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If you’ve been wondering why the posts have been fewer than usual this week. I’ve been dealing with a sad situation. Today, at 3:15pm, I had to put down my beautiful Calico cat, Bianca. She was 16, and her interests were divided between walking across the very keyboard upon which I am now typing, testing various flavors of expensive, designer cat food, and sleeping in the warm sunlight that comes through my living room windows.
Bianca was a rescue cat I found at PetCo in Union Square in late September1997. The people at PetCo called her Mother Theresa, because she took care of the other cats. She came with a little report card that said she was one year old. Later, the vet said she was probably three and had had at least one litter. We never learned anything about her biological family, but she never seemed interested in finding them.
And why would she? Here Bianca had a pretty good life. She was named for beautiful Bianca Jagger because, upon joining this household, she sat and listened to the Stones‘ “Bridges to Babylon” album. She didn’t care for it, and I do recall discussing the whole kd lang business with her. She preferred the “Some Girls” era.
In her younger days she clawed her way through some of the best cashmere and nicest made suits money could buy. She often ate from the Jefferson Market and Citarella. She had her own assistants for years, Wanda, and then Jamie, who came and fed her when no one was home. In more recent months she boarded at the vet, which she treated like a spa hotel. On the bills you could see the room service charges.
Bianca had no immediate survivors, but she was preceded in death by Tina, an extraordinary gray tabby who also lived to 16 and died in January 2002. Services are private, because I don’t want to get caught spreading her ashes in our local garden.
Matthew Vaughn‘s “X Men: First Class” is picking up another cast member. Benjamin Walker, star of the Public Theater’s “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” is the name to remember. He’s going to play Beast, the character played in “X Men 3” by Kelsey Grammer. He’ll be joining the already cast James McAvoy and possibly Michael Fassbender.
Walker, like Grammer a Juilliard grad, is the hottest newcomer in New York theater this season. Until now, Andrew Jackson alsways was in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln. Walker made him hot.
Walker is so hot that the “X Men” role is turning out be an actual, uh, Beast. He still has a few more performances left at the Public. Then the not for profit theater is making plans to transfer to Broadway this fall. But Walker won’t be done with “X Men” until the end of the year. The question is, Will the Public wait for him? The answer is, Most likely, since Walker makes Andrew Jackson. Changing actors would do the play and the audience a disservice.
What a dilemma! Seen from the Public’s side, they’re ready to go and have the rest of the cast in place. It is hoped that this situation will not a Civil War.
It may be a mission impossible, or just some risky business: James Mangold‘s “Knight and Day” with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz gets a 500 theater sneak preview this Saturday.
Fox is testing the waters to see what kind of reception “Knight and Day” will get when it opens next Wednesday, June 23rd. The sneak will also help gauge how to handle Cruise and Diaz’s media appearances. Cruise — thanks to his famous scuffle with Matt Lauer–doesn’t do “The Today Show.” As usual, he will be involved in massive promo push at ABC, with a multi-parter on “GMA” and a turn on “Live with Regis and Kelly” on Wednesday.
Doing “sneaks” cuts both ways. It can mean a film is in trouble. It can also mean that the studio is trying to show it’s got a hit on its hands and wants to build word of mouth.
Most of the time, sneaked films need the most help and are problematic. Fox Searchlight did sneaks with Drew Barrymore‘s “Whip It.” More recent examples include “The Island” with Ewan MacGregor and Renee Zellweger, and New Line’s “The Golden Compass.” They all wound up being box office failures.
On the other hand, Disney/Touchstone did a sneak on Sandra Bullock‘s “The Proposal.” It didn’t even have such a great sneak night. but it was enough: the movie went on to be a smashing success.
More will be known tonight when “Knight and Day” has its media screenings in New York and Los Angeles.
The audience was old, white, and balding. Sometimes they seemed like the people you see on those dreadful T.J. Lubinsky specials on PBS from Pittsburgh. But in the end, even though Carole King and James Taylor brought the geezers to Madison Square Garden, their Troubador reunion was undeniably lovely.
What set it apart from a nostalgia show? The songs and the musicianship. The show reprises the original musicians from their early recordings–Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, and Leland Sklar. Missing is bassist Charles Larkey, King’s second ex husband. And where the heck is Merry Clayton, the great soul singer who gave King’s albums their extra edge?
