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Tony Bennett Wants to Celebrate 90th Birthday with Central Park Concert, New Lady Gaga Album

Roger Friedman
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Tony Bennett Wants to Celebrate 90th Birthday with Central Park Concert, New Lady Gaga Album

Swingin’ Tony Bennett, 89, came to the Broadway opening night of Gloria Estefan’s “On Your Feet” with wife Susan and a lot of plans. Tony just released a new album (“The Silver Lining”) with piano great Bill Charlap, just minutes after having an international hit singing duets with Lady Gaga on “Cheek to Cheek.”

So what next? “I’m going to be 90,” Tony said. I asked him, what will he do? For 85, he performed at the Metropolitan Opera House. Tony told me he wants to celebrate his 90th birthday next August 3rd with a concert in Central Park. He can do it, too. What else? “A Cole Porter album with Lady Gaga,” Tony said. The pair are gearing up for a private gig as well. Tony never stops!

The golden throated Bennett wasn’t the only famous singer at “On Your Feet.” In the audience were also Bette Midler, who came with her husband, Martin, and their actress daughter Sophie van Haselberg; and the great Frankie Valli, who told me he wants to bring the Four Seasons back to Broadway next year. This Sunday, “Jersey Boys” celebrates its 10th anniversary on Broadway. But Frankie can’t come– he’s working!

“On Your Feet” also pulled in Diane Sawyer, who came solo and worked on her smart phone during intermission. She said she didn’t know much about the planned memorial for her late husband, Mike Nichols, this Sunday.

Other guests at the big premiere at the Marriott Marquis included famed comedian David Steinberg, as well as Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox, planning their Stand Up for Heroes/Bob Woodruff extravaganza next Tuesday at the Theater at MSG. You do know that Bruce Springsteen and Jerry Seinfeld are headliners.

The great Hollywood eminence grise and suntan, George Hamilton, also attended, accompanying legendary Broadway producer Terry Allen Kramer.

You know, the audience loved “On Your Feet,” which is kind of a schizophrenic musical. It alternates between Gloria’s many anthemic ballad hits and very hot salsa music that makes the audience get up and dance. It’s led by an extremely talented cast and set against one of David Rockwell’s sparer but vivid sets. You exit the theater on a high, which is always a good sign.

“On Your Feet” has a niche audience in the Latin community, plus Estefan fans from all over the world. That should keep the show on its feet for some time to come!

James Bond “Spectre” Gets the Worst Critics Ratings of All New Films This Week

Roger Friedman
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James Bond “Spectre” Gets the Worst Critics Ratings of All New Films This Week

“Spectre” is already a financial hit. But critically, it’s not faring too well. With a 61 on Rotten Tomatoes, the new James Bond thriller is ranked lowest of all films opening this week.

Granted, it’s a tough week. Oscar buzzed films like Spotlight, Trumbo, and Brooklyn have all gotten high numbers. “Spotlight” is right now maybe the lead film in the Oscar race. The other two have strong followings.

Plus a number of very good documentaries open on Friday including “Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict.” There’s also the “Peanuts Movie,” with an 84.

“Spectre” has divided everyone. It doesn’t help that Daniel Craig has been critical of the series, has spoken out about the rigors of making the film. He also didn’t do any premieres in New York or Los Angeles, just a couple in Europe.

But “Spectre” should do $75 million over the weekend– quite respectable. “Skyfall,” it’s not, but that was a fluke, and this may be a “sophomore” slump.

Hilarious– Watch The Beatles Lip Synch on Lost “Penny Lane” Video

Roger Friedman
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Hilarious– Watch The Beatles Lip Synch on Lost “Penny Lane” Video

Okay, one more lost Beatles video. Hilarious– watch John, George and Paul lip synch not very well to “Penny Lane” as they shoot a promo for one of the richest of all Beatles songs. New Beatles fans will be happy to learn that “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” were recorded for “Sgt. Pepper” but wound up coming out as a standalone double A side single. My favorite version of “Penny Lane” is on Beatles “Rarities” and “Anthology” with extra piccolo at the end.

Video

and Paul solo:

Famed Bob Dylan Documentary “Don’t Look Back” Turns 50 with New Edition

Roger Friedman
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0
Famed Bob Dylan Documentary “Don’t Look Back” Turns 50 with New Edition

dont look backDA Pennebaker signing 50th anniversary edition of Don’t Look Back today from 6 to 8pm at Paul Stuart, Madison Avenue.

