Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Four Tops' Fakir salutes Levi Stubbs

By Gary Graff
DETROIT (Billboard) - Four Tops leader Abdul "Duke" Fakir called the late Levi Stubbs "one of the best singers in the world, period, of all time" and "a great man" in the first comments from the group's camp since Stubbs died last Friday.
Fakir -- who started the Four Tops with Stubbs after the two met as high school students at a party on Detroit's north side in 1954 -- told Billboard.com on Monday that the loss is "a big hurt" and was compounded by the Tops being out of town, performing in Jackpot, Nev., during the weekend.
"It was a fun engagement, but I didn't really want to be there," acknowledged Fakir, the sole surviving original member of the legendary Motown group. "I was hurting the whole time. I really wanted to just come back home, but we do not disappoint the fans. That was one of the hard weekends for me, though."
Stubbs, who had been in poor health for some years due to cancer and strokes, died during his sleep at his Detroit home.
"I saw him about a week ago and he looked healthier. His face was fatter and he was smiling and he was in good spirits. I really thought he'd pull through longer than he did," Fakir said.
Stubbs, who was the godfather to Fakir's oldest child, will always be remembered for the voice that powered the Four Tops' hits.
"He had such power," Fakir said. "He had a baritone voice and a tenor range. He could do anything with his voice. He could take you anywhere with it. He could take you to a love scene. He could take you dancing. He could take a great old standard and make you feel like you're right there in that song. Just an amazing voice, an amazing interpreter, an amazing man."
Even more importantly, Fakir noted, Stubbs "was dedicated to us. He had many chances and many offers to be lured away into his own solo world, but he never wanted that. He said, 'Man, all I really want to do is sing and take care of my family, and that's what I'm doing, so all is well. Everything else that doesn't include you guys, it doesn't mean a thing to me.' That kind of character and commitment is really hard to find these days."
Fakir said that he and the current Tops -- Roquel Payton (son of original Top Laurence Payton, who died in 1997), former Temptations member Theo Peoples and Motown veteran Ronnie McNeir -- intend to continue performing to honor the Tops' legacy.
"As long as people accept us delivering those songs as close to the original Four Tops as we can, we'll do it," he said. "There'll never be another Levi. We don't expect to replace a voice like that, or a personality like that. But we can keep singing his songs, 'cause the world should always hear them."
Reuters/Billboard

Indie producer seeks to buy Rogue Pictures

By Borys Kit
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Independent movie financier Relativity Media is in negotiations with Universal Pictures to acquire the assets of Rogue Pictures, the studio's genre label, for as much as $150 million.
The proposed deal would see Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity purchase more than 25 library titles, four upcoming films and more than 30 projects in development at Rogue, which was launched in 2004 as a division of Universal's Focus Features.
The deal, if completed, would allow Relativity to distribute the films it produces, as well as the Rogue titles it is acquiring, through Universal's distribution system.
As it moves beyond the hedge fund business to raise its own profile as a producer, Relativity has begun to produce movies separate from its slate investments at such studios as Universal and Sony. It has ramped up its own development activities, acquiring projects like "The Low Dweller," with Leonardo DiCaprio and Ridley Scott attached. But until now, it has lacked a consistent way to distribute its own product.
Universal would continue to market and distribute the Rogue films that Relativity is acquiring, and Relativity would also be able to turn to Universal to handle other titles. Universal would get a distribution fee. Although a 12.5% fee had been discussed, Relativity could end up paying less than 10%, according to one source.
Since Rogue's activities will be continuing under new ownership, it is not immediately clear how the acquisition will affect the unit's current executives and employees.
The discussions have been taking place for several months and are reaching a critical phase in the wake of Universal's recently completed distribution pact with DreamWorks. Universal releases about 18-20 titles domestically each year, plus another six films from Focus and another four from Rogue. While it will now have to accommodate DreamWorks titles, the studio said last week that it will be able to handle the films from all its labels.
At the same time, it is seeking ways to cut costs after NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker last week ordered a companywide reduction of 3% in next year's budget.
Neither Relativity or Universal would comment Monday.
The purchase would cover Rogue films now in postproduction, which include "Fighting," starring Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard; Platinum Dunes' "Unborn," from writer-director David Goyer; Wes Craven's "25/8" and a remake of "Last House on the Left."
Relativity also would pick up the first-look deals Rogue has with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes and horror veteran Wes Craven, while Universal would get first right of refusal, for a set period of time, for any sequels based on any of the movies released.
The Rogue library that Relativity would be acquiring includes 13 films, including this summer's hit "The Strangers."
Rogue's development slate numbers 32 projects, ranging from the adaptations of the video game "Castlevania" and the comic book "Hack/Slash" to the 1980s teen movie remake "Three O'Clock High" and "Strangers 2."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Katie Holmes jazzes up 'Eli Stone'

