FILM/ JAMES FRANCO CASTS LEAD IN SAL MINEO BIOPIC: James Franco's forthcoming Sal Mineo biopic has cast Val Lauren in the title role. The film, tentatively titled "Sal," tells the story of the actor best known for his appearance opposite James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. Produced by Franco's Rabbit Bandini shingle, the film will begin shooting in Los Angeles in early summer. It has been adapted for the screen by Franco from a recently released biography of Mineo by Michael Gregg Michaud. Lauren's credits include the independent film "Dallas 362" (2003) and "Help," a short film he wrote, directed and produced. Lauren, pictured to the right of Franco, also appears in the season finale of "Hawaii Five-O" on May 16. Mineo, who was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar twice, in 1955 for "Rebel" and in 1960 for "Exodus," was murdered in West Hollywood in 1976 at the age of 37. The actor, who was gay, played the part of John "Plato" Crawford in "Rebel," and according to critics, Mineo broke ground for his subtle portrayal of a homosexual character.
Dolores Fuller, the onetime actress-girlfriend of cross-dressing movie director Ed Wood who co-starred with Wood in his low-budget 1950s cult classic "Glen or Glenda," has died. She was 88. Fuller, whose show business career included writing the lyrics to a dozen Elvis Presley movie songs, died Monday at her home in Las Vegas after a long illness. As the former girlfriend and two-time leading lady for the legendary filmmaker who came to be known as the world's worst movie director, the pair are pictured in "Glen or Glenda," Fuller became something of a cult figure herself in her later years, with the release of director Tim Burton's biopic "Ed Wood," starring Johnny Depp as the eccentric D-movie director and Sarah Jessica Parker as Fuller. She was a bit movie player, a model on TV's "Queen for a Day" and Dinah Shore's stand-in on the star's musical TV show when she responded to a casting call and met Wood in late 1952. "When I got to the casting call and first laid eyes on the young Edward, I just thought he was extremely handsome, and his personality was bubbly and fun," Fuller recalled in a 1994 interview for Fangoria magazine. The divorced Fuller soon moved in with Wood, who cast her in "Glen or Glenda," the 1953 film in which she played the fiancee of Wood's secret cross-dresser who has a passion for angora sweaters. Fuller, who described herself as the "breadwinner" while she and Wood lived together, went on to star in his 1954 crime thriller "Jail Bait." She also had a small part in his 1955 horror film "Bride of the Monster." Wood had written that movie for her to play the female lead, but then gave it to another actress. That, combined with his drinking, led Fuller to split up with him in 1955. She moved to New York, where she studied with Stella Adler at the Actors Studio. A friendship with producer Hal Wallis led to her co-write (with composer Ben Weisman) "Rock-a-Hula Baby" for Presley's 1961 movie "Blue Hawaii". She went on to co-write other songs for Presley movies such as "Kid Galahad," "It Happened at the World's Fair," "Fun in Acapulco" and "Spinout," as well as co-writing "Someone to Tell it To," which was recorded by Nat King Cole, and "Losers Weepers," which was recorded by Peggy Lee. Fuller also founded a record company, launched Johnny Rivers' recording career and served as a talent manager. She is survived by her family.
The network upfronts don't begin until next week, but FOX has already announced most of what programs are in and what is out. FOX picked up 4 pilots to series, 2 dramas and 2 comedies, while removing 5 others from its existing schedule. One of the shows added is J.J. Abrams "Alcatraz," a crime drama revolving around Alcatraz and the team investigating the mysterious reappearance of its 1960s inhabitants in the present. It stars Jorge Garcia from "Lost". Also added are "The Finder," "The New Girl" and "I Hate My Teenage Daughter". Freshman comedy "Breaking In," starring Christian Slater, is canceled as is freshman police drama "The Chicago Code" with Jason Clarke, Jennifer Beals and Matt Lauria. Freshman buddy comedy "Traffic Light," based on an Israeli format, has also been canceled, along with Sophomore drama "Human Target". "Lie to Me," the Tim Roth drama now in its 3rd season, is also reportedly dead. "Fringe" has been renewed. Full details will be revealed on Monday, when FOX makes its upfront presentation in New York.
