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Still Imitating “Godfather II,” James Murdoch, aka Michael Corleone, Helps Family Go Legit

Roger Friedman
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Still Imitating “Godfather II,” James Murdoch, aka Michael Corleone, Helps Family Go Legit

You do remember that in one of the greatest epics ever made, The Godfather Part 2, Michael Corleone is trying to make his crime family go legit. They’re going to leave New York and the Mafia, and own Las Vegas casinos, and never mention Sonny or the bridge again. No one will remember the murders, the mayhem, or any of the terrible crimes committed by the Corleones in the bad old days.

So, too, comes James Murdoch, the Michael of the Murdochs. Rupert Murdoch vs. Don Corleone? There’s a resemblance, certainly. Now the Murdochs got rid of 20th Century Fox, cashed in their chips, and “retired” Murdoch from Twitter and active public life.

But there was Rupert yesterday, reportedly meeting with Attorney General Barr, Donald Trump’s henchman. Hours later Fox News– which the Murdochs held onto– carried another moronic Trump rally. But this time they didn’t cut away, as in the recent past. Our own Attorney General made sure of it. (Things are now so much worse than Nixon, John Mitchell, etc.)

James, meantime, has taken his money from the 20th Century Fox sale and started an investment fund. This is the same James who was at the center of the hacking scandal with his father and Rebecca  a few years ago in London. You remember the hacking scandal, yes? Phones of celebrities and private people were hacked into by Murdoch employees, and “scoops” were unveiled in News of the World. The paper is gone now, a lot of people were fired, and James– er, Michael– moved to the US full time to become a media mogul.

So Lupa Systems– Lupa being wolf as opposed to Fox– the fund, has just bought into Vice Media. It’s the latest move in James’s bid to have the Murdochs go legit. A few months ago, he bought into the Tribeca Film Festival; we’ll be seeing James, all new and improved, at the opening next April. He’s also reportedly bought into a comic book company run by ex-Marvelites. What’s next? Vanity Fair? Conde Nast will sell it to him, believe me, or welcome him as an investor.

Of course, Michael Corleone’s story ends badly in Part 2. He has his brother, Fredo, killed (is that Lachlan?). His ex wife hates him. If you believe in Part 3, things just get worse. (I pretend Part 3 doesn’t exist.)

We’re only a matter of months before the NY Times has a serious piece on James. In today’s story about the Vice Media purchase, no mention was made of the hacking scandal. Some PR genius has done their job well.

 

Tuesday TV Ratings: “Empire” Drops Again, as Fans Turn Away, Tune Out, Just 2.8 Mil Now, 17 Mil Four Years Ago

Roger Friedman
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Tuesday TV Ratings: “Empire” Drops Again, as Fans Turn Away, Tune Out, Just 2.8 Mil Now, 17 Mil Four Years Ago

“Empire” is not going out in style. The once hot-as-a-pistol show dropped again to its lowest ratings ever.

Tuesday’s night audience was down to 2,793,000 from 2,941,000 in week 2. Week one was just above 3 million.

Did Jussie Smollett carry that much audience? Or are the viewers just turned off by everything that happened with his scandal? Whatever it is, they are gone. Smollett took them with him when he became embroiled in his scandal last spring. His reporting of a mugging, with racial and homophobic overtones, turned into an international cause celebre when it couldn’t be corroborated. Smollett may have invented the whole thing because he wanted a higher salary. The whole thing ended with a question mark, and Smollett’s career in flames.

Believe it or not, “Empire” hit 17.65 million viewers on March 18, 2015. It was the season 1 cliffhanger. Since then, episode by episode, the numbers just drained slowly.

At the time “Empire” was renewed for its sixth and final season, Fox TV said: “We’re turning the final season of Empire into a large television event. We are going out guns-a-blazing. Six years is a pretty remarkable run for a drama series.” But it’s going out with a whimper at this point. Gun control has set in.

