OLDEST IRISH AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN USA, ESTABLISHED IN 1928
Category: Archive

New and NoteworthyFlatley calls it quits

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Eileeen Murphy

Well, it’s not going to come as any real surprise to any of our readers, but we should tell you that the undisputed Lord of the Dance, Michael Flatley, has made it official. That’s right, kids: no more sequined leather trousers or shiny gold headbands for him.

Oh, only kidding – we’re sure Michael has lots of flashy duds in his future. But the "Feet of Flames" star has announced – officially – that he’s hanging up his dancing shoes for good. Last Sunday night’s show in Dallas, TX, was, he said, his final public performance. Ne’er more will we hear the pitter-patter of Flatley’s flaming feet as he scoots across the stage bare-chested in a leather trench coat. No more rescuing of golden sprites, no more dancin’ duels with evil lords, no more nuzzling the necks of fairy queens or bumping and grinding with wild-tressed temptresses. Unless, of course, we buy the video.

According to Flatley’s spokesman, Chris Roche, the dancer wants to call it quits "while he’s on top."

See, Michael’s not just an entertainer, international sex god, master choreographer and bon vivant. He’s first and foremost a finely conditioned athlete in a highly demanding sport. And while, at 43, he’s just approaching middle age, the reality is that dancer’s years are like dog years. By that reckoning, Flatley is approximately 301.

Roche prefers to use a sports analogy to explain Flatley’s retirement.

Never miss an issue of The Irish Echo

Subscribe to one of our great value packages.

"It’s like a footballer playing at the highest level," said Michael’s longtime PR rep. "He’s still only a young man, but you can’t go around at that age playing first division football every week."

And sure, why would he want to keep his nose to the grindstone? He’s got loads of money, movie star looks and a trio of swanky mansions – in Dublin, Cork and London – to keep him amused. And, being newly single (having broken up with longtime girlfriend Lisa Murphy), we’re bet the farm that he’ll leap back into the dating scene with gusto.

Michael need never do a day’s work again. His personal fortune has been estimated at £425 million by a European business magazine, and that doesn’t include the $1 million or so in royalties he pulls in on a weekly basis from the other FOF dance troupes, such as the one that’s now permanently based in Las Vegas. The shows will continue, at least until every man, woman and child on the planet is ready to throttle the weird little sprite with her own jester hat.

But sitting on his laurels just isn’t in Flatley’s makeup. He plans to start work on August 14, starring in a semi-autobiographical movie, titled, "Lord of the Dance," which he co-wrote with Shane Connaughton. Yes, Shane’s the guy who wrote the screenplay for "My Left Foot," and no, we’re not going to go for the obvious joke about "My Tappin’ Feet." (Ooops!) Michael also plans to spend more time at his Cork home, Castle Hyde House, where, we assume, he’ll be lord of the manor, as well as lord of the dance.

Rosie’s replacement’s a real witch

Another big name who’s slipping into semi-retirement is comedian turned talk show host turned magazine publisher Rosie O’Donnell. The Queen of Nice, whose upbeat syndicated chat show harkened back to the days of Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas, plans to step down when her contract runs out next year.

But fear not, all you cutie-patooties! You won’t be left to fend for yourselves in a sea (make that a swamp) of daytime TV peopled by Ricki Lake and Jenny Jones. Ro’s found a replacement for herself. And though the new chick’s a bit of a witch, we think you’ll like her.

Actress/standup comedian Caroline Rhea, 37, will take on hostess duties when Rosie passes the baton or microphone or whatever. If you’re not sure who Rhea is, just ask any preteen girl: Rhea stars as ditzy Aunt Hilda on the kiddie hit "Sabrina The Teenage Witch." Rhea has already served as a guest host on the show a number of times, and audience response has been favorable. She’s thrilled to take over the popular talk show.

"As a kid, I always wanted to be Carol Burnett or Johnny Carson," Rhea gushed to the Hollywood Reporter. "I love to chat and entertain!" Hmmm . . . she sounds like some other perky talk show host we know, with the initials RO’D.

Rhea’s hiring put to rest wild rumors that "Today" host Katie Couric would jump ship to fill Rosie’s shoes. O’Donnell plans to remain involved with the show as an executive producer. She couldn’t be happier about leaving her show in such capable hands.

