B.O. Report: Transformers 4 Powers Its Way to $100 Million Bow
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JUNE 30, 2014 Page 1 of 8
Da
i ly
B.O. Report: Transformers 4
Powers Its Way to $100 Million Bow
By Pamela McClintock
P
a r a mou n t ’s Tr ansfor mers:
Age of Extinction debuted to
$100 million in North America,
the best number of the year to date and
reinvigorating the giant robot franchise.
Overseas, it was even more massive in its
initial assault, taking in $201.3 million
for a worldwide bow of $301.3 million.
The $210 million summer tentpole,
which earned an A- CinemaScore despite
blistering reviews, is easily the biggest
opening of star Mark Wahlberg’s movie
career, thanks to a strong turnout by males
(64 percent).
Age of Extinction — which features
a new leading man in Wahlberg, who
replaced the troubled Shia LaBeouf — Paramount’s Transformers: Age of Extinction earned $201.3 million in its opening weekend abroad — the top debut of the
year thus far internationally, even though it won’t roll out in most of Europe and Latin America until after the World Cup.
broke box-office records in China, earn-
ing $90 million to set a new mark for the iconic sights, such as The Great Wall. In addition to China, the pic generated
top weekend opening of all time, accord- Age of Extinction scored the top debut big returns in Russia, where it took in
ing to sources. The movie went to great of the year internationally, even though $21.7 million, the second-biggest launch
lengths to prosper in China, including it won’t roll out in most of Europe and ever, with 3D grosses representing 80 per-
shooting at some of the country’s most Latin America until after the World Cup. s e e pa g e 2
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F r o m pa g e 1
cent. And it did nearly as much in South
Korea, nabbing the top opening of the
Weekend Box Office Top 10
year with $21.5 million. This 3-day Percent # of Per- Cume
Movie/Distributor gross theater
Overall, Age of Extinction is pacing week (in mil)
change theaters average to date
35 percent ahead of 2011’s Transformers: 1 Transformers: Age of Extinction (paramount) $100.0 — 4,233 $23,624 $100.0
Dark of the Moon in its first 37 territories.
2 22 Jump Street (Sony) 15.4 -44 3,426 4,495 139.8
Michael Bay returned to direct the
fourth installment, considered a reboot 3 How to Train Your Dragon 2 (fox) 13.1 -47 3,750 3,493 121.8
because of its new cast, including young 4 Think Like a Man Too (Sony) 10.4 -64 2,225 4,674 48.2
stars Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor. Age 5 Maleficent (disney) 8.2 -36 3,073 2,680 201.9
of Extinction takes place four years after
6 Jersey Boys (Warner bros.) 7.6 -43 2,905 2,620 27.3
a devastating face-off between the Auto-
bots and the Decepticons in Chicago in 7 Edge of Tomorrow (Warner bros.) 5.2 -47 2,535 2,055 84.2
Dark of the Moon, and introduces the 8 The Fault in Our Stars (fox) 4.8 -44 2,845 1,687 109.5
Dinobots for the first time. 9 X-Men: Days of Future Past (fox) 3.3 -46 2,014 1,639 223.4
Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore
10 Chef (open road) 1.7 -3 801 2,065 19.4
said Age of Extinction ushers in a new
rentrak
era for the series. “Mark is incredibly
likable and together, Michael and Mark alone generated $10 million for Imax, end with $15.4 million for a domestic total
have refreshed the franchise,” said Moore. a record. of $139.8 million, eclipsing the entire run
You definitely see the great chemistry In terms of 2014 summer tentpoles, of 2012’s 21 Jump Street ($138.4 million).
between them.” Godzilla debuted to $93.2 million, while A slew of films opened at the specialty
Moore went on to say that the movie’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opened to box office this weekend, including John
outstanding performance in China came $91.6 million and X-Men: Days of Future Carney’s Begin Again, starring Keira
out of Paramount’s close working part- Past bowed to $90.8 million. Opening Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine
nership with China Film Group. “It was weekend numbers don’t necessarily por- and Hailee Steinfeld. Distributed by The
very educational,” said Moore, as China tend how well a film will hang on (Days Weinstein Co., the movie took in a solid
becomes increasingly important. He also of Future Past is the biggest box-office $148,325 from five theaters in New York
noted that Age of Extinction is the first earner to date of the three, with more and Los Angeles for a per-location aver-
major studio film to have its worldwide than $710 million in global ticket sales). age of $29,665, the best of the weekend.