Also compelling: the fact that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Katie Couric, Geraldo Rivera and songwriter Marc Shaiman were all sitting in $1,000 premium seats that ringed the circular revolving stage in the middle of the Garden. The set was a knockout, less Westbury Music Fair than boxing match. Indeed, the Garden used its boxing/wrestling configuration. Who won the match? It was a draw.
The show mostly followed the November 2007 shows I saw at the Troubador in West Hollywood. Those six shows were to commemorate the tiny club’s anniversary and also the 1971 shows put on by Taylor and King. It was a heady time in L.A. pop as they recorded James’s “Mud Slide Slim” album and Carole’s “Tapestry.” They played and sang on each other’s records. Taylor had a breakout with King’s “You’ve Got A Friend.” Musicians went back and forth between the projects.
After the 2007 shows there was silence. King was said to be very difficult (not news) about allowing a DVD to be released, let alone a CD. Taylor’s longtime manager/producer, the great Peter Asher, was patient though. The result is a hit CD/DVD package this spring on Concord. And this long hoped for tour.
King is 68 and buoyant on stage. Still wedded to her piano, she also jumps around on stiletto heels. She’s all Brooklyn, New York, with a voice that launches nasal but lands as bluesy. It never fails. Taylor is more stolid, hesitant, and folksy. His voice reminds you of a clear, cool river. You’d never think they had anything in common. And yet, they (together with Carly Simon) are connected for life. And at $350 a pop for regular tickets, it must seem like a good idea.
The songs are so solid there’s nothing you can do to knock them down. All of “Tapestry,” part of the followup album, “Music,” and scattered hits like “Up on the Roof” and “Sweet Seasons” make up King’s set. All she’s really missing is “The LocoMotion.” She trots ou rEverly Brothers hit, “Crying in the Rain.” (I actually like Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe‘s version better.) Taylor has all of “Sweet Baby James,” and many more like “Mexico” and “Copperline.”
My favorite moment? The combination of “Song of Long Ago” and “Long Ago and Far Away,” the songs that link Taylor and King historically from those sessions. This was not part of the 2007 shows. They also did duets on “You’ve Got A Friend,” “Up on the Roof,” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.” They should add “High Out of Time,” a later King song that Taylor recorded on. But as James said in the show last night, the original set they thought up would have lasted six hours. You gotta stop somewhere.
Meanwhile, boy, Katie Couric and Sarah Jessica really had a long, intense conversation during the intermission. Many world problems may be solved today as a result. SJP and MB also took pictures of the performers while they were on stage.
PS If you want to hear even better versions of “You’ve Got A Friend,” look for two duets on ITunes or Amazon: one by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, and another by Al Green and Billy Preston.
To try and ensure that “Knight and Day,” his $100 million movie with Cameron Diaz, gets a decent launch, Fox is not having a US premiere. That’s right–no big gala in New York or Los Angeles. And aside from long-lead magazine screenings, critics may have to see the film at sneak showings this weekend.
Instead, the “Knight and Day” premiere takes place today in…Seville, Spain. Hello? Seville is not exactly either Madrid or Barcelona. Or even London. But the idea is to keep Cruise away from the American press long enough to give “Knight and Day” a successful send off in Europe. That’s because Cruise’s nutty behavior, the Scientology stuff, Oprah couch jumping, and glassy eyed Katie Holmes are not an issue in places where people don’t speak English.
“Knight and Day” has its all media screenings tomorrow night, with journalists instructed to hold off on reviews until next week when the film opens. (We’ll see how well that works.) In the meantime, those who’ve seen it have told me it’s enjoyable but not substantial. It’s basically a travelogue for two smiling Hollywood stars. (We’ll see how well that works, too.)
The Cruise machine has already revved up by using the Les Grossman character from “Tropic Thunder,” perhaps overdoing it. No one in their right mind expects there to be a feature movie about that obnoxious and off putting character. Perhaps the best Cruise got out of it was on the MTV Video Awards, dancing with Jennifer Lopez. Hopefully, someone will explain to him that more is more, and leave it at that.
As for the no-US premiere thing,a Fox source says it’s because the movie hopscotches around Europe. Fox has spent millions this week importing junket press and buy-offs like “Entertainment Tonight” to Europe to shill for them. (For the right money, “ET” and “The Insider” will do a stand up from Hell.)
And still, “Knight and Day” may do well enough. Director James Mangold is terrific; it’s unlikely he’s made a terrible movie. But just how much the public has been affected by Cruise’s antics will be reflected here to a great degree.
By the way, though they’re billed and advertised, I am told that highly talented actors Peter Sarsgaard and Viola Davis have very little to do in the film. What a shame.
