Academy Award winning actress/singer Jennifer Hudson will step back into the public eye in a big way tomorrow when she sings “The Star Spangled Banner” to kick off the Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Hudson’s performance of the national anthem at Sunday’s match-up between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers will be her first since the murders of her mother, brother, and 7-year-old nephew last October.

 Hudson’s ex-brother-in-law, William Balfour, entered not guilty pleas to first degree murder and home invasion charges earlier this week, in connection with the killings. Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in the family’s Chicago home on October 24. Three days later, the body of Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, was discovered. The child had been gunned down as well.

The 27-year-old entertainer’s career was hitting some very high notes before the family tragedy. In 2007, she won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in the movie musical, “Dreamgirls.” Last fall, her self-titled album was released; and it has chalked up major sales and accolades. Hudson is nominated for four Grammys in connection with the “Jennifer Hudson” album; and she’s scheduled to attend the 51st Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony on February 8 here at Staples Center.

Also, scheduled to perform during Sunday’s Super Bowl festivities are Faith Hill, John Legend, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.  

No matter who wins the Super Bowl on Sunday, the Steelers or the Cardinals, it will probably be a super weekend for former NFL star quarterback Jim Plunkett. A movie deal, which involves the life rights for Plunkett’s story, was announced in Variety today.

 Plunkett, who is Mexican-American,  was raised by blind parents who struggled to make a living in San Jose, California. Plunkett went on to become a star quarterback at Stanford University. Plunkett won the Heisman Trophy and led Stanford to a 27-17 victory over Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl. 

 Later during his career as an NFL quarterback, Plunkett led the Raiders to a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. Plunkett was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. In another dramatic win, Plunkett and the Raiders rolled over the Washington Red Skins, 38-9, in Super Bowl XVlll. Plunkett retired from the NFL in 1986.

Act2 Entertainment will be producing the Plunkett film along with manager/producer Richard Arlook of the Arlook Group management firm. In Variety, Plunkett said he felt the time was right to take his story to the big screen: “I would like to leave behind some kind of legacy.”

Photo from www.whitehouse.gov

Today, less than two weeks into his administration President Barack Obama signed his first bill into law and it’s a groundbreaker. President Obama put his signature on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009. Among the supporters at the signing ceremony, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Lilly Ledbetter.

Ledbetter worked 19 years in a Goodyear tire plant. In 1998, Ledbetter sued Goodyear for pay discrimination. In May 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against her saying she had failed to file within 180 days of the first unequal paycheck. The new Lilly Ledbetter law allows an employee to file for discrimination within 180 days of the most recent paycheck.

 As a senator, President Obama co-sponsored the bill to overturn this U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Obama made signing the bill one of his campaign promises as well. The president admits the bill will not help Ledbetter, but it will benefit millions of others: “..while this bill bears her name, Lilly knows that this story isn’t just about her. It’s the story of women across this country still earning just 78 cents for every dollar men earn — women of color even less — which means that today, in the year 2009, countless women are still losing thousands of dollars in salary, income and retirement savings over the course of a lifetime.

Equal pay is by no means just a women’s issue — it’s a family issue. It’s about parents who find themselves with less money for tuition and child care; couples who wind up with less to retire on; households where one breadwinner is paid less than she deserves; that’s the difference between affording the mortgage — or not; between keeping the heat on, or paying the doctor bills — or not. And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month’s paycheck to simple and plain discrimination.” 

The New York Times reported recently that in the past 19 months, federal judges had cited the 2007 Supreme Court Ledbetter decision for ruling against plaintiffs in 300 cases. The new Ledbetter law will make it easier to fight certain forms of discrimination in the courts and, hopefully, discourage pay inequities in the workplace.

Representatives for the big Hollywood studios and the Screen Actors Guild announced jointly tonight that they will meet face to face next week. The statement below appears on both the SAG and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers websites.

 Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will meet February 3 and 4, at the AMPTP offices in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

We will have no further comment about the meeting. 

 Late today, the House of Representatives passed President Barack Obama’s $819 billion economic stimulus plan aimed at creating jobs and providing tax cuts to individuals and businesses. The vote was 244-to-188. Despite the president’s efforts over the past few days to rally support among Republicans, not one voted for the plan. Only 18 Democrats voted against it.

