Thursday, October 3, 2024
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Is Larry David Losing It? “SNL” Monologue Offends Deeply, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Ratings Dropping Like Rock

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Larry David– who doesn’t love him? After last night’s “Saturday Night Live” monologue, maybe a lot of people.

David– whom I adore 99% of the time– made Holocaust jokes last night during the show’s opening monologue. And then, to make matters worse, he talked about Jews being most of the recent Hollywood sexual harassers. It was just all wrong, all of it. You could feel the audience tuning out. It will be interesting to see the overnight ratings for “SNL.”

At the same time, there’s a little ratings trouble at HBO for “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” a show I — and many others– longed for with a new season.

“Curb” came in 1.5 million total viewers when it turned to Larry and his fatwa. Premieres are always high, so the next week “Curb” leveled off to 1.1 million, where it remained for three weeks.

But last Sunday, with the World Series booming away, “Curb” dropped to just 800,000 viewers.  Will it come back tonight? We’ll see. But last night’s “SNL” wasn’t a very good promo for “Curb,” I think, even for the most fervent fans.

What happened? “SNL” is not a comedy club. It’s not even HBO. Those are smaller, more defined audiences. In today’s climate of Anti Semitism and social media, David’s monologue on a major network was a mistake. The whole thing was received, even by fervent fans, like a kick to the gut. Larry could learn from Trump– don’t offend the base.

Box Office: “Lady Bird” Bests “LBJ” in Accidental Juxtaposition of Cinema and History

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Greta Gerwig’s marvelous and Oscar bound “Lady Bird” bested Ron Reiner’s “LBJ” this weekend. It’s a victory, not really, of sorts, for Lady Bird Johnson, the first lady from 1963 to 1969 and wife of President Lyndon Johnson.

Unfortunately, Gerwig’s movie is not about the former First Lady, who was famous for making America stop littering while her husband was promoting civil rights and digging us deep into the Vietnam War.

“Lady Bird” is the nickname of Gerwig’s main character, a 17 year old played by Saorise Ronan who is as endearing and charming as could be possible on film– a modern, younger Annie Hall. The movie opened in limited release and has made $375,000 in just four theaters. The Reiner movie, in 500 theaters, made less than a million dollars.

But oh, that headline is a nice one. The real Lady Bird is smiling in heaven regardless.

“Thor” made something like 9 billion dollars and added absolutely nothing to the canon of movies or cinema. But everyone involved got rich, and kids had a good time.

Mariah Carey Finally Escapes Manager Stella Bulochnikov, But Now What for Music’s Ditsy-est Diva?

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Mariah Carey has finally escaped the hold of her controlling manager, Stella Bulochnikov. Congrats to music’s ditzy-est diva. But what next for Mariah, who can never be controlled for long by anyone?

The tabs say her on again, off again boyfriend, the much younger dancer Brian Tanaka, is now in charge. But the problem is, no one is ever in charge of Mariah. Before Stella, Carey was briefly managed by her pal Randy Jackson, and then by Jermaine Dupri. Neither of them could set her on the right track.

Mariah’s career is a roller coaster unlike any other. It went completely off the tracks when her marriage to Tommy Mottola careened. Mottola then set about to undermine Carey at the time of her movie “Glitter.” She had a breakdown but bounced back with her monster hit album “The Emancipation with Mimi” in 2005, guided by LA Reid.

But then Nick Cannon happened, and twins, and so on. Mariah hasn’t had an actual hit record in a decade. A whole album–a pretty good one–“Me. I am Mariah: The Elusive Chanteuse” had a terrible title. And it stiffed upon release in 2014. The rest, as thy say, is misery including the Cannon divorce, the “romance” with billionaire James Packer, Mariah’s cancelled reality show, etc.

What has saved her completely is her 1994 Phil Spector-ish “All I Want for Christmas Is You” co-written with Walter Afanasieff.  It’s her biggest hit, re-recorded and re-released over the years, a chart hit every holiday season. It’s now even got an animated film to go with it.

But Mariah is definitely in trouble. She wasted those years with Bulochnikov, who indulged the star rather than move her career forward. In that time, Mariah’s record label savior, LA Reid, has departed the business after a scandal at Epic Records. It’s unclear now who would record her, and what they would record. She insists on making hip hop records as she turns 50. Her famous “eight octave” voice has been squandered.

So now what? Who will manage Mariah? And how will Mariah manage? This story is not over.

“Thor” Makes $46 Million in One Night Despite Disney Banning the LA Times from Screenings

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So: no one in Los Angeles cared that Disney banned the L.A. Times from critics screenings of “Thor: Ragnarok.”

With a 90+ on Rotten Tomatoes, “Thor” snared $46 million on Friday night in its national debut. Estimates are for a $110 million opening weekend. Yippee!

So what happened with the LA Times? It’s serious, actually, in a time of fake news vs. real news and censorship. The L.A. Times ran a substantial piece on the effect Disneyland is having on Anaheim, California by Daniel Miller back on September 24th. The piece was called “Is Disney Paying Its Share in Anaheim?”

