THE NEW VIEW IS THE SAME AS THE OLD VIEW
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Elisabeth Hasselbeck |
VIEW LITE --- Know what, the new View is pretty much the same as the old View … but, not as much fun. I watched the second installment yesterday after seeing clips of the new, re-booted cast literally kissing Barbara Walters’ ring on Monday, and found Whoopi pretty much befuddled; Nicole Wallace saying she loved Rob Ford and admired any politician that could do their job high; and, the two Rosies, Perez and O’Donnell, vying for screen time. It’s just an odd, odd mix. O'Donnell even seems somewhat subdued, although when she questioned Wallace on some political point, it was almost as she was addressing the late-View panelist Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Their first guest Kirsten Dunst had trouble even getting onstage as the chairs, now situated around a small, small white table, were poorly arranged. Even O’Donnell admitted that this was something to be fixed.
Funnily enough, one of the show’s new producers, Brian Balthazar, used to be one of the key producers for Kathie Lee & Hoda over on NBC and enjoyed much success … maybe it was easier just two produce two; here, the mix just seems odd and way too forced.
I don't know, this latest View-outing could be their final journey.
Most perplexing indeed.
GLEN'S I'LL BE ME --- The final song Glen Campbell recorded, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” will be released later this month. The tune, which Campbell penned with singer and producer Julian Raymond, is a fitting farewell to his legendary career.
The “Wichita Lineman” singer was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011. He recorded “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” in early 2013, as the disease was slowly taking away his ability to sing, perform and live independently.
The song, which features Campbell singing lines like, “I’m gonna love you and / I’m gonna take care of you / And I’m gonna love you all our lives / You will be needed / All your words of wisdom headed / And I’m gonna love you all our lives,” is described as a “poignant yet clear-eyed revelation of the things Alzheimer’s steals.”
The song was written for Campbell’s documentary, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, which premiered at the Nashville Film Festival in April. The documentary covers Campbell’s life, his farewell tour and his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” will be available on Sept. 30. Big Machine Records will also release a five-song soundtrack EP for the doc. The EP includes an appearance by the Band Perry, who honored the Country Music Hall of Fame member at the 2012 Grammy Awards, as well as a performance by Campbell’s daughter Ashley, who toured with him until the disease caused him to come off the road last year.
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me will open in theaters on Oct. 24, followed by a national release in cities nationwide.
Glen Campbell: 'I’ll Be Me' EP Track Listing:
1. “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”
2. “Gentle on My Mind” (performed by the Band Perry)
3. “Home Again” (performed by Ashley Campbell)
4. “Wichita Lineman” (Live from the Ryman Auditorium)
5. “A Better Place” (Live from the Ryman Auditorium)
I am going to see a special screening of the doc tonight. Details Friday.
GATES’ ROOTS --- Finding Your Roots is the PBS series hosted by Professor Henry Louis Gates. The first season originally aired March 25 – May 20, 2012. A second season begins on September 23 and runs through November 25, 2014; it was celebrated last night by a preview of the new season at MOMA and a swell reception after at the China Grill.
The series uses traditional genealogical research and genetics to find the family history of famous Americans. Genetic techniques include Y-chromosome DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and autosomal DNA analyses to infer both ancient and recent genetic relationships.
Gates has a terrific persona; avuncular, yet terrifically personable …. and, last night he delved into the backgrounds of CNN-broadcaster Anderson Cooper; filmmaker Ken Burns and actress/playwright Ann Deavere Smith. Cooper, whose mother is Gloria Vanderbilt and father, Wyatt Cooper proved most interesting, as he said at one point he saw his mother’s name on everyone’s butt … the must-have Gloria Vanderbilt jeans of the 70’s. He said that he thought everyone’s mother had their name there. Too funny.
Burns' background was great as well. terrific program, terrific event.
HOUSTON RETURNS --- Legacy Recordings has announced plans to release Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances, on November 10th. The announcement was made by Houston's long time friend and mentor, Clive Davis, yesterday on NBC's Today Show.
The six-time Grammy-award winning singer's first-ever live album features the most memorable live performances from her storied career. The album will also be available as a CD/DVD, which includes stunning videos of Houston's most unforgettable performances, reinforcing her as one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Both the audio and visual content have undergone state of the art restoration and remastering.
Fans are now able to pre-order the CD/DVD from the Whitney Houston official fansite (http://smarturl.it/WH_Live_d2c) to get their names included on an exclusive poster. A limited edition fan bundle, which includes a purple vinyl, is offered as well.
Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances will take listeners through the remarkable arc of Houston's career, from her national network television debut appearance on The Merv Griffin Show in 1983 as a prodigal teenager, where she sang Home from The Wiz, to her emotional 2009 performance of I Didn't Know My Own Strength on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
The producer of the CD and the DVD is the five-time Grammy-award winner Davis. Davis states, "Whitney's Live CD/DVD will stun everyone. It definitely shows why she was totally unique, absolutely in the first rank of all time. For me, it's been very emotional. The set vividly confirms that there really was no one like her. It also makes the tragedy of losing her so young so very painful. Watching the DVD is a mesmerizing experience. Her amazing vocals and the songs that have stood the test of time combine to truly hypnotize over and over."
SIGHTINGS --- Bill McCuddy, Donnie Kehr and David Salidor at NYC’s China Grill; Robert DeNiro leaving his new digs at 15 CPW; and, Micky Dolenz and wife Donna at S&P Oysters in Stonington, Connecticut.
CLOSING NOTES --- In the next two months, new albums from Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, and Annie Lennox. Prince is releasing two albums. And there are several big titled coming from country artists Kenny Chesney and Blake Shelton …
Turns out the Apple/U2 promotional has backfired somewhat in that some Apple-users didn't want U2 included on their available playlist. The group was paid up front and they have another album ready to go.
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