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Movie Biz: Weinstein Company Board Fires CEO David Glasser for Cause As Sale Goes Sideways

Roger Friedman
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Movie Biz: Weinstein Company Board Fires CEO David Glasser for Cause As Sale Goes Sideways

Late last night the Weinstein Company board– whoever’s left– fired COO David Glasser for cause. A statement read: “The Board of The Weinstein Company has unanimously voted to terminate David Glasser for cause.”

This comes at the end of a week that saw NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sue TWC, Harvey and Bob Weinstein in a civil rights action– a posturing move to be sure but one that has up-ended the sale of the company to a group that included former Obama administration Small Business chief Maria Contreras Sweet and supermarket mogul Ron Burkle.

Glasser, who started with TWC in 2008, almost left over the summer of 2015 and actually had declared his independence. But over Labor Day weekend Harvey and Bob went into tense negotiations with him and Glasser decided to remain with the company. David’s father, Richard Glasser, a musician and composer, in the company’s payroll as music supervisor for soundtracks since around 2009. His credits include “Lion” and “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Pop Charts: “Black Panther” Soundtrack Rules, Thunders to Number 1 As Movie Opens Big

Roger Friedman
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Pop Charts: “Black Panther” Soundtrack Rules, Thunders to Number 1 As Movie Opens Big

“Black Panther” isn’t just a hit in movie theaters.

The soundtrack album featuring “Pray for Me,” the monster hit from Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd, is number 1 today. The album sold 50,000 copies in downloads and CDs but get this– another 100,000 from streaming. The total is 156,000 copies.

The album has five or six more hits on it, too, with Khalid, SZA, and other artists– so look for it to have staying power during the movie’s lifetime in theaters.

Kendrick and SZA’s “All the Stars” is already the number 3 streamed song in the country.

Country Comfort: Willie Nelson Releases New Single Ahead of Album of All New Material– He Turns 85 in April!

Roger Friedman
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Country Comfort: Willie Nelson Releases New Single Ahead of Album of All New Material– He Turns 85 in April!

Quincy Jones isn’t alone celebrating his 85th birthday these days. Willie Nelson turns 85 on April 29th. To celebrate he’s releasing a whole album of new songs– not covers, new songs– on April 27th. The first single is out today called “Last Man Standing.” Frankly, outside of Tony Bennett, Willie IS the last man standing. (Next in line would be “Soul Man” Sam Moore, I guess, who’s 82.)

Willie Nelson is an eternal legend with an immortal voice. “Last Man Standing” is pretty damn good, too. Very catchy. Willie’s voice sounds just the same. He’s cancelled recent tour appearances, but why not? Why is he touring at all?

The new album is being issued on Sony Legacy, which means still no album with the Columbia Records label will grace the top 50. They have no albums up there although Sony Music is represented by Epic and RCA. Columbia was the gem of the company at one time. Maybe new leader Ron Perry will start releasing some hit records soon. Can’t wait!

Oscars Diversify: Half of First Dozen Presenters Non-White, And Only White Guy (Spider Man)

Roger Friedman
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Oscars Diversify: Half of First Dozen Presenters Non-White, And Only White Guy (Spider Man)

The Academy Awards are already shaping up to be a great night. The first 12 presenters have been announced. Half of them are not white and only white guy is on the list– Tom Holland, aka Spider Man. If all the announcements are like this, it’s going to be a much more embraceable night. Chadwick Boseman, aka the Black Panther, is in that first group.

My guess? Everyone from “Black Panther” will be seen on Oscar night– it’s an ABC/Disney tie in with the Oscars and Marvel of positive synergy. After all, Lupitz Nyong’o has an Oscar, Michael B. Jordan will get one eventually, Daniel Kaluuya is nominated for one this year. And the world has to meet Letitia Wright. The stars are aligning nicely!

“Black Panther” Thursday Night Previews Earn $25 Mil, Second Highest Marvel Movie Ever

Roger Friedman
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“Black Panther” Thursday Night Previews Earn $25 Mil, Second Highest Marvel Movie Ever

“Black Panther” earned $25 million Thursday night, second only in the Marvel Universe to “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

Expectations are that the ground breaking comic book movie directed by Ryan Coogler could make north of $150 million for the three day weekend including last night.

But nothing is a certainty. And don’t forget, “Get Out” is playing for free on Monday, which might cut into the “Panther” numbers.

Stay tuned…

Paul Simon May Be Retiring, But “The Sound of Silence” Gets Olympic Treatment, Goes to Top of the Charts

Roger Friedman
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Paul Simon May Be Retiring, But “The Sound of Silence” Gets Olympic Treatment, Goes to Top of the Charts

Paul Simon wrote “The Sound of Silence” a really long time ago– like more than 50 years ago. It was a hit for him and Art Garfunkel in 1966 and it’s never gone away.

This morning, “The Sound of Silence” is bigger than ever thanks to a heavy rock version by the group Disturbed. They had a hit with it in 2016, but thanks to the Olympics it’s bigger than ever.

