Richard Roeper Blog

Dan Rostenkowski, one of the most powerful congressman of the 20th century, has passed away.

Dan Rostenkowski dies at 82

In 1994, when Rostenkowski was under indictment on 17 counts and was avoiding the media at all costs, I was at Gibson’s Restaurant in Chicago with Neil Steinberg of the Chicago Sun-Times and WLS talk show host Roe Conn–yes, the same Roe Conn with whom I now co-host on WLS-AM.

We sent a bottle of wine over to Rostenkowski.

Here’s the column I wrote about what happened next…

April 5, 1994, TUESDAY, Late Sports Final Edition

Wine Uncorks a Rosty Attack on the Media

BYLINE: Richard Roeper

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 11

LENGTH: 697 words

We had to do it. We had to send over a bottle of wine to Dan Rostenkowski.

It was last Wednesday night and I was having dinner with a newspaper colleague and a radio talk show host in a popular downtown restaurant, the kind of place where the men wear silk suits and the women have serious jewelry. The powerful, media-unfriendly chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee had led an entourage through the crowded restaurant a few minutes earlier and was now ensconced in a booth somewhere around the corner and out of sight.

We instructed our waiter to bring Rostenkowski a bottle of Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages 1991 (a fine but inexpensive red burgundy from France), along with a note I had written on the back of a business card: “To the victor go the spoils. Congratulations on your re-election.”

The waiter reported back that Rostenkowski appreciated the gesture.

An hour later, as we were enjoying a nightcap in the bar, Rosty himself approached, glass of beer in hand.

(I should note here that no notes were taken during the following encounter, but my associates and I scribbled down our recollections immediately afterward. Although this was not a formal interview, Rostenkowski knew who we were and seemed eager to talk about his relationship with the media. At no point did he say the conversation was off the record.)

Who picked out the wine, he wanted to know. I pointed to my reporter friend. Rostenkowski shook his hand and congratulated him on his taste, then gave him a hard time about the cigar he was smoking.

He pulled up a chair, sat down, took out his reading glasses and peered at the three signatures on the card we had sent over.

“I really hate you guys in the media,” said Rostenkowski.

I started to offer a rejoinder, but he pointed a meaty finger at me and told me to shut up and listen. (By this time the bar area of the restaurant was like one of those old E.F. Hutton commercials, where everyone leans in to hear what the big guy has to say.)

He laughed about the Sun-Times’ endorsement of John Cullerton and said the endorsement wasn’t good for anything except wrapping fish when all was said and done. How come we didn’t write that?

We talked for a while about cigars and wine, but then Rosty went back to the subject of our respective professions. He noted that he was old enough to be my father and said maybe one day I’ll get out of journalism and do something worthwhile. The fourth estate should be working with the government, he said, but that never happened. He claimed we simply were not fair.

My reporter friend told of doing a story about a neighbor of Rostenkowski’s who claimed Rosty kicked his dog. Rostenkowski growled that my friend was an (expletive deleted) for writing the story. He never kicked anybody’s dog, he said. But that’s what the media love – the negative side of things.

All his life, Rostenkowski told us, he’s been trying to do good things – and he delivers. He said he particularly enjoyed bringing business to Chicago and Illinois when it means other regions won’t get it, because he hates Texans, he hates Californians and he really hates New Yorkers.

And no matter what has been written or alleged about him, Rostenkowski told us, he sleeps well at night.

“I have a clean conscience,” he said.

It should be noted here that even as Rostenkowski was giving it to us with both barrels, there was little rancor in his words. He apparently was just looking to blow off a little steam, and we were glad to be there to play some verbal Ping-Pong with him.

Regarding his recent re-election, Rostenkowski boasted of doing it his way while largely ignoring the advice of the professional handlers. He several times said he was “through” but when I asked if I could write that this was his last term, he said that if or when he does make an official announcement, he’ll give it to a Tribune reporter just to stick it to the Sun-Times.

We all shook hands and traded a few more semi-friendly barbs, and he left our table – only to return a moment later for one parting shot.

“I might run again,” said Rostenkowski with a chuckle. “I might do it just to tick off the Sun-Times.”

Click on the blue link below to hear the audio of the Mel Gibson/Blago “phone call,” as heard on the Roe and Roeper Show on WLS-AM…

Mel vs Blago

After I Tweeted that I’d be attending a screening of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” the other day, I heard from a number of movie fans wondering why there was a remake of the classic horror flick from 1984 that helped launch Johnny Depp’s career and gave us Robert Englund’s soon-to-be-iconic Freddy Krueger, he of the bad sweater and the sharp fingernails.

Answer: There are only eight original ideas left in Hollywood, and they have to space them out accordingly.