One of the films that earned legendary filmmaker DA Pennebaker his Lifetime Achievement Academy Award was the documentary “Don’t Look Back.”

The famous chronicle of Bob Dylan meeting fame, fortune, Donovan and Joan Baez turns 50 this month with a beautiful new edition from the Criterion Collection.

Pennebaker will make a rare appearance later today, from 6 to 8pm, at the Paul Stuart store on Madison Avenue to sign the new box set.

“Don’t Look Back” was shot on Dylan’s tour of the UK in 1965 and released to acclaim in 1967. It became a cult film and then a staple in every video library.

Among the things the film is famous for: Pennebaker’s invention of the “lyric card throw” for the song “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”

Bob Dylan – Subterranean Homesick Blues – HQ from Noisefield on Vimeo.

The Eagles Must Postpone Kennedy Center Honors: Glenn Frey Didn’t “Take it Easy”

Roger Friedman
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The Eagles Must Postpone Kennedy Center Honors: Glenn Frey Didn’t “Take it Easy”

The first post- George Stevens Kennedy Center Honors is jinxed. For the first time ever, an honoree– or honorees, in this case– has to postpone and not appear on the show.

The Eagles have announced they can’t make the show because of Glenn Frey’s impending surgery for “intestinal issues.” The wire story issued officially attributes Frey’s long history of illness to “broads, burgers, blow.” It’s likely the last of those three probably caused some problems. To paraphrase an Eagles song, Frey didn’t “take it easy.”

Of course, there’s real concern about whatever is actually wrong with Frey, who’s had solo hits too like “You Belong to the City.” Let’s hope he heals quickly.

For the Kennedy Center, it’s a first to lose an honoree a month before the show is taped. They still have five others– including Carole King, George Lucas and Rita Moreno. But the Eagles were the first rock group ever to be inducted. It was a ploy by the new Kennedy Center execs to turn the show into more of a rock concert. And it inadvertently backfired.

The Beatles “New” Video for “We Can Work it Out”– Last One Before Friday Release

Roger Friedman
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The Beatles “New” Video for “We Can Work it Out”– Last One Before Friday Release

Here’s one last “new” Beatles video before Friday’s release of the “1+1” box set. This is a beautiful version of “We Can Work it Out.” While we’re bathing Beatles memories, check out the “Let it Be…Naked” CD as well as the individual “Hey Jude” album, each of which is available on amazon and iTunes. They’re not part of the regular American Beatles collection, but so important to the history.

Helen Mirren at “Trumbo” Premiere: “I Wasn’t Big Enough to be Phone Hacked!”

Roger Friedman
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Helen Mirren at “Trumbo” Premiere: “I Wasn’t Big Enough to be Phone Hacked!”

Dame Helen Mirren moves through Jay Roach’s “Trumbo” as gossip columnist Hedda Hopper like a viper dancing to cool jazz music. She’s completely evil and delicious and you love her. At the star studded after party for “Trumbo” last night at Villagio on Central Park South, the subject of British phone hacking came up in regard to privacy and gossip. Was Dame Helen hacked? “Me?” she cried. “I wish! I’m not big enough for them!” she laughed.

Mirren was joined at the premiere by her director husband Taylor Hackford (who’s about to start shooting “The Comedian” with Robert DeNiro and Jennifer Aniston), as well as “Trumbo” stars Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Louis CK, and Michael Stuhlbarg, plus the amazing Tony Bennett, Dana Delany (shimming in silver), Julie Taymor, actress singer Ilene Kristen, director Richard La Gravenese, Steve Kroft and Jenny Conant, Broadway’s Nikki L. James, Alex Gibney, famed author Victor Navasky (“Naming Names”), philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, and our old pal Kathie Berlin.

Diane Lane brought her beautiful 22 year old daughter Eleanor Lambert (father is Christopher Lambert aka Greystoke), who was star struck meeting Cranston. Does she want to be an actor, I asked the stunning Lane? “No, I think she wants to be a journalist,” Diane said. (“I’ll talk her out of that,” I responded.)

Cranston– exceptional as the crusading Trumbo– is so full of projects he can barely see straight. The former Dr. Tim Watley from “Seinfeld” has his “All the Way” LBJ movie at HBO with “Trumbo” director Jay Roach, a new series on Amazon, a movie he’s just made directed by James Franco, another he’s making co-starring Franco, and Wes Anderson’s new animated film.

Trumbo spent a lot of time in the bathtub writing scripts, which Cranston has replicated with director Jay Roach’s help. Was it cold? Was their shrinkage?

