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Broadway’s Winter Doldrums Continue: “Hello, Dolly!” Falls Well Below $1 Mil Mark as Box Drops 22%

Roger Friedman
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Broadway’s Winter Doldrums Continue: “Hello, Dolly!” Falls Well Below $1 Mil Mark as Box Drops 22%

The Broadway winter doldums are here. It’s a long way until March 15th, when new shows will kick in. So the old shows must keep going.

“Hello, Dolly!” is suffering. They dropped around 22% from last week, coming in well below $1 million at $889K. The average ticket price is now $93.50. That’s down two bucks from last week– but far below the $200 plus when Bette Midler was commanding a top ticket price of a whopping $996.

“Dolly” took the biggest hit of the week, although other shows like “Anastasia” are down, as well. But some are up. “Hamilton” was over $3 million last week. “Waitress” and “The Book of Mormon” were up, too.

There’s some fretting now about the Tony Awards for original musicals and plays. This is a big season for revivals, not so much for new stuff. There will be just enough musicals to make the original category– front runner “A Band’s Visit,” plus “Mean Girls,” “Frozen,” “Donna Summer,” and “Margaritaville.” “Spongebob” seems unlikely. Ditto for Best Play where “The Hangmen” — moving  soon from off Broadway —  and “Harry Potter” will have at it.

I’m not kidding– Bruce Springsteen could wind up with the Best Musical. No, seriously.

 

Classic R&B News: Smokey’s Working a New Album, Gladys Knight Welcomes Sam Moore, The O’Jays Keep Doin’ It

Roger Friedman
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Classic R&B News: Smokey’s Working a New Album, Gladys Knight Welcomes Sam Moore, The O’Jays Keep Doin’ It

This is the most important news you’ll get this week!

On Saturday night, Miss Gladys Knight killed at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. After the show she welcomed “Soul Man” Sam Moore and his wife Joyce backstage. Sam and Gladys caught up on their 50 year friendship. Here’s hoping they will work together soon. Each of them has a timeless voice that never grows old, just richer…

Smokey Robinson posted this video to Facebook. One of the most successful songwriters in the world and beyond, Smokey says he’s working on an album of new material. God bless. Smokey turns 78 on February 19th. I kid you not. Amazing.

The O’Jays were featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Eddie Levert and Walter Williams have fronted the group since 1958. From “Backstabbers” to “Love Train” to “Stairway to Heaven,” they are unequaled.
Jim Axelrod had a great visit with them.

SiriusXM 49 and 50 are so good, every day, consistently. Sometimes I think they’re programming shows just for me. A big shout out to them for giving us The Dells on a regular basis. I am still overwhelmed by their late great legendary singer Marvin Junior. He was Chicago’s answer to Detroit’s Levi Stubbs, one of a kind. “Stay in My Corner” is one of the lost classics of all time. Watch from the beginning. But at 4:30 Marvin begins his famous sustained solo note. It never gets old.

Sale of Weinstein Company Now Impeded by AG’s Lawsuit, Proposed $500 Mil Deal Up in Smoke

Roger Friedman
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Sale of Weinstein Company Now Impeded by AG’s Lawsuit, Proposed $500 Mil Deal Up in Smoke

The proposed $500 million sale of the Weinstein Company looks like it’s gone up in smoke. NY Attorney General Schneiderman filed suit against TWC today as the sale was coming to the finish line. A group of investors led by former Small Business Administration head Maria Contreras-Sweet is now halted in its tracks.

After filing suit, Schneiderman Tweeted: “Any sale of the company must ensure victims are adequately compensated, employees are protected, and that enablers of sexual misconduct will not be unjustly enriched.”

Schneiderman according to reports was concerned that TWC president David Glasser would continue as president of the new, still to named company. Many of the TWC employees were also going to stay on even though Contreras-Sweet had started her bid calling for a clean sweep and all women running the shop. She caved pretty quickly when she realized she didn’t know what she was doing, had no experience running a film studio.

So now what? Who knows? Stay tuned…

Writers Guild Awards: “Get Out” Wins Best Original Screenplay, “Veep,” “Call Me By Your Name,” John Oliver, Kennedy Center Honors

Roger Friedman
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Writers Guild Awards: “Get Out” Wins Best Original Screenplay, “Veep,” “Call Me By Your Name,” John Oliver, Kennedy Center Honors

TV Awards: “Veep” is best comedy series, “Handmaid’s Tale” is Best Drama. “Big Little Lies” is Best Long Form Adapted– next time they’ll have to compete in Best Drama. “Flint,” a Lifetime movie that was supposed to star Cher (she dropped when Gregg Allman fell ill) won Best Long Form Original– a surprise!

“General Hospital” is Best Daytime Drama. John Oliver wins Best Talk Show– really? “SNL” wins for last year.  A little surprised the Kennedy Center show won an award. I heard it was a mess– and they cut Chaka Khan out of the whole show after she performed for Gloria Estefan. Keep refreshing…

Movie Awards: Remember. Several movies ineligible because of Guild rules. So “Get Out” wins Best Original Screenplay. “Call Me By Your Name” is Best Adapted Screenplay. “Jane” is Best Documentary.

