Saturday, October 12, 2024
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Chris Meloni’s Disorganized Crime Still in Turmoil as 4th Showrunner Named in 2 Years

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I’ve said over and over that “Law & Order: Organized Crime” is a mess.

Today the Dick Wolf production starring Chris Meloni appointed its fourth showrunner in two years.

Sean Jablonski is taking over for Bryan Goluboff as showrunner. Goluboff replaced Barry O’Brien, who succeeded Ilene Chaiken.

What’s the problem? Without “SVU” preceding it at 9pm, “Organized Crime” has no identity or purpose. It exists solely to suggest a romance between Meloni’s Stabler and Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson.

There are no secondary characters anyone cares about, and the show just seems violent.

With NBC contemplating killing the 10pm hour, Wolf has to come up with a reason for “Organized Crime.” Right now, you could just move Meloni back into “SVU,” save the money and call it a day.

The first season of “OC” was all about Stabler vs. Richard Wheatley, played by Dylan McDermott. The second season was all about getting rid of Wheatley. Then they added the annoying Dennis Leary. Things just got worse.

Maybe Jablonski will have some fresh ideas to enliven the show and set it on the right track. If not, “OC” may be shuffling off to TV oblivion soon.

Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett Back in the Oscar Race as “Tar” Takes Venice Film Festival by Storm

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It’s no surprise that the Venice Film Festival went crazy today for Cate Blanchett.

The accomplished actress already has two Oscars, with many more to come.

In her new film, “Tar,” directed and written by Todd Field, Blanchett is blowing the roof off as a classical music conductor. The film received a six minute standing ovation. On Rotten Tomatoes it’s at 94% among critics who attended screenings there.

Reviews are rapturous. And while “Tar” may be art house fare, it’s going to fare very well in that environment. So stick a pin in it. Looking forward to seeing this performance soon.

PS Blanchett should have won her first Oscar in 1999 for “Elizabeth I.” She was elbowed out by Gwyneth Paltrow, who was wonderful but not serious about an acting career. In the interceding years, Blanchett has worked hard and consistently turned out quality work.

SNL Lops Off Three More Players as Lorne Michaels Prepares for a Year of Changes

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Three more “Saturday Night Live” cast members are exiting the show.

Alex Moffat has the longest tenure, arriving in 2016. When I ran into him earlier this summer it didn’t seem like Moffat was leaving, but after six years it’s time to go. He’s very funny and a good writer with plenty of things ahead of him.

I’m surprised Melissa Villasenor is leaving. She’s the only Latinx cast member and wickedly funny. Since the female cast takes longer to break through, and they’ve lost both Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant, I thought Villasenor would get a chance to shine. But the writing was on the wall and on social media. About a month or more ago she dropped any reference to “SNL” from her social media.

Aristotle Athari just never happened all season. He was either overwhelmed or not ready but he was barely on screen during his inaugural year. He’ll turn up elsewhere and surprise us all, I’m sure.

Also as i reported earlier last week, Cecily Strong will miss maybe the first three or four shows because she’s performing in “The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe” in Los Angeles.

Kenan Thompson returns for his record breaking 20th season. So far “SNL” hasn’t announced its first fall date or the names of any hosts or musical guests. There’s a big push online to get Carol Burnett for host. The 89 year old legend has never been on “SNL,” which is a crime.

Ivana Trump Haunts Jared Kushner: His Book Number 2 on Best Seller List Behind “I’m Glad My Mom Died”

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Karma is a bitch.

Jared Kushner’s book debuts on the NY Times best seller list for next Sunday at number 2.

At number 1: Jennette McCurdy’s “I’m Glad My Mom Died.”

Kushner’s mom-in-law, Ivana Trump, died six weeks ago after falling down the stairs in her townhouse. She was 73, in fragile health, and had no aide, no caregiver, and Life Aide button to signal for help.

She was buried unremarkably in a crappy grave by the first tee at Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf course,

More recently, her son, Eric, was seen dumping the contents of her house into a waste bin on the sidewalk.

In his book, Kushner devotes barely a page to revelation that he had surgery for thyroid cancer while he was running the White House. Oh, wait, he wasn’t running the White House. He was the lackey son-in-law of a criminal president, making millions in the Middle East at American taxpayer’s expense.

The Times list lags behind amazon by ten days in real time. Kushner’s book, called
“Breaking Wind,” er, “History,” has already dropped to number 19 24 on amazon and 50 on Barnes and Noble.

Kushner’s book is on the non fiction list. although some may feel it’s been mis-classified. It could easily fit on (Lack of) Science Fiction.

Taylor Swift Marketing Machine Already Selling Limited Edition CDs and LPs for “Midnights”

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Wasn’t it just four days ago that Taylor Swift announced her new album, “Midnights,” for release October 21st?

Her marketing machine is already in high gear. Swift’s website is already offering limited edition CDs and LPs of various colors, on sale through next week only.

The good news is the CDs are just $12.99. The vinyl is $29.99. There are three or four versions of each, not to mention a cassette. (A cassette? Why not a cylinder for 78s?)

The object is to collect all of them, so that one buyer represents seven or eight. Watch the sales soar when they’re counted on October 28th!

