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Oscars Succumb to ‘Batman’ Effect, Expand Nominees

Roger Friedman
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It’s not a happy day in Movieville, at least for some. Yesterday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences surrendered to the big studios. They expanded the list of Best Picture nominees from five to ten.

This you can call “The Batman Effect.” It stems from Warner Bros. abandoning all reason and trying ‘ and failing– to get “The Dark Knight” nominated for Best Picture. They went so crazy for this idea that they all but ignored Clint Eastwood’s fine “Gran Torino,” which should have gained a spot in the top five.

The rule of thumb has been for the last thirty years: blockbusters, movies based on comic books, and cartoons, not to mention sci-fi, are not Oscar worthy material. The unwritten law in Oscar land was, if you made hundreds of millions of dollars, that was reward in itself. Sometimes, a blockbuster sneaked, in, like “Lord of the Rings.” But for the last fifteen years or so, indie pictures, movies of merit with artistic integrity, vied for Oscar nominations.

These films rarely came from the big studios. And the studios didn’t like it. This past year, 20th Century Fox was upstaged by its own Fox Searchlight, which won the Oscar for “Slumdog Millionaire.” In recent years, Miramax took Disney’s steam, Paramount Vantage (now deceased) did the same to big P, Focus clobbered parent Universal, and so on.

What to do? Remember a few years ago the big studios tried to stop screeners being sent to Oscar voters? The idea was that, without screeners, voters wouldn’t see the indie films. It didn’t work, and the screeners all went out.

Now what? The studios have forced the Academy to expand the list of Best Picture nominees to ten from five. If that had been the last year, “The Dark Knight” ‘ a bad, convoluted film that made scads of money ‘ would have neen nominated.

This means that this year, along with five or six well crafted Oscar-obvious films, we’re going to have some fun movies that are no more worthy of a nomination than “Dark Knight.” I’m sure the Paramount art department has already got posters ready for “Star Trek,” Fox is laying out the “Avatar” campaign as we speak, etc. I’ve no doubt the Warners marketing people are high fiving each other with grandiose expectations for “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.”

Look, it’s not going to happen. Academy voters are smarter than that. And this isn’t the Golden Globes we’re talking about. Indeed, I’m afraid the Academy has done nothing here but imitate the reviled Globes. The Academy did not expand any of the acting categories, for example. They couldn’t: those four or five extra movies don’t include award winning performances. (Chris Pine as Captain Kirk for Best Actor? No way.)

So the new expansion is simply a commercial bid to include blockbusters with the real Oscar fare. That way, on Oscar night, maybe more movie fans will tune in. This should be interesting. My guess is, it will last one season. One season of “Twilight: the New Moon” and “Zombieland” up against, say, “Precious,” “Nine,” “Shutter Island,” “Amelia,” and “The Lovely Bones” and that should bring everyone back to their senses, tout suite.

Jacko Rehearsals Move to L.A. Arena

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson: his rehearsals for his London shows have now moved, full throttle, to the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Jacko crew had to wait until the L.A. Lakers were done with their season. The Lakers won the NBA championship last week. Now it’s time for Jacko.

My sources say that, despite rumors and potential lawsuits, the Jackson extravaganza is taking shape nicely. Michael, they say, is determined to be in shape for the shows. The occasional doctor’s visit or odd public outing is just for publicity.

In preparing for the 50 London shows, Jackson has at last signed former manager Frank DiLeo to oversee the proceedings. DiLeo was Jackson’s manager during the “Thriller” era. He’s also pretty much the only associate of the singer’s who didn’t rip him off, hasn’t sued him, or written anything bad about him.

The Staples rehearsals will proceed until next Friday, when the whole thing is packed up and shipped to London on July 3rd. That will leave a 10 day countdown until the first show at the O2 Arena. Stay tuned…

‘Guiding Light’ Driven Into Ground

Roger Friedman
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You know, CBS’ soap “Guiding Light” has been forced into cancellation by its owner, Procter & Gamble. The last episode, after 72 years, is on Sept. 18.

P&G used to own several soaps. But they’ve wanted out of the business for a long time. Little by little, they’ve whittled their stable down to two shows. After “GL” is canceled, they’ll just have “As the World Turns.”