Take a look at this partial roster of movies I’ll be seeing in the spring and summer of 2010:

“Iron Man 2″

“Robin Hood”

“Shrek Forever After”

“Sex and the City 2″

“The A-Team”

“The Karate Kid”

“Toy Story 3″

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”

“Predators”

“Nanny McPhee 2″

And I’ve already seen such familiar stories as “Alice in Wonderland,” “Clash of the Titans,” “The Wolfman” and “Death at a Funeral.”

I swear to you, “Step Up 3D” is on the horizon, with the plot summary telling us, “New York’s intense street dancing underground comes alive in eye-popping Digital 3D in the third installment of the ‘Step Up’ franchise . . .”

Wow.

Of course, some of those sequels and remakes and redos are more promising than others. My interest in “Toy Story 3″ is about, oh, a kabillion times greater than my anticipation factor for “Sex and the City 2,” because if Carrie Bradshaw and the “girls” don’t get it together soon, they’re going to be starring in a big-screen version of “The Golden Girls.” Mr. Big will be Mr. Dead.

As for the new version of “The Karate Kid” with Jackie Chan and Will Smith’s kid — I keep an open mind going into every movie, but when I heard about that project, in my mind the title instantly became, “Kill Me Now.”

Richard Roeper at Mizzou film awards…

It started with a shot of an empty podium and a few rows of journalists and interested parties in a small room. I wasn’t sure if Tiger Woods or Barack Obama was going to show up and address the nation.

It ended with a son in the embrace of his mother, in the one indisputably genuine moment of the entire spectacle.

That had to be one of the strangest “press opportunities” I’ve ever seen.

At first looking uncomfortable (who wouldn’t be?) and speaking in a deliberate, measured tone before finding his stride, Tiger Woods faced a small group of journalists and friends in person–and a TV audience that no doubt numbered in the millions–and read from a prepared statement in which again apologized for his serial philandering and spoke of repairing his relationship with his wife, Elin.

Tiger’s mother was in attendance. Elin, was not in the room. Some of Tiger’s many, many, many critics jumped on this fact—but what was Elin supposed to do, show up and stand there like one of those political wives who shares the stage with her husband as he issues the obligatory mea culpa, eyes blinking rapidly and smile frozen on the face, thinking, “I didn’t sign up for this s—”?

At times appearing robotically committed to the script, Woods segued into a vow to remain committed to the good works of the Tiger Woods Foundation before returning to the real reason for the press conference.

“I’m embarrassed that I have put you in this position,” said Woods. “For all that I have done, I’m so sorry. I have a lot to atone for. But there’s one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night…Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an incident of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame…

“I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated…I am the only person to blame..

“I was wrong. I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules.”

Of course, Tiger does get to play by different rules, at least in the world of instant, constant temptation-fulfillment. He is a superstar athlete in a culture that worships superstar athletes, and he has been given an all-access pass to all the riches and temptations the world can offer. He still does. He could divorce Elin and become the Playboy of the Western World, telling people if they don’t like his womanizing and his partying ways, they can go f— off. Of course he’d lose every last remaining endorsement, but as long as he’s not breaking the law, he can’t get kicked out of golf, can’t get booted off the planet like a “Survivor” contestant gone wild.

But that’s not what Tiger wants to do, not who he aspires to be, according to what he told us Friday morning. He’s going to try to be a better man, and we should wish him success in that quest. He spoke of his Buddhist faith and having lost his way.

And yet, for many post-speech analysts, it wasn’t enough. A writer for Gawker.com said the apology was “excruciating to watch…a string of cliches straight from a 12-step book.”

The terrific sportswriter Bill Simmons opined, “Everything about it seemed staged. Everything.”

Well, yes. That’s because it WAS staged.

I don’t know what people expected, or what would have been enough. What if Woods had invited everyone from Sports Illustrated to the Washington Post to TMZ.com to cover the event, and he had opened the floor to questions? Did we really expect this guy to stand there and engage in frank and open discussion about everything that happened last Thanksgiving? Was he supposed to go through the list of alleged mistresses and say, “That one, yes. That one, never met her. Ooooh that one–she was GREAT.”

Or maybe Woods was supposed to do a weepy sitdown with Oprah, complete with tears and blubbering confessions. Then what? Would the critics say, “All is forgiven,” or would they chastise Woods for going so public with his personal problems?

This is what happens when you’re arguably the most famous athlete in the world and you screw up, big-time. No matter what you do, on some level you just can’t win. And you have no one but yourself to blame.

A few hours after Woods’ speech, which played on a near-continuous loop on ESPN all day, came this press release:

“E! News…speaks exclusively with Tiger Woods’ former mistress Jamie Jungers about the golf legend’s apology this morning.”

