GEORGE CLOONEY CEMENTS STAR STATUS

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THE WEB GOSSIP
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Conan O'Brien

CONAN/JAY: 30 million, 40 million? Question: How would one spend it; is it coming with one single check … or, paid out over the year. Amazing figures and truly a black-eye for the Peacock-network for sure. Saturday Night Live’s opening sketch was Larry King (played by Fred Armisen), interviewing both Jay (played by Darrell Hammond) and Conan (via Bill Hader). Every Leno-answer was delivered with his rather sarcastic snark … Conan sat there in stunned silence. Actually, for me, the funniest line in the whole skit as when King remarked, “Conan is out and Jay is in. And no one is talking about the greatest talk show of all time … Mr. Joey Bishop!" Truth be told, this NBC mess is even deadlier and messier than when Leno replaced Letterman as the Tonight Show runner back in the 90s. Our colleague Roger Friedman quotes an insider as saying “Each figure is wrong … nothing is signed yet.” As of Friday last, this Friday will be Coco’s last show. NBC’s Jeff Zuker, as in ‘what the Zuck,’ said last week Conan was a colossal failure … how can he say that when he first orchestrated the whole thing five years back. Amazing! I predict after a suitable time-out, Conan will be back … on Fox.... 24 REASONS: Season 8 for 24 breaks tonight. Having been a fan for the show since the beginning, a lot of the plots have come to share a similar theme … but, Keifer Sutherland, delivering as good as ever, is the real thrill here. As they say, you don’t mess with Jack. Good luck to all this season.

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Denzel Washington

ELI’S COMING: Denzel Washington’s Book Of Eli opened Friday and we caught a preview earlier last week. While it’s a rather frightening portrayal of the not-too-distant future, when the Mayan-apocalypse apparently did come true, there were too many moments that begged for further disclosure and how come there’s always one hot chick there, in this case Mila Kunis. Looking like a cross between Lindsay Lohan and Linda Hamilton, she joins Washington’s hunt to go West. What he finds there is also a bit surprising, with an odd cameo of sorts too. I love Washington, especially last’s year retelling of Pelham 123, but this one was hard to take. Visually brilliant, with sepia-toned images coming at you from all over and Washington is flexing his inner-Jean Claude Van Damme. According to today’s BO reports, it beat Avatar this week with almost 12 million. The perfect DVD rental.

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Ryan Reynolds

LANTERN ON SARSGAARD: Peter Sarsgaard, so good in the current An Education with Carey Mulligan, has been signed to play the nemesis of The Green Lantern in the ongoing live-action film starring Ryan Reynolds as the Lantern. Sarsgaard, married to Maggie Gyllenhaal, will play Dr. Hector Hammond in the film. As any good comic-book-geek knows, Green Lantern stands at the top of the DC universe as prime fodder for a film. For me, a comic collector from way back, Reynolds should be perfect as GL aka Hal Jordan. MODERN CLOCKWORK: Got a very good pick this week from the new band Modern Clockwork. Of the 45 or so new records we attempt to get to every week, rarely does one come through with as much fervor as their “Hands Of Time.” Partly-spoken, it’s terrifically effective as well as hypnotic to listen to. I had a talk with the ringleader Harrison Forbes, who told me he and his group were just putting the finished touches on a full-length recording, which will be available by early-summer. Forbes said that with the music business in somewhat of a free fall, these days, more and more labels are receptive to more experimental music. Part-Devo, part Eminem … this is a winner. Check them out HERE...

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George Clooney

CLOONEY IN THE AIR: Finally had a chance to see George Clooney’s Up In The Air last night … and, loved it. The subject matter: Someone who goes around to fire people might not seem the most positive story these days … it was terrifically written, acted and directed by Jason Reitman, who did last year’s Juno, with Ellen Page. Clooney gives a performance that definitely cements his reputation not only a star, but able to recognize and handle quality material. Vera Farmiga, as someone he meets on his travels, and Anna Kendrick, in the newbie role of someone who might take Clooney’s place, is out and out fantastic. His nuanced performance is being hailed as a high point of the year and I have to agree. There are moments that you really feel you’re in his world … sounds easy … and, it often is not. Reitman’s direction is just spot-on … flawless. He also wrote the screenplay with Sheldon Turner. With this film he positions himself at the top of the best directors out there. He work reminds me of Steven Soderbergh with his Sex, Lies and Videotape epic from 1998.

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James Blunt With Steve Walter

STEVE WALTER: Let’s give a proper shout out to Steve Walter, who up until last January, ran and operated the tremendous Cutting Room here in NYC. Berklee graduate Walter not only delivered an outstanding performance room here on 24th street, but also booked the most insightful and delightful acts around; be it Peggy Young with husband Neil, Jimmy Webb, James Blunt, Donovan, Billy Cobham, Sting, Billy J. Kramer, or Al Stewart. Lady Gaga was signed right after a performance at the room. Walter’s taste was always on the mark and we eagerly await the club’s return. We hear he may be doing some independent management while he revs up for the return of the Room. Stay tuned! Check out a recent profile of him HERE....

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Dennis Hopper

DENNIS HOPPER: He was great in Apocalypse Now, heaven in Blue Velvet. Sad news indeed. Hopper was always a revelation in a film -- his furor, his anger his conviction made a mediocre piece of work into something terrifically relevant. If you’ve never seen him in Easy Rider … do yourself a favor and check him out. He’ll be terrifically missed.

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Nicole Kidman

URBAN KIDMAN: They swore they’d never sing together by Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban teamed up for a duet at the Australian G’Day USA Ball over the weekend. The pair suddenly burst into song with the Men At Work hit “Down Under,” as Nicole presented an award to The Mentalist star Simon Baker. While Keith played guitar, they crooned: “His name is Simon Baker. Surfer dude. Home renovator. He was bound to be a Hollywood player.” Sweet!
Photos By: Sara De Boer/James Edstrom/Walter McBride/Retna