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Elon Musk Tells Shocked Media Crowd That He Won’t Be Blackmailed by Advertisers: “Go f*ck yourself” (Watch Video)

Roger Friedman
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Elon Musk Tells Shocked Media Crowd That He Won’t Be Blackmailed by Advertisers: “Go f*ck yourself” (Watch Video)

Elon Musk has already shocked us over and over.

But now watch him tell Aaron Ross Sorkin that he won’t be blackmailed by advertisers dumping him over antisemitic tweets and Neo Nazi posts.

What does he tell them, Sorkin asked? “Go f*ck yourself.” The room at the New York Times Media Summit is stunned into silence. So Musk says it again, and refers to it again. He says “the world” will hold advertisers responsible for killing Twitter X.

He also references “Bob” as in Iger, CEO of Disney.

Shocking but Predictable: “The Golden Bachelor” Exposed as a Liar and Fraud in Matters of Romance and Career

Roger Friedman
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Shocking but Predictable: “The Golden Bachelor” Exposed as a Liar and Fraud in Matters of Romance and Career

I am thrilled to report that two old friends of mine, Suzanne O’Malley and Barbara Lippert, have published a great piece of reporting in The Hollywood Reporter.

They’ve absolutely startled the TV world by revealing that “The Golden Bachelor” is a fraud. Are we surprised? That whole show franchise is the bottom of the barrel.

O’Malley and Lippert are far from senior citizens. But they are real reporters who come from the heyday of New York Magazine and other print media in the 80s and 90s. Barbara wrote the groundbreaking weekly advertising column in New York. She’s been a featured columnist at Ad Age for the last 7 years (she was also at Ad Age for 24 years.) Suzanne was not only a top reporter but she also contributed scripts to “Law & Order.”

The reveal is that 72 year old Gerry Turner, a widower who said he hadn’t dated in 45 years, has been leaving out a lot of facts. One was that he had a three year relationship with a woman the reporters are calling Carolyn. She was 14 years his junior. They started dating a month after his beloved wife died.

There’s plenty more in the O’Malley-Lippert piece about Turner’s love life. They also take a deep dive into his manipulated resume. This is what our old fashioned New York magazines pieces used to be like. Kudos on good work. They should get the final roses tomorrow night!

You can read the piece here.

 

“SNL” Ups their Game with Adam Driver, Kate McKinnon, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish for December

Roger Friedman
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“SNL” Ups their Game with Adam Driver, Kate McKinnon, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish for December

“Saturday Night Live” is upping the ante for December.

They just announced two new shows for next month. Hosts will be Adam Driver and then “SNL” album Kate McKinnon (love this).

Musical guests are Olivia Rodrigo and then Billie Eilish (I assume with Finneas).

This Saturday brings Emma Stone and Noah Kahan.

What’s bringing in these people? Oscars, Grammys, awards attention!

You can’t beat these shows. They are designed to bring in ratings. Also, they should be incredibly entertaining.

Model Gigi Hadid Tries to Apologize (Sorta) for Pro-Palestinian Posts Furthering Antisemitism

Roger Friedman
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Model Gigi Hadid Tries to Apologize (Sorta) for Pro-Palestinian Posts Furthering Antisemitism

I’ve been writing about model Gigi Hadid’s pro-Palestinian, antisemitic posts on her social media pages. Hadid and her family have Palestinian blood, but they’ve equated rallying for their people by attacking Israel. I think they — she and her sister, Bella — don’t understand that these posts are interpreted by their combined mammoth 140 million Instagram followers to respond with hate, not justice.

Now Hadid has created a new post to explain the prior ones and to show sympathy for the Jewish hostages. It’s a kinda-sorta apology, like saying “I’m sorry…but…”

She is clearly being told to do this after I’ve connected her posts to “Maestro,” the movie from her alleged boyfriend, Bradley Cooper, about the famously pro-Israel, pro-Zionist late composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein would be furious to be associated with anything like Hadid’s posts.

The third paragraph is the most important here.

Let’s hope she means it, and this isn’t just a sop to protect a movie.