premiere in China. Age of Extinction could have espe- “It’s a great start. The film played
The pic marks Bay’s second win of the cially strong legs given that the pic has really well, particularly among women,”
summer along with TNT’s top-rated new virtually no competition for a month. said TWC distribution chief Erik Lomis,
drama The Last Ship, which he’s execu- To boot, it opened on the eve of the noting that females made up 67 percent
tive producing. Fourth of July week. of the audience. “It’s also going to be a
Based on Hasbro’s Transformers toy No other movie dared go up against great date movie.”
line, Age of Extinction surpassed the Age of Extinction to open nationwide TWC launched French biopic Yves
$97.9 million earned by the last film in over the weekend. Saint Laurent over the weekend in two
the series, Dark of the Moon, in its first Among holdovers, Disney’s Maleficent theaters, taking in a solid $24,502.
weekend in 2011. (That movie, which and Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 South Korean sci-fi epic Snowpiercer,
opened on a Tuesday, took in a total both crossed the $200 million box-office opening in eight locations, grossed
of $162.6 million in its first six days). threshold. The former’s showing is espe- $162,127 for a per-location average of
Sequel Transformers: Revenge of the cially impressive, considering it isn’t a $20,266 for Radius-TWC.
Fallen grossed $108 million in its first sequel. Disney also celebrated the fact And conservative author and film-
weekend, a franchise best, although Dark that Captain America: The Winter Soldier maker Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary
of the Moon went on to become the top- passed Warner Bros.’ The Lego Movie America did nicely in its limited bow in
grossing title in the series ($1.12 billion). over the weekend to become the top three theaters in Houston and Atlanta,
Age of Extinction generated big returns grossing film of the year domestically grossing $39,000 for a per-location aver-
of $27.3 million for Imax theaters in North with $257.2 million. age of $13,000. The film, a follow-up to
America and overseas, and $7 million for Sony’s 22 Jump Street continues to im- 2016: Obama’s America, is set to expand
large premium-format screens. China press, coming in No. 2 in its third week- nationwide Wednesday.JUNE 30, 2014 Page 3 of 8
movie news
Sony, Gordon Plotting The fest also bestowed its Showtime
Tony Cox Screenplay Competition for
WWII Pic Indestructible
By Rebecca Ford
Feature Film Award to Clark Carroll
for his coming-of-age screenplay Early
Plus Infinity. Short screenplay honors
Son y h a s na bbed f i l m r igh ts went to Open Roads by Mimi Jeffries.
to the upcoming WWII nonfiction The hour-long TV pilot award was given
book Indestructible: How a Pilot’s Quest to Jamie Mayer for Tomorrowland, and
to Rescue His Family Changed the Course the half-hour TV pilot winner was Stu
of the Pacific War. Feldman’s Stiffs.
Mark Gordon will produce the project The Teen View Jury Award went to
for Sony. The Hyperglot, directed by Michael Urie
The book, written by John Bruning, Ethan Hawke, right, plays Ellar Coltrane’s father in writer- and written by Michael Levi Harris.
director Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age pic Boyhood.
follows the story of U.S. Air Force legend This year’s festival also hosted the
Paul “Pappy” Gunn, an airline pilot whose Hardball host Chris Matthews. sixth annual All-Star Comedy Round-
family was imprisoned by the Japanese Nathan and David Zellner’s Kumiko, table presented by Ben Stiller. Host
in the Philippines at the infamous Santo The Treasure Hunter was honored for Michael Ian Black interviewed Stiller,
Tomas Internment camp. best screenwriting in a feature film, and Jenny Slate, Billy Eichner and John C.
During the Pacific War, he was an ad- Bernardo Britto’s Yearbook was tapped Daly for the event.
visor to the Air Force, helping to reinvent for best screenwriting in a short film. On Saturday, comedian and former
aerial warfare and change the tide of the Rory Kennedy’s documentary Last Daily Show With Jon Stewart writer
war in the Allies’ favor. Days in Vietnam received the audience and correspondent Wyatt Cenac hosted
Michael DeLuca, Rachel O’Connor award for best film, and Moon Molson the Screenwriters Tribute Awards from
and Eric Fineman are overseeing for and Eric Fallen’s The Bravest, The Boldest the Siaconset Casino, where The West
Sony, while Drew Simon and Michele was named best short. Wing actor Bradley Whitford presented
Wolkoff are overseeing for The Mark Actress, directed by Robert Greene, the award to Sorkin. Writer-helmer Mike
Gordon Company. earned best storytelling in a documen- Cahill took home the New Voices in
Indestructible is slated to hit shelves in tary feature honors. Screenwriting Award for I Origins, which
2016 via Hachette Books. Gersh handled The audience award for best film served as the fest’s centerpiece screening.
