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Watch Alicia Keys Get a Birthday Serenade at Grammy Ceremony for Her and Producer Husband Swizz Beatz

Roger Friedman
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Watch Alicia Keys Get a Birthday Serenade at Grammy Ceremony for Her and Producer Husband Swizz Beatz

It was a pretty joyous night at the glittery Rainbow Room when the Producers and Engineers Wing of the Grammys honored Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz last night. Alicia, who’s from New York, said “I’ve never been to the Rainbow Room before!” How is that possible? It was Alicia’s birthday, so Swizz got the crowd– including famed producer Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt) and Boo Mitchell (son of famed Memphis Hi Records founder and Al Green/Ann Peebles producer Willie Mitchell)– to serenade her. Nice to run into brothers David and Norman Chesky also, of Chesky Records and Hdtracks.com.

Tomorrow night, Alicia is one of the (shhh– don’t tell anyone) main performers at Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy dinner. It’s her first time back in maybe a decade.

PS Hoping P&E Wing will honor not only Asher but Carly Simon producer Richard Perry next year in L.A.!

Cardi B, This Year’s Whirling Dervish of a Rap Star, Wows the A List Crowd at Former Four Star NYC Restaurant

Roger Friedman
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Cardi B, This Year’s Whirling Dervish of a Rap Star, Wows the A List Crowd at Former Four Star NYC Restaurant

It used to be called the Four Seasons. It was New York’s most famous restaurant for power lunching and dining in the Seagram’s building, a landmark designed by Philip Glass and Mies van der Rohe. It was famous for its pool in the main dining room.

Last night, Warner Music covered the pool and invited in a few hundred people to watch Cardi B, a whirling dervish of a rap star (with a good sense of humor), take the place over. She has two dancers who channel Tina Turner’s Ikettes circa 1966. (Real name Belcalis Almanzar, age 25, former stripper, born in the Bronx, famous for “no filter”).

Cardi, like Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim before her, is a cherub who likes to shock people with bad language. But she’s just a girl with a dream, as Joan Rivers might have said. She’s also a clever businesswoman who’s currently featured on at least a half dozen different chart singles.

She whooped it up in front of Warner Music’s owner, Len Blavatnik, as well as executives, fans, and friends, plus celebs like Janelle Monae and Kelly Clarkson. The place was packed and the smell of pot was strong. This was not the Pool Room of Henry Kissinger or Pete Peterson. How times have changed!

The irony, of course, is that this was the Seagram’s building, owned by the Bronfman family,  until it was sold to Aby Rosen, who kicked out the Four Seasons. Now the whole place is called The Grill. And this was Warner Music, once owned by Edgar Bronfman, Jr., until he drove it into the ground and sold it to Blavatnik. In all the years Edgar Jr. owned the record company he never — as far I as anyone could recall– used the Four Seasons pool as a stage for one of his acts. But now it all came full circle, shall we say.

 

TV: Daytime Dramas Post Emmy Pre-Nominations While “Y&R” Fans Buzz About Possible Return of Former Star

Roger Friedman
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TV: Daytime Dramas Post Emmy Pre-Nominations While “Y&R” Fans Buzz About Possible Return of Former Star

The Daytime Emmy pre-nominations are out, and among them is the work of “Young and Restless” actress Marla Adams. She’s the oldest actor in daytime at age 79 with a long fabled resume of work. In 1961, her second ever job was in Elia Kazan’s “Splendor in the Grass” along side Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. Adams appeared on “Y&R” in the 80s and returned this fall in the same role except this time her character suffers from Alzheimer’s. She’s done sublime work, and deserves to be nominated and to win.

Meanwhile, on the same show, fans are buzzing about the possible return of actor Michael Muhney. It’s been four years since Muhney was fired from playing the role of Adam. He was replaced with Justin Hartley, who then left and found “overnight” stardom on “This is Us.” Muhney was very popular and got a raw deal. But now signs are pointing to his return, which should be funny since when Hartley took over they said he had plastic surgery!

Muhney, a devout user of social media, went AWOL on November 23. He just shut down. Radio silence. I spoke with him one year ago when it looked like relations between him and the show might be thawing. Since February sweeps begin next week, it’s possible they’ll be seeing him in fictional Genoa City soon. “Y&R” just had a ratings high in the last week. Muhney’s return will send the numbers soaring.

