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The Oscars Will Look Like the Grammys with Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Sam Smith Performing

Roger Friedman
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The Oscars Will Look Like the Grammys with Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Sam Smith Performing

The Academy Awards show is going to look like a mini Grammy Awards considering the nominees for Best Song.

Three of the five nominated songs are performed in their movies by bona fide pop stars. Lady Gaga sings “Til It Happens to You.” The Weeknd performs “Earned It.” Sam Smith wails “Writing’s on the Wall.” It’s likely all three will perform the songs on the Dolby Theater stage.

The two other songs are “Simple Song” from “Youth.” And “Manta Ray” from “Racing Extinction.”

Oddly left out is the hit duet from Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa from “Fast and Furious 7”– “See You Again.” That song won the Golden Globe and is a smash. I’m disappointed it didn’t make the final cut.

Since you can no longer make irreverent jokes in public, I will restrain myself from wondering why there was no song from “Spotlight.” (Think of the possibilities!)

Anyway, maybe producer Reginald Hudlin will ask someone to sing something by Amy Winehouse, and something by Nina Simone. That would be cool since documentaries about each performer are nominated.

Daniel Radcliffe Remembers Alan Rickman: “I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life”

Roger Friedman
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Daniel Radcliffe Remembers Alan Rickman: “I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life”

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, posted this to Google Plus today.

Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalest and most supportive people I’ve ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I’m pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn’t have to do that. I know other people who’ve been friends with him for much much longer than I have and they all say “if you call Alan, it doesn’t matter where in the world he is or how busy he is with what he’s doing, he’ll get back to you within a day”.

People create perceptions of actors based on the parts they played so it might surprise some people to learn that contrary to some of the sterner(or downright scary) characters he played, Alan was extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny. And certain things obviously became even funnier when delivered in his unmistakable double-bass.

As an actor he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child. Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career. Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.

Alan Rickman’s Death Comes as a Surprise: Last Summer He was Happily Promoting Film in NYC

Roger Friedman
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Alan Rickman’s Death Comes as a Surprise: Last Summer He was Happily Promoting Film in NYC

Alan Rickman’s death today at age 69 certainly comes as a surprise. Last June he was in New York promoting “A Little Chaos,” the film he directed with Kate Winslet. After the screening there was a buoyant party at the Monkey Bar, with a ton of his friends from past productions. Rickman invited actors he worked with going back to the 70s and 80s, and there was a lot of reminiscing. He didn’t seem ill, and we don’t know yet what his health was then.

It was only three years ago, not quite– February 2013– that I wrote about Rickman being signed by ICM Partners. He has always been hot– from his huge American debut on Broadway in 1987 in Les Liaisons Dangereuses to the first “Die Hard” to Anthony Minghella’s “Truly Madly Deeply.” Already well known in the UK, he took off here like a rocket and never looked back.

Of course, the “Harry Potter” movies changed everything. Alan was in New York a lot, and whenever I ran into him we used to joke that he did not like being called “Snape”– even by small children. After playing all sorts of tortured souls, suddenly he had a big following among kids who didn’t know anything of his career. It was sort of amusing. He went to a lot of New York theater, always loyal to friends. And it was a lovely evening last June when Beverly Penberthy, a former soap opera star, turned up at the “Chaos” dinner. He’d directed her 35 years ago, when she was on “Another World” on NBC, and they’d remained friends ever since.

No one turned a lip in disgust like Alan Rickman or sneered in a way that was comic and a little frightening. His acting was full of mischief, and kindness and great intelligence. This age– 69– is just way too young to leave the world. He will really, truly, madly, deeply be sorely missed.

Oscar Nominations: Carol Snubbed! Aaron Sorkin Snubbed! Noms: Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max, Martian, Revenant, Room, Spotlight

Roger Friedman
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Oscar Nominations: Carol Snubbed! Aaron Sorkin Snubbed! Noms: Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max, Martian, Revenant, Room, Spotlight

No nominations for Ridley Scott, no Best Pic or Best Director for “Carol” or “Straight Outta Compton” or “Danish Girl.” Nothing for Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay for “Steve Jobs.” Big shocks.