Apparently, Disney– sometimes known as Mauschwitz– didn’t like the conclusions Miller drew. So when it came time for a big new Marvel movie from the studio they decided to punish the LA Times. They wouldn’t allow their critics into screenings or reporters into the premieres.

The Times explained this to their readers. Disney responded by attacking the Times over journalistic standards:

“We regularly work with news organizations around the world that we don’t always agree with, but in this instance the L.A. Times showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards,” Disney said in a statement in response to The Times’ allegations. “Despite our sharing numerous indisputable facts with the reporter, several editors, and the publisher over many months, the Times moved forward with a biased and inaccurate series, wholly driven by a political agenda–so much so that the Orange County Register referred to the report as ‘a hit piece’ with a ‘seemingly predetermined narrative.’ We’ve had a long relationship with the L.A. Times, and we hope they will adhere to balanced reporting in the future.”

Who will stand up for the LA Times journalists? Miller came to the Times from the Hollywood Reporter, a trade publication that won’t cross the studio lest they lose not only access but their big ad budget for Christmas and the awards season. So THR simply reported that this all happened without taking a stand. I don’t see anyone at Variety backing Miller up either.

So Miller hangs out there on his own. But good for him. In time, Disney will have to crawl back to the LA Times– they’re the only newspaper in that town. Meanwhile, reviews aren’t really necessary for Marvel movies. Thor’s fans would have come even if he cooked Loki in a Cuisinart.

Pop Country: Kenny Chesney’s Number 1, Monster Sales of New Album Saves Columbia Records from Chart Drought

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For several weeks or longer Columbia Records has had almost nothing on the charts. No Adele or Beyonce, no Springsteen, Streisand, etc. Harry Styles’ debut album was not a hit (335K sales total). For Columbia, only Epic Records was doing well thanks to music left behind by L.A. Reid, who was forced out of the company last spring. Not good.

But this week Kenny Chesney rode to the rescue on his Blue Chair label for Columbia. The country superstar sold 220,000 copies and finished at number 1 yesterday for his new “Live in No Shoes Nation.” And that was 219,000 copies purchased as a CD or paid for as a download.

The album could have been called “No Streaming Nation.” Chesney’s fans did not use Spotify or any other platform to express their devotion. He had about 1,000 streams. Otherwise, it was just pure sales.

For Columbia, that’s a nice return to the charts after a long drought even if it came from the Nashville division. It’s unclear what they have coming up, too. The great label has nothing listed on the hitsdailydouble report for albums coming through January. But I’m sure there are some surprises down the road.

Netflix Cuts Ties with Kevin Spacey: As I Reported First, Frank Underwood Will Be Killed Off

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I told you on Tuesday, October 31st sources said Frank Underwood would be killed off of “House of Cards.” Kevin Spacey is not coming back. Netflix has cut all ties with him.

“House of Cards” will revamp its sixth season. Robin Wright’s Clare Underwood is now president of some United States in fiction. Frank, evil beyond belief, will be killed off and they can have a great murder mystery. If it works, “HOC” might even go beyond a sixth season.

This is easier to do than you might think. Perhaps because the people at “HOC” apparently didn’t like Spacey, Underwood ended season 5 out of the White House. Clare turned to the camera and said, “Now it’s my turn.” Frank’s story was basically over.

Netflix has also dropped Spacey’s Gore Vidal movie directed by Michael Hoffman. Will anyone every pick it up? Will we ever see it? Spacey is Public Enemy Number 1 right now but other people are in that movie.  Who knows?

Also in jeopardy are two other films: Ridley Scott’s Getty film, “All the Money in the World,” scheduled for release next month, and the big screen version of the “Billionaire Boys Club,” set for next year. Spacey starts in both films. They may be his last for a long while, too. So much money is involved, and lots of other people, I hope cooler heads prevail. Just release these things.

Once these projects are resolved, then what happens to Kevin Spacey? We are in new territory here.

Jenna Elfman’s Husband, Father-in-Law, Prepare Scientology Sci Fi Movie Featuring Little Persons as “Alien Clowns”

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Yes, Scientology is a crazy thing, and it just gets crazier by the minute. Even Leah Remini won’t be able to figure this one out.

Jenna Elfman’s husband, actor Bodhi Elfman, is going to star in a Scientology feature called “Hipsters, Gangsters, Aliens and Geeks.” It’s written and directed by Bodhi’s father, Rick Elfman. Yes, they are all followers of late nut case L. Ron Hubbard. (Jenna Elfman was the star of a sitcom called “Dharma and Greg” years ago.)

What’s the movie about? Here’s the description I was read:

“A horror/sci-fi/comedy of the century & Eddy Pine is our Hero. A struggling actor on the verge of breaking out when he discovers the true meaning of his birth in which his anus holds the key to opening a portal to the next dimension.”

Did you read that? Carefully? This sounds like the possible description of a fictional movie by Kilgore Trout, Kurt Vonnegut’s invented and loony antagonist who more and more sounds like he was based on Hubbard. Kurt must be laughing in heaven. Kilgore Trout was a nut but at least he didn’t really exist.

