Quick Takes: ‘Spider-Man’ musical snarled in another delay

Producers have once again delayed the opening of the troubled new Broadway musical “ Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” the fourth major delay in performances this year for the much-mocked show.

The opening was pushed back to Feb. 7, because a key actor has missed several previews due to injury and after producers decided that the creative team needs to work out more kinks before allowing critics to weigh in.

“Due to some unforeseeable setbacks, most notably the injury of a principal cast member, it has become clear that we need to give the team more time to fully execute their vision,” lead producer Michael Cohl said in a statement Friday.

The $65-million musical was dreamed up by Tony Award-winning director and co-writer Julie Taymor and U2’s Bono and the Edge, who wrote the music.

—Associated Press

The ratings King one last time

Larry King ended his 25-year run at CNN where he used to be all the time: on top of the ratings.

The Nielsen Co. said Friday that an estimated 2.24 million people watched the last episode of “Larry King Live.” He beat the usual leader in cable news during that time slot, Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity, who had 2.16 million viewers.

King had been averaging 672,000 viewers a night this year, typically third in his time slot behind Hannity and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow — and sometimes even fourth behind HLN’s Joy Behar.

—Associated Press

New charges for Uma Thurman stalker

A former psychiatric patient convicted of stalking Uma Thurman was jailed Friday after he was charged with again trying to contact the Oscar-nominated actress.

Jack Jordan was arraigned on charges of stalking and criminal contempt for violating a restraining order. Jordan pleaded not guilty in front of the same judge who warned the 39-year-old he would go to jail if he tried to contact Thurman after his 2008 conviction for stalking the “Kill Bill” actress.

Prosecutors said he made several calls to Thurman Oct. 29 and Oct. 30. He was arrested shortly before Thanksgiving at his family’s home in North Potomac, Md. A police spokeswoman with the suburban Washington, D.C., department said officers sent to arrest Jordan found him sitting in front of a computer with Thurman’s name in a Google search box.

—Associated Press

A tiny club date for McCartney

Former Beatle Paul McCartney played his smallest gig in more than a decade Friday in a bid to save a landmark London club faced with closure because of a steep rent increase.

McCartney played a lunchtime show before about 300 fans at the 100 Club in central London, wooing the crowd with “Magical Mystery Tour,” “All My Loving” and a host of other favorites.

It marked the first time McCartney had played the 100 Club, which once hosted the Rolling Stones, the Who, Metallica and others, including American jazz great Louis Armstrong.

Tickets for the gig cost $90. Fans started lining up hours before the show in hopes of getting a seat.

—Associated Press

KFWB-FM fills Laura Schlessinger slot

With advice guru Laura Schlessinger packing her bags and heading to satellite radio next month, talk station KFWB-AM (980) has come up with a plan to fill her midday spot in the weekday lineup.

FOR THE RECORD:
KFWB: The headline on a Quick Takes item in the Dec. 18 Calendar section about programming changes at KFWB identifed the radio station as being on the FM band. KFWB is an AM station. —

Beginning Jan. 3, financial adviser Dave Ramsey, who currently is heard from 9 a.m. to noon, will move to 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Joining the schedule from 9-11 a.m. will be “Money 101,” a personal finance program hosted by Bob McCormick.

Taking over the hours from 2 to 4 p.m. will be Les Brown, a public speaker and TV personality who “advises people how to shake off mediocrity and live up to their greatness,” KFWB said.

Schlessinger, one of the most popular talk radio hosts in the country, announced her intention to end her syndicated show following controversy over her use of a racial epithet.

—Lee Margulies

KCBS looks at black, Latino relations

KCBS-TV Channel 2 news anchor Laura Diaz will examine the current state of relations between African Americans and Latinos in Southern California in a news special scheduled to air Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Diaz and KPWR-FM’s morning personality Big Boy will host “Eye on Our Community: Black-Brown Relations.”

Included in the program are interviews with Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and other community leaders, plus comedian George Lopez.

—Greg Braxton