Everything is “perfectly fine” with Taylor Swift, who’s dropped an extra track, previously unreleased, from her “Fearless” re-record album. The album hits tonight. “Mr. Perfectly Fine” is here now. It’s from the vault. The new “Fearless” has 27 tracks in total. This is a lot of music to release in just a year. Don’t forget she had two new albums last year in addition to doing all this. Taylor must sleep in a studio.
UPDATED RIP Howard Weitzman, 81, Great Hollywood Based Attorney Who Rejected OJ Simpson Case, Repped Michael Jackson Estate
THURSDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:
Messages of condolence have come in. Howard’s law partners at Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump LLP wrote: “Our beloved friend and partner Howard Weitzman passed away yesterday. A renowned trial lawyer and dealmaker, Howard skillfully handled some of the most famous cases in Hollywood. Howard’s wit, charm, and brilliant legal mind are legendary, and we will miss him dearly. We send our love and condolences to Howard’s wife Margaret, his sons Armen and Jed, and to his many clients, friends, and admirers. RIP Howard, you will always be a giant.”
And John Branca, John McClain and the Michael Jackson Estate sent this message:
“We are heartbroken at the passing of our friend and colleague Howard Weitzman. Howard has always been a relentless fighter for righteous causes and ferociously fought for Michael during his lifetime and after. He has been an integral part of the Estate team. Howard brought more than just his skills as a brilliant lawyer to the team; he had the uncanny ability to find ways to resolve issues outside of the courtroom – a skill not all litigators possess. And one of the truly amazing things about Howard was how he could make anyone he met – whether they were on the same side as him or opposing him – feel like a respected colleague and his friend. It is his friendship we will miss most of all.”
WEDNESDAY NIGHT There are a lot of tears tonight in Hollywood. The great attorney Howard Weitzman has passed away at age 81, I’m told, from cancer.
Howard was a friend, a resource for me. I met him after he pulled out of the OJ Simpson case in 1994. Simpson had hired him, but Howard knew better– he never said so, but that was the case. Simpson hired Robert Shapiro, who formed the Dream Team. Over the years whenever I need insights into a case, or something in Hollywood, Howard was always there to help. I will really miss him.
Starting in 2009, when Michael Jackson died, Howard came to represent Michael’s estate. He worked with John Branca and Joel Katz, and they have been a great team over the years. I know they are devastated by this loss.
Condolences to Howard’s family and friends.
I’m reprinting Howard’s bio here from his website just so you see his range and depth.
Representative Matters
- The representation of The Estate of Michael Jackson in numerous litigation matters, including a lawsuit against Lloyds of London seeking to recover proceeds from a cancellation insurance policy covering Michael Jackson’s planned “This Is It” concert tour and disputes arising out of the exploitation of Mr. Jackson’s intellectual property. Mr. Weitzman provides strategic support for the Estate on an ongoing basis with respect to a variety of legal and business issues, including the administration of the Estate, the handling of creditors’ claims and the restructuring of debt obligations.
- Lead counsel, handling the very public dispute between Chuck Lorre, the co-creator of “Two and a Half Men,” and Charlie Sheen. In this extremely high profile and widely publicized matter, Sheen blamed Lorre for his termination from TV’s top sitcom, and sued Lorre and the production studio for $100 million. Mr. Weitzman led the KWIKA team, which reached a mutually agreeable resolution for both sides.
- Lead counsel to international pop star Justin Bieber against Mariah Yeater, who accused Bieber of fathering her child in 2011. The paternity suit against Bieber was ultimately dropped in another possibly career altering, high profile matter successfully handled by Mr. Weitzman.
- Represented Britney Brands in a dispute regarding royalties from Spears’ top-selling fragrance line. Marketing company BrandSense claimed it had orchestrated a fragrance deal between Britney Brands and Elizabeth Arden, making millions for Spears and her company in exchange for 35 percent of her profits. However, BrandSense claimed that Britney Brands had violated the original agreement by attempting to cut the marketing company out of payments for Spears’ “Radiance” perfume. BrandSense sued Spears, her father, and her company, for $10 million, claiming the contract guaranteed royalties on all perfumes developed by the partnership between Spears and Elizabeth Arden. Mr. Weitzman filed a new lawsuit on behalf of Britney Brands, contesting these claims, and alleging that the marketing company withheld profits, and that the contract only included three fragrances that were under development at the time of the contract, not future fragrances. Spears and her legal team demanded damages, and a declaration that BrandSense is not entitled to any further royalties.
