Saturday, September 28, 2024
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Broadway Review: The Shark Has Big Teeth, Dear in Comedy Satire of “Jaws” That Devours Spielberg’s First Big Hit

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“The Shark is Broken” is funny but is the play that satirizes the making of “Jaws”? The answer is yes and no.

Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon’s often hilarious comedy, “The Shark is Broken,” is the saga of Bruce the Shark not working while the main trio of “Jaws” actors sits around for 9 weeks in the water off of Martha’s Vineyard. We get three determined and spot on players, too — Shaw, son of the actor Robert, playing his father; Colin Donnell as a preening Roy Scheider, and Alex Brightman as a self-absorbed Richard Dreyfuss who’s just between “Duddy Kravitz” and “Close Encounters.”

Shaw has been working on this a long time. His father was a distinguished and anguished actor who died from a massive heart attack at age 51 in 1978 when Ian just nine years old. Robert Shaw was already a big deal from “The Sting” (1973) and “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” when “Jaws” was released in 1975. Robert Shaw left a legacy for his sons who were never old enough to really know their father.

Robert Shaw was a talented writer and theater actor, as well. You can tell Ian, now two years older than his father lived, has inherited these skills. In “The Shark is Broken” we’re watching him not only send up “Jaws” — a movie he undoubtedly could act out himself — but work out his life. The laughs — and there are many — are alternated with Ian’s attempts to recapture the highlight period of his dad’s career.

“The Shark is Broken” gets a lot of it laughs from being able to milk jokes that are set ups from the perspective of 1974, when they shot the film, til today. “Do you think anyone will be talking about this movie in 50 years?” “I suspect movies in the future will just be sequels or remakes or remakes of sequels” declares the the ’74 Shaw. There are also jokes about Nixon and the future of the country, etc. They get a big response.

Alex Brightman makes for a devastating Dreyfuss, who is easily and lovingly lampooned. Donnell – who strips down to a Speedo — captures Scheider’s serious no- nonsense side. Off stage we hear the voice of the very young Steven Spielberg trying to organize all these ego’s and the shark and crew.

Despite a late summer opening, the stars turned out last night for the opening: Christian Slater, Rachel Zegler (herself a Spielberg graduate), Marina Squerciati (from “Chicago PD”), Andrew Rannells, Nikki M. James, and a lot of actors enjoying theater and hoping for a quick end to the strikes!

By all means, go see “The Shark is Broken” for the laughs, which are many, and the really vivid background video screen of the rippling ocean and billowing sails of boats. Sharks are back, you know!

Trump Waves White Flag, Tones Down Attacks on Judge, Prosecutor On Day Before Crucial Protective Order Hearing

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Donald Trump has surrendered – for the moment.

Trump is waving a white flag today on his Truth Social. His two attack posts are toothless complaints about Joe Biden. Nothingburgers, really.

Facing a major hearing tomorrow on the DOJ’s request for a protective order, Trump is no longer savagely messing with Judge Tanya Chutkan, special prosecutor Jack Smith, or even the Department of Justice. His lawyers must have finally interceded and taken away his posting rights.

How long will this silence last? Will he ever be held in contempt of the court? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.

Here are today’s rather sad posts:

Box Office: “Barbie” Toys with Crossing $500 Mil US on Friday Even with Very Slight Slowdown

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Look, the “Barbie” box office has to slow down eventually. Last night you could see the beginnings of it with a daily gross of $7.35 million.

But that was slight. Tomorrow, Friday. Warner Bros’s cash cow will cross the $500 million mark in the US. It’s well over $1 billion worldwide. The juggernaut will continue through Labor Day weekend at least.

Hasn’t everyone already seen it? Twice? But this like “Top Gun Maverick” or “Spider Man No Way Home” or “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Once the pinball is stuck bouncing around in the top of the game, the bell just keeps ringing!

Ka ching! Ka ching! Ka ching!

PS Barbra Streisand should consider changing the name of her coming book to “Barbie.” Guaranteed best seller!

Taylor Swift Dropping Her Biggest Re-recorded Album Yet, “1989,” In October in 4 Different Versions

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Taylor Swift has been on tour most of this year, selling out stadiums like crazy.

Still, she had time to finish the re-recorded version of her best selling “1989” album. It’s dropping on October 27th in four collectible versions.

This means its debut should be as big as “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” which debuted a few weeks ago with over 700,000 copies sold– and now closing in one 1 million. Taylor’s fans buy all the versions available at once when she releases music. “1989” will be no exception.

Pre-ordering has already begun, with a clever marketing gimmick: the versions are “only available” from now through this weekend, or “until supplies last.” Supplies won’t last long, trust me.

It’s been Taylor’s year! So far this year, Taylor has sold 9 million records of some kind!

Emmy Awards Set Jan 15 for Show, Joining Critics Choice for Blow Out Hollywood Weekend Deals Death Blow to Golden Globes

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The Emmy Awards will happen, after all.

But not until Monday, January 15th, 2024. That’s the day after the Critics Choice Awards on January 14th, making a blow out Hollywood weekend.

Moving the Emmys to that weekend also deals a death blow to the Golden Globes, which still don’t have a broadcast partner anyway. The Globes took the Sunday one week earlier– January 7th. But now if they find a partner, the Globes will be silo’d away from this huge awards fest coming the next week.

Of course, all of this is moot if the strikes aren’t over. But reasonable people and minds must prevail so that the strikes will be long in the past by then.

As for the Globes, since they were sold to Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Partners, there are more questions than answers. What happened to the Hollywood Foreign Press? Who would vote on the Golden Globes, and how? They might be smart to delay until February now since August is quickly disappearing. The big question is how this will affect travel for the HFPA members. Will they be spending lavishly on travel to film festivals?

Anyway, look for January 15th weekend to be a big party in Hollywood!

Review: Only In-Jokes in the Building as Steve Martin & Crew Let Meryl Streep Steal Season 3 of “Only Murders in the Building”

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I can’t be objective: I love “Only Murders in the Building.” I’ve looked forward to Season 3 and so far I’m not disappointed. (I have a lot of episodes on the press site, but I’m trying to watch the show in real time.)

Hulu dropped the first two episodes of Season 3 last night, and, of course, they are a lot of fun. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are back sniffing for clues in the murder of Paul Rudd’s Broadway actor, a flash forward that was offered at the end of Season 2.

Now Short’s Oliver Putnam has the chance to direct a Broadway play, a fake chestnut called “Death Rattle” (like “Death Trap”). Rudd is the star, Ben, whose real career is making Bruce Willis-type TV shows and movies. Martin’s Charles is cast in the play. and as we all know Charles had one big hit TV series long ago, which has kept him alive.

Episode 1 goes back to tell the story of Ben’s murder,e which doesn’t seem to fit the show’s premise– only murders in the building. So Ben dies twice, once on stage, and once in Amy Schumer’s apartment he’s subletting in the Arconia. Rudd continues to appear even though he’s dead, as Gomez’s Mabel imagines conversations with him.

The big twist this season: the addition of Meryl Streep, The Greatest Actress in the World, as a terrible actress who Oliver casts in the play. Only she’s not so bad. Streep has an audition speech that is pure Oscar, she’s mesmerizing. She’s also game to send herself up. At the first table read of “Death Rattle,” Streep — who is known for playing Polish, French, German, British, Italian, Australian, etc — tries out different inappropriate accents for her character. It’s hilarious. She also gets to sing, and dammit, you know she’s good!

There’s another little Easter egg in Episode 1, and believe it not, I have a slight connection to it. Charles — er, Martin — is very relieved when he thinks “Death Rattle” will close early. He says, a couple of times, he doesn’t think he’s up to the task of getting through 8 performances a week.

This sounded familiar to yours treuly. Back in 1989, I edited a monthly magazine called Fame. We were going to feature Steve Martin on the cover. I sent the legendary biographer Patricia Bosworth to interview him for the profile. They had lunch at fancy pants Sant Ambroeus on Madison Avenue. They had a great time and Patti turned in a terrific piece.

All was groovy until the fact checker checked Martin’s quotes with him. The gifted actor and comedian bristled when he heard that he’d complained about appearing at Lincoln Center Theatre the prior year in Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” with Robin Williams. Mike Nichols directed the 25 performances, and reviews had not been kind. Now, in retrospect, Martin told Bosworth that Broadway’s 8 shows a week schedule was too brutal for him, or anyone. The gist of his comments were, “How can be expected to do that?” He thought it was barbaric!

Martin insisted he never said it, and wanted the quote stricken. We panicked at the idea of removing it. But Patti had the tapes, and the transcripts. He certainly did say it, and the quotes went into the story. Thirty two years later, Martin — who went on to write and appear in the terrific Broadway musical, “Bright Star” — obviously remembered this and used it as fodder for Charles. I nearly fell off my chair as he declared the Broadway schedule for “Death Rattle” too severe!

“Only Murders” will go on to figure out who killed Ben. Of course, I’m sure it’s Streep’s Loretta. But that would be a red herring, and too easy. Much more about Ben is going to come out. They’ve got the very adept Ashley Park in there, from “Emily in Paris” and “Mean Girls” on Broadway. She also seems like a good suspect. And there’s also Ben’s assistant, played by Jeremy Shamos. And so on.

So buckle up. I can’t wait for next Tuesday!

Watch James McCartney, Paul’s Son, Play an Acoustic “Gimme Shelter” in Beatles’ Old Record Factory (Video)

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This is a treat. James McCartney, who flies below the radar, visited the Beatles’ old record factory recently. The result is this video clip of James playing the Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” with two buddies. James’s voice sounds terrific. A few years ago he came to the US for a mini tour and released an album. It’s time to do it again!

RIP Robbie Robertson, Founder of The Band, Dies at 80 After Short Illness, Trailblazing Music Star

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Heartbreaking news: Robbie Robertson has died at age 80. The founding member of The Band, I’m told, had a short battle with aggressive cancer. It’s almost hard to believe since just recently scored Martin Scorsese’s movie, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Robbie and Scorsese had a long, close relationship going back to the 1970s when Scorsese filmed “The Last Waltz.”

I was lucky enough to know Robbie, we shared a mutual friend. He was such a great musician and a gentle soul. I was there when he debuted his documentary about The Band at the Toronto Film Festival, which some said erred a little too much on his side. But even with the various machinations of being in a band of geniuses, the combined efforts of Robbie, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson produced a body of work that has never — and will never — go out of style.

Of course, The Band was known sort of as Bob Dylan’s backup group thanks to “The Basement Tapes.” But they stood out on their own with albums like ‘Stage Fright” and “Music from Big Pink” and songs like “The Weight.” I always loved Robbie’s solo records, too, especially this one below, “Broken Arrow.” What a sad day. Condolences to his family.

Broadway: Ariana Grande’s “Wicked” Boyfriend Joins “Spamalot,” Angelina Jolie Will Be An Insider for “The Outsiders” Musical

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I never heard of Ethan Slater before he allegedly dumped his wife for singer Ariana Grande. The two of them star in the coming movies of “Wicked,” whether we like it or not.

Now Slater has joined the cast of Broadway’s “Spamalot’ revival. He’ll play the dual roles of The Historian and Prince Herbert, originated by Christian Borle in the premiere production years ago. More importantly, Christopher Fitzgerald has been announced as Patsy. James Monroe Iglehart and Leslie Kreizter are also featured, along with Michael Urie. They don’t have a Lancelot yet.

Previews begin on Halloween and the show opens two weeks later. Will Slater and Ariana still be a thing by then? Who knows? One of them may say, “Thank you, next.”

Elsewhere, the classic teen film “The Outsiders” is being made into a musical. Danya Taymor, niece of Julie, is the director. The show already had a run this winter at the La Jolla Playhouse. No dates or casting yet but Angelina Jolie is sticking her name on it as a “producer.” This means she’ll come to opening night. Maybe. Will she be finished with her divorce from Brad Pitt by then? Who knows? The tabs say it won’t end until all her children are 40 or older.

Lizzo Continuing Scandal Not Only Tanks Her Own Career But Takes Down Jay Z Philly Music Festival

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Lizzo’s ongoing scandals have not just tanked her own career, but also caused a big problem for Jay Z.

The body positive singer was supposed to headline Jay Z’s Made in America music festival next weekend in Philadelphia. But the lawsuits and accusations against her have caused the festival to be cancelled altogether.

Apparently just removing Lizzo wasn’t enough to keep the festival going. It would have been too quick a time to find a replacement. Other artists on the fest included SZA, Miguel, and Ice Spice. But Lizzo would have been the draw if her dancers weren’t suing her for sexual harassment and weight shaming. (According to reports there are new accusations, as well.)

Lizzo was on top of the world, with best selling records, sold out shows. She even hosted and was musical guest on “SNL” this past year. But the response to her possibly being completely hypocritical has wrecked her career in less than two weeks. I told you last week that her record sales collapsed. Since I wrote that article, whatever was left is gone. Radio play has stopped, and so has streaming. Lizzo has gone cold.

Lizzo, of course, denies all accusations and will litigate with the dancers. But she needs a team of crisis doctors to help rebuild her image. And fast!