Here are the pre-noms:

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIESSharon Case, as Sharon Newman
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Eileen Davidson, as Ashley Abbott
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Melissa Claire Egan, as Chelsea Newman
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Judi Evans, as Adrienne Kiriakis/Bonnie Lockhart
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Mary Beth Evans, as Kayla Johnson

“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Nancy Lee Grahn, as Alexis Davis
“General Hospital,” ABC

Marci Miller, as Abigail Deveraux
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Kelly Monaco, as Sam McCall
“General Hospital,” ABC

Gina Tognoni, as Phyllis Summers
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Maura West, as Ava Jerome
“General Hospital,” ABC

Laura Wright, as Carly Corinthos
“General Hospital,” ABC

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Peter Bergman, as Jack Abbott
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Scott Clifton, as Liam Spencer
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Michael Easton, as Hamilton Finn
“General Hospital,” ABC

Billy Flynn, as Chad DiMera
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Galen Gering, as Rafe Hernandez
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Eric Martsolf, as Brady Black
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

John McCook, as Eric Forrester
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Billy Miller, as Jason Morgan/Drew
“General Hospital,” ABC

Stephen Nichols, as Steve “Patch” Johnson
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

James Reynolds, as Abe Carver
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Marla Adams, as Dina Mergeron
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Nadia Bjorlin, as Chloe Lane
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Eileen Davidson, as Susan Banks/Kristen DiMera/Sister Mary Moira
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Camryn Grimes, as Mariah Copeland
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Susan Hayes, as Julie Williams
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Elizabeth Hendrickson, as Chloe Mitchell
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Lisa LoCicero, as Olivia Falconeri
“General Hospital,” ABC

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, as Steffy Forrester Spencer
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Mishael Morgan, as Hilary Curtis
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Arianne Zucker, as Nicole Walker
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Darin Brooks, as Wyatt Spencer
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Steve Burton, as Jason Morgan/Patient 6
“General Hospital,” ABC

Chad Duell, as Michael Corinthos
“General Hospital,” ABC

Bryton James, as Devon Hamilton
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Wally Kurth, as Ned Quartermaine
“General Hospital,” ABC

Chandler Massey, as Will Horton
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Anthony Montgomery, as Dr Andre Maddox
“General Hospital,” ABC

Greg Rikaart, as Kevin Baldwin
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

James Patrick Stuart, as Valentin Cassadine
“General Hospital,” ABC

Greg Vaughan, as Eric Brady
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Reign Edwards, as Nicole Avant Forrester
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Hayley Erin, as Kiki Jerome
“General Hospital,” ABC

Cait Fairbanks, as Tessa Porter
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Courtney Grosbeck, as Coco Spectra
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Olivia Rose Keegan, as Claire Brady
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Victoria Konefal, as Ciara Brady
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Chloe Lanier, as Nelle Benson
“General Hospital,” ABC

Eden McCoy, as Josslyn Jacks
“General Hospital,” ABC

Paige Searcy, as Jade Michaels
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Lexie Stevenson, as Mattie Ashby
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Lucas Adams, as Tripp Dalton
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Rome Flynn, as Zende Forrester
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Pierson Fode, as Thomas Forrester
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Noah Alexander Gerry, as Charlie Ashby
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

James Lastovic, as Joey Johnson
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Tristan Lake Leabu, as Reed Hellstrom
“The Young and the Restless,” CBS

Casey Moss, as JJ Deveraux
“Days of Our Lives,” NBC

Garren Stitt, as Oscar Nero
“General Hospital,” ABC

Anthony Turpel, as Ridge Forrester Jr “RJ”
“The Bold and the Beautiful,” CBS

Hudson West, as Jake Webber
“General Hospital,” ABC

Exclusive: Oscar Winner Paul Haggis Suffers Retribution: Two Former Scientologists Say They Were Pressured to Help Frame Him with Women

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Oscar Winner Paul Haggis Suffers Retribution: Two Former Scientologists Say They Were Pressured to Help Frame Him with Women

Oscar winning director-writer Paul Haggis left the cult of Scientology in a big way: he participated in both Lawrence Wright’s award winning book “Going Clear” and the Alex Gibney documentary of the same name. He was also featured in Leah Remini’s award winning A&E series “Aftermath” which has unmasked a lot of Scientology’s secrets.

Scientology, notable for retribution, didn’t seem to do anything to get him back. They made their usual fake websites and carried on, but there was no big explosion.

So…wait for it.

