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He Got Game: Spike Lee Scores Biggest Opening Weekend in 10 Years with “Klansman”

Roger Friedman
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He Got Game: Spike Lee Scores Biggest Opening Weekend in 10 Years with “Klansman”

SUNDAY UPDATE Spike’s weekend total is $10.7 million, a little higher than predicted. It’s deserved. Look for Adam Driver to be in the mix for Best Supporting Actor, and Spike in Best Picture, Director, screenplay.

SATURDAY Spike Lee and Focus Features have good reason to celebrate today. “Blackkklansman,” Lee’s new, excellent film, is his biggest hit in 10 years.

“KKKlansman” will make around $10 million for the weekend. Last night’s take was a very respectable $3.6 million in moderate release.

My guess is that word of mouth will send more people than expected over the weekend. This is one of Spike’s best movies in his 32 year career. It’s the most focused and brilliantly realized, too.

How black cop Ron Stallworth infiltrated the KKK in Colorado and made a monkey out of David Duke is a story that almost tells itself. The fact that Lee was smart enough to choose John David Washington, Laura Harring, Topher Grace and in particular Adam Driver to pull it off– wonderful.

As I’ve written before, the movie positions itself about a quarter way through with a very subtle musical number, everyone singing “Too Late to Turn Back Now” by my old favorite R&B group Cornelius Bros. and Sister Rose. It’s a revelatory moment, one of those times when feel a movie come together.

And then there’s that genius ending, where the modern catastrophe of Charlottesville 2017 is juxtaposed with the mid 70s and you have a profound, disturbing statement that is also uplifting in the sense of filmmaking.

“Blackkklansman” wasn’t number one last night. That was the horror film, “The Meg,” a science fiction shark horror movie, with $16.5 million– utterly disposable summer fun. What the heck. “Mission Impossible” is still in the top 5 and will cross the $150 million mark this weekend. I saw it this week, finally, and it’s really terrific for what it is. The music — a thrilling score by Lorne Balfe modeled on Lalo Schifrin’s famous theme– makes the movie. But I was also so happy to see Michelle Monaghan.

Bill Murray Snaps, Attacks Photographer Peter Simon (Carly’s Brother) in Martha’s Vineyard Restaurant

Roger Friedman
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Bill Murray Snaps, Attacks Photographer Peter Simon (Carly’s Brother) in Martha’s Vineyard Restaurant

Bill Murray picked the wrong photographer to have a fight with on Martha’s Vineyard.

Peter Simon, 71, is the famous lenser who’s also the brother of singer Carly Simon. They grew up on the Vineyard and are kind of considered island royalty.

Peter tells me he was sent to a restaurant called Lola’s in the town of Oak Bluffs to take pictures “sort of like Bill Cunningham. You’re just taking pictures of interesting people.” Peter started shooting a couple sitting at a table, not recognizing– or caring– about the man who was with them. The couple acknowledged Simon was shooting them.

Murray evidently thought Simon– who again, is 71, slight, and as says “fragile”– was a paparazzi. “He came up and shoved me,” Simon told me. Simon –who’d gone to stand in an alley and check his pictures– said to him, “Do you know I am?” Murray replied, “No. Do you know who I am?” When Simon said he didn’t, Murray said, “Well, you should.” Then Murray doused with him and his camera with a glass of water.

“It was humiliating,” Simon told me. “I’m like the peace and love person.” He said he has no pictures of Murray from the brouhaha because he wasn’t shooting him in the first place.

Simon’s just released a new book of photos called “Martha’s Vineyard: To Everything There is a Season.” It’s full of beautiful landscapes and sunsets. There are some celebrities included but, as he says, “they were all arranged, I’m not a paparazzi.”

As for Murray, Simon says: “I don’t want a fight or anything.” Nevertheless, Murray complained to the restaurant’s owners (who don’t sound too bright to me). They’ve banned Simon for a year. “They knew what I was doing there, but they sided with Murray because he’s a celebrity.”

Simon, by the way, isn’t exactly gaga around celebs. He grew up in a household filled with them. His father, Richard Simon, founded Simon & Schuster and used to host parties with the likes of Bennett Cerf and Oscar Hammerstein. And then, of course, there’s sister Carly, whom she’s photographed for years. Murray, I think, owes him an apology.

 

Nicki Minaj Drops “Queen” Album 1 Week Early, with The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Eminem Among Guest Stars

Roger Friedman
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Nicki Minaj Drops “Queen” Album 1 Week Early, with The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Eminem Among Guest Stars

Nicki Minaj has surprise dropped her “Queen” album one week early. Guest stars include The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Eminem, Foxy Brown. Lil Wayne and Labrinth.

