Sunday, October 6, 2024
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John Travolta Charity Funded Scientology Propaganda in Ferguson and St. Louis

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Scientology keeps looking for people in distress and duress who might be vulnerable to their gibberish.

According to the 2014 Federal tax filing for the Jett Travolta Foundation, John Travolta pitched in like a good soldier last year.

His Jett Travolta Foundation gave $3,000 to the Way of Happiness Foundation, a Scientology organization started by L. Ron Hubbard. The purpose was to distribute booklets in Ferguson and St. Louis, Missouri after the Michael Brown shooting and during the racial tension there.

Jett Travolta Foundation also threw away $100,000 on something called The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia. Janet Doman, an avowed Scientologist, runs this organization for parents desperate to help their autistic kids. IAHP is on Quackwatch and has been written about by actual scientists as useless.

Travolta also gave his annual donation to a Scientology group that proselytizes in Haiti looking for new members.

Janet Jackson’s “No Sleeep” Gets Radio Love, But Sales Are Still Very Mild at 91k

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UPDATE: Sales of “No Sleeep” so far come to 91,000 digital downloads according to Nielsen.

EARLIER: Janet Jackson, I hope you know some radio people have been working overtime for you.

“No Sleeep” was kind of a drowsy single when it first launched. Not much love at radio. But here’s some good news: the single is number 2 on Urban Adult Contemporary radio, number 31 on regular urban. Billboard has it at number 1 on a chart they call “Adult R&B Songs.”

“No Sleeep” has not found a pillow on top 40, but no artist has over the age of 40, let alone 35. That’s the way it goes these days.

Still, my old friend Phil Quartararo vowed to me he’d get that single moving, and he did. Let that be a lesson to me and to everyone else– you gotta stick with it to make it happen. That extra e in sleep is for excellent work!

Congrats to all.

Billy Joel on Birth of Baby Daughter Della Rose: “Even sweeter at this age. I’m a lucky man”

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EXCLUSIVE I emailed Billy Joel this afternoon to congratulate him and wife Alexis on the birth of their baby girl, Della Rose. Billy responded: “It’s a wonderful life.”

As a follow up, he wrote: Even sweeter at this age. I’m a lucky man. Some people will disagree.
Mostly those who are discontent with the way their own lives went. But, then again, If I listened to those people I’d still be washing dishes at Nick’s Luncheonette in Hicksville.”

Billy is much blessed. He has a lovely new family, and a beautiful adult daughter, Alexa Ray, who is the apple of his eye. He’s one of our great talents, and one of my favorite people. Mazel tov!

PS Maybe all this bliss will inspire him to release some new music. In the meantime, I’ve been humming this all day:

Daniel Day Lewis’s Son Gabriel Lands Calvin Klein Campaign, Mourns Friend Ian Jones

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Gabriel Day Lewis is the talented model-musician son of Daniel Day Lewis and Isabelle Adjani. He’s debuting today in Calvin Klein’s fall Platinum campaign. Gabriel is also a musician who’s about to release some new tunes.

He’s also mourning the loss, he says on Instagram, of two friends. One of them is Ian Jones, the model-photographer who died tragically this past week in the kayaking accident that involved Annie Lennox’s daughter (who survived).

Gabriel writes: “I simply cannot believe that I’ve had to say goodbye to two of my friends this week. What an improbable, heart breaking tragedy. Losing those with whom you were close is devastating. I’m trying to get back on my feet, the kind words that have been said both to me and Ian’s family have given me some of the strength that I’m in dire need of. Though I know that future opportunities with these friends are no longer existential, I cherish and value the moments that were spent with these two amazing guys. I love you so much Ian. I know you are up there amongst the Angels, looking down on us. I love you so so much. Thank you for being a part of my life.”

This is tough at 22. Gabriel also wrote of losing his friend, Jordan Boris, who died in a riptide in the Hamptons:
“I’m speechless. I found out today that my friend Jordan passed away. I haven’t been able to stop the tears. He was so dear to me, a beautiful soul that had an irrevocable impact on mine. You left us too soon my brother. Your light will never be extinguished as it lives on in our hearts. My prayers and profound thoughts go out to his family and his beautiful little girl. What a tragedy, our lives are so fragile. Every moment alive is a moment to cherish. I love you man. Rest in beautiful peace.”

Gloria Allred Brings 3 More Cosby Accusers: See Video of Eden Svendahl from “Cosby Show”

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Eden Svendahl was recruited by Bill Cosby for a role on the Cosby Show. She says Cosby told her she had “it” and “was I willing to do what it took?”

Svendahl was one of three women whom Gloria Allred presented today as accusers of Bill Cosby– all three said they were molested, harassed, or raped in different ways. These three women all seem like their stories are worse than the others, but of course they are all terrible.

The two other women really have awful stories–Linda Apollo Whitedeer, and Colleen Hughes. I’ll embed the press conference. Keep refreshing.


