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Rock Hall Inducts 13 Artists Except for Top Vote Getter Cyndi Lauper, Adds Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, George Michael, and Even Al Kooper

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You can always count on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to do something weird. So this year they’ve more than doubled the number of new inductees but left out the top living vote-getter.

What happened to Cyndi Lauper?

The list includes George Michael, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and my personal favorite, The Spinners.

There are also a bunch of miscellaneous people like great blues guitarist Al Kooper, late “Soul Train” producer and innovator Don Cornelius, Link Wray, rap originator DJ Kool Herc, and the towering living lyricist and Elton John collaborator, Bernie Taupin.

What happened to Cyndi Lauper? She was number 1 in the Fan Vote among living people. Why do the fan vote if you ignore the musician who got the most votes? Time after time, this is what happens. The Rock Hall shows its true colors.

Well, anyway, these are all fine people, and the sheer number of them ensures a long night at Barclay Center this fall.

Broadway: Andrew Lloyd Webber Snubbed by Tonys for “Bad Cinderella,” Bob Fosse’s “Dancin'” Closing After No Nominations

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The Tony Awards are the great leveler for marginal shows.

Without any nominations, Bob Fosse’s “Dancin'” will now close on May 14th.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s really useless “Bad Cinderella” also received no nominations. ALW has received at least a couple of nominations in the past for his worst shows. But this hits rock bottom. Playing only to 65% capacity, “Bad Cinderella” will likely close soon.

Another current resident on The Great Light Way is “The Thanksgiving Play.” Catch it now because with no noms, and 79% capacity, this one is doomed. Also, “Pictures from Home” has run its course. The play starring Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein, and Zoe Wanamaker got nothing, and closed on Sunday.

Who might benefit from their Tony nominations? “Some Like it Hot” picked up the most nods of any show. It should win Best Musical. And while it’s been struggling, this could give it a boost. I hope so. Also, “Leopoldstadt” is already set to close on July 2nd. It will win Best Play. The Tom Stoppard play is the best of the season and must be seen.

Writer’s Strike Claims “Saturday Night Live”: No New Show This Weekend, Season May Be Cut Short

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There will be no new “Saturday Night Live” this weekend. The episode which was supposed to be hosted by Pete Davidson has been cancelled because of the writer’s strike.

There are only two more installments this season. If the strike continues, that may be the end of this season. “SNL” can’t function without writers unless Lorne Michaels is going to let everyone just improvise. And that would be a big mistake.

“SNL” is in the same position as “The View.” You’d think they couldn’t keep going without writers. That troupe has improvised for two days, but it’s not a success. They’re very brave, but we’ll see how long that can last.

“Succession” Succeeds at Jumping 30% to Season High Ratings on HBO Main Channel, Pushing “Barry” Higher, Too

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“Succession” this past Sunday really succeeded.

The water cooler show, in its 6th episode of its final season, jumped 29% from the previous week. The show notched its highest numbers of the season, with 847,000 total viewers on the main HBO channel.

HBO says that in addition to those numbers, the show had 1.9 million fans on HBO Max. The jump pushed “Barry” up by 100,000 viewers, as well by 45.7% in totals and a whopping 166% in the key demo. “Barry” is still pulling just 303,000 viewers, but that’s a surprising increase.

“Succession” on Sunday was brutal, which is nothing new. All the actors are working at the top of everyone’s game. But this episode was poignant because Jeremy Strong’s Kendall is balancing on a dental floss between mad genius and nervous breakdown. His final scene, floating in the ocean, starts out looking dire but ends on muted triumph. Kendall is a little manic depressive, so he’s always scaring the audience. This week, he also scared his siblings.

Next week is episode 7. We still haven’t had Logan Roy’s funeral. There’s speculation now that the funeral will be the final chapter, episode 10. This means that Season 4, even though taking weeks for us to experience, is moving almost day by day. It’s excruciating.

Apart from Kendall, the bizarre marriage of Shiv and Tom continued be fascinatingly cruel. The estranged couple played a game in which they bit each other’s arms– without drawing blood — and then had sex. Shiv still hasn’t told Tom she’s pregnant, and she’s flirting like crazy with Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard).

