Frank DeLeo was a schoolmate of mine. My sister knew him though quite well and better than I did. He just died last week. He got in to the music business after high school with Epic Records. He ended up managing careers of REO, Michael Jackson, Ozzie, Meatloaf, Vandross, and many others. You may know him as Tuddy from Goodfellas or Mr. Big in Wayne's World.

He was short and stout in highschool and never lost the weight. I guess it's no surprise that his death was heart related. He was a good guy and I'm glad he had the success he had.

Anyone here a Tarzan fan? Evidently TCM, every Saturday morning has been showing Tarzan films from the first talkie. I just tuned in to "Tarzan and The Lost Safari" (1957)with Gordon Scott. Remember him? Even as a very young kid, I thought he was so cute.

Anyway, I'm not much of a superhero type fan except for Superman & Tarzan. I love them both. Johnny Weissmuller though is my favorite Tarzan. If they are going chronologically however, I must have missed his, cause I think his Tarzan was in the 40's no?


TIS

Funny, Tis. Eve Brent, who played Jane, died earlier this week.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/movies/eve-brent-played-jane-in-tarzan-movies-dies-at-81.html

Wow, that is a coincidence. I can't say I remember her specifically but am positive I saw the move listed, as I know I saw them all. Speaking of Jane, who disagrees that Maureen O'Sullivan was the best Jane?



TIS

is everone following the current Curb Your Enthusiasm season?

I always loved that show but I couldn't watch it very often. now it's finally airing regularly in here but I hear the current season is being considered sub-par - by Larry David's standards - as it presents a lifestyle change for Larry which didn't fit very well. what you think?

I'm enjoying it, Tony. I've been a big fan since day one. Have you seen the season 8 episode where Larry and Rosie O'Donnell compete for the attention of a bisexual woman? It's an all timer. Absolutely priceless!

We have a "Curb" thread here, by the way.

For those of you who can't wait, here's the new opening for Two & a Half Men. Personally, I liked the show although only started watching the last two years so I've missed a lot of episodes. Anyway, I don't hate him like a lot of people do, but, I think Kutcher may either kill the show or bring new life into it. We'll see.


TIS

We won't know if it's true until next week, but I've read reports stating that Chuck Lorre really got in the last word with the Charlie Harper character. His death will be treated like a big joke, with no one really caring.

If it's true, it's kinda cold if you ask me.

PB,

They talk about this show a lot on the morning radio show and Sheen himself has called in from time to time. According to them, Charlie dies when his car goes over a cliff (actually that's really happened here in CA, I believe two times. Once his car was stolen and they found it down a cliff. Don't know about the second time). They also said that former girlfriends (Jenny McCarthy for one) will show up for his funeral. Kutcher will be some kind of wealthy internet mogul or something, getting over a break-up and will buy Charlie's house. I assume Alan and his son will stay in the house.

Speaking of Sheen, this morning they talked about the Roast of Sheen which was filmed yesterday I think, and will be aired next week (same day as show I believe). According to what the radio reported, and Sheen himself said earlier, nothing is off limits in this Roast. They said jokes were in poor taste regarding domestic violence and other touchy subjects.

They "said" that Sheen ended up feeling bad and a little upset.

TIS

Boo-hoo .

Now I like the show, and I think laughing at the character's demise is in poor taste, but Sheen made his bed. He's lived in the public eye his entire life. He should realize that when you live a certain way for the whole world to see, people are going to judge you.

It's bad enough that he's gotten away with more domestic abuse than Ike Turner. But that's because there are two judicial systems in this country. One for the rich and famous, and one for the rest of us. I live a moderately comfortable middle class life, but if I pulled half the shit that Sheen's pulled in his life (shooting Kelly Preston, beating Denise Richards, etc.), I'd STILL be locked up.

It all comes down to choices. Sheen could choose to live a lawful and moral life, to give good example or not. He's chosen the latter. I have no sympathy for those for make such choices. My sympathy is extended to those who don't have such choices such as children. It's so, so true: you reap what you sow.

I haven't seen this one yet. if HBO keeps airing Curb regularly I'll do it in 2 weeks as I just caught episode #6 yesterday. also I'm watching a few earlier season episodes online.

I liked the "Seinfeld" episode. how about you?

I actually enjoyed the Seinfeld "reunion" episode on CYE better than the actual finale.

Just the few scenes that were shot were great. George inventing the i-Toilet app for the iPhone, finally getting out from under, only to lose it all to Bernie Madoff?

Or Michael Richards thinking that Leon was a Black Muslim sent to hurt him for the racist remarks he made in real life a few years ago?

Only from the mind of Larry David. And only Larry David could pull it off without being offensive.

Priceless!

People eat this s*** up. Go figure.

By dressing up as a woman, Tyler Perry became the highest-earning man in Hollywood.

