Quoting 'Gourmet Poker Club' quoting an article


"FAME magazine Aug 1989 old flame quotes"
by Gourmet Poker Club
http://stevemartin.com/messageboard/showMessage.php?subjectId=6844

In the August 1989 magazine, FAME, writer Patricia Bosworth interviewed Steve in an article titled "Who's That Climbing Steve Martin's Nose?" and I wanted to quote part of this article although it's ancient history (re: Steve and girlfriends). Here's the quotes from one of Steve's former girlfriends: "A lot of girls were crazy about him, but before Victoria came along he was just too driven and too career-oriented...Steve was always charming, a real gentleman. I remember we'd have these wonderful dinner parties with painters. But he used to tell me "I'll never get tied down" and "I'll never have children. I'm too selfish." The former girlfriend continues: "You'll never know, like, if he had a waterbed, like Warren Beatty. And Steve doesn't take drugs. He doesn't drink. You could say Steve is uptight and conservative. I'd say he was damn sensible...The secret to Steve Martin is: He is all about his work and he is all about Class. Style. Taste. That's why he collects art and lives in a high-tech house filled with beautiful objects. That's why he's attracted to beautiful, intelligent women --- never bimbos. It figures he married Victoria Tennant (in 1986). She is beautiful and British and smart and very feisty. And she apparently appreciates his weird sense of humor."
- posted by sookeyjane 3/30/2004 10:46:00 AM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

More on Father Ted


Sunday Mirror
March 28, 2004, Sunday
Eire Edition; NEWS; Pg. 23
PLASTERED PRIEST AND MANIC HOUSEKEEPER; AMERICA IS PLANNING A REMAKE OF FATHER TED BUT WHO WILL PLAY THE..
By DEIRDRE O'DONOVAN

IT'S been a long time coming but at American TV moguls are planning to remake the comedy classic Father Ted.

Funnyman Steve Martin has been lined up to play the title character, and Irish comic Graham Norton will play his simple side-kick Dougal.

But the roles of Father Jack and Mrs Doyle are still to be cast.

Today the Irish Sunday Mirror takes a look at which stars could be in the running to play our favourite plastered priest and manic housekeeper.

NICK NOLTE

THIS troubled star has also had a very public battle with the demon drink.

Recent mug-shots of the star following his arrest on drink driving charges prove he's got the Father Jack look down to perfection.

And also considering his career is on the skids, a move from movies to the small screen could be just what he needs.

But really we don't think he's got a prayer.

OZZY OSBOURNE

OUR favourite would have to be legendary rock God Ozzy Osbourne.

Years of drug and alcohol abuse have reduced the star to a dribbling, incoherent wreck - exactly like Father Jack.

Also, despite his extensive collection of diamond-encrusted crucifixes, he has no love for the Catholic Church.

In other words, he is perfect for the role.

JACK NICHOLSON

THIS Oscar-winning star has already played the devil himself, so why not a booze-guzzling, demonic priest?

And considering he does most of his acting with his eyebrows, Father Jack's limited vocabulary could fit Nicholson to a tee.

But given his Hollywood A-list status it would take a lot to get him on the small screen. And he might just be too cool to pull it off.

HILLARY CLINTON

THE former first lady has political ambitions of her own. And what better way to appease all those Catholics she offended with her pro-abortion stance than to star as a priest's housekeeper?

Also, living with a bunch of celibate priests means she could avoid any further sex scandals. She would be perfect for keeping those potty priests in line.

JAMIE LEE CURTIS

SHE has played some seriously sexy roles throughout her career.

But in recent years she has shed her sex-symbol status, posing for pictures showing her middle-age spread.

And she shocked fans at this year's Oscars with boring, short grey hair.

Given her comic timing and new dowdy look, she could be prefect as the new American Mrs. Doyle.

JOAN RIVERS

WHILE starring in the original series, actress Pauline McGlynn spent hours in make-up to perfect Mrs Doyle's grotesque features.

But Joan definitely won't have that trouble, given how much plastic surgery she's rumoured to have had.

Also, she won't have to practice being pushy, considering she's made a career out of it.

But the fact that she's Jewish might pose a few problems.

- posted by sookeyjane 3/28/2004 05:32:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

My 15 minutes of fame


Actually, this probably leaves me with about 10 minutes in reserve, but it's a thrill and a hoot to get mentioned.

The Guardian (London)
March 27, 2004
The Guide, Pg. 43
PREVIEW internet: Steve Martin WWW.COMPLEATSTEVE.COM
by johnny dee

Just like Viz, Private Eye and jokes involving constipation, Steve Martin is not as funny as he used to be. However, he remains a first class intellectual wit and a busy one at that. When not appearing in questionable comedies with Queen Latifah, Martin enjoys being linked to an ever revolving list of exciting hot projects. This fan site's New Stuff section will keep you abreast of ongoing developments - he's currently rumoured to be starring in the US version of Father Ted and opposite Beyonce in Pink Panther. There's also a great section on his brilliant essays for the New Yorker, transcripts of his Saturday Night Live sketches and, as if that weren't enough to be getting on with, tucked away in the links section is a clip of the bed scene in Planes, Trains And Automobiles. "Those aren't pillows!" jd


- posted by sookeyjane 3/27/2004 07:19:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

More Pink Panther News -- those Aussies are on top of things


1.

Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia)
March 28, 2004 Sunday
INSIDE ENTERTAINMENT; Pg. E03
Beyonce in the Pink for cult remake

BOOTYLICIOUS R&B singer Beyonce (below) is to star as the object of Steve Martin's affection when he revives the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the coming Pink Panther prequel.

Beyonce will play a pop star named Xania whose boyfriend is the owner of the infamous Pink Panther diamond. When he is found dead and the diamond goes missing, she becomes a suspect.

The movie will also star Kevin Kline as Chief Inspector Dreyfus.

The movie will begin filming in New York and Paris in May.

