Wednesday, October 9, 2024
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Trump Irrationally Attacks Jimmy Kimmel, Lies About “Worst” Oscar Ratings, Best Picture Announcement

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Donald Trump is attacking Jimmy Kimmel this morning on his failing Truth Social.

Trump lies outright about the ratings for the Oscars, which Kimmel hosted, claiming they were “worst ever.” The ratings were up 4%, in reality, at 19.5 million. Maybe Trump should do a little fact checking.

Trump also says Kimmel opened the envelope for Best Picture. He didn’t. That was Al Pacino.

Poor Trump. He says Kimmel has Trump Derangement Syndrome. But Trump is the one who is deranged.

He’s back in court this morning for a good nap.

“Stupid Jimmy Kimmel, who still hasn’t recovered from his horrendous performance and big ratings drop as Host of The Academy Awards, especially when he showed he suffered from TDS, commonly known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, to the entire World by reading on air my TRUTH about how bad a job he was doing that night, right before he stumbled through announcing the biggest award of all, “Picture of the Year.” It was a CLASSIC CHOKE, one of the biggest ever in show business, and to top it off, he forgot to say the famous and mandatory line, “AND THE WINNER IS.” Instead he stammered around as he opened the envelope. Supposedly his wife, and even management, begged him not to do it, “DON’T READ HIS TRUTH, JIMMY, PLEASE DON’T DO THIS,” they said. He was made to look like a FOOL, which he is, and at the same time go down in Television History as the WORST HOST EVER OF THE ONCE VAUNTED ACADEMY AWARDS!”

Is ABC Killing off “The Conners” After 6 Seasons? All Signs Point to ‘Yes’

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It looks like ABC is getting ready to chop “The Conners” after six seasons.

First of all, TVLine is reporting that no effort has been made by the network to talk to the producers about Season 7. The sixth season has wrapped.

But more ominous are the ratings: down almost 10% from last year. The number of key demo desired viewers has dropped 25%, too, making things very ominous. And destined to get worse, because ABC is about to move the show from 8pm to 9:30pm beginning on May 1sst — in other words, sweeps.

If you’re supporting a show, you don’t suddenly delay it by 90 minutes during its four final episodes. That’s a death knell. By 9:30, those 8 o’clock viewers have gone to sleep or committed to something that started at 9pm. They are definitely gone.

The fix is in, as they say. TVLine says the show filmed a farewell scene that can be added to the final episode in case it’s the series finale. If it is the series end, that closes a chapter for “Roseanne” and “The Conners” for good in TV history. (The series should end with Roseanne sipping a margarita somewhere in the Caribbean, and cackling.)

PS We only see the outcome of these network exec decisions long after they’ve been made. Case in point: When CBS let it slip they’d started up on a black soap opera, they knew “The View” was dead. Yesterday, after finally announcing the cancellation, they announced “The Gates” was starting two weeks later — in January 2025. They knew all this long before they told us, trust me.

Sony Trots Out Spider Man Retrospective After Ghosbusters Freezes, Madame Web Unwinds

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The number 2 movie at the box office yesterday? “Spider Man.” Yeah, the first one with Tobey Maguire.

What?

Sony is unleashing a marathon of their eight “Spider Man” movies into theaters. Every Monday for the next 7 weeks will bring a new old chapter, from the Maguire films through the Andrew Garfield era, and into Tom Holland.

It’s a good idea. Sony has had a tough time with a big loser like “Madame Web” and a middling hit in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” The latter still hasn’t hit $100 million.

I’ve joked in this space that all their movies should have a Spider Man connection. So why not just revisit the whole curriculum? I’m surprised the animated films aren’t included.

“Spider Man” made $680,000 last night in just 466 theaters. Stan Lee must be smiling in heaven. People can’t get enough of that damn story!

Ryan Gosling, Chris Stapleton, Kate McKinnon Bring High Numbers for “Saturday Night Live”

This weekend’s “SNL” was only off a little bit from the previous outing, with big numbers.

Ryan Gosling, Chris Stapleton, and special guest Kate McKinnon helped bring the show 4.7 million viewers. Stapleton’s record sales went way up, too, so we know the show was seen by more people than usual.

Lorne Michaels has really hit the gas, pumping up the recent shows with guest stars and cameos. It’s working, and a real antidote to the doldrums of the winter. The Ramy Youssef episode was a low point.

