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Roger Waters Tells Piers Morgan Israel Told “Atrocious Lies” After October 7th, Denies Women Raped, Babies Killed

Roger Friedman
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Roger Waters Tells Piers Morgan Israel Told “Atrocious Lies” After October 7th, Denies Women Raped, Babies Killed

Former Pink Floyd rocker Roger Waters has destroyed his lecacy and is doing the same to the band.

Waters told Piers Morgan last night that Israel made “atrocious lies” about October 7th, that no women were raped or babies killed. Waters continues his attack on Israel and the Jewish people, claiming he’s not antisemitic when he most certainly is.

I wrote about Waters more than a decade ago, warning people that this was his stance. No one wanted to believe me. I can’t listen to anything he wrote for Pink Floyd without wondering what was really behind it. Songs on “Dark Side of the Moon” take on a whole new meaning when you realize what Waters was thinking. “Us and Them”? “Money”?

All we really know is that Waters has severe “brain damage.”

By the way, the other members of the group have denounced Waters. But that doesn’t change what he’s said, and what he may have slipped into their music.

The video is labeled, but the discussion beginning around 35:00 is most alarming.

Hamptons: Christie Brinkley’s Bringing Her Prosecco, Magnolia Bakery Has the Cupcakes at 20th Annual Hamptons Happening

Roger Friedman
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Hamptons: Christie Brinkley’s Bringing Her Prosecco, Magnolia Bakery Has the Cupcakes at 20th Annual Hamptons Happening

If you’re in the Hamptons this Saturday, and you’re hungry, there’s only one place to be.

It’s the 20th annual Hamptons Happening, the summer event of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Foundation.

These are just some of the four star food opportunities to be found under the tent on Lumber Lane in Bridgehampton: Chef Francois Payard, Christie Brinkley’s Bellissima Prosecco & Wines, Nadel, Arlotta Food Studio, El Verano, Deeky Dawg, a La ModeShoppe, Magnolia Bakery, 317 Main Street, Little Sesame, David Burke Hospitality Management, Backal Hospitality Group, Versa, Riverpark, Lulu Kitchen & Bar, T-Bar, East Hampton Shucker Company, Dough Doughnuts, Amante 1530, Horse Soldier Bourbon, Night Inn Experience, Scott’s Protein Balls, Elegant Affairs, Wolffer Estates Vineyard, Good Eats, and Taco Mahal.

“Since its founding, SWCRF has invested more than $120 million towards collaborative cancer research,” says Bill Sullivan, Waxman executive director. “The funds we expect to raise this year will be earmarked toward the launch of  new, innovative research initiatives, funding up to six new investigators this fall.”

And one other thing: there’s a live auction for lots of goodies including hard to get tickets for various New York area shows.

Stephen Kliegerman (President, Development Marketing, Brown Harris Stevens) will receive the Distinguished Business Real Estate Award, Fern Mallis (NYFW Founder, Fern Mallis LLC) will be the recipient of the Fashion Cares Award, and DJ CherishTheLuv (Broadway Co-Producer & DJ, 2024 Tony Nominated “Here Lies Love”) the Distinguished Cancer Crusader Award.

Get tickets here.

Bette Midler Sings “If I Only Had a Brain” to Members of the Supreme Court — And Sounds Great!

Roger Friedman
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Bette Midler Sings “If I Only Had a Brain” to Members of the Supreme Court — And Sounds Great!

Bette Midler hasn’t made a new record in some time. But it turns out her voice has never been better.

Midler has released a short, hilarious video send up of “If I Only Had a Brain” from “The Wizard of Oz.”

The new lyrics are a hoot. And you know what? Bette sounds terrific. She should be recording more, anyway!

Robert Towne, Legendary Oscar Winning Screenwriter of “Chinatown,” “Shampoo,” Dead at 89

Roger Friedman
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Robert Towne, Legendary Oscar Winning Screenwriter of “Chinatown,” “Shampoo,” Dead at 89

Of the classic 70s films, Robert Towne’s stand out as the most legendary. Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown” and Hal Ashby’s “Shampoo” are among them.

Towne has reportedly died at age 89 in Los Angeles. In just the last week there was talk of a prequel miniseries to “Chinatown” for streaming.

