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Ken Starr Pleads Guilty in $50 Mil Celebrity Swindle

Roger Friedman
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Ken Starr Pleads Guilty in $50 Mil Celebrity Swindle

This morning, very quietly, Ken Starr pleaded guilty to swindling his celebrity clients out of more than $50 million.

Of course, the story is not over, not by a long shot. I’m told his wife, Diane Passage, described everywhere as a “former stripper” and pole dancer, will likely file for divorce now. Passage told me some time ago that she was in the dark the whole time Starr was stealing from his clients.

It’s no surprise really that Starr took this way out rather than have a trial. His dealings over the last twenty years involved a lot of famous financial people and attorneys who knew what was going on. They’d have been exposed in court. It wouldn’t have been a pretty scene.

We’re still not sure what happened to Andy Stein, the former NYC Public Advocate who arrested on the same day as Starr.

And off the hook, it looks like, is Marvin Rosen, Starr’s best buddy. In the indictment, Starr was funneling money through an LLC he’d started with Rosen called Marose. The word is that Rosen’s daughter and Passage may start a clothing line.

Other players who won’t get their witness stand time are the family of Keith Barish, of Planet Hollywood fame (pictured here with Starr). Keith and his son Chris were involved with Starr in many deals including a 2009 settlement with the family of the late Joan Stanton. Both Starr and Barish settled with the Stanton family. But then it was Jane Stanton Hitchcock who alerted the District Attorney’s office to Starr’s misbehavior.

Ken Starr will likely be sentenced to around 10 years, which means he’ll get out in less than seven. The legal case may be nearly over, but the story isn’t. Not by a long shot.

Mad Men’s Joan Joins Drive; Weinstein PR Team Takes Films to ID

Roger Friedman
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1
Mad Men’s Joan Joins Drive; Weinstein PR Team Takes Films to ID

Christina Hendricks, our “Joan” from “Mad Men,” has joined what has become kind of an all star cast of the film “Drive.” The other day I told you that Oscar Isaac was added to the cast that’s led by Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks and Bryan Cranston. Who else is left? This movie hasn’t even been made and I feel like I’ve seen it. But I’m sure there will be some surprises…Meantime, rent the original version of “The Hitcher.”

…I told you a couple of weeks ago that Dani Weinstein was going to leave the Weinstein Company after 12 years of hard time. She’s taking Sara Serlen to ID PR, one of my favorite boutique agencies. The pair will handle TWC films from there, which makes sense. TWC has a heavy awards season, with “The King’s Speech,” “Nowhere Boy,” “Miral,” and “The Company Men” at least all generating heat. TWC will still have in house staff. But this does explain why IDPR’s Cari Ross was at the “King’s Speech” screening Tuesday night with her staff…

…Oy, Madonna. Her daughter with actor/trainer Carlos Leon got into the “Fame” high school, Fiorello LaGuardia. We have no idea whaty Lourdes’s talents are, or what her audition was to get into the school. But sources say Carlos also went to LaGuardia. Believe me, if Lourdes has acting genes, they come from Carlos, who’s been in many TV shows and films, not Madonna, provably one of the worst actresses in Hollywood history. Dare we mention “Who’s That Girl,” “Evita,” “Swept Away,” and the startling 1986 epic “Shanghai Surprise”?

James Franco Sells His “SNL” Doc, Heads to Toronto

Roger Friedman
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1
James Franco Sells His “SNL” Doc, Heads to Toronto

James Franco is the entertainer of the year.

Let’s see: he’s heading to the Toronto Film Festival where he stars in Danny Boyle‘s “127 Hours.” There’s Oscar talk, of course. Then he’s off to Yale to start work on his post-graduate writing program. He’s got a book coming out this fall. During the summer, he curated a weird art show in New York. And filmed a prequel to “Planet of the Apes.”

Today, Oscilloscope announced that it’s picked up the documentary Franco showcased last spring at South by Southwest about  “Saturday Night Live.”  Oscilloscope is Adam Yauch‘s great little film company that currently has “A Film Unfinished” in theaters. In a couple of weeks they’re released “Howl” with Franco playing Alan Ginsberg. Of the doc, Franco says: “It’s pretty cool. I shot it last spring.”

Between “Howl” and “127 Hours” and several short films, and now this, Franco’s going to get some kind of award this winter. They may have to make one up for him.

