Ringo Walks Off `Regis' Over Song Flap - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 01-23-2008, 02:50 AM

Ringo Walks Off `Regis' Over Song Flap

NEW YORK (AP) - Ringo Starr is known for being the amiable Beatle, but the rock star showed his tough side Tuesday when he walked off the set of "Live With Regis and Kelly" rather than cut short one of his songs.

Starr, who is promoting his new album, "Liverpool 8," planned to perform the title song with fellow rocker Dave Stewart. However, due to miscommunication between his publicist, Elizabeth Freund, and the musical director, Starr didn't realize the performance had to be 2 1/2 minutes or less, Freund told The Associated Press.

When told Tuesday morning that the performance had to be shortened, Freund said Starr tried to cut about a minute of the song's 4 minute, 15 second length, down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. However, according to Freund, producer Michael Gelman said it had to be less than 3 minutes.

"We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay," Freund said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Ringo left saying, `God bless and goodbye. We still love Regis."'

A spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" disputed some of Freund's contentions. The representative, who declined to be named - citing show policy - told the AP the show's producers tried to work with Starr. The spokeswoman also said the time of his song was almost 5 minutes, not 4 minutes and 15 seconds. She also said that his appearance had been booked since November and that Starr's representatives had agreed to the time requirement for the song.

With Starr absent, fashion designer Michael Kors and the winners of CBS' "The Amazing Race" did extra segments to fill his time.

Despite Tuesday's drama, she said the show would absolutely welcome Starr back.

However, Stewart had plenty of criticism for the show, calling it "disrespectful treatment of us as artists."

"Four minutes (3 minutes and 40 seconds, actually) seemed like an appropriate amount of time for a former Beatle. Mr. Gelman apparently felt Ringo's musical legacy should take a back seat to additional banter about the size of Ms. (Kelly) Ripa's derriere," he said in a statement.

The spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" said there would be no comment on Stewart's statement.

Starr, 67, shortened his song for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," but it was still over 3 minutes, Freund said.

But he was able to play the full song later Tuesday on "Rachael Ray."

"Ringo taped an interview and performance on our show this afternoon, which was absolutely amazing. He performed `Liverpool 8' in its entirety ... and was a complete professional and a pleasure to work with," said Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for Ray.

Dean Winchester · 01-23-2008, 03:12 AM

good for Ringo. Musicians shouldn't have to edit their songs down to under 3 minutes. Talk shows usually seem to treat music guests as afterthoughts anyways (I hate it when Leno sticks his guests in the last five mins and ends the show after the song, never inviting them to the couch). I think a member of The Beatles and an established star in his own right should be a higher priority than people on The Amazing Race who won't be remembered in six months anyways.

friendsfan77 · 01-23-2008, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

(I hate it when Leno sticks his guests in the last five mins and ends the show after the song, never inviting them to the couch).

Letterman does this too. I love his show, but it's really kind of a disappointment to me because a lot of the musicians featured at the end I'd love to see be interviewed.

Dean Winchester · 01-23-2008, 04:14 AM

yea, if I was a talk show host, I'd put the music guest maybe 10 mins before the end, and the last 5 mins would be talking to them on the couch. A lot of the musicians and singers they have on the show are bigger celebrities than many of the actors and whatever they have as guests that sit on the couch and talk to Jay/Dave.

TJL · 01-23-2008, 06:00 AM

For crying out loud, he's a friggin Beatle!

If his song is four minutes long, let him play!

You gonna tell Paul McCartney to keep it short?

ABlairican Pie · 01-23-2008, 09:41 AM

At least it wasn't one of those epic pieces by Yes, Dream Theater or some other prog band.

How in the world is some band going to come up with a 2 and half minute song and do justice to it?

For radio airplay, a song is generally required to be 3.5 minutes in length. And yes, for heaven's sake he is practically one of the most famous drummers on the planet (next to Neil Peart
and Lars Ulrich): Like TJL said, he's a FRIGGIN' BEATLE!!!!!

catlover79 · 01-23-2008, 01:00 PM

Wow...

bingbangbaby · 01-23-2008, 01:12 PM

I so agree. I have a hard time with people asking artists to alter or shorten their work anyway...I can't stand it when someone asks me to shorten or alter a story I've written, and most of the time I won't do it. This is my creative work and if I didn't want all the parts there I wouldn't have left them there. Do we ask painters to give us altered versions on their paintings? The Mona Lisa wouldn't be the Mona Lisa if it wasn't exactly the way it is now and that's the way anyone's creative work should be regarded. Sorry, it's a pet peeve with me. I'm glad he walked off.

Nighthawk76 · 01-23-2008, 02:00 PM

I don't blame Ringo for walking off the show. You don't tell one of the Beatles how to perform their music.

Dean Winchester · 01-23-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

At least it wasn't one of those epic pieces by Yes, Dream Theater or some other prog band.

I wonder if Yes had to deal with hell from Carson and Mike Douglas and the sort when they were going to perform one of their 20 minute "Tales From Topographic Oceans" pieces

SBTB Geek · 01-23-2008, 03:29 PM

The producer is a dumbass for even asking for all those requests. He's a former Beatle... he deserved the whole damn hour!

Dean Winchester · 01-23-2008, 03:32 PM

I think a lot of talk shows have too much guest overcrowding.

For instance, I saw Mary J. Blige on Leno two or three weeks ago, and she was shoved to singing "Just Fine" in the last five mins and the show was over, while Jay had some reality show reject as a seated guest. Something's totally wrong with that picture considering Mary's more than fifteen years into her career and has maintained a level of consistancy (bar the 2003 dud "Love And Life") yet she's treated like an afterthought while a reality show reject who nobody will remember in April got to sit down and talk to Jay?