 

Screenplay Nominees

Original Screenplay:
“The Big Sick,” Written by Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani; Amazon Studios
“Get Out,” Written by Jordan Peele; Universal Pictures
“I, Tonya,” Written by Steven Rogers; Neon
“Lady Bird,” Written by Greta Gerwig; A24
“The Shape of Water,” Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor; Story by Guillermo del Toro; Fox Searchlight

Adapted Screenplay:
“Call Me by Your Name,” Screenplay by James Ivory; Based on the Novel by André Aciman; Sony Pictures Classics (WINNER)
“The Disaster Artist,” Screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber; Based on the Book The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell; A24
“Logan,” Screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green; Story by James Mangold; Based on Characters from the X-Men Comic Books and Theatrical Motion Pictures; Twentieth Century Fox Film
“Molly’s Game,” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the Book by Molly Bloom; STX Entertainment
“Mudbound,” Screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees; Based on the Novel by Hillary Jordan; Netflix

Documentary Screenplay:
“Betting on Zero,” Written by Theodore Braun; Gunpowder & Sky
“Jane,” Written by Brett Morgen; National Geographic (WINNER)
“No Stone Unturned,” Written by Alex Gibney; Abramorama
“Oklahoma City,” Written by Barak Goodman; American Experience Films

Television Nominees

Drama Series:
“The Americans,” Written by Peter Ackerman, Hilary Bettis, Joshua Brand, Joel Fields, Stephen Schiff, Joe Weisberg, Tracey Scott Wilson; FX Networks
“Better Call Saul,” Written by Ann Cherkis, Vince Gilligan, Jonathan Glatzer, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, Heather Marion, Thomas Schnauz, Gordon Smith; AMC
“Game of Thrones,” Written by David Benioff, Bryan Cogman, Dave Hill, D.B. Weiss; HBO
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Renee Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu (WINNER)
“Stranger Things,” Written by Paul Dichter, Justin Doble, The Duffer Brothers, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Kate Trefry; Netflix

Comedy Series:
“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Written by Larry David, Jon Hayman, Justin Hurwitz, Jeff Schaffer; HBO
“GLOW,” Written by Kristoffer Diaz, Liz Flahive, Tara Herrmann, Nick Jones, Jenji Kohan, Carly Mensch, Emma Rathbone, Sascha Rothchild, Rachel Shukert; Netflix
“Master of None,” Written by Aniz Adam Ansari, Aziz Ansari, Andrew Blitz, Matt Hubbard, Zoe Jarman, Cord Jefferson, Joe Mande, Matt Murray, Sarah Peters, Sarah Schneider, Michael Schur, Leila Strachan, Gene Stupnitsky, Lakshmi Sundaram, Lena Waithe, Jason Woliner, Alan Yang; Netflix
“Silicon Valley,” Written by Alec Berg, Shawn Boxe, Adam Countee, Jonathan Dotan, Mike Judge, Carrie Kemper, Andrew Law, Rachele Lynn, Dan O’Keefe, Meghan Pleticha, Chris Provenzano, Clay Tarver, Graham Wagner, Aaron Zelman; HBO
“Veep,” Written by Gabrielle Allan, Rachel Axler, Ted Cohen, Jennifer Crittenden, Alex Gregory, Steve Hely, Peter Huyck, Erik Kenward, Billy Kimball, David Mandel, Ian Maxtone-Graham, Dan Mintz, Lew Morton, Georgia Pritchett, Will Smith; HBO

New Series:
“American Vandal,” Written by Seth Cohen, Lauren Herstik, Dan Lagana, Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus, Jessica Meyer, Dan Perrault, Amy Pocha, Mike Rosolio, Tony Yacenda; Netflix
“The Deuce,” Written by Megan Abbott, Marc Henry Johnson, Lisa Lutz, George Pelecanos, Richard Price, Will Ralston, David Simon, Chris Yakaitis; HBO
“GLOW,” Written by Kristoffer Diaz, Liz Flahive, Tara Herrmann, Nick Jones, Jenji Kohan, Carly Mensch, Emma Rathbone, Sascha Rothchild, Rachel Shukert; Netflix
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Renee Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu
“Ozark,” Written by Whit Anderson, Bill Dubuque, Ryan Farley, Alyson Feltes, Paul Kolsby, Chris Mundy, Mark Williams, Ning Zhou, Martin Zimmerman; Netflix

Long Form Original:
“American Horror Story: Cult,” Written by Brad Falchuk, John J. Gray, Joshua Green, Todd Kubrak, Crystal Liu, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Adam Penn, James Wong; FX Networks
“Feud: Bette and Joan,” Written by Jaffe Cohen, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Gina Welch, Michael Zam; FX Networks
“Flint,” Written by Barbara Stepansky; Lifetime
“Godless,” Written by Scott Frank; Netflix
“Manhunt: Unabomber,” Written by Jim Clemente, Tony Gittelson, Max Hurwitz, Steven Katz, Nick Schenk, Andrew Sodroski, Nick Towne; Discovery Channel

