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Big ‘Basterds’ Boxoffice Beats ‘Pulp Fiction’

Roger Friedman
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Quentin Tarantino has a new all-time boxoffice hit. “Inglourious Basterds” passed “Pulp Fiction” this weekend with over $109 million in U.S. tickets sold. “Basterds” has also made $83 mil in its overseas release so far. It’s also the first $100 million movie for the Weinstein Co. The movie, which features Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, and Christoph Waltz in a a talked-about Oscar-certain performance, has legs! It could finish its theater run with $300 million worldwide. Wunderbar!

… Jennifer Hudson, hot off her VH-1 Divas duet with Stevie Wonder, goes into the studio this week to record with Rod Stewart for his new album. They’re remaking the Jerry Butler–Betty Everett hit “Let It Be Me,” sources say. Looks like Rod’s theme may be R&B hits … Hudson would be wise to put all these duets and special performances on one CD. She wowed MusiCares earlier this year with Neil Diamond’s “Holly Holy,” and then commanded Michael Jackson’s memorial service at the Staples Center with “Will You Be There.”

CBS’ “Guiding Light” is now gone after 72 years. The last show was on Friday. The cast did its best, but Procter & Gamble gave them a cheap send-off. There weren’t even any clips from the past! Oh well, P&G has whittled itself down from more than a half-dozen soaps to just one. I’d love to read their corporate strategy report about how to get out of the business. Anyway, P&G now sets its sights on “As the World Turns.” And then there will be none.

Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, Strikes Gold at Radio City

Roger Friedman
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Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, Strikes Gold at Radio City

You know it’s a good night when Aretha Franklin not only sells out Radio City Music Hall but hires an 11-piece horn section to augment her own splendid orchestra.

And so the Queen of Soul stormed the stage at New York’s premier concert hall on Friday night, awash in black crepe, a shortish haircut, and a voice that was ready to be let loose on the world. It was the second of two nights at Radio City, but Aretha made it seem fresh and new.

Her 90-minute show covered lots of hits, from “Respect” to “Baby I Love You,” “Daydreamin’” and “Angel.” They were the full versions, too, no medleys or sing-a-longs. Beautiful. Franklin stopped the show with “Don’t Play That Song for Me” (recently revived by Sam Moore), which was co-written by the late Ahmet Ertegun. On her own “Call Me,” she swooped and trilled like it was 40 years ago.

There were also the big ballads, like the moving “One Night With the King.” And she’s added the key song from the musical “Sunset Boulevard,” “It’s as if We Never Said Goodbye.” Great choice. She even introduced a “celebrity” in the audience — the man who drove her tour bus more than 30 years ago. Aretha reminisced off the cuff about keeping the man awake so he wouldn’t fall asleep at the wheel on long overnight drives.

Franklin made just one mini intermission, doing a quick change, allowing H.B. Barnum’s orchestra — featuring Franklin’s son Teddy Richards – to let loose on a jammin’ jazz version of Stevie Wonder’s classic “Another Star.”

No, it wasn’t a night for “Until You Come Back to Me” or “Nessum Dorma.” But it was a chance to go to church as Aretha took over the piano to play gospel improvisations and lead the band through parts of her “Amazing Grace” album. This is the Aretha we love the best, where genius just oozes into the keys and her whole Memphis/Detroit background comes pouring out. There’s nothing and no one else like it. Amen. She’s 67 and she just keeps getting better!

Now it’s time for a new Aretha album. Clive Davis, are you listening? It’s time to catch lightning in a bottle.

Emmy Awards: It’s All Good … or Is It?

Roger Friedman
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The Emmy Awards, watched safely from home, were a part of a night of ironies.

“Mad Men” won best drama, but it was more important to actually watch “Mad Men” during the Emmy Awards’ final hour. Jon Hamm, who should be winning best actor every year, is losing to Bryan Cranston, from a show called “Breaking Bad” that is no “Mad Men.” Ironically, “Breaking Bad,” like “Man Men,” is on AMC. AMC? Unless I mark it on my remote as a favorite channel, I can’t even find it. At AMC, they must be laughing. And popping as many champagne corks as the guys at Sterling Cooper.

It was also the return on HBO of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” It occupied the 10-10:30 slot, during “Mad Men” and the Emmys. It was like TV gridlock. You had to DVR “Mad Men,” watch “Curb” and the last half hour of the Emmys, and then immediately play “Man Men” back or watch its AMC repeat. Hard work!

