Goodbye, Daft Punk.
The French electronic music duo formed in Paris in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter is over. Their second album, “Discovery,” had hit singles “One More Time”, “Digital Love” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.”
Their biggest hit was 2013’s “Get Lucky” featuring Nile Rodgers but they had a 20 year career before that and many loyal followers and fans.
Even though they remove their batteries, they’ll always live in our hearts.
What else did they get wrong?
Filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering insist they’ve got all the facts in their screed documentary “Allen v. Farrow.”
I’d already told you all the facts they left out, omitted, or let Mia Farrow lie about in order to make their point.
But now some eagle eyed viewers have noticed that the filmmakers got something big wrong. They wrongly identified a picture of Mia’s sister Stephanie Farrow (seen to the left here).
Both Stephen Paley and Steven Gaines, who know the era of 70s New York better than anyone, wrote about it on Facebook. The picture is of Mia flanked by actor Anthony Perkins on the left and his wife Berry Berenson, on the right. Berry was the sister of actress Marisa Berenson and granddaughter of famed jewelry designer Elsa Schiaparelli.
Berry died tragically in the September 11 attacks at age 53. She was on board American Airlines flight 11 which was crashed into the World Trade Center.
Labeling her Stephanie Farrow was a big mistake on the part of the filmmakers.
Paley wrote: “Amazing how much Mia Farrow’s sister Stephanie looks like Berry Berenson Perkins! If the producers of the HBO series Allen v. Farrow get something so obvious as this wrong, I wonder how many other facts they screw up in their documentary?”
Gaines responded: They said it was Mia’s sister when clearly its Berry Berenson. There was an I.D. next to the photo as Stephanie Farrow, as above. I was stunned they got that wrong. Berry was married to Tony at the time…”
Carole Mallory wrote: “Woody said something about Mia’s sister when they showed the photo of Berry •implying• it was Mia’s sister. As a former news producer, this whole episode was an exercise in shoddy journalism, and the producers would never get away with it had it been produced for a reputable news organization. This photo is the least of the problems.”
Here is Woody Allen and Soon Yi Previn’s official response to the HBO documentary, “Allen vs. Farrow”:
“These documentarians had no interest in the truth. Instead, they spent years surreptitiously collaborating with the Farrows and their enablers to put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods. Woody and Soon-Yi were approached less than two months ago and given only a matter of days ‘to respond.’ Of course, they declined to do so.
“As has been known for decades, these allegations are categorically false. Multiple agencies investigated them at the time and found that, whatever Dylan Farrow may have been led to believe, absolutely no abuse had ever taken place. It is sadly unsurprising that the network to air this is HBO – which has a standing production deal and business relationship with Ronan Farrow. While this shoddy hit piece may gain attention, it does not change the facts.”
The business deal mentioned above was indeed announced in 2018 between HBO and Ronan Farrow, who’s come up with no ideas for a documentary except this one. This is his obsession, and his mother’s. Watching the first episode tonight, it’s obvious that Dylan has been heavily coached, that nothing they talk about makes sense. I’ve written in prior pieces about slanted this story is, with no counterbalance. The documentary makes it seem like Woody was at Mia’s houses every day playing with children. Let’s not forget he made 13 movies in 13 years, in addition to plenty of published writing. He was working.
click here for original scoop: Woody Allen Publisher Threatens to Sue Over Use of Audio Quotes.
James Franco, pretentious actor-student-teacher-director-author–ex Oscars host– has settled the sexual harassment lawsuit brought by two woman against him. Franco, an Oscar nominee for “127 Hours,” had a once promising career that is now in tatters.
Actresses and ex-students Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, who first filed the lawsuit in 2019, agreed to drop their suit against Franco in exchange for an undisclosed sum. Their lawsuit said Franco pushed his students into performing in increasingly explicit sex scenes on camera in an “orgy type setting” that went far beyond those acceptable on Hollywood film sets.