That would be too bad, because “Maestro” is excellent.

Fantasia Says Her Life Was in “Shambles” When She Did “The Color Purple” on Broadway — But Things Have Changed

Roger Friedman
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Fantasia Says Her Life Was in “Shambles” When She Did “The Color Purple” on Broadway — But Things Have Changed

Fantasia Barrino. She won “American Idol” season 3. She was 19 years old, it was 2004, and she knew nothing about showbiz.

Tonight I saw her in the musical movie adaptation of “The Color Purple,” coming from Warner Bros. on Christmas Day. You may recall Jennifer Hudson, who finished in 7th place in Fantasia’s season, went on to win an Oscar.

Fantasia went on to a rocky recording career. Hers was not yet a success story. She told an ecstatic audience last night at the Robin Williams SAG Theater in Manhattan that by the time she took the role of Celie in 2007 as a replacement in the  original Broadway production of “The Color Purple,” her life was in “shambles.”

She also survived an overdose (after appearing on Broadway) and overcame a bad marriage and constant family strife.

How things have changed! Prodded by Broadway producer Scott Sanders, Fantasia agreed to play Celie again in this new movie version. When he first asked her, she said she responded with “no way.”

But then Scott and director Blitz Balawule explained that this version would show Celie’s journey via her imagination. “We weren’t able to do that on Broadway. That’s when I said Yes.”

The result is that Fantasia could very well be a nominee for Best Actress this year. Her formidable competition would include Emma Stone, Carey Mulligan, Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and so on. But Fantasia, I feel, will surprise everyone. “The Color Purple” is joyous and moving, a satisfying emotional ride that departs from Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film in very positive ways.

“The Color Purple” could break the logjam in Oscar prognosticators’ calculations between “Oppenheimer” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.” For one thing, it’s just two hours long. For another, it causes a lump in the throat for the final 15 minutes. Stranger things have happened!

Along with Fantasia and director Bazwule the whole main cast was in attendance last night including Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and Corey Hawkins. You’ll be hearing from and about them a lot in the coming month. I haven’t seen a cast connect with an audience this way since “CODA.” And you know how that turned out.

PS And everyone sang Happy Birthday to Colman Domingo– twice (once the standard song, then the Stevie Wonder one). It’s Domingo’s year with the lead in “Rustin” and supporting here. Two Oscar noms? Indeed!

Biggest takeaway: Taraji sings! She’s amazing. Wait til you hear her. The movie is loaded with incredible voices.

Chart Beat: Justin Timberlake Britney Scandal Doesn’t Stop Jung Kook Duet from Going Top 3

Roger Friedman
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Chart Beat: Justin Timberlake Britney Scandal Doesn’t Stop Jung Kook Duet from Going Top 3

Wow. For a couple of weeks, Justin Timberlake was really getting hit in the press and social media.

This was all the result of Britney Spears throwing him under the bus and then backing over him in her book. She claimed she had an abortion at 17 while dating him, and made him seem like the meanest 18 year old boy ever who didn’t want to be a teen parent.

Timberlake was under fire for about three weeks relentlessly. Tabloid stories had him running off to Mexico with his family to get out of Dodge. (It was probably a planned vacation.)

On top of that, JT’s NSync reunion song from the new “Trolls” movie was kind of a flop.

But never count out Timberlake. He’s back in the top 3 with a song called “3D.” It’s a remix of a song by BTS member Jung Kook. On Jung’s album, the song is recorded with Jack Harlow. But that version, which came out in September, didn’t click for some reason. And that’s weird because Harlow has the number 1 song on his own right now.

Anyway, now “3D” with Jung and JT is number 3, and has amassed 2.1 million streams since Friday. The Britney complain-a-thon is over. The new “3D” doesn’t appear on Kook’s hit album, called “Golden.” Maybe Timberlake can use it as a cornerstone for his new album. The whole Nsync-is-back stuff may have fizzled a bit.

Exclusive: Why “Killers of the Flower Moon” Director Martin Scorsese Missed the Gotham Awards — He Got an Acting Gig

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Why “Killers of the Flower Moon” Director Martin Scorsese Missed the Gotham Awards — He Got an Acting Gig

So where was Martin Scorsese last night? I asked around.

