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Madonna: Watch Kabbalah Members Dance to “Like a Prayer”

Roger Friedman
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Madonna: Watch Kabbalah Members Dance to “Like a Prayer”

Really, you have to see this to believe it. Members of the Kabbalah Center dancing to Madonna‘s “Like a Prayer.”The first people you see in this video, which I stumbled on, on You Tube: Karen Berg leading elderly Philip Berg, who’s said to have been hit by several strokes, into his birthday party last year. There’s no sign of Muki Oppenheimer, Karen’s best pal. You couldn’t make this up. I guess these people needed something to atone for come Yom Kippur.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55_BcJaPtr0

Richard Belzer Expands Brand; Eddie Izzard is a Winner

Roger Friedman
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Richard Belzer Expands Brand; Eddie Izzard is a Winner

Richard Belzer (picture with dog below) celebrated his birthday on Thursday by having lunch with best pal Paul Shaffer at Michael’s. Shaffer drove in from upstate New York since “Late Night with David Letterman” only has a three day tape schedule during the summer.

“It could be How Munch Met Your Mother,” Belzer joked. And then, to make him feel really old, a diner came up and told Belzer he saw him open for Warren Zevon in 1979. “Thirty years ago,” Belzer sighed…

Also at Michael’s on Thursday: Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter, with his book editor, Alice Mayhew...movie producer Meryl Poster…and media man Gerry Byrne...plus Peggy Siegal showing pictures of her summer aboard various yachts in Europe…

Eddie Izzard (pictured) celebrated his Emmy nominations last week at Oceana restaurant on West 49th St. “Believe: the Eddie Izzard Story”– directed by Sarah Townsend— tells the comic actor/performer’s life’s tale, and it’s a good one.

I think Eddie–who is a superstar in the UK and has a strong following in the US–could be a character on “The Office.” In real life, he’s a “straight transvestite”– he likes put on a dress occasionally. At lunch, put on by Epix, he wore a blue blazer, white shirt with cufflinks, and nice trousers, however…

John Lennon’s Recording Engineer Has Heart But Needs One

Roger Friedman
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John Lennon’s Recording Engineer Has Heart But Needs One

John Lennon‘s legendary music engineer Dennis Ferrante needs a new heart. So his friends and fans gathered at the Highline Ballroom for a show to raise money to help defray his costs. This is where the inner circle of the New York music scene really is like a small town community.

Dennis–a Grammy winner for his work on a Duke Ellington box set– was the engineer on all of Lennon’s solo hit albums from “Imagine” to “Walls and Bridges” and “Mind Games.” He engineered Elvis Presley from 1970 to 1977, and has worked with Joe Jackson, the Temptations, Labelle, Judy Collins’ crowning achievement on “Send in the Clowns,” The Who, Harry Nilsson, and Linda Ronstadt‘s seminal “Heart Like a Wheel” album with “You’re No Good.”

That’s just a bit of his resume!

On stage: three-fourths of the Fab Faux–Will Lee, Rich Pagano, Frank Agnello— plus LaLa Brooks, Lou Christie-who sang “Lightning Strikes,” Denny Laine of the Moody Blues and Wings did “Go Now” like it was yesterday, my pal Vaneese Thomas was amazing on “Come Sunday,” and there were great offerings from Gordon Chambers, Richard Barone, Janice Pendarvis, Nicola Sica, and an all star band composed of cool musicians. Bill McCuddy emceed.

Off stage: May Pang, Steve Walter (getting ready to announce a new Cutting Room), Ray Chew Claudia Koal, Michael Cartellone.

Jimmy MacElligot played with Dennis on “Mustang Sally.” There was also a film clip from… John Lennon! Why? Because Dennis was close to John even did some uncredited background singing on Lennon’s solo work. Everyone loves Dennis Ferrante.

If you want to make a donation, send it to Play 4 Life Inc., POB 2518, NYC, NY 10108. Or email me here under comments and I’ll forward the info.

Rosie Goes Into Business with Oprah, Clears Way for Katie Couric Talk Show

Roger Friedman
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Rosie Goes Into Business with Oprah, Clears Way for Katie Couric Talk Show

Rosie O’Donnell is going to put her new afternoon talk show on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network.