The Emmy’s are probably better with Neil Patrick Harris as host, but really, they’re the same as ever. “Mad Men” did win, and AMC even managed to congratulate Matthew Weiner on his writing award while the show was playing on their channel. Fast! “30 Rock” won best comedy, although it’s unclear why at this point. It’s still funny, but it’s no “Office.” I feel for “The Office” people and Steve Carell. They have the best show. It’s sublime.

Over at HBO, a few bets were lost on “Grey Gardens.” The retelling of the Beale sisters’ story won best made-for-TV movie, but Jessica Lange beat co-star Drew Barrymore. The Emmy voters must have a sixth sense. I hereby bestow upon them new confidence and admiration. HBO still rakes in the Emmys. And after taking a look last night at Jason Schwartzman in “Bored to Death,” I can see that next year HBO will bring a bunch of new nominees to the table.

On the other hand, their ace in the hole, Jeremy Piven, looks like he’s toast, awards-wise. He actually lost best supporting actor to Jon Cryer, for “Two and a Half Men.” Last winter he lost the Golden Globe, too, after being their darling. The mercury poisoning thing has really damaged him. Jon Cryer? I cannot even watch Conchata Ferrell debase herself on that thing. Rent a movie called “Heartland,” 1980, to see her real work.

Meanwhile, “Curb” vs. “Mad Men” was a draw. The return of “Curb” featured the genius work of Catherine O’Hara, and a dizzying volley of language and semantics. It was absolutely hilarious. Larry David still has the black family living with him, but it does look like the plot line is get back together with Cheryl. Susie Essman and Jeff Garlin remain the unsung heroes of this show.

On “Mad Men,” the show got a little slapsticky. However: The man Don met a couple of weeks ago revealed himself as Conrad Hilton. This would have been Paris’ great grandfather, once married to Zsa Zsa Gabor. He would have been 75 years old when he met Don Draper. In real life, Hilton lived until he was 91, and died in 1979.

Betty Draper remains a scary figure and possibly the worst mother in the history of television. “I’m bored,” little Bobby tells her. She replies: “Go bang your head on the wall.” Why not just get out the hangers now? And little Betsy? She’s either on her way to juvie, or to being Kathy Boudin.Either way, it’s not gonna be pretty. I’m just sayin’…

John Edwards’ Confession: Not So Fast

Roger Friedman
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The report in yesterday’s New York Times that former senator John Edwards is about to claim his illegitimate baby daughter? It’s not happening so fast.

So says a source who tells me: “All that story is is regurgitation of old misinformation combined with false light and repackaged with bits of Andrew Young’s book, probably leaked by his agent to heighten interest.”

Indeed, it’s been several months since Young, an Edwards aide who helped cover up the whole scandal of the senator, his mistress, and their baby, started shopping his book proposal. Apparently he was able to persuade the Times that Edwards was about to spill the beans, thus making the book a hotter property.

Alas, I am told that Rielle Hunter — and her now 18-month-old daughter Frances Quinn — is still living with a friend in New Jersey. She has no plans to move near the Edwardses in North Carolina. Young has still not sold his book. The entire scandal suffers from inertia, which isn’t good for tabloid headlines.

As for Elizabeth Edwards, her book, “Resilience,” is listed at number 2,400 on amazon. “Resilience” garnered a mere 88 customer reviews, not a lot, after initial interest cooled off. She just opened a home furnishings store called Red Window in Chapel Hill. The Web site isn’t finished, but it doesn’t look like they carry cribs.

Charlize Causes a ‘Burning’ Sensation

Roger Friedman
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charlize theron 218x300 Charlize Causes a Burning SensationOscar winner Charlize Theron caused some problems the other night at the premiere of her new film, “The Burning Plain.”

Theron, who’s one of the movie’s producers, didn’t win any friends when she left as the movie started to screen and never returned, not even to the party that was held for her at the Box downtown.

According to insiders, Theron did work the press line before the film. She brought her mother along, and insisted that she be included in the pictures. There was no sign of Stuart Townsend, her longtime steady beau, however.

When director Guillermo Arriaga (”Babel”) introduced the film, Theron didn’t bother to leave her seat. She just waved to the crowd instead of coming forward. When the lights went down, Theron split and eas not seen again all night. An explanation was offered that she wasn’t feeling well.

“Burning Plain,” which opens today, also features Kim Basinger, who rarely works anymore but has gotten high marks from advance audiences. But she’s done just about nothing to promote the film. Maybe both actresses knew the fairly negative review that would come from Tony Scott in today’s New York Times. But in a year when there are few possible best actress nominees, they might have been a little more cooperative.