One friend said, “Taking a nap, I hope!”

No kidding. Scorsese filled in for his striking actors doing all the promotional stuff for “Killers of the Flower Moon.” He did every appearance and interview. Scorsese is 81 but that didn’t stop him. He was unflagging.

Last weekend he was supposed to appear at the Marrakesh Film Festival. He cancelled at the last minute, which got tongues wagging.

Last night, he got out of the Gotham Awards even though there was a tribute to him and the film, His bff Robert De Niro and actress Lily Gladstone filled in for him.

So what’s up? It turns out Scorsese is “exhausted” because he’s been in Italy filming a scene for two for artist-director Julian Schnabel in his new film, “In the Hands of Dante.” The film stars Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, Al Pacino, Oscar Isaac, and Gal Gadot among others. It’s based on a book by Nick Tosches.

Scorsese was already serving as Executive Producer for Schnabel, who’s made great films like “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “At Eternity’s Gate.” But the movie involves the mob underworld, and who better to play such a part for the famed artist than the man who made “Goodfellas” and “The Irishman”?

It’s a good time for Scorsese to take a break before the real Oscar campaigning begins. “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a masterpiece, and he should soon be reaping the rewards. And next year, we’ll get to see him on screen. (Although as you may know he makes a cameo in “Killers.”)

Gotham Awards: “Past Lives” is Unlikely Choice for Best Feature, Best Performance Goes to Lily Gladstone

Roger Friedman
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Gotham Awards: “Past Lives” is Unlikely Choice for Best Feature, Best Performance Goes to Lily Gladstone

Tonight’s Gotham Awards almost went off without a hitch. (See De Niro story)

Overall, the night was a hit, with Jeff Sharp and co. upping their game by turning the night into a black tie affair. To supplement the indie films that were nominated, the Gothams offered tribute awards to a bunch of big ticket movies who brought their star studded casts. They included “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Barbie,” “Rustin,” etc.

The new idea worked so that indie filmmakers got more attention by being mixed in with big names.

Lots of people met each other for the first time, too. One of the best moments was when Bradley Cooper and Colman Domingo got a chance to say hello to each other. They may be the top choices for Best Actor at the Oscars in March.

A big surprise for the night was Celine Song’s “Past Lives” getting Best Feature after Song lost both Best Director and Screenplay. Plus Best Performance went to Lily Gladstone, not for “Killers of the Flower Moon” but for a small film called “The Unknown Country.” I think this shows how much good will Gladstone has — watch for the Oscars for “Killers.”

I got to meet a lot of cool people including Da’Vine Randolph and Danielle Brooks, each of whom will be in the Oscar mix. Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector were best looking couple of the night, and they were each presenters.

Yes, the Gothams were used this year as a marketing tool for Oscar movies, but that was just fine. When Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman presented the final award, Best Feature, it lent glamour to the proceedings. (Imagine that they are now our elders, our vets! They’re too young!

Moore and Portman’s co-star in “May December,” Charles Melton, was the surprise winner in Supporting Performance. (The acting awards are gender free, which most people feel is a big mistake. But that’s for another time.) Melton had the women swooning in his shirt free outfit. We joked that with this win he could now afford a shirt. (He didn’t laugh as much as I thought he would, but he’s a very nice, earnest guy– so far!)

Other stars in the mix: Penelope Cruz, who inconceivably lost Best Supporting (because it was gender free), looked gorgeous, would have won Best Supporting Actress for “Ferrari” and will be Oscar nominated. And Willem Dafoe, sans “Poor Things” scars, back to normal and thankful everyone’s enjoying that movie — which will open soon, plus “American Fiction” star Jeffrey Wright, and “Rustin” veteran actor Glynn Turman.

Leonardo DiCaprio was in the house, but he was more like a cypher. “Killers” director Martin Scorsese was a no show, but I know why– next item.

