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Frank Sivero

WHERE'S MY CUT?

The old adage about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery doesn't cut it with Frank Sivero.

Deadline reports that the veteran actor has filed a lawsuit against the Fox Network and the makers of The Simpsons for allegedly basing the recurring mobster character known as "Louie" on his portrayal of wiseguy Frankie Carbone in the 1990 film Goodfellas.

And now Sivero wants $250-million (U.S.) for allegedly copying his likeness.

Filed in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, the lawsuit alleges that Simpsons producer James L. Brooks was "highly aware of who Sivero was, the fact that he created the role of Frankie Carbone, and that The Simpsons character Louie would be based on this character."

In Goodfellas, Carbone was a support character in the criminal gang of Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) – and ended up frozen on a hook in a meat truck for his troubles.

On The Simpsons, the Louie character is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and serves as the primary henchman for Springfield mob boss Fat Tony (voiced by Joe Mantegna). Since Louie's first fleeting turn on the animated series in late 1991, the character has appeared roughly a dozen times.

But that's more than enough screen appearances for Sivero and his legal team.

The detailed 12-page lawsuit, which can be viewed in its entirety here, points out that The Simpsons has generated more than $12-billion over the years from television, a feature film, video games and other revenue streams – and Sivero wants his cut of the action.

The lawsuit breakdown: Sivero wants $50-million in damages for "loss of his likeness"; another $50-million in actual loss for "improper appropriation of plaintiff's confidential idea"; another $50-million for exemplary damages; and $100-million for "improper interference."

The lawsuit also claims that promises were made to Sivero by Gracie Films (the production company of Simpsons creator Matt Groening) to include the actor in future projects.

From the legal document: "Over the years, Sivero was told by Gracie Films that he [Sivero] would be part of the future."

Also from the lawsuit: "On one occasion, at a party in or around 1995/96, Sivero had another conversation with Mr. Brooks where Sivero stated, 'It's about time we do something together.' Mr. Brooks said yes, but this again never materialized."

So far, Fox has issued no comment on the lawsuit. Likewise, there's been no response from Brooks, Groening or Nicholas Pileggi, who penned the script for Goodfellas with the film's director, Martin Scorsese.

And while there's an undeniable physical resemblance between the Louie and Carbone characters (although Louie's facial scar is new), it's possible that Sivero may simply be missing the point of satire on The Simpsons – where practically every other character is based on a famous person.

To whit: Pompous movie star Rainier Wolfcastle is a thinly disguised version of Arnold Schwarzenneger; womanizing Springfield mayor Diamond Joe Quimby is a knockoff of the late U.S. president John F. Kennedy; and boxer Drederick Tatum is obviously based on real-life pugilist Mike Tyson.

And even Krusty the Clown, Springfield's pre-eminent children's entertainer, is an updated version of Rusty Nails, a TV clown whom Groening grew up watching in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, back in the fifties.

FROM THE VAULTS

ABC plans to turn the 1984 Tom Hanks comedy Bachelor Party into a TV series. The small-screen version will be executive-produced by J.J. Philbin (daughter of Regis Philbin) and will navigate the institution of marriage as seen through the eyes of three couples: one about to be married, another recently divorced and the third in the first stages of new love. Several weeks ago, Fox announced its intention to transform the 1988 film Big, which also starred Hanks, into a weekly series.

Source: Variety

TOO SOON?

At least one company will attempt to cash in on the ongoing Ebola crisis this Halloween. The California-based retailer BrandsOnSale is catching social media scorn for advertising its "Ebola Containment Suit," which includes a protective body suit and hazmat headgear. The online description for the costume states, "You are sure to be prepared if any outbreak happens at your Halloween party. This will literally be the most 'viral' costume of the year." Reaction to the costume has been negative on Twitter and included this tweet from Samantha Shannon: "Lost for words: Ebola hazmat costume on sale for Halloween."

Source: Hollywood Reporter

JENNY ON THE BLOCK

Jennifer Lopez will earn more per show than Britney Spears in her upcoming Las Vegas engagement, but Celine Dion will still pull in the biggest bucks. TMZ reports that JLo is currently finalizing her performance deal with The Axis at Planet Hollywood that will pay her $350,000 (U.S.) per show. Spears earns $310,000 per show at the same venue, but will eventually earn more than Lopez since she's booked to perform 96 shows over a two-year period; Lopez is expected to sign a contact for 72 shows. The Vegas champ remains Dion, who performs 70 shows per year for $33.32-million – which works out to $476,000 for each performance.

Source: TMZ

DRINK UP!

A new study suggests aspiring fathers can increase their odds of conception by downing a few beers every day. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital recently conducted an experiment involving 100 adult males and their female partners, all of whom were undergoing in vitro fertilization. Those male participants who drank at least a pint and a half of beer each day were shown to be more than twice as likely to impregnate their partner than those males who remained sober. The same study also revealed that men who drank more than two cups of coffee each morning had the least chances of becoming a father.

Source: New York Post

STEPPING IN

Steve Coogan will assume the role meant for the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in the upcoming Showtime series Happyish. The British actor will step into the character that was originally created for Hoffman, who died last Feb. 2 of an apparent drug overdose. Hoffman was also executive producer of the series that revolved around the fictional character of Thom Payne, a fortysomething ad executive whose new bosses are half his age. Coogan is expected to begin filming the new episodes of Happyish in early 2015.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

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