Next up is super singer Dua Lipa, who will be guest host and musical guest. But I suspect Michaels will punch in some more guest stars to add to the proceedings.

Billionaire Jeff Skoll Shutting Down Participant Media, Film Company Won 21 Oscars Including for “Spotlight” and “Green Book”

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Ebay billionaire Jeff Skoll is shutting down Participant Media.

The film company has earned 21 Oscars including Best Picture awards for “Spotlight” and “Green Book.” They also won an Oscar for Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and produced the big hit, “The Help,” among other films.

Last week, I got calls that Participant had fallen apart. All the employees were sending out resume. Skoll had decamped to Palm Beach and no longer had any interest in the company.

What a shame. Participant had been a big player in smart, quality indie films. Their current chief, David Linde, is one of the most talented people in the biz.

Participant’s collapse has been coming since the death of its original leader, Diane Weyermann in 2021. In the last couple of weeks, studios and executives across town have been receiving a flurry of resumes from current Participant staff.  Sources told us last week if they couldn’t get another influx of cash soon, the company would be kaput by the end of the year. 

Projects in development and in the pipeline are on pause.”  A source added, “the company has been hemorrhaging money for a while.  There is not even enough money for milk for coffee or snacks.

Clive Davis Getting Sirius Channel: First Ever Record Executive to Receive Honor

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This is a first: Sirius XM is giving a channel to a record executive.

In fact, the most famous record executive of all: Clive Davis, the one time head of Columbia Records, founder of Arista and J Records, now the eminence gris of Sony Music.

Starting April 26th, for a week, fans of artists like Santana, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Earth Wind & Fire, and hundreds of other artists can tune into Channel 79 to hear this amazing curated project.

Clive says, “I can’t wait for the SiriusXM Clive Davis Channel. It will truly be a unique emotional experience to relive all the musical highlights of my career. I am honestly pinching myself that this will be happening.”

Scott Greenstein, head of Sirius, says: “The impact Clive Davis has had on music and the industry is demonstrated by the now iconic artists and songs he helped create and we are honored to celebrate his legacy. The Clive Davis Channel will offer an exclusive inside look at the lasting influence Clive has had and will bring listeners closer to the music that has become part of our DNA.”

This is a big month for Clive. On April 29th, he’s the honoree at the NY Pops 41st anniversary at Carnegie Hall. He’s curating that show, too, with Babyface, Busta Rhymes, Deborah Cox, Fantasia, Melissa Manchester, Barry Manilow, John Mellencamp, Ray Parker Jr., Carlos Santana, Valerie Simpson, Rob Thomas, and Dionne Warwick. There isn’t a seat left, of course!

PS I’m very excited that Sirius put Clive at channel 79. That’s just five notches up from 74, where I’m addicted to Smokey Robinson’s Soul Town.

UPDATE: The Beatles’ Original “Let it Be” Film Starts May 8, Restored by Peter Jackson

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I told you yesterday the Beatles are releasing a restored version of “Let it Be,” the film, on Disney Plus.

Peter Jackson, who made the “Get Back” series, did the work with his lab of mad scientists. “Let it Be” will begin streaming on May 8th.

Michael Lindsay-Hogg shot all the footage in 1969 and then made the final film. It played in theaters briefly, then disappeared. The rumor always was that Paul McCartney didn’t like the film. But when Jackson released “Get Back,” those reasons didn’t make sense.

Now the general public will see the film. (I saw it back in the day.) It should be exciting.

“Let It Be” contains footage not featured in the “Get Back” docuseries, bringing viewers into the studio and onto Apple Corps’ London rooftop in January 1969 as The Beatles, joined by Billy Preston, write and record their GRAMMY Award®-winning album Let It Be, with its Academy Award®-winning title song, and perform live for the final time as a group.

Michael Lindsay-Hogg says, “’How often do you get to see artists of this stature working together to make what they hear in their heads into songs. And then you get to the roof and you see their excitement, camaraderie and sheer joy in playing together again as a group”…“I was knocked out by what Peter was able to do with ‘Get Back,’ using all the footage I’d shot 50 years previously.”