Samuel L. Jackson Hasn’t Seen a Bit of “Hateful Eight” Except for Trailer (Watch)

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Here’s the trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” starring Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Dern, Kurt Russell, and a sterling cast.

Jackson told me the other night he hasn’t seen a bit of the movie yet. “Quentin’s just doing his thing,” he told me. “He’ll show us when he’s ready.”

Keith Richards Goes Digital on Friday, Solo Albums Hit Spotify, Other Platforms

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Keith Richards goes digital in 48 hours. His first two solo albums, Talk is Cheap, and Main Offender hit Spotify and other digital platforms for the first time on Friday. These albums feature my favorite two Keith singles, “Make No Mistake,” featuring the stunning Sarah Dash of Labelle, and “Hate it When You Leave.”

PS Sarah Dash is having a birthday brunch show August 23rd at 54Below in New York. Tell her you heard it from me, and say I was pissed she didn’t invite me properly!

HBO’s “Show Me a Hero” Too Late for Emmy’s, Woulda Won: Oscar Isaac Amazes, Winona Ryder Comeback

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So, why the heck did HBO’s “Show Me a Hero” miss the Emmy cut off? Timing is everything! The Paul Haggis directed mini-series, written and produced by David Simon of “The Wire” fame, is the one reason to watch TV in August. The next awards it can be up for will be Golden Globes.

“Show Me a Hero” is like a great Sidney Lumet movie about politics and corruption in New York, with a heavy dose of Haggis, an expert at following different story threads to a conclusion.

Oscar Isaac, soon to play Han Solo’s kid in the new Star Wars and already a star from “Inside Llewyn Davis,” is Al Pacino-like riveting as real life Yonkers, New York mayor Nick Wasicsko who had to guide the city through a violent housing desegregation in the mid 1980s. Winona Ryder, who doesn’t work enough, makes a sensational comeback of sorts as a local councilwoman who stood up against the local Yonkers bigots who didn’t want blacks and low income families living in their neighborhoods.

The whole cast is top notch, with Bob Balaban, LaTanya Richardson, Alfred Molina, Jim Belushi, Catherine Keener, Peter Riegert, and Jon Bernthal among the standouts. The whole show is like a Who’s Who of the Best Actors Around as the tragic story of Wasicscko’s ride as the youngest mayor of a major city plays out.

Yonkers, if you don’t know, is a hidden big city directly north of New York’s City’s the Bronx in Westchester County and very much like that borough– except instead of the Yankees, it has a lot of inner city problems.

How hard was “Show Me a Hero” to make? When principal photography concluded, the show’s co-writer and executive producer, Simon’s long time partner, actually had a stroke. Simon joked, “He was back in time for post-production.”

Last night’s premiere brought out Marisa Tomei, Samuel L. Jackson, Joel Coen and Frances McDormand, and my old friend, designer Kai Milla (ex-Mrs. Stevie Wonder) who told me she’s bringing a new line of clothes to Fashion Week next month with a big show at the snazzy Baccarat Hotel.

And Oscar? Are you following this guy? His career is a straight trajectory up for the last 10 years. He’s got Star Wars and X Men coming up. I’m certain he will have his own Oscar before he turns 40. Nice guys finish first sometimes!

Uggie, Best Supporting Dog from “The Artist,” Passes Away at 13

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Uggie, the amazing Jack Russell terrier who stole the Oscar winning movie “The Artist,” has passed away at age 13. Well, he was put to sleep apparently according to a Facebook post. Uggie became an overnight sensation after starring in “The Artist” with Jean DuJardin and Berenice Bejo. He danced on stages all over the world, and attended the Academy Awards. The night before the Oscars he was feted at The Weinstein Company party at Soho House in Los Angeles, where he posed all night for pictures and signed autographs. I’ll never forget his trainer carrying him around on a pillow. The word was that Uggie had picked up a publicist and agent, wouldn’t do interviews, and had become very difficult. But really, he was a charmer. He even published a memoir in 2012.
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from Facebook:
We regret to inform to all our friends, family and Uggie’s fans that our beloved boy has passed away. We were not planning on posting anything until we healed a little more but unfortunately somebody leaked it to TMZ and they will be announcing it. In short, Uggie had a cancerous tumor in the prostate and is now in a better place not feeling pain. Thank you for your support, I will not be reading any comments for a while as it is too painful at the moment.

Radiohead Fans: Thom Yorke Composing Music for Broadway Play with Clive Owen

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Someone call the Karma Police! Dronemeister Thom Yorke of Radiohead fame is composing music for a Broadway play.

That’s right. Yorke is joining the Roundabout Theater production of Harold Pinter’s “Old Times” starring Clive Owen, Eve Best, and Kelly Reilly. Douglas Hodge is directing, and the show opens October 6th for a short run.

Yorke says in a press release: ““It’s been a pleasure working with Doug on my first stage production. I’ve enjoyed exploring through music the script’s themes of love and memory as well as Pinter’s rhythms, twists and turns.”

OK, sounds like fun. Here’s a little Radiohead for a Monday morning: