Celebrity
The Glorious Corner
ONLY IN MY DREAMS AT 35 — Could it really be 35 years since Debbie Gibson’s “Only In My Dreams” ruled the radio roost? Yes, it is and last week, Gibson hosted a Cameo-video event celebrating that fact. From her home base in Las Vegas, she welcomed a host of fans as well as Fred Zarr, who produced the song. Zarr, long removed from the music business was a welcomed presence. He said that originally, he was going to work with two other producers (the legendary M&M team), but when they became unavailable, he got the spot. He said he listened to all her demos and “Dreams” certainly stood out.
Gibson had the original demo and played it and it was surprisingly close to Zarr’s finished product. All things considered, Zarr’s work would mark a decisive moment in pop music, when other artists like Shannon, Tiffany, and Alicia would rule the charts – way before Britney, Taylor and Kelly. The difference with Gibson was the fact that she wrote it. She stills hold the record for the youngest artists ever to have written, performed and produced a #1 record.
Guitarist Ira Siegal who was on her first album Out Of The Blue, as well as her current album, The Body Remembers, also appeared as did one of her original dancers Buddy Casimano.
I well recall Gibson’s very first gig at the Limelight in NYC eons ago. After her performance, there was never any doubt that she would become a major, major presence in the music scene.
Her original PR-man David Salidor was also on hand and submitted this remembrance, “I had heard ‘Dreams’ as a demo in 1985 and was struck by its originality and brilliance. I knew it would be a massive hit. When it came out the following year -and, released twice, though that’s another story- its power was enormous. It established her as a major new artist in the business.”
Great time; great memories. Salidor submitted the attached photo of him and Gibson at the long-gone, much-missed club 4D. The late Chuck Pulin-snapped this. Thanks to Heather Moore for arranging this for us.
ZOOMIN WITH RINGO — (Via Rock Cellar) The life, career and legacy of Ringo Starr will be documented in great detail in a new coffee table book being made available exclusively via Julien’s Auctions, it was revealed this week.
Titled Lifted – Fab Images and Memories In My Life with the Beatles From Across The Universe, this expansive collection of images, tales and anecdotes from the man born Richard Starkey will begin shipping on Valentine’s Day and is up for pre-order now at Julien’s for $59. There is also a special limited-edition hardcover version of the book personally signed by Ringo and selling for $495 while supplies last.
The proceeds of the book will benefit The Lotus Foundation, whose mission funds supports, participates in and promotes charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in diverse areas including, but not limited to substance abuse, cerebral palsy, brain tumors, cancer, battered women and their children, homelessness, and animals in need.
Full details, per Julien’s Auctions site:
“I am not writing this book as a Beatle historian,” Starr explains with a laugh. “I’m writing this book as a Beatle — and there’s only a couple of us who can do that.” Asked about the origins of this new project, Starr explains, “I didn’t keep all these photos. These fantastic images came back to me in recent years from here, there and everywhere — online and off — and have somehow helped me get back to seeing my life with The Fab Four through fresh eyes. A lot of the photos in this book I spotted on my phone and on my computer and “lifted” them because they brought back so many fabulous memories. In recent years, I’d gather these Beatles photos that I sometimes barely remembered. After a while, I thought, how great it would be to “lift” these fantastic photos and some of my other favorites for charity and tell my true tales that they inspire about what the four of us — John, Paul, George and Ringo — went through back in the day. And the best thing is that it’s all for a good cause because the money is going to our Lotus Foundation.
According to Starr, “When people ask me about the Beatles, I often tell them, `You better ask Paul,’ because somehow he seems to remember everything. But along with great projects like Get Back, seeing so many of these amazing Beatles images has really brought back those days to me and all the love and friendship that we four shared back then. So this a book full of Beatle images that many people haven’t seen and stories that I’m sharing with a little help from my longtime writer friend David Wild. We’ve all been through a pretty tough time for a lot of people who’ve been locked down, and this book has really lifted my spirits and took me back to where I once belonged in a whole new way. And in the end, that’s why this new book is called Lifted. The Beatles changed my life forever. So it’s about getting back and giving back.”