the film rights. runner-up went to The Case Against 8, And Steve James, director of Life Itself,
directed by Ben Cotner and Ryan White. accepted the A&E Special Achievement
Linklater’s Boyhood “This year’s festival boasts more film-
makers, films and talent than ever before,”
in Documentary Storytelling Award.
Leads Nantucket Fest said fest program director Basil Tsiokos.
“The wide array of programming show- Moscow Fest Moved by
By Tatiana Siegel
R ich a r d L i n k l at er’s Boyhood
was among the winners at this year’s
cased during the festival brought out
some of the most talented screenwriters
and directors in the industry and we are
Japanese film My Man
By Gavin J. Blair
Nantucket Film Festival. thrilled to have been able to share with TOKYO — Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s My Man
Linklater’s coming-of-age movie, the Nantucket community. As we look won best film honors at the Moscow Inter-
which is already generating awards- forward to the 20th-year anniversary of national Film Festival on Saturday, with
season buzz, took home the award the festival, it’s heartening to see such Tadanobu Asano taking best actor for
for best writer-director at the annual support for independent film. We are his role as a man who becomes romanti-
Massachusetts fest, now in its 19th year. excited for what is still to come for this cally involved with his adopted daughter.
The awards were announced on the vibrant and growing festival.” My Man is based on a novel by Kazuki
final day of the festival, which drew a The festival also awarded the eighth Sakuraba and stars Fumi Nikaido as the
phalanx of Hollywood and media guests annual Adrienne Shelley Excellence daughter who lost her family in a tsu-
including Aaron Sorkin, who was the in Filmmaking Award, which bestows nami that hit Japan’s northern island of
recipient of this year’s Screenwriters a cash prize to a female filmmaker in Hokkaido in 1993.
Tribute Award; Mark Ruffalo, who was honor of the late director. This year’s It is the first victory for a Japanese pic
on hand to present his upcoming roman- award was presented to Diana Whitten at the Moscow fest since Kaneto Shindo’s
tic dramedy Begin Again; and MSNBC’s for her film Vessel. Will to Live in 1999.JUNE 30, 2014 Page 4 of 8
awards news
Film Academy Tweaks
Rules for Oscar Eligibility
By Gregg Kilday of the producing functions” and reserves A number of the other rule refine-
T h e Aca dem y of Mot ion Pict u r e the right to include a fourth producer if ments concern various factors surround-
Arts and Sciences has tweaked a number it so decides. An established producing ing qualifications in the shorts, docs and
of its rules as it team of two producers is considered a animated feature categories.
readies for the 87th single “producer” for the purposes of the In the animated feature film category,
Academy Awards. rule. However, the rule defining a pro- DVD screeners will now be required
For the first time, ducing team has been altered slightly. as part of a film’s submission, a move
there is a limit to the Under the earlier rules, the team had to designed to increase participation by
number of actors have been together for at least the pre- making smaller animated movies that
that can be submit- vious five years and had to have produced have not received wide releases more
ted for each film, a minimum of five theatrically released available to members of the branch.
although it remains features. Under the new rule, the produc- To qualify for documentary feature
a fairly generous ing team has to have released only two consideration, films have been required
one. Under the new theatrically released features, potentially to screen a minimum of four times daily
rule, studios and opening the door to an established team during their qualifying theatrical releases
production com- that may not have as many completed in both New York and Los Angeles. The
panies may submit features on its résumé. rule now stipulates that screenings must
a maximum of 10 actors and 10 actresses A change in the music branch’s rules begin between noon and 10 p.m., and
for each movie, submitting their names for original song reflects the growing at least one screening daily must begin
on the Academy’s official screen credits presence of musical groups who are con- between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Previously,
form. Previously, the studios were free to tributing songs to movies. The new rules an evening screening was not required,
submit a movie’s entire cast list. says that songwriters from established and some films had been qualifying by
The change was made in order to musical groups, instead of submitting a playing morning screenings, whose audi-
reduce the length of the reminder list song under their individual names, may ences were necessarily limited. The new
of eligible releases that is given to each now submit a song under their group rule hopes to make the contending films
Academy member before the nomination name. So, potentially, future best song more visible to the moviegoing public.
process begins. The actors and actresses nominations could carry the name of a In the two short film categories —
for each film will also be listed separately well-known band rather than the names animated and live action — the existing
to avoid any confusion when it comes to of just two or three of that band’s mem- rule had disqualified any film that first
sexually ambiguous names. bers. If that song wins the Oscar, though, appeared online or on TV before a quali-
As was previously the case, the Acad- only one statuette will be handed out — fying theatrical release. That rule is now
emy members themselves will decide in the name of the entire group. relaxed a bit — if such a pic wins a festi-
whether a performance should be con- Meanwhile, in the production design val award from one of the events on the
sidered a lead or supporting role. Also, category, the rules have been changed Academy’s short-films qualifying festival
studios and producers are free to decide to acknowledge the work that goes into list, it will now be eligible. But if it fails to
exactly which 20 actors they submit — creating virtually-designed worlds for win an award, the fact that it first appeared
they aren’t restricted to submitting the digitally-created movies. The new rule online or TV would continue to be a dis-
top 20 actors on the cast list, but can states, “When the environment of a film qualifying factor.
reach lower down on the list to submit is substantially composed of animation The Academy’s board of governors
a breakout performer. and digital artistry, a digital artist who approved the rule changes, proposed by
The Academy also revisited its rule is primarily responsible for the achieve- the awards rules committee, at a meet-
regarding how many producers can be ment may now be considered for the pro- ing last week.
nominated for best picture. The basic duction design award. Previously, only The 87th Academy Awards will be held
rule remains the same: The Academy “production designers,” “art directors” Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Dolby Theatre
will recognize “three or fewer producers and “set decorators” were named as in Hollywood and will be televised live
AMPAS
who have performed the major portion eligible for awards recognition.” on ABC.JUNE 30, 2014 Page 5 of 8
business news
Sun Valley ’14 Guest List: Obama will hold a private Q&A with
25 donors at Rapino’s Westside home on
July 24, the day after he attends a fund-
Murdoch, Moonves, More raiser hosted by Scandal creator Shondra
Rhimes and co-hosted by Scandal actress
Kerry Washington.
By Paul Bond Thomas Staggs, chairman of the parks “Your contribution and participation
A bou t 250 peopl e a r e ex pect ed and resorts division. will help to ensure that the Democrats
at this year’s Allen & Co. Sun Valley New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was also keep control of the Senate and make
Conference, including a contingency invited, as was former New York Mayor significant headway in winning back the
from 21st Century Fox that includes Michael Bloomberg and The Weinstein House,” according to an invitation sent
CEO Rupert Murdoch, his Co. co-chairman Harvey Weinstein. Friday to people in Hollywood. “The
sons James and Lachlan Allen & Co. is an investment firm and truth is, we simply cannot win in 2016
and COO Chase Carey, its yearly conference, while advertised without building our base in 2014. And
The Hollywood Reporter as a low-key social affair, often yields we cannot do that without a strong
has learned. The gathering, some notable corporate deals, including Democratic National Committee. With
R. Murdoch
which began in the 1980s mergers and acquisitions. the Tea Party and other extremists
and usually attracts many Five years ago, for example, execs from taking ground, the time is now to start
of the nation’s most power- Comcast huddled with GE CEO Jeffrey raising money, and protect our future.”
ful media and technology Immelt at Sun Valley and five months Tickets for the fundraiser are $32,400
executives, is set to run later GE announced it was selling its con- per person, with proceeds being used by
July 8-13 at the Sun Valley trolling interest in NBCUniversal to the the DNC to bolster the party’s efforts
Moonves
Resort in Idaho. cable company. during this year’s mid-term elections.
Also expected to attend The Rapino event marks a political
the off-the-record event are DreamWorks
Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, Live Nation CEO Rapino coming-out of sorts for the head of the
entertainment company, which became
Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, CBS
CEO Leslie Moonves, Viacom CEO
Philippe Dauman and Paramount head
to Host DNC Fundraiser
By Tina Daunt
a concert powerhouse after merging
with Ticketmaster in 2010. Athough
he has become increasingly involved in
Brad Grey, sources told THR. Pr e si den t Ba r ack Oba m a h a s political fundraising in Hollywood for
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is also on added a second high-dollar fundraiser — the Democrats in recent years, this is
the guest list, according to Bloomberg, at the home of Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino’s first time hosting a major presi-
as are Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Rapino — to his July fundraising trip to dential event.
and three top execs from Walt Disney: Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter has A spokesperson for Rapino declined to
CEO Robert Iger, CFO Jay Rasulo and learned. comment on the matter.
