TINA FEY & AMY POEHLER RULE GOLDEN GLOBES

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING

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Tina Fey

A GLOBES NIGHT --- The 71st Golden Globes aired last night, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (second year running) and it was a definitive sign the awards season in Hollywood is off and running. Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Lawrence, Andy Samberg, Bryan Cranston, Amy Adams, Leo DiCaprio, U2, Michael Douglas, Jared Leto, Jon Voight, and Poehler herself were among the night’s big winners.

Director Alfonso Cuaron, who put together the multi-layered movie Gravity was a surprise winner for director. I must admit, that movie was a revelation on almost every level and it was certainly the wildcard film of the year. 12 Years A Slave won as best dramatic film and American Hustle won as best comedy. NetFlix's House Of Cards was oddly ignored, though newly-engaged Robin Wright (to actor Ben Foster) did win as best actress. Certainly deserved for sure.

The ceremony held at the Beverly Hills Hotel is the one event that is front loaded by booze at every table, and as Cate Blachett herself said, she fortified herself with several vodkas (and it certainly showed) prior to her win. Her movie, Blue Jasmine, was just an outstanding affair and the compendium of Woody Allen–movies shown (as he was the recipient of this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award) was just stupendous. It’s amazing how many terrific actresses he’s surrounded himself over the years with; from Scarlett Johansson to Meryl Streep to Diane Keaton. The Annie Hall-actress accepted the award of the Woodman’s behalf and gave a great, if at times rambling speech. Said Keaton, "It's kind of hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that 179 of the world's most captivating actresses have appeared in Woody Allen's films, and there's a reason for this. And the reason is, they wanted to. They wanted to because Woody's women can't be compartmentalized. They struggle, they love, they fall apart, they dominate, they're flawed. They are, in fact, the hallmark of Woody's work. But what's even more remarkable is absolutely nothing links these unforgettable characters from the fact that they came from the mind of Woody Allen." Great thoughts for sure.

The exact nature of the Hollywood Foreign Press, who pay for this event to be held each year, is mysterious and always fluid – an exact number of participants is not even known, but the event is a watershed event on the Left Coast.

NEW TARANTINO/HATEFUL EIGHT --- Always fun fodder for sure, the next movie from director Quentin Tarantino has a name: The Hateful Eight. And, even better, two possible acquisitions for the cast: Tarantino-regular Christoph Waltz and Bruce Dern; very hot again after his nomination for, and for his movie, Nebraska. Face it: Tarantino’s always on fire. From Reservoir Dogs to his last film, Django Unchained, his movies are all uniquely. Stay tuned!

MORMANDO’s MARTIAL REVIVAL

Martial-artist Paul Mormando is completing his first movie, Double Fist, and we sat with him to preview it:

Q: Martial-arts movies have had scattered success over the years. Are we about to enter another martial arts period?

A: I hope so, and I hope it’s my film that helps to foster that movement. But on a serious note, Martial Arts/Action films have had a huge success over the years, mostly because I believe people love to live vicariously through the eyes of the martial artist who are able to fight multiple people and seem invincible. The fact that the martial arts film have fluctuated in substance is a big reason for their success. If you look at the films in the 70’s they were a lot more Karate/Kung Fu oriented, and unrealistic. Nowadays you have films that appear more to the audience’s intelligence, such as the Bourne Ultimatum.

Q: Who were and are the most popular martial artists?

A: Without a doubt …Bruce Lee is still popular, even in today’s world, and of course Chuck Norris. The late 80’s and early 90’s brought us Jean- Claude Van Damme, Steven Segal, Jackie Chan and off course Jet Li. Now there is a huge void in talent, we have Jason Statham in the American market….but he is not a real traditionally trained martial artist, but he is phenomenal.

Q: That recent Jean-Claude Van Damme commercial sort of brought him back into everyone’s vision again; and, the follows up by Chuck Norris and Channing Tatum hilarious. Thoughts?

A: I especially loved the Channing Tatum one … that is hysterical! Van Damme who is one of my favorites was known for his amazing flexibility, so this was just another way of showcasing his great skills, especially at his current age. He is amazing.

Q: Tell us about your Marky Mark experience? He had the #1 movie this weekend.

A: He was originally slated to appear in this film as my brother 20 years ago, this was supposed to be his film debut. I had seen him in his video, and loved his song, “Good Vibrations,” so we reached out to him. Mark is a great talent, and also a talented producer.

Q: What’s the status of filming right now and when do you expect the film to be released?

A: We expect to finish by March. This is one of the most amazing projects I have ever worked on, because it has enabled me to have total creative control and take my vision from paper to screen.

CLOSING NOTES: Today’s the launch of Elliot Segal’s new radio show on WOR… Elliot in the Morning. You may well remember Elliot’s last New York-sojourn with Z-100’s Elvis Duran … Elvis & Elliot natch.

He told the NY Daily News: “My show is contemporary. We talk about serious issues. But we're probably more about entertainment and pop culture. And I'm a big sports fan. We'll have traffic and weather, and we also want to have fun.”

While it won't be a music show, there’s a lot of music for “bumpers” and segues, and Segal says most of that will be drawn from the current pop charts.

That’s consistent with the radio the 44-year-old Segal has done his whole career. He was Elvis Duran’s partner at WHTZ for years before heading to Washington, and his show still has “morning zoo” elements.

As for competing with his old partner Elvis, Segal says he doesn't look at it that way.

“I don’t see this as me against Elvis, or Imus, or anyone else,” he says. “Ratings are important, but my focus is my show. I don't think of it as trying to beat Elvis, or trying to follow John Gambling.

John Gambling is a legend, and Elvis has a great, successful show. I'm still in touch with him. We were exchanging emails after I took this job.”

Segal says the show won't be radically different from what he has done in D.C. He'll remain on the air there, and also on a station in Richmond, Va., even though he’s moving to New York.

“I love being in New York,” he says. “I wouldn't refer to a New York place just for the sake of mentioning it. But so much that happens here is things that anyone can relate to. New York will definitely be part of the show.” Best of luck Mr. Segal …

Christine McVie will rejoin Fleetwood Mac after retiring from the band 15 years ago.

The news was confirmed by founder Mick Fleetwood who made the announcement at a show in Hawaii on Friday. “This is the worst kept secret there is, but Christine McVie will be rejoining Fleetwood Mac,” Mick told the crowd at Uncle Willie K’s BBQ Blues Festival.

Mick had just performed Christine’s “Songbird” with Willie K and made the announcement at the end of the song.

Christine McVie retired from Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and moved back to the UK. Her last complete album with the band was 1995’s Time (with Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason!) although she guested on two tracks for Mac's 2003’s Say You Will.

Her only solo record since leaving Fleetwood Mac was 2004’s In The Meantime …

Speaking of Dave Mason ... this man switches managers like people switching their undergarments. In 2013, he had industry-legend Bruce Garfield and in December, suddenly moved to Ron Stone … another industry-legend. Wow … who’s next Joel Diamond?

Last night at the Globes, I was moved by Leo DiCaprio’s praise for the career of nominated-actor Bruce Dern. Dern’s a national treasure and his comments were heartfelt. Bravo …

What pod-cast personality, who just reluctantly switched his format from pop culture to comedy is already thinking about switching back. Apparently, this move was as welcomed as ABC’s new series The Assets … which was pulled after two airings. Some people never learn …

And, finally ... what a night for Lorne Michaels. He's practically running NBC by now. Good for him.