If you're tuning in to "Eli Stone" (9 p.m. Tuesday, WLS-Ch. 7) just to see Katie Holmes, you won't have to wait long.She appears a few seconds into Tuesday's episode, doing a sultry jazz number (or at least lip-syncing to one). And she acquits herself nicely in the episode as a klutzy lawyer in whom Eli develops an interest.
Sure, the presence of Mrs. Tom Cruise is a bit of stunt-casting, something you'd expect during November sweeps. But "Eli Stone," which debuted last fall, is one of those middle-of-the-pack shows that is looking to increase its profile—and, of course, its ratings. Hence "Eli Stone" co-creator Greg Berlanti looked up Holmes, with whom he worked on "Dawson's Creek."
Will the gambit work? Who knows? In this episode, and in the season premiere that preceded it, this likable show demonstrated its strengths and weaknesses. And just to be clear, "Eli Stone's" main problem—persistent blandness around the edges—is no real impediment to enjoying this well-constructed dramedy.
Eli (Jonny Lee Miller) is a San Francisco attorney who discovered that he has a brain aneurysm. Not only could the brain defect end his life, it gives him psychic visions—and when that happens, there's often singing and dancing involved.
Though it's basically a legal drama, "Eli Stone" goes to a lot of trouble to not be just another legal drama. Actually, it is most accurate to describe "Eli Stone" as an emotional/legal/spiritual hybrid. When people on this show go to court, it's usually to work out some personal issue. Be warned: There is hugging.
Still, the courtroom setting gives "Eli Stone" the surprise entrances and exits, the grumpy judges and the legal terminology that make the whole enterprise seem pretty safe and familiar. At least the show's sly and frequent humor—one of its biggest pluses—make all the "I object, your honor!" stuff go down more easily.
And perhaps the familiarity of the legal setting is meant to offset the wackiness of the song-and-dance routines, but there seem to be fewer of those this season. As it stands now, this drama occupies the middle ground between the surreal "Boston Legal" and the matter-of-fact, almost impersonal "Law & Order." And as Eli, Miller carries the entire enterprise with admirable heart and panache.
Eli's abilities as a psychic are now widely known to his friends and co-workers, and that's not the only change this season. After an accident, Jordan Wethersby (Victor Garber) wants to pursue much more pro bono work, which is an about-face from his more practical attitude last season. Garber is one of the best things about this show; he’s got a delightful way with a putdown, and it should be interesting to watch this somewhat imperious character discover his softer side.
What’s not so great about this show is Eli’s ex-fiance, Taylor (Natasha Henstridge), who’s with a new guy, another associate at the firm. Miller has far more chemistry with Holmes in one episode than he had with Henstridge all last season. Taylor adds very little to the show.
My other beef is that the show’s take on spirituality is frequently pretty substance-free. Given that it’s about a man who allegedly speaks for God, the show can be irritatingly vague about what God actually wants (aside from Eli getting a lot of wins in court).
One of “Eli Stone’s” biggest pluses, however, is that it generally gives great guest star. Last week, Sigourney Weaver did a nicely understated job as Eli’s therapist. And this week, Ken Howard is excellent as the grieving father of a soldier who died in Iraq.
Like most ABC shows, "Eli Stone" could stand to prune its cast and deepen its writing. But that's focusing on the glass half empty. So let's just be glad that this good-hearted show made it through the previous TV season and "Big Shots" didn't.
Rating: Three stars