I don’t like rap particularly but I have to say I’m impressed with what I’ve heard. The music– wherever it came from– is excellent. Could Nicki Minaj be the surprise artist of 2018? Why not?

More info to come…

You listen to the whole thing on Spotify:

Elvis Presley Foundation, Like Lisa Marie, Is Broke: Just $38K In Assets 41 Years After Star’s Death

Roger Friedman
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Elvis Presley Foundation, Like Lisa Marie, Is Broke: Just $38K In Assets 41 Years After Star’s Death

Lisa Marie Presley isn’t the only member of her extended world who’s broke. So is the Elvis Presley Foundation.

On the eve of the 41st anniversary of the star’s death, his legacy for being charitable is pretty much in shreds. The most recent filing for the Elvis Presley Foundation shows just $38, 384 as the value of all assets.

Ticket and merchandise sales from Graceland are supposed to fund the Foundation. But in 2016-2017 the Foundation received only $12,731 in donations.

The Foundation disbursed $40,000 to a group of local Memphis charities in 2016.

Lisa Marie Presley, personally, says she’s broke and is suing her former advisors for $800,000. It’s quite a saga. She sold 85% of her interest in Elvis Presley Enterprises for $100 million in 2005. Lisa Marie says it’s all gone thanks to bad investments. Reports say she owes back taxes of $10 million from 2012 to 2017. IN February she said she was $16 million debt.

The Foundation has been in decline for some time. But in 2007, the total value of assets was $400,000. By the 2012, the value was down to just $18,804.

One problem with the Elvis income, unlike the Beatles, which is roaring: his sales base has shrunk considerably. First of all, there’s very little streaming. And record sales for this year are only about 132,000. The halcyon days are over. Elvis’s fans are at least ten years older than the Beatles’. And then he wasn’t an album artist. His success was singles, none of which he wrote. So his publishing income is minimal if anything. Like all pre-1972 artists, Elvis suffers from a number of drawbacks including no performance royalty for records played on the radio.

 

 

Kanye West’s Defense of Trump Killed His Music Career: Latest Album Sold Just 50K Copies (But He Still Watches Porn Hub)

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West’s Defense of Trump Killed His Music Career: Latest Album Sold Just 50K Copies (But He Still Watches Porn Hub)

Kanye West continued to defend his support of Donald Trump last night on “Jimmy Kimmel.” But the support has come with a price. He’s lost his music career. Kanye’s recent album, called “Ye,” sold only 50,000 copies since its release on June 1st. Including streaming of the album’s tracks, the total number was 195,000. But the total number of albums was sold was negligible. Total sales of all albums and singles this year is only 100K including the number for “Ye.”

Financially, it’s a disaster. “Ye” only cost 8 bucks in the first place. And the costs of sampling a lot of other people’s music, plus paying his “staff” to do all the work assembling it, would mean “Ye” lost millions of dollars. (West told Kimmel he sleeps a lot in the studio while his people assembled tracks.)

Of course, at this point Kanye’s income isn’t coming from music. It’s supposedly through his Yeezy sneaker brand, which is funded by Adidas.

On Kimmel, Kanye was extremely thoughtful. He gave a shout out to Sarah Jessica Parker, who he said taught him the difference between “a dialogue and a diatribe.” He advocated “love” but Kimmel called him on that reminding him that Trump has divided families over immigration. When Kimmel asked him about Trump’s feelings about black people, West was left silent and the show cut to a commercial.

Have West’s feelings changed since having daughters? “No, I still watch porn hub.” His favorite channels? “A lot of black on white.”

Summer in the Hamptons: The Wild, the Innocent, and the Magnificent Come to Party

Roger Friedman
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Summer in the Hamptons: The Wild, the Innocent, and the Magnificent Come to Party

All summer the Hamptons have been rocking with party after party. The premiere party thrower is Larry Scott of Lawrence Scott Events. He put together Hamptons Magazine’s 40th anniversary at the original Parrish Art Museum in Southampton. It was like a throwback to a great 90s event, with tons of local celebrities like Rosanna Scotto of Channel 5 and Chris Wragge of Channel 2, and the great Jane Hanson shimmying their asses off. The food was plentiful and so were the wildly dressed servers Scott employed.

The other great event was Dancers for Good’s gala at Guild Hall, which honored both Chita Rivera and Bebe Neuwirth. They brought in about 10 major dance companies from Martha Graham to Paul Taylor, each of which staged a fully produced number. I’ve never been a dance fan, but now I’m interested.