When it’s over, Taraji P. Henson can return to her film career or star in another series. Terrence Howard says he’s done, but who knows with him? He’d be imprudent to squander his career right now. Gaboure Sidibe was already famous from “Precious” before “Empire” started thanks to Lee Daniels, who directed that movie and created this show.

As for Daniels, time to get back to movies. He’s needed in that space more than in this one.

Meanwhile, “NCIS” dipped below 12 million to its lowest rating in some time. Ziva– Cote de Pablo– was not on this episode, which aired while a lot of viewers may have been at Kol Nidre services for Yom Kippur. Maybe that’s where Ziva — who’s Jewish in the show– was too.

 

Matt Lauer Responds to Rape Charge from Former NBC Staffer: “We engaged in a variety of sexual acts…she certainly did not cry”

Roger Friedman
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Matt Lauer Responds to Rape Charge from Former NBC Staffer: “We engaged in a variety of sexual acts…she certainly did not cry”

In an open letter (uploaded by the NY Post) Matt Lauer defends himself against rape charges made by former NBC staffer Brooke Nevils. Really, read this. I am throwing up. It’s insane that he wrote this and thinks it’s a defense. What kind of father does this and then admits to it, graphically? The mind reels. “She didn’t cry.” What? “We engaged in a variety of sexual acts.” And then he describes them. On Yom Kippur, of all days. Talk about a day of Atonement. I don’t think this letter is going to work, frankly.

Matt Lauer Open Letter by New York Post on Scribd

Bad Timing for Disgraced Matt Lauer: Accused of Rape by Former Colleague, Posts Alarming Video with Teen Daughter

Roger Friedman
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Bad Timing for Disgraced Matt Lauer: Accused of Rape by Former Colleague, Posts Alarming Video with Teen Daughter

On Instagram wannabe TikTok this morning, Matt Lauer’s teen daughter has posted a video of her and her dad, filmed in an SUV, lip-syching to a rap song. Lauer begins the video lip synching the words “I am inevitable,” and snaps his fingers while making a scary face. Then Romy “I’m a bad b–ch, f–k the b–ch” from the Nicki Minaj song “Chun Li.”

It turns out Lauer is indeed inevitable. A former NBC colleague is accusing him of rape this morning, in an excerpt from Ronan Farrow’s book, “Catch and Kill.”

(The excerpt was given to Variety, which is weird on its own since Farrow’s employer, The New Yorker, has just run three fairly boring excerpts from the book online. Farrow has been triple dealing with the press, also giving an “exclusive” interview to the Hollywood Reporter. If I were the New Yorker, I’d be asking for my money back.)

In the Variety excerpt, Brooke Nevils says she went to Lauer’s hotel room at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where he raped her anally. They continued to have sexual relations for some time after, which I don’t understand and you may not either, but Nevils felt she was in a situation with Lauer that she couldn’t escape.

“Matt Lauer’s conduct was appalling, horrific and reprehensible, as we said at the time,” NBC News said in a statement to Variety. “That’s why he was fired within 24 hours of us first learning of the complaint. Our hearts break again for our colleague.”

Lauer responded in an open letter: “In a new book, it is alleged that an extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter I have previously admitted having, was in fact an assault. It is categorically false, ignores the facts, and defies common sense.”

True or not, the accusation from Nevils, communicated through Farrow, and now in his book, ends any chance Lauer had of a comeback on TV. But worse, the fallout for his kids is mind blowing. And the timing of the TikTok release, for his daughter, is almost sinister. But I’m more concerned that in the TikTok video, the daughter isn’t exactly lip synching Taylor Swift. So we may already be seeing the effect on his kids of all these scandals. Very upsetting.

 

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” In Ratings Spiral as Numbers Have Dropped For 4 Consecutive Weeks, Now Fewer than 900K

Roger Friedman
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“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” In Ratings Spiral as Numbers Have Dropped For 4 Consecutive Weeks, Now Fewer than 900K

The Kardashians are dropping in numbers faster than the stock market after a Trump brouhaha.

