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Bruno Mars Announces All Star Tour, New Album Called “The Romantic,” and New Single Coming This Week

Roger Friedman
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Bruno Mars Announces All Star Tour, New Album Called “The Romantic,” and New Single Coming This Week

Bruno Mars is really back, baby!

The pop phenom hasn’t had a new solo album in a decade. But he’s returning on February 27th with “The Romantic.”

A new single drops Thursday night.

And a tour is coming featuring Anderson.Paak, Raye, Leon Thomas, and Victoria Monet.

Whoever put this together is very wide, indeed. Tours need to be packages these days. An opening and feature act aren’t enough to fill arenas or large theaters. The prices are too night. “The Romantic” tour will be a crowd-pleaser and a hit. Smart, smart, smart. Sounds like the grand old days of the Stax or Motown revues!

Looking forward to Thursday night and the new single. We need it right now!

PS Which one of those ladies — Monet or Raye — will sing the Lady Gaga part of “Die with a Smile.” Maybe they’re alternate!

Emmy Awards Add Prize for Legacy Shows of Cultural Impact So They Can Have Reunions on Stage Every Year for “MASH” or “Seinfeld”

Roger Friedman
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Emmy Awards Add Prize for Legacy Shows of Cultural Impact So They Can Have Reunions on Stage Every Year for “MASH” or “Seinfeld”

The Emmy Awards are adding a new category for the first time in decades.

The Legacy Award will go to a show that lasted on the air for five years or more, amassed 60 episodes, and is considered to have had cultural impact.

Basically, it’s an excuse to have reunions of beloved casts, something to draw ratings for the Emmys while they’re handing out new statues on the air.

No doubt there will be online competitions to see if “Seinfeld” or “MASH” or “The Sopranos” or “Mad Men” or “LOST” will get the treatment.

Maybe even shows that never got Emmy attention, like “NCIS” will be included.

Not a bad idea, and this way the casts feel like they’re not just being trotted out for an anniversary.

I do think the next new award should be for shows that ran or two seasons and never got proper endings.

PS One caveat, I guess, is that enough cast members would still be alive to accept the award.

SAG Awards Final Nail in Coffin for The Rock, Jennifer Lawrence Movies, DDL, George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Jeremy Allen White, Steve Martin

Roger Friedman
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SAG Awards Final Nail in Coffin for The Rock, Jennifer Lawrence Movies, DDL, George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Jeremy Allen White, Steve Martin

So much hype, and it’s all gone in a puff of smoke.

Earlier this year, bloggers hailed a bunch of movies that would “definitely” get Oscar nominations.

Now, with the 2026 SAG Actor Awards nominations, most of them are chucked out.

That would start with Jennifer Lawrence in “Die My Love,” Dwayne the Rock Johnson in “Smashing Machine,” Daniel Day Lewis in “Anemone.”

“Nuremberg,” a movie that certainly should have included, is invisible.

What happened to Adam Sandler in “Jay Kelly”? He was supposed to be a lock. Forget about George Clooney, who was very good. I loved this movie. I do think it made actors nervous to see behind the curtain. Sandler and Laura Dern have a very deep conversation on the train in Italy about the reality of celebrity vs. Hollywood underlings. I think it scared the voting actors off.

Sandler’s spot went to young Miles Caton, who was great in “Sinners.” But Sandler really got screwed.

Some others I mentioned in a previous story.

In TV, the negatives are worse. Jeremy Allen White, a nice guy, has had a bad year. First his Springsteen movie, “Deliver Me from Nowhere,” bombed. Now his latest season as star of “The Bear” has been a strike out. We loved “The Bear,” but it’s time to get Uber Eats.

Steve Martin and Selena Gomez got nothing out of “Only Murders in the Building,” which is coming up on its final season.

