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Don Hastings’ World is Still Turning

Roger Friedman
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Getty photo

Yesterday, I happened to catch Dr.Bob Hughes on “As the World Turns” just as he was keeling over. He’s played by the best actor on soaps, Don Hastings, who’s 75 and has been on the soap since 1960. That’s right, next year is his (and co- Eileen Fulton’s) 50th anniversary with the show.

Let’s face it: no one writes about soap actors unless they leave and get popular somewhere else. I’ll bet Don Hastings knows all about this. Julianne Moore once played his daughter. Meg Ryan was his friend’s daughter. Marissa Tomei was on the show.

It’s harder to stay, and be the star. The show’s producer, Procter & Gamble, wants out of the business. They’re killing “Guiding Light” next month. Soaps get no respect.

So here’s to Don Hastings. He’s not on the show as often as he once was, but it’s August, and the younger stars are away. The show is featuring their “vets” for once. It’s very refreshing. Dr. Bob seems to have dementia, but it’s no doubt curable. Soap diseases are fatal until they’re not. Dead people always return from the grave. And Dr. Bob is about to celebrate 50 years. He’s great. If you watch him, he has a sly sense of humor. He knows the score. He’s got everyone’s number. Sometimes, he looks like his thought balloon is a snarky quip you’d love to hear. In a way, he’s the Leslie Nielsen of soaps. And this month, he’s being featured (along with his terrific soap wife, Kathryn Hays.) Good for him! A leading man at 75. It gives us all hope.

Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones: CD A Reality Now

Roger Friedman
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Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder are going to make their album together, at long last.

I wrote in my old column back on February 18th that this was going to happen. The legendary Quincy Jones will produce. Recording should start this fall.

Last night, Bennett signed an unprecdented new contract with Sony. He’s been on Columbia Records since McKinley was president. But recently the contract expired. I’m not sure Sony even knew that for a while. Tony could have gone anywhere. But the 83 year-old Bennett must have figured it’s one of those Devil You Know scenarios.

Anyway, we love Tony Bennett, we love Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones is the greatest, even if the Rock Hall of Fame won’t induct him. Who cares! This should be a landmark recording. And it’s going to be full of classics, although I do hope Stevie throws a couple of his own songs in there, too.

Bobby Brown – Whitney’s Ex – Set for Solo NY Show

Roger Friedman
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Getty photo

Stop the presses: Bobby Brown is coming to town.

The ex-Mr. Whitney Houston, often incarcerated, daddy to many, is set to do one and one show only at B.B. King’s in New York on October 23rd. It’s just one show, at 8pm. There’s nothing else scheduled in any other city.

What is this all about? We’ll have to wait and see. Once, in a galaxy long ago, Bobby Brown looked like he’d have a stunning career. First he was with New Edition. Then he went solo, and wild, with “My Prerogative” and “Every Little Step.” But then he married Whitney Houston, and the rest is misery. His first single after the marriage was called, disastrously, “Humpin’ Around.” The rest has been told in family court.

Will Bobby actually appear? Will he be able to do a whole solo set? Will the police make an appearance? Only time will tell.

Meantime, and more importantly, Whitney Houston is scheduled to tape a concert for “Good Morning America” in Central Park on September 1st. It will air on September 2nd. The last time Whitney performed for “GMA” was on the Lincoln Center plaza back in 2002. I remember it well. She was very late, and mostly not with it when she arrived. The whole thing was a disaster. This trip should be a triumphant comeback to “GMA” for the newly rehabilitated Houston. Her album, “I Look to You,” hits stores on August 31st, and it’s terrific.

Rock Hall of Fame $100,000 Concert Tickets

Roger Friedman
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$100,000 — one hundred thousand dollars — that’s what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is soliciting from big names, VIPs and rock stars for their big Madison Square Garden shows on Oct. 29 and 30. The shows — billed as the 25th Anniversary Concerts for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, not the I.M.Pei-designed Museum in Cleveland — feature Bruce Springsteen, U2, Metallica, Simon and/or Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills Nash & Friends and, in a nod to soul music, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.

The Rock Hall is offering four VIP packages priced at $100,000, $50,000, $25,000 and $5,000.

This is all “to support the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation” in New York, run by Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner. There is no mention on the solicitation of the Museum in Cleveland, except to include one-year memberships as part of all the packages.

The $100,000 package is the best. It includes 10 premium seats for each night located either on the floor or in the loge — no guarantees, though. Just best seats available. But it also buys an invitation to Wenner’s private dinner on Oct. 28, another pre-concert dinner for VIPs, and rehearsal tickets. The best thing in the package: “Exclusive gift items and collectible laminates.” The total deductible amount is $84,750.

That the Rock Hall has become big business is no secret to readers of this column. The Foundation lists $14 million in assets already, and pays its chief staffer, Joel Peresman, a former exec at Madison Square Garden, more than $350,000 a year in salary.