EXCLUSIVE Justin Bieber Tour, with Mostly Unsold Seats in Closed Arenas, Will Likely Move Again, to Next Year
I hate to say I told you so, but I did. Several times.
Justin Bieber’s 2021 tour, which was the postponed 2020 tour, is likely moving to 2022.
Two months from today, Bieber has his second and third dates booked at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. But the SAP Center is closed with no plans to re-open anytime soon. Plus, Bieber’s shows are largely unsold. The Ticketmaster maps are seas of blue.
It’s the same everywhere else on Bieber’s tour schedule.
Sources say local promoters are just awaiting word from Scooter Braun, Bieber’s manager, and AEG Live.
Last year, Bieber’s 2020 tour was downsized and cancelled, first because of lack of sales. Then the pandemic provided a good excuse to put off the whole thing.
The rebooked tour’s non sales can be attributed to uncertainty about the pandemic, how venues can operate at reduced seating, COVID regulations and so on. Bieber, meantime, will have lots of material when he gets back on stage. He’s released two whole albums, an EP, had several guest appearances other artists’ records. The records’ sales are in decline — “Justice” is down considerably from last year’s “Changes” — but some fans will show up, undoubtedly.
Hollywood-Broadway Producer Scott Rudin Once Threatened to Strangle Publicist: “The only thing separating my hands from your neck is the fact that there are three thousand miles between us”
Hollywood and Broadway producer Scott Rudin has made the cover of the Hollywood Reporter. The word BULLY is emblazoned on his picture.
This is old news, kids.
Back in 1998 he sent Paramount Pictures publicist Allison Jackson a memo that was leaked everywhere. This is what it said: “The only thing separating my hands from your neck is the fact that there are three thousand miles between us.” This was because he didn’t like the way she was handling the premiere of “The Truman Show.”
Rudin continued:
“Be aware that this is the last movie of mine you will have anything to do with because the prospect of having to go through another one of these events with you makes my skin crawl.”
He said she was nothing but “a hostess, nothing more; you create nothing of value except hors d’oeuvres and guest lists. You’re not even smart enough to know who not to offend. You may have kissed enough ass to get you to where you are but . . . you’ve got a lot to learn.”
When I saw his movie, “The Social Network,” at an early screening, he called me five minutes after it was over to declare the David Fincher film was the best since “Citizen Kane.” He warned me if that if I didn’t agree, I’d be “like the people who saw 2001: A Space Odyssey and didn’t understand the meaning of the obelisk.” When I was ambivalent with that description, and “The Social Network” didn’t win the Oscar, Rudin banned me from getting press seats to his Broadway shows for review. In an email, he called me a “mooch.”
Up to that point, I’d never written a single negative thing about him or his shows. Since then, I’ve paid for every seat to every Rudin show. I was lucky that he made all tickets $40 to a benefit for the Actors Fund of his failed musical, “Shuffle Along.”
Unlike every other Broadway producer, Rudin doesn’t host an opening night that’s open to press. He has no opening night party. He made his last two big presentations, “Hello, Dolly!” with Bette Midler and “To Kill a Mockingbird” with Jeff Daniels, ugly, unpleasant, viciously expensive episodes for anyone writing about Broadway. It’s hard to have sympathy for him now.
“Jeopardy!” Ratings Fall with Dr. Oz to Worst Numbers Yet, Guest Hosts Are Not Working Out
“Jeopardy” fans are rejecting the guest hosts.
After Katie Couric saw her ratings with the show tumble to 5.3 million, now Dr. Oz has topped her.
With Oz asking the questions the week of March 28th, “Jeopardy!” fell to 5.2 million viewers. Of course it didn’t help that fans protested his hosting gig and even circulated a petition.
All signs point to the return of Ken Jennings, who managed to keep the ratings at Alex Trebekian levels around 6 million. My guess is that after Aaron Rodgers finishes his stint, Jennings gets named permanent replacement with May sweeps. Why wait til September?
