LENA HORNE ZAPS JANET

Yahoo News ^ | Feb. 24, 2004 | Yahoo News

[varina davis]

LENA HORNE ZAPS JANET Mon Feb 23, 7:00 PM ET

MICHAEL FLEMING and JOSEF ADALIAN

(Variety) In the latest ripple caused by Janet Jackson (news)'s Super Bowl exposure, the singer has abruptly withdrawn from an ABC biopic about Lena Horne (news) ---putting the project in limbo.

Storyline Entertainment partners Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have ankled as exec producers in solidarity with Jackson, who was due to play Horne.

A spokeswoman for Jackson said she was effectively dis-invited from the movie by Horne and her daughter Gail Lumet Buckley, who were incensed when Jackson flashed during the halftime show. Horne refused to return her contract for the pic until ABC guaranteed that Jackson was off the project, which is being produced by Storyline and Sony Pictures Television. ABC execs refused Horne's demand, but the issue has become moot with the reaction of Jackson, Zadan and Meron.

Alphabet insiders said the project is now up in the air; barring another superstar casting, however, it's unlikely to move forward.

"It's sad this had to happen. It was a perfect match," one ABC insider said.

The Super Bowl stunt has had far reaching implications. The FCC (news - web sites) is investigating, and broadcasters have in turn tightened the screws to eliminate the chance of another unscripted surprise that could shock and offend mass audiences.

Stormy weather was rumored to be brewing over the ABC biopic early last week, as word surfaced that Horne's displeasure hadn't abated. At the time, it was hoped that the singers would meet and that the duet would end harmoniously. But Horne refused to meet with Jackson.

Jackson looked at the movie as a prestigious way to jumpstart her acting career, which has included roles in 1970s sitcom "Good Times" and John Singleton (news)'s "Poetic Justice." She was recently photographed as Horne in a glamorous Vanity Fair layout.

Zadan and Meron left the project right after Jackson, and a spokeswoman for the producers said they would concentrate on finding another project to do with the singer.

It's not surprising they stuck by Jackson. While ABC already had optioned a Horne bio, it wasn't until Jackson approached the producers that the project became a film on the fast track.

Jackson signed to play the elegant singer who broke racial barriers, and she also planned to re-record some of Horne's classic songs.

"She is someone I've admired my whole life," Jackson said of Horne when the project was greenlit last fall.

Roy Campanella Jr. was set to direct Shirley Pierce's script based on "Lena," the autobiography the singer wrote with Richard Schickel.

[varina davis]

I've always considered Lena Horne a very classy lady. This proves it once again.

[Prince Charles]

Good for Lena, she didn't need that low-rent trollop posing as her anyhow.

[b9]

GO LENA!!!

She's hasn't spent her whole classy career only to have it sullied by Janet Jackson's lust for the limelight.

Are there any current young women in the entertainment field NOT opting for the tramp image?

They could all take a lesson from Lena.

[Prodigal Son]

A bit more understandable for many people now that Madonna as Evita was also protested. Although, that protest was not successful.

[commish]

Good for Lena! You go girl!

And trust me, another Net will pick up this project.

[TheBigB]

Fred Sanford is pleased.

[ClearCase_guy]

"She is someone I've admired my whole life," Jackson said of Horne

Note to Janet: There is a reason you feel that way about Lena Horne. She has class.

No one will feel about Janet the way that Janet feels about Lena. That should make Janet very, very sad. But I doubt she gets it.

[chimera]

Lena just oozes class. And talent. And sophisticated sex appeal. Compared to her (and some of the other great ones of the past), this current generation is just one of no-talent flashers. I mean, who is there? Madonna? Britney? Please. Entertainers like Lena Horne and the late Ann Miller could sing and dance circles around these clowns.

[Rummyfan]

The withdrawal of the Bimbo put the project in limbo! OMG!!!

[trebb]

"It's sad this had to happen. It was a perfect match," one ABC insider said.

The idiot probably also thinks that NAMBLA and Scout Masters are also perfect matches...

[LayoutGuru2]

Sweet...

http://www.liquidgeneration.com/clients/espn/superbowl_halftime.swf

[ken5050]

You forgot Christina Aguillara and Paris Hilton...BTW, Janet Jackson is now gonna do a biopic of Carmen Miranda...

[MJemison]

Too bad Lauren Green (FNC) isn't an "entertainer". She has it all; class, looks, style, and has just released her first album.

[Conservative4Ever]

Way to Go Lena!!

I can't imagine JJ being asked to protray the classy lady Lena Horne. She is one of my all time favorite female singers.

Just to throw some dynamite into this discussion. Listen to some classic Lena Horne then some Barbra...you will soon realize who Barbra was copying.

Red

[varina davis]

Actually, Halle Berry looks a lot more like Lena Horne and would likely good in the role. She did a very nice turn with Dorothy Dandridge. I'm not a Berry fan, per se, but she can act.

[chimera]

But "entertainers" are the best! They give you a good show without a lot of cheap sleaze. I'll go for an "entertainer" any time over a sleazeball.

(Just when FR is posting as slow as molasses in January again.)

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[KellyAdmirer]

Supposedly Jackson did the stunt to hype her new cd. Maybe not such a wonderful idea now in retrospect, eh?

[Samwise]

Gotta have a picture:

[EggsAckley]

Lena comes from an era when a talented singer could become a star without the use of visuals. There WAS no lip-synching (except for mary ford) and special effects weren't even thought of. Stars were judged purely on talent, not visual impact. Those were the days!