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Neil Sedaka Turns 85: It’s Time to Induct Him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Roger Friedman
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Neil Sedaka Turns 85: It’s Time to Induct Him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Neil Sedaka turned 85 yesterday. I’m sorry I missed the celebration but I was traveling back from the Oscars.

Happy Birthday, Neil. It’s time the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted you. If nothing else, you should be in as an Early Influencer.

Neil had seminal early 60s hits with songs like “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Oh Carol,” and “Calendar Girl.” Dayenu! That would have been enough. But then…

In 1974, Elton John revived Neil’s career big time. Sedaka had monster hits with “Bad Blood,” “Laughter in the Rain,” and “Solitaire.” Not only that, he wrote the massive Captain and Tenille hit, “Love Will Keep Us Together.”

Remember when Toni Tennille exclaimed “Sedaka’s back” at the end of that record? Well, he was. His song, “The Hungry Years,” tells the whole story.

Sedaka’s absence from the Rock Hall is a glaring omission. So let’s do it, already, folks!


Jennifer Lopez Album Stalled with No Sales, Singer Will End Summer Tour Early, 7 Cancelled Shows

Roger Friedman
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Jennifer Lopez Album Stalled with No Sales, Singer Will End Summer Tour Early, 7 Cancelled Shows

Things are not going well for Jennifer Lopez’s latest project.

Her album, “This is Me…Now,” is pretty much dead. The album has sold around 18,000 downloads and CDs. Another 12,000 copies can be counted from streaming.

The result of the album’s failure is that Lopez’s summer tour ticket sales are not popping. Seven dates in August have been cut for lack of interest. The tour will end on August 17th. Other dates may be affected since tickets aren’t selling well anywhere.

Monday morning quarterbacking is no consolation for the artist. But if Lopez had great opening acts and a couple of hits from the album, she would have done better. But hubris is a killer disease. The big issue is no radio play, and no club play. Lopez needs some clever remixes pronto, otherwise– as she’s indicated — this will be her last album.

One suggestion: get Marc Anthony to do a remix of one of those songs with her. It’s not like he’s hot right now, but the reunion aspect could be magic.

“Ghostbusters” Reveal: Dan Aykroyd Says You Can Make Contact with the Dead Using a Good “Trans Channel Medium”

Roger Friedman
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It doesn’t come as a total surprise, but Dan Aykroyd is “out there.”

On CBS Mornings today, Dan — with the cast of the latest “Ghostbusters” — reveals his adamant beliefs in all kinds of out there stuff. (He would be a great guest on George Noory’s over night radio show.)

At about 8 minutes into the interview, Aykroyd explains his family history with “mediumship, trans-channeling, and all that.” Aykroyd says: “If you had to ask what my religion would be, it’s spiritualism. I believe not only in the survival of the soul and the spirit energy after death, but survival of the consciousness.”

Aykroyd says he believes you can identify “someone on the other side” with a “good transchannel medium” and cites John Edwards — not the former US senator — as an expert. Gayle King does not ask him, then, seriously, if he’s been in touch with his late friend, John Belushi.

“Ghostbusters Frozen Empire” — the 40th anniversary edition — opens a week from tonight. But Sony seems a little scared of it. The actual smallish red carpet premiere is tonight followed by a party for just 85 people. The critics screening isn’t until next Tuesday, and reviews are being held until the last minute. The movie is not directed by Jason Reitman, son of the late Ivan, but by Brit Gil Kenan, who has a sparse resume.

PS There’s also a rumor that a major character dies in this chapter. But, going by Aykroyd, that wouldn’t be the end of their character necessarily.

Exclusive: Kristen Wiig Targets “SNL” Target Character, Peg, in New Commercials for Chain

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Kristen Wiig Targets “SNL” Target Character, Peg, in New Commercials for Chain

I don’t know why this took so long but…

Sources from the west coast tell me EXCLUSIVELY that the great Kristen Wiig has been filming commercials for Target.

Wiig is playing Peg, the Target cashier character she memorably created for “Saturday Night Live.” Only this time, she’ll sort of be Peg for real, plugging products in a comic way.

Wiig and a crew apparently took over a Target store recently to do an overnight shoot. But someone spotted them. What a hoot this could be! I might even go into Target just because of her.

Great idea from whatever ad agency is responsible. And I am waiting for a Kristen Wiig series! Or at least another comedy film, soon.

“SNL” Sets Next Three Shows: Maybe Skip March 30th with Ramy Youssef and Travis Scott

Roger Friedman
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“SNL” Sets Next Three Shows: Maybe Skip March 30th with Ramy Youssef and Travis Scott

“Saturday Night Live” has set its next three shows. April 6th brings Kristen Wiig and Raye. April 13th is Ryan Gosling and Chris Stapleton.

But the most upcoming show, I will skip.

For March 30th, they’ve got Ramy Youssef hosting, and Travis Scott as musical guest.

Two years ago, Scott’s Astroworld Festival left 10 people dead and 25 injured. Scott settled massive lawsuits with all the people involved. He’s since been rewarded with fame and money. I’m sure the families of the victims will not be watching, either.