In the supporting area J. Smith-Cameron’s fight with Roman (Kieran Culkin) was startling. Even more crazy was she was fired again, for the second time this season. Roman has also caved to the pressure to living up to his father’s standards.

Where do we go from here? Up to 1 million linear viewers this weekend? And to a surprise, something out of left field for Waystar?

Tony Nominations: “Leopoldstadt,” “Some Like it Hot,” Actors Include Wendell Pierce, Sean Hayes, Annaleigh Ashford, Brian d’Arcy James — But No Danielle Brooks from “The Piano Lesson”

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Some Tony nominations were read out on CBS at 8:30am. The rest are coming at 9am on YouTube. In the first group, “Good Night Oscar” was left off Best Play, and Laura Linney was excluded from Best Actress in a Play. Linney’s play, “Summer 1976” was also snubbed.  Included, which is weird, the book for “New York New York.” There is no book. I think the voters were confused. They left out Susan Stroman, whose direction of that musical saved it from not having a book.

Weird stuff: “Death of a Salesman” omitted from Best Revival of a Play. “The Piano Lesson” omitted from Best Direction of a Play.

Unforgivable: Danielle Brooks from “The Piano Lesson” gave the best performance of the season. She is not nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

keep refreshing…

Stand by for full list…

Nominations for the 2023 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®
Presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League


Best Book of a Musical

& Juliet

David West Read

Kimberly Akimbo

David Lindsay-Abaire

New York, New York

David Thompson & Sharon Washington

Shucked

Robert Horn

Some Like It Hot

Matthew López & Amber Ruffin


Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Almost Famous

Music: Tom Kitt
Lyrics: Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt

Kimberly Akimbo

Music: Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire

KPOP

Music & Lyrics: Helen Park & Max Vernon

Shucked

Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally

Some Like It Hot

Music: Marc Shaiman
Lyrics: Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Corey Hawkins, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Wendell Pierce, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House
Jodie Comer, Prima Facie
Jessica Hecht, Summer, 1976
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Christian Borle, Some Like It Hot
J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot
Josh Groban, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Brian d’Arcy James, Into the Woods
Ben Platt, Parade
Colton Ryan, New York, New York


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sara Bareilles, Into the Woods
Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo
Lorna Courtney, & Juliet
Micaela Diamond, Parade


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Jordan E. Cooper, Ain’t No Mo’
Samuel L. Jackson, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
Arian Moayed, A Doll’s House
Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt
David Zayas, Cost of Living

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Nikki Crawford, Fat Ham
Crystal Lucas-Perry, Ain’t No Mo’
Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Katy Sullivan, Cost of Living
Kara Young, Cost of Living


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Kevin Cahoon, Shucked
Justin Cooley, Kimberly Akimbo
Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like It Hot
Jordan Donica, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Alex Newell, Shucked


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Julia Lester, Into the Woods
Ruthie Ann Miles, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Bonnie Milligan, Kimberly Akimbo
NaTasha Yvette Williams, Some Like It Hot
Betsy Wolfe, & Juliet


Best Scenic Design of a Play

Miriam Buether, Prima Facie
Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi
Rachel Hauck, Good Night, Oscar
Richard Hudson, Leopoldstadt
Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon, A Christmas Carol


Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt, New York, New York
Mimi Lien, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Scott Pask, Shucked
Scott Pask, Some Like It Hot

Best Costume Design of a Play

Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi
Dominique Fawn Hill, Fat Ham
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Leopoldstadt
Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’
Emilio Sosa, Good Night, Oscar


Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Some Like It Hot
Susan Hilferty, Parade
Jennifer Moeller, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi, KPOP
Paloma Young, & Juliet
Donna Zakowska, New York, New York


Best Lighting Design of a Play

Neil Austin, Leopoldstadt
Natasha Chivers, Prima Facie
Jon Clark, A Doll’s House
Bradley King, Fat Ham
Tim Lutkin, Life of Pi
Jen Schriever, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Ben Stanton, A Christmas Carol


Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Ken Billington, New York, New York
Lap Chi Chu, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Heather Gilbert, Parade
Howard Hudson, & Juliet
Natasha Katz, Some Like It Hot
Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

