Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Donate
Home Blog Page 159

All Mariah Carey Wants Is to Get Back to Number 1, But Famed Holiday Song is Struggling This Year

Roger Friedman
-
0
All Mariah Carey Wants Is to Get Back to Number 1, But Famed Holiday Song is Struggling This Year

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” has been a sales onslaught for two decades. In the last few years it hit number 1 during the holidays, along with its album called “Merry Christmas.”

Carey has made Christmas into her holiday, branding it with the song written by Walter Afanasieff. It got to the point where the record was ubiquitous.

Not so this years. The song is number 7 on iTunes singles chart, and number 3 on the iTunes Holiday chart. The album is number 31.

On top: Brenda Lee’s 63 year old “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree.” And Cher’s Christmas album is number 2 on the album chart, right behind a holiday album from the Philly Specials.

Mariah’s perennial hits are struggling with just two weeks to go before the holidays are over.

What happened? Over saturation? Just too much of a good thing? Or is it possible everyone who wants the song or album has it by now?

Without “All I Want,” Carey has low album sales during the year. It’s been a decade since she actually had a hit. Maybe this turn of events will inspire her to record a record of classics, something to show off her voice while its at its peak.

Meantime, appearing on “The Voice” has sent Reba McEntire’s “Seven Minutes in Heaven” back to number 1.

Shady Dietary Supplement Company Balance of Nature Back in Biz, According to FDA: For Now

Roger Friedman
-
0
Shady Dietary Supplement Company Balance of Nature Back in Biz, According to FDA: For Now

I told you back on November 16th that the Federal Drug Administration had finally caught up with Balance of Nature.

The government put a temporary halt to the shady dietary supplement company from selling or promoting their products.

Now it seems that five days later the FDA lifted the ban, provisionally (something the FDA PR person didn’t seem to know about when I called her this morning).

In the letter sent November 21st, the FDA said:

“We wish to remind you that the terms of the injunction under which your firm is operating require that you maintain compliance with the Decree, the Act, and implementing regulations. Our approval to resume operations should not be construed as approval for any conditions that may be found in the future. Should it be determined during any future inspection or other activities that you have failed to maintain compliance, we will take the steps necessary and appropriate to ensure compliance.”

The main takeaway: avoid this company, do not buy their products.

Taylor Swift Named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year After Conquering Just About Everything

Roger Friedman
-
0
Taylor Swift Named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year After Conquering Just About Everything

Biggest tour ever. Most albums sold in a year. Concert film makes over $250 million worldwide.

Taylor Swift has conquered all fields this year, so it’s only right that Time Magazine name her Person of the Year.

Did I leave out dating a football star? And causing a stir wherever she goes. Swift also stands up for what is right, and she’s adamant about using her influence for good

Norman Lear, whose passing was just announced, would be very proud.

She says in the story below: “It feels like the breakthrough moment of my career, happening at 33. And for the first time in my life, I was mentally tough enough to take what comes with that.”

RIP Norman Lear, TV Legend, Changed the Culture, Proud Promoter of Liberal Causes, Dies at 101

Roger Friedman
-
0
RIP Norman Lear, TV Legend, Changed the Culture, Proud Promoter of Liberal Causes, Dies at 101

Norman Lear has died at 101. It turns out now matter how good you are, you can’t live forever.

Norman was a TV legend, a producer and writer who changed the culture with his shows like “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Maude,” “Good Times,” and “One Day at a Time.”

He was also a proud campaigner for the best liberal causes, a mensch who supported everything good in the world starting with the arts. He won every award possible. As a fourth act to his extraordinary life, Lear exemplified the nobility of aging.

This picture was taken five or six years ago up at the Ross House in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles. Norman and I reminisced about an early chance meeting, a couple of years earlier, when we ran into each other in front of the Shubert Theater on Broadway. It was about ten minutes before a matinee curtain, and he was waiting outside for a guest. I was concerned that a 93 year old man was by himself. He laughed heartily. He certainly wasn’t 93 in his head!