At least they didn’t ask for money to promote the film. That’s the only positive I can think of.

From 2009: Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Stars Will Be Boycotted Saturday Night

Roger Friedman
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From 2009: Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Stars Will Be Boycotted Saturday Night

Jeffrey Katzenberg’s “The Evening Before” party is getting an organized protest on Saturday night.

Members of SAG and all other Hollywood unions are being called on to picket the party, which raises money for the Motion Picture Fund. They’re calling the protest “Evening Before the Evictions?”

The Fund has announced that it’s closing its long-term care facility at the Motion Picture Home outside Los Angeles by the end of the year. Over 70 residents– who were guaranteed to live out their lives at the hospital–would have to be relocated.

The protest–organized by Saving the Lives of Our Own –is set for 7-10 p.m. on Century Park East in Century City, across from Century Park, where the party will be held. According to a press release, the group will try to explain to guests of the “extravagant” event why they’re upset about the closing and relocation, and ask them why proceeds from the party–and its Oscar sibling, The Night Before–don’t go to saving the nursing home.

Among the co-hosts of the Evening Before are Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and Sally Field. People magazine, Sprint, and Target are sponsoring the event, where big stars typically receive huge gift bags, iPods, phones, sneakers, and other loot.

Will Smith Gives $70,000 to Scientology Groups: Exclusive

Roger Friedman
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Will Smith and his wife,’Jada Pinkett-Smith, donated $70,000 to Scientology groups in 2008, according to a tax filing just obtained by this column.

The “Seven Pounds” actor contributed $60,000 to the World Literacy Crusade and $10,000 to ABLE International via his Will Smith Foundation. Each is a Scientology organization. In the past, he’s denied being a member of the group.

The $70,000 is relatively small amount in relation to a total of $1,275,699 in his total charitable donations for 2008. But it’s significant considering the criticism the Smiths have come under for the private school they’ve started in Calabasas, Calif. The New Village Leadership Academy has come under scrutiny for using Scientology teaching methods.

Over the summer, the Smiths dismissed Jacqueline Olivier, the school’s headmaster, and replaced her with Piano Foster, an educator who has completed Scientology classes.

According to its tax filing, the Will Smith Foundation –which had total assets of $182,852 last year– pays one salary of $61,000 to Karen Evans, Jada Pinkett-Smith’s aunt. The Foundation made no contributions to New Village.

Last year, Smith donated a total of $122,000 to Scientology groups. In the past, Smith has said in interviews that Scientology, a sect founded by the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, “is 98% like the Bible.”

Smith said in a 2008 television interview: “You have people who are attacking and want to fight. And don’t know nothing. How you gonna not know nothing about Scientology and attack somebody? It’s dangerous and it’s ignorant. And as an American I’m not gonna be a part of that.” In the same interview, Smith also called Scientology poster boy Tom Cruise “one of the greatest spirits that I have ever met.” You can watch the whole thing below:

Beatles for Sale: 400K-plus CDs This Week

Roger Friedman
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The Beatles are back.

The remastered Beatles CDs are a hit, and so are the box sets. All told, the Beatles sold 400,000 individual CDs since last Wednesday, when their catalog was reissued. They also sold nearly 24,000 stereo box sets and about 20,000 mono box sets.

If all their sales had been treated as one title, the Beatles would have finished second for the week. Jay Z’s The Blueprint Pt. 3 was number 1.

This is probably just the beginning for Beatles sales. With the holiday season upon us quickly, look for many of the titles to stay on the charts. This week, the group had four of the top 10 albums as well: Abbey Road was number 3, Sgt. Pepper was 6, The White Album was 7, and Rubber Soul was 9.

Nicolas Cage Needs Protection; Doogie to Broadway and Mamet?

Roger Friedman
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Malcolm Taylor/Getty Images

Malcolm Taylor/Getty Images

Nicolas Cage apparently feels he needs protection… from the movie industry. At last night’s party sponsored by In Style magazine for the Hollywood Foreign Press Assoc., Cage arrived late and brought not one but two bodyguards. One of them told me he’d been flown up from Florida just for the occasion.

Why did Nic need so much protection? Hard to say considering the other people in the room, besides movie execs, agents and buyers, were Clive Owen, Patricia Clarkson, and Sarah, Duchess of York. It should be noted that Sarah, aka Fergie, who is technically royalty, had no obvious guards ‘ if she had any at all.