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obituaries
Legendary Soul Singer,
Songwriter Womack Dies at 70
By Roy Trakin him increased acclaim in the U.S. and
Rock a n d Rol l H a l l of Fa m e sou l Europe, and he had two more Top 10
singer-songwriter Bobby Womack, whose R&B singles, including the Patti LaBelle
music was covered by, among others, The duet “Love Has Finally Come at Last” and
Rolling Stones, died Friday. He was 70. “I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much.”
A representative for Womack’s label, But throughout most of the ’80s,
XL Recordings, confirmed the news of Womack struggled with drug addiction,
his death to The Hollywood Reporter. eventually checking himself into a reha-
He was suffering from colon cancer and bilitation center.
diabetes. An obituary first appeared on In 1989, he sang on Todd Rundgren’s
RollingStone.com. “For the Want of a Nail” on the album
Womack entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
Born and raised in Cleveland, the son Nearly Human and in 1998 performed
of two musicians and the third of five Mover” and “I’m in Love.” George Gershwin’s “Summertime” with
brothers, Womack began his career as In 1968, Womack signed with Minit The Roots for the Red Hot Organization’s
a member of Curtis Womack and the Records and released his debut album, Red Hot + Rhapsody benefit album.
Womack Brothers, who were signed to Fly Me to the Moon, scoring a major hit Womack contributed lyrics and sang
SAR Records by Sam Cooke. The group with a cover of “California Dreamin’.” alongside Mos Def on “Stylo,” the first
released a handful of gospel singles, In 1969, he forged a partnership with single from the third Gorillaz album,
including “Buffalo Bill,” when Bobby was Gabor Szabo that produced the instru- Plastic Beach, where he met Damon
just 10 years old, before changing their mental hit “Breezin’ ” for George Ben- Albarn in 2010.
name to the Valentinos and pursuing a son. Womack also worked on Sly and In 2012, Womack began a career re-
more pop-influenced, secular sound. the Family Stone’s There’s a Riot Goin’ naissance with the release of The Bravest
In 1964, one month after the Valentinos On and penned the ballad “Trust Me” Man in the Universe, his first album in
released their hit “It’s All Over Now,” for Janis Joplin’s Pearl. more than 10 years. Produced by Albarn
the Stones released their version, which A string of successful albums included and XL’s Richard Russell, the album
went to the top of the U.K. singles chart. 1972’s Understanding and Across 110th received critical accolades.
The Valentinos’ career stalled when Cooke Street, the latter the soundtrack to the Upon his death, Womack was record-
was shot and killed in a Los Angeles motel blaxploitation film of the same name ing his next album for XL, tentatively
in December 1964. Just three months and later used in the opening and clos- titled The Best Is Yet to Come, featuring
later, Womack created a scandal by mar- ing sequences of Quentin Tarantino’s Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and Snoop
rying Cooke’s widow, Barbara Campbell. 1997 film Jackie Brown. Those were Dogg.
Womack wrote and originally recorded followed by 1973’s Facts of Life, with the His final performance was on June 14
New Birth’s “I Can Understand It,” among Top 40 hit, “Nobody Wants You When at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn.
other songs. As a singer, he is most notable You’re Down and Out,” an older song Womack was inducted into the Rock
for the hits “Lookin’ for a Love,” “That’s Cooke had done years before, and 1974’s and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
The Way I Feel About Cha,” “Woman’s Lookin’ for a Love Again, which featured “I can think of no other living artist
Gotta Have It,” “Harry Hippie” and a remake of his first hit single, “Lookin’ I’ve had the experience of seeing perform
“Across 110th Street.” for a Love.” In 1975, he collaborated with or meeting whose music has meant more
After leaving the Valentinos in 1965, the Stones’ Ronnie Wood on the guitar- to me and given me more comfort,” wrote
Womack became a session musician ist’s second solo album, Now Look. longtime music executive David Gorman
at producer Chips Moman’s American Womack’s career revived in 1981 when on his Facebook page. “I’m thankful the
Studios in Memphis, playing on record- he signed with Beverly Glen Records last time I saw Bobby play was one of the
ings by Joe Tex, Aretha Franklin and and had his first Top 10 R&B single with best. Losing him hurts bad.”