There hasn’t been a minute without a cocktail party in any direction. Longhouse Reserve, one of the great art retreats in the world, staged their annual surreal Zen art auction under the aegis of famed decorator Jack Lenor Larsen. If you’re in East Hampton, see this place. It’s a hidden gem.

This weekend East Hampton Library sponsors Authors Night, which starts with a massive book signing and then fans out into about a dozen private dinners. Guild Hall celebrates its annual gala with an Ellsworth Kelly exhibition and a big tented gala.

And still the summer keeps going, all over the world. This is where I’m told the bold face names have been spotted:

Neil Patrick Harris spotted at Union Cantina in Southampton, NY enjoying nachos, guacamole, tacos, and frozen pineapple margaritas with his husband and 2 kids.

Fergie took center stage at the private benefit concert for the 13th Annual Feinstein Institute Summer Concert produced by Larry Scott of Lawrence Scott Events

Darren Star and Erica Pelosini Leeman spotted taking a class lead by Andrea Fornarola of Elements Fitness Studio, in East Hampton, NY.

Actress Chloe Moritz at La Pulperia 57th Street with the cast and crew of “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” after the New York premiere

Lawrence Fishbourne spotted dining at Demarchelier restaurant in NY

Brooke Shields spotted at Union Cantina in Southampton, NY enjoying tacos and shrimp, with friends.

Lori Loughlin, Andy Hilfiger, Donald Paul, Melissa Bolona, Camille Kostek, Natalie Vie, Charmaine Bingwa, Jim Chandler and Jenn Gotzon-Chandler at Southampton Social Club

50 Cent partying at AM Southampton to the wee hours.

Musician and Writer Dessa spotted at La Pulperia UES.

Actress Natali Yura spotted at the premiere of The Row in LA

Charles S. Cohen and Clo Cohen enjoying dinner at Michelangelo’s in Antibes, at the next table were Beyoncé and Jay-Z

Lori Loughlin spotted have dinner at Union Cantina in Southampton, NY with her family

Bette Midler Caves, Does Interview with “GMA” Because There Are Lots of Expensive Seats Available for “Hello, Dolly!”

Roger Friedman
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Bette Midler Caves, Does Interview with “GMA” Because There Are Lots of Expensive Seats Available for “Hello, Dolly!”

Bette Midler and “Hello, Dolly!” were very arrogant when the Divine Miss M opened in “Hello, Dolly!” She did no interviews, nothing, and her opening night was closed to press.

But now, with two weeks left in the summer, there are dozens of pricey seats available to all performances. Granted, they’re like $600 a pop. But Bette doesn’t want to see chunks of empty seats when she’s twirling around the runway.

So she finally caved in and did an interview with Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America.” Will it help? I think anyone with that kind of dough in on vacay in Capri.

 

Spike Lee On His Return to Hit Filmmaking After a Roller Coaster Career: “I’m Still Kicking Around”

Leah Sydney
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Spike Lee On His Return to Hit Filmmaking After a Roller Coaster Career: “I’m Still Kicking Around”

Spike Lee is back on top, the VIP crowd at his with his critically acclaimed “Black KKKlansman” premiere last night at the Academy gave the tireless filmmaker a lengthy standing ovation.  Spike told the crowd that”  “Exactly 32 years ago today, my first film, “She’s Gotta Have It,” was released.  I’m still kicking around. 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks (his production company) haven’t stopped either.  It ain’t been easy”

Focus Feature head Peter Kujawksi introduced Spike who then brought up most of the cast including John David Washington, (Denzel’s son) who plays the real life American hero Ron Stallworth. Ron came up to the stage as well.  Ron was the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department.  He infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan along with his more seasoned colleague Flip Zimmerman, played wonderfully by Adam Driver. 

Driver was not at the premiere last night but most of the cast were, including Nick Turturro and Finnish Actor Jasper Paakkonen.  Spike tripped up on his name and then told the crowd.  “When he auditioned for me I thought he was from ‘way back Alabama’ or ‘hang em high Mississippi.’ I asked him where he was from.  He said Helsinki. I said WTF?”  Spike ended with “Thank you, thank you and spread the word.  It’s ok to laugh, white folks, it’s ok to laugh.”

Spike stayed to watch the film and yet again, the film ended with a standing ovation.  At the after party at the Chateau Marmont I asked Spike how it felt to be back on top again.  “ It feels good.  It’s been up and down, but now it feels good.” 