Long Form Adapted:
“Big Little Lies,” Teleplay by David E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Liane Moriarty; HBO (WINNER)
“Fargo,” Written by Monica Beletsky, Bob DeLaurentis, Noah Hawley, Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, Based on the film Fargo; FX
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” Teleplay by Peter Landesman and Alexander Woo and George C. Wolfe, Based on the book written by Rebecca Skloot; HBO
“The Wizard of Lies,” Teleplay by Sam Levinson and John Burnham Schwartz and Samuel Baum, Based on the Book Written by Diane B. Henriques and Truth and Consequences by Laurie Sandell; HBO

Short Form New Media Original:
No nominations

Short Form New Media Adapted:
“John Hancock” (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot), Written by James C. Oliver & Sharla Oliver; abc.go.com
“Chapter 2” (The Walking Dead: Red Machete), Written by Nick Bernardone; amc.com
“Justicia” (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot), Written by Mark Leitner; abc.go.com
“Starboy” (Zac & Mia), Teleplay by Allen Clary and Andrew Rothschild, Based on the novel Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts; go90.com (WINNER)

Animation:
“Brunchsquatch” (Bob’s Burgers), Written by Lizzie Molyneux & Wendy Molyneux; Fox
“A Father’s Watch” (The Simpsons), Written by Simon Rich; Fox
“Ruthie” (BoJack Horseman), Written by Joanna Calo; Netflix
“The Serfsons” (The Simpsons), Written by Brian Kelley; Fox
“Time’s Arrow” (BoJack Horseman), Written by Kate Purdy; Netflix (WINNER)

Episodic Drama:
“The Book of Nora” (The Leftovers), Teleplay by Tom Perrotta & Damon Lindelof, Story by Tom Spezialy & Damon Lindelof; HBO
“Chicanery” (Better Call Saul), Written by Gordon Smith; AMC (WINNER)
“The Heart Attack is the Best Way” (Good Behavior), Written by Chad Hodge; TNT
“Homecoming” (The OA), Written by Brit Marling & Zal Batmanglij; Netflix
“Slip” (Better Call Saul), Written by Heather Marion; AMC
“The Soviet Division” (The Americans), Written by Joe Weisberg & Joel Fields; FX Networks

Episodic Comedy:
“The Burglary” (Grace and Frankie), Written by Brendan McCarthy & David Budin; Netflix
“Intervention” (The Carmichael Show), Written by Willie Hunter; NBC
“Judge” (Veep), Written by Ted Cohen; HBO
“Rosario’s Quinceanera” (Will & Grace), Written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally; NBC (WINNER)
“The Verdict” (Trial & Error), Written by Jeff Astrof; NBC

Comedy/Variety Talk Series:
“Conan,” Head Writer: Matt O’Brien, Writers: Jose Arroyo, Dan Cronin, Andres du Bouchet, Jessie Gaskell, Michael Gordon, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Leah Krinsky, Rob Kutner, Todd Levin, Levi MacDougall, Conan O’Brien, Andy Richter, Frank Smiley, Mike Sweeney; TBS
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” Writers: Samantha Bee, Ashley Nicole Black, Pat Cassels, Eric Drysdale, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free, Joe Grossman, Miles Kahn, Jo Miller, Jason Reich, Melinda Taub; TBS
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Writers: Jimmy Kimmel, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Gonzalo Cordova, Devin Field, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jesse Joyce, Bess Kalb, Jeff Loveness, Molly McNearney, CeCe Pleasants, Danny Ricker, Joe Strazzullo; ABC
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” Writers: Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, Ben Silva, Seena Vali; HBO
“Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Writers: Jermaine Affonso, Alex Baze, Bryan Donaldson, Sal Gentile, Matt Goldich, Dina Gusovsky, Jenny Hagel, Allison Hord, Mike Karnell, John Lutz, Seth Meyers, Ian Morgan, Seth Reiss, Amber Ruffin, Mike Scollins, Mike Shoemaker, Ben Warheit; NBC Universal
“Real Time with Bill Maher,” Writers: Scott Carter, Adam Felber, Matt Gunn, Brian Jacobsmeyer, Jay Jaroch, Chris Kelly, Bill Maher, Billy Martin, Bob Oschack, Danny Vermont; HBO
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” Writers: Dan Amira, David Angelo, Steve Bodow, Kashana Cauley, Devin Delliquanti, Zach DiLanzo, Hallie Haglund, David Kibuuka, Matt Koff, Adam Lowitt, Dan McCoy, Lauren Sarver Means, Trevor Noah, Joseph Opio, Zhubin Parang, Owen Parsons, Daniel Radosh, Michelle Wolf; Comedy Central
“The Jim Jefferies Show,” Head Writer: Jason Reich, Writers: Jim Jefferies, Subhah Agarwal, Kevin Avery, Curtis Cook, Lucas Kavner, Matt Kirshen, Chris McKinley, Bryan Olsen, Laura Willcox, JJ Whitehead, Scott Y. Zabielski; Comedy Central

