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Tesla Stock at Two Year Low As Musk’s Twitter Project Devolves into Hourly Chaos

Roger Friedman
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Tesla Stock at Two Year Low As Musk’s Twitter Project Devolves into Hourly Chaos

Two years ago this month, Tesla stock was selling at $195. In January 2022, it was at $400. Today, it’s at $187 and falling fast.

Elon Musk’s Twitter project is turning into a disaster. There seems to be hourly chaos. It reminds me of a Kanye West meltdown.

Musk has been busy in the last day advising his followers to vote for a Republican congress, announcing an $8 charge for the Twitter Verified check mark, and banning accounts that parody him. The result is he’s being mocked everywhere, by everyone, all the time.

Meantime, Musk Tweeted in the last hour: “While it’s true that I’ve been under unfair & misleading attack for some time by leading Democrats, my motivation here is for centrist governance, which matches the interests of most Americans” He also insisted Twitter usage is at an all time high. “I hope the servers don’t melt!”

It’s a strange turn of events because Tesla investors have obviously gotten the message. What’s more, potential Tesla customers may now be looking at other electric cars — and there are plenty to choose from.

Is “Wakanda Forever” Really Going to Crush Box Office? Friday’s ABC Special Was a Ratings Bust

Roger Friedman
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Is “Wakanda Forever” Really Going to Crush Box Office? Friday’s ABC Special Was a Ratings Bust

Is “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”really going to be a monster at the box office? Or is the sequel to the sublime “Black Panther” a hype machine for the ages?

We won’t know until this Friday morning when preview numbers come in from Thursday night. But in the meantime, there’s a solid first clue.

This past Friday night, ABC aired a special at 8pm about the movie. They should clips, had interviews with the stars, etc. If anyone was interested in “WF” this would have been a moment to offer a vote.

Alas, the special did very poorly, with just 2.4 million viewers. And this was at 8pm. Kids could watch it. But the special was trounced by CBS’s lineup. It even scored less than ABC’s own “20/20” which aired next on the network.

Last Friday at 8pm ABC aired a special about “Friends” star Matthew Perry. It did almost double the business than “WF” with 4.4 million viewers.

Maybe “Black Panther” fans are just waiting to get into a theater. But they had a free chance to get a preview, and largely shunned it. An omen? We’ll see…

Review: Everything, Everywhere and Nowhere All at Once: Hype Can’t Make Michelle Yeoh Movie Work

Roger Friedman
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Review: Everything, Everywhere and Nowhere All at Once: Hype Can’t Make Michelle Yeoh Movie Work

I’d like to think that great actors like Michelle Yeoh and James Hung knew what was going on when they made “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” But I doubt it. A hit — $60 million in the US– Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s cult film is all over the place, visually stunning but totally incoherent. It’s a 45 minute film about family loyalty, forgiveness and acceptance tacked onto almost two hours of random flashes of brilliance.

“EEAO” is a cult film thanks to a lot of support from bloggers and Film Twitter. I will never deny anyone their happiness. If you know what this movie is about, and can endure the length, more power to you. I’m sure the National Board of Review will embrace it because of their affiliation with A24 Films. But when this movie heads into the Big Oscar arena, say goodnight.

Indeed, just by accident, I wound up discussing this with two pretty solid Academy voters. Their response? “We turned it off. And there was good stuff there.”

Michelle Yeoh, who I’d be happy to vote for for anything, is named Evelyn and has a big family and a Chinese laundromat in suburban Los Angeles. She has a husband (the much younger looking Ke Huy Quan– aka Short Round from 1984’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), a daughter played by “Mrs. Maisel”‘s marvelous Stephanie Hsu, and a father in the form of 93 year old legend James Hong. The old man is coming to visit, and Yeoh is afraid to tell him Hsu’s Joy is gay. (She has a very understanding girlfriend, too.)

Evelyn is having a tax audit at the IRS offices conducted by a wacky agent played by Jamie Lee Curtis. (She’s very good, and game for anything, I guess, after so many “Halloween” movies.) Just as they all sit down to go over years’ worth of receipts, something odd happens. Mild mannered Waymond (Quan) disappears into an alternate universe. Like “Spider Man” or “Doctor Strange,” except for no reason. He pulls Evelyn into this space, where violence and action now replace all character development. And that’s the rest of the movie until near the end, where the real characters return and hug each other.

The visuals are dazzling. But they are put together with some form of ADHD. If there’s a story in the alternate universe, I couldn’t figure it out. This is a comic book movie pretending to be something else — maybe “Cloud Atlas” but that movie didn’t work either.