Oh right: I forgot about his long, inexplicable stint on “General Hospital.” And the trenchant New York magazine piece that ran on him this summer. James Franco is living the movie “Phenomenon.”

I asked him today what else is coming? An opera? Has he learned to make haggis? Will he start an international think tank?

His emailed answer: “All those things are coming.”

Look out. He means it.

Madonna’s Movie May Suffer from “King’s Speech” Comparison

Roger Friedman
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2
Madonna’s Movie May Suffer from “King’s Speech” Comparison

There’s room in history for lots of different interpretations. But there’s rarely room in Hollywood for two movies on the same topic at the same time.

Madonna is still shooting a feature film for which she reportedly put up big bucks of her own. “W.E.” centers around the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Winsdor, juxtaposed with a modern American couple. The wife in the modern couple is named Wally, and she’s obsessed with Wallis Simpson. Call it “Wally and Wallis” after “Julie and Julia.”

Now, however, we have Tom Hooper‘s “The King’s Speech,” which is largely concerned with the abdication from the throne of King Edward–the Duke of Windsor–and his relationship with Mrs. Simpson.

Unlike the gauzy romantic view of the Duke and Duchess in “W.E.,” the couple don’t fare so well in “The King’s Speech.” That’s because the latter film sticks to history. The couple were Nazi sympathizers, and not too bright. Edward was only interested in Mrs. Simpson, not in the British public. In “The King’s Speech” he is being led around by the nose by Mrs. Simpson, who is described as promiscuous. “She shares her favors with others,” is how it’s delicately worded. Theirs is not a great romance, but a big mess.

One of the best moments in “The King’s Speech,” is when Prince Albert–soon to be King George VI–and the soon to be Queen Mum attend a wild party thrown by Edward and Mrs. Simpson at Buckingham Palace. Albert (Colin Firth) asks Edward (Guy Pearce) what he’s been doing on the throne. Edward thinks about it. “King-ing.” he replies vacantly.

Lucky for Madonna, “The King’s Speech” will be just about done with its run next spring before “W.E.” is ready to be seen.

It’s Colin Firth’s Turn for the Oscar as “King’s Speech” Triumphs

Roger Friedman
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6
It’s Colin Firth’s Turn for the Oscar as “King’s Speech” Triumphs

I wish I could be in Toronto on Friday night when “The King’s Speech” is met with thunderous applause and standing ovations. (I don’t arrive until late Friday night.)

Tom Hooper‘s movie about King George VI, father of the current Queen of England, and his speech therapist, is going to rock the festival, just as it has Telluride It’s one of those Best Picture nominees that is just perfect in every way. Stars Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush–not to mention Timothy Spall, Jennifer Ehle, and Guy Pearce–just take your breath away individually and as an ensemble.

Hooper is well known for his Emmy award winning work directing mini series for HBO. He was behind “John Adams” and “Elizabeth I” with Helen Mirren. Last year Hooper made his first feature, “The Damned United.” It was a good film but it didn’t foreshadow at all what Hooper had in mind. “The King’s Speech” is a fascinating hybrid of old fashioned film making done on the cutting edge. And the nice part is, you won’t have to see it three times to figure out what happened.

The story is simple: King George (Michael Gambon)– that’s Elizabeth’s grandfather–is dying. He will be succeeded by his son, Edward (known in the family as David.) But Edward is in love with an American divorcee, Mrs. Wallis Simpson. When the king dies, Edward takes the crown. But in short time he abdicates to be with her. Next in line is Edward’s brother, “Bertie,” Elizabeth’s father. Bertie is married to another Elizabeth, whom we came to know as the Queen Mother.

Helena Bonham Carter has made so many movies with Tim Burton that you kind of forget how good she is not being crazy, evil, or possessed. She is sublime as the Queen Mum, almost a revelation. She is there to support and guide her husband, who stammers ferociously and has deep seated fears about communicating with his public. That’s where Geoffrey Rush comes in, as the real life speech therapist Lionel Logue. The scenes with three of these actors in them–Firth, Rush, and Bonham-Carter–are the actors’ scenes to beat in this awards season.