In the world of supermarket tabloids, “The Star” is pretty much toward the bottom of the basket. If “The National Enquirer” –which gets one of ten stories right and is usually just lucky– is ranked number 1, where do we put “The Star”? On the cover this past was their regular fodder of Brad Pitt and Jen Aniston teaming up behind poor Angelina Jolie‘s back. It’s a hoot. (Angelina must have a good sense of humor by now!) The Star is for reading at best while having shoes shined or nails done.
But yesterday they had a scoop! Former VP Al Gore had a two year affair with Larry David’s ex wife, Laurie. There are no denials or confirmations from the parties, and no actual sources quoted. There’s no recognition of Laurie David actually being in a relationship for the last three years with another man–the man for whom she left her husband. There’s no logic to it, or journalism. Just a leap.
Over at the usually calm wowowow.com, someone named Margo Howard believes it. She says this must be the reason Al Gore has not commented on the BP oil disaster in the Gulf. Sure, Margo, why not?
I’ll tell you why not: it’s not true. Indeed, Laurie David has done more than just co-produce “An Inconvenient Truth.” She went on a road trip with Sheryl Crow. Hey, Margo, maybe they had an affair! And Laurie David has also been very involved with Robert Kennedy Jr.’s NRDC. She’s been at all of his events. Why not him?
Laurie David was so upset when she heard about The Star story that she called Arianna Huffington directly and gave her a denial. That didn’t seem to matter. Whoever launched this attack should be pleased with themselves; they did a good job. The internet let The Star be like a guy in a movie theater yelling “Fire!” They didn’t stop to ask questions, and they were too embarrassed to backtrack when they were wrong. And the media just went along with it.
Get a grip, folks. And take a better look around. There are juicier things just under your noses.
What is more popular, goofy kids who break into song or teen vampires?
If you answered “goofy kids” you’d be right. According to hitsdailydouble.com, the new “Glee” CD — with the sexy title “Journey to Regionals”– outsold the new “Twilight” soundtrack by 3,000 copies. Let’s say “Glee” eclipsed “Twilight.” With 158,000 copies to 155,000 for “Twilight, ” the TV kids hit number one on the charts.
“Glee,” turns out to be a big deal as a seller of songs, even as an EP. Yes, this album only contains six songs! “Glee” is certainly a boon for the writers and publishers of big commercial songs. The new “Glee” EP contains covers of four songs by Journey, all warhorses: “Faithfully” and “Don’t Stop Believin,” “and a medley of “Anyway You Want It” and “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’.” (That’s three tracks total.) It’s a successful packaging job for Columbia Records, the label on which “Glee” issues its CDs and for whom Journey records. Wow!
The other songs on the EP are a cover of “Over the Rainbow,” Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Lulu‘s “To Sir with Love.” They are the only non-Journey songs.
What is it about “Twilight”? The movies are such a phenom, but the CD sales never really reflect that. Maybe it’s because the music is so much more interesting than “Glee.” (Ick.) “Eclipse” contains tracks from Muse, the Black Keys, Band of Horses, Cee-Lo, Florenceand the Machine, and The Dead Weather.
In the old days, this would have been like the difference between a record from “The Andy Williams Show” vs. “Hullabaloo.” You wouldn’t want to be caught with the former. Kids, if you can watch rock and roll with your parents, something is wrong. I’m just sayin’…
Wait a second. The Star magazine, I know, is certainly the place to get the news. But their report today of Al Gore‘s so called affair with Laurie David has some, er, inconvenient truths.
Laurie David left Larry David in 2007 for Martha’s Vineyard landscaper Bart Thorpe. He was married to Julie Flanders, daughter of the number 1 real estate family on the island. It caused quite a commotion.
According to my sources, Laurie and Bart are still together and “very much in love.” Laurie is supposedly on the Vineyard now with Thorpe.
If anything, my sources say, Laurie David was telling friends back in 2007, when she and Gore were hot and heavy promoting “An Inconvenient Truth,” that she was in love with the former VP. “If they had an affair it was back then,” says a source.
Of course, anything is possible. Laurie and Thorpe do spend time apart. David’s kids go to school in Los Angeles. Thorpe’s business keeps him on the Vineyard. But at some point last year Thorpe was seen shopping for an apartment in New York where they could all live together.
“I guess Bart could have been a front for Laurie,” says a Vineyard source. “But it seems very complicated.”