“What? No, haha,” Cranston said. “They kept filling the tub with warm water. It went on for hours and hours.”

Dalton Trumbo, if you don’t know, was the Oscar winning screenwriter of “Roman Holiday,” “The Brave Ones,” “Spartacus,” and dozens of other films– dozens and dozens, he was very prolific. But in the early 1950s he was blacklisted by the House Unamerican Activities Committee because he was a Communist.

For a decade he couldn’t use his own name on scripts, and neither could many other screenwriters. So Trumbo organized a group that wrote under pseudonyms while the famous Red Scare and witch hunt of the 50s dragged on, and destroyed lives. Trumbo is also known as the author of the searing 1938 anti-war novel, “Johnny Got His Gun,” which was required reading in the late 60s and early 70s when young people read books other than “Twilight.” (The 1971 movie is worth watching on amazon.)

The Blacklist affected thousands who aren’t portrayed in the film including later Oscar winner Lee Grant, Tony winner Zero Mostel, and lots of actors and crew on TV and in theater whose faces you might know better than their names. Lives were destroyed.  Among those depicted in the film are the famed actor Edward G. Robinson, who named names but still suffered. Michael Stuhlbarg does a beautiful job portraying Robinson’s agony and decline. “Trumbo” also has beautiful work from John Goodman, Elle Fanning, Alan Tudyk, John Getz, Roger Bart, David James Elliott, Richard Portnow, Stephen Root, and Dean O’Gorman as a spot-on Kirk Douglas.

Music Mess as iTunes Discounts Adele, Carrie Underwood, Versus Bieber, One Direction

Roger Friedman
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Music Mess as iTunes Discounts Adele, Carrie Underwood, Versus Bieber, One Direction

It’s hard to measure what’s actually number 1 when everything is a different price.

On the pop charts, pricing is now an issue as all the top hits are being offered at wildly conflicting ranges.

For example: iTunes has pumped up sales of Carrie Underwood’s new album by discounting it to an incredible $5.99. The result is that “Storyteller” is number 3 on the iTunes charts. Who wouldn’t buy something for $5.99 just to see what it is? That’s what albums sold for 40 years ago. “Storyteller” is also at that price (for download) at amazon.

Meanwhile, Adele’s forthcoming “25” album is ranked as the number 1 album on both iTunes, where it’s selling for $10.99, and amazon, where it’s the same price for the download and but only $9.99 for the CD, which you could buy and then upload into a computer for free. That’s four dollars off the basic list price. It’s also four dollars cheaper than the deluxe edition of One Direction’s “Made in the AM,” which is at number 6 on iTunes awaiting release next Friday, and two dollars less than Justin Bieber’s “Purpose,” currently second to Adele.

So what’s doing better? The deep discounted albums or the highly price ones? Over at amazon, the Beatles’ new “1+1” box set, selling for $50.98, is at number 4 among their physical CDs. (It’s worth it.)

And who’s eating the cost of these discounts? The record companies take the hit to stimulate sales and chart position. But there’s no parity, just a free-for-all on the charts.

“Riverdance” Star Michael Flatley–Chicago Born– Gives Up U.S. Citizenship

Roger Friedman
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“Riverdance” Star Michael Flatley–Chicago Born– Gives Up U.S. Citizenship

Michael Flatley was born in Chicago, Illinois. But he’s most closely associated with Ireland, as he heads up the Riverdance troupe that’s famous all over the world. But I can tell you exclusively that Flatley has given up his U.S. citizenship according to the latest report from the Federal Register dated October 27, 2015.

Keep refreshing…

There was speculation two years ago that Flatley had turned back his U.S. citizenship for a British passport. He already has an Irish passport, according to reports.

Flatley, who’s said to be worth around $400 million, has a six story townhouse in Knightsbridge, London. He also owns a home in Ireland. Michael Jackson hid out with Flatley in 2006 after ripping off the prince of Bahrain and before returning to the U.S.

Many people probably think Flatley is already Irish. But he is American. He just doesn’t want to be anymore. It’s likely too expensive for some one with good dance moves.