Cage is in town to promote yet another bad movie, the remake of “The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.” He may have been nervous about real people coming up and demanding their money back for tickets to a half dozen or so pain-inducing flops including “The Wicker Man,” “Bangkok Dangerous,” “Next,” and “Ghost Rider.” He actually has a movie ready for 2010 called “Kick Ass.” But it’s directed by Matthew Vaughn, so it might be okay. When did Nicolas Cage, who won an Oscar, become Steven Seagal?

Fergie is in Toronto to promote the first film she’s produced, “The Young Victoria.” Her co-producers include Martin Scorsese and Graham King. Not bad! The film has an all-star cast including Emily Blunt, Paul Bettany, and Miranda Richardson. Classy. Sarah, er, Fergie, never looked better. She’s in fine form, too, unpretentious and ready to roll up her sleeves. She told me she’ll be in New York soon for the premiere.

Meanwhile, hot actress Kerry Washington is a hit in “Mother and Child,”’ in which she co-stars with Annette Bening, Naomi Watts’and Samuel L. Jackson. “Mother and Child” like a lot of movies at Toronto’has an interesting history. It’s produced by Lisa Maria Falcone, the’New York philanthropist who’s responsible for’reviving the High Line park, and works on the New York City Ballet and the Museum of Natural History. Falcone’s company Everest Productions has pledged to donate all its proceeds from “Mother and Child” to children’s charities. Who says a movie can’t do a little good?

…And Kerry Washington is headed to Broadway this fall in David Mamet’s “Race” with James Spader and Richard Thomas. I’ve heard that rounding out this cast will be Doogie Howser, hot-as-a-pistol Neil Patrick Harris. From the Tonys to the Emmys to Broadway. And Mamet. He would never have made this much money as a doctor!

‘Precious’ Actress Mo’Nique: Show Me the Money

Roger Friedman
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Everyone connected to the extraordinary Lee Daniels film, “Precious,” will breathe a sigh of relief today when actress Mo’Nique appears on the “Today” show.

Rumors have been swirling for some time that the actress-comedienne, highly touted for a Best Supporting Actress nomination, has been demanding payments for personal appearances to promote the movie.

One source close to the production insists that Mo’Nique asked for $100,000 at one point to show up with the rest of the cast. The last time she did any publicity for the film, which is about to be released, was last January at the Sundance Film Festival.

Apparently, too, Mo’Nique’s demands have been communicated abroad, too. Foreign distributors have also balked at her demands.

At Lionsgate, a spokesperson insists this isn’t true. “Mo’Nique is doing the ‘Today’ show for us, she’s coming to the New York Film Festival. She had scheduling conflicts for Cannes and Toronto, but she did come to the Sundance festival. We’re not paying her to do anything.” Calls to Mo’Nique’s publicist have never been returned.

The weird thing is, this seems to be an open secret. Everyone connected to “Precious” knows about it. On Sunday, the whole cast showed up in Toronto for a party at the Royal Ontario Museum and a premiere at Roy Thomson Hall. Mariah Carey, Gabby Sidibe, Sherry Shephard, and Paula Patton were all in attendance. Only Mo’Nique and Lenny Kravitz ‘ who’s touring and recording ‘ were absent.

This is really a shame, too. The 41-year-old actress and comedienne, whose real name is Monique Imes, has been one of the hardest working women in show business all her life. She currently hosts’a talk show out of Atlanta on BET, and has made countless TV appearances. Her work in “Precious” as Mary, the main character’s abusive mother, is revelatory. Her whole career could change overnight.

Meantime, Mariah Carey continues to be a good sport about “Precious.” She will do a live concert at 10 a.m. from Central Park this Friday for “Oprah.” Winfrey added her name to the film, along with Tyler Perry, after it debuted in Sundance to give it higher visibility. But Carey has been plugging away for a while on it, even recording a’ song for the movie. Alas, Winfrey pal Mary J. Blige got the title song honors. Mariah is non-plussed by the whole episode. “I’m going to use it for something really good,” she told me, putting a positive spin on the matter.

P.S. Mo’Nique’s not the only no -show in the “Precious” crowd. Oprah Winfrey totally skipped the lavish “Precious” party at the Royal Ontario Museum over the weekend. She limited her appearances to a private dinner (sponsored by Entertainment Weekly, so they got access), a public press conference, and the screening of the film. But Museum partygoers who expected her got zilch, even though Winfrey had been advertised. Soon they’re going to call this movie, “Precious and Few.”

But let’s hope it all works out. “Precious” is one of the best movies of the year, hands down, and everyone in it gives can’t-miss performances.

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