A few weeks ago I ran into a family member who told me that Norman was not exactly in decline but had slowed down considerably. What can you say for someone who’s 101 and has lived the most incredible life? God speed.

CBS should just turn over a whole night to Norman Lear this week, run one episode of each show from 8pm to 11pm.

“Thank you for the moving outpouring of love and support in honor of our wonderful husband, father, and grandfather,” Lear’s family said in a statement. “Norman lived a life of creativity, tenacity, and empathy. He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all. Knowing and loving him has been the greatest of gifts. We ask for your understanding as we mourn privately in celebration of this remarkable human being.”


photo c2023 Showbiz411 by Leah Sydney

Rachel Maddow Interview with Liz Cheney Scores Over 3 Mil Viewers, Wallops Sean Hannity

Roger Friedman
-
0
Rachel Maddow Interview with Liz Cheney Scores Over 3 Mil Viewers, Wallops Sean Hannity

Rachel Maddow is always gold for MSNBC on Monday nights.

But this past Monday, Maddow hit the motherlode in ratings when she interviewed Liz Cheney. Maddow walloped rival Sean Hannity with 3.15 million viewers vs.1.9 for the Fox News personality.

Cheney was promoting her new book, “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning,” and talking about the possibility of running for president as a third party candidate now that she’s out of the House. The book is number 1 in Amazon and totally sold out.

The Maddow madness led to the next hour when MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell handily beat Greg Gutfeld, 2 million to 1.68 million. The result was Hannity finishing 4th in the Fox lineup on Monday night.

Meantime, the highest rated show on CNN was Erin Burnett with 663,000. At 8pm, Anderson Cooper followed with 500K, a huge drop. CNN should just Cooper into Larry King, put on celebrities, make it show-bizzy, do something different than politics on a nightly basis. The hour is there for the taking.

Paul McCartney Remembers Wings Bandmate Denny Laine: “He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Paul McCartney Remembers Wings Bandmate Denny Laine: “He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player”

Denny Laine first joined Paul and Linda McCartney in 1971 for the Wings Wild Life album, then the famous bus tour around the UK. He stayed through several albums and the massive hit single, “Mull of Kintyre.”

Now Paul has posted his remembrance of Denny — who died today at age 79 00 on Instagram.

Critics TV Choice Awards Nominees Include Succession, Morning Show, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Jimmy Fallon

Roger Friedman
-
0
Critics TV Choice Awards Nominees Include Succession, Morning Show, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Jimmy Fallon

The Critics Choice Awards come January 14th on the CW Network, combined with the CC Movie Awards.

Today, “Succession” and “The Morning Show” led the pack, with plenty of nominations for “The Bear,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and so on. I’d like to see “Poker Face” and Natasha Lyonne get some action.

It’s also nice to see Jimmy Fallon nominated for Best Talk Show for the Tonight Show. Fallon is under appreciated. I’ll vote for him in this category.

TELEVISION NOMINATIONS FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

BEST DRAMA SERIES

The Crown (Netflix)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

The Last of Us (HBO | Max)

Loki (Disney+)

The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)

Succession (HBO | Max)

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (HBO | Max)

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Kieran Culkin – Succession (HBO | Max)

Tom Hiddleston – Loki (Disney+)

Timothy Olyphant – Justified: City Primeval (FX)

Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us (HBO | Max)

Ramón Rodríguez – Will Trent (ABC)

Jeremy Strong – Succession (HBO | Max)

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jennifer Aniston – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

Aunjanue Ellis – Justified: City Primeval (FX)

Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO | Max)

Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)

Sarah Snook – Succession (HBO | Max)

Reese Witherspoon – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Khalid Abdalla – The Crown (Netflix)

Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

Ron Cephas Jones – Truth Be Told (Apple TV+)

Matthew MacFadyen – Succession (HBO | Max)

Ke Huy Quan – Loki (Disney+)

Rufus Sewell – The Diplomat (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown (Netflix)

Sophia Di Martino – Loki (Disney+)

