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Donald Trump Says He Has Almost $500 Million in Cash, But His Lawyers Say He Can’t Get a Bond

Roger Friedman
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Donald Trump Says He Has Almost $500 Million in Cash, But His Lawyers Say He Can’t Get a Bond

Which is it?

Donald Trump says on Truth Social this morning that he has “almost $500 million in cash.”

His lawyers have told the court in New York that he can’t pay his $464 million judgement. They say he can’t put up the money for a bond. Attorney General Letitia James is getting ready to take is properties off the Monopoly board.

So which is it? Does he have the money or doesn’t he? He says he was going to use it for his presidential campaign. And some Big Macs. But now?

And another day begins.

Broadway Review: “Water for Elephants” Musical Overcomes Book, Movie with The Flash–Grant Gustin –Leading a Real Circus to Victory

Roger Friedman
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Broadway Review: “Water for Elephants” Musical Overcomes Book, Movie with The Flash–Grant Gustin –Leading a Real Circus to Victory

Thursday night, the elephants got their water on Broadway.

A new musical based on the book and movie, Water for Elephants, stormed the Imperial Theater. A magnificent lifesize puppet elephant turned up on stage with a very talented cast including Grant Gustin (The Flash on TV), Gregg Edelman, and Paul Alexander Nolan, plus Isabelle McCalla.

While the story sometimes sags, and the music isn’t exactly Sondheim, the production itself is so overwhelmingly good that you never notice the flaws. Director Jessica Stone stages the most thrilling circus since the real one was at Madison Square Garden, combining elements of Cirque du Soleil like performances and the Big Apple Circus — plus a little of Diane Paulus’s landmark “Pippin.” The acrobats are so balletic, athletic, and energetic there are times when you actually gasp as they do their tricks.

The story is simple: Gregg Edelman plays an older Jacob Jankowski, who goes to the circus and recalls his days as a young veterinarian in the 30s traveling with a long ago troupe. As he tells the story, it’s of a triangle between him (Gustin), the circus owner’s wife (McCalla), and the owner himself (Nolan). That’s it, but along the way we meet all the different performers, as well as Rosie the Elephant (who could get a Tony nomination) maybe a distant cousin of the horse from “War Horse.”

Among the standouts in the supporting cast are Stan Brown as Camel, an old sage still riding the circus train, and the entire ensemble of circus workers who dance, fly, and tumble with soulful and precise choreography.

A little more later — keep refreshing — on this hit production that will be garnering a dozen or so Tony nominations. “Water for Elephants” is a knockout!

Good News for NBC’s “SVU,” “Law & Order” Classic, Chicago Shows, But Chris Meloni’s Organized Crime Teeters

Roger Friedman
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Good News for NBC’s “SVU,” “Law & Order” Classic, Chicago Shows, But Chris Meloni’s Organized Crime Teeters

Well, it’s good news for Dick Wolf at NBC.

His Wednesday line up of “Chicago” shows will all be back next season.

So will “Law & Order,” and “SVU,” for more stories ripped from today’s headlines.

But Christopher Meloni’s “Law & Order Organized Crime” is teetering on cancellation. So far NBC will only say they’re in discussions. But “OC” has never built a loyal viewing base. Still no one knows what it’s about after three seasons. I’ve tried to watch it to no avail. I don’t get it.

If NBC cancels “Organized Crime” that will lessen Wolf’s stranglehold on the network. If NBC keeps it, or moves it to Peacock, which is possible, Meloni and everyone else involved would have to take pay cuts.

“Organized Crime” did show some spark of a rating last week when it ran against “Station 19” on ABC. If Meloni’s fans tune in tonight with some heft, maybe they’ll keep their show.

How Much Do Superstars Make from Streaming? Ariana Grande Struggling with 13 of the Top Songs

Roger Friedman
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How Much Do Superstars Make from Streaming? Ariana Grande Struggling with 13 of the Top Songs

Look, we’re not taking up a collection for Ariana Grande. She’s loaded.

But how much do superstars actually make from streaming? The answer is: not a lot.

According to the Song Revenue chart from hitsdailydouble.com, Ariana had about 13 of the top 50 streaming songs last week. She had the number 1 song for streaming with “We Can’t Be Friends.”

Thirteen songs — you’d think that would add up to a fortune. But the total is around $850,000 — not even a million bucks. Her top song brought in just $135,000.

Once you take away taxes and the streamers’ cut, and everyone else’s, Ariana has just enough money to buy a clip on pony tail. And imagine how the other superstars did who are on that chart, most with just one track.

Streaming ain’t for the squeamish, that’s for sure.

Watch: Michael Jackson’s Daughter, Paris, Stars in Ozzy Osbourne Video “Crack Cocaine”

Roger Friedman
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Watch: Michael Jackson’s Daughter, Paris, Stars in Ozzy Osbourne Video “Crack Cocaine”

Paris Jackson, Michael’s daughter, has an acting turn in Ozzy Osbourne’s new single.

The video is called “Crack Cocaine,” and Paris stars in it. Ozzy made with with Billy Morrison, and it’s not about crack cocaine exactly, just that loving the girl in the song drives him “insane” like, you know — it rhymes.

Very catchy song, could get going on radio. Paris is gorgeous, and it’s a witty turn for her. I’ll bet Sharon Osbourne thought of this.

Ratings: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Jumps to Season High Return from Oscars, Demo Rises Whopping 133%

Roger Friedman
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Ratings: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Jumps to Season High Return from Oscars, Demo Rises Whopping 133%

Good news for Larry David and HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Sunday’s episode jumped 133% in the key demo and 66% in total viewers. The 427K total was the highest of the 7 episodes of this final, 12th season.

