Grammy Show Producer Ken Ehrlich Saves Best for Last

Look out, Austin, Texas. Not only is Andy Dick is getting ready to show his first film, "Danny Roane: First Time Director" at the South by Southwest Music and Film Festival come March 11, he's planning to lay his singing skills on the public as well.
 
The way-out-there "Less Than Perfect" actor tells us he made the semi-autobiographical, ultra low-budget movie with his own money. He also served as writer, director and star. And, "Because my movie is partly a musical -- because my character is so out of his mind he turns the movie into a musical half-way through production -- I'm actually performing at the festival," says Andy. "I don't play. I've got a band. I'm going to be singing, and some of my cast members from the movie are going to be singing at the Molotov Lounge."
 
"Danny Roane" boasts appearances by pals including Jack Black, Jimmy Kimmel, Sara Rue, Ben Stiller, Maura Tierney and Frankie Muniz. It has Dick playing "a washed-up TV actor who gets blackballed by Hollywood because of his antics, drinking. Then, he decides to sober up for three years. He can't even get a job, so he's doing things like community theater out in Simi Valley but then he decides to pool his money together and do a feature film … but at the beginning of doing the film, he freaks out so much he starts to drink again … "
 
"I exaggerate, obviously," adds Dick, whose own history with drug and alcohol abuse has been extensively chronicled. As for feeling uncomfortable doing a story that hits so close to home, even for laughs, he admits, "Yeah, there were times I'd look at the footage and go, 'Ew, do I really want to put that in the movie?' And I'd go, 'Just do it!'"
 
SAVING BEST FOR LAST:

Grammy show producer Ken Ehrlich admits that he and his team face "more of a challenge being last in the rotation" of music awards shows but sees that as a good thing. "It spurs us on a little more, and we have the luxury of seeing what other shows have done and being, frankly, better and more original. The Grammys are still The Grammys."
 
Among tomorrow night's "Grammy moments," as Ehrlich calls them, will be an opening with Madonna and the animated sensation, Gorillaz; Mary J. Blige and U2 doing "One"; performances by Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, Ciara, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera -- and if that's not enough induce goosebumps on pop-music lovers, there's also to be a tribute to Sly and the Family Stone that will feature Maroon 5, Joss Stone, John Legend, and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Says Ken, "This music transcended so many generations. It's never been forgotten, but it definitely deserves to be highlighted."
 
GOING FOR "BROKEBACK:

"With his The Abbey nightclub having turned into something of a town hall social spot for West Hollywood's gay community, owner David Cooley can't resist the opportunity to cheer on the Oscar-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" at the annual "The Envelope Please" Academy Awards night splash held there to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. "We are hoping to add some touches like the grizzly bear from the movie, live or stuffed, for stars to pose with, as well as have my arrival, perhaps with Jennifer Love Hewitt, on horseback in tuxedo and cowboy boots," Cooley says. Hewitt hostesses the affair, with Esquire and Clear Channel L.A. as sponsors. "Also, we're going to offer cowboy hats to any guests who want to wear them at the party that night as a hint of which picture they are hoping will win," adds Cooley.
 
ROLE MODELING:

Torri Higginson, whose character is in command on the Sci-Fi show "Stargate: Atlantis," says she's proud to be included in the mix of actresses currently playing pivotal parts on television. "It's kind of a neat little shift going on," she comments. Female fans are taking notice. "The number of young women that come up to me just absolutely enamored with my character surprises me. As an actor, you're always fighting for who you think your character is and fighting for her strength and input," she explains. "Yet, when I go and meet these young women, so many of them feel really grateful that she is very strong and moral. It thrills me to no end. In fact, a girl last year drove all the way from Georgia to Burbank, Calif., because she said she wanted to meet me. It's much more than I ever expected to offer anybody."
 
With season three set to begin filming soon in Canada, the Los Angeles-based actress is already packing her car. That's right, we said car. "I do the drive every month because I won't put my dog in a plane."

(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster)

The Beck/Smith syndicated newspaper column includes exclusive in-depth, behind-the-scenes reports on the stars, on the business of television and movie-making, and on the recording, publishing and media beats.

©2005 Creators Syndicate, Inc.