Celia Rose Gooding – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)

Karen Pittman – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

Christina Ricci – Yellowjackets (Showtime)

BEST COMEDY SERIES

Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Barry (HBO | Max)

The Bear (FX)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)

Poker Face (Peacock)

Reservation Dogs (FX)

Shrinking (Apple TV+)

What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Bill Hader – Barry (HBO | Max)

Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Kayvan Novak – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Drew Tarver – The Other Two (HBO | Max)

Jeremy Allen White – The Bear (FX)

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai – Reservation Dogs (FX)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Ayo Edebiri – The Bear (FX)

Bridget Everett – Somebody Somewhere (HBO | Max)

Devery Jacobs – Reservation Dogs (FX)

Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Phil Dunster – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Harrison Ford – Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Harvey Guillén – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

James Marsden – Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)

Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear (FX)

Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO | Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Paulina Alexis – Reservation Dogs (FX)

Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)

Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Meryl Streep – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Jessica Williams – Shrinking (Apple TV+)

BEST LIMITED SERIES

Beef (Netflix)

Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)

Fargo (FX)

Fellow Travelers (Showtime)

Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

Love & Death (HBO | Max)

A Murder at the End of the World (FX)

A Small Light (National Geographic)

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime)

Finestkind (Paramount+)

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)

No One Will Save You (Hulu)

Quiz Lady (Hulu)

Reality (HBO | Max)

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Matt Bomer – Fellow Travelers (Showtime)

Tom Holland – The Crowded Room (Apple TV+)

David Oyelowo – Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+)

Tony Shalhoub – Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)

Kiefer Sutherland – The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime)

Steven Yeun – Beef (Netflix)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Kaitlyn Dever – No One Will Save You (Hulu)

Brie Larson – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

Bel Powley – A Small Light (National Geographic)

Sydney Sweeney – Reality (HBO | Max)

Juno Temple – Fargo (FX)

Ali Wong – Beef (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Jonathan Bailey – Fellow Travelers (Showtime)

Taylor Kitsch – Painkiller (Netflix)

Jesse Plemons – Love & Death (HBO | Max)

Lewis Pullman – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

Liev Schreiber – A Small Light (National Geographic)

Justin Theroux – White House Plumbers (HBO | Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Maria Bello – Beef (Netflix)

Billie Boullet – A Small Light (National Geographic)

Willa Fitzgerald – The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)

Aja Naomi King – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

Mary McDonnell – The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)

Camila Morrone – Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES

Bargain (Paramount+)

The Glory (Netflix)

The Good Mothers (Hulu)

The Interpreter of Silence (Hulu)

Lupin (Netflix)

Mask Girl (Netflix)

Moving (Hulu)

BEST ANIMATED SERIES

Bluey (Disney+)

Bob’s Burgers (Fox)

Harley Quinn (HBO | Max)

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Netflix)

Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)

Young Love (HBO | Max)

BEST TALK SHOW

The Graham Norton Show (BBC America)

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)

The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC)

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO | Max)

Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL

Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (Netflix)

Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits (Prime Video)

John Early: Now More Than Ever (HBO | Max)

John Mulaney: Baby J (Netflix)

Trevor Noah: Where Was I (Netflix)

Wanda Sykes – I’m an Entertainer (Netflix)

RIP Denny Laine, 79, Original Member of Wings and the Moody Blues, Sang the Hit “Go Now,” Co-Wrote “Mull of Kintyre”

Roger Friedman
-
0
RIP Denny Laine, 79, Original Member of Wings and the Moody Blues, Sang the Hit “Go Now,” Co-Wrote “Mull of Kintyre”

I am sorry to echo other reports about the passing of Denny Laine.

A great singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Denny was 79. Two months ago, his wife posted a GoFundMe page for Denny, who was very ill. I believe there was a fundraising concert for him recently in LA.