Haggis is now embroiled in dueling lawsuits from a young woman who allegedly extorted him, claiming rape and demanding $9 million for her silence. Then more women — these, anonymously– turned up, making accusations but not following through in any other way.  It was just bad publicity. Last week, the Hollywood Reporter carried a first person account from an anonymous woman, a broadside attack with no facts.

Is this simply Scientology taking advantage of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements? The answer is Yes.

Last week, I spoke to two former Scientologists–one a woman, the other her colleague– who’ve known Haggis for decades. They each worked for Hollywood guilds that Haggis belonged to– I promised not to reveal which ones.

Each of these former Scientologists told me similar stories: a very high placed Scientology executive had asked them recently for dirt on Haggis. “Anything to do with women,” the exec said.

The gist of it: the Scientology exec had called, pressuring her to get information illegally from Haggis’s confidential guild records to see if there had been complaints made against him of a sexual nature. “He had also asked if she was aware of any industry rumors about Paul related to violent behavior toward women,” one of them said in a signed statement. The colleague corroborated the friend.

One of the Scientologists said in a signed statement: “The idea was so outrageous to me, I told him flat out, “no.” I told him he was asking me to break the law. I would never do that. Those files are highly confidential.” When she balked, the Scientology exec tried to convince her that he already had someone to speak against Haggis. “We have a woman,” the exec told her.

I believe these women. There was nothing in Haggis’s past or present to indicate any kind of violent behavior, let alone rape. Scientology is infamous for causing problems for ex-members. Remini has explained this very carefully in her A&E series. I’ve protected the identities of these Scientologists even though they’ve given me signed statements. They’re so scared they said they’d only talk about this “in a locked car in an empty parking lot.”

 

It’s Official: Steven Spielberg is Remaking “West Side Story,” Pro-Forma Casting Call Goes Out for Leads

Roger Friedman
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It’s Official: Steven Spielberg is Remaking “West Side Story,” Pro-Forma Casting Call Goes Out for Leads

There’s a place for Steven Spielberg, and apparently it’s on New York’s Upper West Side in the 1950s. A casting call has gone out for a remake of “West Side Story,” written by Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner, author of Spielberg’s terrific “Lincoln” screenplay and, of course, “Angels in America.”

It’s a pro-forma casting call because, in the end, the new “West Side Story” is going to need stars. Big names. And because of the setting and the time we are in, it’s going to need actual Puerto Ricans or Latinos for the parts of characters like Maria, Anita, and Bernardo. There will be no fudging this in 2018. The casting call says in capital letters: MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH.

Of course, our lead, Tony, is a nice Caucasian boy who falls in love with Maria. He’ll be tougher to find because he’s got to be able to sing like crazy, be physically fit, etc. You know someone asked Can Ansel Elgort sing? Every young guy on Broadway is calling his agent or hoping to meet Spielberg at a SAG Q&A for “The Post.”

Spielberg’s not taking any chances trying to remake a classic film. He’s got the producer of the 2009 Broadway revival of “West Side Story,” Kevin McCollum, as a producer on the film. What we don’t know yet is who will be the choreographer? Susan Stroman? She’s pretty busy. This week she’s workshopping a new version of Gershwin’s “Crazy for You” set for the fall. But she’s probably at the top of Spielberg’s list.

New PS: Yes, Ansel can sing. I forgot he released a couple of singles. Here he is on James Corden. I guarantee you he’ll be Tony.

“Murphy Brown” Joining Other 90s, 2000s Sitcom Reboots, Are “Seinfeld,” “Friends” Far Off?

Roger Friedman
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“Murphy Brown” Joining Other 90s, 2000s Sitcom Reboots, Are “Seinfeld,” “Friends” Far Off?

“Murphy Brown” is coming back. CBS has ordered a 13 episode pick up for the 90s sitcom starring Candice Bergen. The whole cast is being exhumed and will return, just like “Will & Grace,” “Roseanne,” “Full House,” and so on.

I had kind of thought a rebooted “Murphy Brown” would be called “Avery Brown,” and feature the main character’s son, now a budding DC journalist. Maybe that’s still possible. But this sounds like the Golden Girls return to “FYI.” Frankly, if three of the four Golden Girls weren’t dead, that show would probably be back.

Add this to the updated “Dynasty” and you pretty much have a not so exciting trend. It’s a real indictment of Hollywood that no one can come up with a new premise or new, interesting ideas.

So what’s next? “Seinfeld: The Golden Years.” “Friends in the Suburbs.” “Just Shoot Me (Again).”