The Motion Picture Nominees are:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET / Marty Mauser – “MARTY SUPREME”
LEONARDO DICAPRIO / Bob – “ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER”
ETHAN HAWKE / Lorenz Hart – “BLUE MOON”
MICHAEL B. JORDAN / Smoke/Stack – “SINNERS”
JESSE PLEMONS / Teddy – “BUGONIA”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JESSIE BUCKLEY / Agnes – “HAMNET”
ROSE BYRNE / Linda – “IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU”
KATE HUDSON / Claire – “SONG SUNG BLUE”
CHASE INFINITI / Willa – “ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER”
EMMA STONE / Michelle – “BUGONIA”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
MILES CATON / Sammie Moore – “SINNERS”
BENICIO DEL TORO / Sensei Sergio St. Carlos – “ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER”
JACOB ELORDI / The Creature – “FRANKENSTEIN”
PAUL MESCAL / Will – “HAMNET”
SEAN PENN / Col. Steven J. Lockjaw – “ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
ODESSA A’ZION / Rachel Mizler – “MARTY SUPREME”
ARIANA GRANDE / Glinda – “WICKED: FOR GOOD”
AMY MADIGAN / Gladys – “WEAPONS”
WUNMI MOSAKU / Annie – “SINNERS”
TEYANA TAYLOR / Perfidia – “ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER”

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
FRANKENSTEIN
DAVID BRADLEY / Blind Man
CHRISTIAN CONVERY / Young Victor Frankenstein
CHARLES DANCE / Leopold Frankenstein
JACOB ELORDI / The Creature
MIA GOTH / Elizabeth/Claire Frankenstein
OSCAR ISAAC / Victor Frankenstein
FELIX KAMMERER / William Frankenstein
LARS MIKKELSEN / Capt. Anderson
CHRISTOPH WALTZ / Harlander

HAMNET
JOE ALWYN / Bartholomew
JESSIE BUCKLEY / Agnes
NOAH JUPE / Hamlet
PAUL MESCAL / Will
EMILY WATSON / Mary

MARTY SUPREME
ODESSA A’ZION / Rachel Mizler
SANDRA BERNHARD / Judy
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET / Marty Mauser
EMORY COHEN / Ira Mizler
FRAN DRESCHER / Rebecca Mauser
ABEL FERRARA / Ezra Mishkin
PENN JILLETTE / Hoff
KOTO KAWAGUCHI / Koto Endo
LUKE MANLEY / Dion Galanis
TYLER OKONMA / Wally
KEVIN O’LEARY / Milton Rockwell
GWYNETH PALTROW / Kay Stone
GÉZA RÖHRIG / Béla Kletzki
LARRY RATSO SLOMAN / Murray Norkin

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
BENICIO DEL TORO / Sensei Sergio St. Carlos
LEONARDO DICAPRIO / Bob
REGINA HALL / Deandra
CHASE INFINITI / Willa
SEAN PENN / Col. Steven J. Lockjaw
TEYANA TAYLOR / Perfidia

SINNERS
MILES CATON / Sammie Moore
BUDDY GUY / Old Sammie
MICHAEL B. JORDAN / Smoke/Stack
JAYME LAWSON / Pearline
DELROY LINDO / Delta Slim
OMAR MILLER / Cornbread
WUNMI MOSAKU / Annie
JACK O’CONNELL / Remmick
HAILEE STEINFELD / Mary

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
F1
FRANKENSTEIN
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SINNERS