For now, people who are excited about all this news might do well to Curb their Enthusiasm.
It’s bad news for anyone who’s got the idea to make an unauthorized Michael Jackson documentary. There won’t be any music in it by Jackson.
Sony Music isn’t clearing any music rights for filmmakers who think they’ve got The Next Big Thing. That includes sleaze digger Ian Halperin, former Jackson partner Marc Schaffel, and Liza Minnelli‘s ex husband, David Gest.
Halperin’s so called documentary, which he sold to the TV Guide Channel of all places (that’s where we all go for serious docs, isn’t it?), airs June 25th– the anniversary of Jackson’s death. But it will free of Michael Jackson’s music, thank you. And full of interviews with people who are on the outer circle of Jackson’s world.
Schaffel, despite a piece yesterday on The Wrap, didn’t actually make a documentary. He sold footage he’d had to a Japanese outfit. They put together a film, just for Japan, and narrated in Japanese. It will play in 200 theaters around Japan starting June 25th, again, without music.
And then there’s David Gest‘s purported film. The word is that Gest’s effort is around four hours long and is mainly interviews with old movie stars–Gest’s forte–about Jackson. Gest may have footage from his old sketchy charity fundraisers at which Jackson occasionally appeared, plus footage from his own wedding to Liza Minnelli. Michael was the best man. It’s unclear if Minnelli would have any say in that footage. But again, no music.
There’s also a fourth film, called “The Untold Story of Neverland,” by Santa Barbara filmmaker Larry Nimmer. It was shown last February at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, but it didn’t get much attention. Nimmer makes courtroom films, and was given access to Neverland during Jackson’s 2005 child molestation trial. (Someone should tell The Wrap, by the way, that the trial was in 2005, not 2004. )
Aretha Franklin stole her own show last night when the Apollo Theater gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Queen of Soul was not scheduled to sing, just come, look royal, and accept her award. She did all of that with grace and style, giving a loyal speech without Teleprompter or cue cards. She looked great, too, because she’s still losing weight.
But maybe Franklin, who’s quite savvy, changed her mind after hearing a bunch of great singers like Leslie Uggams, Estelle, and the mighty four foot eleven powerhouse Sharon Jones. That may have been enough to alert Aretha it was time to show who’s in charge. As she finished her speech, the band launched into “Rock Steady.” So did Aretha. She took the mike and started singing, and it was like manna from heaven.
The audience went wild, and emcee Jamie Foxx–hilarious throughout the show–was actually short of comments.
Franklin’s surprise prompted Marc Anthony to do the same thing. When he and Jennifer Lopez accepted the Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis Humanitarian Award, they were charming and articulate. The couple had actually gotten to the Apollo on time with manager Benny Medina and were in their seats before most of the audience. After the award presentation, the couple exited the stage but Foxx called Anthony back to the mike and prodded him into singing a bit of his hit, “I Need to Know.” Foxx jumped in and finished it. Another impromptu triumph.
I couldn’t help feeling bad for JLO, though. She was the only professional singer in the room who didn’t go near a mike or attempt even to hum. Subsequently, after they received their award, the Anthonys split and didn’t bother attending the gala in massive tent behind the Apollo. Franklin, however, settled into a spot in the center of the room, and chatted away with lots of fans. Foxx and the rest of the night’s performers also mingled with the crowd. Perhaps Lopez was nervous about someone mentioning the lack of her vocalizing. Or maybe it was just that they have twins at home.
But it was a great night at the Apollo with even some surprise guests like Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden. Why was she there? “I live in the neighborhood,” she said. R&B legend Chuck Jackson was on hand, as were Al Roker, Gayle King and Reverend Al Sharpton. Both Angela Bassett and Danny Glover helped with tributes respectively to Lena Horne and to Franklin. Leslie Uggams showed why she’s a legacy star belting out Horne’s “Stormy Weather” with unexpected brilliance.
And then there was Chris Tucker, who sat in Franklin’s booth most of the night. But he was really there to accept Michael Jackson‘s posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award. He and gospel great Donnie McClurkin helped lead the audience through “Heal the World” and “Earth Song.” Tucker even threw in some modified Jacksonian dance steps.
PS The Apollo is known for its showcasing newcomers. Last night was no exception. They put on Clark King of Atlanta, a recent showcase winner. Clive Davis, are you listening? This is your guy. The video below is distorted thanks to a cheap camera. But I’m telling you, change his name to Kent and you may have the next Adult Contemporary Superman.