What’s next? Jewelry? Clothes? Undoubtedly. The machine is on!

PS Where are the CATS mugs?

UPDATE Johnny Depp Changes Mind, Will Play 22 Dates with Jeff Beck This Fall, Despite Album’s Poor Sales

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When Jeff Beck announced his tour a couple of weeks ago, there was no mention of Johnny Depp joining him.

Beck and Depp released an album this summer called “18” which sold just under 16,000 copies. That’s it.

Depp was probably hoping for a film this fall. There was a rumor he’d play Uncle Fester on the Netflix Addams Family series.

But it seems Depp will be free, after all. So he’s decided to 22 dates with Beck, Will it sell albums? No. But it’s something to until his next trial with Amber Heard.

I doubt he;ll be singing I “Heard” It Through the Grapevine, although that would be funny.

PS They will play that “Hedy Lamarr” song. They’d better explain who she is to the audience.

Jeff Beck’s 2022 North American Tour Dates:
09/23 – Del Valle, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater *
09/24 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion *
09/25 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
09/27 – Franklin, TN @ First Bank Amphitheater ^
09/29 – Pelham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre ^
09/30 – Orange Beach, AL @ The Wharf Amphitheater ^
10/01 – Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre
10/04 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem #
10/06 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway #
10/07 – Port Chester, NY @ Capitol Theatre #
10/08 – Port Chester, NY @ Capitol Theatre #
10/10 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Center for the Arts #
10/13 – Kingston, NY @ Ulster Performing Arts Center #
10/14 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount #
10/15 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount #
10/17 – Toronto, ON @ Meridian Hall #
10/19 – Nashville, IN @ Brown County Music Center #
10/20 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center #
10/22 – Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace Theater #
10/23 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre #
11/01 – Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre #
11/02 – Temecula, CA@ Pechanga Resort & Casino #
11/04 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl Concert Theater #
11/05 – Thousand Oaks, CA @ Bank of America Performing Arts Center Thousand Oaks #
11/06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre #
11/08 – Anaheim, CA @ City National Grove of Anaheim #
11/09 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic #
11/10 – Sacramento, CA @ Hard Rock Live #
11/12 – Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre, Grand Sierra Resort #

* = w/ ZZ Top and Ann Wilson
^ = w/ ZZ Top
# = featuring Johnny Depp playing with Jeff Beck

Serena Williams Elegantly Passionately Wins Round 2 of Her Final US Open Campaign

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Serena Williams? GOAT? Yes, indeed.

Serena won her second round of her US Open campaign tonight in three sets. She just took it. She made it look easy. No one expected her to win the first round, but she’s clobbered two much younger women (who are very good players).

Does it help that both Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick were there? I think so. I am in awe.

And PS I’ve met Serena a couple of times socially. She is lovely and has a great sense of humor. So this is all very cool.

RIP Inez Foxx, 79, Famed R&B Singer of the Original “Mockingbird”

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Inez Foxx has died at the age of 79. She and her brother, Charlie, had a bunch of classic hit in the early 60s including “Mockingbird.” Carly Simon and James Taylor revived it in 1974 with a cover hit of their own.

Inez was married to legendary producer Luther Dixon of Sceptre Records fame (his partner was the famous Florence Greenberg).

They divorced but not before writing a big hit for the Shirelles, “

I Love You 1000 Times.”

God speed, Inez. The history of R&B wouldn’t be the same without you.

Game of Producers: “House of the Dragon” Showrunner Exiting Before Season 2 Begins

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Producing television is a lot like “Game of Thrones.” There are several duels and wars, and finally someone is defeated.

In the case of Miguel Sapochnik, it sounds like he’s just attended the Red Wedding again. He’s leaving “The House of the Dragon” before he gets singed. Showrunner for season 1 and developer of the series for three years, Sapochnik won’t be dragon his heart around anymore.

Sapochnik, an Argentinian Jew (so cool), won an Emmy for one of the many episodes of “Thrones” he directed. But now he says, thank to an official statement, that he wants to do “other things.” He’ll be replaced by Alan Taylor, who will work with Sapochnik’s former producing partner, Ryan Condal.

What really happened? Who knows? You have to have a steel lined stomach for that business.

Bruce Willis’s Wife Says Her Grief over His Condition Has Been “Paralyzing” But “She’s Learning to Live Along Side It”

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Emma Heming Willis, Bruce’s wife and mother of their two small daughters, has posted an update to Instagram. This spring, Bruce’s family finally came clean and admitted he has “aphasia.” But Bruce has been ill for almost 8 years with some form of dementia and it’s taken its toll on all of them.

Emma writes on Instagram: This was the summer of self discovery—finding new hobbies, going out of my comfort zone and staying active. My grief can be paralyzing but I’m learning how to live along side it. As my step-daughter @scoutlaruewillis told me, grief is the deepest and purest form of love. I hope you find some comfort in that too”

Anyone who is a caregiver for someone with a neurological disorder can identify and empathize with Emma. Of course, Bruce is a generation older than his wife. She’s a young woman dealing with a terrible situation. But at least Bruce is comfortable and is no longer making those horrible D movies he’d been subjected to in the last couple of years.