 

 

 

Best Sound Design of a Play

Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams, Ain’t No Mo’
Carolyn Downing, Life of Pi
Joshua D. Reid, A Christmas Carol
Ben & Max Ringham, A Doll’s House
Ben & Max Ringham, Prima Facie


Best Sound Design of a Musical

Kai Harada, New York, New York
John Shivers, Shucked
Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann, Into the Woods
Gareth Owen, & Juliet
Nevin Steinberg, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street


Best Direction of a Play

Saheem Ali, Fat Ham
Jo Bonney, Cost of Living
Jamie Lloyd, A Doll’s House
Patrick Marber, Leopoldstadt
Stevie Walker-Webb, Ain’t No Mo’
Max Webster, Life of Pi


Best Direction of a Musical

Michael Arden, Parade
Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods
Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot
Jack O’Brien, Shucked
Jessica Stone, Kimberly Akimbo


Best Choreography

Steven Hoggett, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot
Susan Stroman, New York, New York
Jennifer Weber, & Juliet
Jennifer Weber, KPOP

Best Orchestrations

Bill Sherman and Dominic Fallacaro, & Juliet
John Clancy, Kimberly Akimbo
Jason Howland, Shucked
Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter, Some Like It Hot
Daryl Waters & Sam Davis, New York, New York


Best Play

Ain’t No Mo’

Author: Jordan E. Cooper
Producers: Lee Daniels, BET: Black Entertainment Television, Len Blavatnik, Ron Burkle, Aryeh B. Bourkoff, 59th & Prairie Entertainment, RuPaul Charles, I’ll Have Another Productions, Jeremy O. Harris, Lena Waithe, Tucker Tooley Entertainment, CJ Uzomah, Ann Cox, Gina Purlia, Bob Yari, Marvin Peart, Colleen Camp, Marvet Britto, Jeremy Green, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Jillian Robbins, The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham, Mandy Hackett

Between Riverside and Crazy

Author: Stephen Adly Guirgis
Producers: Second Stage Theater, Carole Rothman, Khady Kamara, Atlantic Theater Company

Cost of Living

Author: Martyna Majok
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Williamstown Theatre Festival

Fat Ham

Author: James Ijames
Producers: No Guarantees, Public Theater Productions, Rashad V. Chambers, National Black Theatre, Tim Levy, Bards on Broadway, Bob Boyett, Ghostbuster Productions, James Ijames, Cynthia Stroum, Audible, Adam Cohen, Blake Devillier, Firemused Productions/JamRock Productions, The Forstalls, Iconic Vizion/Corey Brunish, John Gore Organization, Midnight Theatricals, David Miner, Robin Gorman Newman/PickleStar Theatricals, Marc Platt, Play on Shakespeare, The Wilma Theater, Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Jones, Dylan Pager, Roundabout Theatre Company, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham, Mandy Hackett, Sade Lythcott, Jonathan McCrory

Leopoldstadt

Author: Tom Stoppard
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Roy Furman, Lorne Michaels, Stephanie P. McClelland, Gavin Kalin, Delman Sloan, Eilene Davidson, Brad Edgerton, Patrick Gracey, Hunter Arnold, Burnt Umber Productions, Cue to Cue Productions, The Factor Gavin Partnership, Harris Rubin Productions, Robert Nederlander, Jr., No Guarantees, Sandy Robertson, Iris Smith, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler, Dodge Hall Productions/Waverly Productions, Richardo Hornos/Robert Tichio, Heni Koenigsberg/Wendy Federman, Thomas S. Perakos/Stephanie Kramer, Brian Spector/Judith Seinfeld, Richard Winkler/Alan Shorr


Best Musical

& Juliet

Producers: Max Martin & Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd, Eva Price, Lukasz Gottwald, 42nd.club, Independent Presenters Network, Jack Lane, Library Company, Shellback, Shivhans Pictures, Sing Out, Louise!, Kim Szarzynski, Taylor/Riegler, Tenenbaum/Keyes, Barry Weiss, John Gore Organization