Comedy/Variety Sketch Series:
“Nathan For You,” Writers: Leo Allen, Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Michael Koman, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola; Comedy Central
“Portlandia,” Writers: Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Karen Kilgariff, Jonathan Krisel, Graham Wagner; IFC
“Saturday Night Live,” Head Writers: Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, Bryan Tucker, Writers: James Anderson, Kristen Bartlett, Jeremy Beiler, Neal Brennan, Zack Bornstein, Joanna Bradley, Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Anna Drezen, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Nick Kocher, Michael Koman, Dave McCary, Brian McElhaney, Dennis McNicholas, Drew Michael, Lorne Michaels, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Will Stephen, Kent Sublette, Julio Torres; NBC Universal (WINNER)
“The President Show,” Writers: Emily Altman, Anthony Atamanuik, Emmy Blotnick, Neil Casey, Mike Drucker, Noah Garfinkel, John Gemberling, Peter Grosz, Mitra Jouhari, John Knefel, Alison Leiby, Christine Nangle, John Reynolds, Jason Ross, Rae Sanni, Evan Waite; Comedy Central
“Weekend Update Summer Edition,” Writers: Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Dennis McNicholas, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Kent Sublette, Brian Tucker; NBC Universal

Comedy/Variety Specials:
“39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors,” Written by Dave Boone; CBS (WINNER)
“89th Annual Academy Awards,” Written by Billy Kimball, Jon Macks; Special Material Written by Jack Allison, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Gonzalo Cordova, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Bess Kalb, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Loveness, Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Joe Strazzullo; ABC
“AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Diane Keaton,” Written by Bob Gazzale, Jon Macks; TNT
“Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy, Valentine’s Day Special,” Written by Scott Aukerman, Dave Ferguson, Mike Hanford, Tim Kalpakis, Joe Saunders, Akiva Schaffer; Additional Material Written by Zach Kanin, Claudia O’Doherty, Tim Robinson; Netflix
“Nathan For You: A Celebration,” Written by Leo Allen, Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Michael Koman, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola; Comedy Central

Quiz and Audience Participation:
“Hollywood Game Night,” Head Writer: Grant Taylor; Writers: Michael Agbabian, Alex Chauvin, Ann Slichter, Dwight D. Smith; NBC (WINNER)
“Jeopardy!,” Written by Matthew Caruso, John Duarte, Harry Friedman, Mark Gaberman, Deborah Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve D. Tamerius, Billy Wisse; ABC

Daytime Drama:
“General Hospital,” Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Jean Passanante; Writers: Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O’Connor, Dave Rupel, Katherine Schock, Scott Sickles, Christopher Van Etten, Christopher Whitesell; ABC (WINNER)
“Days of Our Lives,” Writers: Ron Carlivati, Sheri Anderson, Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Lisa Connor, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Cydney Kelley, David Kreizman, David A. Levinson, Rebecca McCarty, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Elizabeth Snyder, Tyler Topits; NBC

Children’s Episodic and Specials:
“American Girl – Summer Camp, Friends for Life” (American Girl), Teleplay by Alison McDonald, Story by Alison McDonald and Caron Tschampion; Amazon
“An American Girl Story – Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance” (American Girl), Written by May Chan; Amazon (WINNER)
“Just Add 1965” (Just Add Magic), Written by Lauren Thompson; Amazon
“Meet Julia” (Sesame Street), Written by Christine Ferraro; HBO
“The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special,” Written by Raye Lankford, Jessica Carleton, Ken Scarborough; HBO

Children’s Long Form:
No nominations

Documentary Script – Current Events:
“Confronting ISIS” (Frontline), Written by Martin Smith; PBS
“Poverty, Politics and Profit” (Frontline), Written by Rick Young; PBS
“Unseen Enemy,” Written by Janet Tobias; CNN

Documentary Script – Other Than Current Events”
“Divided States of America” Part One (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS
“Rachel Carson” (American Experience), Written and Directed by Michelle Ferrari; PBS
“The Great War” Part II (American Experience), Written by Stephen Ives; PBS
“The Great War” Part III (American Experience), Written by Rob Rapley; PBS
“The Vietnam War,” Episode Six: “Things Fall Apart,” Written by Geoffrey C. Ward; PBS

News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report
“Obama Wiretap Allegations” (World News Tonight with David Muir), Mark Berman, Barbara Rick, Tom Llamas; ABC News
“September 29, 2017” (World News Now), Written by Matt Nelko, Jack Sheahan, Debbie Humes, Carla Brittain, Constance Johnson, Lloyd deVries, Craig Morancie; ABC News
“White Helmets” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young, Katie Kerbstat; CBS News

News Script – Analysis, Feature, or Commentary
“Chief of Chobani” (60 Minutes), Written by Steve Kroft, Oriana Zill de Granados; CBS News
“Fighting Famine” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young; CBS News

Digital News:
“At the Capitol With Those for Whom Last Night Mattered the Most,” Written by Emma Roller; SplinterNews.com
“Becoming Ugly,” Written by Madeleine Davies; Jezebel.com
“The Super Predators,” Written by Melissa Jeltsen, Dana Liebelson; Huffingtonpost.com
“Why Did Politicon Make Me Want To Die?,” Written by Libby Watson; SplinterNews.com