It has been a big week for Beyonce, who also broke down in tears at the Soul Train Awards when her proud Destiny's Child bandmates joined her onstage to celebrate her Entertainer of the Year honour.

2.

Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia)
March 28, 2004 Sunday
WORLD; Pg. 52
Becks' Pink part

DAVID Beckham is considering an offer to play a cameo role in a Pink Panther movie.

Film makers "have approached him to be in the film but he hasn't made a decision," an official for the Real Madrid and England soccer star said.

The Hollywood Reporter said the England captain would play a footballer in the film which follows the bungling French detective, Inspector Clouseau, as he tries to solve the theft of the Pink Panther diamond.

Clouseau is to be played by funnyman Steve Martin in a revival of the movies made famous by Peter Sellers.

The Birth of the Pink Panther will be out in July 2005.

3. (The Hollywood Reporter version)

The Hollywood Reporter
March 26, 2004, Friday
Beckham bent for 'Panther' prequel
Liza Foreman

David Beckham is in negotiations to join the cast of MGM's "The Pink Panther." The world's most celebrated soccer player would play a cameo role as _ what else? _ a soccer player in the prequel, which follows a detective solving the murder of a famous soccer coach and the theft of the Pink Panther diamond.

Talks for Beckham to take the role are hinging on resolving a scheduling conflict that MGM and Beckham's manager are trying to iron out. Beckham recently relocated to Spain, where he now plays for Real Madrid. It would be the first feature film appearance for Beckham, who was featured only in archive footage in the aptly named "Bend It Like Beckham," directed by Gurinder Chadha.

In "Pink Panther," Steve Martin stars as Inspector Clouseau, with Kevin Kline, Beyonce Knowles and Jean Reno also cast. Bob Simonds is producing, with Shawn Levy directing. The film is due to go into production in May and is scheduled for a July 2005 release.





- posted by sookeyjane 3/27/2004 07:17:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve Martin Action Figures !!!!


The New York Post
March 19, 2004 Friday
All Editions; Pg. 37
LUXE LICENSING - STUDIOS GO UPSCALE TO PROMOTE NEW FLICKS
SUZANNE KAPNER

MGM is giving the Pink Panther an upscale makeover.

In advance of a new movie to be released next year, the studio is pairing the cartoon cat with British shirt maker Thomas Pink, Italian scooter maker Vespa and other high-end brands.

Once the province of mass-market chains like Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Wal-Mart, movie-related promotions are increasingly going upmarket, as Hollywood studios look to create more stylish images for the properties they promote, marketing experts said.

"More and more movie promoters are trying to go upscale to give their characters a certain chic-ness," said Martin Brochstein, executive editor of The Licensing Letter.

Among the other studios opting for high-gloss tie-ins:

Warner Bros. has teamed with Henri Bendel for a line of "Catwoman"-inspired apparel and accessories, to be sold in the luxury department store in conjunction with the July 23 release of the Halle Berry movie.

Miramax, which is developing a movie based on the Archie comic books, has licensed the Betty and Veronica characters to Kitson, a trendy Los Angeles boutique that has incorporated their likenesses in a line of clothing, jewelry and accessories that will be available in May.

And The Walt Disney Co. has teamed with Fred Segal, the Los Angeles store to the stars, for a line of clothing bearing vintage characters like Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell.

With the Pink Panther turning 40 this year, MGM wanted a clean break from past marketing initiatives, which focused on teens and families - like the promotions at Saks Inc.'s Proffitt's department stores, which gave teen girls a free Pink Panther coin purse.

"The Peter Sellers movies really resonated with baby boomers, and we thought there was an opportunity to reposition the Pink Panther as an adult lifestyle brand," said Trish Halamandaris, MGM's global vice president of marketing for consumer products.

During last year's licensing show in New York, MGM executives convinced Thomas Pink to get on board with the anniversary celebration. The move is a first for the British retailer, which has introduced a line of limited-edition pink shirts as well as panther cuff links and ties.

"The marketing for the Pink Panther in the past had been on a mass level," said Thuy Tranthi, Thomas Pink's president. "They convinced us they wanted to take it to another level."

MGM also reached out to Vespa, which designed a special line of Pink Panther scooters in black, pink and purple. The bikes will be on display at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Bliss, the spa, will sell Ink Pink Blushing Balm, and Tarina Tarantino, who makes drop earrings and butterfly clips worn by Hollywood starlets Cameron Diaz and Ashley Judd, is in negotiations with MGM for a line of Pink Panther hair accessories.

Those chi-chi deals don't preclude Pink Panther action figures from being available at, say, McDonald's next year, when MGM releases the latest Pink Panther movie, which stars Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau.

But marketing experts said that although tie-ins with mass chains are still necessary to maximize box-office exposure, they are no longer the only way to go.

"We wanted to start upscale," Halamandaris said, "and then work our way down."
- posted by sookeyjane 3/23/2004 04:48:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve in a sitcom?


Daily Star (Britain)
March 14, 2004
NEWS; Pg. 12
A HOLY ROLE FOR NORTON

CAMP talk show host Graham Norton is set to star alongside movie comic Steve Martin in the US version of the Channel 4 hit Father Ted.

Norton, currently wowing TV audiences across the Atlantic, has made cameo appearances in the Anglo-Irish comedy.

Now he is to take over the role of simpleton priest Fr Dougal McGuire, played by Ardal O'Hanlon in the original show.

A programme insider said: "Graham can't do anything wrong at the moment as far as Americans are concerned.

"He will make a fortune from the series.

"Steve wasn't expected to agree to join the sitcom as he's such a big star but he'll make around GBP 500,000 an episode. He agreed because he's a big fan o the original show."

Martin will play the lead role of Fr Ted Crilly, who will be in charge of a parish on a small fictional island off New York.

