SAD END FOR LAW AND ORDER CRIMINAL INTENT

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THE WEB GOSSIP
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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.

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Vincent D'Onofrio

VINCENT NO MORE --- We'd be remiss if we didn't report on last week’s “Law & order/Criminal Intent,” the second-part of the episode entitled “Loyalty,” wherein everything changed for the Major Case Squad, as depicted in the show. The terrific Eric Bogosian, who essayed Captain Danny Ross in the show, was shot and gone forever. The terrific Vincent D’Onofrio was suspended and suddenly, new to the show Jeff Goldblum, with Kathryn Erbe, were suddenly running the show. The entire show, about a nefarious gun-running plot bordered somewhat on the absurd; especially when a rival FBI-task force kept rearing their heads in the investigation. It was one of the most confusing “Law & Order” epics I’ve ever seen, and when part two came on, D’Onofrio and Erbe were hardly seen. It was, to this writer, a sad ending for such a terrific show and a most talented group of actors. Bogosian, ever since his “Talk Radio,” gave performance-art a much need kick in the pants and really acted circles around most of the actors on the show, and certainly held his own next to Vincent. D’Onofiro is an interesting case; I remember him on an episode of “Miami Vice’ in the ‘80s where he was really excellent as a gun-running gangster and quickly realized we'd be hearing a lot from this fellow quite soon. He was in “Men In Black” and “Full Metal Jacket,” and several other memorable epics, but as the character of “Robert Goren” really hit his stride. He sparred with everyone else in the cast and really had some of the juiciest stories ever. In 2007, Leight had Rita Moreno playing the character’s mother, possibly having dated madman Mark Ford Brady, essayed by Roy Scheider, as being Goren’s father …. thus, confirming a possible streak of madness for Goren. Just exceptional writing and acting. Producer/writer Warren Leight, ousted by the show’s Dick Wolf, created some of the best scripts I've ever seen and when he left the quality really went down the tubes. Dick Wolf, one of the most prominent Republican supporters in the country, is an oddity: His three Law & Order shows are shown everywhere … and, I do mean everywhere, but he nickels-and-dimes the actors, writers, and directors so often, that there is always a considerable shift in the quality. Is that good or bad? For Wolff, it seems to pay off every time. I watched the very first Law & Order when it came on in 1990 … and, have loved it for the most part; all three, but discharging D’Onofrio may well have killed this offshoot of the mother ship. A shame for sure. RECORD STORES DAYS – I am currently reading a new book by Gary Calamar and Phil Gallo entitled “Record Stores Days (Sterling Publishing)” depicting the colorful history of the record store; from its impressive beginnings with the likes of Sam Goody and Colony, to the rather dismal end of superstar chains like Virgin and Tower. I actually worked for the Sam Goody-chain and E.J. Korvette’s (remember them?) and saw firsthand how influential these stores were. Kid’s today remember almost nothing about stores like these, as they select almost everything online. Before the much-lauded and much-hated Soundscan process; where a bar code was placed on each and every album, CD, or single … the playing field was subject to frequent manipulation and thus, the sales figures that were forthcoming, were most always unreliable. Calamar runs his own Go Music company in L. A. and has provided music supervision on everything from “House” to HBO’s “Six Feet Under.” Gallo is a highly respected and knowledgeable music writer; having written for everything from Daily Variety to LA Weekly; and The Wrap. He’s a terrific fellow and I've treasured every one of our meetings. This is a great book not only for all the factual information, but for the tales of just how many people who worked in these stores went onto such great acclaim in the record business. Hale Milgrim for one rose to the rank of president for Capitol Records. Not for every reader, but if you have if only a passing interest in how these stores worked and how influential they actually were … this is perfect for you. The book is out just in time for the 3rd annual record Stores Day on April 17, 2010; www.recordstoreday.com. We'll have a full preview next column.

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Vinny Pastore

FOXY DAYS --- We were up at Fox News the other day with actor Vincent Curatola and his PR-man David Salidor. Vince was there to banter on the “Bull And Bears Show “…. and, from the Green Room out popped former Senator Alfonse D’Amato. Apparently the two know each other and instantly greeted each other. Seems the two had gone to see a show by the rock-group Chicago years back, where Vince even sang with them onstage, and commiserated about the terrible weather and Ron Delsener, who had produced the show. Curatola went on the show… and, killed. Tonight is his show with Vinny Pastore (Big Pussy’s Rat Pack Revue”) at The Gramercy Theatre and we'll have a full wrap-up next column. LOST FOUND --- A few words about “Lost” on TV. After the episode last Tuesday, “Happily Ever After,” there remain 6 shows left. And, with this episode the ending became clearer than ever before. Once again, I must laud everyone of the show for delivering some of the best work I've ever seen on the small screen. The writing is just sensational, the acting even better, and the dazzling time-traveling concepts just giddily addictive. Several seasons before, the show perfected not only the flashback … but, also, the flash forward… and, this season they perfected the flash-sideways. The best thing on TV since “Twin Peaks.” If you're not a watcher yet, it’s probably too late now, but, suffice to say, you missed one of the TV-events of the decade.

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Kim Cattrall

SHORT HITS --- The web site Hitfix reported that “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” star Logan Lerman was almost the 100% choice to becoming the next Peter Parker aka Spiderman. Next, SONY got into the picture saying that was very definitely not the case. In case you happen to following this, director Marc Webb, who did the absolutely stunning “100 Days of Summer” is locked into the project … but, he doesn't yet a have a cast. Weird doings nonetheless. Almost like the Broadway-Spidey vehicle, that’s already into the millions, but doesn't have a start date … or, cast either. Strange days indeed … Showtime appears to be shamelessly in love with William H. Macy as they have greenlighted 12 episodes of “Shameless,” which follows an alcoholic father of a blue-collar Chicago family … HBO has ordered nine episodes of Mike White and Laura Dern’s “Enlightened,” a comedy about a woman “who has a revelatory experience at a treatment center.” … Marvel and Paramount will spend over $80 million to promote “Iron man 2” through print, TV, radio, in-theater, and on the net. Also, look for “Iron Man 2” Dr. Pepper cans! Too much sugar … Less than one week after John Forsythe passed, “Dynasty” co-star Christopher Cazenove died April 1 … Roman Polanski’s attorneys have filed one final plea urging California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal to let go of the over-30-year-old-case, claiming it’s a drain on the state’s legal system … And, speaking of Polanski, I finally caught his latest movie “Ghost Writer.,” over the weekend. What an absolutely terrific picture. Ewan McGregor; Pierce Bronson; Kim Cattrall; Timothy Hutton ; Tom Wilkinson; and, James Belushi. Intrigue, based on fact, awesome performances … I loved it!
Photos By: Sara De Boer/RD/Dziekan/Retna