****THE WEB GOSSIP****The guy or girl that writes this column is a very big industry insider who wishes to remain anonymous, but wants to write about all the headlines happening in Hollywood and the Music Industry.****
Jay Leno
LENO/LETTERMAN --- So Jay Leno officially signed off last night on his prime-talk talk fest that lasted barely five months … plagued by disastrous reviews and negative press. Leno said the network allowed him the early sign off “for good behavior.” Good behavior? Does that not mean trashing NBC as bad as Conan and Letterman did? God, how can Zuker sleep at night? I watched Sunday’s Super Bowl commercial, with Dave and Oprah, and marveled at the machinations that made it all possible … and, it was, rather funny! As several of my colleagues have said, ‘it was good TV,’ and, that my friends is the essence of successful TV! No matter what one is saying about the other … if it’s funny, if it gets a good rating … then it’s all worth it. Apparently, Leno briefly talked about the commercial on his broadcast Monday and alluded to the fact that “it was good to see my old friend” … meaning, I would imagine, Dave. But, it was totally vague and I’m sure that’s the way big-jaw-Leno intended it to be from the start. If nothing else, it certainly officially began the rehabilitation of Leno’s tarnished crown. From what I saw of his interview with Ms. O last week … it seemed liked a train wreck. I said it before and I’ll say it again … Dave rules! HAPPY TOGETHER AGAIN – Our friend Mark Lindsay’s web site states: ‘One of the most successful tour packages ever in the 80’s is being revived to celebrate its silver anniversary.’ The Happy Together Tour will star The Turtles; the Grass Roots; Buckinghams; Micky Dolenz (The Monkees); and, Lindsay, who sang on all the Paul Revere and the Raiders hits. The 1985 version ran eight months, played over 150 shows and was one of the most lucrative tours of the year. The dates will be announce shortly.
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Julia Roberts
HANKS & ROBERTS, INC. --- Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts will reteam in Hank’s production of the forthcoming movie ‘Larry Crowne.’ Hanks will direct as well, which he has not done since ‘That Thing You Do (1996),’ which introduced Playtone Records and the mother-company Playtone Productions. Tom wrote the screenplay with Nia Vardalos, originally titled ‘Talk of the Town.’ Hanks and his company produced a screen-adaptation of her one-woman show ‘My Big fat Greek Wedding,’ and they’ve been collaborating ever since. Hanks’ last production was ‘Charlie Wilson’s War (2007),’ directed by Mike Nichols, was a hit, but more importantly a terrific script with equally good acting. Truth be told, it was one of my favorites that year.****
Jessica Biel
SCHLEMIEL-SCHLEMAZEL – Director Gary Marshall, who’s ‘Valentine’s Day’ opens this Friday was quoted recently saying that he’d like to remake the classic sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” as a feature film, starring Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel as the two main characters. Having seen Garner on all the chat shows this week, she’s has relentlessly touted co-star Biel as a ‘majorly funny character’ and, that ‘she’d die to work with her again.’ I was never a fan of Garner’s series Alias, although it was a huge hit, but she is absolutely stunning and quite the firecracker. Ben Affleck is one lucky man! As for the original stars, sister Penny Marshall (Laverne) and Cindy Williams (Shirley), Marshall told Extra, “My sister Penny and Cindy are gonna have a guest cameo.”****
Tom Cruise
MI4 --- This week Paramount/Viacom and Tom Cruise sealed the deal for the forthcoming ‘Mission Impossible 4,’ wherein Cruise will reprise his character Ethan Hunt. Cruise will produce the film with wunderkind J.J. Abrams (‘Lost,’ ‘Fringe,’ ‘Star Trek’). The script is being written and the tentative release date is Memorial Day 2011. Make your plans now! The movie will be Ethan Hunt-centric … more of a more character… rather than a rash of conspirators like the last three films. Boy, remember when Paramount-honcho Sumner Redstone said “I’ll never work with him again – until I need him.” The franchise has grossed over $1.4 billion, so I guess they need him. I love Hollyweird!****
Barbara Walters
WALTERS AND MORE – Roger Friedman’s column today leads off with the delicious item: ‘Living With Richard Nixon.’ The story goes on that Barbara Walters is seriously involved with a big favorite of ours Frank Langella; who was absolutely terrific in Ron Howard’s “Frost/Nixon (2008).” I remember seeing in on Broadway where it began, with Langella and Michael Sheen as David Frost, and once Howard bought the film rights, he was lobbied heavily to use both of the original actors in the movie. He did … and, it was stunningly good. Very, very good! Walters is one wildcard chick …she endlessly promotes herself and her various projects almost daily on her show The View, and while I find it sometimes annoying, her work is just terrific. She does get the interviews and the access that no one else does. She’s 81 now and certainly should enjoy herself. Her previous loves, Lee Guber, who owned Westbury Music Fair, and Merv Adelson, who ran Lorimar, the company that brought us ‘Dallas,’ are both dead, so, sail on Barbara! We DO love you! SNOW DAY IN NYC: When this city’s snowed on, it’s crazy. Everything is slowed somewhat, but the infectious energy continues. As my friend Don Kaplan, of the New York Post once said to me, ‘every day we start with a blank page … we’ve got to fill it.” Looking at New York covered in ice and snow is always a magical experience. Right now, we’re in the first of two predicted storms … that have all the weathermen giddy with delight of actually getting it right … for once. I love it, I really do!
Photos By: Walter McBride/RD/Leon/Kenny/Kabik/Retna
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