Stallone Has Faith in TV Priest Series

Craig / / 2002, TV

Stallone Has Faith in TV Priest Series
Wed May 8, 6:39 AM ET
By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer

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)

The Rock Learns From Sly & Arnold

Craig / / 2002, Celebs

From STUFF Magazine: May 2002

The Rock: Lord of the Ring

Excerpt from interview:

Will the Rock succeed?
Oh, yeah. I have had some great advisers helping me along the way. Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger have come down to the set to chat.

Could you understand what either of them said?
Yeah, Sly said, “Don’t look directly into the sun,” and Schwarzenegger said, “Always use a condom.” So I took that advice, and here we are. Both guys have been extremely supportive, and they certainly don’t have to be. It’s Great. They define the action genre.

Arnold has made some great movies, and Sylvester has done an amazing job. I mean, Rockyis just one of the all-time greatest pictures ever made.

Aren’t you overlooking Stop! or My Mom Will Shoot?
Yeah, and Red Heat.

*This cartoon was with the article, Illustrated by: Gary Brandham.*

Thanks to John “Big” Beatty for the tip and the scan.

– Craig Zablo (May 2, 2002)

Stallone Named Action Star of the Millennium

Craig / / 2002, Honors

Stallone named VSDA ‘Action Star’
Tue Apr 23, 2:12 AM ET By Gregg Kilday

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) — Without even having to fight a title bout, Sylvester Stallone will be presented with the “Action Star of the Millennium” Award by the Video Software Dealers Assn. at its 21st annual convention, Home Entertainment 2002, set for July 16-18 at the Rio Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

“As an actor, writer and director, Mr. Stallone has endowed his artistic achievements with excellence and has created some of the most memorable characters in cinema history,” VSDA president Bo Andersen said in announcing the award. “Because of DVD technology and the overwhelming popularity of home video, his numerous films will continue to be enjoyed by film buffs for generations to come.”

The award comes as Artisan Home Entertainment releases a special edition DVD release “The Rambo Trilogy” on May 28.

Stallone, who staked his claim in Hollywood with 1976’s “Rocky,” which won a best picture Oscar, recently completed shooting Warner Bros‘ “Avenging Angelo,” directed by Martyn Burke and starring Madeleine Stowe.

Stallone Honored As ‘Action Star’
Thu Apr 25, 6:48 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Movie tough-guy Sylvester Stallone has been selected “Action Star of the Millennium” by a home video trade group.

The “Rambo” and “Rocky” star will receive the honor in July at the Las Vegas convention for the Video Software Dealers Association.

“As an actor, writer and director, Mr. Stallone has endowed his artistic achievements with excellence and has created some of the most memorable characters in cinema history,” VSDA president Bo Andersen said.

The award comes as Artisan Home Entertainment releases a special edition DVD, “The Rambo Trilogy,” on May 28.

Stallone, 55, soared to fame with the 1976 boxing drama “Rocky,” which he also wrote. The film won a best-picture Oscar.

His other films include 1993’s “Cliffhanger” and 1997’s “Cop Land.”

– Craig Zablo (April 28, 2002)

Sly: Star of the Millennium

Craig / / 2002, Honors

Showbiz people briefs
Mon Apr 22, 1:21 AM ET

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – With a mere 25 years of work under his belt, Sylvester Stallone will claim the title of action star of the millennium at the Video Software Dealers Assn. Convention this summer.

Stallone is expected to accept the nod in person at the opening ceremony of the convention, July 16 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The award comes on the 20th anniversary of the theatrical release of “First Blood” and follows Artisan Home Entertainment’s special edition DVD release “The Rambo Trilogy” on May 28.

“I’m very, very humbled by that,” Stallone said about the kudos in an upcoming interview in Daily Variety sister magazine Video Premieres. “There’s a lot of competition out there,” he said, laughingly noting that the time period of the award ensures that the next recipient will have to wait 1,000 years.

Stallone is probably best known for his title role in “Rocky,” which earned him Academy Award nominations for writer and actor in 1976 before he returned in four sequels. Most recently, Stallone completed filming Warner Bros.’ “Avenging Angelo,” which co-stars Madeleine Stowe.

Congrats to Sly! – Craig Zablo (April 22, 2002)

Stallone in “The Green”?

Craig / / 2002, Celebs, Unmade Films

STALLONE IS IN IT FOR ‘THE GREEN: Numenorean principals Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman have agreed to adapt Troon McAllister‘s award-winning novel The Green for a spring 2002 shoot starring Sylvester Stallone. Stallone plays Eddie Caminetti, a golf hustler who reluctantly gets dragged into the upper-crust world of playing for the American team in the Ryder Cup matches – golf’s most prestigious event. Stallone is committed and Samuel Jackson has expressed interest in playing the team’s coach. The project will be produced jointly with Crusader Entertainment and Paramount Pictures.

I’m sure that this would not be the film that many SZoners would have picked for Sly to do next. But this book has gotten rave reviews. Click on the picture to the left, if you would like to read them or even purchase it.

Thanks to Franck (from Paris, France)

– Craig Zablo (April 21, 2002)