"Caroline is very funny," said O’Donnell. "She’s self-deprecating, she’s intelligent, she’s smart, she’s sensitive, and she cares about people."

O’Donnell will spend more time with her children and take a more hands-on role in her recently launched magazine, "Rosie." There’s no word yet on whether the television show will undergo a name change when O’Donnell steps down, but we’ll bet that "Rosie" stays in the picture. It’s a brand name these days.

Hunky actor ties the knot.

O.K., ladies: the international pool of sexy, eligible bachelors just got a little shallower. We refer, of course, to the news that Irish heartthrob Colin Farrell got hitched. Last weekend. To some pretty actress type. In oh-so-romantic Hawaii.

Sorry – it’s hard to type and gnash one’s teeth at the same time, but we’ll try.

The hunky Farrell, 25, first caught our attention when he starred as Danny (the city kid with the horse) on "Ballykissangel." The Dublin native has carved out quite a Hollywood career for himself in a little over two years. After a star-making turn in the critically-acclaimed "Tigerland," he went on to play Jesse James in "American Outlaws," (opening August 17) and is currently working on Steven Spielberg’s futuristic action flick, "Minority Report."

It was during a break in filming that Farrell and his fiancée, British actress Amelia Warner, jetted off to Hawaii for a little rest and relaxation – and a surprise marriage ceremony. Afterwards, they flew to Dublin for a couple of days to celebrate the happy occasion with friends and family.

The Sunday World reports that the pair were spotted strolling down Grafton Street last Friday afternoon.

"They looked very much in love as they walked hand in hand," said an eyewitness.

"He’s a lucky guy. She’s very beautiful."

Like, duh.

Farrell’s career took off when he got cast in a small role in the film met "Ordinary Decent Criminal." The movie’s star, Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey, was impressed with the young actor’s talent and introduced him to all the movers and shakers in the industry. The rest, as they say, is history. Farrell has five films scheduled for release in the coming months, and is slated to be the next big thing.

In the meantime, though, Colin can’t wait to take some time off to relax.

"I’m [rhymes with plucking] knackered now," he told a friend.

"I want to take six months off and go backpacking or something normal."

WIN TICKETS!

Race to Belmont

for Family Fest

We can’t think of anywhere else we’d rather be the weekend of Aug. 24-26, than at New York’s Belmont Raceway. (OK, on the beach in Waikiki with Brad Pitt and a couple of pina coladas, but that’s another story.) That’s because the 2001 New York Irish Family Festival will be in full swing, boasting a really terrific music lineup that will include The Saw Doctors, Paddy Reilly, Finbar Furey, Black 47, Cherish the Ladies, Ashley MacIsaac, Marion Tomas Griffin, The McCabes, Paddy Noonan, the Tom Redmond Band and Sr. Mary Beata. Whew! Our ears can hardly wait.

Those of you looking for some great Irish dancing will be in luck, since there will be a feis on Sunday, Aug. 26, starting at 9 a.m., sponsored by "Riverdance," sanctioned by North American Feis Commission Rince Na Rasa, and coordinated by The Donny Golden School of Dancing. The more athletic types among you might prefer competing in the Eamonn Coghlan 5K Classic, which takes place on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 5 p.m. For entry forms, call (212) 685-4649.

We’ve got five pairs of tickets to give away for each day of the festival. All you have to do is send a postcard with your name, address, daytime phone number and which day you’d like to go to: Send me to the festival! c/o Irish Echo, 309 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10016. You can also enter via fax, (212) 686-1756, or e-mail, echoeditors@aol.com. Please note that e-mail entries must have only the words "festival" and your last name in the subject line, and must contain your name, address and phone number and date preference.

Don’t send us attachments, don’t send us entries imaginatively titled "contest entry" and don’t think flattery will increase your odds of winning, unless, of course, it’s extremely shameless and really convincing (we’re really partial to the words "brilliant" and "favorite columnist"). The deadline for all entries is Friday, Aug. 10, at 4 p.m., so don’t delay!

Other Articles You Might Like

Sign up to our Daily Newsletter

Click to access the login or register cheese