Radio/Audio Nominees

Radio/Audio Documentary:
“2016 Year in Review,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
“Castro, Cuba & Communism,” Written by Thomas A. Sabella; CBS News Radio
“CBS Radio 90th Anniversary,” Written by Dianne E. James, Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
“Remembering Princess Diana 20 Years Later,” Written by Andrew Evans; ABC News Radio

Radio/Audio News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report:
“Hugh Hefner: A Social Revolutionary in Silk Pajamas,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
“World News This Week November 18, 2016,” Written by Joan B. Harris; ABC News Radio
“World News This Week: June 9, 2017,” Written by Tara Gimbel Tanis; ABC News Radio

Radio/Audio News Script – Analysis, Feature, or Commentary:
“Chuck Berry,” Written by Jerry Edling; KNX
“Dishin’ Digital on WCBS-AM,” Written by Robert Hawley; WCBS
“Holiday Stories,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
“One Nation, Overdosed: An Investigative Report,” Written by Tara Gimbel Tanis; ABC News Radio

Promotional Writing Nominees

On-Air Promotion (Radio or Television)
“CBS Comedy,” Written by Dan Greenberger; CBS Television (WINNER)
“The Good Fight,” Written by Brian Retchless; CBS On-Air Promotions

Television Graphic Art and Animation
No nominations

Videogame Nominees

Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing:
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, External Writers Anna Megill, Hazel Monforton; Lead Narrative Designer Sachka Duval; Arkane Studios-Bethesda Softworks
Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, Written by Cas Ruffin, Patric M. Verrone; TinyCo
Horizon Zero Dawn, Narrative Director John Gonzalez; Lead Writer Benjamin McCaw; Writing by Ben Schroder, Anne Toole; Additional Writing by Dee Warrick, Meg Jayanth; Guerrilla Games
Madden NFL 18: Longshot, Written by Michael Young, Adrian Todd Zuniga; Story by Michael Young; Tiburon/Electronic Arts

Tragedy: Broadway Great Jan Maxwell, Double Tony Award Nominee in 2010, Passes Away at 61

Roger Friedman
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Tragedy: Broadway Great Jan Maxwell, Double Tony Award Nominee in 2010, Passes Away at 61

Jan Maxwell, one of the great Broadway stars, has died at age 61 from cancer according to reports. Twitter is starting to fill with tributes. Maxwell was last seen on Broadway in 2012 in “Follies.” I fell in love with her in when she was in the great Cy Coleman musical “City of Angels” in the early 90s.

She was nominated for the Tony Award FIVE times. In the last few years she’d also had back to back successes in “The Royal Family” and “Lend Me a Tenor.” She was nominated for Best Actress in a Play AND in a Musical for those two shows in 2010. Elegant, glamorous, Maxwell was an effortless success in both musicals and plays.

In 2006, she left the off Broadway production of “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” when she couldn’t take Alec Baldwin’s behavior. Maxwell said Baldwin “created an unhealthy and oppressive situation [that made her fear for her] physical safety, mental health and artistic integrity.” Baldwin denied the behavior and asked her to return. She declined.

This is really terrible. I was counting on Jan Maxwell to take us into the next 20 years of Broadway. She was just great. Condolences to her family and friends and many, many fans.

 

NY Attorney General: “To work for Weinstein was to work under a persistent barrage of genderbased obscenities, vulgar name-calling, sexualized interactions, threats of violence, and a workplace generally hostile to women”

Roger Friedman
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NY Attorney General: “To work for Weinstein was to work under a persistent barrage of genderbased obscenities, vulgar name-calling, sexualized interactions, threats of violence, and a workplace generally hostile to women”

NY State Attorney General has sued the Weinstein Company, Harvey and Bob Weinstein individually in a a large scale civil rights action that could impede the sale of the company– which was supposed to happen now.

The AG writes:  “To work for Harvey Weinstein was to work under a persistent barrage of genderbased
obscenities, vulgar name-calling, sexualized interactions, threats of violence, and a
workplace generally hostile to women. This conduct occurred throughout the relevant time
period. For instance, HW regularly berated women using gender-based obscenities and
stereotypes. He directed these comments to female employees and peppered ordinary
conversation with vulgarities and gendered insults.”

Harvey Weinstein responded through his lawyer:

“We believe that a fair investigation by Mr. Schneiderman will demonstrate that many of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein are without merit. While Mr. Weinstein’s behavior was not without fault, there certainly was no criminality, and at the end of the inquiry it will be clear that Harvey Weinstein promoted more women to key executive positions than any other industry leader and there was zero discrimination at either Miramax or TWC.

If the purpose of the inquiry is to encourage reform throughout the film industry, Mr. Weinstein will embrace the investigation. If the purpose however is to scapegoat Mr. Weinstein, he will vigorously defend himself”

The charges in the 39 page lawsuit are outlined on the AG’s website. Here are the highlights as they were provided. They include detailed descriptions of the AG’s accusations of sexual misconduct at the company:

Specific examples of HW’s harassment, intimidation, assault, and a hostile work environment alleged in the complaint include, among many others:

HW told several employees throughout the relevant time period that, in substance, “I will kill you,” “I will kill your family,” and “You don’t know what I can do,” or words to that effect. HW touted his connection to powerful political figures and asserted that he had contacts within the Secret Service that could take care of problems.