The president is trying to drum up support for his stimulus plan in the private sector as well. This morning at the White House, Obama met with executives from corporations like IBM, Jet Blue, and Honeywell. In comments after the meeting, the president insisted swift action is needed: “The businesses that are shedding jobs to stay afloat — they can’t afford inaction or delay. The workers who are returning home to tell their husbands and wives and children that they no longer have a job, and all those who live in fear that their job will be next on the cutting blocks — they need help now. They are looking to Washington for action, bold and swift. And that is why I hope to sign an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan into law in the next few weeks. And most of the money that we’re investing as part of this plan will get out the door immediately and go directly to job creation, generating or saving 3 to 4 million new jobs. And the vast majority of these jobs will be created in the private sector, because, as these CEOs well know, business, not government, is the engine of growth in this country.”

The stimulus plan now moves to the Senate for a vote. President Obama is pushing for quick Senate approval, in order for the bill to reach his desk in time to be signed into law on Feb. 16, President’s Day.

More drama today for Hollywood’s largest actors union. The President of the Screen Actors Guild, Alan Rosenberg, sent out an e-mail to the membership late yesterday blasting the National Board of Directors for its firing of Doug Allen on Monday.

Allen, the union’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, was ousted by the Guild’s National Board of Directors on Monday. Rosenberg praised Allen’s work for the union: “Doug gave us the courage to accept the fact that we had a legal right to pursue an agreement that addressed the specific needs of actors; that it is unreasonable to think that the DGA or WGA, without asking any questions pertaining to actors’ participation in “new media”, could strike a deal that would adequately address the concerns of our 120,000 members and the diverse nature and needs of a membership that includes middle class actors, background actors, stunt performers, singers, dancers and our biggest stars. I, and the majority of our negotiating committee, were amazed by Doug’s skill as a negotiator and team leader, and by his diigence and breadth of knowledge. We were profoundly moved by his love for and dedication to actors.”

Rosenberg’s e-mail is posted on Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily. Allen was replaced by John T. McGuire as Chief Negotiator and David White as Interim National Executive Director. White’s e-mail to the membership from yesterday calling for unity is also posted on Finke’s website.

 A man distraught over the loss of his job reportedly shot to death his wife and five children, before killing himself in their Wilmington home today. Wilmington is a Los Angeles suburb. The man has been identified as Ervin Lupoe who was apparently terminated from his job at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in West Los Angeles last week.

Lupoe’s wife, Ana, had been fired from her position at the same Kaiser facility recently as well. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has not identified the children who are said to be between 2-and-8; including two sets of twins.  

The father reportedly faxed a letter and called a local ABC TV station before apparently carrying out the grisly suicide-murder plan. Also, there’s a report of a male making a 9-1-1 call about the family prior to the shootings as well.

At a news conference this afternoon an emotional Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said: “No words can describe this tragedy.”

 A community meeting is planned for today to help the neighbors of the Lupoe family deal with the tragedy.

For weeks now the rumors have been flying about the ouster of the National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild, Doug Allen. Despite all the denials, there was something in these rumors that suggested Allen’s days were numbered. And so it is, Allen is no longer working for SAG today, after being given his walking papers by the Guild’s National Board of Directors yesterday.

Before I go on, a reminder of the really bad timing of this action. SAG is in the middle of bitter contract negotiations with the big studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. SAG ‘s previous contract expired on June 30, 2008. The AMPTP made what it called “a final offer” in June and has refused to budge from it.

It appears Allen is being blamed for the lack of a new contract deal for the union’s 120,000 or so members. Allen’s battle with his critics in SAG really got ugly last month, when it was announced strike authorization ballots would be sent out to the membership asking for the right to call a walkout if the negotiating committee decided it was necessary.

Some of the most strident voices against the strike authorization vote were well-heeled actors with millions in the bank and cushy deals with the studios. These stars and celebrities have their own representatives to negotiate lucrative packages for them. They do not have to depend on the contract deal negotiated by the union to help pay their bills, unlike the majority of the working actors in SAG.

According to a statement posted on the SAG website, Allen is being replaced by two people. The SAG National Board picked “… former Guild general counsel David White to replace him as interim national executive director…. (and)… longtime Guild senior advisor John T. McGuire as chief negotiator.” Also, the board booted out the the TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee and ordered it replaced with a task force more to the liking of the board of directors. All actions are effective immediately.

The new Interim National Director, David White, sent out an e-mail greeting to the union rank-and-file today asking all the members to work together, “… it is time to turn the page on the most destructive aspects of the Guild’s internal politics.” I think we all can agree with that.