Frazier star John Mahoney is being approached to be Fr Jack.
- posted by sookeyjane 3/18/2004 02:57:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

A new interview with Steve


Los Angeles Times
March 14, 2004 Sunday
Home Edition
SUNDAY CALENDAR; Calendar Desk; Part E; Pg. 43
Exposing more than 'Underpants'; Steve Martin turns an obscure 1911 German play into a relevant examination of momentary fame in modern America.
Richard Stayton

Steve MARTIN has had more than 25 years to contemplate the nature of fame, and he has a few favorite tales of his own.

"I had a hat and sunglasses on," he says, "which is what I always wear. I'm not trying to disguise myself." Indeed, Martin had just entered the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel lobby for a series of meetings wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses. "A guy passed by and said ..." -- Martin leans low to whisper in a conspiratorial accent -- " 'Enjoy your anonymity.' Then the guy walked on into the park."

The very famous comic laughs happily, delighted by the ironies. "That's my favorite!" But some moments are less lighthearted. Last week, Martin went to see rehearsals for "The Underpants," which opens at the Geffen Playhouse on Wednesday. It has been more than two years since Martin last saw his adaptation of German playwright Carl Sternheim's obscure 1911 satire, and he had forgotten its climactic moment. Watching it, he felt, was suddenly "chilling." In the Peninsula hotel, Martin now repeats his heroine's words, employing a veteran actor's character-driven empathy: "Something leaves me surprisingly empty...." Pause. "My fame is gone."

In the age of Paris Hilton and reality TV, are there more chillingly silly words to be uttered? Since he wrote "The Underpants" for the Classic Stage Company in New York in 2002, Martin has been working, doing stuff few famous people do: hosting the 75th annual Academy Awards; adapting and acting in a film version of his best-selling novella "Shopgirl" to be released this fall); writing a second novel, "The Pleasure of My Company"; starring in "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Bringing Down the House"; and writing "The Pink Panther," a prequel to the popular series and the first to star Martin as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. For such an artist, work is integral to fame.

When the Classic Stage's then-artistic director Barry Edelstein invited him to try adapting a play he'd never heard of, Martin simply said, "I like the title." He then proceeded to take what was essentially a political and marital farce and turn it into an exploration of the vagaries of fame. The premise remains that of the original: In 1910 Dusseldorf, Germany, during a full-dress military parade, the wife of a petty state bureaucrat drops her underpants as the kaiser rides by. Was it an accident? Or was it a Freudian slip by a sex-starved, neglected, bored housewife? Public scandal leads to notoriety, which leads to a brief flirtation with potential seducers who glimpsed her private parts, which leads to 15 minutes of dubious fame before the housewife is abruptly discarded back into grim obscurity.

At least that's how Sternheim's original satire of adultery concluded. However, Martin invented scenes, changed the ending and "modernized" the story. It is his own words, not Sternheim's, that sent a chill through the visiting playwright during the rehearsal.

"She was briefly the center of attention," Martin says with lingering traces of sorrow for his middle-class heroine. "I think about people who had momentary fame for a couple of years and then it's gone -- people in reality TV or a one-hit wonder in the music industry. Child actors have to deal with it a lot. They grow older, they're not on a sitcom anymore ... or when events thrust people into fame...."

He pulls another story from his personal narrative file. "During the O.J. Simpson [case]," he remembers, "I was in Europe, so I missed a lot of the details of what was going on. I happened to see the car chase [on TV] and that was about it. Weeks later, I came back to L.A. I was at a little lunch restaurant on Melrose, and a guy came up to my table, stuck out his hand, and said, 'Steve. Kato.' I didn't know who he was. His fame was kind of accidental, or tangential, and that's what this play was about for me."

But finding that meaning was difficult work for Martin at first, even with a literal translation from the German that had been commissioned by the Classic Stage Company.

"Die Hosen," Sternheim's first in a six-play cycle titled "Comedies from the Heroic Life of the Middle Class," was banned by the imperial authorities and then by the Nazis. For the world premiere, which was staged by the legendary Max Reinhardt, the Berlin censor would approve its production only after the title was changed to "The Giant," a reference to the heroics of the bombastic, egomaniacal husband whose machismo doesn't include sexually satisfying his wife. (Later English titles include "The Unmentionables" and "A Pair of Drawers.")

"As I read the original," Martin remembers, "I'd realize I didn't know what just happened. It didn't make sense. There was an untranslatable element in the original, which was a kind of verbal byplay. Almost like winking at the audience a bit. I could never figure out what that was. I read contemporary descriptions of the play, and I could see there was something beyond me and maybe even beyond translation because it was so linked to the times. But if it doesn't play now, you're not doing the original playwright any service. Working on it, I asked myself: 'Will this be a historical look at the play or will this be a modern entertainment?' And I decided to make it a modern entertainment, using Sternheim's themes and some of his lines.

"And then I found out as I was writing it that what it was about then was not going to work now for me as a writer. I found something else that it was about: fame. So I changed the thrust of the play from being a social commentary about the stupidity of the proletariat to sort of a discourse on momentary fame."

A flowing undercurrent

Martin's aesthetic decision emerged from his core preoccupations. He writes eloquently and often about the erotic obsessions of men for women. In "Shopgirl," the novella that Martin prefers to label a "tone poem," a middle-aged millionaire grows obsessed because, as the text reveals, "he cannot tell if the surface he glimpsed under Mirabelle's blouse was her skin or a flesh-colored nylon underthing. He lets the symbols of sex form their own strict logic. The white blouse implies the skin, which implies the bra, which implies her breasts, which implies her neck and her hair."

Ultimately, access provides "a unification of his self, made possible by the possession of his very opposite." And so in Martin's revision of "The Underpants," an unpublished -- "and proud of it" -- poet fondles a pair of women's undergarments, saying: "Soft. Sheer. That's nice. Thrilling to touch, but not as thrilling as the skin beneath it." These lines could just as easily appear in many of Martin's original works.