All 20 of the acting nominees are white. Knowing this was going to happen, wisely the Oscars chose Chris Rock to host the show. He’ll have something to say on the situation.

The many nominations for “Mad Max” show a shift in the Academy. As AFTRA members are merged into SAG, things are changing. The Academy is also getting younger, or at least the older people have a younger attitude.

I still think “Spotlight” is the Best Picture if they can mount a campaign against “The Revenant.” “Spotlight” is the Big Idea movie, with an important theme. That’s what a Best Picture should be.

Lady Gaga and Diane Warren were nominated for “Til It Happens to You” Best Song. It’s Warren’s EIGHTH nomination. They will win.

Best Picture
The Big Short
Bridge Of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

Best Actor
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Matt Damon, The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Mark Rylance, Bridge Of Spies
Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Directing
The Big Short
Mad Max
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

Film Editing
Big Short
Mad Max
The Revenant
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Foreign Language Film
Embrace Of The Serpent
Mustang
Son Of Saul
A War

Original Score
Bridge of Spies
Carol
The Hateful Eight
Sicario
Star Wars

Production Design
Bridge Of Spies
The Danish Girl
Mad Max
The Martian
The Revenant

Visual Effects
Ex Machina
Mad Max
The Revenant
Star Wars
The Martian

Adapted Screenplay
The Big Short
Brooklyn
Carol
Martian
Room

Original Screenplay
Bridge Of Spies
Alex Garland
Inside Out
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton

Animated Feature Film
Anomalisa
Boy And The World
Inside Out
Shaun The Sheep Movie
When Marnie Was There

Cinematography
Carol
The Hateful Eight
Mad Mad: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario

Costume Design
Carol
Cinderella
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant

Documentary Feature
Amy
Cartel Land
The Look of Silence
What Happened, Miss Simone
Ukraine

Documentary Short Subject
Body Team 12
A Girl In The River
Last Day Of Freedom

Makeup and Hairstyling
Mad Max
100 Year Old Man
The Revenant

Original Song
50 Shades Of Gray
Racing Extinction
Youth
The Hunting Ground
Spectre

Animated Short Film
World Of Tomorrow

Live Action Short Film
Ave Maria
Day One
Everything Will Be OK
Shock
Sutter

Sound Editing
Mad Max
The Martian
The Revenant
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Sound Mixing
Bridge Of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Oscar nominations are coming in just as we’re learning of the death of Alan Rickman at age 69…a shock and tragedy…

Mike Nichols Tears Up Talking About Meryl Streep in Wonderful PBS American Masters Doc

Roger Friedman
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Mike Nichols Tears Up Talking About Meryl Streep in Wonderful PBS American Masters Doc

I guess it had to be something from Elaine May, his oldest friend, and their mutual pal, Julian Schlossberg. On January 29th, PBS will show a one hour tribute to Mike Nichols from these two collaborators. It’s about time someone did something. Nichols died in November 2014. There was never a memorial in a Broadway theater, which is what everyone expected. Then finally this past November there was a kind of creepy public-but-no-one-is-invited memorial that Nichols would have hated.

Now May and Schlossberg have taken a longish interview Mike did with Julian, mixed it concisely with a few select interviews with actors and a few friends, and got the whole thing right. This American Masters special is a masterclass with Nichols, at one time an autobiography and a really telling look at a real genius filmmaker, theater director, and comic writer.

My only complaint is that it isn’t a little bit longer. The story sort of glosses over the 1990s and 2000s, mentioning but not getting into things like “The Birdcage” (one of the funniest movies ever made) and Mike’s Tony winning production of “Death of a Salesman” with Phillip Seymour Hoffman. That is too bad.

You do get a couple of things totally unexpected: Mike breaking down in tears unable to discuss how great Meryl Streep is as an actress; and Elaine’s significant other, the famed director Stanley Donen, giving a rare interview. Also, a hilarious old clip of Nichols and May, and Mike recalling how he and Elaine reunited to perform for the people on the Selma march in Alabama.

On January 29th you must put everything aside and watch this film. Circle it now or program it or whatever. The film doesn’t even get into all the people he discovered or helped, or the acting school he ran with Paul Sills and George Morrison.