This column first reported the return of O’Donnell to afternoon on March 19, 2010. But it was unclear whether she’d try syndication again.

http://showbiz411.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/rosie-odonnell-back-to-daytime-tv/

Instead, O’Donnell has signed on with OWN, making her the jewel in Oprah’s crown. It’s a coup for Oprah and a coup for Rosie. On OWN Rosie will be able to do what she likes. She won’t have to worry about networks or local channels.

For OWN, a network that doesn’t exist yet, this is the equivalent of Howard Stern leaving terrestrial radio for Sirius. It will put them on the map. Oprah plus Rosie equals a hit.

Meanwhile, Katie Couric has to look at this news and wonder why she’s not planning for her own fall 2011 start in syndication. With Rosie opting out of competition and Oprah off the air, only Ellen DeGeneres is the queen of daytime talk on broadcast channels. Couric — whose CBS News contract ends in May–could make a fortune and have a much better life style should she choose to go this route.

With Rosie’s decision, the whole playing field changes.

Mad Men: New Episode Titles Suggest a Fast 1965

Roger Friedman
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Mad Men: New Episode Titles Suggest a Fast 1965

“Mad Men” already flipped through most of 1964. At the end of episode 3 this Sunday, it’s New Year’s Eve 1965.

Now new episode titles worry me. How fast will we go through ’65? Episode 8, of 13, airing on September 12th, is called “The Summer Man.”

But before that, new additions to the “Mad Men” collection include: “The Suitcase,” “The Beautiful Girls,” and “Hands and Knees.” That takes us through Episode 10, with three left still not shot or titled for public consumption.

Meantime, as I reported yesterday, creator Matt Weiner makes his first reference to “Bewitched” this weekend. If you don’t know “Bewitched,” the whole witch business with Samantha and Endorra was not the main story. The real business at hand was the McMahon-Tate Advertising agency, the saga of Darrin Stephens trying to please his clients and his boss, Larry Tate. This all took place in real time back in 1964-70. Larry was often parodied on “thirtysomething.” But on “Mad Men,” the characters are presumably watching the show, and it’s about them. Meta, meta.

Even Hugh Laurie’s Dr. House Can’t Save Warner Music

Roger Friedman
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Even Hugh Laurie’s Dr. House Can’t Save Warner Music

Did you miss the quarterly report from Edgar Bronfman‘s Warner Music this morning? Surprise! They lost a lot of money, had few hits or releases, and made a lot of weird pronouncements.

The excuse for a drop in millions for revenue? “A light release schedule.” Uh huh. But Warner Music did recently announce that Hugh Laurie, the British actor who stars in TV’s “House,” is recording a New Orleans blues album for them. Laurie will follow in the great tradition of other TV stars of the past like William Shatner and David Soul in making important and lasting music.

Bronfman has only reason to be excited about the 4th quarter, which he’s now in: Linkin Park. Their new release will be WMG’s sole hit. Also coming: a dreaded Motown album from Phil Collins, and a new release from Eric Clapton. Otherwise, WMG continues to dine out on Zac Brown, an artist no one east of the Mississippi has ever heard of, and Avenged Sevenfold, which is number 1 this week in its debut but will disappear quickly before Labor Day.

Bronfman made his usual gobbledy-gook comments during the conference call’s interview with analysts. He still can’t say what people at Warner Records do all day. But are there any people left? According to Warner’s SEC filing today:

“The current-quarter operating loss included $9 million of severance charges ($7 million in Recorded Music and $2 million in Corporate) compared to $3 million of severance charges in the prior-year quarter ($2 million in Recorded Music and $1 million in Corporate) (the “Severance Charges”). “

American Idol’s Lythgoe: “Paula is the Glue” — from March 8, 2010

Roger Friedman
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American Idol’s Lythgoe: “Paula is the Glue” — from March 8, 2010

On Monday night, March 8th, I ran into former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe at Soho House in Beverly Hills.

I asked Lythgoe about the “American Idol” hosts. He told me that he still thought Sir Elton John was the best choice to replace Simon Cowell.