Meanwhile, AMPTP representatives are probably dancing with glee over these new developments. The producers have proven themselves to be ruthless and skilled negotiators. Still, they just might go back to the bargaining table and sweeten their contract offer for SAG or continue to play hardball now that they know the union is afraid to even consider a strike. The way I see it, the AMPTP’s position just got stronger and SAG ‘s is now a whole lot weaker. I’m sure that is not the outcome the orchestrators of these sweeping changes in SAG were counting on.

Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily website has a statement and an e-mail to the membership from the SAG National Board of Directors as well as a gracious farewell from Doug Allen.

FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove

Legendary singer/songwriter Aretha Franklin belted out “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” at the swearing-in ceremony for President Barack Obama, last Tuesday January 20. Franklin is known for her over-the-top outfits that some feel are not always, ah, flattering. Well, the “Queen of Soul’s” inauguration outfit won her a multitude of praise, especially, that fabulous hat. I loved it!

There are media reports, from People Magazine to the Wall Street Journal,  about that striking wool felt chapeau with the over-sized rhinestone bordered bow. The Detroit designer who created it reportedly had orders for a thousand versions of that hat the day after the inauguration.

Luke Song of Mr. Song Millinery says the Queen’s hat is a one of a kind and cost upwards of $500 to make.  However, Song has whipped up several versions of the Franklin hat. Song plans to show a collection of a dozen hats, in a variety of colors with different size bows, based on the Franklin topper. The price range is $150-$250. Song’s collection will be on display at the Womens Wear in Nevada trade show in Las Vegas, kicking off next month on February 16 at the RIO Hotel.

This is one of the creations on the Mr. Song Millinery website. There are some terrific hats on the site. I see why Song’s Detroit shop is popular with churchgoers. Franklin has been a client for 20 years. These are definitely “church hats.” I don’t think it is a big stretch to say come this spring, there will be plenty of versions of the Franklin hat on church ladies in pews across the nation.

Meryl Streep and Sean Penn took the top honors at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony last night at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles; giving them added heat in the race for Oscar. Streep was both thrilled and surprised to win the best actress in a Motion Picture statuette:”Even though awards mean nothing to me anymore,” she said, “I’m really happy.” Streep won for her role as nun in the film, “Doubt.”

Sean Penn won the best actor in a motion picture trophy for his performance as San Francisco gay activist Harvey Milk in the film, “Milk.” As expected, the best supporting actor award went to the late Heath Ledger for his portrayal of the Joker in the “Dark Knight.” Ledger truly deserves the Oscar for his extraordinary performance in that film. 

Kate Winslet won the best supporting actress statuette for “The Reader,” but lost out to Streep in the best actress category. Winslet has been winning awards for her lead role in “Revolutionary Road,” however, last night she had to settle for just a SAG nomination for that performance.

The evening’s other major prize, ensemble cast in a film, went to that mighty little flick “Slumdog Millionaire.” Some film critics and movie watchers are saying “Slumdog Millionaire” is now a shoo-in for the best picture Academy Award. I wouldn’t go that far, but clearly “Slumdog Millionaire” is the front runner.

On the television side, best ensemble in a drama went to “Mad Men” and best ensemble in a comedy series was picked up by “30 Rock.”  Also, actor James Earl Jones was honored with the life achievement award. The winners were selected by approximately 100,000 active members of the Screen Actors Guild. A complete list of the winners is on the SAG Awards website. 

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” is number one for a second straight week at the Box Office. The slapstick comedy about a  security guard who has to face down a bunch of bad guys in a New Jersey mall earned an estimated $21.5 million at theaters across the nation. That brings its two week total to just under $65 million.

Close behind in second place is the new vampire-werewolf film, “Underground: Rise of the Lycans,” which rang up around $20.7 million. This the third film in the Underground franchise. Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” rolled into third place with $16 million, followed by the family film “Hotel for Dogs” with about $12 million.

Wrapping up the top five at the Box Office, the Oscar-nominated rags-to-riches film, “Slumdog Millionaire” with $10.5 million. This independent film is nominated for 10 Academy Awards and has raked in nearly $56 million domestically in 11 weeks. “Slumdog Millionaire” reportedly was made on a meager budget of $15 million.

FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove

Michelle Obama turned heads at the inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2009.