But a darker element continuously disturbed Martin while he worked on the adaptation: anti-Semitism. "There are very touchy things in the play," Martin admits, including a Jewish barber who risks his life to get close to the lady of the underpants. "So that's delicate for a white Texan to handle. In the original play, the Holocaust really resonates because it was written prior to the horrible events. You could see it coming in the Sternheim. I had a debate with Barry Edelstein whether the author was anti-Semitic or not. I thought not. I read research that sounded like he wasn't. He was saying this class was behaving badly toward the Jews. We never really resolved it."

In the New York premiere, director Edelstein gave the actor portraying the German bureaucrat a Hitlerian mustache and hair. But at the Geffen, director John Rando vows to concentrate on the comic: sexual obsession as farce.

"This play would basically never get any attention in the American theater," admits Rando, the Tony-winning director of "Urinetown." "But Steve breathed new life into a production that would otherwise be forgotten. "Besides, the term 'German farce' is an oxymoron except in Martin's hands."

"The Underpants" is scheduled to close the first decade of the Geffen Playhouse as the venerable Westwood theater goes dark for more than a year during renovation. Producing director Gilbert Cates selected the play in part because Martin's comedy "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" opened the Geffen 10 years ago. But it's not simple symmetry that brings "The Underpants" to L.A.

When this adaptation opened in New York, some critics accused Martin of inflating an irrelevant incident that may have been shocking -- "a glimpse of stocking" -- in a previous era, but is minor to the point of tedium today. Along came Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl, giving us the scandal of "Nipplegate." A glimpse of a female breast, exposed "accidentally" or not during a national event, ignited a political firestorm -- just like "The Underpants."

"At least with Jackson, there was talent involved. Today you can become famous for photographing yourself having sex," Martin adds, but this was hardly true a mere four years ago when Classic Stage's Edelstein initially proposed "The Underpants" to Martin. Have the times caught up with Martin's vision until he's neither wild nor crazy but a comic realist holding a mirror up to our notoriety-obsessed society?

Whatever he may be, Steve Martin is definitely famous. Even in the chic Peninsula lobby crowded with Hollywood insiders, industry professionals pause to stare at Martin as he rises to leave for his next meeting. He puts on his sunglasses, his baseball hat, and you can't help it. You just have to ask: "Is fame a burden for you, Mr. Martin?"

He considers the question, then answers honestly and directly: "Depends on your mood. The benefits of fame are really fantastic, I must say. You have a right to complain, of course, but...." He smiles at a secret anecdote, then laughs. "You have a right to complain -- privately."

*

'The Underpants'
Where: Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood
When: Opens Wednesday. Runs Tuesdays to Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 and 8:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m.
Ends: April 25
Price: $28 to $46
Contact: (310) 208-5454

- posted by sookeyjane 3/18/2004 02:22:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

The London version of the article on Steve's take on the Passion


There are a few minor differences... unless I read it too fast.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F03%2F07%2Fwpass07.xml&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=37443

Memo to Mel: Could the rabbis be Hispanic? And how about a title change? Lethal Passion. Kinda works
By Charles Laurence in New York
(Filed: 07/03/2004)


Steve Martin, the actor and comedian, has launched a biting satirical attack on Mel Gibson and his Hollywood version of the death of Jesus Christ, mocking the film as a piece of money-making showbusiness - and suggesting that he, too, regards it as anti-Semitic.

The 58-year-old actor, who starred in films such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Father of the Bride and himself earned a reputed $7 million for his lead role in Sergeant Bilko, penned a sharply worded column on the The Passion of the Christ for The New Yorker magazine.

While Mr Gibson, who made the film with his own money, claims that his intention was to produce a profound statement of his religious beliefs, Mr Martin - influenced, perhaps, by the film's ticket sales of $127 million in less than two weeks - appears to disagree.

In Mr Martin's column, "Stan", a fictitious studio boss, sends Mr Gibson "studio script notes" on The Passion, effusing excitedly at the commercial and dramatic prospects for the script he has just been sent but suggesting some changes to widen its appeal.

"Dear Mel, We love, love the script! The ending works great. You'll be getting a call from us to start negotiations for the book rights," he begins.

Jesus is such a "likeable" character, Mr Martin's fictional studio boss enthuses, because he "can't seem to catch a break" and everyone can identify with that. But there is a flaw that, he suggests, audiences will not understand. Why did Jesus not use his "superpowers" to save himself? An explanation is in order: cut away to two spectators, have the first pose the question and the second reply, "He can only use his superpowers to save others."

"Stan" proceeds to offer a list of helpful suggestions in memo form. "Does it matter which garden? Gethsemane is hard to say, and Eden is a much more recognisable garden. Just thinking out loud," he writes. Then there is the Last Supper. "Could he change water into wine in the Last Supper scene? Would be a great moment, and it's legit: history compression is a movie tradition and it could really brighten up the scene. Great trailer moment, too."

On the lengthy and gruesome scenes of Jesus being whipped, which have forced many cinemagoers to turn their heads, "Stan" remarks briefly: "Love the flaying."

Other suggestions he offers include: "Could the rabbis be Hispanic? There's lots of hot Latino actors now, could give us a little zing at the box office." And: "Possible title change: 'Lethal Passion.' Kinda works."

In a move that reflects Hollywood's practice of including a recognisable brand on screen in return for sponsorship from the manufacturer, "Stan" suggests some product placement.

"Is there someplace where Jesus could be using an iBook?" he asks. "Think about it. Maybe we start a shot in Heaven with Jesus thoughtfully closing the top."

Then there is the "merchandising". The Cross "has been done to death" and is in the public domain, so "Stan" suggests: "Could the Crucifixion scene involve something else? A Toyota would be wrong, but maybe there's a shape we can copyright, like a wagon wheel?"

Mr Martin's "Stan" thinks he has spotted a typing error - "Aramaic", the ancient language of the film, is surely meant to read "American". In a line that pointedly suggests Mr Martin shares the widespread belief that the film has anti-Semitic undertones, "Stan" points out another apparent spelling mistake. "In the description of the bystanders, there should be a space between the words 'Jew' and 'boy'," he writes.