At HW’s direction, “TWC employed one group of female employees whose primary job it was to accompany HW to events and to facilitate HW’s sexual conquests…These women were described by some witnesses as members of HW’s TWC “roster” or his “wing women.” One of the members of this entourage was flown from London to New York to teach HW’s assistants how to dress and smell more attractive to HW…”

A second group of predominantly female employees served as his assistants. HW’s assistants were compelled to take various steps to further HW’s regular sexual activity, including by contacting “Friends of Harvey” and other prospective sexual partners via text message or phone at his direction and maintaining space on his calendar for sexual activity.

A third group of predominantly female TWC employees– a group of female executives – also were forced to facilitate HW’s sexual conquests. These female employees’ job responsibilities should have been confined to using their expertise to help TWC produce films and television projects. Yet despite their skills and stated job responsibilities, HW required them to meet with prospective sexual conquests in order to facilitate HW’s sexual activity, and to follow through on HW’s promise of employment opportunities to women who met with HW’s favor. This compelled service demeaned and humiliated them, contributing to the hostile work environment.”

As one [female] executive reported to TWC’s Human Resources department: “only female executives are put in these positions with actresses with whom HW has a ‘personal friendship,’ which to my understanding means he has either had or wants to have sexual relations with them. Female Weinstein employees are essentially used to facilitate his sexual conquests of vulnerable women who hope he will get them work.” TWC took no steps to investigate these allegations or to prevent future recurrence of such conduct.

HW made quid pro quo offers or demands of sexual favors in exchange for career advancement at TWC, or to avoid adverse employment consequences at TWC.

On one occasion in 2015, HW asked a female TWC employee to go to his hotel room at the end of the day to set up his phone and devices for the next day or some other alleged work reason (work that TWC employees referred to as “turndown service,” and that was generally assigned to female TWC employees). Upon her arrival at HW’s hotel room, HW appeared naked under a bathrobe and asked the employee for a massage. When the employee said no, HW cajoled, badgered, and insisted until she relented and, against her wishes, submitted to massaging him out of fear of employment-based retaliation by HW. The incident was reported to Human Resources and to executives and Board members of the company in November 2015, but TWC took no action to formally investigate the complaint, to protect employees from HW, or to prevent future recurrence of such conduct.

On other occasions in 2014 and 2015, HW exposed himself to a female employee and made her take dictation from him while he leered at her, naked on his bed. That same employee described how HW would insist that she sit next to him in the back seat of his chauffeured vehicle and would place his hand on her upper thigh and buttocks near her genitalia and rub her body without her consent. When she attempted to place bags or other barriers between them to make it harder for him to reach her, he moved the barriers or repositioned himself so that the unwelcome sexual contact could continue. This employee, and other TWC employees, believed that they would face adverse employment consequences unless they acquiesced to such demands.

On one occasion, HW asserted that he might have to fire a female employee because his daughter (for whom the employee was providing assistance at HW’s direction) was angry with her, and he asked the employee what she was “prepared to do” to keep her job – a proposition that the female employee understood was a demand for quid pro quo sexual activity. The employee quit rather than submit to the demand for sex in exchange for continued employment.

HW’s assistants were exposed to and required to facilitate HW’s sex life as a condition of employment.

HW required his assistants to schedule “personals” for sexual activity both during the workday and after work. Upon arranging a “personal,” assistants were required to clear or adjust any and all other scheduled plans which potentially conflicted with the “personal.”

Assistants possessed copies of a document known as the “Bible,” an assistant-created guide to working for HW which was passed down through Assistants. The document sat in hard copy on several Assistants’ desks, and was accessible to and known to exist by some TWC executives. The Bible included information about HW’s likes and dislikes, and a list of his “friends” with directions for assistants on how to arrange HW’s extensive and frequent “personals.”

HW’s drivers in both New York City and Los Angeles were required to keep condoms and erectile dysfunction injections in the car at all times, in order to provide them to HW as needed.

Specific allegations of misconduct by company management include, among others:

On more than one occasion, upon forwarding a complaint or information about a complaint to the COO, the Human Resources Director was not involved in any investigation or resolution process. Based on documents obtained by the OAG to date, such matters were handled by the COO and other members of TWC senior management, as well as counsel retained to contact victims of misconduct.

On numerous occasions during the relevant time period, victims of HW’s misconduct complained to the Human Resources Director or to other TWC management about various aspects of the conduct described herein. On no occasion was HW subject to a formal investigation, nor to restrictions on his behavior or adverse employment consequences, as a result of any complaint.

Evidence gathered during the course of the investigation reflects that the Human Resources Director was not empowered to take any steps address HW’s ongoing sexual harassment of female employees.

On certain occasions when individuals did complain to Human Resources, those complaints were not treated confidentially and investigated. For example, on one occasion, an assistant to HW wrote an email to Human Resources complaining of certain misconduct by HW. Soon thereafter, the assistant, who had access to HW’s email account due to her role at TWC, saw that her complaint had been forwarded directly to HW via HW’s email account.