So it’s a relief to report on “The King’s Speech.” There’s none of that usual last minute gasping and wondering that has accompanied  Oscar level films in the last few years. It’s the first week of September, and there’s some great to look forward to for holiday release. For the Weinstein Company, “The King’s Speech” is the much needed hit–commercially and artistically– to lift them back into the winners’ circle.

And for Colin Firth, who came close last season with “A Single Man,” it looks like 2010 is really his year.

Is Oprah As Big as the Beatles Now? Kennedy Center Will Honor McCartney, Winfrey

Roger Friedman
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Is Oprah As Big as the Beatles Now? Kennedy Center Will Honor McCartney, Winfrey

Is Oprah as big as the Beatles? The Kennedy Center seems to think so. They’ve just announced their awards for this December, and the two big names are Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah, of course, gets this as part of her year long winner’s lap. Her show ends its run in May.

McCartney’s award is a long time coming. None of the Beatles are in the Kennedy Center. Obviously, John Lennon and George Harrison, sadly cannot be inducted. McCartney’s award represents his work and the work of the group, frankly. And this is his year for big honors. He was at the White House last spring to pick up the Gershwin Prize.

The other awardees this year are country legend Merle Haggard, choreographer Bill T. Jones, and, at long last, “Hello Dolly!” Broadway composer Jerry Herman.

Ironically, it was Herman’s hit song, “Hello Dolly!”–as recorded by Louis Armstrong–that fought the Beatles for the number 1 spot on the charts in 1964.  It would be very funny if producer George Stevens, Jr. got McCartney to sing “Hello Dolly!” at the show.

The Kennedy Center opted for no Hollywood names this year. Among some that were bandied about were Meryl Streep and George Lucas. Michael Douglas might have been a cool choice considering his illness, and that he’s having a banner year with “Wall Street 2” and “Solitary Man.”

In music, some fans were hopeful of an award for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the legendary songwriting team. This is their 60 th anniversary. But there’s always next year.

Project Runway Host Tim Gunn Says His Father and J. Edgar Hoover May Have Been Lovers

Roger Friedman
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6
Project Runway Host Tim Gunn Says His Father and J. Edgar Hoover May Have Been Lovers

Yeah, I can’t believe it either.

But in a book published today by Project Runaway host Tim Gunn, the fashion expert says he thinks his father and J. Edgar Hoover were lovers.

Yup, that’s right. The book is called “Tim Gunn‘s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making it Work for You.”

Gunn writes that his father was a special FBI agent based in Washington. He was Hoover’s ghost writers of all his speeches and books.

“I have no proof and I’m going to say right now, my mother would deny it up and down, and so too would many biographers of Hoover. I’m likely just totally wrong about this. But…The men were incredibly repressed. So even if they were sleeping together you can bet they never would have admitted it, even to themselves. He would have really beaten it back. He certainly wanted to knock it out of me, literally.”

Gunn calls his father possibly a “big closet case” and notes that most of his FBI colleagues committed suicide. His father was the only one of his group who died a natural death. The wives, Gunn says, were “barely functioning alcoholics.”

I’ve never watched “Project Runway.” I know it’s popular. I don’t even really know who Tim Gunn is, or what he does. But god bless. This should get more people to tune in.

Elton John Petitions Rock Hall for Leon Russell Induction

Roger Friedman
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Elton John Petitions Rock Hall for Leon Russell Induction

You may wonder, what happened to our “friends” at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

They’re meeting on September 13th to have the annual fight over who will get onto the ballot and who won’t. As usual, it will be a slugfest between Jann Wenner‘s minions and the few independent voices left on the nominating committee.

I’m told that Leon Russell‘s chances have gotten a lot better since Elton John made an album with him and went on tour together. Elton has petitioned everyone on the nominating committee for Russell. His induction is long overdue. Russell is not only a seminal influence as a rocker, but he wrote some of the best pop songs ever including “A Song for You” and “This Masquerade.”

But that leaves a lot of question marks. Sting is eligible this year as a solo artist. He’s had had too many hits and influenced so much of the music business that he’s the only cinch.

From there things look bleak. Wenner and company have made a point of skipping over some key people from the late 70s to the mid 80s. Cyndi Lauper should be in. The Cars have been overlooked. Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, as well.

Then there’s the holdovers from the 70s. Wenner bears everyone a grudge for something, so this group is hard to navigate. Chicago, Hall & Oates, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, The Moody Blues and Todd Rundgren are on that list.

