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Woody Allen Responds to HBO Documentary: The Farrows and their enablers…put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods”

Roger Friedman
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Woody Allen Responds to HBO Documentary: The Farrows and their enablers…put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods”

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, Former Oscar Nominee, Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit with 2 Women, Career in Tatters

Roger Friedman
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James Franco, Former Oscar Nominee, Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit with 2 Women, Career in Tatters

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.

 

Ratings Buzz Kill: “SNL” with “Bridgerton” Star Regé-Jean Page, Bad Bunny, and Anti-Semitic Joke Not a Hit

Roger Friedman
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Ratings Buzz Kill: “SNL” with “Bridgerton” Star Regé-Jean Page, Bad Bunny, and Anti-Semitic Joke Not a Hit

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.)

HBO’s Woody Allen-Mia Farrow Documentary Uses Audio from Woody’s Book WITHOUT Permission, Says Publisher

Roger Friedman
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HBO’s Woody Allen-Mia Farrow Documentary Uses Audio from Woody’s Book WITHOUT Permission, Says Publisher

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.

 

Golden Globes Rocked by LA Times Investigation, Story Shows Rift Between Old Regime and Newer Members to Change

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes Rocked by LA Times Investigation, Story Shows Rift Between Old Regime and Newer Members to Change

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.

 

Michael Che Makes An Anti-Semitic Joke on “Saturday Night Live” That’s Already Getting Social Media Criticism

Roger Friedman
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Michael Che Makes An Anti-Semitic Joke on “Saturday Night Live” That’s Already Getting Social Media Criticism

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.


Read: Mia Farrow’s Child Molester Brother Got Out of Jail 3 Years Early

Nick Jonas Hosts “SNL” Next Week, Drops New Single “Spaceman,” and is Musical Guest As Well

Roger Friedman
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Nick Jonas Hosts “SNL” Next Week, Drops New Single “Spaceman,” and is Musical Guest As Well

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.

 

Mia Farrow’s Child Molester Brother Was Paroled 3 Years Early, Prosecutor Says “Took Advantage of Boys in Particularly Horrible Way” (Exclusive)

Roger Friedman
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Mia Farrow’s Child Molester Brother Was Paroled 3 Years Early, Prosecutor Says “Took Advantage of Boys in Particularly Horrible Way” (Exclusive)

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.

 

Kim Kardashian Files For Her Third Divorce, from Kanye West, Citing Conspicuous Consumption, Avarice, and Banality

Roger Friedman
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Kim Kardashian Files For Her Third Divorce, from Kanye West, Citing Conspicuous Consumption, Avarice, and Banality

The third time was not the trick for Kim Kardashian. She’s filed for divorce from husband number 3, Kanye West.

It wouldn’t be so bad but they’ve produced four children, some by extraordinary means.

TMZ says there’s pre-nup, and that the whole thing is cut and dried. But I’d say that among the causes for the relationship to fail are conspicuous consumption, avarice, and banality.

It’s also excellent timing for the last round of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Before the show’s cancellation was announced, ratings were declining quickly. For this to be the final plot line means they’ll get a boost. It will be like “An American Family” with everyone wearing beige Yeezys.

Kim’s next husband will have to want to take on four children, plus Kanye as an ex. And that will be the basis for Kim’s Hulu show.

I’m joking about a lot of this, but Kanye– despite his bad politics, bad designs, and bad attitude– is someone to feel bad for. He’s never recovered from his mother’s death. His mental health is a disaster. Whatever comes next for him will be painful, and that’s not funny.

Who gets to keep Anna Wintour? A judge may have to decide.

 

Review: Singer Andra Day Secures the Fifth Oscar Spot With a Star Turn in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”

Roger Friedman
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Review: Singer Andra Day Secures the Fifth Oscar Spot With a Star Turn in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”

It’s maybe a coincidence that Andra Day’s “Rise Up” rose up to number 1 again on iTunes this week. A great single, the record gives her a signature original hit forever.

That would be all she’d need if Andra Day were just going to be a great singer. But she’s starring as Billie Holiday in Lee Daniels’ “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” and gives a star performance. She almost certainly secures herself the fifth Oscar spot alongside Viola Davis, Frances McDormand, Carey Mulligan, and either Amy Adams or Vanessa Kirby. (I’d pick Adams, no offense to Kirby.)

“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” isn’t perfect, but with Day’s performance, the supporting cast, the level of music production, etc it’s pretty damn good. Most people don’t know anything about the famed singer, how she suffered, what a trailblazer she was, or the importance of her own signature song, “Strange Fruit.”

Daniels and screenwriter Suzan-Lori Parks have taken a fairly difficult story with many complexities and managed to get the gist of it. Even Holiday couldn’t complain about it. They’ve conveyed the important parts of her story to an audience that probably only has a vague idea of Holiday’s importance.

The supporting cast– Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne, Erik LaRay Harvey, etc — are all spot on. But the movie is all about Day. She is brave, indeed. She not only dropped 39 pounds, changed her own singing style, but makes a debut acting performance that includes a lot of R rated stuff few would do. And she’s so convincingly in the skin of the character, it’s remarkable. You’d think she’d been to Julliard for acting classes, Yale Rep, and ten years in the theater.

“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” premieres on Hulu, but I sure hope we see it in theaters one day. And I can’t wait to listen to the soundtrack.

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