One trick for not turning viewer anger into displaced resentment toward P&G brands like Crest and Pringles: Turn the fans against the show so they won’t miss it. In the last few weeks, maybe thinking no one’s watching, the “GL” producers have made the remaining episodes unwatchable. They’ve allowed the actors to use coarse language generally unsuitable to network TV. You can only imagine older fans wincing when they hear “pissed off” or “douchebag” uttered by their favorite characters.

For the last 18 months, P&G has also given “GL” substandard producing. There is constant loud rock music — sort of MySpace reject stuff — playing over dialogue. Most of it is in direct contrast to the scene being played on the screen. (Maybe considering the new low standards of language, it’s a good thing!)

There is also no attention to detail. Yesterday, veteran actor Peter Simon returned to the show playing Dr. Ed Bauer. Behind him, hanging on the wall of his “office” (the soap no longer uses sets, but real locations) was a medical school diploma for some other doctor–maybe the real life physician whose office cheaped-out P&G used for the shoot. If the producers don’t care, why should the viewers? By Sept. 18, P&G must hope, none will be left.

Sad, after all these years. Me, I’ve switched to Colgate Total.

NBC’s Silverman: Big Plans for Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Emma Thompson

Roger Friedman
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10740 NBCs Silverman: Big Plans for Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Emma ThompsonDon’t believe everything you hear today about NBC’s Ben Silverman. Silverman is safe at his job at NBC, my sources say, despite the agitations of those who don’t like him.

Silverman, whom I saw this week at the premiere of NBC’s “The Philanthropist,” has not been shunted aside. He was deeply involved with “The Philanthropist,” which scored mostly positive reviews and wound up winning its timeslot last night on NBC (though it fell from its lead-in).

Last night, he went to Washington, D.C., to a screening of it with the Creative Coalition. The series is international and about philanthropy. By the way, “America’s Got Talent,” on NBC, which preceded “The Philanthropist” also won its timeslot.

Silverman is back in New York for a couple days to talk to Tina Fey, sources tell me. He needs two more episodes of “30 Rock” next season. In exchange, Silverman is going to build a promotion for Fey and fellow NBC star Steve Carell for their comedy “Date Night,” coming later this fall. Hey, what if Michael and the gang from Dunder Mifflin get tickets to see Liz Lemon’s show? Hmmm…

I’m told that Silverman heads next to the U.K. — not to take a job with ITV as some suggested but to sign Emma Thompson up to write a series for NBC. A great actress, Thompson has also proven her writing chops with “Sense and Sensibility” and the Nanny McPhee movies. Maybe Silverman can talk her into starring in a series here.

Meanwhile, I did get to ask Silverman at the “Philanthropist” screening what was up for Amy Poehler in her “Parks and Recreation” series. He assured me that with the series returning this fall, the show would be “opened up” more to reflect Poehler’s comic gifts and move it away from being a spinoff from “The Office.”

Michael Jackson Rushed to Hospital

Roger Friedman
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Update: Michael Jackson dies at 50

Pop star Michael Jackson has had a heart attack — and sources say he’s been rushed to UCLA hospital. Sources also say EMS workers gave him CPR.

Sources say Jackson’s mother is on her way to UCLA Medical Center, and his brothers have been called.

More to come …

Michael Jackson Dies at 50

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE: Sources close to Michael Jackson have confirmed his death. Sources tell me that Jackson, 50, was alone for some time in his home before paramedics arrived. The singer was taken to UCLA Medical Center where, according to a source at the hospital, Jackson was at some point in the early afternoon Thursday taken off life support.

michael jackson Michael Jackson Dies at 50The Jackson family, including his children, had gathered at the singer’s side.

Sources also tell me that Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s eldest children, Michael and Paris, is “inconsolable” and “very concerned about her children.”

For Jackson’s legions of fans around the world, as well as his family, his death is a tragic blow. In recent weeks as he prepared for a startling 50 shows in London, Jackson was often seen coming and going from doctors’ offices. Now there will likely be questions about his treatments and his history of drug taking.

For Jackson’s three children — Prince Michael, Paris, and Blanket — there are concerns about who will be their guardians. Rowe is the birth mother of the first two. Blanket, as I reported a few years ago, was the product of Jackson picking a surrogate from a catalog.

Confusion will reign over Jackson’s finances. Jackson was up to his ears in debt — almost $400 million.