But it made me think of the last time I spoke to Mike Nichols, at the intermission on opening night of the revival of “The Real Thing” on Broadway just before he died. He had directed the famous original production. But there he was, not looking great, but there to support the new production. He smiled so broadly. I said, “Mike, how do you feel seeing your show with new people?” And he replied: “Aren’t they wonderful? I am so happy for them.”

Thanks, Elaine and Julian. We needed this.

UPDATE Zsa Zsa Gabor Turned 99 Years Old, Has Been Hospitalized

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE Zsa Zsa Gabor Turned 99 Years Old, Has Been Hospitalized

UPDATE FEB 9 2016: Zsa Zsa is in the hospital. Frederick posted a birthday video on the 8th on You Tube. Subsequently, Zsa Zsa required hospitalization because there was an infection reported in her feeding tube. What’s happened to her is a phenomenal tragedy. And there’s no happy Hollywood ending.

 

FROM JANUARY 13TH: Believe it or not, Zsa Zsa Gabor is still alive. She turns 99 years old next month, on February 6th. She is still in her home in Bel Air.

Her husband, Frederick Prinz van Anhalt, is only 72. I ran into him a couple of times over Golden Globes weekend. He attended parties with a business associate. This year marks the couple’s 30th wedding anniversary.

Frederick told me that Zsa Zsa does have visitors from time to time. Recent guests included game show host Alex Trebek (75) and former actress/glamour girl Ruta Lee (80).

It’s unclear how much Zsa Zsa understands, but at least she’s comfortable and well taken care of. It’s also unclear if she knows about the death of her only child, Francesca Hilton. Francesca fought with Frederick for years. Then she died just over a year ago– January 6, 2015– at age 67.

Zsa Zsa would barely recognize the world around her if she were really with it. All her friends are gone. Her famous sisters, Eva and Magda, are long gone, as their mother, Jolie Gabor. Her cousins-in-law, Paris and Nikki Hilton, replaced them all. Then they were succeeded by the Kardashians. Of course, the K’s lack the glamour and background. They’re the KMart version of the Gabors.

It’s not the people. Fur coats, the Brown Derby, good manners, they’re all gone, too. It’s best that she stay in bed.

And PS– there are pics of Zsa Zsa now on Google, but she would be so distraught if we used them. Zsa Zsa was all about glamour, glitz and Hollywood, the entire fantasy. Let’s think of her that way.

One Direction Is Not Over for Good, Kids– They’re Just on Break, And This is Why

Roger Friedman
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One Direction Is Not Over for Good, Kids– They’re Just on Break, And This is Why

US Weekly, which serves little purpose in this world, “reported” today that pop group One Direction had disbanded permanently. It was either clickbait or an out and out lie. The boys will be associated for a long time.

Earlier this year One Direction said it was taking a break. The boys will try solo projects. But trust me, they will be back. And they’re not going anywhere anyway. They owe Sony greatest hits albums, and live albums. The label has advanced them a lot of money. Someone has to pay it back.

With the David Bowie death pushing all of his albums onto iTunes, and Apple discounting a lot of albums this week, One Direction’s “Made in the AM” got kicked down to number 37 after a good run in the top 10. Now it’s number 33. Not a big jump, but something.

My guess is someone “leaked” this to US Weekly to give the album a little publicity. Last fall when their single “Drag Me Down” had been dragged down, the announcement came about the hiatus. Sales of “Drag Me Down” perked right up. These things are not coincidences. I would also guess that by the time they reunite, even Zayn will be back.

Golden Globes Saturday: ‘It’ Girls Eat After All, Michael Shannon Considers Bernie Sanders

Leah Sydney
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Golden Globes Saturday: ‘It’ Girls Eat After All, Michael Shannon Considers Bernie Sanders

Saturday before the Golden Globes meant hitting a circuit that involved marathon eating, drinking and schmoozing…

At W Magazine and Lynn Hirschberg’s second annual “It Girl” lunch at the very snazzy AOC Restaurant, about three dozen stunning women were gathered to toast themselves and their growing place in the film industry. Some were better known than others, like Jo Froggatt from Downton Abbey, and Emilia Clarke from Game of Thrones.

emaytzyOthers were a little less so but they’re going to be stars — and should be. I was seated with four amazing women– Emayatzy Corinealdi, Aisha Hinds, Devika Bhise, and Stephanie Sigman. Check them out on imdb and YouTube– they are the future of the business. Emayatzy starred in Ava DuVernay’s first film, “Middle of Nowhere” (which you must watch). Now she’s on a cool Amazon series with Dana Delany and Ron Perlman called “Hand of God.”