Kimberly Akimbo

Producers: David Stone, Atlantic Theater Company, James L. Nederlander, LaChanze, John Gore, Patrick Catullo, Aaron Glick

New York, New York

Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Crossroads Live, Playing Field, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Colin Callender, Gilbert and DeeDee Garcia/Sue Vaccaro, Peter May, Rileyfan, Silverhopkins+/Hunter Johnson, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Eric Passmore, Thomas Swayne, Elliott Cornelious/SunnySpot Productions, Santino DeAngelo/Cynthia Tong, Craig Balsam, Richard Batchelder, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Marguerite Hoffman, Jessica R. Jenen, John Gore Organization, MGM on Stage, James L. Nederlander, Linda B. Rubin, Seriff Productions, Shivhans Pictures, 42nd.club/Beards on Broadway, AGL Productions/Brad Blume, Hunter Arnold/Red Mountain Theatre, Cue to Cue Productions/Roy Putrino, Jamie deRoy/Janet and Marvin Rosen, Edgewood/Silva Theatrical Group, Dale Franzen/Henry R. Muñoz, III, Deborah Green/Chris Mattsson, Branden Grimmett/DMQR Productions, Christen James/Gregory Carroll, NETworks Presentations/Lamar Richardson, Ron Simons/Adam Zell, Chartoff-Winkler

Shucked

Producers: Mike Bosner, Jason Owen, AEG Presents/Jay Marciano/Gary Gersh, Jeffrey A. Sine, Richard Smith, Silvia Schmid, Bob Boyett, Jeremiah J. Harris, James L. Nederlander, EST/Emily Tisch, Sony Music Entertaiment, DudaAllen, David W. Busch, Karen Fairchild, HoriPro Inc., Gordon-Helfner, John Gore Organization, Madison Wells Live, S&Co., Terry Schnuck, Jimi Westbrook, ZKM Media

Some Like It Hot

Producers: The Shubert Organization, Neil Meron, MGM on Stage, Roy Furman, Robert Greenblatt, James L. Nederlander, Kenny Leon, Hunter Arnold, John Gore Organization, The Dalgleish Library Company Group, Sheboygan Conservatory Partners, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Bob Boyett, Cue to Cue Productions, Janet and Marvin Rosen, The Araca Group, Concord Theatricals, Marc Howard, Independent Presenters Network, Juanita Jordan, Jujamcyn Theaters, Henry R. Muñoz, III, Ostar, Mariah Carey, D.S. Moynihan


Best Revival of a Play

August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson

Producers: Brian Anthony Moreland, Sonia Friedman, Tom Kirdahy, Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker, Hunter Arnold, Playing Field, The Factor Gavin Partnership, FBK Productions/42nd.club, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Creative Partners Productions, Harris Rubin Productions, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, Alia Jones-Harvey, Mark Gordon Pictures, Stephanie McClelland, Moore Delman, James L. Nederlander, Seriff Productions, The Shubert Organization, Salman Al-Rashid/Jamie deRoy, Brad Blume/Cliff Hopkins, Jean Doumanian /Fakston Productions, Edgewood/DMQR Productions, Jay & Cindy Gutterman/Caiola Productions, Van Kaplan/Lu-Shawn Thompson, Erik A. King/Finewomen Productions, Marc David Levine/William Frisbie, Syrinda Paige/Kevin Ryan & Diane Scott Carter, Silva Theatrical Group/Tilted, Thomas Swayne/Cynthia J. Tong, Constanza Romero-Wilson

A Doll’s House

New Version by: Amy Herzog
Producers: Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, Julie Boardman, Kate Cannova, Bob Boyett, Hunter Arnold, Creative Partners Productions, Eilene Davidson Productions, GGRS, Kater Gordon, Louise L. Gund, Los Angeles Media Fund, Stephanie P. McClelland, Tilted, Jessica Chastain, Caitlin Clements/Francesca Moody Productions, Caiola Productions/Amanda Lee, Ted & Richard Liebowitz/Joeyen-Waldorf Squeri, Richard & Cecilia Attias/Thomas S. Barnes, OHenry Theatre Nerd Productions/Runyonland MMP, The Jamie Lloyd Company