Four weeks ago, the avaricious family returned to E! for a 17th season (eight years already, seems like 17) with a little over a million viewers. The numbers were down from their spring finale, but still hanging in there. The second week was a little more down, but still over a million by a smidge.

But two weeks ago, the Ks dropped below a million t0 983,000. And then this past Sunday they fell again, to 862,000. So that’s a drop of 19.6% in a month.

This is despite Kim getting people out of jail, and Kanye having his usual bipolar situations. Viewers are losing interest fast, which isn’t a total surprise. Who could still be following these people? Shut ins, people on ventilators, or in vegetative states.

Now we’ll wait and see if next Sunday has another drop. Then we’ll know the party is over.

I can’t bring myself to post a clip from their show. So here’s one instead from a much funnier and talented family, the Marx Bros. Enjoy!

Madonna Abruptly Cancels Monday Show for a Bum Knee, Will Return Thursday: “I am not a quitter. This hurts me more than you can imagine”

Roger Friedman
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0
Madonna Abruptly Cancels Monday Show for a Bum Knee, Will Return Thursday: “I am not a quitter. This hurts me more than you can imagine”

Madonna is only human, she reminded her fans tonight. At the last minute– around 7:30pm– Madonna cancelled her show at the Howard Gilman Opera house in Brooklyn. The show would have gone on at 10:30pm. The problem? A knee is out of order. For the 61 year old, it’s understandable.

She wrote on Instagram: “Its Hard for Madame ❌ to admit that she is also a human being made of flesh and blood and she must rest for the next 3 days to insure full recovery for her knee.
I am not a quitter. This hurts me more than you can imagine. Its time to take those heels and fishnets off for a few days! 👠. Thank you for your understanding. ♥️. See you very soon !! #recovery #madamextheatre #nevergiveup #ongod”

It must be frustrating for Madonna, who’s always been in top shape, to endure aging. Isn’t she invincible? But like any athlete she has to face facts: on stage Madonna moves a little tentatively. Her show is grueling even for a woman half her age. But her choreographers and director (whoever they are, I never did get their names) have designed a show in which younger people do the heavy lifting. It’s a funny thing to say about Madonna, but this how Carol Channing used to get through revivals of “Hello, Dolly!”

Hey, look at it this way: Madonna thinks she’s Jewish, courtesy of Kabbalah. So Tuesday night she can hunker down at Kol Nidre, and listen to the Shofar on Wednesday at Yom Kippur services, then break the fast with a nice brisket.

This will leave Madonna with just two more shows in Brooklyn unless she makes up Monday’s cancellation. Then she’s off to Chicago, where the first date has been pushed back to October 16th. The October 15th opener has been rescheduled for October 28th.

Taylor Swift’s Two Intimate Performances on “Saturday Night Live” Send Her “Lover” Album Back to Number 1

Roger Friedman
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Taylor Swift’s Two Intimate Performances on “Saturday Night Live” Send Her “Lover” Album Back to Number 1

Taylor Swift’s “Lover” album is back at number 1 on iTunes, and number 3 on amazon. Going into “Saturday Night Live,” Swift was at number 5 or so on both charts. But her two very intimate and exceptional performances on the late night now clicked with fans who somehow still don’t have the album. The result is that the album jumped and so did the “Lover” single on the singles charts. “SNL” ratings for the show were a little down overall, but up in the key demo with younger viewers. Is Taylor going to have a Grammy sweep in January? I’d say we’re in for a big dose of her. If these performances are any indication, that will be most welcome.

Lover

False God

Audra McDonald Will Lead Homecoming Service for Jessye Norman in Augusta, Georgia with Laurence Fishburne, Vernon Jordan, Michael Eric Dyson

Roger Friedman
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Audra McDonald Will Lead Homecoming Service for Jessye Norman in Augusta, Georgia with Laurence Fishburne, Vernon Jordan, Michael Eric Dyson

The amazing Audra McDonald will lead the homecoming service this weekend in Augusta, Georgia for the late, great Jessye Norman. Others participating include Laurence Fishburne, Vernon Jordan, and my friend Michael Eric Dyson (whom I met through Aretha Franklin. Aretha and Jessye are singing up a storm in heaven!)