Youssef is starring in “Poor Things.” He would have been an appealing host until he opened his yap on the Oscars red carpet Sunday. He wore a pin for a ceasefire in the Mid East, advocated for a ceasefire, and spoke against Israel. He said nothing about the hostages or the disgusting violent attack on Israel last October 7th.

Here’s Youssef’s video. Turn off “SNL” on the 30th if you disagree with this ridiculous stand.

@varietymagazine

Ramy Youssef wears an Artists for Ceasefire pin to the Oscars: “We’re calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We’re calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine.”

♬ original sound – Variety – Variety

Beyonce Will Give New Justin Timberlake Album Wide Berth, Releasing “Act II: Cowboy Carter” March 29th

Roger Friedman
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Beyonce Will Give New Justin Timberlake Album Wide Berth, Releasing “Act II: Cowboy Carter” March 29th

Beyonce is giving Justin Timberlake two weeks to top the charts before she drops her country album. JT drops his “Everything I Ever Wanted” tomorrow night at midnight.

Beyonce’s “Act II: Cowboy Carter” is coming on March 29th. Advance orders are being taken for the album in lots of iterations, a la Taylor Swift. The album will feature her hits, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and “16 Carriages.”

Dolly Parton has said in an interview that she thinks Beyonce has recorded her great classic, “Jolene.” We can only wonder what other surprises are coming as Beyonce throws her lasso.

“Act II” will get its own three week window before Taylor Swift drops “The Tortured Poets Department” on April 19th.

And not going anywhere so fast: Ariana Grande’s current number 1 hit, “Eternal Sunshine.” And down the line we’ll see Billie Eilish’s new album, which she says is completed.
Plus Kacey Musgraves has a new release this Friday.

Any men releasing hit albums besides Timberlake? Unclear. Male pop stars are not in fashion right now. They may not know what to write about without getting cancelled. Someone has to write a song called “I’m Asking for Consent.” For example: where is Bruno Mars? Why doesn’t Charlie Puth release albums regularly? Why can’t the Jonas Brothers sell records?

Mysteries all.

Ratings: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Having Difficult Final Run, Ties Season Low

Roger Friedman
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Ratings: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Having Difficult Final Run, Ties Season Low

HBO is having trouble with the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Sunday night’s episode dropped 31.1% from the prior week. The episode tied the season low — the second episode — with just 257,000 viewers.

That’s down from 373,000 the week before — that was right after actor Richard Lewis died. The audience interest was up. This week also suffered from being up against the Oscars. They would certainly overlap in audience.

This week, Lori Loughlin was the guest star. But “Curb” does no previews, so no one knew the actress who went to jail in the college scandal was going to be on screen.

There are just four more episodes til the end. After that, HBO will depend on the return of “Hacks” in their comedy lineup to get some ratings. Let’s hope it’s as good as its own previous seasons!

Don Lemon Show Coming on Monday, But Not on Twitter–Elon Musk Pulled the Plug (Video, Statement)

Roger Friedman
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Don Lemon Show Coming on Monday, But Not on Twitter–Elon Musk Pulled the Plug (Video, Statement)

So — Don Lemon’s streaming show will launch on Monday on all platforms except X Twitter.

Apparently, the first interview Lemon taped — with Elon Musk — didn’t go so well.

Musk disliked it so much he cancelled his deal with Lemon.

Of course, Lemon doesn’t care. He was just awarded $24 million in a settlement with CNN. He’s got You Tube and Apple streaming his show. He’s also going to post clips from it on Twitter.

But Musk, the advocate of free speech, didn’t want uncensored ideas on his platform.

We are not surprised. Are you?

Actress Olivia Munn Reveals Double Mastectomy After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Roger Friedman
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Actress Olivia Munn Reveals Double Mastectomy After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Olivia Munn looked great over Oscars weekend. She and partner John Mulaney wowed the crowd at the Armani celebration for Martin Scorsese. She did it again at the Oscars.

But it turns out Munn was recovering from a double mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis. Her statement is below. Speedy recovery!

Exclusive: Steven Spielberg Says “Ready Player Two” Coming But He Will Produce, Not Direct

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Steven Spielberg Says “Ready Player Two” Coming But He Will Produce, Not Direct

Gosh!

I included this news in an Oscar report but it’s broken free and drawing retweets by the bulk.

Exclusively, the great Steven Spielberg told me that “Ready Player Two,” the sequel to his huge hit from a couple of years ago, will be coming.

Only Spielberg will produce, not direct. He didn’t give me a timetable.

“Ready Player One” — released six years ago — made money hand over fist. Total worldwide box office was $579,055,653. US domestic was $137 million.

Zak Penn wrote the clever screenplay. I wondered all this time what had happened to the inevitable sequel, so it’s good news that “Ready Player Two” is simmering out there and maybe we’ll see it in the next couple of years.

Spielberg, meantime, is exploring his options for new films with a lot of choices including “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara,” which has been bantered about for years. He also has a remake of “Bullitt” with Bradley Cooper that’s been on deck for some time. Knowing Spielberg, he’ll make two at a time. He’s famous for that!

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