The Television Nominees are:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
JASON BATEMAN / Vince Friedkin – “BLACK RABBIT”
OWEN COOPER / Jamie Miller – “ADOLESCENCE”
STEPHEN GRAHAM / Eddie Miller – “ADOLESCENCE”
CHARLIE HUNNAM / Ed Gein – “MONSTER: THE ED GEIN STORY”
MATTHEW RHYS / Nile Jarvis – “THE BEAST IN ME”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
CLAIRE DANES / Agatha Wiggs – “THE BEAST IN ME”
ERIN DOHERTY / Briony Ariston – “ADOLESCENCE”
SARAH SNOOK / Marissa Irvine – “ALL HER FAULT”
CHRISTINE TREMARCO / Manda Miller – “ADOLESCENCE”
MICHELLE WILLIAMS / Molly – “DYING FOR SEX”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
STERLING K. BROWN / Agent Xavier Collins – “PARADISE”
BILLY CRUDUP / Cory Ellison – “THE MORNING SHOW”
WALTON GOGGINS / Rick Hatchett – “THE WHITE LOTUS”
GARY OLDMAN / Jackson Lamb – “SLOW HORSES”
NOAH WYLE / Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch – “THE PITT”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
BRITT LOWER / Helly – “SEVERANCE”
PARKER POSEY / Victoria Ratliff – “THE WHITE LOTUS”
KERI RUSSELL / Kate Wyler – “THE DIPLOMAT”
RHEA SEEHORN / Carol – “PLURIBUS”
AIMEE LOU WOOD / Chelsea – “THE WHITE LOTUS”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
IKE BARINHOLTZ / Sal Saperstein – “THE STUDIO”
ADAM BRODY / Noah Roklov – “NOBODY WANTS THIS”
TED DANSON / Charles Nieuwendyk – “A MAN ON THE INSIDE”
SETH ROGEN / Matt Remick – “THE STUDIO”
MARTIN SHORT / Oliver Putnam – “ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
KATHRYN HAHN / Maya Mason – “THE STUDIO”
CATHERINE O’HARA / Patty Leigh – “THE STUDIO”
JENNA ORTEGA / Wednesday Addams – “WEDNESDAY”
JEAN SMART / Deborah Vance – “HACKS”
KRISTEN WIIG / Maxine Simmons – “PALM ROYALE”

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE DIPLOMAT
ALI AHN / Eidra Park
PENNY DOWNIE / Frances Munning
ROSALINE ELBAY / Nora Koriem
ATO ESSANDOH / Stuart Hayford
DAVID GYASI / Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison
RORY KINNEAR / Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge
NANA MENSAH / Billie Appiah
GRAHAM MILLER / Neil Barrow
KERI RUSSELL / Kate Wyler
RUFUS SEWELL / Hal Wyler

LANDMAN
PAULINA CHÁVEZ / Ariana
MARK COLLIE / Sheriff Walt Joeberg
SAM ELLIOTT / T.L. Norris
COLM FEORE / Nathan
ANDY GARCIA / Gallino
JAMES JORDAN / Dale Bradley
ALI LARTER / Angela Norris
JACOB LOFLAND / Cooper Norris
CALEB MARTIN / Ben “BR” Reynolds
DEMI MOORE / Cami Miller
MICHELLE RANDOLPH / Ainsley Norris
MUSTAFA SPEAKS / Boss
BILLY BOB THORNTON / Tommy Norris
KAYLA WALLACE / Rebecca Falcone

THE PITT
AMIELYNN ABELLERA / Nurse Perlah Alawi
SHABANA AZEEZ / Med Student Victoria Javadi
PATRICK BALL / Dr. Frank Langdon
ISA BRIONES / Dr. Trinity Santos
JALEN THOMAS BROOKS / Nurse Mateo Diaz
TAYLOR DEARDEN / Dr. Mel King
FIONA DOURIF / Dr. Cassie McKay
SUPRIYA GANESH / Dr. Samira Mohan
JOANNA GOING / Theresa Saunders
GERRAN HOWELL / Med Student Dennis Whitaker
MICHAEL HYATT / Gloria
TRACY IFEACHOR / Dr. Heather Collins
KATHERINE LANASA / Charge Nurse Dana Evans
KRYSTEL V. MCNEIL / Kiara Alfaro
BRANDON MENDEZ HOMER / Nurse Donnie Donahue
ALEXANDRA METZ / Dr. Yolanda Garcia
TRACY VILAR / Lupe Perez
KRISTIN VILLANUEVA / Nurse Princess Dela Cruz
NOAH WYLE / Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch

SEVERANCE
PATRICIA ARQUETTE / Harmony Cobel
SARAH BOCK / Miss Huang
MICHAEL CHERNUS / Ricken
ZACH CHERRY / Dylan
DICHEN LACHMAN / Ms. Casey
BRITT LOWER / Helly
DARRI ÓLAFSSON / Drummond
ADAM SCOTT / Mark
TRAMELL TILLMAN / Milchick
JEN TULLOCK / Devon
JOHN TURTURRO / Irving
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN / Burt