Yesterday a spokesman for Icon Productions, Mr Gibson's production company, refused to comment on Mr Martin's column. Others have made similar criticisms less entertainingly, however, as the debate over the film continues to engulf America

Tony Kushner, the award-winning playwright whose Angels in America was recently made into a television series starring Emma Thompson, concluded in a review of the film for New York magazine: "There are Hollywood images that are not completely laughable. But I think this film is, in a classic sense, anti-Semitic - this film is a symptom of a very dark and troubling time. It's Oberammergau in Hollywood."

Frank Rich, the senior critic for The New York Times, who earned Mr Gibson's enmity by voicing concerns over anti-Semitism while The Passion was in production, wrote last week that the "jury was still out" on the film.

"What can be said without qualification is that the marketing of this film remains a masterpiece of ugliness typical of our cultural moment, when hucksters wield holier-than-thou piety as a club for their own profit," he wrote.

Mr Gibson has said in an interview that he would like Mr Rich's "guts on a stick". Entertainment Weekly magazine surveyed the box office receipts of the film and quoted a producer as saying that if he were Mr Gibson, he would instead "give Frank Rich 10 per cent of my profits". As the controversy rages, the money pours in.

- posted by sookeyjane 3/07/2004 11:07:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve's New Yorker article stirs controversy


http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/08/1078594276989.html
Entertainment/FilmMartin mocks Mel's Passion
March 8, 2004 - 12:55PM
Steve Martin ... sending up The Passion of the Christ.

Steve Martin has launched a biting satirical attack on Mel Gibson, mocking The Passion of the Christ as money-making showbusiness and suggesting it should have been called Lethal Passion.

The 58-year-old actor, who starred in films such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Father of the Bride and himself earned a reputed $7 million for his lead role in Sergeant Bilko, penned a sharply worded column on the The Passion of the Christ for The New Yorker magazine.

While Mr Gibson, who made the film with his own money, claims that his intention was to produce a profound statement of his religious beliefs, Mr Martin - influenced, perhaps, by the film's ticket sales - appears to disagree.

The film has grossed $280 million in two weeks in the United States and Canada and is expected to top $400 million, said Bob Berney, president of distributor Newmarket Films.

In Martin's column, "Stan", a fictitious studio boss, sends Mr Gibson "studio script notes" on The Passion, effusing excitedly at the commercial and dramatic prospects for the script he has just been sent but suggesting some changes to widen its appeal.

"Dear Mel, We love, love the script! The ending works great. You'll be getting a call from us to start negotiations for the book rights," he begins.

Jesus is such a "likeable" character, Mr Martin's fictional studio boss enthuses, because he "can't seem to catch a break" and everyone can identify with that. But there is a flaw that, he suggests, audiences will not understand. Why did Jesus not use his "superpowers" to save himself? An explanation is in order: cut away to two spectators, have the first pose the question and the second reply, "He can only use his superpowers to save others."

"Stan" proceeds to offer a list of helpful suggestions in memo form.

"Does it matter which garden? Gethsemane is hard to say, and Eden is a much more recognisable garden. Just thinking out loud," he writes.

Then there is the Last Supper. "Could he change water into wine in the Last Supper scene? Would be a great moment, and it's legit: history compression is a movie tradition and it could really brighten up the scene. Great trailer moment, too."

On the lengthy and gruesome scenes of Jesus being whipped, which have forced many cinemagoers to turn their heads, "Stan" remarks briefly: "Love the flaying."

Other suggestions he offers include: "Could the rabbis be Hispanic? There's lots of hot Latino actors now, could give us a little zing at the box office." And: "Possible title change: 'Lethal Passion.' Kinda works."
In a move that reflects Hollywood's practice of including a recognisable brand on screen in return for sponsorship from the manufacturer, "Stan" suggests some product placement.

"Is there someplace where Jesus could be using an iBook?" he asks. "Think about it. Maybe we start a shot in Heaven with Jesus thoughtfully closing the top."

Then there is the "merchandising". The Cross "has been done to death" and is in the public domain, so "Stan" suggests: "Could the Crucifixion scene involve something else? A Toyota would be wrong, but maybe there's a shape we can copyright, like a wagon wheel?"

Mr Martin's "Stan" thinks he has spotted a typing error - "Aramaic", the ancient language of the film, is surely meant to read "American". In a line that pointedly suggests Mr Martin shares the widespread belief that the film has anti-Semitic undertones, "Stan" points out another apparent spelling mistake. "In the description of the bystanders, there should be a space between the words 'Jew' and 'boy'," he writes.

A spokesman for Icon Productions, Mr Gibson's production company, refused to comment on Mr Martin's column. Others have made similar criticisms less entertainingly, however, as the debate over the film continues to engulf America.

Tony Kushner, the award-winning playwright whose Angels in America was recently made into a television series starring Emma Thompson, concluded in a review of the film for New York magazine: "There are Hollywood images that are not completely laughable. But I think this film is, in a classic sense, anti-Semitic - this film is a symptom of a very dark and troubling time. It's Oberammergau in Hollywood."

Frank Rich, the senior critic for The New York Times, who earned Mr Gibson's enmity by voicing concerns over anti-Semitism while The Passion was in production, wrote last week that the "jury was still out" on the film.

"What can be said without qualification is that the marketing of this film remains a masterpiece of ugliness typical of our cultural moment, when hucksters wield holier-than-thou piety as a club for their own profit," he wrote.

Mr Gibson has said in an interview that he would like Mr Rich's "guts on a stick". Entertainment Weekly magazine surveyed the box office receipts of the film and quoted a producer as saying that if he were Mr Gibson, he would instead "give Frank Rich 10 per cent of my profits". As the controversy rages, the money pours in.

Originally in The Sunday Telegraph, London


Note: the image which appears below accompanied the article. i did not photoshop this one. sj.



- posted by sookeyjane 3/07/2004 11:03:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Exerpt from book about dating Steve


There is an article about this book and its Steve connection in the January 11, 2004 blog entry (see archives for that month). It tells all about the book. Here are the relevant exerpts.