What happened? A huge comeback from the previous Sunday when the show was sacrificed to the Oscars. That episode, with guests Sienna Miller and Lori Loughlin, obviously picked up speed once the word got out how good it was.

This past Sunday’s episode was not quite at that level, and it was even more vulgar than the one I liked so much. Still, with fewer options of new shows, and the Oscars in the distance, the episode pulled in numbers.

There are only 3 new episodes left of “Curb.” Richard Lewis is in the next one this Sunday. And then we’ll have to wrap it up. So far this season, Larry has been the butt of jokes for writing the lousy finale of “Seinfeld.” Obviously, this is all pointing to the “Curb” finale, which will somehow be tied to the other. That should be a good punch line.

RIP Celebrated Journeyman Actor M. Emmett Walsh, 88, Made A Name for Himself with “Blood Simple”

Roger Friedman
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RIP Celebrated Journeyman Actor M. Emmett Walsh, 88, Made A Name for Himself with “Blood Simple”

M. Emmett Walsh didn’t walk red carpets or win awards. He had no Oscar campaigns, although he did one Indie Spirit Award back when it mattered the Coen brothers’ “Blood Simple.”

He was so good in that movie, from 1984, that his career was settled. He never stopped working.

Walsh was from New York apparently, although he almost always played rednecks, often frightening or scheming ones. He was a journeyman actor who was never the lead, just the linchpin villain usually, or the plot signal, the one you would always remember. Even though he worked a lot in TV from the late 60s, Walsh didn’t catch on right away. It wasn’t until a good run in “The Jerk,” “Brubaker,” and “Ordinary People” that it was clear he wasn’t going anywhere. Then came “Blade Runner,” and “Blood Simple.”

The Coens used him one more time, in “Raising Arizona,” but by then there was no stopping him. It seems like M. Emmett Walsh worked right up the day he died.

RIP. He will be sorely missed.

Exclusive: Madonna Cuts Her Charitable Giving to Lowest Ever, But Still Sends Kabbalah $100,000

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Madonna Cuts Her Charitable Giving to Lowest Ever, But Still Sends Kabbalah $100,000

It’s a good thing Madonna’s back on the road and making money again.

The pop star is one of the wealthiest entertainers in history. She’s certainly made millions this past year with her Celebration tour. Like over $100 million.

But in 2022, according to tax filings, Madonna cut her charitable donations to shreds. The total was just $328,713. The number is the lowest by far since I started reporting on her Ray of Light Foundation.

Most of the 2022 giving went to the Kabbalah Center in Los Angeles, a cult organization that she’s supported for decades. In 2022 Kabbalah received Madonna’s highest donation, $100,000.

By contrast, Madonna gave only $5,000 to her good pal Rosie O’Donnell’s tremendous Rosie’s Broadway Kids school. That’s kind of astounding. Those Broadway kids are the real deal. Kabbalah is literally hocus pocus.

Madonna really cut her spending in 2022. In 2021, she gave over half a million dollars to various organizations. In 2020, the number was over $2 million. Half of the 2021 amount went to Bill Gates’s foundation, which was helping create the COVID vaccinations.

But times are tough when you’ve got several homes, stables, six kids, a lot of staff. Record sales are not what they used to be. And Madonna hadn’t toured since “Madame X.”

Especially hurt over the last couple of years: local Detroit community groups which I’m sure appreciated the hometown girl’s help. My guess is her 2024 report will show a dramatic increase in donations.

Now everyone will feel better about buying tickets to the “Celebration” tour this year.

Intl Incident? Kanye West, Noted Antisemite, Says He’ll Perform at Foot of Egyptian Pyramid Next Month

Roger Friedman
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Intl Incident? Kanye West, Noted Antisemite, Says He’ll Perform at Foot of Egyptian Pyramid Next Month

Let’s hope this isn’t true.

Kanye West has posted to Instagram that he’ll perform at the foot of an Egyptian pyramid next month.

It seems unwise of Egypt, in the middle of turmoil over Israel-Hamas-Gaza, would allow such a thing. Kanye is an avowed antisemite and self proclaimed admirer of Hitler. Why would Egypt want this?

Unfortunately, the Egyptian consulates in the US are closed for the day. But we’ll ask them tomorrow. But can you imagine the idiotic “Vultures 1” album — with four letter words and its antisemitic lyrics — broadcast from this historic spot? And Egypt approving it?

 
 
 
 
 
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Who Ya Gonna Call? Not New Ghostbusters: Critics Pan “Frozen Empire” with a 45%

Roger Friedman
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Who Ya Gonna Call? Not New Ghostbusters: Critics Pan “Frozen Empire” with a 45%

Officially, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” has been slimed by critics this morning.

On Rotten Tomatoes, 47 reviews have resulted in a 45% splat. Previews begin tonight.

I’m not surprised. Instead of making a great follow up to “Afterlife,” producers reverted to churning out a new version of the old movies from the 80s.

The trades were so-so in their reviews, but The Guardian wrote: “The time has come for Hollywood to allow the spurious Ghostbusters franchise to join Jurassic World and Aquaman in the bin and think of something new.”

The Daily Beast reviewer Nick Schrager: “It all resembles a lot of cosplaying, although its central failing is foregrounding cacophonous mayhem and middling melodrama over the drollness that defined the first two Ghostbusters movies.”

It sounds like a bust, but the first weekend will be big enough with fans of the original queuing up for some nostalgia. Me? I’ll wait for it to turn up on American Airlines.

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