In case the Dirty Dancing remake wasn’t enough of a shame in itself, The National Enquirer has a story that Patrick Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, is upset that no one called her to give her the heads up on the remake and that she had to read about it through the press. To me this article sounds like The Enquirer called Niemi for a comment and got an earful, but was told it should be off the record. This is the kind of story that they wouldn’t just make up out of thin air.

Patrick Swayze’s devastated wife Lisa Niemi is outraged she hasn’t been consulted on the remake of “Dirty Dancing” – the celebrated film that made her late husband a superstar…

Now Kenny Ortega, the original film’s choreographer, is set to direct a remake – and Lisa is worried it will erase the memory of her husband’s masterful performance.

“Lisa wishes someone – anyone – would have called to tell her about the remake before she read about it,” said an insider. “She wishes they would have asked her opinion. I’m sure she would’ve urged them to find a way to incorporate original footage of Patrick in the new film…

“Lisa says she wants Patrick to be remembered for his roles in ‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Ghost,’ and the brave fight he waged against cancer,” revealed the insider.

“She knows she doesn’t have any standing to tell anyone how to make the movie, but does feel she could contribute something.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, August 29, 2011]

Casting news for this remake is… not good to say the least. Names being floated include Miley Cyrus and Justin Timberlake. I would personally like to volunteer Ryan Gosling for consideration, since he recently showed off a DD move on The Today Show and lifted up Al Roker. I’m not sh*tting you, you can see the video here. Still, even the most beloved and talented replacement for Patrick Swayze will still be a replacement. No one can fill that man’s shoes in that iconic role. It’s sad for his widow that no one had the foresight or the respect to call her ahead of time and let her know that the movie was being remade. Given all the negative buzz it might get stalled at some point and the project could end up shelved anyway. That’s just an impression and I have no idea how far they are with it.

The movie’s other star, Jennifer Grey, has put her faith in the new director Kenny Ortega, who choreographed the original cult hit. She said in a statement, “I’m so excited about this news and I think there’s nobody better to do this than my beloved Kenny Ortega who is as responsible as anyone for the success of the first one. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do with it.” It sounds like she’s gunning for a cameo, and why not? It’s not like too many fans will recognize her with her new nose anyway.

Update: I just found this article where director Ortega claims that Neimi is supportive, but he didn’t say he told her about the remake ahead of time. He said, “Jennifer [Grey] and I have been talking and she’s been so supportive, as has Lisa Swayze and [producer] Eleanor Bernstein.”

These photos are from 2006, 2007 and 2008. (The header photo is dated 2008, but I assume it’s older.) Credit: WENN and Fame

Patrick and Lisa in 2005
Patrick Swayze, 56, and his wife of 33 years, Lisa Niemi, 52, are writing a book together. Patrick has been battling pancreatic cancer for the past year. He had a bout with pneumonia earlier this month, for which he received treatment in the hospital for about a week. He is now resting comfortably at home and has announced plans to write his memoirs:

Patrick Swayze’s increasingly dramatic story is headed for yet another medium.

The actor and his wife of 23 years, Lisa, “will be collaborating on his memoirs,” Swayze’s rep, Annett Wolf, tells E! News. “There is no further information at this time.”

But what a tale the 56-year-old actor could tell, going from unknown dancer to up-and-comer to full-fledged heartthrob after starring in Dirty Dancing to cult-favorite character in Road House to established leading man
in Ghost to reborn character actor in Donnie Darko to… You get the picture.

And along the way, there were struggles with substance abuse and now, sadly, a battle with pancreatic cancer that has thrown Swayze back into the public eye with a vengeance.

[From E! Online]

OK! Magazine says that Patrick and Lisa writing an “inspirational book” together, and given all the triumphs in Patrick’s life it’s easy to see how his story will be inspirational. One of his biggest successes is his lifelong relationship with Lisa. Patrick and Lisa met 38 years ago when she was just 16 and was taking dance lessons from his mother. He joked that he “robbed the cradle” by dating her as he was 20 at the time. Their love has endured through good times and bad. Swayze told told Barbara Walters that “I have no greater respect for any other human being on this earth like I have for her.”

Swayze’s new gritty crime drama on A&E, “The Beast,” is holding steady in the ratings, with his performance earning praise from critics.

Patrick and Lisa are shown on the set of “The Beast” in Chicago on 7/28/08. Credit: Splash News. They’re also shown at the premiere of his movie “One Last Dance” on 8/23/05. Credit: PRPhotos