Aisha Hinds already has tons of credits. But I think she’s going to have a breakthrough role any minute now. Then everyone’s going to say, Where was she all this time? Attention: Shonda Rhimes.
— Roger Friedman

Over at the Film Independent nominees lunch Uzo Aduba from “Orange is the New Black” and Rami Malek from “Mr. Robot” were the co-hosts. Cate Blanchett made an early appearance, as her “Carol” costar, Rooney Mara made a later one. Directors Catherine Hardwicke, Kimberly Peirce and Marisa Tomei were chatting, as were Warner’s Sue Kroll and LA Film Fest’s Stephanie Allain, as well as a multitude of industry heavyweights.

Globe nominee for “99 Homes,” Michael Shannon caught up with Spirit nominee Jason Segel for his terrific work in “The End Of The Tour,” and the talented actor who plays the pimp in “Tangerine,” James Ransone.

I asked Michael about how long it took him to get this nomination. He said: “I’ve been knocking around for awhile. Hollywood is really about what have you done lately. But I’m lucky so it’s all good.” What is he doing next? “I’m playing a romantic lead in a comedy called “Pottersville,” I play opposite Christina Hendricks, Judy Greer, and Ian McShane. I’ve wanted to play this kind of role for awhile, so I’m looking forward to it. I seem to scare people from “99” and some of the other work I’ve done, so this is a good change.”

I wondered if Bernie Sanders had seen “99 Homes,” yet, as it would seem to align with Sander’s sensibilities. “I don’t know,” Michael answered. “But he should. I don’t know how I’d get to him. I might have to go to one of his rallies.”
–Leah Sydney

WATCH White House First Ever Live “Pre-Show” for State of the Union Address, Hosted by Actor

Roger Friedman
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WATCH White House First Ever Live “Pre-Show” for State of the Union Address, Hosted by Actor

The E! News sensibility has finally permeated the Oval Office.

Tonight on the White House website there will be a first ever State of the Union address pre-show. It begins at 8pm and is hosted by Terrence Jenkins on the White House website. There may be an audience since it’s coming “straight from the theater at the Executive Office Building.”

read today’s headlines including my report on Natalie Cole’s funeral

According to a press release, Jenkins, “an acclaimed author,”… has been a “co-host of BET’s hit show 106 & Park and more recently as the co-anchor of E! NEWS with Giuliana Rancic. Up next, Jenkins will STAR opposite Paula Patton in THE PERFECT MATCH, in theaters nationwide on March 11th.”

Musical guests include rapper Wale, from Washington DC, and the semi-rock duo EL VY (Matt Berninger and Brent Knopf).

If Paula Patton stops by to promote that movie, I will watch without fail!

“CSI Cyber” Likely Over as Patricia Arquette Takes 4 Film Projects, Ted Danson Exits

Roger Friedman
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“CSI Cyber” Likely Over as Patricia Arquette Takes 4 Film Projects, Ted Danson Exits

The “CSI” brand on CBS looks like it’s coming to an end. First, CBS took “CSI Cyber” off the Sunday schedule with no word of when it will return.

Today, Ted Danson announced he’s got a new show on NBC, and he’s leaving the series you didn’t know he was on.

I can tell you exclusively that Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette has signed for four– four– movie projects including two animated films and one directed by Claire Denis. This makes sense: She has an Oscar. She should be making movies.

Plus, series creator Anthony Zuiker is working on a Broadway musical about “Soul Train.”

“CSI: Cyber” has been a headscratcher from the beginning. I’ve tried watching it and have no idea what it’s about. The whole “cyber” thing is hard to depict– digital is not very easy to depict storywise, and one episode about hacking is enough.

We’ll await final word. But the “CSI” era in first run may be over, for now.

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