I'm told by a source intimate with his situation tonight that Mel Gibson "was really on the verge of suicide because he felt he was helpless to alcohol and didn't know what to do about it." Sure, my reaction was: sounds like spin. But the source here is someone I've known closely for years. Make your own judgment -- here's the rest of what he told me about Gibson (mugshot left): "No one's really asking questions about his state of mind. That's why he was driving around 90 miles an hour. This was a death wish. If that cop hadn't stopped him, this guy was going to be wrapped around a pole. This is such a bigger issue than 'Will he work again?' This is about his not wanting to live anymore. I've seen what he's gone through and what he's going through. You have to understand the disease of alcoholism. He was back in it. There's no doubt in my mind he was trying to kill himself that night." As for his anti-Semitic slurs during his DUI arrest, I'm told that Gibson doesn't remember saying them. "Why? He had alcoholic blackout syndrome. I don't know a lot about it. I've not had a lot of experience with it. He has some recollection of parts of the evenings. But he's not denying he said those things, and if anything he's owning up to it. But nobody could verify it. Not even he or his lawyers have seen the police report yet." The insider called Gibson's situation "tragic. It's not about what people are focusing on, understand that. 'This is Mel Gibson. He can do whatever he wants. He has all the money in world. He has a wonderful family. He has a wonderful wife.' They're not thinking about the real issue here: alcoholism. Nobody is talking about his alcoholism." Presently, I'm told Gibson is in a non-residential alcohol recovery program in the Malibu area.
UPDATE: *Publicist Alan Nierob informed the Los Angeles Times for its Tuesday edition that his client Mel Gibson "is fighting for his life" in his struggle with drinking.*
I have learned that, because of his DUI anti-Semitic slurs, ABC canceled development with Mel Gibson's television production company on a non-fiction TV mini-series about the Holocaust that was still in the early pre-script stage. The deal had been announced late last year based on the self-published 1998 memoir of Flory A. Van Beek, a Dutch Jew whose gentile neighbors hid her from the Nazis but who lost several relatives in concentration camps, titled "Flory: Survival in the Valley of Death." Gibson was not expected to act in the 4-hour mini-series, nor was it certain that his name would even be publicly attached to the final product. But Quinn Taylor, ABC's senior vice president for movies for television, had said at the time the project was announced that the attention-getting value of having Gibson attached was a factor in greenlighting the Holocaust project. After the huge success of his The Passion of the Christ, networks and studios sought out Gibson and his Icon production company because they felt he'd reached a previously untapped spiritual audience for Hollywood entertainment. But the attention-getting value of having Gibson attached to the Holocaust project post-DUI arrest is what got the project killed at ABC.
(UPDATE: *In Tuesday's New York Times and Los Angeles Times, ABC did not connect the project’s termination to Gibson’s remarks.*)
But I'm told by sources close to Gibson that the decision was totally ABC's, that it was because of his DUI anti-Semitic tirade, and that Gibson and his people didn't challenge it. This is the first piece of business lost by Gibson because of his blurting out anti-Semitic slurs during his DUI arrest. Earlier today, in an exclusive interview with me, Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, called on Gibson to to drop plans to produce the Holocaust mini-series for ABC. "It seems inconceivable that he should, given these cirumstances, make a film about the Holocaust. That would be like getting somebody that has a past association with the KKK to do a film on African-Americans. The African-Americans would be up in arms. That's the way Jews feel. If you don't like the Jews, don't do a film about the central issue of modern Jewish history, the Holocaust. It's insensitive to their feelings, especially if you don't like them. That's why I think he should drop out. This is not a film he could do." I've also learned that, even though Disney is the parent company of ABC, the movie division's Buena Vista ... Read More »
Today, American Public Radio's Marketplace business show, heard by an audience of over 8.1 million unique listeners in the course of a week, on more than 330 public radio stations nationwide, interviewed several journalists including myself and aired a piece about the Mel Gibson slur scandal. Listen to this story