The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window

Producers: Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Phil Kenny, Audible, Sony Music Masterworks, Jillian Robbins, Jeremy O. Harris, Larry Hirschhorn and Ricardo Hornos, Shields Smedes Stern Ltd., Kevin Ryan, The Shubert Organization, Willette and Manny Klausner, Marco Santarelli, Be Forward Productions, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Invisible Wall Productions, Salman and Moudhy Al-Rashid, TodayTix Group, Ido Gal, HarrisDonnelly, Sally Cade Holmes, Stella LaRue, LAMF Protozoa, Kati Meister and John Sorkin, Meredith Lynsey Schade, Catherine Schreiber, Dennis Trunfio, MCM Studios, 42nd.club, BAMM Productions, CarterMackTaylorWilliam, HB2M Productions, HK-Undivided Productions, MAJIKK Theatricals, Tanker Kollev Productions, Douglas Denoff, OHenry Productions, Plate Spinner Productions, Runyonland Productions, Mad Gene Media, Scrap Paper Pictures, Joi Gresham, BAM, Gina Duncan, David Binder, Elizabeth Moreau

Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog

Producers: David Stone, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Marc Platt, Debra Martin Chase, The Shubert Organization

Best Revival of a Musical

Into the Woods

Producers: Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, New York City Center, Daryl Roth, Hunter Arnold, Concord Theatricals, Nicole Eisenberg, Jessica R. Jenen, Michael Cassel Group, Kevin Ryan, ShowTown Productions, Armstrong, Gold & Ross, Nicole Kastrinos

Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot

Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Adam Siegel, Naomi Grabel

Parade

Producers: Seaview, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Alex Levy, Kevin Ryan, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Interscope & Immersive Records, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Creative Partners Productions, Marcia Goldberg, John Gore Organization, Cynthia Stroum, Tom Tuft, Benjamin Simpson, Nathan Vernon, Brian & Nick Ginsberg, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roth-Manella Productions, Chutzpah Productions, 42nd.club, Ahava 72 Productions, The Andryc Brothers, The Array, At Rise Creative, Caiola Jenen Productions, Coles Achilles, deRoy Brunish Productions, Fakston Productions, Federman Batchelder, Level Forward, Pencil Factory Productions, Renard Lynch, Robin Merrie, Rubin Stuckelman, Runyonland Sussman, Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini, New York City Center

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Producers: Jeffrey Seller, Bob Boyett, Diana DiMenna & Plate Spinner Productions/Aaron Glick, Eastern Standard Time, Roy Furman, Thomas Kail, Jim Kierstead/Benjamin Leon IV, TourDForce Theatrical, Maggie Brohn, Andy Jones

Hollywood Goes on Strike! Writers Stoppage Will Mean Late Night Talk Show Reruns, Soap Operas Halted, “SNL” in Jeopardy

The Writers Guild has called a strike after months of negotiating with the studios. The issue is streaming. The studios, say the union, don’t want to pay writers for their work when it’s streaming. But streaming — on all the platforms — is the present and the future more and more every day.

The strike means late night talk shows will go into reruns beginning tonight, Tuesday. And if the strike lasts more than a month, the four soap operas on broadcast TV will either be written by scabs, or what’s known as fi-core or financial core writers (they opt out of striking as non-members who still pay dues). “SNL” set for this weekend with Pete Davidson will probably not happen.

From the Writers Guild West: “The Board of Directors of the @WGAwest and the Council of the @WGAeast, acting upon the authority granted to them by their memberships, have voted unanimously to call a strike, effective 12:01 AM, Tuesday, May 2. The decision was made following six weeks of negotiating with @Netflix, @Amazon, @Apple, @Disney, @wbd, @NBCUniversal, @Paramountplus and @Sony
under the umbrella of the AMPTP. Though our Negotiating Committee began this process intent on making a fair deal, the studios’ responses have been wholly insufficient given the existential crisis writers are facing. Picketing will begin tomorrow afternoon.”

What will make this strike different from the one in 2007-2008? Social media, of course. And even then the strike last 100 days.