Here is the link to my column from September. I did hear that Paul McCartney stepped up right way when he heard Denny was sick. Condolences to everyone. It’s ironic that yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the Wings album “Band on the Run.” Denny was a huge part of that record and all the Wings hits with Paul and Linda. Laine co-wrote “Mull of Kintyre,” oddly enough McCartney’s biggest solo hit internationally. Also, Denny sang the Moody Blues hit, “Go Now,” is one of their only straight ahead records with no pomposity. It was featured on “Wings Over America.” God bless.

Will Smith, Johnny Depp, More Stars Partied at Saudi Film Festival, Vanity Fair Sponsored It Despite Lack of Women’s Rights, Khashoggi Murder

Roger Friedman
-
0
Will Smith, Johnny Depp, More Stars Partied at Saudi Film Festival, Vanity Fair Sponsored It Despite Lack of Women’s Rights, Khashoggi Murder

Johnny Depp, Will Smith and a dozen or more female stars didn’t mind getting a free trip to Saudi Arabia in the last week.

They were flown in for the third annual Red Sea Film Festival, held in Jeddah and approved by the Saudi royal family. That includes MBS aka Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The murder in 2018 of US journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been forgotten apparently. (It’s so five years ago!)

Vanity Fair sponsored a lavish Women in Cinema gala, too, despite Saudi Arabia still not granting women most human rights (except for driving). There’s also the matter of same sex relationships and marriage being officially outlawed. The magazine’s owner, Conde Nast, has just been hit with National Labor Relations Board complaint by the News Guild concerning surveillance of employees prior to a mass lay off last week.

Smith, who is persona non grata in Hollywood after his 2022 Oscars slap, posted jolly videos from the Red Sea Film Festival. He even conducted a master class. Other stars who put aside damning international headlines about human rights in Saudi Arabia included Frieda Pinto, Joel Kinnaman, Sharon Stone, Diane Kruger, Paz Vega, Maiwenn, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Williams, Lucas Bravo, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ed Westwick, Amy Jackson, Rita Ora, as well as jury president Baz Luhrmann and his wife, costume designer Catherine Martin.

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 01: Zoe Saldana and Jury Member Freida Pinto attend the Women In Cinema Gala during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 on December 01, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)

Since the gruesome 2018 murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Turkey, Saudi Arabia has spent millions — mostly through international firm Publicis — to convince the world they are now a free and happy place. But watchdogs like Amnesty International and The New York Times would disagree. According to Amnesty, a Personal Standards Law passed in 2022, “codifies many of the informal yet widespread problematic practices inherent in the male guardianship system and entrenches a system of gender-based discrimination in most aspects of family life, including in marriage, divorce, and child custody.”

You may recall my encounter with the Red Sea folks at opening night of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The Saudis, in addition to the PR campaign, are spending like crazy underwriting other film festivals as well.

Alicia Keys Off Broadway Musical “Hell’s Kitchen” Coming to Broadway in March 2024

Roger Friedman
-
0
Alicia Keys Off Broadway Musical “Hell’s Kitchen” Coming to Broadway in March 2024

Alicia Keys becomes the latest pop star to debut a musical on Broadway.

Keys’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” currently at the Public Theater, will open on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Shubert Theater. The autobiographical show features Keys’s hits plus four new songs.

Reviewers raved about the first act at the Public but had trouble with the second act. Hopefully that situation will be remedied with the move uptown.

The “Hell’s Kitchen” transfer was pretty much a known factor from the get go. Michael Greif is the director and Kristoffer Diaz wrote the book based on Keys’s teen years turning into a pop star.

The cast at the Public included The cast at The Public Theater includes Shoshana Bean, Chad Carstarphen, Reid Clarke, Chloe Davis, Nico DeJesus, and Brandon Victor Dixon. It’s unclear who will make the transfer to Broadway.

I haven’t seen this show. I’m told some liberties are taken with Keys’s ascent to stardom. But she owes her career to Clive Davis and Peter Edge, who made her a star at J Records after Columbia Records let her go. The launch of Alicia Keys was an exciting time in the record business. I hope this is conveyed in the show. I’m sure it will be.

1...158159160...2,147Page 159 of 2,147

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com