TV / Film News

Michael Jackson Sued by 'Thriller' Director John Landis

Source: Michael Ricci
January 28, 2009

A day after the announcement that the Nederlander Organization has acquired rights to produce a musical version of Michael Jackson's Thriller comes legal uncertainty for fans looking forward to a Broadway-style version of the epochal 1983 Dawn of the Dead meets Soul Train music video.

Turns out that the 14-minute mini-film's director and co-writer John Landis -- the movie comedy maestro behind Animal House, The Blues Brothers and An American Werewolf in London -- filed court papers last Wednesday suing ...

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Lenny Bruce, Jazz Fan

Source: All About Jazz
January 26, 2009

The latest edition of the Jazz Video Guy's blog features highlights from some very rare Lenny Bruce video. In 1959, Mr. Bruce produced his own television pilot, The World of Lenny Bruce, featuring Buddy Rich and Harry Sweets Edison, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, and a quartet that includes his friend Philly Joe Jones, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans. The program was shown once, on local New York television, and then put in an archive.

The show is now available on ...

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VH1 Charity Auction Features Sax Lesson from David Sanborn

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
January 23, 2009

St. Louis native and jazz/funk/pop saxophone legend David Sanborn is auctioning off a private saxophone lesson to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. The auction, which closes on Monday, January 26, is for a package including a private lesson with Sanborn in New York City; a copy of his new CD Here and Gone (Decca); an autographed saxophone to be presented in person by Sanborn; and a $500 MasterCard gift card. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation ...

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'Slumdog, 'Wall-E' Lead Oscar Music Nominees

Source: Billboard Magazine
January 23, 2009

"Slumdog Millionaire" and “Wall-E" are atop the field of music-related Oscar nominees, with both films nominated for best original score. The “Slumdog" score was penned by A.R. Rahman, while Thomas Newman wrote the score for “WALL-E." The two films are the only contenders in the best original song category, with “Down to Earth" from “WALL-E" (performed by Peter Gabriel) up against the “Slumdog" songs “Jai Ho" (performed by Gulzar) and “O Saya" (performed by M.I.A.). ( Read Billboard's Q&A with ...

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'The American Future' on BBC America

Source: Michael Ricci
January 19, 2009

The documentary asks: How did we get here? It is set against the presidential election.

British historian Simon Schama never expected Barack Obama to so thoroughly wipe out the Democratic competition during primary season. But as he watched history unfold while filming his latest documentary The American Future: A History, Schama prepared for the unexpected. “This was not going to be an election of business as usual," he said. “Very likely this was going to be an election where Americans ...

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Pianist, John "Johnny Chops" Colianni Featured on "Revolutionary Road" Soundtrack

Source: JM Creative
January 16, 2009

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TV Alert! Ari Hest on NBC Weekend on January 17th

Source: Seth Cohen PR
January 16, 2009

TUNE-IN ALERT! ARI HEST ON NBC4-TV’s WEEKEND TODAY SHOW IN NY, SATURDAY MORNING AT 9AM LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM UPCOMING 3/10 CD ‘TWELVE MONDAYS’ Hest Confirms Two Nights at Joe’s Pub, 3/13 & 14 Tune in tomorrow morning, as ARI HEST performs live on the NBC4-TV’s Weekend Today Show in NY. The program airs at 9am EST - Check local listings. Ari will preview his upcoming CD ‘Twelve Mondays’ – The 3/10 album features re-worked versions of 12 fan-selected songs, culled ...

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Flight of the Conchords Plugs Back In

Source: Billboard Magazine
January 13, 2009

Flight Of The Conchords' eponymous HBO show returns to the airwaves on Jan. 18, and this time around, fans will be able to purchase music from each episode the day after it airs, Billboard can reveal. Shortly after the conclusion of the 10-episode season, an as-yet-untitled album featuring 10 tracks from the show plus five additional songs not part of the download promotion will be available on April 14. The first song, “Angels," goes live Jan. 19 on iTunes. Fans ...

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