Going backwards, there are a whole roster of important musicians and stars, many of whom are now gone including Billy Preston and Mary Wells.  Dionne Warwick, Chuck Wills, Chubby Checker. and so on. And let’s not forget Neil Diamond and Neil Sedaka.

Or, of course, the nominating committee can choose from a list of one hit wonders who first released albums in 1985. We love ’em but still: Fine Young Cannibals, til Tuesday, and Simply Red. If they’re not available, Pet Shop Boys are ready and waiting from last year.

And PS Isn’t it time for producers to be honored? Phil Ramone, Richard Perry, Richard Gottherer, Russ Titelman, Lenny Waronker, Tommy LiPuma, and posthumously Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd are just a few that come to mind.

Michael Jackson’s New Album: So Close And Yet, So Far Away

Roger Friedman
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54
Michael Jackson’s New Album: So Close And Yet, So Far Away

An album of Michael Jackson‘s unreleased music is still for a November release from Sony.

But really, among the insiders, no one knows what’s going to be on it. Or if it will be ready in time. The word is that Sony/Columbia Records chief Rob Stringer recently made a trip west to see what the heck is going on. It’s unclear what he found.

In the Jackson world, things are vaguer than ever on this subject.

My sources say there are different camps working on different tracks, and that at some point someone is going to have to make some decisions. One thing is for certain: no one is talking to Jackson’s long time engineer, Bruce Swedien, the man who actually knows what music is available from all his different sessions.

So producer Rodney Jerkins is working on a few tracks, I am told. Some of them may be from that group of songs Michael recorded with Eddie Cascio in his New Jersey home studio three summers ago.

On the other side, John McClain — Jackson’s co-executor and long time family friend– is said to be working on some songs with Michael’s brother Jackie Jackson. Jackie was recently put on the estate’s payroll as a family liaison. He’s said to be the “most reasonable” of the Jackson brothers, and the one with whom everyone gets along. Akon is also said to be working on one or two tracks.

But McClain is another issue. It was under his aegis that the unearthed song, “This Is It,” was produced and released as part of the movie and soundtrack of the same name. But the song wasn’t a hit. One listen to Paul Anka‘s version of it, live, and you see what could have been. Anka has another unreleased track in the Jackson archives.

But the clock is ticking: two months from a release date, and there’s no concept, title, artwork or marketing plan.

John Travolta Drops Extortion Case in Bahamas, But Has Other Problems

Roger Friedman
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6
John Travolta Drops Extortion Case in Bahamas, But Has Other Problems

John Travolta has dropped the extortion case in the Bahamas against two people he claimed were shaking him down for money for info about his late son Jett.

The original case ended essentially in a mistrial. Travolta would have had to return to the Bahamas and testify again about the two men who wanted $25 million from him. Otherwise, Travolta claimed, they were going to expose details and photographs about the last minutes of Jett’s life.

Now Travolta says he can’t put himself and his family (Kelly, little Ella Blue) through all of that again. So the men go free. End of story.

Meantime, the National Enquirer has Travolta on the front page with some wild claims and a terrible, terrible photograph. Coincidentally, the three main stories on this week’s Enquirer cover are all about famous Scientologists. The other two are Kirstie Alley, who had a reality show on A&E earlier this year; and Lisa Marie Presley.

But Travolta remains front and center this week, especially since it’s a surprise he decided not to go through and conclude the case for Jett. But perhaps he was afraid of what would come out this time. Last time around, Travolta was forced to admit — after 16 years of public denials–that Jett was autistic. It was revealed in a police report that Travolta fessed up to the Bahamian police about Jett’s true condition. For Jett’s whole life, the Travoltas maintained publicly that Jett suffered from something called Kawasaki Syndrome. It wasn’t true.

At the time of Jett’s death it was also revealed that his “manny” was a Tampa based wedding photographer named Jeff Kathrein. Six months earlier, Kathrein, a Scientologist, had taken a course called “NED Drug Rundown,” according the watchdog website www.truthaboutscientology.com. Kathrein’s wedding photos are good (www.kandkweddings.com) but it’s unclear what experience he had to be the caretaker of an autistic teenager who suffered from severe seizures. Kathrein did get a big break a couple of years ago when a photo portrait by him–of Kelly Preston–appeared in TV Guide.

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