Elisabeth Robinson
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters.
New York: Little, Brown and Company (2004).

[excerpt pp. 66-69 letter to sister with leukemia about a date with THE Steve]

October20, 1998
The Basement

Maddie,

I thought you of all people would be excited about me dating a celebrity. That jab about forgetting who I am was out of line. (And what did you mean by that, anyway?) Robin Williams wanted to introduce us; I’m going to say no? I don’t think it’s going very well, anyway. I just got home from my third date. I wish you were up, because I’m dying to talk to you. What do you make of this?

After dinner (cooked by his private chef, of course) I asked Steve to show me his art collection, which is incredible. Most of it was on loan to a gallery in Aspen at the moment, so where all the Hoppers and Picassos usually hung were only rectangles lit by spotlights. A few lesser works still remained, but the best pieces, he said, were in his bedroom.

Aha, I said. Are you going to show me your “etchings”? I was making a joke, and since he’s a comedian, I thought he’d get it, but he looked sickened, like either it was a really lame joke or he was horrified that I was serious and might jump him. Still, he led me down a long hallway, I mean long hallway, to his bedroom. A white bedspread covered a king-size mahogany four-poster, which domi­nated the room. I saw a painting and made a beeline for it. I stood in front of it, looking at it. It was an unamazing landscape by some very famous midcentury Californian artist I’ve never heard of. I said, This is amazing. I said it a few times: This is amazing. He told me about the artist and the painting, but if I found it interesting then, I sure don’t now; I can’t tell you a word about it. I remember thinking, Wouldn’t it be ironic if this movie star falls in love with me because Michael taught me enough about art that I could spew some decent art-appreciation nonsense about the artist’s brush stroke and color palette evoking the late-afternoon light of the dying frontier? It’s the way life works. All those afternoons at the Met or MoMA with Michael end up paying off big.

I stepped over the sisal to the other lit landscape, this one by some other guy, don’t ask me who, and that’s when I heard the first tenta­tive twangs of the banjo. Steve was sitting on his bed strumming his banjo. He was. And what was I supposed to do then? Continue to express my appreciation of the famous painting or direct my admira­tion toward his musical talent? I felt like a mother of hungry twins. I love this, I said, nodding at the painting, I just love it.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

Very. Then, smiling at him adoringly, I said, You’re good.

Oh, thanks.

He kept playing. Now I’m standing there in his bedroom, and he’s playing his banjo. Should I sit on the floor at his feet? Pull up a Biedermeier and settle in? I remained standing, arms folded across my chest, grinning at his banjo, nodding my head. What should I have done, Maddie?

He played for about twelve minutes. In fact, I know it was twelve minutes because I couldn’t help seeing over his shoulder on the bedside table the red numbers of his LCD clock. It felt longer. Like an hour and a half. At 9:53 he stopped playing, and the minute he did I said, God, you are good (and he really is).

Thank you.

Then he walked me to my car.

What’s that? You know this happened the last time, too, when I sat on the couch in the living room: out came the banjo. I listened and wondered, Could this be a pass? How do I get by the banjo? If I make a move will he think I’m just a star-fucker, some cheap groupie who’s only attracted to him because he’s a celebrity? If I don’t make a move will he think I’m not interested? The first time he played I assumed I should sing along. I wasn’t familiar with the song so I just hummed, demurely slapping my hand on my thigh to the rhythm, but he got that pained look on his face, which is why this time I just listened rapturously. I waited for him to throw the banjo aside and make wild love to me, but as painful as this is to admit, he somehow just didn’t find me irresistible.

Even if tonight I did find a way to his heart (or whatever), I don’t see why you’re not more supportive. You hinted that I might have had ulterior motives i.e., all that money! -- but that’s not true. I think he’s cute. And obviously very funny. And smart. I’d never marry for money. I know too many girls out here who did and they paid with their lives, Mad. I may be desperate -- well, yes, I am desperate -- but I’m not easy, so I’d never get that kind of job offer. Men who buy their wives prefer models with fewer neuroses, slimmer egos, and hobbies, not career ambitions usually just plain models. I don’t think I’ll be finding my way out of this hole I’m in with the help of a rich husband. Besides, I’m too romantic. There is only one way I’d live with a man again, and that is for true love. The kind you have with Bobby. The kind the movies portray so well. The kind I had, briefly, with Michael.

It’s late. I better sign off. I have an early meeting with Warners tomorrow; they seem pretty serious about the movie. You’re not lying to me about your counts, are you? Mom says you don’t look so good. I hope you’re being straight with me, Madeline Anne. Don’t sugarcoat things for me, okay?

I love you,

Liv



[excerpt pp. 211-212] (from letter to best friend Tina dated February 1, 1999, Hollywood Hills concerning events at a movie premiere and after party)

The movie was godawful, but I said it was incredible because Russell represents the director. The minute we were outside he grabbed my elbow and pushed me like a lawn mower over to the Armand Hammer Museum, where the party was being held. A red carpet, taped down with silver duct tape, stretched from the door of the Westwood Theater three blocks to the museum. Inside there was the usual mix of stars and jumbo shrimp. I know I sound jaded, Tina, but after you do these things once a week for a few years, how can you not be? It’s like going to the office Christmas party every week, only it’s covered by ET and CNN because Ben Affieck and Susan Sarandon are going to be there. Even my first few times seemed odd to me: you get dressed up, sometimes in black tie, park in an underground lot, and walk into a mall to watch a movie, while news cameras follow you as if walking itself were a newsworthy event.

This one was pretty well attended: besides the stars from the movie, there were lots of A-list names walking around, like Brad and Jennifer, Jack, Warren, and Steve -- yes, Tina, that Steve. As he walked by, he smiled at me and I smiled back. I still wonder what happened and what I was supposed to do.... Oh, well.

****
- posted by sookeyjane 3/06/2004 02:08:00 AM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Beyonce in Pink Panther?


