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Stallone Has Faith in TV Priest Series LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sylvester Stallone says he has faith that his TV series about a hip Catholic priest will air next fall despite the current church crisis. “I think the Lord will provide,” Stallone said with a touch of wryness. “Father Lefty,” created and produced by Stallone and starring Danny Nucci as an unconventional Miami priest, is under consideration by CBS for its fall schedule to be announced next week. “People have come up to me and given me their condolences,” Stallone said in an interview Tuesday. “They said, ‘Boy, talk about timing. Who wants to see a story about a good priest?’ “Well, who wants to see a story about a punch-drunk boxer?” is his retort, summoning memories of his unlikely 1976 hit film, “Rocky.” The nation’s Catholics have been so inundated with allegations of sexual misconduct by priests that they are “looking to exhale,” Stallone said. “We know the police are on it, the public is aware of it and they (errant priests) are all being rooted out,” Stallone said. At least one other drama about Catholicism is a possibility for next season. ABC is weighing “The Calling,” about a seminarian searching for God. CBS has indicated it has reservations about “Father Lefty,” which was given pilot approval before the scandal broke, according to Stallone. The network does not comment on pilots during the development period, a CBS spokesman said Tuesday. “They’ve been very nice and open to it,” Stallone said. “But it is a controversial subject that would take a great deal of foresight to say, ‘OK, we’ll take a gamble on this. Let’s do a little more cutting edge.” Stallone, who describes himself as a practicing Catholic with confidence in his local parish, said he believes CBS President Leslie Moonves would have been blunt if the show didn’t have a chance. The series is based on the real-life exploits of a Philadelphia priest, Robert Lefrack, who used a tough, unlikely approach when he was assigned to a gang-infested parish, Stallone said. “He’s Bruce Springsteen with a collar,” Stallone said. – Craig Zablo (May 8, 2002) |
Category: TV
TWO STALLONE TIDBITS
Stallone warns Philly colonists in ‘Liberty’ role
Mon Mar 4, 1:52 AM ETBy Steve Brennan
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) — Sylvester Stallone is putting extra star muscle behind the planned PBS animated series “Liberty’s Kids” from DIC Entertainment. Stallone‘s distinctive voice will be used to re-enact the character of Paul Revere in the high-profile series that is set amid the events of the American Revolution.
Also new to the all-star cast is British actor Michael York, who has signed do provide the voice of Adm. Lord Howe, leader of the English naval forces and responsible for blockading the colonial ports. York is the first British actor to come aboard the project.
The series is set to premiere on PBS on Labor Day.
“Liberty’s,” which will air five days a week on PBS, follows the adventures of four teenage apprentices working for Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper in colonial Philadelphia. The great events and the heroes of the American Revolution are introduced to viewers through the kids’ interaction as reporters.
Joining Stallone — who gets to utter the famous warning “The British are coming! The British are coming!” — is an A-list cast of celebrity voice actors, including Walter Cronkite as Benjamin Franklin, Michael Douglas as George Washington, Billy Crystal as John Adams, Annette Bening as Jane Adams, Whoopi Goldberg as Deborah Sampson, Ben Stiller as Thomas Jefferson, Liam Neeson as John Paul Jones, Dustin Hoffman as Benedict Arnold and Yolanda King, daughter of the late Martin Luther King Jr., as Elizabeth Freeman.
Bob Stack, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris were the showbiz honorees at the U.S. Vets Gala Honoring America’s Heroes, held Friday at the BevHilton. Lionel Richie, Constantina and Living Proof entertained.
By Army Archerd, Daily Variety Senior Columnist
Craig Zablo (March 4, 2002)
SLY & JEN: LARRY KING LIVE!
Jennifer Flavin, right, wife of actor Sylvester Stallone, left, makes a point as she discusses heart disease during taping of CNN’s ”Larry King Live,” Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, in Los Angeles. The program is scheduled to be telecast on CNN, Sunday, Feb 10, 2002. Flavin and Stallone’s daughter had open-heart surgery. (AP Photo/CNN, Rose M. Prouser) – Craig Zablo (02/07/02)
Sly and Jennifer to Appear on “Larry King Live”
Sly Stallone and his wife Jennifer Flavin-Stallone have taped an episode that will appear on “Larry King Live” (CNN) on February 10, 2002. One of the topics discussed was the open-heart surgery of their young daughter.
SLYFECTA
The October 26th issue of Entertainment Weekly contains three Sly items!
