Showbiz411 » Celebrity

“Superman” Has Legs: Now “Man of Steel” at $216 Million

Roger Friedman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:19:29 +0000

“Man of Steel” continues to mow down the competition at the box office. The Superman reboot made $12.6 million last night. Boxofficemojo puts it at around $216 million worldwide since Thursday. It’s pretty clear that “Man of Steel 2″ is inevitable. Warner Bros. is also looking at a possible $500 million total globally. The only Kryptonite down the road might be “World War Z.” But by Friday “Man of Steel” will be safely in the black…btw if you noticed, Superman and Zod fight in front of a building owned by Lex Luthor… …My old friend Norton Herrick is pretty happy. The film and Broadway producer and real estate magnate had multiple successes. He backed “Pippin” this season and wound up backing the Tony winner for Best Revival of a Musical. His thoroughbred, Animal Kingdom, won the 2011 Kentucky Derby, and the $10 million Dubai World Cup this past March. I’m told Animal Kingdom is now retiring to Palm Beach, where he’ll just be a stud. Coming up, Herrick has three additional film projects on his slate including the highly anticipated [...]

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Jay Z: 1 Million Free Copies of New Album Will NOT Be Counted on Pop Charts

Roger Friedman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:10:28 +0000

So here it is. According to my sources, Soundscan will not count the 1 million copies of Jay Z’s new album, “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” Samsung bought the 1 million copies for five bucks apiece. They plan to give them out to the first million customers who download their Jay Z app on Samsung phones and tablets beginning June 24th. The $5 million involved is part of what’s described as a $30 million marketing plan. It’s good for Jay Z and Samsung equally. But Soundscan, which counts the units sold, won’t include that number in Jay Z’s sales. Soundscan simply doesn’t acknowledge bulk sales. So when “Magna Carta” debuts a couple of days later in stores and on download services, forget it. Only those copies will count toward his chart position. The Samsung million will just be part of the promotion. Billboard will follow suit with Soundscan and not count the copies either. But if Soundscan doesn’t count them, then it’s likely the RIAA won’t either– and that will impinge on Jay Z getting a gold or platinum album. But [...]

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“Mad Men”: Ominous End Credit Lyrics, Strange Press Release

Roger Friedman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:40:02 +0000

“Mad Men” ended last night with music over the closing credits. It was “Porpoise Song” by The Monkees. Never a hit, “Porpoise Song” was obviously placed there on porpoise– or purpose. Also, AMC sent out this weird press release from Sterling Cooper after the show was over last night. First the lyrics: Songwriters: GOFFIN, GERRY/KING, CAROLE My, my the clock in the sky is pounding away There’s so much to say A face, a voice, an overdub has no choice And it cannot rejoice Wanting to be, to hear and to see Crying to the sky But the porpoise is laughing good-bye, good-bye Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye Clicks, clacks Riding the backs of giraffes for laughs is alright for a while The ego sings of castles and kings and things That go with a life of style Wanting to feel, to know what is real Living is a lie But the porpoise is waiting good-bye, good-bye Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye Second, the press release: Peggy Olson FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chief Copywriter, SC&P (212) KL 5-0112 STERLING [...]

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Holly Hunter on “Mad Men”: “Without the Women, They’d Be Masturbators”

leah sydney — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:38:57 +0000

Last night in Hollywood: Women In Film held their Crystal + Lucy Awards at the Beverly Hilton. Jenna Elfman deftly hosted the gala, which celebrated WIF’s 40th anniversary. Jenna quipped, “Forty is the new kick ass. We know that for actresses there still is work to do done. We’re always cast as the love interest, now we have to compete with Matt Damon.” WIF’s President, Producer Cathy Schulman relayed to the VIP crowd, which included Rose McGowan, Diane Warren, Diahann Carroll, Holly Robinson Peete, Elizabeth Rohm, Debra Messing, Stana Katic, Gail Berman Masters, Ilene Kahn Power, Nancy Meyers. Dolores Robinson and more, the troubling statistics that still make it tough for women in Hollywood to get traction in the work place. “To boil it down, when the money and stakes increase, the opportunities for women decrease.” The dynamic evening though was still all about lady power. The event honored some of the industry’s powerful women and one man, no less then George Lucas. Kathleen Kennedy, who now runs George Lucas’s empire, gave The Norma Zarky Humanitarian Award to Lucas. George [...]

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Spielberg, Lucas Predictions May Come True With Four Blockbusters Failing

Roger Friedman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:48:14 +0000

Are Steven Spielberg and George Lucas prescient? Or have they seen the rest of the summer’s blockbuster releases? The duo said at a USC unveiling this week that Hollywood would go through a drastic change after three or four blockbusters, costing $250 million or more, blew up in studios’ faces. So far, “Jack and the Beanstalk” would be number 1, a total disaster. “After Earth” would be number 2 on the list. It’s a total dud. “Man of Steel” would be number 3, with a teetering 60% approval rating of critics and frankly, a mind numbing plot. Coming directly after are “World War Z,” “White House Down,” and “The Lone Ranger.” So far the only blockbusters that worked were “Iron Man 3″ and “Star Trek: Into the Darkness.” I’ve seen “World War Z” and it’s pretty good after producers reshot at least half the film. The result is that movie actually makes sense and has a third act. But the others are all problematic. “The Lone Ranger,” especially looms large, especially after Disney’s “John Carter” did so badly last year. [...]