Among syndicated talk shows, “Live with Kelly and Ryan” stayed at number 1 with no change, “Dr. Phil” had a 6% drop in total viewers. Even “Judge Judy” had a 6% drop to 4.9 million. I guess everyone is tired of being inside and watching this stuff. Did they turn to reading classic novels? I doubt it.
Interest in “American Idol” Wanes as Ratings Drop 38% Since Season Start, Over 2 Mil Viewers Leave
When “American Idol” began its newest season on ABC in February. it had decent ratings if not the kind it used to have on Fox back in the Simon Cowell days.
The opening segment on February 14th drew 6.96 million viewers. That was down from last season’s finale by 14%, but the show was still hanging in there.
Producers thought they’d use Claudia Conway, daughter of Trump lackey Kellyanne Conway, as a lure. But that didn’t work out as Claudia, though plucky, was too young and didn’t have the chops.
The show expanded from Sunday to Sunday and Monday shows on March 22nd. Monday shows never do as well as Sunday ones, but you’d think the cliffhanger aspect would keep the Sunday audience. It hasn’t.
Last night’s “American Idol” produced just 4.717 million viewers, down a whopping 38% since the start of the season. Over two million viewers have gradually drifted away.
“American Idol” once created stars like Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and so on. Even minor stars like Phillip Phillips managed to score hits. That’s when the show had a deal with Clive Davis and his J Records — then part of BMG — which had the know how and interest to capitalize on the attention.
But “Idol,” like “The Voice,” hasn’t created a star in a long time. The last ‘name’ winner was Phillips, in Season 11. This is Season 19. Can you name last year’s winner? No? Her name was Just Sam. What happened to her? The pandemic can’t be the answer for everything.
I’ve reluctantly watched some of “Idol” this season. There’s just so much you can take of it. The judges– Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan– are fine. I like them. But the contestants become more and more enervating. They over-sing or under perform, their song choices are terrible, and after a while it all becomes a blur. The show no longer knows how to find a star. They’re too concerned with back stories of poverty, abandonment, and tragedies to find any real talent.
And so it goes. The audience is tired, too. They’re leaving, in droves. Maybe it’s time to wrap this up. (Katy Perry really needs to get back to her career. She’s too talented to waste her good years on this stuff.)
Is Cannes Happening in July, Or Will They Wait til October? amFAR Selling $10,000 Tickets to July Event, But Cannes Lion Goes Digital
Is the Cannes Film Festival happening in July?
Right now, COVID is running high in France. The country is in lockdown for the rest of April. Americans and other foreigners can’t travel into France unless they can make a case for a health or business emergency. There is a curfew. The French health minister, Olivier Véran, last week banned outdoor gatherings of more than six people and added three more départements, including the area around Lyon, to 16 already placed under tougher mobility restrictions.
Also in France today, an international scandal about “secret” dinner parties in Paris for the rich and famous.
Would seeing films and going to parties be considered an “emergency” reason for visiting the country? Many of us would say ‘oui.’ But the French health officials might disagree. And in Cannes, secret, unmasked parties would be de rigeur. I’m already upset I haven’t been invited to one!
For this reason, Cannes Lions — the advertising agency version of the film festival — has announced it will be digital only this year. It was set for June 21st through the 25th.
Usually the Cannes Film Festival runs for 11 days beginning around May 9th. When things looked bleak a few months ago, the Festival moved to July 6th.
amFAR is taking $10,000 per seat ticket reservations for a live event at the Hotel duCap in Antibes for Friday, July 16th. LOL. First of all, who is spending that kind of money? Second, even if Cannes began on July 6th, by the 16th the place will be a ghost town.
I’ve already reported that the Film Festival has been eyeing a move to October. No one would be against that. It would put the festival in closer proximity to Oscar buzz. They could have the premiere of the James Bond film, “No Time to Die,” which has been waiting to open for more than a year. It makes sense. All over, more movies will be ready to show.
Spike Lee is set to be head of the next jury whenever Cannes happens. But I’m sure even he would be in favor or putting it off til October. He wants everyone to Do the Right Thing.
Ratings: SAG Awards Brought in Around 1 Million Viewers Sunday Night in Short, Sweet 1 Hour Special
The ratings for the awards shows don’t matter anymore.