Arianna Huffington, political activist and friend to many Hollywood heavies, wrote on her Huffington Post today a strongly worded challenge to the entertainment business re the Mel Gibson slur scandal. Here are excerpts: "For years, social conservatives have questioned the morals and ethics of the entertainment community -- tossing around the shibboleth of "Hollywood values" as an oxymoronic grenade in the culture wars. Well, now is the time for Hollywood to show what those values really are by making Gibson pay the price for his bigotry and intolerance. For starters, the town's power players need to step up and publicly condemn Gibson's vile comments (in effect, saying in public what they are already saying in private conversations I and many others have had). I mean, it shouldn't be so hard to publicly denounce someone -- even an Oscar-winner -- for being a raging anti-Semite. But that's not happening... Talk about lacking the courage of their convictions. Which makes Ari Emanuel's no-holds-barred post all the more praise-worthy. But is Ari the only high-profile figure willing to publicly draw a line in the Malibu sand? How disgusting and disappointing is that? I know this is, at its heart, a very cautious town -- a place that always likes to keep one eye on the bottom line -- but this is no time to play it safe or to put dollars ahead of doing the unquestionably right thing... This isn't a matter of Jews sticking together or non-Jews showing solidarity. It's about choosing sides in the real battle being fought all across the globe -- the fight between extremism and rationality, between hatred and common decency. And Bob Iger at Disney needs to pull the plug on two Gibson projects that are in the works. The company is slated to distribute Gibson's latest directorial project, Apocalypto, opening on December 8. They should refuse to do so. And ABC, which is owned by Disney, should, without delay, scrap its head-scratching plan to develop a miniseries about the Holocaust with Gibson's company (yep, you read that right)..."
Here's an update to my Hollywood Reacts To Gibson Slur Scandal posting: newly promoted president of production for Walt Disney Pictures Oren Aviv visited the set of Mel Gibson's in-the-works movie Apocalpto months ago and came back singing its praises and predicting Oscar consideration. So it stands to reason that he's now telling Slate's Kim Masters: "I've worked with Mel on several films over the years and we have a great relationship. We all make mistakes and I've accepted his apology to what was a regrettable situation. I wish him the very best on his path to healing." It appears that Aviv's Disney, through its Buena Vista arm, will continue with plans to distribute Gibson's forthcoming film, Apocalpto. Interestingly, the movie was supposed to be released August 4th but was moved to a December 8th release. Shooting on the film ended in June after what was described as mounting delays. But, in a May Entertainment Weekly article quoting Aviv, Disney was said to "remain upbeat about the project, which reportedly costs less than $50 million. 'Mel showed us footage that blew us away,' says Oren Aviv, Disney's [then] chief creative officer who traveled to the set in March. 'Apocalpto has the chance to get critical recognition.'" Which means Oscar notice. But now? Stay tuned. Still, Aviv has guts to publicly make a statement on this.
Updated: Hollywood Reacts To Gibson Slur Scandal, My Interview With Rabbi Hier Of Simon Wiesenthal Center: DUI Arrest 'Shows He Has A Problem With Jews...'
Here is my exclusive interview this morning with Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center -- an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust by fostering tolerance and understanding through community involvement, educational outreach and social action. The rabbi was speaking by telephone from Israel, where he said his organization was distributing funds for aid and shelter to people all over Israel, including to Israeli arabs. (Click here for my UPDATED: Hollywood Reacts To Gibson.)
Q: So what are your feelings about this Mel Gibson story?
A: Look, the issue with Mel Gibson is very simple. Mel Gibson is driving under intoxication. There are no Jews in sight. He can blame his car, he can blame his liquor, he can blame the sheriff. But he can't blame any Jews because there are none around. That's precisely who he blames. Yet that's the problem. That shows he has a problem with Jews. And there's an old Yiddish saying, which loses a lot in translation, "What someone drunk has on his tongue comes from his conscience when he is not drunk." My point is that, even if you look at his apology itself, in the nature of the apology he knew exactly what he'd said. And though doesn't specially address anti-Semitism, you can see that long apology he has it in mind he knows he said that.
Q: Are you convinced Gibson is anti-Semitic?
A: What does Mel Gibson want from the Jews? It's amazing to me he previously denies he shares any of his father's beliefs. But his father says the Holocaust is a hoax, and its numbers are exaggerated. Now it turns out he also has an issue with Jews. It's not just his father that is a problem.
Q: And you're calling on him to drop plans to produce a Holocaust movie for ABC?