Back to the movie: Danny Elfman is contributing the music. He’s a well known Hollywood composer married to Bridget Fonda, eleven years his junior.

Bodhi Elfman is more a name you read in association with Jenna. He’s been a minor TV actor for a long time. But now thanks to his, er, portal, he’s destined for something or other.

The film is said to be casting for a bunch of Little Persons to play alien “clowns” and cadets.

You know, Scientology is big into aliens and sci-fi. And they believe it. This is what Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, and Jenna Elfman call their “religion.” One day their space ship will come in. No word yet on whether the Elfmans’ movie will include any of the star Scientologists.

PS Previous Scientology sci fi films, like Travolta’s “Battleship Earth,” were humongous failures.

 

Oscar Buzz: Jane Goodall Jumps in Lead, Plus Clive Davis Doc Picks Up Win, Gilbert Gottfried Wears a Big Suit

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We shlepped out to Brooklyn last night on the B train and it was worth it. The 2nd annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards turned out to be a hot night, with Brett Morgen’s excellent “Jane,” about Jane Goodall, winning Best Doc and “Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives” picking up Best Music Doc.

Legendary music man Davis also presented an award and noted that he’s actually from Brooklyn as is his one of his all time artists, Barry Manilow. Later he and director Chris Perkel were happy and a tad surprised to win their category– but they deserved it.

Overall “lifetime” awards went to Joe Berlinger and Errol Morris. They each said– Berlinger especially– they hoped it was a “mid”-lifetime award.

Two old songwriting rivals also appeared at the dinner– Diane Warren, who was nominated for a song she did with Cher, and Linda Perry. for one with Pat Benatar. But neither of them won Best Song. That distinction went to “Jump,” a song performed by Cynthia Erivo from the documentary “Step.”

Critics Choice doesn’t have a musical score award, but trust me, Philip Glass is going to be nominated for his “Jane” work and may even win the Oscar. The CD is available and everyone should hear it. It’s a masterpiece. He doesn’t monkey around.

A funny side note: Morgen directed Robert Evans’ “The Kid Stays in the Picture.” Even he says that Jane Goodall was not his kind of subject and he thought there were many movies made about her already. But he learned how wrong he was. In the process, he’s made what a film that could go all the way.

Most interesting person we all met last night: Gilbert Gottfried. He’s tiny, like a bird, his size was accentuated by his wearing what seemed like a David Byrne “big suit.” He’s also very reserved, quite the opposite of his comic character. Today, a new documentary about him is being released which I can’t wait to see.

Best Documentary
Jane

Best Director
(TIE)
Evgeny Afineevsky (Cries from Syria)
Frederick Wiseman (Ex Libris: The New York Public Library)

Best First Documentary
Kedi

Best Political Documentary
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

Best Sports Documentary
Icarus

Best Music Documentary
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Best Song in a Documentary
“Jump” (Step) – written by Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson and Laura Karpman, performed by Cynthia Erivo

Best Documentary Series
The Vietnam War

Best Ongoing Documentary Series
American Masters

Most Innovative Documentary
(TIE)
Dawson City: Frozen Time
Last Men in Aleppo

 

I Told You About Kevin Spacey’s Foundation– Now the Website Has Disappeared Amid New Sex Allegations

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I did tell you several days ago about Kevin Spacey’s sketchy foundation, his not for profit 501 c 3. There are only four people on the board of directors– Kevin, his accountant, the head of the New Jersey Shakespeare Theater and the actor who played Spacey’s “House of Cards” secret service agent and lover, Nathan Darrow. Very weird.

Now the website for the Kevin Spacey Foundation has been pulled down. There’s still info about the foundation on Kevin’s personal web page. But the link to the foundation just goes to GoDaddy.

Meantime, Kevin’s talent agency, CAA, and his publicist, Staci Wolfe, have dumped him. I cry ‘foul’ on this news. You can’t tell me that Wolfe didn’t know everything that’s been going on for years. Spacey’s reputation has been an open secret in Hollywood for two decades. It’s amazing how dishonest people can be even when honesty is being embraced.

And who’s next? The list is long. And it’s already been raked over in the supermarket tabloids for years.

 

Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown Getting Yet Another TV Movie with BET with “Bobby Brown Story”

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Will it be a comedy or a tragedy?

Now BET is going to make another movie out of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. It’s called “The Bobby Brown Story.” It’s not about Millie Bobby Brown, star of “Stranger Things.” Or Bobbi Brown cosmetics. It’s about the life of the drug taking, much arrested often deadbeat dad and singer, former husband of Whitney Houston. That Bobby Brown.

The network is casting for yet another Whitney Houston. I guess she won’t be singing since they’ll never be able to license Houston’s music. But here it comes whether we like it or not.

Woody McClain, who played Bobby in BET’s New Edition mini-series, is back to the play the hell raising singer.

Among the characters in this story: a young Janet Jackson, who apparently Bobby had a desire for. Luckily, she escaped his grasp.

A whole movie– two nights on TV– devoted to Bobby Brown. And you could be taking nighttime typing classes. It’s, uh, your prerogative.