Lee Grant, who won an Oscar for “Shampoo,” said on Twitter: “Shaken to hear that Robert Towne has left us. His life, like the characters he created, was incisive, iconoclastic, & entirely originally. He gave me the gift of “Shampoo”. He gave all of us the gift of his words & his films. There isn’t another like him. There won’t be again.”

Jack Nicholson, who starred so famously as Jake Gittes in “Chinatown,” probably won’t be able to give a statement. Ashby died a while ago. Polanski is likely asleep in Paris.

Towne’s uncredited work is almost as impressive as the films with his byline. He worked on “The Godfather,” “Marathon Man,” and “The Parallax View,” for example. His fingerprints are all over all the now classic films of the 70s.

Screenwriter Billy Ray says on Twitter: “Nominated for Best Screenplay 3 years in a row. Wrote the “We’ll get there, Pop” scene in The Godfather. A legend. A friend. He once let me hold his Chinatown Oscar. What a career. Now he’s w Alvin Sargent & Bill Goldman & all the other giants.”

Towne won 1 Oscar for “Chinatown,” and was nominated three other times including for “The Last Detail,” “Shampoo,” and “Greystoke.” His screenplays were the most textured and beautifully shaped stories, far beyond anything we see now. They were like great pieces of music.

His most famous line?

“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.”

RIP.

Song Sung Blue: Mega Music Publisher Ousted from Company That Bought Up Rock Stars’ Catalogs

Roger Friedman
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Song Sung Blue: Mega Music Publisher Ousted from Company That Bought Up Rock Stars’ Catalogs

I told you last October that Hipgnosis Music Publishing, built by Merc Mercuriadis, was in severe trouble.

It took all these months but now it appear Mercuriadis — a larger than life personality — has been ousted from the company. His last day is July 8th.

A lot of rock stars were persuaded to sell their music catalogs to Hipgnosis by Mercuriadis, who was very charming and persuasive. Hipgnosis’s artists include all-stars like Barry Manilow, Neil Young, Carole Bayer Sager, Journey, Lindsay Buckingham, Chrissie Hynde, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Stewart and his Eurythmics songs.

As you may recall, we went through a critical period during and right the pandemic when musicians panicked about monetization. With live performance suddenly halted, selling the rights to the songs became a lightning bolt trend. Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Fleetwood Mac, etc were commanding upwards of $300 million for their catalogs in sales to other publishers.

But there’s a problem: all those catalogs have to be monetized. The songs have to be licensed for movies, TV, commercials, etc by these companies like Hipgnosis, Sony, Universal, et al. and that hasn’t proven as easy as it looked. This resulted in calls I got last summer and fall that artists weren’t getting paid the money they’d been promised. I’m told most were, however.

Blackstone Group held the strings to the Hipgnosis arrangement, and they obviously have had enough controversy. In February, Mercuriadis stepped down from running the day to day operations. But now it looks like he’s out completely. He says in a prepared statement that he will continue to fight for the rights of songwriters. We are sure to see him again in the music biz.

Someone may ultimately write a book about what happened with Hipgnosis. In May Concord Music — the company that was owned by the late Norman Lear — rescinded a $1.4 billion take over bid because the couldn’t get a grip on this truly “merc”-urial situation.

Ann Wilson of Heart Says She Has Cancer, Is Undergoing Chemo, Tour Postponed

Roger Friedman
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Ann Wilson of Heart Says She Has Cancer, Is Undergoing Chemo, Tour Postponed

Ann Wilson of Heart has announced she’s been diagnosed with cancer. She’s having chemo, so the Heart tour has been postponed.

As a big Heart fan, I am so sorry to hear this. Wishing Ann a speedy and full recovery!

Ann Wilson has that amazing voice that is juxtaposed by sister Nancy’s wailing guitar. They are very special to the history of rock and roll, starting with “Magic Man” and lasting for four decades.

Here’s one of Heart’s incredible performances:

Box Office: Costner’s “Horizon” Drops 62% on Monday, August Sequel in Trouble

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Costner’s “Horizon” Drops 62% on Monday, August Sequel in Trouble

If no one goes to the first film in a series, will they be interested in the sequel?

That’s the question today for Kevin Costner’s “Horizon.”

After a pretty disappointing weekend take of $11 million, the three hour Civil War drama didn’t pick up any steam yesterday.

