Quick Takes: Susan Lucci reproaches ABC

Lucci reproaches ABC

Erica Kane wouldn’t leave quietly if she felt she’d been wronged. Neither is Susan Lucci as “All My Children” nears its Sept. 23 end on ABC.

In a newly published epilogue to her memoir, Lucci sharply criticized her ABC bosses for axing “All My Children,” which has been on the air since 1970. Lucci, who has played Erica for all that time, said the decision to cancel the show was motivated by greed and said the head of ABC’s daytime unit, Brian Frons, has “that fatal combination of ignorance and arrogance.”

Frons was not available for comment, a spokeswoman said, and ABC declined to address Lucci’s specific comments. “We have all the respect in the world for Susan and are sorry she felt the need to write this epilogue to an otherwise incredible career,” spokeswoman Jori Petersen said.

—Associated Press

Lane to produce a cable comedy

Nathan Lane (“The Birdcage,” “The Producers”) will produce and may star in a half-hour comedy series for the USA Network.

The cable channel said Tuesday that the project, as yet untitled, concerns a Broadway actor whose career is stalled when he returns to his Texas hometown to tend to his ailing father.

USA also ordered the comedy “Paging Dr. Freed,” about two brothers who inherit their father’s medical practice.

—Yvonne Villarreal

Beatle’s altruism earns a salute

Paul McCartney will be honored as MusiCares person of the year during Grammy week next year.

The former Beatle will be honored not only for his music but also for his charitable side, the Recording Academy said Tuesday.

MusiCares helps musicians who are struggling due to financial, medical or other reasons.

Previous honorees include Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.

—Associated Press

Headed to L.A. for ‘Funny Girl’

Bobby Cannavale has joined the cast of the revival of “Funny Girl” that will debut in January at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown L.A. before transferring to Broadway in the spring. He’ll play the role of Nick Arnstein opposite Lauren Ambrose as Fanny Brice.

The role of Arnstein was first played on Broadway by actor Sydney Chaplin in 1964. Omar Sharif took over the role in the 1968 movie version of the musical.

Cannavale most recently appeared on Broadway in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ “The Mother... With the Hat,” for which he received a Tony Award nomination this year. He received a Tony nomination in 2008 for “Mauritius.”

—David Ng

KNX parts ways with Josephson

KNX-AM (1070) is giving the boot to a longtime commentator and one of the most recognizable voices in local radio, ethicist Michael Josephson.

The radio station told Josephson it had made a “business decision” to terminate his contract in mid-October, ending the personality’s 141/2-year association with the news station. Josephson’s 90-second missives on character and ethics air several times a day.

At least a couple of hundred emails of protest have flowed into Josephson’s website protesting the decision. But he is practicing what he preaches about taking the high road.

“Of course I was sad at first,” Josephson, 68, said in an interview. “But what I have tried to say, philosophically, is that you don’t look at something like this as the glass being half empty. I have had 14 years to reach people and speak to them in an incredibly liberating format.... I am genuinely grateful. When I look back I feel like, wow, whoever had that luxury?”

—James Rainey

Winehouse’s kin start foundation

Amy Winehouse’s family has launched a youth charity in her name to mark what would have been the singer’s 28th birthday.

Winehouse, who had long fought drug and alcohol problems, was found dead at her London home July 23.

The soul diva’s father, Mitch, said the Amy Winehouse Foundation will support organizations that help young people who are vulnerable, including those with addictions.

The charity will derive much of its first income from the release of Winehouse’s duet with Tony Bennett, “Body and Soul,” on Wednesday.

—Associated Press