The 33rd Annual Gotham Award recipients are:

Best Feature
Past Lives
Directed by Celine Song

Best Documentary Feature
Four Daughters
Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania

Best International Feature
Anatomy of a Fall
Directed by Justine Triet

Outstanding Lead Performance
Lily Gladstone in The Unknown Country

Outstanding Supporting Performance
Charles Melton in May December

Breakthrough Director Award
A.V. Rockwell for A Thousand and One

Best Screenplay
Justine Triet and Arthur Harari for Anatomy of a Fall

Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes)
A Small Light
Created by Tony Phelan and Joan Rater

National Geographic

The Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes) jury included: DeMane Davis, Frankie Faison, Sanaa Hamri, Haley Lu Richardson & Paul Thureen

For Breakthrough Series (Under 40 Minutes)
Beef
Created by Lee Sung Jin

For Outstanding Performance in a New Series
Ali Wong in Beef

Gotham Awards: Robert De Niro Snaps at Apple Studios for Cutting Trump, John Wayne Out of Speech: “How dare they!” (Listen)

Roger Friedman
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Gotham Awards: Robert De Niro Snaps at Apple Studios for Cutting Trump, John Wayne Out of Speech: “How dare they!” (Listen)

Robert De Niro is very unhappy with Apple Studios.

Reading his speech honoring Martin Scorsese and Killers of the Flower Moon at tonight’s Gotham Awards. De Niro became momentarily confused by the Teleprompter. Then he realized his words including a damnation of Donald Trump had been severely edited.

De Niro proceeded to read aloud what he intended to say. He went on thank various people but when he got to Apple he immediately disowned them.

A fervent critic of Trump. De Niro suffers no fools. It’s hard to imagine how this will play out with Apple on Tuesday.

How it began: De Niro reading from the Teleprompter suddenly stopped and shuffled papers.

He said, “I’m going to go back. I’m sorry. Okay, there was a mistake in this. I’ll keep going. Just keep scrolling.”

“I just want to say one thing,” he said, getting the papers in order (this took just nano seconds but the whole room fell silkent. “The beginning of my speech was edited, cut out, and I didn’t know about it. And I want to read it. History isn’t history anymore. Truth is not truth. Even facts are being replaced by alternative facts, and driven by conspiracy theories and ugliness.”

Now he had the attention of the room completely.

He continued: “In Florida, young students are taught that slaves developed skills that could be applied for their personal benefit. The entertainment industry isn’t immune to this festering disease. The Duke, John Wayne, famously said of Native Americans, ‘I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.’”

The John Wayne line stopped the show. I think even the waiters looked up.

“Lying has become just another tool in the charlatan’s arsenal. The former President lied to us more than 30,000 times during his four years in office. And he’s keeping up the pace in his current campaign of retribution. But with all his lies, he can’t hide his soul. He attacks the weak, destroys the gifts of nature and shows disrespect, for example, by using ‘Pocahontas’ as a slur. Filmmakers, on the other hand, strive — this is where I came in and I saw that they edited all that,” he said.

Again, not a word in the room. De Niro went in for the wrap up but no one expected this: “So I’m going to say these things but to Apple and thank them all that…Gotham, blah blah blah, but I don’t feel like thanking them at all for what they did. How dare they do that, actually. But now I will go to: Accepting the award for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’…”

It may be the most famous moment from any Gotham Awards. I would not want to be Apple executives this morning.

The Kinks Reunite: After Years of Feuding, Ray and Dave Davies Look Happy Together at Football Game

Roger Friedman
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The Kinks Reunite: After Years of Feuding, Ray and Dave Davies Look Happy Together at Football Game

The Kinks are finally at peace.

Brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies have famously feuded on and off for 50 years. Eventually, their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group imploded and they went their separate ways. They made solo albums, wrote books and attacked each other in print.

So it’s very reassuring to see them post a photo looking like loving bro’s. It’s about time. We don’t need a new album but maybe a big Kinks farewell concert. Their many hits include “You Really Got Me,” “Sunny Afternoon,” “Destroyer,” “Lola,” “All Day and All of the Night,” and many, many more.

What brought them together? Arsenal Football, of course!

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