Monday box office numbers were down 62% to just $1.2 million from Sunday. It remains to be seen if an adult audience will sample “Horizon” during the week, especially on July 4th.

And then what? Warner Bros. has to decide if they’ll put the August sequel on streaming, either day and date with theatrical, or shortly thereafter. It’s a tough call. But in the end, “Horizon” might find it audience on Max — just as it was originally intended, as a mini series.

Jennifer Lopez Has Dinner in NYC with Friends While Ben Affleck Marriage Ends Its Run

Roger Friedman
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Jennifer Lopez Has Dinner in NYC with Friends While Ben Affleck Marriage Ends Its Run

The JLo-Ben Affleck marriage is ending its run.

The theatrical run apparently ended a few month ago. Now it’s going to be pulled from streaming. So to speak.

Keith McNally, owner of the great Balthazar restaurant in New York’s Soho, reports that Lopez was in last night with friends. His house manager wrote:

“For better or for worse, the one and only Jennifer Lopez came in as a party of 6. It was a last minute reservation and most of my large tables were already sat so J.Lo and I created an odd, but cozy 6 top in the 40s. I had a proper 6 top available but she opted for her creation. They had a nice time and were easy and quick.”

Lopez is on her way back to Los Angeles after a vacation in Italy and appearances in Paris. As you do, in these situations. Her children are presumably with their father, singer Marc Anthony.

Affleck is in LA, taking care of his children with ex wife Jennifer Garner. This poor guy is being stalked by paparazzi. LEAVE HIM ALONE, for God’s sake. According to reports, he’s moved all of his stuff out of the $60 million mansion he bought with Lopez. He’s been living in a rented house. Other reports say all the “art” from the mansion has been auctioned off privately.

Who gets custody of Dunkin Donuts? That’s what I want to know!

So the party is over. It was short but sour. We are watching the end credits. Was it fun while it lasted? Not sure. There’s a rumor JLo is moving to New York. She loves attention, and the Manhattan press is happy to provide it!

As the couple once said in “Gigli”: “Gobble gobble.”

Tony Award Winner “Merrily” Final Week Tix Going for Upwards of $5,000: Breaks House Record 9th Time

Roger Friedman
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Tony Award Winner “Merrily” Final Week Tix Going for Upwards of $5,000: Breaks House Record 9th Time

If you want to see “Merrily We Roll Along” on Broadway this week, be prepared to pony up.

The revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical is seeing ticket prices up to over $5,200 on StubHub. Lower prices range from $500 tonight to well over $1,000 by Thursday!

Last performance is July 7th. Not only did “Merrily” win Best Revival of a Musical, but Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe each won Tony Awards for acting in the musical.

Last week’s gross was a shocking $2,321,807.00. Sondheim is no doubt paying close attention from heaven. “Merrily” was a flop when it was first produced in 1981. It was Sondheim’s first show after the blockbuster, “Sweeney Todd.” But no one liked it, and “Merrily” closed after two weeks.

This production has been extended twice. What a grand success. And it’s been filmed by the same people who filmed “Hamilton” for posterity, so we’ll be seeing it on streaming for a lot of money one day soon.

Day O: Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” Sequel to Open Venice Film Festival, Say it Three Times

Roger Friedman
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Day O: Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” Sequel to Open Venice Film Festival, Say it Three Times

Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” — starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, with Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe — is the Opening Film of the 81st Venice Film Festival.

Now, I’m jealous.

Circle August 28th for the big reveal of what happened to Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz and her family including mom played by O’Hara and daughter played by Jenna Ortega.

Not in this one: Jeffrey Jones, who played Winona’s dad. He’s died off screen and won’t even come back as a ghost.

This sequel is a long time coming. The original film was released in 1988. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis starred as a young couple who died in an accident but were haunting their house. The Deetzes bought the house, but only Lydia could see them.

Since then, the movie has become a cult classic. It was turned into a hit Broadway show. The original film has only become more engaging over the three plus decades.

Will “BB” recapture the charm of the original? I’ll bet it does. Will we hear Harry Belafonte singing “Day O?” We better. Will this be a monster box office release? (Let’s hope Burton doesn’t make his “Sweeney Todd” mistake again!)

Warner Bros. releases “”BB” in the US on the Thursday following Labor Day weekend, September 5th.

Very exciting!

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