Here’s the People’s Choice Awards Long List of Meaningless Nominations

Roger Friedman
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Here’s the People’s Choice Awards Long List of Meaningless Nominations

Here’s the long, meaningless list of nominees for People’s Choice Awards. These are the lowest of the low. The whole thing is arranged in advance, and only “winners” show up. This is so Hollywood old school, it’s breathtaking. But it’s right after New Year’s, everyone’s groggy, and someone will show up and give a scripted speech.  The whole is such a joke–and so cynical. So many categories. I especially like “Favorite Monday Night Show at 8pm” and “Best Actress in a Comedy Whose Name Starts with a T.” The actors and publicists all know how much nonsense this is. The audience remains happily clueless. Ignorance is bliss. Jane Lynch is hosting this year. She used to be so much fun and jaundiced, especially in those Christopher Guest movies. How can she keep a straight face? We’ll see, I guess.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2016 Nominees:

MOVIES

Favorite Movie

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Furious 7

Inside Out

Jurassic World

Pitch Perfect 2

Favorite Movie Actor

Channing Tatum

Chris Pratt

Johnny Depp

Robert Downey Jr.

Will Smith

Favorite Movie Actress

Anne Hathaway

Melissa McCarthy

Meryl Streep

Sandra Bullock

Scarlett Johansson

Favorite Action Movie

Avengers: Age of Ultron

The Divergent Series: Insurgent

Furious 7

Jurassic World

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Favorite Action Movie Actor

Chris Hemsworth

Chris Pratt

Dwayne Johnson

Robert Downey Jr.

Vin Diesel

Favorite Action Movie Actress

Charlize Theron

Emily Blunt

Michelle Rodriguez

Scarlett Johansson

Shailene Woodley

Favorite Animated Movie Voice

Adam Sandler (“Hotel Transylvania 2”)

Amy Poehler (“Inside Out”)

Rihanna (“Home”)

Sandra Bullock (“Minions”)

Selena Gomez (“Hotel Transylvania 2”)