Me, I don’t want to see any of this. Imagine if this was the 1970s and instead of new shows we were getting reboots of “Sunset Strip,” “No Time for Sergeants,” and “The People’s Choice.” We’d have rejected them wholesale. It can’t be too much fun for comedy writers of today. Who wants to write scripts for a show that’s been re-animated. They should all be called “Watch the Walking Dead.”

 

Elton John’s Semi-Retirement “Farewell” World Tour Will Include “At Least a Week” Return After 48 Years to LA’s Famed Troubadour

Roger Friedman
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Elton John’s Semi-Retirement “Farewell” World Tour Will Include “At Least a Week” Return After 48 Years to LA’s Famed Troubadour

Elton John announced his semi-retirement from touring today with panache and spectacle, exactly as you might have imagined it. He told the audience of press and friends at the Gotham Hall on West 36th and Broadway that this event was planned for two years, beginning in 2015. Seeing his two little sons with David Furnish starting to grow up, he could also see the writing on the wall. When they turn 8 and 10 respectively, in three years, he wants to be home with them.

So AEG tossed this tri- city (NY, with satellite hookups in London and LA) extravaganza at Gotham Hall with Champagne served by servers, an open bar, delicious hors d’ouevres like sliced steak, and goodie bags containing Elton’s greatest hits.

On stage, Anderson Cooper introduced our star, a panel slipped away revealing Sir Elton at a black grand piano dressed in a magnificent silver colored metal and jewel encrusted jacket and sparkling diamond sunglasses. It was Elton at his best. He entertained us with “Tiny Dancer” and “I’m Still Standing,” then took questions from selected press.

“I won’t be like Cher,” he said of that singer’s ongoing farewell tours. “But I do like her clothes!”

This event was clearly for celebration– no farewells here. Elton will play 300 dates on a three year worldwide tour. So that takes us to 2021. After that– well there will still be shows, and Las Vegas type residencies. But really– enough with the city after city business which is too grueling for anyone over 50.

The big scoop: I’m told he’ll do a sit down of at least a week at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. This is where he played six shows beginning August 25, 1970, introduced by Neil Diamond (they were label mates on Uni Records, part of the old MCA Records, now Universal). Elton sent good wishes to Neil, who announced his own withdrawal from touring this week because of Parkinson’s Disease.

The 300 dates start in Pennsylvania. Where will they end? Not in a small town. “I wanted to go out with a bang,” he told us. I do think that will mean a week of shows at Madison Square Garden, something huge, something amazing, and something befitting this beloved and famed performer.

Sting Will Play the Grammy Awards, Drops New Hot Single Today “Don’t Make Me Wait” with Shaggy

Roger Friedman
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Sting Will Play the Grammy Awards, Drops New Hot Single Today “Don’t Make Me Wait” with Shaggy

EXCLUSIVE Sting has agreed to perform at the Grammy Awards Sunday. And we don’t have to wait anymore for the official release of Sting’s new single with Shaggy. The guys are dropping the incredibly catchy “Don’t Make Me Wait” this morning, and it’s a helluva hot song. They performed it in Jamaica two weeks ago at Shaggy’s charity event, but this is the finished deal. I got to hear it yesterday for the first time and now it’s stuck in my head.

The other big news is that a reggae-pop album has grown out of this song. The duo will release it on April 20th, and I can tell you the songs are fun and serious at the same time, with gorgeous rich melodies and grooves that marry Sting’s bass with great Jamaican musicians like Robbie Shakespeare.

The pairing of Sting with Shaggy wasn’t obvious but then again, maybe it was. Shaggy has loads of hits around the world, but one– “It Wasn’t Me”– that has transcended the 18 years since its release. In the reggae world, he’s revered. Sting’s early work with the Police is full of reggae overtones that make songs like “So Lonely” and “The Bed’s Too Big Without You” classic rock staples. What I heard of them together– and I it was a lot–about eight of the 12 to 16 final tracks– are going to blow everyone away.

By the way, wasn’t it just a minute ago that Sting released a new solo album with “57 and 9th”? He’ll turn 67 this year and is prolific as ever. New songs are pouring out of him. A stripped down version of his Broadway musical “The Last Ship” opens in Newcastle, England (where it’s set) in March, then heads to London’s West End. We should all be so productive! Bravo!

