Wednesday, October 9, 2024
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Bill Clinton Will Publish 2nd Memoir Right After November Election: Will Include Epstein Rumors?

President Bill Clinton will publish his second memoir this fall right after the national elections.

“Citizen,” says his publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, will cover Clinton’s post-presidency, everything that’s happened to him and to Hillary since 2001.

There’s no word yet on how wide ranging or candid the book will be. For example, Clinton’s name has been in the mix of stories about Jeffrey Epstein for years. Will that saga be included?

After Clinton’s terms in office, he also became famous close to George and Barbara Bush. It always seemed odd. Now that they’re gone, will he give us a look at how all that worked?

The timing of the book — two weeks after the election — is tricky. If Clinton goes hard on Donald Trump, how will that look if Trump (god forbid) wins?

More to come. We haven’t had a publishing event book really since Prince Harry’s “Spare.” The book biz sure needs this release.

In a statement, Clinton said: “Citizen is the story of my 23-plus years since leaving the White House, told largely through the stories of other people who changed my life as I tried to help change theirs, of those who supported me, including those I loved and lost, and of the mistakes I made along the way.”

Watch Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Go Acapella on “Beverly Hillbillies” Theme Song

Bruce Springsteen must have hired a social media director. He and the band have been posting videos announcing their arrival in each city where they’re on tour.

The latest one is for Los Angeles, where they play tomorrow and Sunday. The band jauntily sings the Earl Scruggs theme song to “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

I’m curious to see what they do for Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. Paul Revere and the Raiders?

Beyonce Loses Control of the Singles Chart as Benson Boone, Future, Hozier Knock Her off Number 1

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The pop audience is indeed fickle.

After just a few days, Beyonce has lost control of the iTunes singles chart.

Although she’s set to sell around 400,000 copies this week of “Cowboy Carter,” which is still number 1, it’s tough sledding for individual tracks.

For a couple of days Beyonce held onto the top 4 tracks on the iTunes chart. But now she’s been kicked to number 3 by two usurpers.

The number 1 song is “Beautiful Things” by upstart Benson Boone. He’s the “American Idol” deserter who went indie and became an overnight sensation. Number 2 is “Like That” from Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar.

Beyonce is even having an issue on the Spotify Daily US chart. She a few singles scattered about, but none above number 7. The number 1 song is Hozier’s “Too Sweet,” which is pretty good and could become bigger this summer. “Too Sweet” actually starts with an instrumental introduction and has an instrumental break.

Very old school!

Sacre Bleu: Cannes Will Open 2024 Festival with French Film By Director of 12 Movies in 13 Years

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Apparently, nothing can stop French director Quentin Dupieux. He’s made about 12 feature films in 13 years. Americans have seen none of them.

His reward? The newest one, “The Second Act,” will open this year’s Cannes Film Festival. God bless.

“The Second Act,” stars Lea Seydoux and Vincent Lindon. The latter was head of the jury a couple of years ago, a head scratcher for sure.

Last year’s opening film was “Jeanne du Barry,” directed by Maiwenn, the ex wife of Luc Besson. Johnny Depp made a brief appearance in it but the film was not warmly accepted. It still hasn’t been released here.

There are definitely tensions in the Cannes inner circle of how the festival will move forward. On one hand, several of of last year’s films, like “The Zone of Interest,” did well at the Oscars even if they didn’t make any money. “Killers of the Flower Moon” made a splash as well. But “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and “Asteroid City” were not exactly gangbusters.

This year doesn’t look so promising, especially after last summer’s strikes. I feel for the bookers who have to come up with the goods. It seems like the Big Marquee title will be Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis.” That will cause the biggest stir, certainly. Is it any good? Does it matter? There will be a seven minute standing ovation, no doubt.

I am not going to Cannes this year. Last year between the rain and the ticketing system, I needed a vacation after the movies were over. This year I’m sure it will be sunny every day and we’ll only hear stories about how easy it was to see movies! I expect nothing less.

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” Has Lost Its Edge, Sunday’s Episode Rejected by Younger Viewers, Down 47%

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When “Curb Your Enthusiasm” began its run in 2002, we were young — or younger. Larry David’s un-PC take on the world was refreshing, a continuation of “Seinfeld,” and we loved it.

But tastes change. And now, 22 years later, “Curb” is ending its 12 season run ignominiously. The average rating among adults 18 to 49 is down 47% since season 11. Total viewers are off by 20%. Younger viewers no doubt don’t get Larry’s rage, or his take on the minor infelicities of life. They’re still getting over the pandemic and wondering if we’re headed to World War III.

This season’s 9 episodes have seesawed in the ratings. The reason is easy to explain: the show has lost its spark. This season has not only been repetitive, but vulgar. Bathroom humor has taken up at least half of each episode. Instead of being witty, it’s been coarse. Some of the material has sounded like the famous joke “The Aristocrats.” I’ve actually winced.

Sunday’s episode with 336,000 viewers showed a loss of around 80,000 customers since the season began three months ago. The whole arrest in Atlanta over voting issues was a dud to start with and just kept getting worse. This season has also had vexing issues. Asians have been featured in every episode, always mocked. I’m surprised there hasn’t been a protest.

On Sunday, Larry will stand trial down South for giving water to a waiting voter. If he’s convicted, it will be a repeat of the final “Seinfeld” episode, which has been mentioned several times. The finale is getting little fanfare from HBO, with no special build up prior to the broadcast. And then “Curb” will just revolve in endless reruns.