#1 Sly Schemes Rocky may be down, but don’t count him out: MGM KO’d plans for Rocky 6 – the studio would only commit $10 million to the sequel – but franchise creator and star Sylvester Stallone is shopping other Italian Stallion-inspired projects. He’s pitching the networks a sitcom about a boxing priest: Father Lefty, which Stallone would produce but not star in, features a tough but loving man of the cloth. “It’s about a very eccentric priest who has his thumb on the pulse,” says the 55-year-old actor. “A real character who’s not far from Rocky.” He also thinks Rocky: The Musical could be a Broadway box office champ. “It would be very similar to the movie, but of course with songs,” says Stallone. “I’ll probably write the book.” Would Rocky belt out Survivor‘s “Eye of the Tiger“? “Absolutely Do-do, doo, doo,”Sly sings. “It’s the thrill of the fight.”
#2 Expecting Stop! Or my wife will deliver. Sylvester Stallone, 55, and model spouse Jennifer Flavin, 33, are expecting their third child. (A due date was not announced.) Daughters Sophia and Sistine are 5 and 3, respectively. Stallone also has two sons, Sage, 25, and Seargeoh, 22, from his first marriage.
#3 In the Encore section there is the above pic and an article about the birth of Planet Hollywood ten years ago.
-Craig Zablo
(October 20, 2001)
SLY: START YOUR ENGINES!
The October 19th issue of Entertainment Weekly contains a bit of Sly news in the On the Air column by Lynette Rice: And so on…
Gentleman, start your engines! Hoping that racing fans will go along for the joyride, NBC is developing two NASCAR-themed dramas for fall 2002. Sources say Sylvester Stallone is teaming with Brad Grey Television to produce a spin-off of his motion picture Driven, while Regency Television is developing a series about two NASCAR drivers and their families. Why the interest in fast cars? Consider the recent appeal of NASCAR on NBC and TNT: Ratings are not only up 20 percent over last year, but the sport has begun to pique the interest of the advertiser-friendly 18-49 demographic – many of whom turned out to see this summer’s drag-racing drama The Fast and the Furious…
– Craig Zablo (October 20, 2001)
Jay Leno’s Harley Auction Raised $360,200 for 9/11 Victims!
The Harley Davidson celebrity-autographed motorcycle (and matching truck) put up for auction by Jay Leno raised $360,200.00! All proceeds will benefit 9/11 victims from the attacks on the World Trade Center. The winning bidder will appear on ”The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” to collect his Harley.
The Harley contains celebrity autographs by Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Nicolas Cage, Salma Hayek, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Heather Graham, Kevin Spacey, Ellen DeGeneres, Tim Allen and, of course, Jay Leno.
- Craig Zablo (October 20, 2001)
SYLVESTER STALLONE’S “THE PRIEST” in DEVELOPMENT
“Stallone, Glenn Catch CBS’ Eye with ’02 Dramas” was the headline of Nellie Andreeva’s article in The Hollywood Reporter. Here’s what Andreeva had to say about Sly’s project…
The network is finalizing a deal with Brad Grey Television for a project tentatively titled “The Priest,” which is based on an idea by Sylvester Stallone.
“The Priest” centers on a nonconformist priest in a big city, who helps both homeless and rich people with their problems, while struggling with personal problems of his own, including fidelity. The project is expected to get a premium script deal from CBS.
Brad Grey is in conversations with writer Cynthia Cidre (“The Mambo Kings”) to come on board and co-create the show with Stallone. Stallone will executive produce the project, and Jimmy Veres, who runs the television division of the actor’s Sylvester Stallone Co., will produce.
Stallone has been very active in television lately. He recently sold a NASCAR-themed pitch to NBC.
Stallone, who most recently co-starred in “Driven,” and his company are repped by ICM and Brillstein-Grey. Cidre is repped by WMA.
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Craig Zablo (October 6, 2001)
SLY SIGNS FOR FANS
Recently I received an e-mail with the photo above and the message below:
This pic was taken on April 26, 2001 outside the David Letterman show. Sly stopped before the show to sign autographs for everyone. All the best, Christine Eschenauer (ps the photo is from my personal collection of Sly pics)
Christine was born and lives in Brooklyn. She’s been a major Sly fan for 20 years now!! She’s a director of marketing at a law firm. Funny story: each time she’s met Sly, she’s had a Rocky towel with her that he sees – she calls it the lucky towel and thinks she will go down as the “crazy towel girl” to the people at David Letterman!!! Thanks to Christine for sharing! – Craig Zablo (September 3, 2001)
Sly Has Sold a NASCAR-Themed Series Pitch to NBC
Variety reports that SYLVESTER STALLONE has now sold a NASCAR-themed series pitch to NBC. Sly wouldn’t star in the project but would most likely write and direct it.
– Craig Zablo
[August 20, 2001]