Ringo Starr’s LIFTED — Images and Memories In My Life with the Beatles From Across The Universe – is a beautifully designed hard cover with jacket, many rarely seen images overlaid with captions and quotes by Ringo Starr with help from best-selling author and award-winning TV writer-producer David Wild. In the Forward, Ringo will explain the origin and motivation for the exciting new book. Proceeds from LIFTED, including a Limited-Edition Signed Book, signed by Ringo Starr, Will Benefit The Lotus Foundation and will be Sold Exclusively Online at Julien’s Auction.
I’ve got to give Ringo and his team credit, as there’s always one more new product to promote from him. I well remember his Postcards book from years back, which from what I understand was simply postcards from the other Beatles and friends to him. I never saw the book and remember it was ridiculously priced. At least this one, at $59.00 is a lot more realistic.
My first thought when I read the release, which quickly claimed that the photos are not his – was whether the actual photographers would even get credit, or even paid. For the record, they should!
Ringo’s last album, or EP, registered nary a blink on the charts (even with a Diane Warren-song on it) and with his tours canceled, it’s been a pretty sketchy year. I still think Ringo should write his own story with Mark Bego … and, believe me, Bego’s tried. But hey, it’s Ringo, so all is forgiven.
SHORT TAKES –— On my away week, we managed to watch a few movies, including Aaron Sorkin’s Amazon-opus Being The Ricardos-which has received across-the-board industry praise. We loved it, especially Javier Bardem’s take on Ricky. Kidman was fine as Lucy, but her haired never seemed to be the right shade of red. JK Simmons, as Fred Mertz was just perfect. An Oscar-winning performance if there ever was once. In all, I was surprised at how serious and yes, even dark it was … Andrew Garfield’s performance in tick, tick Boom was just amazing. The last days of Rent’s Jonathan Larson was just brilliant in every way. As a huge Rent-fan, all of the music sounded pretty similar to what was ultimately in that play. Garfield’s been touted as a Best Actor nom and I would definitely agree … Micky Dolenz’s take on Michael Nesmith’s “Propinquity (I’ve Just Begun To Care)” was selected by Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield as one of the Top 20 songs of the year. We loved it. Congrats …
Also caught The Matrix-Resurrections, which for all the pomp and circumstance, was a love story between the characters Neo and Trinity. I loved how they wove scenes from the first movie in there and sincerely missed Lawrence Fishburne … but, his presence is felt throughout. Not a stone-cold classic, but we enjoyed it immensely …
And, also caught Mr. Saturday Night on Netflix, about the life and career of manager Robert Stigwood. Stiggie, whom I knew well, was responsible for the play, album and movie of Jesus Christ Superstar from the then-unheard of team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice; Grease; the Bee Gees; and, his most famous project of all, John Travolta and the movie Saturday Night Fever; which was adapted from a New York Magazine article by Nik Cohn titled The Tribal Rights of the New Saturday Night; it was shot with director John Badham; after original director John Avildsen was let go.
Suffice to say, it well exceeded everyone’s expectations. His master plan was releasing the 2-disc soundtrack album well before the movie, so everyone had a chance to hear it. Most of the voices heard on the film were people involved in his RSO Recordsand with Stigwood in particular. It also spoke to the fact that he was involved with Beatle-manager Brian Epstein early on and at one point was set to take over the management of the band, before the lads nixed it. In many ways, this was the best-yet music doc to come out as Stiggie’s success was enormous. If you get a chance, check this out. Must-see for sure … Ken Kragen who organized the brilliant “We Are The World” session in 1985, which included the likes of Bob Dylan; Michael Jackson; Hall & Oates; Kenny Rogers; Lionel Richie; Paul Simon; and so many others, passed at 85. That record and Kragen’s work on it will live on forever … And, HAPPY BDAY Jordan Runtaugh and Christine Nagy.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Fred Zarr; Abbie Rosenfeld; Elizabeth Neff; Lush Ice; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Craig Newman; Jane Blunkell; Bruce Grakal; Larry Yasgur; Doug Morris; Roger Friedman; Race Taylor; Eppy; Samantha Ryan; Kent and Laura Denmark; Mike Greenblatt; and ZIGGY!
