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Thursday Box Office “Wicked” Heads to $120 Mil Weekend, “Gladiator” Does Battle

Roger Friedman
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Thursday Box Office “Wicked” Heads to $120 Mil Weekend, “Gladiator” Does Battle

Last night was the first real mano a mano scenario for big movies in a long, long time.

“Wicked,” heavily marketed, took him $19.2 million in previews. A $120 mil weekend is likely — or more if weekend numbers exceed expectations.

Then there’s “Gladiator II,” which has a $6.5 mil preview. A $40 million opening is the target.

Both movies are top notch, four star films. “Gladiator II” is probably more serious in above the line awards, while “Wicked” will be cited for its production values. It has a very “Harry Potter” feel to it.

As for “Gladiator II,” this is probably the last chance to give Ridley Scott Best Director. He’s in his 80s and deserves it.

Saudi Film Festival Corrals Spike Lee to Head Jury Despite Connections to Royal Family: Jamal Khashoggi Forgotten Again

Roger Friedman
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Saudi Film Festival Corrals Spike Lee to Head Jury Despite Connections to Royal Family: Jamal Khashoggi Forgotten Again

Would you go to Saudi Arabia if your boss didn’t make you?

The Saudi royal family has been in bed with the top Republicans for decades. This goes back to the Bush family and 9-11, and all the way up to the chopping up of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi. No one was ever punished for any of that.

Four years ago the Saudis got smart. They started the Red Sea Film Festival, funded by the royal family. Red Sea now has its sponsorship tentacles in a bunch of other festivals including Cannes. They underwrite parts of amFAR. This is all part of their normalization of a brutal regime in Saudi Arabia that offers few civil rights to women, and none to gay people.

Today they announced the corralling of Spike Lee as head of their next jury. Last year the head of the jury was the not very discerning Oliver Stone.

Most celebrities will go where the money is, as long as it comes upfront. Last year Gwyneth Paltrow gave a talk and went to the parties. So did Nicolas Cage, Adrien Brody, Halle Berry, Andrew Garfield, and many more. While there are almost no movies from the west — they are all Middle Eastern and conform to their conservative values — the American stars parade around like Saudi Arabia is Sundance on sand and steroids.

Here’s a picture of Cage with Mohammed al Turki, a leader of the Festival. Since Cage lost his hand in “Moonstruck,” let’s hope he got it back that night! al Turki is regularly seen at every Hollywood event including this past week’s Academy Governor’s Awards. He takes pictures with every single celebrity on his march to normalize Saudia Arabia.

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 07: Nicolas Cage and CEO of the Red Sea International Film Festival Mohammed Al Turki attend the red carpet on the closing night of the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 on December 07, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)

“Yellowstone” without Kevin Costner Actually Rises a Bit in Ratings in First Post-Murder Episode

Roger Friedman
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“Yellowstone” without Kevin Costner Actually Rises a Bit in Ratings in First Post-Murder Episode

“Yellowstone” without Kevin Costner actually rose in the ratings on Sunday night.

Total linear numbers were 5.961 million, up from 5.8 million. That’s an increase of 1.9%. The second episode of Season 5.2 had a key demo rise of 5.48%.

Of course, the once popular cowboy drama has lost between 2 and 3 million viewers since season 5.1.

The ratings rise is due to the ending of the previous episode in which Costner’s John Dutton died by murder that was made to look like suicide. Viewers wanted to know what happened to Dutton.Will they want to know more? That’s the question.

There are no confirmed numbers for streaming, but they would be in proportion most likely.

Costner could still turn up during the season or at the very end of the run, but that seems unlikely, too. The only thing that could propel the actor back to the show would be an honest understanding that his “Horizon” movies are not a success. The first one bombed at the box office, the second one has not been released, and the third and fourth are still on the planning boards without financing.

Gaetz of Hell: Donald Trump Questionable Choice for Attorney General Removes Name from Running

Roger Friedman
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Gaetz of Hell: Donald Trump Questionable Choice for Attorney General Removes Name from Running

Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has dropped out of the running for Attorney General.

He’s been facing multiple investigations and accusations involving his sex life. spending money on prostitutes, charges from underage girls, and so on.

Gaetz had quit Congress last week with the idea that he would become Attorney General. But he would never have passed his Congressional hearing. Everyone in Congress hates him, and all the investigations point to possible disaster.

Neverthless, Gaetz may yet get a job out of this if Trumps throws him a bone of a job that doesn’t require approval.

Gaetz wrote on Twitter his way of saving face:

“I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1. I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”

Trump responded thusly:” I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”

The next Trump disaster will be Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth’s appointment as possible Secretary of Defense. Hegseth is under fire past sexual harassment grievances. His nomination will also end in tears.

Rod Stewart Says He’s Ending Big Tours But Has “No Desire to Retire”

Roger Friedman
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Rod Stewart Says He’s Ending Big Tours But Has “No Desire to Retire”

The great and witty rock star Rod Stewart is approaching his 80th birthday in about 60 days.

But Rod, famous and beloved for dozens of hits like   “Maggie May” and “Do You Think I’m Sexy” says he has “no desire to retire” in an Instagram statement. He will, however. cut back on huge stadium and arena tours.

“I love what I do, and know what I can do,” he wrote. “I’m fit. Have a full head of hair, and can run 100 meters in 18 seconds at the jolly age of 79.”

 

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Donald Trump Ties in with “Wicked” Release, Nominates Dr. Oz to Kill Off Medicare

Roger Friedman
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Donald Trump Ties in with “Wicked” Release, Nominates Dr. Oz to Kill Off Medicare

Donald Trump is tying in with the movie release of “Wicked.”