The Box Tops, before his work as a song- “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” His Womack is survived by his wife,
writer caught the ear of Wilson Pickett, accompanying album, The Poet, went Regina Banks, and four children: Gina,
AP photo
who recorded Womack’s “I’m a Midnight to No. 1 on the R&B charts, bringing Bobby Truth, Cory and Jordan.JUNE 30, 2014 Page 7 of 8
obituaries
TV, Screen Actor got himself into. I miss his vulnerability.
That’s what’s so nice about playing that
birthday at a party in April.
He married actress Bianca Ferguson
Taylor Dies at 67
By Mike Barnes
character — he really did care for these
people so much he was very vulnerable
because of his feelings, especially Suzanne
(General Hospital) in 1983. Other sur-
vivors include children Tariq, Yasmine,
Tamar and Esme.
M e sh ach Tay l or , w ho pl ay ed (Burke) and the situations she would
the lovable assistant Anthony Bouvier,
who worked at the Sugarbaker interior
always involve him in.”
After Designing Women wrapped, Freaky Friday Author
design firm on the CBS hit
sitcom Designing Women,
has died, his agent Dede
Taylor quickly landed a gig on Dave’s
World, a sitcom based on the life of enter-
taining Miami Herald columnist Dave
Rodgers Dies at 83
By The Associated Press
Binder confirmed to Barry. Taylor played plastic surgeon NEW YORK — Mary Rodgers, the daugh-
The Hollywood Reporter. Sheldon Baylor, the neighbor and high- ter of Broadway icon Richard Rodgers,
He was 67. Taylor
school best friend of Barry (Harry Ander- who found her own fame as composer of
Taylor, who immediately son), on the show that lasted four seasons. the 1959 musical Once Upon a Mattress
segued to another CBS comedy, Dave’s Earlier, Taylor was a regular on the and as the author of the body-shifting
World, when Designing Women was can- 1983-84 NBC sitcom Buffalo Bill, which book Freaky Friday, has died.
celed, died Saturday at his family’s home starred Dabney Coleman as an egotistical Rodgers died Thursday at her home in
in Altadena, Calif., where he was receiving daytime TV talk show host in Buffalo, N.Y. Manhattan after a long illness, her son
hospice care. He “passed away after bravely And later, he played Principal Alistar Alec Guettel said.
fighting a terminal illness. His loving Wright on Nickelodeon series Ned’s Rodgers’ hit Mattress, a musical adap-
family was by his side,” stated Binder. Declassified School Survival Guide. tation of the Hans Christian Anderson
Earlier, his family posted a note on He most recently appeared on a pair of fable The Princess and the Pea, made a
his Facebook page, saying, “It is with episodes this year of CBS’ Criminal Minds. star of Carol Burnett. A Broadway revival
love and gratitude that we sorrowfully The genial Taylor also hosted his own in 1996 starred Sarah Jessica Parker.
announce that our darling, amazingly series on HGTV, The Urban Gardener; Her other shows include From A to Z,
brilliant and dynamic Meshach, the in- co-hosted a show on Retirement Living a revue featuring her songs, and two
credible father, husband, son and friend, TV with Florence Henderson; and was a other short-lived productions: Hot Spot
has begun his grand transition.” regular celebrity panelist on a reboot of and The Madwoman of Central Park
Taylor also played flamboyant window the game show To Tell the Truth. West, a one-person musical starring
dresser Hollywood Montrose in 1987 box- Taylor’s TV résumé also included Phyllis Newman.
office hit Mannequin and its 1991 sequel. Lou Grant, M*A*S*H, Cagney & Lacey, Rodgers was also a children’s book
Designing Women, created by Linda The Golden Girls, Hill Street Blues, The author who scored big with Freaky
Bloodworth-Thomason, aired on CBS Drew Carey Show and The Unit, and he Friday, in which a mother and daugh-
for seven seasons from September 1986 reprised the role of Anthony in a 1995 ter trade bodies. The book was twice
until May 1993. It starred Dixie Carter, episode of Bloodworth-Thomason’s adapted into a Disney movie, most
Delta Burke, Annie Potts, Jean Smart Women of the House sitcom, which also recently in 2003 starring Jamie Lee
and Taylor, whose characters work at the starred Burke. Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. Her other
design firm in Atlanta. He also appeared in such other films books include A Billion for Boris, Summer
The series usually aired on Monday as Damien: Omen II (1978), The Howling Switch and The Rotten Book.