But the foundation has come under fire in recent years for who it inducts into the Hall of Fame and who has been left out. That’s a list that begins with Chubby Checker, inventor of the the Twist, to artists like Neil Diamond, the Hollies, Neil Sedaka, Rufus & Carla Thomas, Donovan, Carole King, Chicago, Dionne Warwick, Hall & Oates, the late Billy Preston, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, the Moody Blues, Cliff Richard & the Shadows, and dozens more who for some reason Wenner and his nominating committee don’t consider “hip.” Two years ago the Foundation was embroiled in a voting scandal when Wenner ripped up a ballot inducting the Dave Clark Five so he could include Grandmaster Flash instead.

For years, the Rock Hall also paid close attention to rock’s roots, mostly because of the presence of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. But insiders agree that since Ertegun’s death in December 2006, Wenner is working without anyone to modify his behavior. Most of the nominating committee consists of rock writers who have either worked for him in the past for work for him now. It’s funny to think that the original 1986 committee included ’60s deejay Norm N. Nite and the blues musician John Hammond, giving it ties to rock’s origins. That notion must seem quaint now.

The Mystery Woman Who Ratted Out Jackson’s Doc

Roger Friedman
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Now a new Michael Jackson mystery. Who was the anonymous woman who turned the DEA onto Dr. Arnold Klein?

In the affidavit that was made public yesterday as part of a search warrant, there was this little fact: an anonymous female called the DEA and turned in Dr. Arnold Klein, Jackson’s dermatologist. The caller gave a number of aliases under which Jackson received prescriptions from the dermatologist. They included Omar’ Arnold–a name first revealed in this column two months ago–as well as Fernand Diaz, Peter Madonie, and Josephine Baker. The police found a prescription in Jackson’s house made out to Omar Arnold.

And now I’m told that following the revelations about Dr. Conrad Murray yesterday, Dr. Klein is next. And the evidence concerning him will be much more detailed since Klein has been involved with Jackson for over 20 years. Nearly everyone in Jackson’s inner circles over the years has been involved with him, too.

And who is the mystery woman? The likely candidate, I am told, is Debbie Rowe. The mother of Jackson’s two eldest children worked for Klein in the 90s. She met Jackson in his office. She is said to hold Klein responsible for Jackson’s drug problems. In recent weeks, Klein has even had her barred from his offices. Rowe is said to have been very upset when Klein started suggesting he was the children’s father. “It made her skin crawl,” says a friend. Rowe would be only one of many who’d know what Klein gave Jackson over the years–and certainly an excellent witness in a trial.

Oscar Actress Shortage, Pt 2: Names, But No Stars

Roger Friedman
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Since I wrote about the shortage of names in the Best Actress category, we’ve gotten a few more names to ponder: the newly freed Robin Wright Penn, in “Private Lives of Pippa Lee” was one. Saoirse Ronan in “Lovely Bones,” also. There’s also talk of Charlize Theron in “The Burning Plain.” Some emails came in for Mo’Nique in “Precious,” but I think she’s going in Supporting along with Patricia Clarkson from “Whatever Works,” the “Nine” ladies, and a couple of others.

The names we already discussed are fine, but where are the stars? Julia Roberts punted in “Duplicity.” Nicole Kidman is in the big “Nine” cast of supporting actresses. Hilary Swank may be fine in “Amelia,” but she’s not getting a third Oscar.

The biggest career disappointer is Gwyneth Paltrow. It’s been eleven years since she won for “Shakespeare in Love.” She should have been nominated three times by now. But her career choices have been terrible. She’s better known for fashion and being a famous wife/mother than for acting.

Cate Blanchett is out of the loop this year. She wasted her time with “Benjamin Button,” and had another baby. We are still waiting for her to get a Best Actress statue. It’s unlikely, but maybe for “Robin Hood” next year. Ditto absent this year: Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Watts, and Judi Dench (she’s also supporting in”Nine”).

We need stars, kids. The Oscars can’t survive with just a bunch of earnest newcomers!

Mel Gibson’s Wife Still Listed as VP of $50 Mil Church

Roger Friedman
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Mel Gibson’s soon to be ex-wife Robyn is still listed as vice president of his $50 million church.

To be more specific: Mel, according to just filed tax records, now has $49.5 million tied up in his A P Reilly Foundation, which funds his Holy Family Catholic Church in Malibu, California.

Last year, the “Lethal Weapon” star contributed another $6.5 million into the Foundation. It’s unclear where the money went since the Foundation’s expenses added up to $224,126. Total cash on hand at the end of the year was $30,467.

The church is not recognized by the Archdiocese of, well, anything. It’s merely a private church that Mel built for local families who don’t believe in the Pope or the rulings of Vatican II.

For a few years, Gibson was busy building at the property. But construction seems to be completed. In 2008, A P Reilly lists only landscaping and architect services, totaling $205,184.00 as his biggest expenses.