“He’s absolutely it,” said Lythgoe, who also said he though Ellen DeGeneres was still warming up and has yet to show her full potential. He obviously sensed then that she wasn’t a keeper.

And he missed Paula Abdul. “She was the glue that held it together, wasn’t she?” he said wistfully.

Lythgoe wanted Abdul back then, and he wants her back now. It’s sort of instructive to think that Lythgoe has regained control of the show and that this is his agenda. What exactly that means for rumors about Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler is unclear.

http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/03/11/20100311american-idol-producer-elton-still-best-simon-replacement

The Rascals Will Reunite for Tour: It’s A Beautiful Morning

Roger Friedman
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The Rascals Will Reunite for Tour: It’s A Beautiful Morning

The Rascals –one of the greatest rock vocal groups of all time– are getting ready to reunite for a massive tour next year, I am told.

The famous group has not been together since the beginning of the 1970s. What happened? Lots of ego trouble, and infighting. But this past April, Little Steven van Zandt brought the foursome together for a rare appearance at New York’s Tribeca Grill.

The occasion was to raise money for the Kristen Ann Carr Foundation, which is run in memory of the late daughter of rock writer Dave Marsh and his wife, Bruce Springsteen’s co-manager Barbara Carr.

Since then, the Rascals turned up at a Grammy screening of Joe Mardin‘s movie about his late legendary producer father Arif Mardin–who made all those glorious Rascals records. The Rascals, I’m told, have signed a management contract with van Zandt are finally ready to make some music.

The Rascals are Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Dino Danelli, and Gene Cornish. Their dates of operation were 1965-1972, although their biggest hits came in 1967 and 1968. Among them: “Good Lovin’,” “It’s a Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure.” “People Gotta Be Free,” “Groovin’,” and “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore.”

The New York born and based group was one of the main acts on Atlantic Records during its heyday. Their records were produced by Mardin, Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, and Ahmet Ertegun. The records were so good that the Rascals’ greatest hits, called “Time Peace,” was one of the best selling LPs of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vLX4wKPBuY

Don Hill’s Famous NYC Rock Club Getting Glammed Up

Roger Friedman
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0
Don Hill’s Famous NYC Rock Club Getting Glammed Up

I first reported exclusively that Don Hill‘s famous New York City rock club was going to be glamorized back on…April 19th.

Others followed without credit.

Well now I am told the deal is done. Nur Khan, of Kenmare Restaurant, and formerly the Jane Hotel, not to mention a long list of beloved New York hotspots, is taking over.

The new Don Hill’s will still retain its funkiness. But Khan has big plans to turn it into a real hot spot. Currently New York is a nighttime desert.

Anyway, here’s the old story from April. And more to come…

http://tinyurl.com/35t6z9z

Wyclef Jean: Haiti Prez Candidate Still Has An Album to Release

Roger Friedman
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Wyclef Jean: Haiti Prez Candidate Still Has An Album to Release

Wyclef Jean is going to announce his candidacy for president of Haiti tomorrow night (Thursday) on “Larry King Live.” It’s not a well kept secret.

At the same time, Jean has an album ready to go for Sony/Columbia called “The Haiti Experience.” He’s been working on it for a while. It’s his last album on his Sony contract.

So the question is, is Wyclef willing to suspend his music career for 5- 10 years to rescue Haiti? “The Haiti Experience” may be his last CD for a long, long time.

It’s so interesting how this story is developing. Who knew that Wyclef Jean never applied for a U.S. passport? All this time he’s retained his Haitian citizenship. He’s traveled the world on a Haiti passport.

But this is clearly what Wyclef was meant to do. Fighting with Lauryn Hill over the Fugees for the rest of the his life would have been a waste of time. It’s been clear to anyone who’s listened to Clef speak on politics, or freestyle rap, that he was destined for big things. His lyrics were never about greed and self love, and ho’s. He was always trying to figure out his role in the world, and in relation to Haiti.

By the way, despite efforts to knock him down with hyperbole and tabloid reporting, Wyclef is in good shape. All the accounting troubles at his charity have been resolved. His dealings with the IRS are quite amicable as well.

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