HuntingtonM15 · 01-23-2008, 03:35 PM

I hate when musical guests are rushed during talk shows, too. Every now and again they will make it to the couch, but usually only for one question, and that's it.

01-23-2008, 02:50 AM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Ringo Walks Off `Regis' Over Song Flap Ringo Walks Off `Regis' Over Song Flap NEW YORK (AP) - Ringo Starr is known for being the amiable Beatle, but the rock star showed his tough side Tuesday when he walked off the set of "Live With Regis and Kelly" rather than cut short one of his songs. Starr, who is promoting his new album, "Liverpool 8," planned to perform the title song with fellow rocker Dave Stewart. However, due to miscommunication between his publicist, Elizabeth Freund, and the musical director, Starr didn't realize the performance had to be 2 1/2 minutes or less, Freund told The Associated Press. When told Tuesday morning that the performance had to be shortened, Freund said Starr tried to cut about a minute of the song's 4 minute, 15 second length, down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. However, according to Freund, producer Michael Gelman said it had to be less than 3 minutes. "We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay," Freund said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Ringo left saying, `God bless and goodbye. We still love Regis."' A spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" disputed some of Freund's contentions. The representative, who declined to be named - citing show policy - told the AP the show's producers tried to work with Starr. The spokeswoman also said the time of his song was almost 5 minutes, not 4 minutes and 15 seconds. She also said that his appearance had been booked since November and that Starr's representatives had agreed to the time requirement for the song. With Starr absent, fashion designer Michael Kors and the winners of CBS' "The Amazing Race" did extra segments to fill his time. Despite Tuesday's drama, she said the show would absolutely welcome Starr back. However, Stewart had plenty of criticism for the show, calling it "disrespectful treatment of us as artists." "Four minutes (3 minutes and 40 seconds, actually) seemed like an appropriate amount of time for a former Beatle. Mr. Gelman apparently felt Ringo's musical legacy should take a back seat to additional banter about the size of Ms. (Kelly) Ripa's derriere," he said in a statement. The spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" said there would be no comment on Stewart's statement. Starr, 67, shortened his song for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," but it was still over 3 minutes, Freund said. But he was able to play the full song later Tuesday on "Rachael Ray." "Ringo taped an interview and performance on our show this afternoon, which was absolutely amazing. He performed `Liverpool 8' in its entirety ... and was a complete professional and a pleasure to work with," said Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for Ray.

01-23-2008, 06:00 AM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	For crying out loud, he's a friggin Beatle! If his song is four minutes long, let him play! You gonna tell Paul McCartney to keep it short?
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

01-23-2008, 09:41 AM	#6
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	At least it wasn't one of those epic pieces by Yes, Dream Theater or some other prog band. How in the world is some band going to come up with a 2 and half minute song and do justice to it? For radio airplay, a song is generally required to be 3.5 minutes in length. And yes, for heaven's sake he is practically one of the most famous drummers on the planet (next to Neil Peart and Lars Ulrich): Like TJL said, he's a FRIGGIN' BEATLE!!!!!
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

01-23-2008, 01:00 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Wow...
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-23-2008, 03:12 AM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	good for Ringo. Musicians shouldn't have to edit their songs down to under 3 minutes. Talk shows usually seem to treat music guests as afterthoughts anyways (I hate it when Leno sticks his guests in the last five mins and ends the show after the song, never inviting them to the couch). I think a member of The Beatles and an established star in his own right should be a higher priority than people on The Amazing Race who won't be remembered in six months anyways.

01-23-2008, 04:14 AM	#4
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	yea, if I was a talk show host, I'd put the music guest maybe 10 mins before the end, and the last 5 mins would be talking to them on the couch. A lot of the musicians and singers they have on the show are bigger celebrities than many of the actors and whatever they have as guests that sit on the couch and talk to Jay/Dave.

01-23-2008, 01:12 PM	#8
bingbangbaby I see you!! Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,070	I so agree. I have a hard time with people asking artists to alter or shorten their work anyway...I can't stand it when someone asks me to shorten or alter a story I've written, and most of the time I won't do it. This is my creative work and if I didn't want all the parts there I wouldn't have left them there. Do we ask painters to give us altered versions on their paintings? The Mona Lisa wouldn't be the Mona Lisa if it wasn't exactly the way it is now and that's the way anyone's creative work should be regarded. Sorry, it's a pet peeve with me. I'm glad he walked off.

01-23-2008, 02:00 PM	#9
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I don't blame Ringo for walking off the show. You don't tell one of the Beatles how to perform their music.

01-23-2008, 03:29 PM	#11
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	The producer is a dumbass for even asking for all those requests. He's a former Beatle... he deserved the whole damn hour!

01-23-2008, 03:32 PM	#12
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I think a lot of talk shows have too much guest overcrowding. For instance, I saw Mary J. Blige on Leno two or three weeks ago, and she was shoved to singing "Just Fine" in the last five mins and the show was over, while Jay had some reality show reject as a seated guest. Something's totally wrong with that picture considering Mary's more than fifteen years into her career and has maintained a level of consistancy (bar the 2003 dud "Love And Life") yet she's treated like an afterthought while a reality show reject who nobody will remember in April got to sit down and talk to Jay?

01-23-2008, 03:35 PM	#13
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	I hate when musical guests are rushed during talk shows, too. Every now and again they will make it to the couch, but usually only for one question, and that's it.