Curiously, Franco had perpetuated a persona of being “maybe gay” by appearing in many films, many of which he directed, that suggested a fluid sexuality. He received kudos for playing Harvey Milk’s lover in “Milk,” then played poet Allen Ginsburg in “Howl,” re-created scenes from the very bad movie “Cruising,” and produced something called “Kink.” He also played a man who disavowed his sexuality to preach against homosexuality in “I Am Michael.”
But it was a cover, and a damn good one. He admitted to Vulture that it was all for show. Franco, in fact, was a lech. There was a public scandal in which he was texting an underage girl. There were other rumblings of trouble. The lawsuit alleged that Franco “sought to create a pipeline of young women who were subjected to his personal and professional sexual exploitation in the name of education.”
The lawsuit said the incidents occurred in a master class on sex scenes that Franco taught at a private acting school Franco and his fellow defendants Vince Jolivette and Jay Davis started called Studio 4, which opened in 2014 and closed in 2017.
Franco, of course, denied everything. But among Tither-Kaplan’s allegations was that claim that Franco allegedly removed plastic guards that had been placed over actors’ genitals while he simulated oral sex.
Will Franco ever direct another movie? It’s unlikely but even people with the worst scandals (see Nate Parker) seem to be able to find financial backers. On the money said, you’d think it was cash thrown away. Franco has made dozens and dozens of films either as producer or director, sometimes with him as star, that were beyond dreadful. The two worst were adaptations of William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” and “The Sound and the Fury,” which not only made no money but are unwatchable. There are plenty more littering amazon.com and the Internet Movie Database, all cringe worthy.
Regé-Jean Page, the sexy star of “Bridgerton,” was supposed to pull in big ratings for “Saturday Night Live.”
With musical guest Bad Bunny, there were high hopes for a lift after last week’s 4.1 million.
Well, there was a lift, to 4.2 million. But that’s well below this season’s average, and last season’s as well.
If Regé-Jean had hit 4.4, there might have been celebrating. But this was a meh-showing for a current flash in the pan star.
Plus, there was Michael Che’s unwelcome anti-Semitic jokes.
“SNL” is not funny right now. They’ve abandoned politics post-election. I guess they don’t want to poke even gentle fun at Joe Biden or Kamala Harris, Trump is gone, and the show is adrift. The pedestrian sketches just aren’t making it. There’s not much going on with Kate McKinnon, either. Maybe everyone’s just burned out. It’s reflected in the ratings.
The only good laugh was in the cold open. And by the way, Kenan Thompson’s pilot, shown after “SNL” last night, was terrible.Poorly cast and written, and directed. Everyone mumbled and talked fast. Kenan is such a star, he deserves better casting around him. (Chris Redd excepted, he could have his own show.)
UPDATE Here’s the full Skyhorse quote:
The first episode of Allen v. Farrow uses without permission more than three minutes of Skyhorse’s audio edition of Woody Allen’s autobiography, Apropos of Nothing. It is our understanding that the remaining episodes make similar unauthorized use of the audiobook. This blatant appropriation of Mr. Allen’s intellectual property is unquestionably copyright infringement under existing legal precedent. Viewers of the series should take into consideration the producers’ unethical conduct when evaluating their so-called documentary’s sensationalist and salacious story.
EXCLUSIVE If you’re going to watch HBO’s “Allen vs. Farrow” tonight, you’ll notice that Woody Allen is not interviewed. His side tells me that they received a pro-forma request to interview Woody after the do was made, and they declined.
So to supplement the already one sided mini series, directors Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick faked having Woody in their film. They included snippets from the audio version of Woody’s autobiography, “Apropos of Nothing,” published last year. This way, it seems like Woody participated in their film.
He did not.
Skyhorse Books publisher Mark Gompertz tells me, “We’re at a disadvantage because we haven’t seen the film, but they used the audio without permission.”
In other words, Kirby and Dick and HBO figured they’d just use Woody’s words, claim fair use, and see if anyone sues them. Ditto the licenses for clips of Woody’s movies. I doubt the filmmakers bothered to “clear” those or pay for them. They would never have been approved.