Stay classy, Jamie.

Meanwhile, a porn star who claims to have had an affair with Woods called her own press conference, so she could weep and complain about how much Tiger hurt her feelings.

One could sense the needle on the nation’s Sympathy Meter moving perhaps 1/100,000th of one degree.

Woods also had a legitimate point when he chastised the paparazzi for stalking his toddler and his mother. But chastising the paparazzi is like yelling at a shark in the water to stop pursuing its prey. Utterly fruitless. Those ass—– have no conscience.

When will Tiger return to golf? He couldn’t say. First he’s going back to rehab, but it could be this year. He vowed then he does return, he’ll be “more respectful of the game.”

Woods closed by saying he hopes we’ll one day believe in him again, and then he stepped down and into the embrace of his mother, reminding us all that yes, the man has been blessed with incredible talent and fortune, and yes, he has done his best to throw it all away–but like the rest of us, he is just a man, and he has apologized for his misdeeds, and he seems sincere about trying to make things right.

But here’s the thing: I never “believed” in Woods in the first place, any more than I believe in any professional athlete or entertainer or celebrity. I appreciate their talents, but just because they convey a certain (manufactured) image in commercials or they utter all the right cliches in post-game interviews doesn’t mean I buy into the notion of the superstar/role model. Do you? Really?

Tiger Woods doesn’t owe any of us anything from this point. He’s a damn golfer, not a world leader. Should he be more a role model on the course? Tone down the swearing and the fits, become a bit friendlier to the media and to fans? Sure. But his real debts are to his wife and his children, to the people in his life. Godspeed to them.

Earlier this week, I launched the updated version of this site, and I announced plans to include on-camera reviews of new movies. Thanks to everyone who has Twittered, posted a message on Facebook or emailed me with kind words about the new venture.

Veteran media columnist Robert Feder wrote about the deal on his blog.

Robert Feder blog

Some of the comments under Rob’s fair and accurate piece were pretty negative, but as long as the criticism is fair, I have no problem with that. If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out. A few other comments were based on false claims, so I jumped in with a response to set the record straight. I don’t mind if you’re going to take a shot at me, but if you’re going to make things up or repeat untruths, that’s just not right.

A few days later Roger Ebert wrote a long piece about the history of the show, including his take on some recent developments, for his online journal. Roger took note of a comment I made to Feder and addressed me directly:

“I confess I felt a twinge that Rob Feder’s column quoted you: ‘As much as I loved doing ‘Ebert & Roeper,’ this will have much more of an unfiltered, uncut, viral feel. As someone at Starz put it, they wanted ‘Roeper uncut.’ If a film is a piece of shit, I’ll say it’s a piece of shit.’

“Richard, were you not uncut at E&R? Did you never say a movie was ‘a piece of shit?’ On the web and cable you can use that very word, of course, as you do in your web site’s promo for your new enterprise, promising to review ‘a lot of big movies, and some smaller, shitty ones as well.’ “

A few words of explanation. First, it was not my intention to disparage the amazing experience I had as Roger’s co-host, or to imply I was creatively stifled. Roger and Gene pioneered the concept of two smart, interesting people on TV talking like they would at a coffee shop or at a bar. (The “Pardon the Interruption” guys, among many others, have said they’re just doing a variation of “Siskel & Ebert.”) From the first time I sat in the balcony, Roger always encouraged me to speak freely and be myself–and he was exceedingly generous about giving me equal time every time we discussed a movie.

However, during my first couple of years on the show and then again at the very end of my run, I did have some behind-the-scenes “creative differences” (as they say) with producers. I probably should have clarified to Rob that that’s what I was thinking about when I said “uncut, unfitered,” blah blah blah. But on the air, with Roger–I was absolutely encouraged to be myself and to express myself in my own way. I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise with a clumsy and cryptic quote.

The other factor that played into my comments is the delivery system I’ll be using. With these reviews airing on premium cable and on the Internet as opposed to broadcast television, I will have more freedom in terms of language. (Not that I’m going to come out of the box every week cussing like a Tarantino character.) Anyone who reads my blog knows I’ve occasionally said things in this space I could never print in the Sun-Times. In that same vein, these on-camera reviews might be a little more PG-13 or R than the reviews on the Disney-produced show. When I said “uncut, unfiltered,” etc., I just meant I’ll be delivering the reviews in a casual setting, in a conversational tone.

As for my comment about reviewing “a lot of big movies, and some smaller, shitty ones as well,” that was just a lame attempt at humor. It would have been more accurate for me to say I’ll be reviewing a lot of big movies, and some great smaller movies as well. I’d much rather celebrate a small gem than go out of my way to spotlight a little film, only to say it’s terrible. There are enough shitty BIG movies (hello, “2012″) to review as it is.