THE WHITE LOTUS
LESLIE BIBB / Kate Bohr
CARRIE COON / Laurie Duffy
NICHOLAS DUVERNAY / Zion Lindsey
ARNAS FEDARAVIČIUS / Valentin
CHRISTIAN FRIEDEL / Fabian
SCOTT GLENN / Jim Hollinger
WALTON GOGGINS / Rick Hatchett
JON GRIES / Gary/Greg Hunt
DOM HETRAKUL / Pornchai
SARAH CATHERINE HOOK / Piper Ratliff
JASON ISAACS / Timothy Ratliff
YURI KOLOKOLNIKOV / Vlad
JULIAN KOSTOV / Aleksei
CHARLOTTE LE BON / Chloe
LALISA MANOBAL / Mook
MICHELLE MONAGHAN / Jaclyn Lemon
SAM NIVOLA / Lochlan Ratliff
MORGANA O’REILLY / Pam
LEK PATRAVADI / Sritala
SHALINI PEIRIS / Amrita
PARKER POSEY / Victoria Ratliff
SAM ROCKWELL / Frank
NATASHA ROTHWELL / Belinda Lindsey
PATRICK SCHWARZENEGGER / Saxon Ratliff
TAYME THAPTHIMTHONG / Gaitok
AIMEE LOU WOOD / Chelsea

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY
QUINTA BRUNSON / Janine Teagues
WILLIAM STANFORD DAVIS / Mr. Johnson
JANELLE JAMES / Ava Coleman
CHRIS PERFETTI / Jacob Hill
SHERYL LEE RALPH / Barbara Howard
LISA ANN WALTER / Melissa Schemmenti
TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS / Gregory Eddie

THE BEAR
LIONEL BOYCE / Marcus Brooks
LIZA COLÓN-ZAYAS / Bettina “Tina” Marrero
AYO EDEBIRI / Sydney Adamu
ABBY ELLIOTT / Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto
EDWIN LEE GIBSON / Ebraheim
COREY HENDRIX / Gary “Sweeps” Woods
ANDREW LOPEZ / Garrett
MATTY MATHESON / Neil Fak
EBON MOSS-BACHRACH / Richard “Richie” Jerimovich
OLIVER PLATT / Uncle Jimmy
SARAH RAMOS / Jessica
RICKY STAFFIERI / Theodore Fak
JEREMY ALLEN WHITE / Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto

HACKS
ROSE ABDOO / Josefina
DAN BUCATINSKY / Rob
CARL CLEMONS-HOPKINS / Marcus Vaughan
PAUL W. DOWNS / Jimmy Lusaque, Jr.
HANNAH EINBINDER / Ava Daniels
MARK INDELICATO / Damien
JEAN SMART / Deborah Vance
MEGAN STALTER / Kayla Schaeffer
MICHAELA WATKINS / Stacey

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING
MICHAEL CYRIL CREIGHTON / Howard Morris
BEANIE FELDSTEIN / Thē
JERMAINE FOWLER / Randall
SELENA GOMEZ / Mabel Mora
JACKIE HOFFMAN / Uma Heller
STEVE MARTIN / Charles-Haden Savage
MARTIN SHORT / Oliver Putnam
DIANNE WIEST / Rainey

THE STUDIO
IKE BARINHOLTZ / Sal Saperstein
KATHRYN HAHN / Maya Mason
CATHERINE O’HARA / Patty Leigh
SETH ROGEN / Matt Remick
CHASE SUI WONDERS / Quinn Hackett

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
ANDOR
LANDMAN
THE LAST OF US
SQUID GAME
STRANGER THINGS

CBS Evening News Night 3: Tony Dokoupil Features Copter Ride with Major Trump Donor Jerry Jones, Fails to Scare Tom Homans

Roger Friedman
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CBS Evening News Night 3: Tony Dokoupil Features Copter Ride with Major Trump Donor Jerry Jones, Fails to Scare Tom Homans

Last week, Tony Dokoupil announced that the CBS Evening News, under his aegis, would eschew experts and elites. They were going for the common man.