Daily Variety
March 5, 2004, Friday
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 5
Duo hot on the trail of 'Pink Panther' remake
MICHAEL FLEMING

MGM is in talks with Beyonce Knowles to play the chief suspect in a diamond heist in "The Pink Panther" and has tapped French star Jean Reno ("Ronin") to play Inspector Clouseau's traveling companion.

Steve Martin plays the comical French detective as he bumbles through the investigation to find the legendary "Pink Panther" diamond ring.

Reno will play his driver Ponton, who's secretly an undercover cop assigned by the boss to keep an eye on Clouseau. Knowles is eyeing the role of Xania, a pop singer whose suddenly dead boyfriend owned the rock.

"Panther" pic, which began with a Len Blum script, is now prepping after Martin turned in a polish of the script. Shawn Levy ("Cheaper by the Dozen") is directing. Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock produce. MGM's Toby Jaffe is steering the pic.

Reno, best known in the U.S. for "The Professional," last filmed the French films "Crimson Rivers 2" and "Empire of the Wolves." Knowles debuted in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" and starred in "The Fighting Temptations."
- posted by sookeyjane 3/05/2004 04:10:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve takes on The Passion


The New Yorker
March 5, 2004
?Studio Script Notes on ?The Passion? ?
Steve Martin

Dear Mel,

We love, love the script! The ending works great. You'll be
getting a call from us to start negotiations for the book rights.

?Love the Jesus character. So likable. He can't seem to catch a break!
We identify with him because of it. One thing: I think we need to
clearly state "the rules." Why doesn't he use his superpowers to save
himself? Our creative people suggest that you could simply cut away to
two spectators:

SPECTATOR ONE
Why doesn't he use his superpowers to save himself?

SPECTATOR TWO
He can only use his powers to help others, never himself.

?Does it matter which garden? Gethsemane is hard to say, and Eden is a
much more recognizable garden. Just thinking out loud.

?Our creative people suggest a clock visual fading in and out in certain
scenes, like the Last Supper bit: "Thursday, 7:43 P.M.," or "Good
Friday, 5:14 P.M."

?Love the repetition of "Is it I?" Could be very funny. On the eighth
inquiry, could Jesus just give a little look of exasperation into the
camera? Breaks frame, but could be a riot.

?Also, could he change water into wine in Last Supper scene? Would be a
great moment, and it's legit. History compression is a movie tradition
and could really brighten up the scene. Great trailer moment, too.

?Love the flaying.

?Could the rabbis be Hispanic? There's lots of hot Latino actors now,
could give us a little zing at the box office. Research says there's
some historical justification for it.

?Possible title change: "Lethal Passion." Kinda works. The more I say it
out loud, the more I like it.

?Is there someplace where Jesus could be using an iBook? You know, now
that I say it, it sounds ridiculous. Strike that. But think about it.
Maybe we start a shot in Heaven with Jesus thoughtfully closing the top?

?Love the idea of Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene (yow!). Our creative
people suggest a name change to Heather. Could skew our audience a
little younger.

?Love Judas. Such a great villain. Our creative people suggest that he's
a little complicated. Couldn't he be one thing? Just bad? Gives the
movie much more of a motor. Also, thirty pieces of silver is not going
to get anyone excited. I think it'd be very simple to make him a "new
millionaire." Bring in the cash on a tray. Great dilemma that the
audience can identify with. ?Minor spelling error: on page 18, in the
description of the bystanders, there should be a space between the words
"Jew" and "boy."

?Merchandising issue: it seems the Cross image Has been done to death
and is public domain?we can't own it. Could the Crucifixion scene
involve something else? A Toyota would be wrong, but maybe there's a
shape we can copyright, like a wagon wheel?

?I'm assuming "The dialogue is in Aramaic" is a typo for "American." If
not, call me on my cell, or I'm at home all weekend.

By the way, I'm sending a group of staffers on a cruise to the North
Pole, coincidentally around the time of your picture's release. Would
love to invite your dad!

See you at the movies!

Yours,
Stan

- posted by sookeyjane 3/05/2004 03:57:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

umm.... found it, I stole it


http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/mar/05/yehey/enter/20040305ent1.html
Manilla Times
Friday, March 05, 2004
5 minutes with Steve Martin
By Ivor Davis , ENS

MULTI-TALENTED Steve Martin seems to turn to gold everything he touches.

Oscar host, funnyman, author, playwright and movie star, Martin has many versatile arrows to his entertainment bow.

In the remake of the 1950 comedy Cheaper by The Dozen starring Clifton Webb, Martin plays football coach Tom Baker, who has to juggle responsibilities for his rambunctious, oversized family and his new college football team while his wife (played by Bonnie Hunt) is away on a book tour.

Martin brings his own special zany touch to the comic role in this family movie (opening December 25), but he faces a much bigger challenge next year when he tackles the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in a prequel to the old Pink Panther series.

While few moviegoers will be able to compare Martin to Clifton Webb, the same cannot be said for Clouseau, who was immortalized by the late great British actor Peter Sellers in five films.

Martin, who may also do a Bringing Down the House sequel, is currently filming opposite Claire Danes in Shopgirl, based on his own best-selling novel.

Not surprisingly, the Santa Barbara-based, one-time Saturday Night Live host who has made his mark as one of the most brilliant comedic talents in the world, does not offer the usual movie star patter when it comes to interviews to sell his movies.

Question: How was it working with Bonnie Hunt?

Answer: Delicious. She’s very funny with a sharp sense of humor, sharp like cheddar cheese. Is cheddar cheese sharp? Anyway, that’s a bad metaphor. So, we talked and had time together, and had dinners with Tom Welling (who plays his son), who’s a very sweet talented guy.

Q: How about all those kids under your feet?

A: Delicious. They’re fun. You get the best of them too, because you’re not dealing with their downtime as parents have to do, when they’re grumpy or upset. I mean, what can be cuter than an 8-year-old or a 9-year-old, if they’re cute [Laughs].