The SAG Awards cooked up about 1 million viewers across all platforms and showings on Sunday night. It’s not a lot but it was a short show with little entertainment value. It was just a matter of getting it over with.
SAG Awards did around 505K on TBS, 452K on TNT at 9pm. It was over in an hour. When it was repeated at 11pm on TNT it picked up another 179,000. If there were other showings on their networks, the audience was minimal.
What does it mean for the Oscars? Nothing. SAG was all Zoom, it was very much for the trade, “inside baseball” and all that. The Academy Awards are a big entertainment. But few people have seen this year’s movies. The Oscars will score around 10 million, if lucky, and be happy with that.
That doesn’t diminish the movies this year or the people who made them. It was just a bizarre year.
But PS, the opening sketch with Ted Lasso didn’t help bring in eyes. It was an off putter of every kind. Note to Oscars: the opening has to pull people in, not drive them away. Don’t make it obscure. Please don’t make “Tenet” jokes at the top of the show. Everyone will leave.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Announce First Netflix Project in $150 Mil Deal: Docu-Series About Invictus Games
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced their first project in their $150 million Netflix deal: a docu series about the Invictus games.
You remember Morgan Freeman played Nelson Mandela in a Clint Eastwood movie called “Invictus.”
Harry and Meg are keepin’ it real.
Here’s the press release:
Archewell Productions, in partnership with The Invictus Games Foundation, today announced its first Netflix series. Heart of Invictus, from the OscarⓇ-winning team of director Orlando von Einsiedel and producer Joanna Natasegara (The White Helmets, Virunga, Evelyn), will follow a group of extraordinary competitors from around the globe, all service members who have suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses on their road to the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, now set to take place in 2022.
The multi-episode series will join the competitors as they train, and along the way reveal powerful stories of resilience and hope. The series will also follow the organizers as they work to prepare for the Games, postponed until next Spring, and as they partner with each nation’s team to support their competitors over the coming year.
“Since the very first Invictus Games back in 2014, we knew that each competitor would contribute in their own exceptional way to a mosaic of resilience, determination, and resolve. This series will give communities around the world a window into the moving and uplifting stories of these competitors on their path to the Netherlands next year. As Archewell Productions’ first series with Netflix, in partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation, I couldn’t be more excited for the journey ahead or prouder of the Invictus community for continuously inspiring global healing, human potential and continued service,” said Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Co-Founder of Archewell Productions and Patron of The Invictus Games Foundation.
Dominic Reid, Chief Executive of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: “We’re very excited about the opportunity to shine the global spotlight of Netflix on the men and women that we work with, in order to ensure that even more people can be inspired by their determination and fortitude in working towards their recovery. This partnership will also bring in significant funding to the charity. We are extremely grateful to our Founding Patron for his continued efforts to support the military community, and for making this partnership happen.”
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Archewell Productions team are building an ambitious slate that reflects the values and causes they hold dear. From the moment I met them, it’s been clear that the Invictus Games hold a very special place in their hearts, and I couldn’t be happier that their first series for Netflix will showcase that for the world in a way never seen before,” said Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer, Netflix.
Helen Mirren Eyes Another Oscar with Latest Role: Playing Legendary Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir
Helen Mirren was so cool and looked so great on the SAG Awards Sunday night.
Now news comes that she’s lined up a terrific role: playing legendary Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in a new feature. Israeli director Guy Nattiv, who won an Oscar for his short film, “Skin,” produced by Trudie Style and Celine Rattray. will direct. “Skin” was turned into an excellent feature starring Jamie Bell.
Mirren won her Oscar for playing Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen,” directed by Stephen Frears in 2007. She has three other nominations. She won the Tony Award for playing the same Queen in 2015 in “The Audience.” She has FOUR Emmy Awards and three SAG Awards, some Golden Globes and BAFTAs.
She doesn’t have a Grammy Award, so she needs to narrate something if she wants an EGOT. But she has no actual ‘ego’. Dame Helen is an absolute delight. And even though she isn’t Jewish, she will pull off playing Golda beautifully. You can count on it. Dame Helen is a chameleon, with the rare ability to transform herself into any character she desires.
By the way, Meir was born in Kyiv, formerly Kiev. But she went to high school in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. Her sister lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Just FYI. Golda was married and had two children.
The movie will take place around the events of the Yom Kippur War in 1973.