What happens now? All members of the WGA drop their pens, so to speak. They turn off their computers. Scripts being written for the fall season stop. Movies being filmed and needing spruce ups will not get them. Hollywood becomes like Pepperland in “Yellow Submarine” until the executives come up with an offer that will give the writers a proper living.

What happens to members other unions? They must continue working if under contract as long as they are not writing. SAG-AFTRA members who are working actors on projects must keep doing their jobs.

It’s going to be a contentious morning.

Watch Video of Anna Wintour’s Special Red Carpet Guest at the Met Ball — A Cockroach, Dressed in Black

With all the freaky fashion and objectionable outfits, Anna Wintour had to have a special guest at the Met Ball.

Dressed in formal black, the guest was a cockroach. You could say a lot of the guests were of his ilk, but this guy was the real thing.

This video will get more play than any other from tonight. LOL. Karma!

RIP Gordon Lightfoot, 84, Hits Included “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” “Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald”

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RIP Gordon Lightfoot, 84, a national treasure in Canada, a man with a lot of hits and millions of fans in the United States.

Lightfoot’s hit, “If You Could Read My Mind” was so pervasive that part of it actually found its way into “The Greatest Love of All.” The song remains a classic.

His other hits included “Sundown,” a massive number 1 in 1975, and the very long story song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It was the singer’s deep tenor set against strong folk melodies that made him standout on the radio. He was unique, which made him a huge star. God bless.

Oscars: Motion Picture Academy Issues 40 Pages of Rules: Movies Must Play in Theaters, Voters Cannot Share Anonymous Ballots, Most Socializing Frowned Upon

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It’s time for the annual list of rules and regulations from the Motion Picture Academy. They’ve issued a 40 page edict that should harsh the mellow of anyone who wants to have fun during awards season.

The big news, already known, is no streaming. If you want to qualify for Best Picture, your movie must play in a theater for seven days in one of the major markets– or fugeddaboutit. Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and so on will be affected. Netflix will be keenly aware of this for their Bradley Cooper movie about Leonard Bernstein. Apple will take note for the Scorsese film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Amazon Studios is already wise to this. They’ve had Ben Affleck’s “Air” in theaters for weeks.

There are a lot of rules about campaigning for Oscars, most of them discouraging parties. A canape could buy a vote! (In reality, the voters love the cocktail parties and buffets particularly in L.A. where socializing is not so easy. No one — no one– ever voted for a movie or actor because they were given a lobster tail.)

Here’s a new rule that will affect in particular the Hollywood Reporter: the Academy now prohibits voters from speak to the press anonymously about their ballots. In the past, the minute balloting ends THR and others put out a bunch of these cloaked reports, almost none of which have any accuracy. They’re just fun. But fun is verboten! I’ll miss those things.

In particular:

You may encourage others to view motion pictures.
● You may praise motion pictures and achievements.
● You may not share your voting decisions at any point.
● You may not discuss your voting preferences and other members’ voting preferences in a
public forum. This includes comparing or ranking motion pictures, performances, or
achievements in relation to voting. This also includes speaking with press anonymously.
● You may not attempt to encourage other members to vote for or not vote for any motion
picture or achievement.
● You may not lobby other members directly or in a manner outside of the scope of these
promotional regulations to advance a motion picture, performance, or achievement.

And so it begins!

Fox News Flop: Sean Hannity’s Friday Ratings Were Lowest, Lost Half His Audience In Just 3 Weeks

Sean Hannity hit rock bottom in the ratings on Friday.

Total viewers were just 1.3 million. That’s Hannity’s lowest rating ever.

On the night before, Thursday, he was still up around 1.8 million. On the prior night, he was at 1.7 million.

But just two weeks ago, Hannity had 2.7 million viewers on April 13th. His fans have literally run away in droves.

It’s not helping that Hannity’s lead in now is not the fired Tucker Carlson but a miscellaneous show that has also dropped. The 8pm slot is getting no numbers. But if Hannity was so dependent on Carlson’s numbers, what does that say for him anyway?

Fox viewers are obviously missing Carlson because they were used to him. But also maybe they’re actually trying to find real news and not fake news. Most of the time, Fox News avoids anything positive about President Biden, his successes, or anything negative about Trump, DeSantis, or even Fox News itself.

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