Q: What was the appeal of this role?

A: I found the script so moving at the end that no matter what had gone on before—and the script was rewritten after I signed on—but the end always got me. It always made me kind of teary. Then, you meet the director, and you realize, “OK, I like this guy,” and the same thing with Bringing Down the House, with that Adam Shankman. I liked his enthusiasm and the spirit of the comedies. I do look at who’s going to be around.

Q: What’s this movie about?

A: It’s a booster for people who are in families, because no matter what the joy is, it’s also a lot of work. You can be overcome with work and then, maybe, also for the child too, you’re frustrated in your family and then, you see a movie like this and it gives you that little boost of love or confidence or morality.

Q: Did you see the old version of Cheaper?

A: I saw it as a kid, and the ending is different. The father dies. I don’t want that.

Q: What persuaded you to do it?

A: I thought about it for two months, and turned it down twice. What changed my mind was that Shawn Levy, the director, talked to me about it and I said, “Well, I did have this one idea.” Shawn said, “Well, that sounds kind of funny,” and then, I said, “Let me play with the script a little bit.” I went home and started writing the script without anyone knowing it. I liked what I came up with and so, here I am promoting Cheaper by the Dozen.

Q: Are you going to write the Clouseau film as well?

A: I’m going to at least co-write it. They have a script, and I’ve been working on that, and I don’t know how that works. I don’t know whose name will be on it, but I’m working very hard on it.

Q: Are you doing Bringing Down the House II?

A: There’s no script. Shopgirl will be my next film and it’ll be done in two weeks. We’ll start in three days. I’m kidding. I wrote it and it should be out next October.

Q: Do you have another play in you?

A: No, just little scraps of things, but those take years to bubble up.

Q: How do you feel about tackling the legendary Clouseau?

A: I understand that they’re firing Peter Sellers. I don’t know, I just heard that he wasn’t doing the publicity. I’m very, very enthusiastic and very challenged by it. I just want it to be really, really funny.

Q: How will you tackle this prequel? Do you have to come up with something totally new, or stay with some of the same fun of that character?

A: You know, it’s unformed. It’s too early to talk about it because it’ll ruin it.

Q: Are you hesitant because Clouseau is such a classic icon?

A: That’s one thing, and it’s whether it could be sort of updated and vitalized with another actor. The thing about Peter Sellers was that he was the absolute, perfect person for that character that he created. So, my task is to, within the context of The Pink Panther, create a character that I feel that comfortable and funny in.

Q: Did you know Bringing Down the House was going to be a big hit?

A: We knew that it was, what they call, scoring well, but you never know about things.

Q: Was it your biggest hit since Parenthood?

A: Yes, my biggest hit ever. But I don’t know how you judge today’s dollars against old dollars. The Jerk was a big hit, too.

Q: Are you working on another book?

A: I just released another book, Pleasure of My Company. So, I’m really working on Panther.

Q: Do you have a role in the movie of your book, Shopgirl?

A: I wrote the screenplay and I’m in it. So, it’s not as scary as if someone else wrote the screenplay and someone else was in it. No, I’m quite enchanted with the movie. We have some great people working on it.

Q: When did you know you were funny?

A: I don’t know if I ever thought that I was funny, but I knew that I loved comedy early on from watching television and watching movies.

Q: Who makes you laugh?

A: I like David Letterman. Scooby-Doo, I don’t know. Daffy Duck is fun. I had dinner with him once.

Q: Do you feel any pressure in real life to be funny and live up to your image?

A: I don’t feel pressure when I’m around strangers. I like to be funny around friends. I feel pressure to be funny here. Although, I’m not being very funny. I gave that up a long time ago.
- posted by sookeyjane 3/05/2004 03:52:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve at the Oscar festivities


Daily News (New York)
March 1, 2004 Monday
SPORTS FINAL EDITION
GOSSIP; LOWDOWN; Pg. 23
FOR OSCARS, PARIS POOLS HER ASSETS
LLOYD GROVE WITH ELISA LIPSKY-KARASZ

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. - ****

Sister act

There are the Hilton sisters - and then there are the Gore sisters.

Karenna Gore Schiff and her younger sibling Kristin wore demure spring-like dresses to the Hollywood power picnic lunch hosted by Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenburg in honor of Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter.

Their garb was in contrast to the inescapable Paris - whose flimsy micro-miniskirt rode so low on her nut-brown derriere that an indentation was visible, prompting an entertainment exec to muse dreamily on the lush Diller/von Furstenberg lawn: "The urge to put one's hand down there is almost irresistible."

Sipping lemonade, the 26-year-old Kristin told me that after four years in La La Land as a television comedy writer (for the Fox animated series "Futurama," among others), she's pulling up stakes and moving to Boston to be with her fiancé, a top aide to Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.).

Al and Tipper Gore's second daughter added that she has just finished her first novel, a Washington comedy titled "Sammy's Hill," to be published in September by Miramax Books.

"Oh, look, there's Steve Martin!" Kristin said in hushed tones, spotting the back of the white-maned funnyman's head amid a crowd that included Ellen DeGeneres and girlfriend Alexandra Hedison, Tom Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson, Diane Sawyer, Ron Perelman and wife Ellen Barkin, Miramax honcho Harvey Weinstein, Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing and the usual army of moguls and agents.

"I was hoping I would meet Steve Martin this weekend," Kristin gushed. "I just have to talk to him!" She quickly was deep in conversation with Martin, telling him about a character in her novel who happens to be "obsessed" with him.

"I hope you won't mind that you're named in my book," Gore told the comic.

"Oh, not at all. I'm delighted. I will read it with interest," Martin replied. "Or my lawyer will read it with interest."

****


- posted by sookeyjane 3/04/2004 08:50:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Oscar Night, 2004


Although Steve left his girl in New York City, he has a hot date with Martin Short for the Vanity Fair Oscar party, 29 Feb 2004.



- posted by sookeyjane 3/02/2004 03:01:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS