comedian Tracy Morgan. Maybe someone should tell Morgan that the club is still strongly associated with Bruce Charet. It was Charet who caused the club to be sued for sexual harassment by their former receptionist, Rehanna Almestica. She won a settlement of just under one million bucks.
Usually when that happens, the firm that settles gets rid of the person who caused the problem. But Charet thrives and is held in high esteem at the Friars Club. He has not one but two websites on which be brags about his ties to the Club.
Gyure, 54, allegedly secretly owned an entertainment company while running the Friars Club, The Friars say he signed over the right to the use the Friars name “in perpetuity” to that business without the club’s knowledge or permission. The claim is filed in a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit.
The company Gyure owned never paid the $150,000 fee to use the name. After Gyure’s business lost more than $616,000 on a January 2015 event, he used Friars’ funds to cover the loss, the Club claimed. The Friars are demanding $2.3 million in damages.
You have laugh. After the 2017 raid, the Friars totally supported Gyure. He was given a new contract after his 2019 guilty plea for filing false tax returns and failing to disclose $433,000 in income.
Charet, meantime, last year held himself out on a radio show as “Larry King’s manager” after the famed radio and TV star died. And despite the terrible publicity from the sex embarrassment lawsuit, the Friars refuse to rid themselves of him. The Club recently re-opened after closing during the pandemic and suffering a massive flood through their East 55th St. building. The Club has had a lot of renovations which they luckily gained through insurance money.
And let’s not forget that the Friars, which was run as a 501 c3 charity, lost their designation last year. So whatever they’re raising money for with the Tracy Morgan event, it’s unclear where that money is going.
You can read articles I’ve written about the Friars here, including how in2019 they honored a guy named Rinaldo Nistico, who goes by the name “Ronnie Shoes” or “Ronnie Copa.” Nistico was indicted and settled a case in 2004 for assault. The NY Post reported then that Nistico had two prior arrests and convictions on weapons charges in 1990 and 1996.
Oscars: Apple Films Wants Best Picture for “CODA,” Will Have Free Showings in US and London
This is interesting. “CODA,” a movie everyone who’s seen it loves, is finally getting a major marketing push from Apple Films.
Apple is putting “CODA” into major market theaters across the US and in London for FREE the weekend of February 25th. Of course they will be close captioned (and I wish all studios including Apple would close caption review links also).
Directed by Sian Heder, “CODA” is nominated for three Oscars: Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, and Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur.)
The film premiered at Sundance 2021 and was finally released mid year on Apple Plus TV. But otherwise, it’s had a very low profile. This is a major shot across the Oscar bow by Apple to try and get Academy Award wins. Audiences at a special showing in Los Angeles will have the opportunity to be part of a live Q&A with the cast and writer/director Siân Heder, which will have translators in ASL.
You never know. This might work.
First come, first served. If you love good movies, and want to take your teens to something you can each enjoy and discuss, “CODA” is it.
“Spider Man” Effect Propels Tom Holland to Big Thursday Night Previews for Poorly Reviewed “Uncharted”
No kidding. Fans want to see Tom Holland, star of “SpiderMan,” in more movies.
Even though “Uncharted” has pretty awful reviews, Peter Parker fans came out to see it last night.
Total last night was $3.7 million. That’s very big, on the order of the recent “Scream.” It’s based on a video game, and described to me as a “throwaway” movie. Mark Wahlberg co-stars but it’s Holland who’s the main attraction. “Spider Man” itself made $575,000 last night as it begins its drain out. The “Spider Man” total is now a whopping $763 million.
“Uncharted” is at 39% on Rotten Tomatoes. And that may be kind. Owen Gleiberman in Variety wrote:” Watchable in a thin “Raiders of the Lost National Treasure of the Fast & Furious Caribbean” way.”
I’ll wait to see it on an airplane!
Life at 80: Paul McCartney Hits the Road on 13 Stop Tour To Celebrate Landmark Birthday
This is what life looks like at 80!
Paul McCartney, effervescently young, is hitting the road to celebrate his landmark birthday.
McCartney turns 80 on June 18th. So leading up to that milestone he’s going on tour, playing 13 dates on a “Got Back” tour. The whole thing kicks off in Spokane, Washington on April 28th and ends with a bang on June 16th at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. These are stadium shows, big shows, with all the bells and whistles.
Expect to hear all the hits plus lots of songs from “McCartney III,” Paul’s Grammy nominated album. Hey Paul, please, lots of Beatles and Wings, and “Another Day.” and maybe even “Too Many People.” Please!