G.H. Harding
VICE 2028 — When Michael Mann tried to reboot his series Miami Vice in 2006, it was a commercial and critical disappointment. Miami Vice 85, the latest reboot, is well underway with a most impressive cast, including Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan as the series lead characters Crockett and Tubbs.
Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan
When Vice first hit TV screens in September of 1984, audiences had rarely seen anything as ambitious or creative. Mann -and Anthony (Buffalo Club) Yerkovich- hit on something new for the small screen. NBC’s head-honcho at the time Brandon Tartikoff, called them “MTV cops.”
Anthony Yerkovich
MTV was approaching its peak (27 million households) and this TV-show captured not only that, but both the angst and joy of the go-go 80s.
It propelled Don Johnson to mega-stardom, as well as Philip Michael Thomas. The two even recorded albums, which were not bad, but never fully realized.
One major key to the show’s success was the endless streaming of hit music -from Phil Collins; Dire Straits; Steve Jones; to INXS on down. This was before music supervisors came into play and it was often the label’s PR-people that propelled songs and artists to major success. The show also employed various music stars (like Collins and Franz Zappa) as guests stars and often, they were great. Zappa, as a cool-drug merchant on a yacht was great.
PR-man David Salidor was handling PR for The Funhouse, one of the key-clubs of the time, and remembers bringing producer Michael Attanasio down to the club. “They wanted something authentic and since they were going to be shooting in NY for the second season, the club was a perfect fit.”
I was a fan and remain a fan, and even when I watched the episodes now, they’re a bit dated, buy the symbiosis of what’s on the screen and the music remain pretty outstanding.
I honesty doubt whether Mann can do it again, but interest remains high … very high. See you in 2028 Miami Vice!
Read more here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/miami-vice-85-austin-butler-michael-b-jordan-1236727734/
And here’s a great take from Yerkovich on the creation: https://intelligentcollector.com/miami-vice-creator-anthony-yerkovich-on-the-style-packed-pilot-that-changed-tv-forever/
SHORT TAKES — I watched the 1998 movie Deep Impact over the weekend and the basic plot was an asteroid was about the hit the Earth and one of the plans President Morgan Freeman came up with was to build immense silos in the mountains. Sounds a tad like the TV-showParadise, right? Amazing …
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow says she’s losing major money on her new album. Interetsing article from Female First. Take a read: https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/musicnews/sheryl-crow-says-losing-ton-money-latest-album-reflects-fame-cancer-ageing-radio-1451871.html … Great interview on Rory Kennedy’s The Trial of Alec Baldwin. Check it out: https://deadline.com/2026/10/the-trial-of-alec-baldwin-director-rory-kennedy-interview-1237154646/ … Happy Bday Daryl Hall.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Bill Maher; Chuck LaBella; David Bowie; Steve Walter; Frank Ucciardo; Thomas Jay; Mark Biggs; Tugg Putt; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Race Taylor; Chuck Nolan; Bill Evans; Dan Zelinski; David Foster; Michael Hutchinson; Walter Egan; Bill McCuddy; Eppy; Joe Lynch; Linda Wnek; and ZIGGY!
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Celebrity
Dexter Has Never Looked So Good: PaleyFest NY Celebrates 20 Years of Television’s Favorite Serial Killer
Jack Alcott, Kadia Saraf, Marcos Siega, Clyde Phillips, Michael C. Hall, James Remar, Uma Thurman, Bokeem Woodbine, and Scott Reynolds attend Dexter: Resurrection & 20th Anniversary of Dexter at PaleyFest NY at The Paley Museum in New York City on October 9.
Dexter Cast and EPs_Panel
Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman and the cast of Dexter: Resurrection bring a little delicious darkness to The Paley Center for Media.
Michael C. Hall
Twenty years, countless victims and more lives than the proverbial cat. Television’s most compelling serial killer is still making audiences root for the man they should probably be running from. On Friday evening, The Paley Center for Media embraced the darker side of television with a sold-out PaleyFest NY celebration marking the 20th anniversary of Dexter and offering a tantalizing look at the second season of Dexter: Resurrection.