The film itself adds up to little. The actors are terrific and deserve some recognition for their work. The fact that Michelle Yeoh threw herself into this is remarkable. Hsu already had me from “Mrs. Maisel” and looks like she’s building a career quickly. I give Hong credit for showing up for work after the script was explained to him.

So how did this adventure in tediousness make $60 million? It is really a big cult film. The comic book stuff is what sold it to a certain audience, which is fine. As my Academy friends noted, a movie based on the beginning and end material would have been a lot more interesting.

PS How did I see it? Never had a screening or a screener. Or even a press release. Just paid $5.99 on Amazon Prime. The price was right!

Elon Musk Advises Followers to Vote Republican Congress as Tesla 2022 Stock Value Cut in Half, Dropping Quickly

Roger Friedman
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Elon Musk Advises Followers to Vote Republican Congress as Tesla 2022 Stock Value Cut in Half, Dropping Quickly

UPDATE: Musk has now posted to Twitter that everyone should vote for a Republican senate. This from a man whose stock price is now worth half its value. I would do the opposite, thanks.

Back on January 3rd, 2022 Tesla’s stock price was up around $400.00

This morning the price is $198 and dropping as we speak.

Is it a coincidence that Tesla’s owner, Elon Musk, has been in chaos now for well over a week after buying Twitter?

All weekend, Musk has been Tweeting like crazy while firing 3,700 employees. He cemented his purchase of Twitter last week for $44 billion and ever since there’s been no end to disruption. Celebrities have denounced him and left the platform. Musk kicked out comedian Kathy Griffin after she wrote a parody post of his own account. Not an hour goes by when he’s not fighting with someone on the site or mocking them.

Look, you paid $44 billion. You can do what you want. I’m not a Harvard MBA grad, but is this the way to run a company?

Forget the use of hate speech, the restoration of accounts belonging to unpopular people with grotesque views. What about the money that got you here? Isn’t this all about the Tesla now?

It might be a good idea for Musk to stop Tweeting for a few days and concentrate on the popularity of his electric car.

Stick around for updates.

The 2023 Oscars Make the Right Choice for Host with Jimmy Kimmel to Get Back on Track

Roger Friedman
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The 2023 Oscars Make the Right Choice for Host with Jimmy Kimmel to Get Back on Track

The last few years have been daunting ones for the Oscars broadcast on ABC. There’s been either no host or a weird group of hosts. Then this past year, Will Smith got up from his seat and slapped Chris Rock when he presented an award.

Now the Academy of Motion Pictures is looking to settle things down: they’ve chosen Jimmy Kimmel as the next host for March 2023. I, for one, am relieved. Kimmel is funny and subversive but he also gets the basic task of running that show. He’s not going to screw it up.

I know there are people — on Twitter — who say, chuck the whole thing, give us something new. It won’t work. The best way to “fix” the Oscars is to not reinvent the wheel. Bring back all the crafts awards. Let the Best Songs be sung. Do the show in the right order. All of that. Is the show too long? Who cares? The only people who really suffer when that happens are in the audience itself. If you’re at home, you’ve got snacks, a pillow, whatever.

Did you have something else to do that night? No. You came for the Oscars. So it back, and have the Oscars.

And PS what about “Top Gun”? Should a movie that grossed over a billion dollars be one of the Best Picture nominees? You know what? Why not? A lot more people will tune in to see Tom Cruise and that cast, even if they lose to another movie.

Big Stars Keep Fueling Box Office as The Rock, George Clooney and Julia Roberts Rule

Roger Friedman
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Big Stars Keep Fueling Box Office as The Rock, George Clooney and Julia Roberts Rule

Big movie stars are the theme of fall 2022.

Over the weekend, The Rock– Dwayne Johnson — raked in another $18 million for “Black Adam. The total is now $137 million. “Black Adam” has ruled the box office for three weeks. The party is over on Thursday night when “Wakanda Forever” hits theaters. But it’s been a great run.

The other big movie star film is “Ticket to Paradise.” Universal increased its number of theaters to the max this weekend and picked up $8.5 million. Their total is now $46.7 million in addition to $94 million abroad. Worldwide total is a whopping $140 million. The whole thing is very impressive.

Some lower level awards buzzed films are out there, holding their own: “Tar,” “Armageddon Time,” and “The Banshees of Inisherin.” They’re not going to be blockbusters, but they’re real films that will stand the test of time. “Till” is also trying to keep up.

Duran Duran’s Bittersweet Rock Hall Induction Reveals Original Member Andy Taylor Has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Roger Friedman
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Duran Duran’s Bittersweet Rock Hall Induction Reveals Original Member Andy Taylor Has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Duran Duran was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame Tonight in Los Angeles. But it was a bittersweet night at Simon LeBon revealed that original member Andy Taylor has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Taylor, 61, is a writer, producer and singer for Duran Duran and their spin off band, Power Station. His heartbreaking letter to fans appears below. He was part of the band for all its big hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Rio.”

In the letter Taylor mentions have the “Rodgers and Edwards” of doctors. He’s referring to producer Nile Rodgers and late music partner Bernard Edwards of Chic. Back in the 80s, Rodgers and Edwards produced some of Duran Duran’s biggest hits.

Dear Simon, John, Roger, Nick, my fellow inductees and countrymen

I wanted to send a personal note to pass along my sincerest respect to you all for what’s been an amazing career, and to also share what has happened to me.

Firstly, can I say what an absolute honour it was to be nominated let alone be inducted into the RRHOF. There’s nothing that comes close to such recognition. I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved together and of the way you have continued. As a guitar player in a progressive band from the synth days of the early eighties, literally from the day I met Nick, John, Simon and Roger they truly valued the contribution of a rather noisy, versatile Northern brat. We all grew up on the same vinyl records and live gigs, from David Bowie to Roxy Music, The Sex Pistols and of course CHIC. I could go to all those places as a player and developed a hybrid guitar style that fitted this amazing concept OF A BAND…

I loved going into the studio and recording our material; nobody else sounded like us. We were ripe to absorb what was the art of analogue recording, but with some different kit, Nick’s artful obsession with synth technology was something I’d never seen before and I was introduced to layers. Because we were instinctively the right fit, we evolved very quickly, writing RIO as our second album with the confidence our very early success with ‘Girls On Film’ and ‘Planet Earth’ inspired.

You can dream about what happened to us but to experience it, on one’s own terms, as mates, was beyond incredible.

I would like to thank each of my brothers in this great band.

My family: my incredibly sane wife of 40 years – Tracey – my amazing children, Andy, Georgie, Bethy and Izzy, not forgetting my grandson Albie, who’s probably online listening or on Fortnite!!!

The original believers: Paul and Michael Berrow, Dave Ambrose, Terry Slater, Rob Hallett.

The Producers: Colin Thurston, Alex Sadkin, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers – I’ve also really dug the work with Mark Ronson – I particularly admire ‘All You Need Is Now’, that’s a DD melody if ever I heard one.

Thanks also to Merck, Andrew and Wendy.

Now for the bad blood, well the good news is that there is none, just pure love and respect for everything we wrote, recorded and achieved together. What’s the point? There’s no stopping this 44-year thing called “Duran Duran”.

Now to the reason I’m not here:

Just over 4-years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. Many families have experienced the slow burn of this disease and of course we are no different; so I speak from the perspective of a family-man but with profound humility to the band, the greatest fans a group could have and this exceptional accolade.

I have the Rodgers and Edwards of doctors and medical treatment that until very recently allowed me to just rock on. Although my current condition is not immediately life threatening there is no cure. Recently I was doing okay after some very sophisticated life extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I suffered a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries.

However, none of this needs to or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years. We’ve had a privileged life, we were a bit naughty but really nice, a bit shirty but very well dressed, a bit full of ourselves, because we had a lot to give, but as I’ve said many times, when you feel that collective, instinctive, kindred spirit of creativity mixed with ambition, armed with an über cool bunch of fans, well what could possibly go wrong?

I’m truly sorry and massively disappointed I couldn’t make it. Let there be no doubt I was stoked about the whole thing, even bought a new guitar with the essential whammy!

I’m so very proud of these four brothers; I’m amazed at their durability, and I’m overjoyed at accepting this award. I often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.

All My Love

AT

Harry Styles Cancels Rest of L.A. Shows This Weekend, Plus Last Night Because He’s Sick (He’s Human)

Roger Friedman
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Harry Styles Cancels Rest of L.A. Shows This Weekend, Plus Last Night Because He’s Sick (He’s Human)

Harry Styles has cancelled the rest of his shows at the Kia Forum in LA this weekend. He’d already cancelled last night due to illness. He’s sick, he can’t sing, he’s human. He had 15 shows to do in L.A. But you know, he can’t. Ok??? Shows are rescheduled to late January.

Everyone go home and listen to Beethoven’s 9th symphony or watch is on the PBS Great Performances app. It will change your life.

Ratings: HBO’s Season 2 “White Lotus” Opened Lower Than It Ended Last Time, But Hang On, It Improves

Roger Friedman
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Ratings: HBO’s Season 2 “White Lotus” Opened Lower Than It Ended Last Time, But Hang On, It Improves

The first season of “White Lotus” on HBO was a novelty hit. It began with about 400,000 viewers and by the end of the six episodes, they doubled their numbers.

The new season began last Sunday and continues tomorrow night. There are 7 episodes this time. The opener finished 10% up from the previous premiere, but down a total of 25% in the key age demo.

I’ve watched five episodes. Season 2 is not Season 1, so it takes a little to adjust. The only carry-overs are Jennifer Coolidge as eccentric, wealthy Tanya and her new husband. Greg, who she met at White Lotus Maui.

Now we’re in Taormina, Sicily. Where Maui was just pretty. Taormina is lavish, over the top, baroque, It reeks of money. And sex. Lots of both. Everyone — except for blessed Tanya — is anatomically correct. They’ve all been to the gym. The men wear abs like sheriff’s badges. The women are beauties.

Season 1 had a mix of incomes among the guests. Season 2 concentrates on being rich, rich, rich. It also take a long time to find a character to root for in Season 2. That would be Aubrey Plaza’s Harper, the serious and practical minded wife of Ethan. a young entrepreneur — like he’s the founder of Zappos, or Reddit, they don’t say — played by half-Asian actor Will Sharpe. They’ve come to the hotel with Ethan’s conscience-less player college roommate Cameron (Theo James) and his blonde trophy wife (Meghann Fahy). The former couple is unsympathetic, the latter is accessible, and Plaza’s Harper gets it right away.

There other people here. MIchael Imperioli’s wife has tossed him out for cheating and sex addiction, so he’s come to the White Lotus with his father (F. Murray Abraham) and college grad son (Adam DiMarco). Coolidge — wacky as ever– has brought her assistant, the show’s delightful ingenue (Haley Lu Richardson). Plus there’s an Italian hotel staff that so far is not nearly as interesting as their counterparts in Maui.

The real stars of the show? A pair of young women, very ingratiating escorts, aka hookers or prostitutes. They are maybe the nicest, cutest local girls who don’t mind taking money from visiting rich people. They are Simona Tabasco as Lucia, and Beatrice Grannò as Mia. It’s as if a younger Penelope Cruz and Amy Adams are working the hotel. You will love them. (I am all in for Tabasco and must restrain myself making a Tabasco sauce pun.) By episode 5, the girls have joyously worked their way through most of the male cast.

The sets and locales are magnificent. We all be booking trips to Taormina, although maybe not to the Four Season Hotel where this thing is shot. Rooms in real life cover over $1000. Maybe there’s an Airbnb. Anyway, the palazzos, the cliffs, the village are to die for. They make Maui look like Hartford.

But the story is not as focused as Season 1. The characters are not as original nor as sharply drawn. Maybe it’s a sophomore jinx, but show seems more impressed with itself than in peeling away layers of these people.

When the story begins a prologue tells us that at least one body — a woman — has been found floating in the sea. So we know there’s been a murder and there’s been a suggestion of more. In Season 1 we could see Murray Bartlett’s Armond, the hotel manager, unraveling before our eyes, becoming more and more desperate. Season 2 is a little more unclear about who’s going to snap, although my money is on Theo James’s Cameron. He’s too good looking not to be punished.

But hang in there. A lot of weird stuff happens, sometimes too slowly, and not always as glib as it could be. Coolidge, however, gets some great lines. And Tom Hollander, as a mysterious wealthy gay Brit, starts to steal the show in Episode 5.

Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey Apologizes for Musk Mess: “I own the responsibility for why everyone is in this situation: I grew the company size too quickly”

Roger Friedman
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0
Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey Apologizes for Musk Mess: “I own the responsibility for why everyone is in this situation: I grew the company size too quickly”

On Twitter, founder Jack Dorsey is apologized for the mess with Elon Musk.

He writes: “Folks at Twitter past and present are strong and resilient. They will always find a way no matter how difficult the moment. I realize many are angry with me. I own the responsibility for why everyone is in this situation: I grew the company size too quickly. I apologize for that.

He adds: “I am grateful for, and love, everyone who has ever worked on Twitter. I don’t expect that to be mutual in this moment…or ever…and I understand.”

Dorsey is apologizing because in the last two days, over 3,700 Twitter staff have been laid off by Musk including most of the executives. Musk is also charging $8 for accounts to retain or have the verified blue check mark next to their names.

Musk bought the company for $44 billion after a long haggle over its actual worth. He immediately restored a lot of objectionable accounts including Kanye West, who responded by making objectionable and crazy posts.

Musk, who is active on Twitter, is likely to respond to Dorsey’s post shortly.

Meanwhile, thousands of people — maybe a million — including celebrities and influencers — have left Twitter. So have advertisers, some of whom have put their accounts on hold, others who have cancelled, completely.

Dorsey is now beta-testing a new Twitter called “Bluesky.” Other platforms to challenge Twitter have started popping up. One is called Mastadon, another is Tribel Social. They can be found in app stores for both Android and Apple.

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