On several occasions when TWC employees complained about serious misconduct by HW, TWC took steps to separate the employee from the company while securing an NDA that would prevent the employee from disclosing the misconduct to others or warning others about the misconduct.

Robert Weinstein (“RW”), as co-owner, co-Chairman, and co-CEO, was responsible for maintaining a safe workplace, free of sexual harassment and other unlawful conduct. Yet instead of doing so, RW acquiesced in allowing HW to create a hostile work environment and engage in sexual misconduct that was known to him, or which he was responsible for preventing.

RW also received by email in late 2014 and 2015, and was otherwise informed of, claims of repeated and persistent sexual harassment and misconduct, yet he took no measures to investigate further the claims of misconduct, to terminate HW’s employment, to restrict or prohibit HW from supervising women or having or seeking sexual contact with TWC employees or women seeking to do business with TWC, from having private meetings with employees or women seeking opportunities in hotel rooms or TWC office space, or any other concrete measure that may have prevented HW’s ongoing misconduct.

In response to the information obtained from TWC management, independent Board members sought to obtain access to HW’s personnel file so that counsel representing the Board could use the personnel file and other information to evaluate whether the Board would recommend renewal of HW’s contract. HW resisted the independent directors’ efforts to obtain a copy of his personnel file and otherwise investigate misconduct, on the purported grounds that the contents of the file would be leaked to the press if disclosed to the Board. There was no basis for this claim; instead, HW sought to prevent access to his personnel file to avoid discovery of the extent of his own misconduct. A majority of the Board refused to back the independent Directors’ efforts to obtain HW’s personnel file; thus, efforts that may have resulted in discovery of at least a portion of HW’s misconduct were not undertaken by the Board.

HW’s contract extension also contained an unusual provision that effectively monetized, rather than prohibited, ongoing acts of sexual harassment and misconduct. In particular, it stated that, if TWC had to “make a payment to satisfy a claim that you [i.e., HW] have treated someone improperly in violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct,” he would face escalating financial penalties: $250,000 for the first such instance, “$500,000, for the second such instance, $750,000 for the third such instance, and $1,000,000 for each such additional instance.”

This contract contained no provision for any penalties if HW personally covered the costs of any payments necessary to satisfy claims of improper treatment, and it provided for no adverse employment consequences in the event that one, two, three, or even four or more such payments had to be made by TWC and/or HW as a result of HW’s sexual harassment or misconduct. Thus, pursuant to HW’s employment contract, HW could continue engaging in sexual harassment and misconduct with impunity, provided that he paid the costs of any settlements and that he avoided disclosure of misconduct that might risk causing “serious harm to the company.”

Board minutes reflect that the Board ratified HW’s new employment contract unanimously. No future efforts were undertaken by the Board to investigate HW’s misconduct or TWC’s practices concerning that conduct until HW’s termination in October 2017.

Soft Box Office, Oscar Doldrums as Hollywood Fights Bad Publicity and No Campaigning

Roger Friedman
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Soft Box Office, Oscar Doldrums as Hollywood Fights Bad Publicity and No Campaigning

It wasn’t a great weekend at the box office.

The third “Fifty Shades” installment made just $38 million as audiences and the couple on the screen lost interest in the whole affair. Luckily, “Fifty Shades Freed” didn’t cost too much since it was made simultaneously with its predecessor. And you know that three years from now someone will launch it as a mini series on a TV like platform so Christian Grey and Ana won’t be forgotten. They will just be recycled.

There was overwhelming apathy toward Clint Eastwood’s “15:17 to Paris.” The train didn’t leave the station. Not having stars was a big issue. Also, the linear screenplay killed it. Eastwood experimented, and I liked it (so did a few others) but the audience was impatient. And for the second time this year, we learned a lot about Sacramento. (“Lady Bird” being a more successful tourist promotion for California’s capital.)

The total box office number was grim. The Olympics on TV were an easy attraction to divert from the theater going. Plus, an overall pall hangs over Hollywood right now. Show business is eating itself alive as vicious accusations flying back and forth in every direction. The dirty laundry has been exposed like never before. Did anyone stop to consider the economic consequences? “Who’s next?” is the topic of conversation everywhere. And I don’t mean “who’s next” to get an Oscar? No, “who’s next?” to be ruined, embarrassed, shamed, humiliated, destroyed, ripped to shreds and vanished from society?

At the same time, there’s zero discussion of the Oscars. That’s largely because the Academy prohibits campaigning after nominations are announced. So beginning January 23rd, pretty much all events and socializing stopped. That amounts to about 7 weeks of silence prior to an election. Can you imagine if that were the case in politics? All the hoopla that occurred in November, December, and early January comes to a halt. None of the Oscar movies are having much enthusiasm at the box office, either. By March 4th weekend, even “Black Panther” — which will have a huge opening next Friday– will be history.