Uma Thurman
The evening, presented with support from Citi, brought a decidedly glamorous collection of television’s morally compromised to the red carpet. Michael C. Hall, the man who made Dexter Morgan an unlikely cultural icon, was joined by Uma Thurman, James Remar, Jack Alcott, Bokeem Woodbine and Kadia Saraf, along with showrunner Clyde Phillips and executive producers Scott Reynolds and Marcos Siega.
EPs_Marcos Siega_Michael C. Hall_Clyde Phillips_Scott Reynolds
Inside the Bennack Theater, fans were treated to an advance screening of the Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 premiere, followed by a conversation moderated by Deadline Associate TV Editor Rosy Cordero. The celebration was also part of a milestone year for PaleyFest NY, which introduced the inaugural PaleyFest Award, recognizing excellence in media and entertainment among its participating programs.
Bokeem Woodbine
For Hall, the enduring fascination with Dexter remains something of a surprise. “Twenty years later it’s mind blowing,” he admitted. “I had no anticipation it would be as broadly appealing.”
Jack Alcott
Yet the appeal is hardly mysterious. Dexter accomplished something few television series dare attempt: it invited audiences into the mind of a murderer and made them care about his survival. Beneath the blood, the carefully controlled rituals and the infamous code lies a character perpetually wrestling with identity, inheritance and the uncomfortable distance between what people are and what they pretend to be.
James Remar
Remar, who plays Dexter’s father Harry Morgan, offered a succinct explanation for the show’s longevity. “It’s complex but it’s believable,” he observed. “There’s a reason why we’re sitting here so fully engaged with these characters.”
Kadia Saraf
That complexity is no accident. Phillips acknowledged that the writers deliberately create seemingly impossible situations, explaining, “We paint ourselves into a corner on purpose.” The objective, naturally, is to keep viewers perpetually off balance. Woodbine credited the writing itself, noting that “what appeals to people is the level of intelligence of the script.”
While murder may provide the spectacle, family remains the franchise’s most intriguing psychological battlefield. Reynolds suggested that each season explores something fundamentally relatable, and Phillips revealed that the new chapter places particular emphasis on the father-son relationship between Dexter and Harrison.
Alcott, who portrays Harrison, sees a young man grappling with an inheritance considerably more disturbing than an awkward family resemblance. Harrison has “got a propensity for violence,” he explained. “He’s nowhere near his father, but there’s something there.”
It is a fascinating premise. Can a father’s darkness become a son’s destiny, or is recognizing that darkness the first opportunity to escape it? For a franchise built around a killer’s elaborate moral code, the question of what passes from one generation to the next feels especially appropriate.
The new season also promises complications for the characters surrounding Dexter. Woodbine hinted at unexplored dimensions of Captain Mixon, acknowledging a darkness within the character that he has yet to fully understand. Saraf, who portrays Detective Claudette Wallace, promised considerably heightened stakes and a season that would be both compelling and unexpectedly affecting.
Thurman, meanwhile, brings her formidable screen presence to Charley Brown, a woman whose conscience may prove as troublesome as her decisions. “Charley is burned by having a conscience and she’s made compromises that she thought she could square away,” she explained, describing the character as “exciting” and “morally ambiguous.”
Morally ambiguous, of course, might as well be the official dress code of the Dexter universe.
Hall offered an equally intriguing glimpse into his character’s evolution. When audiences first encounter Dexter in Resurrection, he explained, the character has recommitted himself to the code that has governed his actions for so long. Unfortunately, “that doesn’t prove to be enough.”
For a man who has spent two decades attempting to impose rules upon his darkest impulses, that admission suggests the most dangerous confrontation may not be with another killer, but with the limitations of his own carefully constructed morality.
There is also a new leading character in the franchise: New York City itself. Siega explained that the creative team wanted to embrace the city’s visual character, declaring there was no “better place to shoot.” With its shadowy streets, restless energy and endless possibilities for disappearing into a crowd, New York provides a particularly seductive playground for a character who has always depended upon remaining unnoticed.