The see-if-anyone-sues-us theory didn’t work well for HBO a couple of years ago with the documentary “Leaving Neverland.” A massive lawsuit is still underway, which so far HBO isn’t winning. The Michael Jackson estate has them on the ropes right now. I don’t know why they get involved in that one, or with this one. Sheila Nevins, who used to run HBO documentaries as the Tiffany’s of doc films, would have been far more circumspect.
So keep all this in mind tonight if you tune in to see Mia Farrow give an Oscar worthy performance. And read about Mia’s child molester brother here. And the whole story of the doc mini-series here. Or the song Dory Previn wrote when Mia broke up her marriage in 1969.
The Hollywood Foreign Press and Golden Globes were rocked this morning by an explosive story in the LA Times. Writers Stacy Perman and Josh Rottenberg are to be commended. They have done an exhaustive job examining the inner workings of this awards group. Someone on the inside was an effective source for them, and it shows.
The story reveals the rift between the old regime of grifters within the group and the newer or younger members who take it seriously and want change.
When I saw the story this morning, for a minute I thought I wrote it. I reported on the Globes’ crazy finances and malfeasance for years. And nothing changed. NBC kept paying them millions, they accepted it tax free thanks to 501 3 c status, and life went on. When a colleague spotted the then-president of the HFPA getting fitted on Rodeo Drive for a free, very expensive suit to wear on Golden Globe night, in exchange for a promotional credit at the end of the show, I never heard the end of it.
And yet, over the years, the HFPA did try to change. An effort was made by many members to turn the place around despite lawsuits and scandals– which I covered and are now included in the LA Times story. There were always rumors of one member, in particular, selling tickets to the Golden Globes show for huge mark ups. What the LA Times didn’t get was the saga of former president Phil Berk, who wrote a crazy book about the Globes inadvertently revealing their worst inner workings. He was banned from the group for a couple of years.
The Globes used to be shown on CBS, which people forget. Then CBS caught wind of their shenanigans and they were bounced. NBC has never cared because they needed a counterbalance to the Oscars, on ABC, and figured it’s not an election of public officials, they do bring out movie stars, so who cares how they do it? They may be right. The Globes air next Sunday, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting and making jokes about all of this. There won’t be anyone in a live audience, so they can just riff away. I, for one, will be watching.
PS Regarding the HFPA’s omitting several Black films this year: Really few remember this, but I wrote in 2005 that Leonardo DiCaprio beat Don Cheadle for Best Actor in a Drama because, as I reported, Jamie Foxx was the winner in Musical/Comedy for “Ray” and, to quote my piece, “they couldn’t have two Black actors win.” So Cheadle, whose work in “Hotel Rwanda” was excellent, lost to DiCaprio, for “The Aviator.” I can still remember being told this while the show as on the air.
SUNDAY 10:30AM UPDATE Just as I expected, there’s been an avalanche of criticism on social media overnight. But there have also been plenty of Tweets supporting Che by people who are either anti-Semitic or clueless. Che didn’t say, “the Israeli half.” He said “the Jewish half.” There’s a difference, even if he’s unaware of it. His joke was directed at a religion, not a state or government. That he didn’t understand that distinction is where the problem lies. And will perpetuate more anti-Semitism. I’m usually a fan of Che. But he’s made a big error that must be rectified.
SUNDAY 12:38AM Comedian Michael Che is already getting blasted midway through “Saturday Night Live” for an anti-Semitic joke.
During “Weekend Update,” Che joked that half the people in Israel had already been vaccinated and “I’m going to guess it’s the Jewish half.”
Lorne Michaels, who is Jewish, cannot be happy. (He might not be happy about some other references to his personal wealth during the segment.)
Che is getting a ton of criticism and anger on Twitter right now. But even worse– the anti-Semites are coming out, applauding the line. What a stupid thing he did. I think this will not be the end of it.
One Tweeter said: Michael Che perpetrated an anti- Semitic anti- Israel trope with his vaccine joke. Just as a fact check – Israel vaccinated 1/2 of its population of Israeli citizens – Arab, Jewish and Christian. Shame on you.