But Gibson keeps parking millions in the Foundation. He lists total assets at $49.5 million for 2008. And his ex, Robyn, remains vice president of the Foundation despite their ongoing divorce. The filing was signed by a tax preparer on May 23, 2009, the same week that Mel told Jay Leno he was expecting a new baby ‘ his 8th child ‘ with his Russian mistress, Oksana Grigorieva (pictured here, with Mel).

Getty photo

Getty photo

AP Reilly Foundation otherwise lists property taxes of $52,000 and miscellaneous expenses of $88,000. The Foundation makes no donations to other charities, or gives grants of any kind. Why Gibson needs to keep millions in it, tax free, is anyone’s guess.

The Foundation’s major asset is listed as “artwork” worth $416,375.

Gibson is currently working on a new film called, without irony, “The Beaver,” directed by Jodie Foster. His first film in which he stars as an actor in eight years. “Edge of Darkness,” is set for release next January. Meantime, he’s directed four music videos for Grigorieva, whose pop album he also financed and produced, and on which he sings background. Among Grigorieva’s deathless lyrics: “I like the way you wear your skin.”

Jacko Nanny Departs: Grace is Gone

Roger Friedman
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The nanny who raised Michael Jackson’s kids, then turned on him and sold him out when she was fired, is finally history.

Grace Rwaramba is out of the lives of Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson after having an actual fist fight, sources say, with Rebbie Jackson.

Grace started at Neverland in the administrative office in 1994. Once source says she was introduced to Jackson by Deepak Chopra. She worked her way up to nanny in 1997 when Prince as born, and never let go. For years she was Jackson’s sole confidante.

There are often rumors that she and Michael Jackson were lovers, or some such nonsense. But Grace was married in 1995 to Stacey Adair. Last December 2008, she married again, to a fellow Ugandan who’s in the oil business.

Over the years, Rwaramba appeared to be fiercely loyal to Jackson. But last spring, when she was fired for the last time, by Tohme Tohme, she sold her story to Israeli interviewer Daphne Barak. They taped the interview just before Michael died. She quickly returned to the Jackson home, but the interview was revealed. Since the children have lived with their grandmother, Grace clashed with Katherine Jackson over how to raise them.

I am told Rwaramba is still in London, where she’s been trying to stop Barak from selling her interviews. In the meantime, she’s lost her status as the Jackson nanny.

L.A. Times: Jackson Killed by Lethal Dose of Anesthesia

Roger Friedman
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The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Michael Jackson was killed by a lethal dose of propofol, the anesthesia at the center of his murder investigation.

The Times says this information turned up today in an unsealed affidavit from a search warrant in the Jackson case found in Houston. The LAPD investigation of Dr. Conrad Murray took law enforcement to Houston, where Dr. Murray has offices.

Click here for a PDF of the search warrant.

According to the affidavit, Murray gave Jackson the propofol shot at 10:40 a.m. after giving him a variety of other drugs for nine straight hours. The other drugs included a heavy sedatives: valium, lorazepam and midazolam.

Murray told investigators, according to the report, that he’d been treating Jackson for insomnia for six weeks — perhaps giving lie to the original story that he’d been Jackson’s doctor since 2006.

Murray told detectives that he’d been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of propofol every night, but had recently cut the dosage in half because he feared Jackson was becoming addicted to it.

Murray also implicated another doctor, David Adams of Las Vegas, in whose office, he said, Jackson had propofol injections. The detectives also investigated Dr. Arnold Klein and two other doctors. But there was no mention of several doctors with whom Jackson insiders are well acquainted.

This is just tbe beginning, folks.

Dr. Murray Left Michael Jackson for 47 Minutes

Roger Friedman
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murray conrad 175 Dr. Murray Left Michael Jackson for 47 Minutes In the affidavit given by Office E.G. Chance of the Houston Police Department, Michael Jackson is quoted as calling propofol, the dangerous drug that likely killed him, his “milk.” Apparently it has a milky appearance.

While propofol was being administered to Jackson at 10:40 a.m. on June 25, his doctor ‘ Conrad Murray ‘ left his side for 47 minutes to make phone calls. When Dr. Murray returned to Jackson’s bedside, the singer was not breathing.

Dr. Murray did not tell this to police when he was interviewed on June 27. But according to Officer Chance’s affidavit, discovered by the Los Angeles Times, Murray lied to police and said he was away from Jackson’s side for not more than two minutes. It was only by going through Murray’s phone records that the police discovered he was lying.

Murray, according to his cell records, was on the phone from 11:18 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. He told police later that he’d realized Michael had stopped breathing at 11 a.m. But the implication in the police report is that he didn’t notice for a full hour. By that time, it was probably too late. And even, according to the report, Los Angeles Fire Dept. Rescue responded to a call at 12:22 p.m., meaning Dr. Murray did not instantly call 911 when he realized what had happened while he was on the phone.

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