This is the home of James Brown. Can you imagine what that’s going to be like? Wow!

Here’s the info. BTW the family asks for donations to Jessye Norman’s foundation click here.
The family of international opera star Jessye Norman announces today through the family spokesperson, Gwendolyn Quinn, the Homegoing Service, and the weeklong services and celebrations. The funeral is set for Saturday, October 12, 2019, at the William B. Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair Street, Augusta, GA, doors open and seating begins at 12:00 p.m. (there will be a private interment). The four-day, weeklong events start on Thursday, October 10, and runs through Sunday, October 13, 2019, in Augusta, GA. (see full schedule below). In November 2019, there will be a celebration of life event, scheduled in New York City.
The lineup of distinguished performers and speakers will include longtime friend and civil rights activist Vernon Jordan, Michael Eric Dyson, and Reverend Dr. James A. Forbes, and Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., and Augusta’s natives Laurence Fishburne and Wycliffe Gordon, with musical tributes by six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Harolyn Blackwell, and Lawrence Brownlee, and other confirmations expected this week. Musical direction by Damien Sneed, a longtime friend and Augusta native.
Elder Raymond Sturkey will deliver the eulogy, and Reverend Dr. Clyde Hill, Sr. of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church will officiate the homegoing service, which will include family, friends, dignitaries and special guests, and seating will be available to the public.
There are two public viewings scheduled for Norman on Thursday, October 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday, October 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 1260 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta, GA 30901.
On Friday, October 11, the City of Augusta will present the Honorary Street Naming Ceremony to Norman’s family, which is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, 739 Green Street, Augusta, GA 30901.
The weeklong celebration will conclude on Sunday, October 13. The Jessye Norman School of the Arts will present its Annual Benefit Concert: “An Evening with Audra McDonald” at the Miller Theater, 708 Broad Street, Augusta, GA, at 4:00 p.m.
Ms. Norman, 74, passed away Monday, September 30, 2019, at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in New York, NY, surrounded by loved ones.
Jessye Norman’s Homecoming Service, Public Viewing and Celebration Services
Date:
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Time:
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Event:
Jessye Norman’s Public Viewing
Location:
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
1260 Wrightsboro Road
Augusta, GA 30901
***
Date:
Friday, October 11, 2019
Time:
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Event:
Jessye Norman’s Public Viewing
Location:
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
1260 Wrightsboro Road,
Augusta, GA 30901
***
Date:
Friday, October 11, 2019
Time:
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Event:
Honorary Street Naming Ceremony to Jessye Norman Boulevard
Location:
Jessye Norman School of the Arts (JNSA)
739 Green Street
Augusta, GA 30901
*Followed by a reception in the Ann and Ellis Johnson Gallery of Art (at JNSA)
***
Date:
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Time:
1:00 p.m.
Event:
Jessye Norman’s Homecoming Service
Location:
The William B. Bell Auditorium
712 Telfair Street
Augusta, GA 30901
*Doors open and seating will begin at 12:00 p.m.
***
Date:
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Time:
4:00 p.m.
Event:
The Jessye Norman School of the Arts’ Annual Benefit Concert: “An Evening with Audra McDonald”
Location:
Miller Theater
708 Broad Street (Downtown Augusta)
Augusta, GA 30901
Flowers:
J. Norman Funeral Service
c/o Williams Funeral Home
2945 Old Tobacco Road
Hephzibah, GA 30815
*Please direct resolutions and/or proclamations, cards, and condolences to the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, 739 Green Street, Augusta, GA 30901 to be read at the service and/or provided to the family.
*In lieu of flowers, foundation endowment gifts in honor of Jessye Norman can be made at www.jessyenormanschool.org.
*Donations may be sent to the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, 739 Green Street, Augusta, GA 30901.

Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” Will Play Broadway Theater the Belasco for One Month Beginning November 1st

Roger Friedman
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Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” Will Play Broadway Theater the Belasco for One Month Beginning November 1st

The whole theaters vs. Netflix thing re Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” has taken an interesting turn. “The Irishman” will play for one month at Broadway’s Belasco Theater, which will be retrofitted for showing the movie.

Theater chains have balked at showing Netflix and Amazon movies in their theaters because of the short windows before the movies are played on their TV platforms. There is still no list of theaters for “The Irishman,” which will be up for many Oscars and is highly anticipated in New York, of all places.

Without the Ziegfeld Theater (still can’t believe it’s a catering hall– the owners should drowned in stale popcorn) New York doesn’t have a “movie palace” to debut important films.

The Belasco, owned by the Shuberts, is a grand palace that seats 1,000 people. Bryan Cranston in “Network” just played there. The theater has a long, storied history. Hit shows have included the ridiculous–“Oh Calcutta!” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — to the sublime, like Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” and and the amazing 1997 production of “A Doll’s House” with Janet McTeer.

Netflix will run “The Irishman” there from November 1st to December 1st, which is a few days longer than their original planned theater run (it was supposed to end November 27).

The Belasco is right next door to the great Cafe Un, Deux, Troi aka One, Two, Three. Last spring I was sitting in the window having dinner when Tony Goldwyn popped up during “Network”– it’s part of the show. Make your reservation now! Ask for Jose.

Rihanna Releases Her Version of Kramer’s Coffee Table Book, with Its Own Marble Stand, Weighs 2000 Pounds

Roger Friedman
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Rihanna Releases Her Version of Kramer’s Coffee Table Book, with Its Own Marble Stand, Weighs 2000 Pounds

Rihanna — you know, the hottest name in music and fashion — is constantly marketing herself in interesting ways. And just in time for Recession Christmas. (This sort of over the top stuff is what brought down the stock market in 1987 and 2008, btw.)

Now comes her coffee table book called “Rihanna: Luxury Supreme” in three editions, from Phaidon. One of the editions, “Rihanna: Fenty x Phaidon” comes with its own stand a la Kramer’s coffee table book that he debuted on “Regis and Kathie Lee” back in the day, on “Seinfeld.”

There’s a Luxury edition that comes with a marble stand. It’s sold out! “Stoner” is hand-carved in Nazaré, Portugal from a unique piece of solid Pele de Tigre marble with a soft, eggshell finish. Weight: 2,000 lbs.

A cheaper edition, for $175, comes with its own Kramer-esque stand. It’s only 27.3 pounds. (Our main photo.)

    • The spine is wrapped with a custom-dyed, rose gold, metallic cloth with the book’s title silkscreened using a clear gloss UV.
    • Additional features include: 3 paper stocks, 7 single- and double-page gatefolds, 9 bound-in booklets, 1 tip-in sheet, and a double-sided, removable poster (31-1/2 x 23-5/8 inches | 800 x 600 mm).
    • “This Sh*t Is Heavy,” the custom steel tabletop bookstand (measures 18-1/8 x 8-7/8 inches | 460 x 225 mm) created in collaboration with The Haas Brothers is finished in matte, powder-coated green and mirrored silver chrome.

Wait: there’s a $5500 edition that comes on a gold tray. “”Drippy + The Brain,” the custom cast-resin tabletop bookstand (measures 57 x 43-1/2 inches | 1,450 x 1,105 mm ) created in collaboration with The Haas Brothers is plated in an 18-carat gold color with mirror-finish, topped with a cushioned platform made from high-density, laser-cut.” That one weighs 60 pounds, or as much as Rihanna on a diet day.

Listen, this Rihanna ain’t kidding around. She’s not waiting for the royalties from “Work Work Work” to come in. She’s got about 15 different businesses going. Good for her! It doesn’t hurt that she’s not just smart, but really attractive and has a great voice. And now if you want pictures of her, you’ve got them! I think with that gold tray you could chip off a piece for dental fillings, too! All good!

PS I would tell you more, but the Phaidon press release includes no names or numbers. (I see book publicity has gotten no better in 30 years!)

 

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