Another: WTF, SNL. Your no-reason quip about Israel only vaccinating Jews is not only a lie, but it perpetuates anti-semitism. Cheap shot that does more damage than the momentary, paltry laugh you got for that sorry excuse of a joke.
Anti-Semitic #SNL‘s Michael Che said, “Israel vaccinated half it’s population and I’m gonna guess it’s the Jewish half.” Um, factcheck: Israel vaccinated 43% of Arab population but has trouble convincing them to be vaccinated. STFU anti-#Israel asshole https://t.co/ouTew0JdaX
— Debbie Schlussel (@bitchitsdebbie) February 21, 2021
#MichaelChe https://t.co/dEZ7WM4Yvv pic.twitter.com/1a436qkaZ3
— ymedad (@ymedad) February 21, 2021
Read: Mia Farrow’s Child Molester Brother Got Out of Jail 3 Years Early
But will it be a cover of the great Harry Nilsson record?
Nick Jonas is dropping a new solo single on Friday called “Spaceman.” The next night he will host and be musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.” Nick is an accomplished actor and singer, so expect him to be in a lot of sketches.
His team recently posted a bunch of songs to a Spotify playlist on the Spaceman theme, including Elton John’s “Rocket Man.”
But they left out a few, including about three from David Bowie, and of course, Harry Nilsson’s hit produced by Richard Perry.
EXCLUSIVE This is not in the HBO doc “Allen vs. Farrow,” directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. It’s the forgotten story of Mia’s brother, John Charles Viller-Farrow, convicted child molester who spent 7 years in Maryland’s Jessup Correctional Institution for abusing two little boys over an 8 year period.
Farrow was given a 25 year sentence, which was turned into 10 years. He served only 7, even though he destroyed the lives of two young men who have to live with what he did to them. He was released on February 12, 2020.
Mia Farrow never acknowledges this happened. Neither does Ronan Farrow. Or any of their defenders. Woody Allen was never formally accused of anything, arrested or charged in the case of his adopted daughter, Dylan.
But Mia’s brother was successfully prosecuted and imprisoned for sex crimes. This fact alone upends the so-called “devastating” documentary that paints Woody as a mastermind criminal.
John Farrow, as you read this, is a registered sex offender in Maryland. He’s on probation. The woman who prosecuted him in 2012, Kathleen Rogers, who still works in Maryland government, told me on Friday that in grooming them, “He took advantage of these boys in a particularly horrible way.”
In “Allen vs. Farrow,” Mia is depicted as Snow White or Mary Poppins, gaily gallivanting from one carefree episode to another. She is one of four children, but only one — Tisa Farrow — is interviewed. Omitted are sisters Prudence and Stephanie. And brother John. Another brother, Patrick, recently committed suicide.
John Farrow committed his crimes between 2000 and 2008, against the two little boys. He had sex with them, repeatedly, which is documented on his charge sheet. In 1992, when the Woody-Mia scandal broke, John Farrow told People magazine: Allen “is going to be indicted, and he’s going to be ruined. I think when all of it comes out, he’s going to go to jail.”
Woody was not ruined and didn’t go to jail, because he did nothing wrong. But John Farrow went to jail, for seven years. He got three years off for “good behavior.”
When he stood trial in 2021, Farrow faced 39 counts of sexual abuse. He was accused of abusing one victim for seven years, beginning when the boy was nine, and abused another boy from the ages of 8 to 13.
A jury was chosen, and the trial began. But immediately, it was stopped when Farrow entered an Alford plea, conceding that there was a preponderance of evidence proving him guilty, but not admitting his guilt.
According to the Baltimore Sun, “charging documents allege Villers-Farrow abused the boys together and alone, showing them pornographic movies and performing oral sex on them.”
At the time, Rogers told the court, Farrow was “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
The judge in the case said Farrow ” sees himself as the victim in this case.”
So when you’re watching “Allen vs. Farrow,” think of those two little boys, now adults, the same ages roughly as Dylan Farrow and her self-righteous brother Ronan. And ask yourself, what else isn’t this documentary telling me?
Plenty.