Oscar voting begins February 20th and ends on the 27th. Wake up, Academy members. Is it “Three Billboards”? “Shape of Water”? or something… else…

Full Text: Fox News Chief John Moody’s Shockingly Racist, Homophobic Rant About Olympic Pride

Roger Friedman
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Full Text: Fox News Chief John Moody’s Shockingly Racist, Homophobic Rant About Olympic Pride

I’m not sure that we all saw Fox News Executive Editor John Moody’s full op-ed piece on the US Olympic team and diversity. It was outright racist and homophobic. Why hasn’t he been fired? Because this is what Fox News is about. Moody complains about an Olympic official boasting about what Moody calls “a, frankly, embarrassing laundry list of how many African-Americans, Asians and openly gay athletes are on this year’s U.S. team.”

Got that? Really got that?

Just in case you missed, here’s Moody’s screed. You will not hear about it on Fox News. But luckily we’ve got a screen cache of it.

Unless it’s changed overnight, the motto of the Olympics, since 1894, has been “Faster, Higher, Stronger.” It appears the U.S. Olympic Committee would like to change that to “Darker, Gayer, Different.” If your goal is to win medals, that won’t work.

A USOC official was quoted this week expressing pride (what else?) about taking the most diverse U.S. squad ever to the Winter Olympics. That was followed by a, frankly, embarrassing laundry list of how many African-Americans, Asians and openly gay athletes are on this year’s U.S. team. No sport that we are aware of awards points – or medals – for skin color or sexual orientation.

For the current USOC, a dream team should look more like the general population. So, while uncomfortable, the question probably needs to be asked: were our Olympians selected because they’re the best at what they do, or because they’re the best publicity for our current obsession with having one each from Column A, B and C?

Some breakthroughs in American sports were historic, none more so than Jackie Robinson’s in baseball. But Robinson didn’t make the Majors because he was black. His legendary career occurred in an age of outright racial discrimination, because he was was better at the game than almost everyone around him.

If someone is denied a slot on a team because of prejudice, that’s one thing. Complaining that every team isn’t a rainbow of political correctness defeats the purpose of sports, which is competition.

As my Fox News colleague Ed Henry wrote in his excellent book, “42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story,” Robinson was not a kvetcher. “Don’t complain, work harder,” was his approach to the game, and the game of life.

Jeremy Lin, who played basketball at Harvard before joining the New York Knicks, did not become a media hero – remember “Linsanity?” – due to his Chinese heritage, but because he almost single-handedly turned around the struggling Knicks in 2012, and had fans delirious over his graceful shots and calm under pressure.

Back in 1993, when, it seems, America still had a sense of humor, the movie “Cool Runnings” portrayed a Jamaican bobsled team whose members willed themselves to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Why was their feat noteworthy? Um … no snow in Jamaica, not racial prejudice.

That same year, Michael Edwards riveted world attention to the ski jumping competition. Didn’t matter that he finished last. “Eddie the Eagle,” as he was known, came from Great Britain, which also doesn’t get much snow and whose highest elevation is 4,400 feet. Ski off that hill and you’re more likely to land in sheep dung.

Insisting that sports bow to political correctness by assigning teams quotas for race, religion or sexuality is like saying that professional basketball goals will be worth four points if achieved by a minority in that sport – white guys, for instance – instead of the two or three points awarded to black players, who make up 81 percent of the NBA. Any plans to fix that disparity? Didn’t think so.

If someone is denied a slot on a team because of prejudice, that’s one thing. Complaining that every team isn’t a rainbow of political correctness defeats the purpose of sports, which is competition. At the Olympic level, not everyone is a winner. Not everyone gets a little plastic trophy to take home.

Sorry. “Faster, Higher, Stronger” still works better than “We win because we’re different.”

Huge Mistake: Kim Cattrall’s Unfortunate Post on Instagram to Sarah Jessica Parker (UPDATE–It’s Real)

Roger Friedman
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Huge Mistake: Kim Cattrall’s Unfortunate Post on Instagram to Sarah Jessica Parker (UPDATE–It’s Real)

SUNDAY UPDATE I really hoped Kim’s acct was hacked and that she didn’t write this awful thing to Sarah Jessica Parker. It’s unlike Kim and unwarranted against SJP. I know Kim is mourning her brother, but this doesn’t make her look very good. Did she really hate SJP that much over the years? There were always rumors of fights before making the two “Sex and the City” movies. Somehow it all got smoothed over. Yesterday I emailed Kim’s publicist and her old one at HBO and neither of them responded. That’s a very bad sign. So sorry this will be the legacy of that fun loving TV series and these otherwise lovely ladies. Maybe when Cynthia Nixon is elected governor of New York she can mediate a truce!

SATURDAY This was posted to Kim Cattrall’s Instagram account today. It’s so out of character for Kim that I’m hoping it’s a mistake, that she was hacked. Very disappointing and unkind. I know Kim is reeling from the death of her brother, but this is ungracious of her. Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis each sent condolence messages. This must be an upsetting shock today. “Sex and the City” made them all independently wealthy. There should be no public displays of discord, just gratitude.

Sad News from “Catastrophe” Star Rob Delaney: Two-and-a-Half Year Old Son Dies from Brain Tumor

Roger Friedman
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Sad News from “Catastrophe” Star Rob Delaney: Two-and-a-Half Year Old Son Dies from Brain Tumor

Actor Rob Delaney, star of the popular Amazon series “Catastrophe,” has posted this tragic news to Facebook. Condolences to his family. Just heartbreaking.

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