What makes Dexter such an enduring television phenomenon is not simply its willingness to explore violence, but its understanding of the contradictions that make human beings fascinating. Its characters are capable of affection and brutality, loyalty and betrayal, conscience and calculated cruelty. The audience is continually asked to reconsider whom it trusts, whom it condemns and why.
Twenty years after Dexter Morgan first appeared on television, those questions remain disturbingly entertaining. The blood may be fictional, but the moral dilemmas have never been entirely comfortable.
Cordero concluded the evening by congratulating the team on its latest incarnation, apologizing in advance for the inevitable pun: “I’m sorry for the pun but, you’ve killed it.”
For once, nobody needed to investigate the confession.
And judging by the enthusiasm inside the Bennack Theater, Dexter Morgan’s next resurrection may be his most deliciously complicated yet.
G.H. Harding
THE TRIAL OF ALEC BALDWIN — The wattage on Alec Baldwin has definitely simmered down. I saw him a few weeks back in the Hamptons, but other than that, he’s been under the radar. The film Rust, which interrupted everything is out; was minimally shown in May in about 115 theaters and was released on various on-demands. But the powers that be have kept it basically under wraps. Ironically, the few reviews I read noted how good it looked, rather than dwell on the tragic incidents that occurred.
Now, from documentarian-Rory Kennedy comes the film The Trial of Alec Baldwin. Both stories which I’ve posted below say the very first thing you see is a statement saying that Baldwin had no input into the making of the film. I haven’t seen it, but I think everything I need to know has always been disclosed.
Baldwin made himself a target and whatever did really happen; he was in the bulls-eye for certain. I’m sure I’ve relayed this story before, but I had an unfortunate incident with him, but several months later had a conversation with him, at his El Dorado Films, and he couldn’t have been more receptive. Acting? Who knows, but I was suitably charmed.
Don’t forgot, Baldwin is one hell of an actor. Check out his astonishing scene in Glengarry GlenRoss:
What happened was awful, but awful things happen every day, and the truth remains perhaps we’ll never know the truth.
TCM LIVES — Turns out that so far there’s one golden-nugget from the Skydance takeover and that’s is the fact that the TCM channel will remain. Spielberg and Scorsese jumped onboard the channel a few years back and they’ll stay very much involved along with Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t watch everything on TCM, but more often than not they’ll have a gem on.
Clearly Ellison didn’t want tor rattle-the-cages too soon. I’m sure that will come, but just not now. Take a read from Deadline on the story: https://deadline.com/2026/10/turner-classic-movies-skydance-film-group-1237150281/
actor Michael Douglas promo image from his Netflix show The Komisky Method
SHORT TAKES — The Michael Douglas book PR-engine moves ever forward. I just checked Facebook and there were 3 postings from Douglas and his pub-company Grand Central Publishing. As I said last column, I think you can save $46.00 buying the book and just read and listen to everything that’s out. He did Diane Sawyer for ABC; The View; Morning Joe; Jimmy Kimmel; the 92 Street Y; CBS Sunday Morning; LA Times; andDeadline (where ghost-writer Mike Fleming, Jr. in an editor) … what else is left? Actually, as I was leaving my apartment I turned on the Today Show to see Catherine Zeta-Jones plugging her latest TV-movie (Killing Jackie)and she plainly said, she had no plans to read the book. Smart gal …
David Zaslav
David Zaslav, aka Zaz The Butcher, will receives about $600 million, for the Warner Bros sale.