A: It seems inconceivable that he should given these cirumstances to make, in the future, a film about the Holocaust. That would be like getting somebody that has a past association with the KKK to do a film on African-Americans. The African-Americans would be up in arms. That's the way Jews feel. If you don't like the Jews, don't do a film about the central issue of modern Jewish history, the Holocaust. It's insensitive ... Read More »
2ND UPDATE: *More Hollywood Reaction to Mel Gibson*
UPDATE: *Newly promoted president of production for Walt Disney Pictures Oren Aviv and Endeavor agency partner Ari Emanuel have both stepped forward and publicly expressed their opinion about Mel Gibson in light of his alleged anti-Semitic slurs made during his DUI arrest in Malibu Friday. But the two Hollywood execs have very different views.*
Aviv visited the set of Mel Gibson's in-the-works movie Apocalpto months ago and came back singing its praises and predicting Oscar consideration. So it stands to reason that he's now telling Slate's Kim Masters: "I've worked with Mel on several films over the years and we have a great relationship. We all make mistakes and I've accepted his apology to what was a regrettable situation. I wish him the very best on his path to healing." It appears that Aviv's Disney, through its Buena Vista arm, will continue with plans to distribute Gibson's forthcoming film, Apocalpto. Interestingly, the movie was supposed to be released August 4th but was moved to a December 8th release. Shooting on the film ended in June after what was described as mounting delays. But, in a May Entertainment Weekly article quoting Aviv, Disney was said to "remain upbeat about the project, which reportedly costs less than $50 million. 'Mel showed us footage that blew us away,' says Oren Aviv, Disney's [then] chief creative officer who traveled to the set in March. 'Apocalpto has the chance to get critical recognition.'" Which means Oscar notice. But now? Stay tuned. Still, Aviv has guts to publicly make a statement on this.
Emanuel, a top Hollywood agent, publicly urged Hollywood to shun Mel Gibson, making his statement by blogging on The Huffington Post. Before that, just one or two publicity-seeking entertainment PR consultants have spoken out publicly about Gibson's slur scandal. But Emanuel, the Endeavor talent agency partner, is taken very seriously in Hollywood. (He writes regularly on political issues for HuffPo; his brother is U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), a former top Clinton White House politico.) Other entertainment ... Read More »
UPDATE: No TV Interviews 'Anytime Soon' For Mel
UPDATE: New Mel Gibson Statement: 'I Am Not A Bigot'; Apologizes To Jewish Community
UPDATE: EXCLUSIVE: Mel Gibson Was 'Really On The Verge Of Suicide' Before His DUI Arrest
UPDATE: ABC Cancels Mel Gibson's Holocaust TV Mini-Series Because Of His DUI Anti-Semitic Slurs
UPDATE: Hollywood Reacts To Gibson
UPDATE: EXCLUSIVE: My Interview With Rabbi Hier of Simon Wiesenthal Center About Mel Gibson
Lt. Steve Smith, in charge of the detective bureau for the Malibu/Lost Hills station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, confirmed to me just now that "the contents seem to be similar" between the official reports and the four pages posted by TMZ.com on the Internet alleging Mel Gibson "blurted out a barrage of anti-Semitic remarks" -- "fucking Jews" and "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" and asking the arresting deputy "Are you a Jew?" -- during his DUI arrest early Friday morning. Smith denied TMZ.com's charge that the sheriff's department was involved in a "cover-up" of Gibson's alleged anti-Semitic tirade detailed in deputy Jim Mee's first arrest report. "TMZ has learned that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department had the initial report doctored to keep the real story under wraps," the website claims. But Smith told me emphatically, "There's no whitewash. I've seen the first report, and the supplemental report, and it looks to be the same thing as what's on the Internet. The contents that are on the Internet are covered in both those reports." That is the first official confirmation from the Sheriff's station that Gibson's alleged anti-Semitic rants are included in the official reports about ... Read More »
SUNDAY: Nostalgia for Crockett and Tubbs, plus a grittier look and story, made Universal's Miami Vice the No. 1 movie at the box office, knocking off month-long Disney blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest. This was Michael Mann's biggest movie opening of his directorial career as Vice took in $8.8 mil Friday and $9.1 mil Saturday for what was a less-than-anticipated $25.2 mil finish. 