Knowing how popular “Wicked” will be, Trump has nominated Dr. Oz to destroy Medicare and Medicaid.

Trump did not say in a statement: “Wicked, Oz, they’re all tied together. Isn’t Dr. Oz in the movie?”

He is not, but he would be more welcome in the movie than in government.

Maybe, like the Wizard of Oz, Dr. Oz will fly away in a hot air balloon.

Read this from the Journal of American Medicine.

https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/case-dr-oz-ethics-evidence-and-does-professional-self-regulation-work/2017-02

Ironic Twist: Matt Gaetz Allegedly Took Two 19 Year Old Hookers to See “Pretty Woman” On Broadway

Roger Friedman
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Ironic Twist: Matt Gaetz Allegedly Took Two 19 Year Old Hookers to See “Pretty Woman” On Broadway

The movie and Broadway show, “Pretty Woman,” is about a hooker who gets picked up by a rich guy and is paid $3,000 for a weeks’ worth of work.

Allegedly, former congressman Matt Gaetz, now a candidate for Attorney General of the United States, took two 19 year old hookers to the Broadway show when they all visited New York on his dime back in 2019.

“Pretty Woman” played from the summer of 2018 to the summer of 2019. It got pretty bad reviews.

But how creative of Gaetz. He thought he was the Richard Gere character, if this is true. He denies everything.

There are reports everywhere, however, about this possible trip. You can read the main one here from ABC’s Juju Chang.

Gaetz has been voted Least Likely to Become Attorney General by every sane person in the country.

In Chang’s reporting, the lawyer for the young women said: “They were asked to go and have sex with Rep. Gaetz, and then they could go out and see a show that they wanted to see that night. So essentially, take care of things, and then later on, they could have their fun.”

It’s unclear if Gaetz used the half price TKTS booth to purchase the tickets, but considering it was January 2019 there would have been plenty available, especially mid week.

Liam Neeson Has Made 11 Movies in 4 Years That No One’s Seen: The Latest is Now on Home Video

Roger Friedman
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Liam Neeson Has Made 11 Movies in 4 Years That No One’s Seen: The Latest is Now on Home Video

Liam Neeson is seeking “Absolution.”

It’s the title of his latest movie, but also a good word after Neeson has appeared in 11 movies in the last four years. Almost no one has seen any of them. One didn’t even get US distribution.

“Absolution” follows “Retribution,” but “Distribution” would be a good title for third chapter. “Absolution” sounds like a lot of the others: “An aging gangster attempts to reconnect with his children and rectify the mistakes in his past, but the criminal underworld won’t loosen their grip willingly.”

What happened to Liam Neeson? He was an Oscar nominee for “Schindler’s List.” He was a considered A list, and even appeared in a couple of hot Broadway plays. But much of his career has been spent making strange choices that have resulted in no box office. He hasn’t even really capitalized on his performances as Qui-Gon Jinn in “Star Wars” movies.

It’s a head scratcher.

So now Liam is streaming in “Absolution,” which has been playing in 1,900 theaters since November 1st although no one has ever mentioned it. Total box office is around $2.7 million. The Rotten Tomatoes number is 52%, which could be worse. The RT audience score was 32%, which is worse!

Next up Liam is a remake of “The Naked Gun,” in which I guess he’ll send himself up a la Leslie Nielsen in the classic original. But why isn’t he making big movies with great directors? Very weird.

Madonna Suggests Her Cancelled Biopic Could Become a TV Miniseries (Much Better Idea)

Roger Friedman
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Madonna Suggests Her Cancelled Biopic Could Become a TV Miniseries (Much Better Idea)

Madonna is back — maybe because she knows Cher is getting all the attention today for her memoir.

On Instagram, Madonna suggests that her cancelled biopic for Universal — the one she was going to direct from a Diablo Cody screenplay — could have a new life.

Madonna asks her fans how they would feel about a TV miniseries instead of a film? I think it’s a great idea. She could make it like “The Crown,” with different actresses playing her at various stages and with a progression of faces.

Madonna might even be able to direct an episode. But hopefully she’ll get a director or a few who will make her life story into something compelling. There’s certainly a lot of material in the material world!

HBO Hit “The Gilded Age” Returning with Just 8 Episodes “And They Are Short” (Exclusive)

Roger Friedman
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HBO Hit “The Gilded Age” Returning with Just 8 Episodes “And They Are Short” (Exclusive)

In the old days, HBO’s “The Gilded Age” would have roared into a third season with at least 12 episodes. And they’d be an hour long.

But I’m told when “The Gilded Age” returns — maybe this spring or later — there will be only 8 installments.

Disappointed fans will be further frustrated when they hear that the episodes are “Short,” says insider. Length of episodes in the first two seasons ranged from 46 to 80 minutes. It sounds like Season 3 will fall more on the 46 end.

Oh how we long for those old days! HBO and Warner Discovery could have developed a 5 or 6 season series with “Gilded Age.” But that would take money, and the new owner — David Zaslav — obviously doesn’t want to make that investment. “Gilded Age,” from Julian Fellowes, was set to become the American “Downton Abbey.”

Most of the original cast will return with the exception of Tony winner Michael Cerveris, who’s currently killing it on Broadway in Elton John’s “Tammy Faye” as the slimy Jerry Falwell. A slew of new people are coming including Phylicia Rashad, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bill Camp, and many Broadway stars.

Maybe if “Gilded Age” returns with bigger numbers this time, HBO will give it a longer fourth season. It’s too bad this season is so curtailed, however. Season 3 is usually when a show really takes off.

Joe Scarborough Met with Trump After “The View” Host Recalled on Live TV Ex Prez’s 2020 Murder Accusations

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