Spike Lee signs with ABC; Blondie stays apart for now
FILM
Spike Lee recently signed with ABC television - apparently the director plans on creating a sitcom called "LIE." Developed and executive-produced by Lee, the 1997 show will follow the happenings of two Long Island Expressway commuters, one black, one white.
Mark Canton, the 47-year-old chairman of the Columbia Tri-Star Motion Picture group resigned mid-month after five years with the company. Why? Namely three reasons: 1.) "Striptease" 2.) "The Cable Guy" 3.) "The Fan." After all, who would want to stay after the flop of such high-priced, hyped-up films? The position, which has already been declined by vice chairman Lucy Fisher, still needs to be filled.
Oops. Apparently, Sharon Stone made a mistake last week at the Tribute to Style dinner and charity auction sponsored by Italian Vogue and Lexus. Special guest Placido Domingo sang a rendition of "Granada," and afterward, Stone thanked him for "not grabbing my ass." Stone wrote off her mistake by saying: "It's an Italian thing." According to the actress, people can expect to get their butts grabbed in Italy; but, Domingo set her straight. Italians pinch, not grab.
Because we enjoyed her bathtub rendition of Prince's "Kiss" so much in "Pretty Woman," Julia Roberts is going to sing for us again in Woody Allen's musical comedy "Everyone Says I Love You," starring Goldie Hawn, Alan Alda, Drew Barrymore and Allen himself. Roberts' vocal ability also helped her get a supporting role in Neil Jordan's "Michael Collins," due out next week. Who knew?
MUSIC
Despite numerous reports that '70s new-wave rockers Blondie have reformed, this does not yet appear to be the case. Singer Deborah Harry told "Entertainment Weekly" that the former members of the group did get together at a studio for a test recording session with producer Mike Chap-man or, as she put it, "to feel each other out, basically." According to Harry, no decision has yet been made as to whether the group will actually reform, cut an album, shoot a video and tour.
Beat poet Allen Ginsberg teamed with director Gus Van Sant ("My Own Private Idaho") this past Sunday to film a video for his song "The Ballad of the Skeletons." The video, which is expected to mix the new footage of the poet with stock political footage, is for the single that Ginsberg recorded with Paul McCartney, Phillip Glass, Lenny Kaye and Mark Ribot.
Filter co-founder Brian Liesegang says the band definitely has some reservations about releasing a home video, the upcoming "Phenomenology" (due Oct. 22). "It seems a little pretentious for a baby band to put out a long-form video documentary," Liesegang says. "But we had this footage from the last two years, and from the making of the record, because everybody around us always has a camera running, so we gave it to a friend of ours who's a director and asked him to make sense of it."
For those who yearn for punk rock like it used to be, meet Les Thugs. The foursome from Angers, France, sing in English, record with Steve Albini and lay down hypnotic riffs the likes of Green Day can only dream about. They've just released Strike, their seventh album of heavy rock 'n' roll originals, on Sub Pop. "They had an engaging, immediate live presentation," says Sub Pop founder Johnathan Poneman. "They're a great live band, and I think they're melodies are exquisite. They don't sell a whole lot of records, but there's something to be said for a band that puts out consistently great albums."
Babes in Toyland, an all-female rock trio, has a new bassist. Her name is Danna Cochran, and she previously played with the Minneapolis band Mickey Finn. According to Reprise Records, Cochran will join the band immediately on the road, replacing departed bass player and original member Maureen Herman.
Mark the date of Oct. 29th for the release of the second In Defense of Animals compilation, in support of the organization of the same name, dedicated to ending the "institutionalized abuse of animals by protecting their rights, welfare and habitat." If nothing else, check it out because the music on it is great. Of course, the message behind it is worthy as well, but where else can you find exclusive tracks from Meat Beat Manifesto ("We Done it Again"), Belly ("Spaceman"), Massive Attack vs. Mad Professor ("Cosmic Dub") and a bunch of exclusive mixes and previously unreleased tracks from the likes of White Zombie, Moby, Mike Watt, Alice Donut and The Orb? The CD also boasts tracks from Elastica, Bjork, the Chemical Brothers, the Beastie Boys, Ruby, PJ Harvey, KRS-ONE and Morphine. Of special note is the inclusion of a loping, sing-along acoustic ditty from Aleka's Attic, the band formed by the late River Phoenix and sibling Rain Phoenix. Their brief (1:05), previously unreleased track, "Note to a Friend," is, ironically, about seeking "better days" and escaping the pain of denial.
Filmmaker Spike Lee intends on creating a sitcom called "LIE" for ABC.
Poet Allen Ginsberg