Thursday 28 April – Spokane,WA – Spokane Arena
Monday 2 May – Seattle,WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Tuesday 3 May – Seattle,WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Friday 6 May – Oakland,CA – Oakland Arena
Friday 13 May – Los Angeles,CA – SoFi Stadium
Tuesday 17 May – Fort Worth,TX – Dickies Arena
Saturday 21 May – Winston Salem,NC – Truist Field
Wednesday 25 May – Hollywood,FL – Hard Rock Live
Saturday 28 May – Orlando,FL – Camping World Stadium
Tuesday 31 May – Knoxville,TN – Thompson Boling Arena
Saturday 4 June – Syracuse,NY – Carrier Dome
Tuesday 7 June – Boston,MA – Fenway Park
Sunday 12 June – Baltimore,MD – Oriole Park
Thursday 16 June – East Rutherford,NJ– Met Life Stadium
Pete Ganbarg’s Rock and Roll High School Podcast Returns with an All Star List of Guests
Pete Ganbarg’s “Rock and Roll High School” is in session!
The podcast hosted by the head of A&R for Atlantic Records is available on Spotify, Pandora, Apple and all streaming services.
Pete’s first guest this week is Kenny Loggins. He follows up with Tommy James on March 3rd, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave on March 17th and Cousin Bruce Morrow, the famed DJ, on March 31st.
I’ll be listening to all of them them! Pete has more episodes coming with David Coverdale, Peter Asher, Jorma Kaukonen, Patrice Rushen, Barry Mann, Miles Copeland, Steve Lillywhite, Steve Cropper, and more. (I want to know what Patrice Rushen thinks of everyone in the world sampling “Forget Me Nots.”)
Last season, Pete interviewed Graham Nash, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Valentine (of the Go-Gos), The Temptations (Otis Williams & Ron Tyson), Tony Visconti, Todd Rundgren, The Zombies (Rod Argent & Colin Blunstone), Debbie Gibson, Gamble & Huff, Jimmy Webb, Jon Anderson (of Yes) Gloria Gaynor, and Robert “Kool” Bell (of Kool & The Gang).
I’m a big Pete Ganbarg fan. When he was at J Records with Clive Davis be brought us such classics as Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and the Rob Thomas/Santana hit “Smooth.” He came to Atlantic, revived the ATCO Label, signed up the cast album for “Hamilton” and the soundtrack for Hugh Jackman’s “Greatest Showman.” If there’s anyone who has “Clive Davis ears,” it’s Pete. He’s having a big moment right now with 17 year old singer “Gayle”
“Yellowstone” Fans Good News, Bad News About Season 5: 14 Episodes Broken Into Two Mini-Seasons
“Yellowstone” fans are chomping at the bit for more of the hit horse opera
But season 5 is a little delayed and now we know what Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner are planning.
Season 5, which will go into production in May, will be broken into two parts. There will be seven episodes in each of these mini-seasons.
The first part will shoot from May through July. Then Costner goes off to make his movie, “Horizon,” set during the Civil War.
When Costner goes beyond the blue “Horizon,” they can finish up “Yellowstone” Season 5. Of course, it’s possible the “Yellowstone” shoot will just forge ahead through the summer and work Costner in as needed, or when he’s available.
But one day next winter we’ll have the beginning of a super sized “Yellowstone.”
These new mini-seasons are all the rage these days. “Billions” is finishing up the first part of their season now, with more to come. Ditto “Ozark.” The main reason is, they can get some episodes out to the fans right away, and then finish up with the first airing on platforms. This at least whets the audience’s appetite.
“Yellowstone” remains a massive hit for Paramount Television. The season 4 DVDs are at the top of the home viewing home charts.
Box Office: Jennifer Lopez’s RomCom “Marry Me” Plummets Another 41% on Wednesday
The box office was not kind to “Marry Me” last night.
The Jennifer Lopez- Owen Wilson rom com plummeted 41% on Wednesday from Tuesday. And Tuesday was a plunge of 60% from Monday.
The Wednesday total was just $610,440. This is a massive drop from Monday, Valentine’s Day, when everything was coming up roses for the modestly budgeted film.
The “Marry Me” drop was the largest on Wednesday of all current movies.
The only film in the plus column was Oscar nominee “Belfast,” which I think may win the Oscar. It’s neck and neck with Netflix’s “Power of the Dog.” “Belfast” was up 39% on Wednesday. If you haven’t seen it, now’s the time!
If “Belfast” does win it might pull along Best Supporting nominees Ciaran Hinds and Dame Judi Dench. The fact that Dame Judi was nominated at all speaks to her popularity, the richness of her performance, and the strength of that film.