Here’s how it’s going to work. I’m going to see the movies and record my reviews in Chicago. The Denver-based editing team at Starz will drop in clips and graphics. The reviews will appear on richardroeper.com and on other web sites on the day the movie opens; a short while later, they’ll run on Starz. It’s really that simple.

And Roger, to answer your question: You’re right. Indeed I did once compare a certain movie to “a hot, steaming pile of excrement.”  It was “The Brown Bunny.” Never did get a Christmas card from Vincent Gallo after that.

Cheers,

Richard

A few pics from the annual Aces Up! tournament, held at the Wit Hotel in Chicago last week. We raised more than $100,000 for the Urban Prep academies.

www.urbanprep.org

Your hosts for the evening: Ill. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Urban Prep’s Tim King, RR, and former Chicago Bear and Notre Damer Chris Zorich.

Former Chicago Bear (and avid poker player) Jerry Azumah apparently believes if you sing to your cards, they’ll improve…

After knocking a guy out of the tournament, I tell him, “Good game, you played well, I got lucky, yada yada yada…”

I don’t know what’s happening here, but I’m fairly certain it’s not a standard part of any Hold ‘em tournament.

With Susan Carlson of CBS-2 and Natalie Martinez of NBC-5.

Illinois State Treasurer (and U.S. Senate candidate) Alexi Giannoulias.

Since when did Britney Spears start looking like Bret Michaels hopping a fence after stealing Elton John’s vintage glasses from 1974? Just askin’.

Last night I co-hosted the ‘orange carpet’ festivities for a Chicago-in-Hollywood event at the Melman family’s new restaurant, La Grand Orange. You can read all about in Bill Zwecker’s piece in today’s Sun-Times.

1784140,chicago-in-la-link-bill-zwecker-roeper-092209.article

In the photo above, comedian Tom Dreesen and actress Virgnia Madsen. Dreesen, a fellow south suburbanite, was for many years the primary opening act for Frank Sinatra. As I said hello to Dreesen on the orange carpet, I thought of the Sinatra connection and the fact Sinatra once said, “Orange is the happiest color,” which has to be one of the wiggiest declarations of the mid-1960s. Sinatra even wore a startling orange sweater in the original “Oceans 11.” WTF.

As for Ms. Madsen, an engaging and talented actress: I remember seeing her in films such as “Class” (semi-nude cameo appearance) and “Electric Dreams” a million years ago. (Probably shouldn’t say “a million years ago” when referring to an actress.) Not to mention the immortal “Hot Spot,” co-starring the perma-tanned Don Johnson and the very young Jennifer Connelly. What a warm and welcome presence Madsen is these days. How great was she in “Sideways”? (Note: As much as I liked “Sideways,” I have a theory that many film critics had extra love for that movie because it features the schleppy Paul Giamatti as a bitter, frustrated writer who drinks far too much and often has the manners of a wolverine——yet he manages to intrigue, court and bed the lovely Maya, played by Madsen. Of course all those male critics loved “Sideways,” because more than few of them look, sound and behave like Giamatti’s character.)

Also at the party: Harold Ramis, co-architect of many of the greatest comedies of the last 30 years. Earlier this year, I did a Q-and-A with Ramis in which he revealed his first choice to play the lead in “Groundhog Day” was Tom Hanks, but the problem was that Hanks had such a nice-guy persona, viewers would like him from the start, even when he was being a jerk. Bill Murray? Much easier to buy as an asshole. (And to Murray’s credit, he was just as believable as a changed man by the end of the film.)

Ramis was one of the 30 or so guest critics that filled in for Roger Ebert on “At the Movies” after Roger took ill. (Others included Jay Leno, Kevin Smith, Aisha Tyler [my personal favorite], David Edelstein, Lisa Schwarzbaum and John Mellencamp, who did the show mainly because he wanted to tout the documentary “Grey Gardens.”) Nearly every time after I’d finished taping a show with a guest critic, that person would say, “Wow, there’s a lot more to this than I thought,” or, “It’s not so easy to rip a movie or a performance when you realize millions of people are going to see it,” or, “There’s a lot that goes into this show.”

When Ramis finished, he deadpanned, “You call this work?”

Whether I was chatting with Jeff Garlin or Joe Mantegna or for pics with Dick Butkus (!), there were a number of moments when I thought to myself, “You call this work?”

Yeah it’s a bit of a challenge to maneuver your way through one interview after another with an actor or a producer or a sports figure, listening to their answers while formulating your next question as a frantic producer is signaling for you to wrap it up because MISTER BIG STAR has just arrived—–but compared to the real jobs most people do every day, it’s another day at Fantasy Camp.

Cheers,

RR