So tonight, Tony had a blunted interview with Border Secretary Tom Homans, who has trouble speaking without marbles in his mouth.

See it below. Tony gets nowhere with Homans, who won’t concede that ICE has ever been violent.

Then, Tony took a helicopter ride with wealthy Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. He’s an “elite,” worth $20 billion. So much for that man on the street. Good seats for Cowboys games can run up to $1,000.

Why Jerry Jones? He’s a major Trump supporter, donating $1.1 million in 2020 and plenty more before and since then.

Very cozy, just like Dokoupil did with Hegseth, Noem, et al. Do they share a cigarette after the interview?

Things are going just great.

“Wicked 2,” “Avatar 3” Snubbed by SAG Actors Awards That Include “One Battle,” “Marty,” “Hamnet,” “Sinners,” “Frankenstein”

Roger Friedman
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0
“Wicked 2,” “Avatar 3” Snubbed by SAG Actors Awards That Include “One Battle,” “Marty,” “Hamnet,” “Sinners,” “Frankenstein”

“Wicked 2,” “Avatar 3,” and “Bugonia” are among the movies snubbed by the SAG Actors Awards today.

The nominees for Best Cast in a Film include “One Battle,” “Marty Supreme,” “Hamnet,” “Sinners,” and “Frankenstein.”

The only real surprise among the movie nominees is Kate Hudson as Best Actress in “Song Sung Blue.” I’m thrilled. She deserves it!

The only nomination for “Wicked For Good” is Ariana Grande for Best Supporting Actress.

Otherwise, SAG chose wisely. I’m also happy for Ethan Hawke in “Blue Moon.”

Full list coming…

Banjo Star Bela Fleck Drops Out of Kennedy Center Performance with National Symphony: Why This Rejection is So Different

Roger Friedman
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Banjo Star Bela Fleck Drops Out of Kennedy Center Performance with National Symphony: Why This Rejection is So Different

Banjo star Bela Fleck joins the list of musicians and performers who won’t play at the Kennedy Center.

His objection is the dictatorial name change to Trump-Kennedy Center, not to mention the whole takeover of the theater complex by Trump.

Fleck was supposed to play with the National Symphony Orchestra in mid February. He wrote on social media:

“I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center. Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music. I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art.”

Many artists have dropped out of the Kennedy Center since the changes. Most recently “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz said he wouldn’t host the annual gala.

Why is Fleck’s withdrawal different? He’s the first artist to leave a scheduled subscription with the NSO, the ballet, or opera. He’s not canceling a solo show. If this trend continues, and individual artists like Renee Fleming back out of singing with the opera, the Kennedy Center will grind to a halt pretty quickly.

Tricky Dick Richard Grenell will go down in history for this total destruction. As long as he lives, the story will accompany his name: The Man Who Wrecked the Kennedy Center.

2029 can’t come fast enough.

CBS Evening News Night 2: Tony Dokoupil Shills for Trump Lackeys Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem and ICE As Show Bends to the Right

Roger Friedman
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CBS Evening News Night 2: Tony Dokoupil Shills for Trump Lackeys Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem and ICE As Show Bends to the Right

Tony Dokoupil is not doing himself any favors.

For his second night anchoring the The CBS Evening News, live from Miami, Dokoupil appeared to be shilling for the Trump administration. The show featured Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and despicable Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. It was like Fox News lite.

Tony actually said: “Marco Rubio has become one of the most influential figures in U.S. foreign policy and President Trump’s point man on Venezuela. That’s in addition to his roles as Secretary of State, interim National Security Advisor, acting National Archivist and USAID chief. Rubio’s portfolio has led to a series of AI memes that are taking the internet by storm.”

This reminds me of a “Murphy Brown” episode when Murphy’s guest on the show is forced to say terrible things because he’s being paid by lobbyists. Tony looks like a man whose children are being held hostage by Thanos. In the space of two days (not counting Saturday with Pete Hegseth), Dokoupil is ruining his career.