Still, many seasons of “Curb” and many episodes remain the most hilarious and brilliant in TV history. This would have been a good time for HBO to re-show “Palestinian Chicken.” The whole “Spite Store” season was A plus, as were the Seinfeld reunion and the “Producers” shows. I will never forget the “Survivor” cast member fighting with a Holocaust survivor at a Seder. These were moments of genius.

So we’ll see how it goes Sunday at 10pm. I expect no one will be happy with how it turns out. At this point, it doesn’t matter.

“SNL” Ratings Disaster with Ramy Youssef, Travis Scott: Audience Wasn’t Thrilled with Host’s Politics

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The “Saturday Night Live” audience wasn’t so interested in this week’s guest host, Ramy Youssef.

It seems like they tuned out when he declared, “Free Palestine…and the hostages.” He didn’t mention Israeli hostages. Don’t worry, we got the message.

The result was 3.89 million viewer. About 800,000 were in the key age range. I give credit to anyone who kept watching. Musical guest Travis Scott seemed like he was asleep, his segments were quite dull. Maybe he knocked himself out before the show started.

Saturday’s show was the second to worst of the season so far, just below the previous week with Josh Brolin.

Kristen Wiig is the next host, with musical guest Raye. I love Kristen, but this doesn’t sound like a big ratings getter either. Season 49 is toughing it out.

A note: even so, “SNL” beat “Greys Anatomy.” And it’s on at 11:30pm on a Saturday!

Weird, and not appreciated. Free the Israeli hostages and give an accounting for everyone. Thanks.

Grey’s Anatomy Renewed for 21st Season Even Though Ratings Are Miserable: Who Will Exit Next?

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I always remember when “Lou Grant” was cancelled. It had 26 million viewers per show. (Some said it politics, CBS said it was the numbers.)

Now “Grey’s Anatomy” has been renewed for a 21st season. The total number of viewers watching is 3.4 million. It’s even with last year. No one cares anymore. The show is there, you don’t have to make up characters or plots, it’s become wallpaper at ABC.

To keep “Grey’s” going, another vet will have to exit or bite the dust this season. Keep an eye out for a murder, suicide, accident, or terminal disease developing soon.

Ratings are a low bar nowadays. That 3.4 million should indicate the party is over. But daytime soap “The Young and the Restless” sometimes reaches that high these days. And that’s during the day!

ABC also renewed “9-1-1,” which has done well at 8pm before “Grey’s” on Thursdays so far. Again, “9-1-1” is a known quantity going into 8th season with movie star Angela Bassett as its star. Also, ABC makes it, so that cuts down on the expenses.

That leaves open 10pm on Thursdays for next fall on ABC. Right now all bets are off because NBC is waffling on bringing back “Law & Order Organized Crime,” which a similar rating to “‘Greys.”

As everywhere, TV is fighting over crumbs!

P Diddy: Son’s Mother Outraged by Police Treatment of Kids in Raid, Claims “Over Zealous and Overtly Militarized Force”

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Misa Hylton is angry with the way police handled her kids during the search of Sean Combs’s LA estate.

Justin and Christian, who are young adults, were handcuffed by authorities during the search by federal agents last week.

Hylton — who is stepmother to Christian (his late mother was Kim Porter) says her attorney is investigating the “over zealous and overtly militarized force used against my sons.”

She continues: “If these were the sons of a non-Black celebrity, they would not have been handled with the same aggression. The attempt to humiliate and terrorize these innocent young BLACK MEN is despicable!”

Curiously Hylton does not defend their father, who is currently in a legal quagmire as authorities keep investigating him and rampant, unfounded rumors threaten to destroy his business and fortune.

Sirius Radio Channeling Taylor Swift for One Month Starting Sunday as Tie-in to “Tortured Poets”

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This was something always coming but now it’s here.

Taylor Swift is getting her own channel beginning this Sunday, for a month. Of course it’s Channel 13, her favorite number.

The channel is a tie in to the launch of Swift’s new album, “Tortured Poets Department,” which drops later this month.

Swiftes will get all kinds of interview and historical information about Swift, her music, her life, and football.

Will the channel go beyond May 7th? If it pays for itself, I guess, there will be a sudden announcement of a continuation. Makes sense. Meantime, I’m paying $25 a month for Sirius. Yikes! But now I couldn’t live without it. Regular radio — FM mostly — is a massive disappointment. AM Radio, I’m addicted to, particularly here in New York.

Ka-ching! Bonnie Tyler’s Cult Classic “Total Eclipse of the Heart” Soaring in Sales with Monday’s Real Eclipse Coming

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As everyone knows, Monday will bring a total solar eclipse. People are buying their glasses and driving to Niagra Falls for the best look.

But there’s another eclipse going on thanks to the sun and the moon, a Total Eclipse of the Heart.

Bonnie Tyler’s cult classic 1984 hit, written by Jim Steinman, is soaring in sales right now and sure to get bigger as the weekend approaches.

According to Luminate, “Total Eclipse” in 2024 has jumped from 40,000 copies to 80,000 copies to over 120,000 — mostly from streaming. You can be there will excessive radio airplay as we get closer to the weekend.

Of course, Tyler will make just pennies from this uproar because she didn’t write the song. Steinman’s estate owns the publishing, so the huge uptick will benefit just him on regular radio. Bonnie will get a few cents from Spotify. This is because there is still no performance royalty for terrestrial radio. Shameful!

Check out one of Barry Levinson’s best movies, “Bandits,” to hear Cate Blanchett fangirl over the song.

Remember, wear those cardboard glasses when you listen: