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Thursday, April 24, 2025
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Bruce Springsteen Has a “Blind Spot” for Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” in Release of New Old Song (Listen)

Roger Friedman
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Bruce Springsteen Has a “Blind Spot” for Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” in Release of New Old Song (Listen)

Bruce Springsteen has a “Blind Spot” for the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.”

Recorded in 1995 as part of the “Streets of Philadelphia” sessions, the new old song is part of “Tracks II: The Lost Albums” coming on June 27th.

Percussion on “Blind Spot” suggests a great classic rock segue out of “Devil” for FM stations. You could sandwich “Blind Spot” between the Stones song and leading with Chicago’s “Beginnings” and really claw back to 1977.

I don’t know why Bruce didn’t go for “Blind Spot.” It would have been a perfect FM hit.

The 2025 Met Gala Will Be Very DEI and Extremely Woke with an All Black Committee and Celebrity Guests

Roger Friedman
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The 2025 Met Gala Will Be Very DEI and Extremely Woke with an All Black Committee and Celebrity Guests

In about 10 days, Anna Wintour will host a very unusual Met Ball at the Metropolitan Museum on May 5th.

The theme for the night is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.” The exhibition explores the style of Black men through the lens of dandyism, from the 18th century to the present, and its role in shaping Black identity. The dress code for the 2025 Met Gala is “Tailored for You,” which encourages creative interpretation of the theme’s focus on menswear and tailoring.

What will be most unusual is that nearly everyone on the host committee and subcomittee is Black. So are most of the expected guests.

Pharrell Willians, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamiltom, alongside the usual co-chair, Anna Wintour. LeBron James will serve as honorary co-chair. Domingo, a two time Oscar nominee, is featured on the cover of Vogue this month. A$AP Rocky is married to Rihanna, who will absolutely be present.

The host committee — who may or may not show up — includes The committee members are André 3000, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens, Grace Wales Bonner, Jordan Casteel, Dapper Dan, Doechii, Ayo Edebiri, Edward Enninful, Jeremy O. Harris, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Rashid Johnson, Regina King, Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, Audra McDonald, Janelle Monáe, Jeremy Pope, Angel Reese, Sha’Carri Richardson, Olivier Rousteing, Tyla, Usher, and Kara Walker.

I would imagine that Oprah and Gayle — the latter just returned to Earth — might be there, along with Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.

Who won’t be there? This year’s star rapper Kendrick Lamar, who’s on tour. That means SZA will be absent, too, because she’s his opening act. Beyonce is also on tour, so she’s not coming, and that probably eliminates Jay Z. Longtime guest Sean Diddy Combs is in jail. Drake’s attendance is not known. Neither do we know about Nikki Minaj, Cardi B, and Lizzo.

Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Taylor Swift the three amigos, are not going to the event. The ex Mrs Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, is staying home. Billie Eilish is on tour, so scratch her name off the list.

The evening will be so DEI that Trump may threaten to withhold federal funds from the magazine or send Anna to El Salvador.

One reason some celebrities may skip the night at the Met might be how to dress for this event. Dressing like Black dandy is an invitation for trouble. That may result in a lot of star athletes more than actors or an eclectic selection of celebs. Kanye West is off the list for many reasons, but he certainly would have been perfect for this mid year Halloween.

Another reason the Met Ball might lose some participants: the hottest ticket in town on May is a book party downtown for restaurateur Keith McNally. His memoir, “I Regret Almost Everything” is big read around town. The party is at his still sizzling Balthazar on Spring Street.

Ryan Gosling to Star in New Star Wars Movie “Starfighter” as Franchise Moves Past Skywalker World

Roger Friedman
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Ryan Gosling to Star in New Star Wars Movie “Starfighter” as Franchise Moves Past Skywalker World

Shawn Levy set to direct a standalone film starring Ryan Gosling called “Star Wars: Starfighter.”

The adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019’s “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.” The film, which will begin production this Fall, is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.

Levy is a director and producer of both film and television series, including “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Stranger Things.”

Gosling most recently starred in the 2024 blockbuster “Barbie,” for which he received Oscar® and Golden Globe® nominations. Other credits include “La La Land,” “The Notebook,” and “Crazy Stupid Love.”

Gosling is the obvious choice for a Han Solo type character. He’s great friends with Harrison Ford. With whom he starred in Blade Runner 2049.

RFK Jr Says Autistic Kids Will Never Have Jobs: None of His 6 Kids Do, Either, And They’re Not Autistic

Roger Friedman
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RFK Jr Says Autistic Kids Will Never Have Jobs: None of His 6 Kids Do, Either, And They’re Not Autistic

Robert Kennedy Jr. has outraged parents of autistic children around the world with comments he made yesterday at a press conference.

Kennedy — a former heroin addict and science quack — claimed that children diagnosed with autism are “suffering,” claiming they will never work, find love, write a poem, play baseball, and many will never “use a toilet unassisted.” 

Never find work? How about Kennedy’s six children? Are they autistic? Not one of them has a job.

Robert Kennedy III, 40, and daughter Kick Kennedy, 37, the eldest of the group, are unemployed as far as anyone knows. The two children from his first marriage, the pair are described vaguely as being in Hollywood, or as philanthropists. He has a couple of minor film credits.

Bobby III does have an ambitious wife. Amaryllis Kennedy was RFK Jr’s campaign director and before that worked for the CIA as a “spy.”

Kick Kennedy is sometimes referred to as an actress. She was signed to HBO’s “Newsroom” with Jeff Daniels but was let go after the pilot in 2012. Now she’s referred to as a “philanthropist.” She also hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro.

There are four more children, whose mother, Mary Richardson, killed herself after discovering her husbands sex diary.

Conor Kennedy, age 30, is famous for dating Taylor Swift as a teenager. Then he volunteered to fight in Ukraine. He was arrested last year for fighting in public in Colorado. Now he’s engaged to a Brazilian pop singer.

Kyra Kennedy, 29, claims a big social media presence. According to People, Kyra allegedly attempted to use a fake ID to get into a nightclub — a story which she later said “was basically fabricated.”

William Finn Kennedy, 26, is described as “an avid skiier.” In a National Geographic documentary titled “Sea of Hope, Finn is featured be seen swimming with a group of dolphins near Buck Island Reef National Monument in the U.S. Virgin Island.

Aidan Kennedy, age 20, is the youngest so we’ll let him off the hook. He’s graduating from Harvard next year, so maybe there’s a chance he’ll get a job. He’s had a lot of high profile internships.

None of these people are autistic, and they don’t have jobs. Another bunch of BS from their father, who also didn’t have a job until recently when he sold out to Donald Trump.

Please read this as well https://variety.com/2025/tv/columns/rfk-autism-speech-my-son-not-epidemic-1236371224/

Wanna Be the New Editor of Vanity Fair? Job Offered at $166K, Far Below Past Salary of $2 Million

Roger Friedman
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Wanna Be the New Editor of Vanity Fair? Job Offered at $166K, Far Below Past Salary of $2 Million

Things aren’t going so well at Vanity Fair.

Publisher Conde Nast is offering the job of Global Editor for a max salary of $166,000.

That’s well below the reported $2-to-$3 million legendary editor Graydon Carter was earning when he left the magazine 7 years ago.

When he began the job in 1992, Carter reportedly began with $600,000 a year.

This week, an ad popped up for the position on employment sites after current editor Radhika Jones announced she was leaving.

The position, which is new, covers not just the US edition, but all of them around the world. You also report to the mercurial Anna Wintour.

In their respective heydays, Tina Brown and then Carter made millions and had perks as Donald Trump would say, “The likes of which you’ve never seen.”

That included car and driver, all expenses paid, travel everywhere, and low cost mortgages. Plus a lot of foie gras.

Now the new salary would be enough to get a MetroCard, take one cab a week, and eat at Junior’s Deli.

A dozen years ago, my editor at Forbes Magazine asked me, “This isn’t your full time job, is it?” That’s publishing, you know. If Conde Nast could find a volunteer for the Vanity Fair position, they’d be thrilled!

George Clooney’s “Good Night” Good Luck for Broadway With Staggering $3.7 Million Week

Roger Friedman
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George Clooney’s “Good Night” Good Luck for Broadway With Staggering $3.7 Million Week

George Clooney is the best thing to happen to Broadway’s bottom line in years.

His adaptation of his and Grant Heslov’s “Good Night and Good Luck” had the highest numbers last week of any show.

Total take was $3.7 million. Of course, tickets are $900, but they are sold out.

That’s an astounding number for a play, not a musical, although there’s music in it.

The huge success is all about star power, seeing Clooney on stage (not to mention the cast including Clark Gregg and Glen Fleshler). Whether the message of the play — about Edward R. Murrow and the red scare via Senator Joseph McCarthy) — has anything to do with it, is unknown.

Runners up on top Broadway shows last week were two more plays led by Hollywood stars.Denzel Washington’s “Othello” — also with $900 seats — logged $3.2 million. “Glengarry Glen Ross” — with Kieran Culkin, et al — came in at $2.2 million. Again these are all plays.

So is “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” with Sarah Snook playing 2 roles and yielding $1.3 million. Snook is on her way to a Tony Award and more, with a low budget considering she’s the only cast member.

It should be noted that all of the plays involve video projections of some kind as major ingredients. Audiences won’t settle for regular sets where they have to pay attention to dialogue and plot un-ornamented. “Our Town,” and “The Hills of California” (should be Best New Play) despite glowing reviews, closed after a few weeks this season. Hopefully they’ll each be nominated for Tonys.

Just beneath them come the veteran musicals. “Wicked” is booming because of the movie with $2.4 million. “The Lion King” is also a constant.

But good moves for Clooney and Washington. It’s too bad they won’t keep playing after the Tony Awards on June 8th. Ditto “Glengarry.” The summer box office could have used them.

Lizzo Strikes Out with Low Rated “SNL” Performances, Sells No Records After Comeback Show with Jon Hamm

Roger Friedman
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Lizzo Strikes Out with Low Rated “SNL” Performances, Sells No Records After Comeback Show with Jon Hamm

It wasn’t that long ago that Lizzo was on top of the world. She hosted and was musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” exactly three years ago.

Then the bottom dropped out of her career as former dancers and employees sued her very loudly for discrimination. Everything came to a halt including record sales.

This weekend, Lizzo returned to “SNL” as musical guest and performed two new songs. It was not a successful comeback.

One of the songs charted on iTunes. “Still Bad” is number 62. It was also released a month ago and has done no business.

The second song, “Don’t Make Love You,” was reminiscent of Tina Turner’s “The Best.” It hasn’t charted.

The two new songs are very disco, a la Gloria Gaynor. Also, where was her flute? Lizzo is famous for her flute.

The “SNL” episode, hosted by Jon Hamm, brought in just 4.29 million viewers, on the low side for this season and down from the previous week’s 4.5 million with Elton John and Brandi Carlile, and Jack Black as host.

Lizzo obviously has a problem. The 2022 scandal is following her around. Also, her weight loss has thrown a wrench into her brand. Her calling was being happy as a big woman. (She looks great, by the way.)

What to do? Hard to say. But maybe it’s time for a sit down with Oprah and Gayle to clear the air before her album comes out.

Ringo Starr’s 59 Year Old Son, Zak Starkey, Drummed Out of The Who After 29 Years Because Roger Daltrey, 81, Can’t Hear

Roger Friedman
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Ringo Starr’s 59 Year Old Son, Zak Starkey, Drummed Out of The Who After 29 Years Because Roger Daltrey, 81, Can’t Hear

First, wrap your head around the idea that Ringo Starr’s eldest child, Zak, will turn 60 in September.

Then, realize he’s been playing for what’s left of The Who for 29 years. That’s Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, who said in 1982 they were on their farewell tour. It was the most famous farewell ever, eclipsed only by Cher who is still working).

Two of The Who’s original members — John Entwhistle and Keith Moon — each died decades ago.

Now, this week, news comes that The Who have fired Starkey for “over playing.” Or because, in likelihood, Daltrey can’t hear himself on stage. He’s 81 years old.

Starkey will be fine. He has a pretty good resume. Also, it looks like he’s going to join Oasis on their mega tour, hoping the Gallagher brothers make it through the schedule without killing each other.

Starkey sent out an alarm on April 12th that he was being fired.

Today he said in a statement: “I’m very proud of my near 30 years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.”

He added: “In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”

His godfather, literally, was Keith Moon, the band’s original and infamous drummer.

It had been reported that Daltrey had trouble hearing himself over Starkey’s drums at a recent show. (Maybe hearing aids would help.) He told a UK publication: “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t,” he told the audience, per the publication. “All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys.”

Starkey responded: “After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do?”

It’s notable that Townshend has remained silent during this fight.

Starkey managed in all these 29 years to keep a low profile until now. Fans knew and appreciated him, but for three decades he was a fill-in for Moon. He never sought celebrity, even as Ringo’s son. What would be really cool is a band featuring Zak, Julian and Sean Ono Lennon, Dhani Harrison, and James McCartney.

PS Is The Who performing anywhere anyway? They have four dates in Italy this summer, and one in the fall.

Daltrey, on the other hand, has 10 shows this month and next on his own, without The Who.

In the meantime, We won’t get fooled again.

“American Idol” Continues Doubles Ratings Decline After 6 Weeks of Ups and Mostly Downs

Roger Friedman
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“American Idol” Continues Doubles Ratings Decline After 6 Weeks of Ups and Mostly Downs

“American Idol” is really on the ropes.

This past Sunday and Monday garnered double downs from the week as the ratings decline week after week.

This Sunday saw a 9% drop from the previous week to 4.6 million drop in total viewers.

The next night, Monday, was worse, with 3.87 million total. It was down over 6% from the previous Monday.

All in all, “Idol” is down more than 5% so far from last year.

On Monday as usual it was beaten soundly by “The Voice” on NBC.

At least you can say ABC is loyal. They stick with this show like they are loyal “Grey’s Anatomy,” which does worse! What if they developed new shows? What if?

Shady Global Citizen Foundation Giving $50K Not to the Hungry or Poor, But to a Rock Band Who Plays on their Stage

Roger Friedman
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Shady Global Citizen Foundation Giving $50K Not to the Hungry or Poor, But to a Rock Band Who Plays on their Stage

Wanna be a rock star? Wanna play on stage at the Global Citizen show this fall?

Shady group Global Citizen is supposed to be about stopping hunger, poverty, injustice, and suffering.

But as I’ve written before they give no money from the millions they raise to any of those issues. They mainly spend those millions on themselves and producing concerts.

Now they’re offering $50,000 to rock bands to play on their stage. They’re not just inviting rock bands to be part of the Global Citizen Festival, but Hugh Evans and co are going to give them $50,000 instead of donating the money to people who need it.

Evans, who makes a high six figure salary, only wants to hand with rock stars. That’s the foundation of the Foundation.They have an excellent marketing tea, that knows how to publicize “actions” that result in no actions.

Woke? Beyond. Cynical, too! Maybe some poor people in a third world country can put together a rock and win the fifty thou!

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