Palin, and Fey, drop in on 'Saturday Night Live'

By Chris Michaud
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin put in a widely anticipated appearance on "Saturday Night Live," sharing the stage with a host of top stars including Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin and of course Tina Fey, the former SNL star whose impression of Palin has garnered almost as much attention as the Alaska governor herself.
The TV show opened with a mock press conference in which Palin's spokesman requested that the press "don't write anything down."
Fey then appeared as Palin and tossed off a few remarks skewering the vice presidential candidate, such as "I am looking forward to a portion of your questions," a reference to her occasional practice of answering questions by addressing her own chosen topics.
Asked if her recent remarks about patriotic states meant there were any unpatriotic ones, Fey-as-Palin rattled off a list of Democratic-leaning states such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California. Listing swing states such as Ohio, she remarked that they could be either "pro or anti-American ... it's up to them."
The scene then switched backstage to the real Palin and the show's producer Lorne Michaels who were accosted by outspoken, left-leaning actor Baldwin, who said "Hey Tina" before proceeding to trash Palin.
The skit played off Fey's remarkable resemblance to Palin and seeming ability to channel her voice and manner, with Baldwin appearing to think he was talking to Fey while insulting Palin repeatedly. Informed by Michaels he was speaking to Palin herself, he quipped, "You are way hotter in person."
Baldwin, who co-stars on hit comedy TV show "30 Rock" with Fey, then left to whisper to Fey, at the press conference, that the real Palin was on hand. "What? The real one? Bye!" she said, fleeing. Palin then took her place.
"I'm not gonna take any of your questions," Palin said, "but I do wanna take this opportunity to say "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!" -- the show's trademark opening line. Continued...

Britney Spears’ Teary Night

Britney Spears’ Teary Night
Still hot on the trail of a major comeback, Britney Spears was spotted looking teary as she left a Hollywood, California dance studio last night (October 20).
The “Womanizer” songstress looked a bit distressed as she made her way outside, sporting a black jacket, multicolored tank top, black workout pants, and white sneakers, hiding her crying eyes behind black sunglasses.
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As for her current court case for driving without a valid California license, it seems the jury is deadlocked after a second day of deliberation.
The jury foreman indicated to press that after three votes, they had failed to come to a unanimous conclusion. He reportedly told the judge, “I think with each return to the assembly room, people become more entrenched in their position.”
Celebrity Gossip
Below are pictures of Britney Spears shedding tears as she left the dance studio last night (October 20).

Anchorwoman Beaten, Stabbed in Home

'Daybreak' Anchorwoman in Stable but Critical Condition
By ANDREA CANNING and LEE FERRANOct. 21, 2008
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Little Rock, Ark., anchorwoman Anne Pressly's condition was upgraded to stable today after she was severely beaten and stabbed in her home.
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'Daybreak' Anchorwoman in Stable but Critical Condition
By ANDREA CANNING and LEE FERRANOct. 21, 2008
Post a Comment
FONT SIZE

PRINT
SHARE
RSS
var addthis_pub = 'abcnews';
Little Rock, Ark., anchorwoman Anne Pressly's condition was upgraded to stable today after she was severely beaten and stabbed in her home.
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Barack Obama to visit ill grandmother Madelyn Dunham

Race suspended as he travels to Hawaii
By Christi Parsons and John McCormick Chicago Tribune correspondents
October 21, 2008

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, in 1979 gets a hug during his high school graduation in Hawaii from his maternal grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham and Madelyn Payne, both natives of Kansas. (Photo courtesy Obama campaign)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Barack Obama will suspend his presidential campaign for part of two days this week to return to his native Hawaii to be at the side of his gravely ill grandmother, a campaign aide said Monday.Madelyn Dunham, 85, was released from a hospital late last week and returned to her home in Honolulu with a health condition the aide described as "very serious."Obama's decision to cancel campaign events "underscores the seriousness of the situation," senior aide Robert Gibbs told reporters during an evening flight after a campaign event in Orlando.As the Illinois Democrat recounted in his memoirs, Dunham, his maternal grandmother, acted in many ways as a surrogate parent.
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