Favorite Comedic Movie

The DUFF

Pitch Perfect 2

Spy

Ted 2

Trainwreck

Favorite Comedic Movie Actor

Jack Black

Kevin Hart

Mark Wahlberg

Robert De Niro

Will Ferrell

Favorite Comedic Movie Actress

Amy Schumer

Anna Kendrick

Melissa McCarthy

Rebel Wilson

Sofia Vergara

Favorite Dramatic Movie

The Age of Adaline

Fifty Shades of Grey

The Longest Ride

The Martian

Straight Outta Compton

Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor

Channing Tatum

George Clooney

Johnny Depp

Matt Damon

Will Smith

Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress

Blake Lively

Dakota Johnson

Jennifer Lopez

Kate Winslet

Rachel McAdams

Favorite Family Movie

Cinderella

Home

Hotel Transylvania 2

Inside Out

Minions

Favorite Thriller Movie

The Boy Next Door

Insidious: Chapter 3

Poltergeist

Taken 3

Unfriended

TV

Favorite TV Show

The Big Bang Theory

Game of Thrones

Grey’s Anatomy

The Voice

The Walking Dead

Favorite Network TV Comedy

2 Broke Girls

The Big Bang Theory

Mike & Molly

Modern Family

New Girl

Favorite Comedic TV Actor

Andy Samberg

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Jim Parsons

Johnny Galecki

Matthew Perry

Favorite Comedic TV Actress

Anna Faris

Kaley Cuoco

Melissa McCarthy

Sofía Vergara

Zooey Deschanel

Favorite Network TV Drama

Empire

Gotham

Grey’s Anatomy

How To Get Away With Murder

Scandal

Favorite Dramatic TV Actor

Jesse Williams

Justin Chambers

Scott Foley

Taylor Kinney

Terrence Howard

Favorite Dramatic TV Actress

Ellen Pompeo

Kerry Washington

Sara Ramirez

Taraji P. Henson

Viola Davis

Favorite Cable TV Comedy

Baby Daddy

Faking It

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Real Husbands of Hollywood

Young & Hungry

Favorite Cable TV Drama

Bates Motel

The Fosters

Pretty Little Liars

Rizzoli & Isles

Suits

Favorite Cable TV Actor

Adam DeVine

Christian Slater

Eric Dane

Kevin Hart

Taye Diggs

Favorite Cable TV Actress

Ashley Benson

Hilary Duff

Lucy Hale

Sasha Alexander

Shay Mitchell

Favorite Premium Cable TV Show

Girls

Homeland

Masters of Sex

Shameless

Veep

Favorite Premium Cable TV Actor

Dwayne Johnson

Joshua Jackson

Justin Theroux

Matt LeBlanc

Nick Jonas

Favorite Premium Cable TV Actress

Claire Danes

Emmy Rossum

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Kristen Bell

Lisa Kudrow

Favorite TV Crime Drama

Bones

Castle

Criminal Minds

NCIS

Person of Interest

Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor

Jim Caviezel

LL Cool J

Mark Harmon

Nathan Fillion

Shemar Moore

Favorite TV Crime Drama Actress

Emily Deschanel

Lucy Liu

Mariska Hargitay

Pauley Perrette

Stana Katic

Favorite Network TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show

Arrow

Beauty and the Beast

Once Upon a Time

Supernatural

The Vampire Diaries

Favorite Cable TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show

American Horror Story

Game of Thrones

Outlander

Teen Wolf

The Walking Dead

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor

David Tennant

Ian Somerhalder

Jensen Ackles

Misha Collins

Sam Heughan

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress

Caitriona Balfe

Emilia Clarke

Ginnifer Goodwin

Jennifer Morrison

Lady Gaga

Favorite Competition TV Show

America’s Got Talent

American Ninja Warrior

Dancing with the Stars

MasterChef

The Voice

Favorite Daytime TV Host

Dr. Oz

Ellen DeGeneres

Rachael Ray

Steve Harvey

Wendy Williams

Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team

Good Morning America

Live with Kelly and Michael

The Talk

Today

The View

Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host

Conan O’Brien

James Corden

Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Kimmel

Stephen Colbert

Favorite Streaming Series

House of Cards

The Mindy Project

Orange is the New Black

Transparent

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Favorite Actor In A New TV Series

Chace Crawford

John Stamos

Josh Peck

Rob Lowe

Zachary Levi

Favorite Actress In A New TV Series

Emma Roberts

Jamie Lee Curtis

Lea Michele

Marcia Gay Harden

Priyanka Chopra

Favorite Animated TV Show

American Dad!

Bob’s Burger

Family Guy

The Simpsons

South Park

Favorite New TV Comedy

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Dr. Ken

Grandfathered

The Grinder

Life in Pieces

The Muppets

Scream Queens

Truth Be Told

Favorite New TV Drama

Blindspot

Blood & Oil

Code Black

Heroes Reborn

Limitless

Minority Report

The Player

Quantico

Rosewood

Supergirl

Wicked City

MUSIC

Favorite Male Artist

Ed Sheeran

Justin Bieber

Luke Bryan

Nick Jonas

The Weeknd

Favorite Female Artist

Demi Lovato

Lana Del Rey

Madonna

Selena Gomez

Taylor Swift

Favorite Group

Fall Out Boy

Fifth Harmony

Imagine Dragons

Maroon 5

One Direction

Favorite Breakout Artist

Fetty Wap

Halsey

Shawn Mendes

Tori Kelly

The Weeknd

Favorite Male Country Artist

Blake Shelton

Brad Paisley

Dierks Bentley

Keith Urban

Luke Bryan

Favorite Female Country Artist

Carrie Underwood

Cassadee Pope

Kacey Musgraves

Miranda Lambert

Reba McEntire

Favorite Country Group

The Band Perry

Florida Georgia Line

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Zac Brown Band

Favorite Pop Artist

Demi Lovato

Ed Sheeran

Kelly Clarkson

Selena Gomez

Taylor Swift

Favorite Hip-Hop Artist

Big Sean

Drake

Kendrick Lamar

Nicki Minaj

Wiz Khalifa

Favorite R&B Artist

Chris Brown

Ciara

Janet Jackson

Ne-Yo

The Weeknd

Favorite Album

American Beauty / American Psycho by Fall Out Boy

Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd

If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late by Drake

Smoke + Mirrors by Imagine Dragons

Title by Meghan Trainor

Favorite Song

“Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar

“Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd

“Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding

“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth

“What Do You Mean?” by Justin Bieber

Favorite Music Icon

Madonna

Paul McCartney

Prince

Steven Tyler

Stevie Wonder

DIGITAL

Favorite Social Media Celebrity

Anna Kendrick

Beyoncé

Britney Spears

Dwayne Johnson

Taylor Swift

Favorite Social Media Star

Cameron Dallas

Frankie Grande

Lele Pons

Matt Bellassai

Nash Grier

Favorite Mobile Game

Candy Crush Saga

Despicable Me: Minion Rush

Fruit Ninja

Plants vs. Zombies

Temple Run

Favorite Video Game

Batman: Arkham Knight

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Grand Theft Auto V

Minecraft

Super Smash Bros.

Favorite YouTube Star

Connor Franta

Grace Helbig

Jenna Marbles

Miranda Sings

Tyler Oakley

The DailyMail.com Seriously Popular™ Award

Bella Thorne

Cara Delevingne

Kylie Jenner

Maddie Ziegler

Ruby Rose

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