nights and, paired with Murphy Brown, (1981) and Tranced (2010). The daughter of South Pacific and
another female-centric sitcom, gave Taylor was born in Boston, raised Flower Drum Song composer Richard
CBS an hour of solid ratings. in New Orleans and attended Florida Rodgers and Dorothy Rodgers, Mary
Taylor’s character Anthony, before he A&M in Tallahassee, Fla. He joined the Rodgers was also the mother of a musi-
arrived at Sugarbaker Designs, was falsely Organic Theatre group in Chicago, where cal theater composer, Adam Guettel,
convicted of a robbery. Toward the end he worked with Joe Mantegna and Dennis a Tony Award winner for The Light in
of the series, he became a partner in the Franz, and also became a player with the Piazza.
firm and earned a law degree. Taylor re- Chicago’s famed Goodman Theatre. Rodgers had been married to Henry
ceived an Emmy nomination for outstand- Smart, Burke, Gerald McRaney, Guettel, former executive director of the
ing supporting actor in a comedy in 1989. Mantegna, Franz, Shadoe Stevens and Theatre Development Fund, who died in
“I miss that character,” he said in a Ernie Hudson were among those who 2013. She is survived by her sister, Linda
2001 interview. “I miss the situations he gathered to celebrate Taylor’s 67th Rodgers Emory, and five children.JUNE 30, 2014 Page 8 of 8
film review
Earth to Echo
By Michael Rechtshaffen
A i m ed, pr e su m a bly, at you ng
audiences who have never seen a 32-year-
old Steven Spielberg movie about a home-
sick extraterrestrial, Dave Green’s Earth
to Echo flaunts its obvious influences with
all the fresh novelty of an app update.
Still, give novice feature director
Green and screenwriter Henry Gayden
credit for more than just audacity —
despite all those echoes of classic ’80s
sci-fi fantasy adventures, Earth to Echo
KIDS FIND THE DARNDEST THINGS: Brian “Astro” Bradley, left, Ella Linnea Wahlestedt,
proves engaging in its own right. Reese Hartwig and Teo Halm make friends with an alien in Earth to Echo.
Credit a youthful, energetic spirit,
nicely conveyed by its cast of newcomers, trio’s cellphones start “barfing” up what various forms of social media-driven
a workable raw-footage construct and a appear to be maps and other gibberish, communication keeps it all in and of
spare but smartly spent special-effects and they begin to suspect something else the moment, and that’s also true of the
budget for the satisfying end result. could be responsible for attracting all contemporary dialogue delivered by its
Getting a jump on the Fourth of July those shifty-looking construction folks. likable young cast. As for the homesick
holiday weekend, the well-positioned Their attempts at deciphering the cell- little alien they have come to name Echo
Relativity Media release (which was phone images take them to the middle — c’mon, who can resist something that
acquired from Disney) could generate of the desert, where a strange-looking looks like a metallic owl bobblehead with
some noticeable sparks by claiming the cylinder embedded in the ground next to glowing neon-blue eyes and speaks in
family-friendly PG slot all to itself. a transformer soon yields a frightened, cute electronic chirps?
The movie cuts quickly to the chase wide-eyed alien inhabitant. Sometimes even the most shameless
as the lives of teenaged longtime best Even the previously uninitiated will of knockoffs can’t be denied.
buddies Tuck (Brian “Astro” Bradley), know where all this is headed. Aside
Munch (Reese Hartwig) and Alex (Teo from the primary source of inspiration, Opens: Wednesday (Relativity).
Halm) are about to be uprooted by a new you’ll also find bits of everything from Production: Panay Films.
highway development scheduled to level The Goonies to Super 8 woven not-so- Cast: Teo Halm, Brian “Astro” Bradley,
their suburban Nevada neighborhood. subtly into the Earth to Echo tapestry. Reese Hartwig, Ella Linnea Wahlestedt.
But as they spend one final night But having the characters constantly Director: Dave Green.
together before the mass exodus, the rely on video recording, texting and Rated PG, 89 minutes.
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