The new First Lady, Michelle Obama, really showcased her modern sophisticated style during inauguration week. Mrs. Obama got high marks from many fashion observers including Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, in an article on the high fashion magazine’s website.  

I’m not an expert, but I thought Michelle was “styling” all week long. My favorite outfit, that striking yellow Isabel Toledo dress and matching coat. The new First Lady sparkled at the swearing-in ceremony. “Yellow is the color of optimism and confidence and hope … The whole ensemble radiated hope and optimism,”said Mandi Norwood, a former editor at Mademoiselle magazine who is writing a book on Michelle Obama’s style. It was a brave departure from the usual red, white, and blue colors worn by most on Inauguration Day. Also, Michelle added her own style touches with green patent leather Jimmy Choo pumps and olive green gloves by J. Crew.

You may not love everything Michelle wears, but you’ve got to give her credit for being independent and adventurous enough to select clothes that display her own personal style.

Photo from www.whitehouse.gov

In his first radio and Internet weekly address, President Barack Obama today called for bold and swift action to shore-up our shaky economy. The president is pushing for the passage of his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan by Congress, which he said will “jumpstart” the economy.

“It’s a plan that will save or create three to four million jobs over the next few years, and one that recognizes both the paradox and the promise of this moment – the fact that there are millions of Americans trying to find work even as, all around the country, there’s so much work to be done. That’s why this is not just a short-term program to boost employment. It’s one that will invest in our most important priorities like energy and education; health care and a new infrastructure that are necessary to keep us strong and competitive in the 21st Century,” Obama said. (The full text is on The White House Blog) The president admitted ”some are skeptical about the size and scale of this recovery plan.”

The Obama stimulus package is said to be carrying a price tag somewhere in the range of $825 billion. Some Republican lawmakers have criticized the high cost of the plan. To his critics, President Obama said: “I understand that skepticism, which is why this recovery plan must and will include unprecedented measures that will allow the American people to hold my Administration accountable for these results… (after passage)… We’ll launch an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government, and every American will be able to see how and where we spend taxpayer dollars by going to a new website called recovery.gov.”

President Obama is urging Congress to work quickly and pass the recovery plan so he can sign it into law by February 16 — the Presidents Day Holiday. 

A film version of the bestselling novel “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” is coming to a theater near you in the not too distant future. Earlier this week, Universal Pictures bought the rights to the David Wroblewski novel – his first.

“The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” reportedly has spent  at least 30 weeks on the bestseller lists since being released last September. It was selected for Oprah’s Book Club. Also, Oprah’s Harpo Films will be producing the movie adaptation of the novel along with actor Tom Hanks’ company, Playtone.

“The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” is a touching and captivating story about a mute boy and his dogs who flee into the wilds of Wisconsin after their home life is shattered by the arrival of a relative.

Today on the Barnes & Noble website bestseller list “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” is holding down the number 19 spot. It’s number 15 over on Amazon.

File photo of John Travolta and son Jett

Today in the Bahamas two men are reportedly being held in connection with an alleged plot to extort money from actor John Travolta, according to a police official there.

The alleged plot involved the recent death of Travolta’s and actress Kelly Preston’s 16-year-old son Jett, who was found unconscious in the family vacation home in the Bahamas on January 2, 2009. Jett was pronounced death at a hospital shortly after being discovered in a bathroom of the home. No official cause of death has been released, but a seizure is widely believed to be the cause of the teenager’s death.

There are reports an island lawyer and a first responder are being detained and questioned. Very few details are being released about the case and there could be more people investigated in connection with the alleged extortion scheme. 

Google file image

Today the defense takes center stage in the second murder trial of legendary music producer, Phil Spector. The trial has been trudging along quietly for several weeks in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. The  prosecution has been laying out its case with detailed forensics and testimony from experts and witnesses.

Yesterday the prosecution’s final witness, the mother of Lana Clarkson, took the stand. Donna Clarkson insisted her daughter had future plans and job prospects and was not suicidal. On February 3, 2003 Clarkson, a “B movie” actress, was found with a fatal gun shot wound to the mouth in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion.

The prosecution is trying to convince the jury Spector pulled the trigger of the Colt Cobra revolver. The defense claims the 40-year-old actress took her own life. In 2007, Spector’s first murder trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a decision. The jurors were deadlocked 10-2 in favor of conviction. 