 

photo credit: Salvador Ochoa

Live “Don’t Make Me Wait”

Best Story of this Year’s Oscars: How “Mudbound” Writer Got the Last Laugh on Fired “Criminal Minds” Star

Roger Friedman
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Best Story of this Year’s Oscars: How “Mudbound” Writer Got the Last Laugh on Fired “Criminal Minds” Star

“Mudbound” is a serious, searing drama set in the dust bowl 1930s. The acclaimed film now has an Oscar nominated for best adapted screenplay by Virgil Williams and director Dee Rees, based on the novel by Hillary Jordan.

You would never in a million years think there was any connection between this elegiac piece of cinema and the CBS weekly police procedural “Criminal Minds.” Never, right? You’d be wrong.

Turns out that Virgil Williams, who wrote the screenplay, and re wrote and rewrote it, used to write episodes of “Criminal Minds.” And Mr. Williams also happens to be the man who was at the center of a scandal last season concerning “Criminal Minds” star Thomas Gibson.

You may recall there was a scandal over a scuffle on the set of that popular if middling TV show. “He kicked me,” Williams recalled for me recently. Gibson kicked him hard. And Williams reported it to the show’s production company.

They were filming the second episode of season 12 (yes, it’s still on the air!) in the summer of 2016 when Gibson, known for a hot temper and unfriendly attitude, disagreed with Williams about a line in the script. Williams tells me that Gibson decided to go over his head to a producer. In order to accomplish that, Gibson had to walk through a doorway in which Williams was standing. And Gibson kicked him to get him out of the way.

Williams had no idea this would lead to the leading man getting the axe-– especially after 11 seasons of a hit show. Gibson was known before that as the mortal part of a “Bewitched” rip off comedy called “Dharma and Greg,” in which a stuffy lawyer marries a Bohemian with hippie parents. “D&G” ran five for unmemorable seasons. (It was “Bewitched” without the magic. Literally.) Gibson segued right into “Criminal Minds,” which established him and made him rich. But apparently it swelled his head.

Williams, meanwhile, had been slaving away on staffs of TV shows, including “ER” and “24.”

“But all the time I was writing those shows I was working on ‘Mudbound’,” he told me. “Gibson was a horror,” Williams told me. “No one liked him. He was impossible to work with.” The kicking incident was simply the last straw. It’s funny, too. Gibson was not the star of “Criminal Minds.” Even though it’s an ensemble show, Joe Mantegna– a real star– is at its center. And he replaced Mandy Patinkin after the first couple of seasons. Gibson didn’t have the resume of either of those men.

Gibson couldn’t have known that Williams had a dream, and it was “Mudbound.” Soon after the kicking, Williams hooked up with director Dee Rees, and the rest, as we know, is a happy ending. For everyone, that is, except Thomas Gibson. We have that actor– who hasn’t worked since the incident– for an Oscar nominated, award winning and groundbreaking movie.

Dylan Farrow Attacks Justin Timberlake, But Refuses to Address Her Uncle’s Child Molestation Victims and Her Brother’s Accusations

Roger Friedman
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Dylan Farrow Attacks Justin Timberlake, But Refuses to Address Her Uncle’s Child Molestation Victims and Her Brother’s Accusations

I feel bad for Dylan Farrow. She’s been wound up by her mother, Mia Farrow, and her brother, Ronan.

Today she attacked Justin Timberlake on Twitter for working in a Woody Allen movie. It got her some headlines, but it makes no sense.

I sent her a DM message which she ignored. This is what I said: When will you address the story of your uncle, John Villiers Farrow, in prison for child molestation? What do you say about his victims? Are you going to make the world a safer place for his victims?

Dylan makes no mention of the two little boys who were molested by her uncle, John Farrow. Farrow now serves a 10-to-25 year sentence in a Maryland prison for molestation. Dylan wants to help child victims. Why not start there?

Additionally, Dylan also doesn’t address the accusations of her brother, Moses, who was in the house and 7 years her senior on the day she says she was molested by Woody Allen. Moses says it didn’t happen– just as the findings of doctors in New York and Connecticut. Yet, Dylan persists to scapegoat actors who’ve worked for Woody. Will she take on Diane Keaton? I’d like to see her try.

This girl has spent 25 years focused on one thing: being told and retold the story by Mia Farrow, who hates Woody Allen (and she has every right) for running off with an adopted, legally aged daughter. But the press has got to stop indulging her every whim. Until Dylan can speak to John Farrow’s crime, and to Moses Farrow’s assertion, this got to stop.

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