What could save him? Maybe Bob Schieffer rolling in there and pounding his fist. “Enough!”

Exclusive: What Reclusive Author Thomas Pynchon Thinks About “One Battle After Another” Adapted from His Novel, “Vineland”

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: What Reclusive Author Thomas Pynchon Thinks About “One Battle After Another” Adapted from His Novel, “Vineland”

Big night at the New York Film Critics dinner, where “One Battle After Another” won Best Picture, Jafar Panahi got a standing ovation for Best Director, of “It Was Just An Accident,” and actors Wagner Moura, Rose Byrne, Amy Madigan, and Benicio del Toro won prizes.

Great guests and presenters turned up including Byrne’s husband, Bobby Cannavale, plus Ethan Hawke, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (who loved “The Secret Agent” so much she came to present Best Actor to Wagner Moura — they’d never met), Gaby Hoffman, director James Gray, playwright Tracy Letts (his new play, “Bug,” opens Thursday on Broadway), and Ben Stiller.

Strangest guest in the room actor Ken Jeong, a voice in the best animated feature, “KPop Demon Hunters.

Funniest speech goes to Ethan Hawke, presenting to Rose Byrne, star of “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You.” The star of “Blue Moon” revealed that he’d found a review of his first novel, The Hottest State,” published 30 years ago by none other than …Rose Byrne!

Hawke was howling as he recalled finding the review on the GoodReads website! Byrne then growing up in Australia, was 16. She wrote: “It reads like a poor man’s attempt at a Ryan Adams song.”

Her review? “She didn’t like it!”

Byrne, who is too beautiful with a very pink complexion, turned bright red as she picked her award.

“At she read it! Hawke laughed. (Most people liked the book, by the way.)

The major takeaway of the night. I asked director Paul Thomas Anderson if famously reclusive author Thomas Pynchon had seen PTA’s best picture, “One Battle After Another.”

“One Battle” is based on or shaped by Pynchon’s “Vineland.”

Anderson confirmed that even though he hadn’t seen Pynchon — one of the great literary legends — in a long time, he’d seen the movie and approved of it.

But how could he not like it? “One Battle” is on the way to winning the Oscar for Best Picture, with stops to come at other awards shows. It won the Critics Choice Award on Sunday night.

The critics dinner isn’t televised, but thrown at Tao Downtown. This year’s show cracked the three hour, thirty minute mark (not including an for cocktails and the red carpet). PTA joked when he accepted the final award, “Don’t ever say my movies are too long!”

I had a nice talk with Amy Madigan, whose supporting actress award was for “Weapons.” Forty years after an Oscar nomination for “Twice in a Lifetime,” Madigan has been the surprise of the season playing crazy Aunt Gladys in a horror movie of all things, called “Weapons.”

Madigan is a seasoned actress who should have been recognized a long time ago. When I told her she deserved tonight’s honor, she agreed wholeheartedly. “For doing the work,” she said. She’s an actor’s actor.

But don’t ask Madigan any personal questions. She’s been married to Ed Harris for over 40 years (they have a daughter), but hasn’t thanked in him her two consecutive acceptance speeches this week. She just talks about the work, playing it close to the vest.

There were some odd moments at the critics dinner. Clothing designer Isaac Mizrahi talked too much introducing “Marty Supreme” director Josh Safdie for Best Screenplay with Ron Brownstein. Mizrahi, who’s in the movie, got so caught up in his own mishegos that he blurted out something very inappropriate. The sophisticated audience just bleeped right past it.

For “One Battle,” 25 year old actress Chase Infiniti — getting noms for lead actress in her first film — introduced PTA. She wore a very elegant and conservative Carolina Herrera dress, and conducted herself like a veteran of the circuit. Later, we discussed our mutual love of Denee Benton as Peggy in “The Gilded Age.” This girl is a keeper.