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Jackson Family Values: Brothers Perform for AEG While Mother Sues Promoter

Roger Friedman — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:42:23 +0000

I have to laugh, this is too much. Katherine Jackson and Michael’s kids are suing AEG Live; the trial is proceeding in downtown Los Angeles. Meantime, Michael’s brothers– the Jacksons–including Jermaine– are set to perform on June 30 a few blocks away at the Staples Center. The show, billed as the BET Experience, features R. Kelly, who his own scandals, New Edition with the infamous Bobby Brown.They should change the name from the Unity Tour to the Infamy Tour. So let me lay this out for you. The Jacksons will do their show in the Staples Center, the place where Michael Jackson was eulogized during a big memorial on July 7, 2009, as well as almost four years to the day of his death — June 25th–and then buried from. On the stage of the Staples Center friends and family spoke. Michael’s coffin was front and center. AEG produced the memorial in 2009, and now the Jackson brothers are working for the same promoter while they hope for a jury decision and big money. A Jackson lawyer said today that [...]

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will.i.am Album “Willpower” Sells Just 55,000 Copies– Even with Britney, Justin, and Miley Guest Stars

Roger Friedman — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:53:16 +0000

What happened to will.i.am? The leader of the Black Eyed Peas released an all-star album six weeks ago. And it’s an all-out flop. “Willpower” dropped on April 23rd, just ten weeks ago. It’s currently number 96 on Billboard. On Amazon, it ranks at number 555,644– that’s right, you didn’t read that wrong. The sales are a total write off, an unmitigated disaster. Evidently music fans had plenty of real will power– “Willpower” sold a shockingly meager 55,000 copies. That’s right– fifty five thousand dollars. Or what will.i.am spends at a nightclub on bottle service. What makes “Willpower” — with a hashtag– all the more perplexing is that it’s filled with top of the pops guest stars. Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus– certainly marketable names among disposable stars– are featured on singles. The Britney single, “Scream and Shout,” made it to number 1. But it turns out that the singles from the album sold over 4 million copies. Soundscan tells me Britney’s single moved 3 million units. And over a million more went to other individual tracks. But the Bieber [...]

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“Mad Men” News: Final Season Will Have 14 Episodes, One More Than in Past

Roger Friedman — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:19:04 +0000

Here’s some exclusive “Mad Men” news: Season 7, the final season, will have one extra episode. Instead of the usual 13 there will be fourteen episodes. Sources tell me it will be a regular one hour episode, too, not a special double finale. My guess, if I had to make one, is that will be set sometime in the future after episode 13. But’s that just speculation. Season 7 should take place through all of 1969, bringing Don, Betty, Peggy and friends to the end of an era. Of course, with two episodes in Season 6 remaining, the big news tonight or next week will be whether or not Betty is pregnant. And if she is, will it be the result of her fling with Don? It’s an old soap opera convention, but it’s sure to drive ratings and get tongues wagging. Even if it is Don’s, would he even acknowledge it? Not necessarily since he barely speaks to Bobby and has no relationship with youngest son, Gene. Set your DVRs, since “Mad Men” will overlap with the Tony Awards [...]

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Tom Cruise Speech to Wal Mart Employees: “Hard to believe, but some Americans have little food to eat”

Roger Friedman — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:23:08 +0000

Here’s a video of Tom Cruise’s speech to WalMart employees in Fayetteville, Arkansas yesterday. “The culture you have here is really like no other,” Tom said. “Your company is a role model,” he added. The rest of the speech was about how WalMart helps low income women. Watch the video. I’d love to hear from female Wal Mart employees on this subject. He also waxes on about WalMart’s eco-friendly projects. Cruise also addressed hunger in America. He said, “This is hard to believe, but [some Americans] have little food to eat.”

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Tom Cruise Reschedules Planned Producers Guild Appearance Until After Event is Over

Roger Friedman — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:06:36 +0000

If you were expecting to attend “A Conversation with Tom Cruise” tomorrow at the Producers Guild event in Los Angeles, you’re out of luck. Cruise abruptly canceled his appointment, which has been publicized for several months. The PGA conference is this weekend on the 20th Century Fox lot and features two of Tom’s past producer-directors, Jerry Bruckheimer and J.J. Abrams. There are plenty of other good events on the schedule for this weekend, including a talk with “Survivor” and “The Bible” producer Mark Burnett. The PGA now says Cruise will do his conversation next Saturday at 11am on the Fox lot for those who are available. Why is he off tomorrow’s calendar? He isn’t shooting a movie. Anyway, maybe next week someone will ask Cruise about dropping out of “Man from UNCLE” and how he feels about “Oblivion” and “Jack Reacher” not reaching the $100 million mark in the U.S. Also, Cruise apparently told a British paper last week that he’d like to emulate Eddie Murphy, who was turning “Beverly Hills Cop” into a TV series. Unfortunately CBS passed on [...]

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