Mandy Patinkin
Amazing … (Via Deadline) Mandy Patinkin really digs Digger. In an effusive video message, posted soon after watching Digger in a theater, the Homeland star implored his followers to ignore the haters and watch Tom Cruise’s ecological disaster movie. Patinkin described Alejandro G. Iñárritu-directed Digger as an “instant classic” and said it was “one of the greatest pieces of film I have ever seen in my entire life.” “This is an incredible piece of work. It puts the heart and soul back into the cinema. Everything we all love about cinema, this is it. Please, please, please, run! Don’t walk, run, and see this film,” he continued. You just know, the tide will turn .. Just in: Pershing Square bar at Grand Central in NYC will close after 3 decades in business. Sad as it was a great spot to wait for Metro North! … Who hasn’t spent time in a good, old-fashioned diner? 200 have closed in the metropolitan area so far. Check out this article on them from the New York Post: https://nypost.com/2026/10/08/lifestyle/nycs-evolving-love-affair-with-diners-enters-a-new-era/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nypost_trending&fbclid=IwY2xjawU15FlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMURwUUx2UHRmME9oT05xeTBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeDhyVr1Rp_BbBfebFdI2ovl87xm3BGk7uwgnerZv-kSYKIYz3gK6c5kDqN90_aem_az9ap3hQOvpiIueQ9aC-Vg
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Shane Salerno; Andrew Sandoval; Piper Smite; Tony King; John Hughes; Tony Seidel; Bruce Haring; Jane Blunkell; George Harrison; Mal Evans; Dan Zelinski; Steve Walter; Eppy; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Peter Bart; Judd Bernard; Lush Ice; Chuck Taylor; Elizabeth Neff; and BELLA!
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G.H. Harding
EMMYS TO PRIME — As predicted, the 77-year-old Emmys have been jettisoned to Prime Video. That said, Prime Video had very little impact on the most recent show.
The recent show was good, but suffered from some of the worst writing I’d ever seen. Stephen Colbert boasting that his writers wrote for the show may have been a huge error in retrospect.
Don’t expect a host as marquee-level as Mariska Hargitay next year.
Check out the full story from Deadline:
https://deadline.com/2026/10/amazon-emmys-six-year-global-deal-1237147189/
Green Lantern
LANTERNS FINALE — HBO’s Lanterns finale aired Sunday and after 7 somewhat dismal and heavily re-written episodes from the original comic-lore, ended with a bang. If you’ve been following it as I have, I never, ever would have suspected that Kerry Kane (yes, related to Batgirl Kate Kane) killed Hal Jordan … or, did she?
Damon Lindelof, from Lost and The Leftovers wrote the script and as he has with everything he’s touched, put his rather remarkable stamp on it. Heavily re-written from what the original DC comic was, it enraged hard-core comic fans and delighted others with many pundits comparing the new narrative to what True Detective was like.
Kyle Chandler was great and it’d be awful to see him leave. That said, I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that HBO renews this show … but, anything can happen.
SHORT TAKES —- (via EW Weekly) Miley Cyrus’ new album has suffered a shocking fall from the top spot of the American charts. After debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last week, the 33-year-old’s latest LP, Bass Persuades, tumbled 156 spots to land at No. 157 on the current chart. The fall is one of the biggest for a No. 1-debuting album in history, surpassed by that of one other act: Bon Jovi, whose album This House is Not For Sale plummeted from No. 1 to No. 169 in its second week of release …
Michael Douglas
I love the so-called surprises in Michael Douglas’ new memoir One Helluva Ride. But there’s been so many reveals, I’m not sure you even have to read the book. Believe me, I know full well what a successful book tour entails, but I can’t even imagine what’s he’s held back. For one of the best takes on the book, check this out from the Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michael-douglas-book-revelations-1236723340/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6ac57d7ea871e000015a57ac&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawUzD89leHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMVFmemc0d0JpZzcyT0dUb2lzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe7fEet4cwDHjNBlS_APTaVxthMJu3K7ZAeIhpZ4R3iZdIPsnPnR08QOPKBt0_aem_cQKCov058dhIZU8gVtsnvg PR-pasha David Salidor had several Douglas-tales to tell when he worked for Douglas’ Third Stone Records, with Doug Morris, Ahmet Ertegun, and Douglas’s own PR-rep Allen Burry and he says they were all fun … From one of the best writers around,
Roy Trakin on Digger: Alejandro Iñarritu’s “Digger” is neither misunderstood masterpiece nor unmitigated disaster, but a white elephant of an art film that has echoes of “Dr. Strangelove” and “Synodoche, New York” and recalls George S. Kaufman’s famed quote about “satire closing on Saturday night.” Definitely worth seeing on a big screen for Tom Cruise’s over-the-top performance and monologue about our need for oil. Its dystopian corporate theme adds an extra layer of irony given the backdrop of Skydance’s birth, making it one of the final Warner Bros. movies before the merger with Paramount. I wasn’t bored, and at $7, it was a bargain … Guess Who Don’t Sue: What artist whose latest record is pressed on red vinyl is lobbying for a new artist-Grammy nomination? It’s funny when most Grammy-voters haven’t even been serviced nor heard the record as the artist’s team most likely didn’t even know that had to happen first … No big surprise Aerosmith is reuniting for a pair of shows at LA’s Hollywood Bowl. Tyler was great as an American Idol judge (seasons 10 and 11 with JLo and Randy Jackson), but I’m sure got very restless with the band somewhat retired … RIP Eva Marie Saint … Happy Bday Heather Moore.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Al Roker; Sean Hayes; Debbie Gibson; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Jane Blunkell; Jackie Romeo; David Adelson; Donald Johnson; Paul Morphos; Jim Yukich; Steve Leeds; Deborah Silver; Brad Balfour; Todd Sharp’ Daryl Hall; Ken Sharp; John Hughes; and CHIP!