Then again, the pic was playing in only 3,021 theaters, so its per-screen average was a respectable $8,340. (Mann's last big film, Collateral, starring Tom Cruise in his first villain role, opened at $24.7 mil and went on to gross a 4x multiple of its domestic opening weekend -- getting past $100 mil.) I'm told Miami Vice played to a racially and ethnically diverse audience divided almost evenly between male and female -- but a whopping 62% of the moviegoers were aged 30 and older. (Must have been the lure of that familiar theme music...) But the real news was that Warner Bros. continued its "bombs away" summer with the complete collapse of its expensive kiddie fare Ant Bully despite a lavish marketing campaign. Earning only $2.6 mil on Friday and $3.1 mil on Saturday, Ant Bully ended its opening weekend with a pathetic $8 million. So chalk up another loser for that studio, along with M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water, which barely registered its 2nd weekend out with $2.3 mil on Friday and $2.7 mil for Saturday. 
And, to top it off Superman, dropped out of the top 10 to finish the weekend with less than $4 mil -- so it doesn't look like it will make $200 mil, which is exactly the scenario I've been predicting since it opened. Pirates 2 hauled in another $20.3 mil for second place as it closes in on $400 million at U.S. theaters. The cheap teen pic from Fox, John Tucker Must Die, added $4.5 mil to its Friday's take of $5.5 mil to finish the weekend at $14 mil. Sony's Monster House had a super second weekend out with $11.5 mil (on Friday and $4.5 mil on Saturday). Finally, Uni's comedy You, Me and Dupree playying in 2,820 theaters added another $7 mil for a cume to date of $59 mil. (By the way, ... Read More »
Back around Christmas 2005, I was tipped that ICM's Jeff Berg wanted to close two big deals for boutique agencies. Flush with his month-old $100 million private equity infusion from Rizvi Traverse Management, the agency chief was looking closely at Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency as well as Endeavor Agency. Then, there followed a waiting game. Rumors were rampant. But the reality was that these deals aren't done overnight: like everything in Hollywood that involves ego and money, they're complicated because they combine different agency cultures as well as partners and personnel. (Who else remembers back to 1992 when William Morris acquired Triad? The two agencies had been talking for 17 months; and, even when those chats became very serious, the deal points took five months.) Also on Berg's mind was the successorship issue; these days, every head of a company has to have an eye on an heir apparent, or two or three. Demonstrating just how clueless the Hollywood trades really are, Variety even ran a June 22nd hit story during the waiting period asking, "Has ICM squandered the momentum that could have come with a restructuring?" Variety didn't know that, at that very moment the story was published, ICM and Broder already had a signed letter of intent in their hands. (More on this later...) The deal took four intensive months to get done: it was code-named, it was stealthy -- and it involved Camp Allen's Duck Pond.
For 10 years off and on, Berg (left, photo credit LA Times) and Broder had danced that slow minuet that accompanies any agency talk of merging. One was in charge of a large agency that had hit tough times: movie agents and clients were being poached, and the TV division was not keeping up with the formidable competition. Broder had been king of the small tube representation for seemingly eons; his was the Tiffany of TV agencies, a true cash cow. The two men, after all, served together on the board of the Association of Talent Agencies's Strategic Planning Committee and had huddled together over the many regulatory, labor and guild matters affecting them. And Broder, besides, was an ICM veteran, as well as Elliot Webb who'd both worked with Berg back in the 1970s. In 2005, Berg began talking more about merging ... Read More »
UPDATE: ICM: Behind-The-Scenes of 'Project Beta'
The newly freed agents:
SCOTT ARNOVITZ
NANCY ETZ
TANYA LOPEZ
STEVE SIMONS
BABBETTE PERRY
STACEY LUBLINER
JILL GILLETTE
PATTY DETROIT
NANCY JOSEPHSON
There's still plenty of summer left for the movie biz. I'm told Paramount's World Trade Center is on track for a $25 million-to-$30 million opening weekend starting August 9th. Gotta say, 
that's more than I ever expected. Sony's Talladega Nights; The Ballad of Ricky Bobby looks like it'll debut even bigger with $30+ million for August 4th weekend. Great summer at the box office for comedies.
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