Nominations were announced today for the 38th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, to be broadcast live from the Las Vegas Hilton on Sunday, June 19 on CBS. Wayne Brady, host of CBS' "Let's Make a Deal," will host. Pat Sajak of "Wheel of Fortune" and Alex Trebek of "Jeopardy!" will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards. PBS led the networks with the number of Emmys: 57. ABC was closely behind with 56. Syndicated shows earned 43, while CBS received 42. Nickelodeon beat NBC, with 25 and 15 respectively. "General Hospital" was the most-nominated show, garnering 21. "The Young and the Restless" was #2 with 20 noms, and "Sesame Street" earned 16. "All My Children" and "One Life to Live," which have been canceled, earned 13 and 12 respectively. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" received more than double "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which will go off the air this month after 25 years. DeGeneres' talker was nominated 12 times, Winfrey's, 5. The "Today" show and "The View" each earned 6. "Good Morning America" earned 1, and the CBS Early Show was left off the list. And, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear" nabbed 4 noms. A full list of all nominations can be found the Emmy website.
MUSIC/ EUROVISION 2011 SEMI'S BEGIN: The Eurovision 2011 semi-finals began last night and 9 countries have already been ruled out of the song contest. Turkey, always a favorite, was eliminated from the competition. Norway, Albania, Armenia and Croatia are among other countries that will not progress to the next stage. Turkey's exit marks the 1st time the country has failed to reach the final stage since semi-finals were introduced in 2004. Turkey, represented by Yuksek Sadakat this year, who is pictured last night, 1st participated in Eurovision in 1975 and won the competition in 2003. Its elimination follows a creditable 2nd place at last year's event, won by German entrant Lena Meyer-Landrut. Serbia, Greece and Azerbaijan are among the 10 countries whose songs will go on to feature in Saturday's main event. Twins Jedward will represent Ireland at the 2nd semi-final, to be held tomorrow in Dusseldorf, Germany. The twins John and Edward Grimes will share the stage with another set of identical siblings, Slovakian duo Daniela and Veronika, aka TWiiNS. The 20 successful semi-finalists will be joined by the so-called "big five" countries, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK, who qualify automatically. Britain will be represented this year by newly reformed former Blue, whose song, "I Can," will be the 14th song performed at Saturday's finals.
"Wonderland," the new musical that reinvents "Alice in Wonderland" for the 21st century, will close May 15 at Broadway's Marquis Theatre, the producers announced last night. A national tour is in the works. At close, the tale of a modern-day New York City mom who konks her head and is transported to a subterranean, pop-and-rock-flavored Wonderland will have played 31 previews and 33 performances. Critics did not embrace this modern riff on the fantastical world created by 19th-century British writer Lewis Carroll ("Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," 1865), who makes an appearance in Act Two of the show by Gregory Boyd (book and direction), Frank Wildhorn (music) and Jack Murphy (book and lyrics). Previews for "Wonderland" began March 21 and the musical opened April 17. A cast album was released May 3. "Wonderland" received no Tony nominations last week. Despite this multimillion dollar loss, Wildhorn is reportedly not through with Broadway. His musical "Bonnie and Clyde" is being aimed for Broadway and there is talk of a coming Broadway revival of the musical "Jekyll & Hyde". No official announcements have been made.
ART/ WARHOLS SIXTEEN JACKIES SELLS FOR $20M: Andy Warhol's Sixteen Jackies has just exceeded its $20m target pricetag at an auction of contemporary art at Sotheby's in New York. The 1964 print of former US first lady Jackie Kennedy sold for $20.24m, while Jeff Koons' sculpture of a pink panther hugging a topless woman went for $16.8m. Total sales reached $128m, just above the $121m low estimate. Orher works which sold included Warhol's Shadow - Red which, at just under $5m, sold for more than 6 times the pre-sale estimate. Celebrated New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's Eroica I also fetched $5.9m.
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