Nick Turturro told me the difference between audiences on each coast.  “The Los Angeles audience got the comedy more.  In New York it was more of an intense crowd, maybe because it was Brooklyn, but out here in LA, it was more of an industry crowd and they just laughed a lot.  Because it is funny.  This is the second time I’ve seen it, it went faster and better here.  “

Nick is a veteran of Spike’s films.  How does he feel about all the acclaim this one is receiving?   Nick replied, “I always thought Spike would have another shot.  I started my career with him and now I’m in a movie that brings him back.  I was in ‘Mo Better Blues,’ ‘Jungle Fever’ and ‘Do The Right Thing,’ where I met him. This the movie that brings him back, and it should, because he’s really talented. ”

The film also coincides, purposefully by Lee, with the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville, VA, protests/riots.   Spike also said that “history tends to repeat itself, what happened in the 70’s is happening now.” 

Cher’s Album of ABBA Covers Called “Dancing Queen” Coming September 28th, in Time for Grammy Cut Off

Roger Friedman
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Cher’s Album of ABBA Covers Called “Dancing Queen” Coming September 28th, in Time for Grammy Cut Off

Cher wants that Grammy award for Dance album. She’s going to get it.

I told you a couple of weeks ago her collection of ABBA covers was ready. The date is set for September 28th and it’s called “Dancing Queen.” She just makes the Grammy eligibility cut off. You know she’ll be on their show come February. (Cher, stay off the AMAs.)

Mark Taylor, who produced her massive comeback single “Believe” from 15 years ago, also produced these tracks. Here’s the list. Now wait and see the promo for this. Congrats to Warner Bros. They’re going to have a big hit. Whoever guided Cher into this whole “Mamma Mia” movie, etc really deserves a raise.

  1. Dancing Queen
  2. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
  3. The Name Of The Game
  4. SOS
  5. Waterloo
  6. Mamma Mia
  7. Chiquitita
  8. Fernando
  9. The Winner Takes It All
  10. One Of Us

 

Record Biz Chaos: Sony’s Columbia Records, Hitless for Most of the Year, Pays Millions to Unknown Rapper, Loses A Top Exec

Roger Friedman
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Record Biz Chaos: Sony’s Columbia Records, Hitless for Most of the Year, Pays Millions to Unknown Rapper, Loses A Top Exec

It’s time to ask, what the heck is going on at Columbia Records?

The legendary label, home to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, and Beyonce, has been hit-free for the better part of the last year.

The word ‘Columbia’ doesn’t appear on the top album charts and hasn’t in a long time. It’s made cameos on Beyonce’s duets album with Jay Z (which was a release from Columbia, Universal, and the Carters’ Parkwood Entertainment). New albums by Jack White and Leon Bridges each made brief (one week, two) stops on the charts before vanishing.

Other than that, Columbia hasn’t had a hit single on the charts since last year. That’s when One Direction’s Harry Styles was supposed to come with a monster hit solo album. To date since May 2017, Styles’ self-titled debut has sold a mere 384,000 copies according to Buzz Angle. (Its streaming numbers aren’t much better.) Sony has reportedly poured millions into Styles hoping for a long term superstar, but so far– at least in chart position and sales– that hasn’t happened.

So it was something of a surprise today that Joel Klaiman, executive vice president for promotion, announced his exit. He’s been there six years this time around. He had a previous run at Sony, and in between another six years at Republic/Universal.

But Klaiman has to be frustrated. In January, Ron Perry came to Columbia as president, with no experience ever running a label. Rob Stringer, who’d moved up the corporate hierarchy to be chairman of Sony Music (which includes Epic, RCA, Arista, etc) chose him to bring in new acts.

In the 8 months since Perry has been running Columbia, absolutely nothing has happened. It’s as if the company didn’t exist. What did Stringer expect? Perry had been a successful music publisher at SONGS, an upstart company that was sold to rival Kobalt Music. When the sale was announced, Perry was free. Stringer scooped him up. At SONGS, Perry had signed Lorde, Major Lazer, and The Weeknd.

But at Columbia, Perry has been silent. The biggest news came last week when Sony announced they’d signed a Naples, Florida rapper named Dominic Fike for between $3 million and $4 million. He’s little known, without a big social media following (only 901 Twitter followers). His music is what you’d expect– riddled with expletives and not particularly unique.

Columbia Records is considered the jewel in the crown of Sony Music. Adele is the jewel in Columbia’s crown, but she’s only now starting to think about a new record for next year. In baseball terms, Columbia has no bench of artists to go to while waiting for Beyonce to come up with a surprise release, or Adele to finish, or Springsteen to wrap up his Broadway stint. (A CD from the Boss’s show should come at Christmas, so that will help.)

One insider likened the Perry situation to one several years ago, when Sony turned its Epic Records over briefly to a songwriter named Amanda Ghost. She lived up to her name.

 

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