“SOS” is number 2 this morning on iTunes and number 4 on Amazon because Olympic ice skaters have been using it for their performances. On BuzzAngle, “SOS” has sold around 15,000 copies in downloads and streams in the last couple of days.

It’s funny. When Simon & Garfunkel first released it in 1964, “SOS” was a folk song– and a failure. Then producers Tom Wilson and Roy Halee remixed it with a rock track a la the Byrds’ “Turn Turn Turn” and it became a sensation. Simon & Garfunkel went on to have six years’ of hits. Now Simon, 76, is retiring from touring. He and — very likely– Garfunkel will have a huge finale sometime this summer at Madison Square Garden.

Disturbed? Have no idea who they are, but the royalties are pouring in. It’s all good.

Shock and Awe at Vanity Fair as 15 Top Staffers Get the Axe After Years of Loyal Service

Roger Friedman
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Shock and Awe at Vanity Fair as 15 Top Staffers Get the Axe After Years of Loyal Service

Vanity Fair or unfair? You decide. The popular Conde Nast monthly just laid off 15 top staffers all with tenure after decades of loyal service.

Gone are publicity director Beth Kseniak, top celebrity cover booker and editor Jane Sarkin, and top editor Chris Garrett, among others.

This signals a major change by new editor Radhika Jones, who took over from Graydon Carter after 25 years, last December. In addition to downsizing and moving more toward digital, Jones also obviously wants her own people.

That’s always a shame, because the existing staff made a huge hit of Vanity Fair. They knew what they were doing. All the laid off employees will do just fine but it with great sadness that we say adieu to friends.

Some problems that will be discussed in post-layoff Monday morning quarterbacking: the calamity of the Hollywood Issue cover, on newsstands now. James Franco was digitally brushed from the cover after accusations of sexual misconduct. In the brushing, Oprah Winfrey scored a third hand, and Reese Witherspoon got an extra leg. But I doubt any of that led to these layoffs. It’s just the changing of the guard.

Frank Ocean Drops the ‘Huckleberry Friend’ from “Moon River,” Andy Williams, Henry Mancini Turn in Graves

Roger Friedman
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Frank Ocean Drops the ‘Huckleberry Friend’ from “Moon River,” Andy Williams, Henry Mancini Turn in Graves

Andy Williams sang it. Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer wrote it. “Moon River” is a classic, and we thought it was safe. But Frank Ocean decided to cover it. Oh, my! This might be best listened to while studying the new official Obama portraits.

Listen carefully because Frank omits the best line–“my huckleberry friend.” Not sure what the point of that was since Mercer considered that the standout expression of youth. He should have asked Sly Stone how to cover a classic. SLy did perfectly on “Que Sera Sera.”

Here’s Audrey Hepburn singing it in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”– the original

Andy Williams’ hit version

And my personal favorite by Jerry Butler

Two Time Emmy Winner Jeffrey Tambor Officially Fired from Amazon’s “Transparent” Over Sexual Harassment Claims

Roger Friedman
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Two Time Emmy Winner Jeffrey Tambor Officially Fired from Amazon’s “Transparent” Over Sexual Harassment Claims

Amazon says Jeffrey Tambor has been officially fired from their hit series, “Transparent,” over sexual harassment claims.

The show will go on, too, despite Tambor playing the central character.

What a strange turn of events. In the past, everyone loved Jeffrey Tambor. He won two Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe for playing Maura Pfefferman. But there were complaints that he was a little too handsy or hands on with some of the cast. Wow.

Since the show’s creator, Jill Soloway, has known that Tambor was being invesigated, maybe she has an idea for the next season. Meantime, Tambor is also connected with Amazon through “Arrested Development.” No word on whether he can go back to that show, but fans of the Bluths would miss seeing him certainly.

#MeToo Sweeps Through Movies, Plays: Famed Playwright Severed from Off Broadway Theater, Universal Fires Marketing Exec, Puts Another on Leave

Roger Friedman
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0
#MeToo Sweeps Through Movies, Plays: Famed Playwright Severed from Off Broadway Theater, Universal Fires Marketing Exec, Puts Another on Leave

The #MeToo movement continues to sweep through show biz. I’m hearing that at one record company a serious investigation is ongoing. If it pans out, shockwaves will be the result…

Off Broadway at the MCC Theater, playwright Neil LaBute has been severed from the company. His play, “Reasons to Be Pretty Happy,” which was to open in August, has been cancelled. This is HUGE. La Bute writes the most misogynistic plays and movies in the history of the world. Many have been hits including “Reasons to Be Happy”– the play– and “In the Company of Men.” His “Fat Pig” was one of the more incendiary titles to play at the Lucille Lortel Theater. There’s no explanation from MCC and it can’t just be that they’ve suddenly discovered his drama-antipathy toward women. Stay tuned…

Universal Pictures has canned Seth Byers, EVP of creative strategy and research, and put marketing head Josh Goldstine on leave for “inappropriate conduct.” Michael Moses is now in charge of marketing. This is also BIG, as Goldstine– in particular– was responsible for a lot of Universal’s successes including “Get Out.”

What has gone on at all these places is kind of mind blowing. With LaBute, who knows, except his plays were really insanely against women. And people in general.

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