According to Forbes' new report, the actor/writer/director/producer took in the most cash in show business from May 2010-May 2011, with his multiple movies and two TV shows earning him $130 million during that time frame. His "Madea's Big Happy Family," in which he played multiple roles, including the loud woman title character, earned $53.3 million, while "Why Did I Get Married Too" took in $60 million.

His shows include "House of Payne" and "Meet The Browns."

Coming in at number two at $113 million was Jerry Bruckheimer, the mega movie producer who flopped with a pair of live action titles (including Jake Gyllenhaal's "Prince of Persia," which took in only $90 million and was one of the big busts of the year) but got back to his billion dollar ways with the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, which took in $1.03 billion thanks to worldwide theater success.

Steven Spielberg, in his producing capacity, raked in $107 million. And that doesn't even include the success of this summer's "Transformers 3" or "Super 8," or the upcoming films that he's directing, "The Adventures of Tin Tin," and "War Horse," both of which come out this fall. He's also a producer behind "Men in Black III," which, presumably, may make a few bucks.
Huffington Post Article

Good for him. Talk about inspirational? The guy was living in his car ten years ago!

It's so true, only in America.

Off topic, Lilo. What did you think of Perry's "feud" with Spike Lee.

Does anyone remember the movie "Straw Dogs" with Dustin Hoffman and Susan George? Probably not one of Hoffman's more popular movies but I remember seeing it when it was out and when Hoffman was at the height of his career. When I saw the title of the new film, I checked to see if it was the same movie and it is a remake. Just for fun, I found the trailer for the original with Hoffman as well as the new trailer.

I remember it, but never saw it.

I don't remember it when it came out as I had just arrived on the planet but I do remember seeing it in college and being alternately impressed and disturbed by it. I wrote a review of it here.

The short answer is I think artists should probably avoid commenting on each other's work because it always comes out as jealousy or envy even when it's not. No one expects Woody Allen to comment on Michael Bay's work.

The longer answer-well I'll send you a PM but I would tend to side with Spike but with this caveat-the issue shouldn't just necessarily be Perry's alleged lack of skills or endorsement of tired tropes/warmed over stereotypes.

The larger issue is that it's a cultural problem that Perry is just about the only black director who can get a movie greenlit and distributed with a predominantly black cast.

Directors have ups and downs; one could make a strong argument that Lee's muse has left him. But there should be room for plenty of black directors/writers; not just one or two. That's too much pressure to put on any one man.

Lilo,

Is that "your" review page? Pretty cool. I enjoyed reading the review because I believe the last and only time I saw "Straw Dogs" was when it was in the theater in 1971. (I know you were just a gleam you in father's eye)

Anyway, it refreshed my memory. Kind of a downer movie but I remember liking it. It's one Hoffman film that I don't think is ever shown on tv (or not often at least).

TIS

Yup, TIS. That's mine. There are many like it but that one is mine.

I think I will go see the remake just to see how they handle some of the film's more problematic scenes.

Cool. I assume you keep it current for the most part? I'll check it out from time to time.

Speaking of Straw Dogs and Hoffman movies, which back in the 70's they ALL were big and I've seen them most if not all of them. Another one that is never on tv and was popular was "Little Big Man."




TIS

James Marsden has always played such happy-go-lucky guys, I can't imagine him in this role. I'll look forward to a review!

SB,

I know that name (Marsden) what else was he in. I know I've seen him in something but not sure what? Do you know offhand?


TIS

He was Corny Collins in "Hairspray", Kevin in "27 Dresses" as well as the Prince in "Enchanted". He's usually funny, very smiley, so I can't imagine in such a dark role.

SB,

I heard of but didn't see any of those movies, so I did a search (which actually I should have done in the beginning) and the movie I recently saw him in was "The Box" with Cameron Diaz. HBO has been showing it fairly regularly and I knew the name rang a bell. Very different movie btw.


TIS

If you like musicals, "Hairspray" is wonderful. "Enchanted" is a very funny take on the typical fairy tale, and "27 Dresses" is a below-average rom-com, but it's fun.

I watched several repeat episodes of "Boardwalk Empire" yesterday on HBO just to refresh my memory. It really irks me how few episodes consist of a season and how damn long it is between seasons. Maybe I'm old but damn, it takes a refresher course to keep interested.

I also enjoy "Walking Dead", "The Killing" and "Mad Men" and again, they are off-season way longer than they are on.

Speaking of Boardwalk Empire, Martin Scorsese won for best director at the emmys yesterday. smile

TIS

MAYBE?????

It is still better than the long wait between seasons of "The Sopranos".

Oh yea, I hated the wait between Soprano seasons too, probably moreso. NONE of the cable shows(even with the long wait between seasons) I watch now, create the same excitement as when the Sopranos was on.



TIS