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Michael’s movie, ‘Let It Be,’ has been restored and is finally being re-released after being unavailable for decades,” says Peter Jackson. “Over three parts, we showed Michael and The Beatles filming a groundbreaking new documentary, and ‘Let It Be’ is that documentary – the movie they released in 1970.”…“I now think of it all as one epic story, finally completed after five decades. The two projects support and enhance each other: ‘Let It Be’ is the climax of ‘Get Back,’ while ‘Get Back’ provides a vital missing context for ‘Let It Be.’

UPDATED Trump Stock Finds a New Low, Drops Off Cliff as Former President Sleeps in Court Again

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UPDATED Donald Trump fell asleep in the courtroom yesterday. And he fell asleep again this morning.

Law360’s Frank G. Runyeon Tweeted from the courtroom: “Trump’s head slowly dropped, his eyes closed. It jerked back upward. He adjusts himself. Then, his head droops again. He straightens up, leaning back. His head [droops] for a third time, he shakes his shoulders. Eyes closed still. His head drops. Finally, he pops his eyes open.”

Today, Tuesday, Trump’s Media stock has dropped 14% to under $23. The day isn’t over, either. Come back at 4pm for the final bell.

Meantime, I’m enjoying all the planted stories about Trump’s 27 year director of communications, Margo Martin McAtee. She’s a Melania lookalike, but much younger. She must be very talented to have such an important job at her tender age. Even The Oklahoman has branded her as Melania double. Is that her real job?

Review: Zendaya’s New Movie, “Challengers”: Fluid Sex, Full Frontal Flopping, Plus Bananas and Churros

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You know director Luca Guadagnino. His last movie, “Bones and All,” was all about Taylor Russell and Timothee Chalamet feasting on their friends literally.

The director’s more famous offering was Chalamet and Armie Hammer, and a peach in “Call Me By Your Name,” set in Italy.

Now we come to “Challengers,” a triangular tennis romance in which Zendaya is the objection of lust and affection of two players having their own intense bromance. They are Josh O’Connor from “The Crown” and Mike Faist from “West Side Story.” The setting has moved from Tuscany to New Rochelle.

The boys are a pretty close couple, playing doubles and working their way around the tennis circuit, when they meet Zendaya’s Tashi. Their eyes pop out of their respective heads, and soon they’re all in bed together. Guadagnino meanwhile serves up lots of naked guys flopping around in the locker room. He’s also progressed from peaches to bananas, and churros in case you’re not paying attention.

The screenplay is a debut from Justin Kuritzkes, and it’s vexing. I’ve never seen so many chyrons in one film, as the action cuts back and forth in time with more abandon that a Christopher Nolan film. “Three Years Earlier,” “Eight Years Earlier,” “Two Days Ago.” I gave up trying to follow all that, despite Zendaya’s different hair lengths (thanks to some good wigs).

But “Challengers” — which should have been called “Love All” — has a lot going for it. The three main actors are effortlessly watchable, charming, and good looking. The music itself — from the Oscar winner Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross — has the consistency of mesmerizing electronic disco that works on its own (but often drowns out the dialogue).

What Guadagnino does especially well in “Challengers,” surprisingly, are the tennis scenes. Credit cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom and editor Marco Costa, who help the director find a new language in their sonic exploration of this racket. They make tennis so attractive you may see courts full this summer.

“Challengers” should be a hit. Full of sweat, longing, and haunches, the film hits the sweet spot for a key demo audience. Every generation gets a movie like this, hopefully, that will define their idea of romance in a troubled time.

New Broadway “Romeo and Juliet” Drops F Word on Poster in New Low, Jack Antonoff Doing the Music

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Jack Antonoff is making his Broadway debut.

The Grammy winning pop producer of Taylor Swift, Lana del Rey, and many others will supply music for a new Broadway production of “Romeo and Juliet” this fall.

The stars are Rachel Zegler and Kit Carson. Sam Gold is the director. Zegler starred in the Spielberg movie of “West Side Story” as Maria, the star crossed lover based on Juliet, so she’s essentially playing the same part again.

What’s more interesting about this “Romeo and Juliet” is the poster. Emblazoned across the ad are the words “The Youth are F**ked.” But spelled out, no asterisks.

Is this low class? Or this the future? Is Shakespeare rolling in his grave? Are we f**cked? Producers so far are Seaview, and 101 Productions, Ltd.