Despite all the controversy surrounding the pop icon, his legacy will probably now be as resonant as those of Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe.

More to come …

Brian Oxman is NOT Michael Jackson’s Lawyer

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson hasn’t been dead three hours and Brian Oxman is on TV everywhere’being identified as the attorney for the singer or ‘his family.

He is not.

Michael Jackson’s attorney, officially, is Joel Katz, the respected music lawyer from Greenberg Traurig of Atlanta.

Please, news organizations: Brian Oxman was fired by Thomas Mesereau from Michael’s trial in 2005. I was there. He has no knowledge of Michael’s life for the last several years. Oxman sued Jackson looking for legal fees, and lost.

Jackson’s attorney just prior to Katz was Peter Lopez. Some of his business has been handled in New York by Londell McMillan. Jackson’s manager, recently re-signed, is Frank Di Leo, who has been in Los Angeles with him the last several weeks.

More to come.

Michael Jackson Rehearsed at Staples Center The Night Before His Death

Roger Friedman
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Last night Michael Jackson had the “best show ever”’a rehearsal at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Sources tell me he was thrilled about the show and very excited about his upcoming London shows.

That should scotch any rumors about Jackson being unable to perform, or depressed or anything else.

Click here for all Michael Jackson posts on Showbiz411.

Chris Brown In Limbo ’til August 5th

Roger Friedman
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Chris Brown’s worst day is behind him. Now he’s in limbo until August 5th.

That’s when Brown returns for official sentencing, although unofficially everyone knows what he’s getting: probation and work.

Until after August 5th, don’t expect Brown to give any interviews or say a word about the case. If he’s smart, he will stay deeply on the down low. His lawyers have certainly recommended that.

As for his career, one insider told me yesterday: “The record company has been very good so far. They’ve liked music they’ve heard from Chris’s new album. He’s a great talent.”

Whatever is decided, however Brown decides to make a public mea culpa, there shouldn’t be any new music from him in 2009. It’s time for a break, and the biggest image makeover in history.

Exclusive: ‘The Road’ with Viggo and Charlize May Surprise

Roger Friedman
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mortensen viggo 300x214 Exclusive: The Road with Viggo and Charlize May Surprise“The Road” is finally here.

The John Hillcoat movie based on the bestseller by Cormac McCarthy is finally being shown, slowly, to a handful of people. Scheduled for last year but then held because special effects weren’t ready, “The Road” will surface in October.

“The Road” comes from the Dimension side of the Weinstein Company, not always my favorite place. It was home earlier this year to the dreadful “Soul Men.” But “The Road” was also made by another group, Mark Cuban’s 2929 Productions. It was acquired by Dimension, but really seems like a regular Weinstein movie.

Hillcoat has done justice to McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize winner. “The Road” is elegiac and moving, artful and yet suspenseful. No, it’s not a raucous good time. It can be thoughtful and grim. But here’s the interesting thing: Viggo Mortensen’s performance as a father walking through a post-apocalypse America with his young son is just fascinating. It stays with you long after leaving the theater. Mortensen is that good.

There aren’t a lot of other actors in “The Road.” Charlize Theron is very good as Viggo’s wife, in flashbacks. Both Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce make cameo appearances. Eleven-year-old (he’s 13 now) Kodi Smit-McPhee is just right as the couple’s son.

What Hillcoat and screenwriter Joe Penhall do is accurately capture McCarthy’s tone and lauguage. This isn’t easy to do. “The Road” is a bleak trip, told in muted blacks, blues, and grays. There are no blue skies after whatever caused the apocalypse (is it nuclear war? we don’t know. Everything left, including the trees, is dying.)

So what Dimension will have to do is establish an audience for “The Road.” It opens wide in October, rather than platform the release. This should work just in getting the curious in all at once. Mortensen will be on a lot of top 10 and awards lists, and that should help, too. Depending on how the year shakes out, he could be a formidable contender.

“The Road” also has a cult quality, which could add to its mystery. The hold up from last year was to finish the effects, and they were well worth it. A whole city is painted out to reflect destruction. The sky is a miserable, darkening entity. But the scenes I liked best were ones where Mortensen takes his son back to the home he grew up in ‘ now abandoned. Hillcoat has made a little piece of art. You can’t ask for much more than that.

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