I also got to meet Autumn Durald Arkapaw, cinematographer for “Sinners.” She won last night. There are few female cinematographers. (Ask award winning Ellen Kuras, the pro, who was her buddy for the night.) Akapaw has already killed it on a bunch of movies including Ryan Coogler’s “Wakanda Forever.” Up next is Coogler’s “X Files” series. She also shot that terrific Pamela Anderson film, “The Last Showgirl.”

Some of the night dragged, but mostly it was a pleasure to hear movie artisans tell stories about how movies are made — and how they feel about critics. For Panahi, the first Iranian to win tonight’s award, it’s a sweet victory lap before he returns to his country and a possible year in jail for criticizing his government.

“Please don’t go back,” many implored him.

“Oh, he’s going,” said his interpreter. “It’s home.”

2025 Winners

Best Film:
One Battle After Another

Best Director:
Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident

Best Actor:
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent

Best Actress:
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Best Supporting Actor:
Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Madigan, Weapons

Best Screenplay:
Marty Supreme

Best International Film:
The Secret Agent

Best Animated Film:
KPop Demon Hunters

Best Cinematography:
Sinners

Best Non-Fiction Film:
My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow

Best First Film:
Eephus

Special Award:
Museum of the Moving Image

Special Award:
Screen Slate

Shen Yun Opens at Kennedy Center Tonight, Connected New Epoch Times Chief is On Top Donor List, Ex-Chief Accused of Laundering $67 Million

Roger Friedman
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0
Shen Yun Opens at Kennedy Center Tonight, Connected New Epoch Times Chief is On Top Donor List, Ex-Chief Accused of Laundering $67 Million

Don’t let anyone fool you.

The dance troupe “Shen Yun” returns to the Kennedy Center tonight. They are part of a cult that includes right wing conspiracy newspaper, The Epoch Times.

Janice Trey, acting CEO of Epoch Times, is among the few people on the Kennedy Center Circles Board, so it’s no surprise Shen Yun is so welcome.

But even Shen Yun has issues. Due to low ticket sales, two of their performances this month at the Kennedy Center have been canceled. Like many other productions, Shen Yung — presented by the Falun Gong cult — has suffered because of the change to the Trump Kennedy Center.

Read my original story here. By the way, update on below: the case of Bill Guan — former CEO of Epoch Times — accused by the DOJ of laundering $67 million through the Epoch Times, still has not been settled. If you see Janice Trey tonight at the opening, maybe you can ask her where all that money went.

Epoch Times CFO May Have Laundered Millions Through Shen Yun Dance Troupe and Conspiracy Fueled Chinese TV Channel

Pop Singer Lorde to Headline Governor’s Ball, New York Rock Concert Weekend: Shouted Free Palestine at October Concert

Roger Friedman
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0
Pop Singer Lorde to Headline Governor’s Ball, New York Rock Concert Weekend: Shouted Free Palestine at October Concert

Guess who’s coming to New York?

New Zealand pop star Lorde, the noted antisemite and anti Israel performer.

Lorde, 29, will headline the Governors Ball, an outdoor New York concert weekend, on Friday, June 5th.

Lorde — real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor — has just one hit, called “Royals,” from years ago.

Right from the beginning O’Connor said she was BDS — anti-Israel — and refused to tour in that country.

In October 2025, it was reported that Lorde was a signatory to the “No Music for Genocide” campaign, a movement where hundreds of artists pledge to geo-block their songs, making them inaccessible to Israeli listeners. This action led to her music being pulled from Apple Music in Israel.

During a concert in New York that same month, Lorde reportedly yelled “Free f***ing Palestine” while the stage was lit in the colors of the Palestinian flag.

The singer has signed every stupid celebrity boycott letter about Israel.

It hasn’t done her much good. Lorde’s record sales in recent years have dwindled severely. Her most recent album sold less than 100,000 copies in the US, and half of that was from streaming.

Producers of the Governors Ball have made a huge mistake booking her. But I can see from the lists of artists, the producers had trouble booking any big name artists. Look at this list. Not exactly Woodstock, or Live Aid, or even Farm Aid.

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