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G.H. Harding
I COME TO SKYDANCE — Much chatter about David Ellison this week, after buying Paramount and Warner Brothers, and formerly changing the corporate name to Skydance; which was originally just his production company. For the 103-year old Warner’s and the 114-year old Paramount, it was quite a shock. The Warner’s logo remains on the full menu card, along with Paramount (albeit in a smaller format), but still, quite a shock.
SHORT TAKES — The opening of Tom Cruise’s Digger was his lowest opening in 19 years. Sure, it’s di rigueur to dislike it now, but I still want to see it. I mean, it can’t be that bad, can it? Deadline’s Pete Hammond said the film: “is unlike any film coming from a major Hollywood studio in years” and that Inarritu “takes things much further and thus could be one of the more divisive movies for the masses in a very long time.” Early reporting says the movie could lose around 150 million …
Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend: Behind Blue Eyes held its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. It’s directed by Frank Marshall (The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart) and Nigel Sinclair (producer, Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It). The Preston doc was superb, but almost no one saw it and currently the Townshend doc doesn’t have a distributor yet, but should. Townshend remains one of the pillars of rock ‘n roll in my book …
Lizzo
Excellent Willie Geist interview with Lizzo yesterday on Sunday Today, on her new kids book. Towards the end of the interview, Geist delved into the scandals that enveloped her and the fact that they were summarily dismissed. Her career was severely derailed and the powers that be are trying to resurrect it with minimum success thus far. Good dialogue for sure …
We saw a great movie called Tuner. Yes, about a piano tuner, with Dustin Hoffman and a great performance from Leo Woodall (White Lotus), Havana Rose Liu and Alisen Richmond-Peck. It starts out great and ends a little roughly, but rolls on with tremendous heart. Epic for sure. Sharply directed and written by Daniel Roher, it’s quite a tale. There’s even a cameo from our old friend Herbie Hancock! A must-see for certain … Rolling Stone’s Andy Greene at Micky Dolenz’s weekend show at AC’s Borgata … Happy BDay Lindsey Buckingham and Brent Blanchard.
The Glorious Corner
Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York—Terms and Conditions Apply
The Algonquin Hotel Thinks Pink: A Toast to Hope, Broadway and Breast Cancer Awareness
Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: Leandro and Denise Rizzuto Shine at New York’s Columbus Day Celebration!
Hackers Aren’t Just Stealing Data. They’re Spoiling the Food.
Falsettos Is Having a Love Affair With Its Audience—and Now It’s Going International
Hello, Macon! A Musical Tribute to Jerry Herman
Haring Under Glass: Monaco Meets Manhattan in Memory Of Places
The Glorious Corner
Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York—Terms and Conditions Apply
The Algonquin Hotel Thinks Pink: A Toast to Hope, Broadway and Breast Cancer Awareness
Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: Leandro and Denise Rizzuto Shine at New York’s Columbus Day Celebration!
Hackers Aren’t Just Stealing Data. They’re Spoiling the Food.
Falsettos Is Having a Love Affair With Its Audience—and Now It’s Going International
Hello, Macon! A Musical Tribute to Jerry Herman
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