If found guilty of second degree murder, Spector faces at least 18 years in prison. The 68-year-old music wizard developed the ground breaking  ”wall of sound” technique of layering dense musical arrangements on recordings in the 1960s. Spector used this technique on such classic hits as “Be My Baby” (1963) by the Ronettes. Many artists including “The Beatles”, “The Beach Boys” and Bruce Springsteen have used the technique as well. 

Late Thursday, the defense began presenting its case and is expected to call witnesses today.

President Barack Obama delivered on more campaign promises today. At the White House, the president signed three executive orders: one to close the controversial U.S. run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and two others banning torture and setting up a task force to oversee these changes.

These swift decisions are a clear break with the Bush administration and send a message to the world. President Obama says: “This is following through not just on a commitment I made during the campaign but an understanding that dates back to our Founding Fathers, that we are willing to observe core standards of conduct — not just when it’s easy but also when it’s hard.”

President Obama’s order on Guantanamo would shut down that detention center within a year. It is hoped that will give time for U.S. officials to determine what to do with 245 alleged enemy combatants still being held at Guantanamo. 

Movie inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story.

Voters for the 81st Annual Academy Awards were apparently dazzled by the journey of a man who ages backward in ”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” When the Oscar nominations for 2008 were announced bright and early in Beverly Hills today, this film was mentioned 13 times — more than any other. For some 13 is an unlucky number; not in this case.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is inspired by a short story written in the 1920s by one of the 20th Century’s best known writers, F. Scott Fitzgerald. The film was nominated for best picture and best director, along with “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” and “The Reader.” 

Brad Pitt who stars as Benjamin Button was nominated for best actor with Richard Jenkins “The Visitor,” Frank Langella “Frost/Nixon,” Sean Penn “Milk,” and Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler.” Best actress nominations went to Anne Hathaway for “Rachel Getting Married,” Angelina Jolie “Changeling,” Melissa Leo “Frozen River,” Meryl Streep “Doubt,” and Kate Winslet “The Reader.” Streep has won two Oscars, Jolie one Academy Award.

“The Dark Knight,” a favorite with many moviegoers, picked up 8 nominations, but only one in a major category. The late Heath Ledger who gave a remarkable performance as the Joker scored a nomination for best supporting actor. Ledger is up against Josh Brolin “Milk,” Robert Downey, Jr. “Tropic Thunder,” Philip Seymour Hoffman “Doubt,” and Michael Shannon “Revolutionary Road.”

For best supporting actress: Amy Adams “Doubt,” Penelope Cruz “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” Viola Davis “Doubt,” Taraji P. Henson “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and Marisa Tomei “The Wrestler. Tomei won an Academy Award in this category for her performance in “My Cousin Vinny” (1992). 

Best adapted screenplay: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Doubt,” “Frost/Nixon,” “The Reader,” and “Slumdog Millionaire.” Best original screenplay: “Frozen River,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “In Bruges,” “Milk,” and “Wall-E.”

 The Oscars will be handed out to the winners during a live broadcast at the Hollywood Kodak Theatre on Sunday, February 22, 2009.

Today Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to President Obama for a second time.

Millions of people on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., across the country, and around the world cheered after the swearing-in yesterday of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. It probably did not matter to most of them that the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court flubbed the 35-word oath.

Chief Justice Roberts misplaced the word, “faithfully” and then at another point, omitted the word “execute.” That explains the hesitation and quick look of confusion on Obama’s face as he took the oath yesterday with his hand on the 148-year-old Abraham Lincoln Bible. Today, no Bible, no big crowds or chilly temperatures. The Chief Justice re-administered the oath to Obama in the White House map room in front of a small group of aides and reporters at 4:35 p.m. Pacific Time.

The oath of office comes right out of the U.S. Constitution and experts believe it should be given exactly as written. The oath reads in the Constitution this way: ”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Still, per the Constitution, Obama became the president at noon on Inauguration Day without the oath.  Also, President Obama is not the first Commander-In-Chief to take the oath twice just to be sure. The others were Calvin Coolidge and Chester A. Arthur.  

Two agent/bloggers are showcasing query letters from authors that grabbed their attention. The authors who wrote these knockout queries got requests for their manuscripts and later representation. Last Friday Kristin Nelson, on her Pub Rant blog, discussed one of her client’s boffo queries.

 Also, over at the BookEnds, LLC – A Literary Agency blog, Jessica Faust is posting a series of successful author query letters. Faust not only points out what works in these queries, but also what she thinks would improve and make them even better. Very helpful posts for authors serious about hooking up with an agent.