Tuesday, December 16, 2025
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Sting Bringing His Musical “The Last Ship” to NY’s Metropolitan Opera House After Stops in Paris, Brisbane, Amsterdam

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Sting is a music man for all seasons.

The rock star of stars opened his Broadway musical, “The Last Ship,” back in October 2014.

Now it will have its first New York revival at the famed Metropolitan Opera House next June for nine performances.

First, the show will tour Europe to Paris and Amsterdam, and to Brisbane, Australia.

Sting will star in the show as Jackie White, the chief of the shipyard in Wallsend, Newcastle, England, the setting for “The Last Ship.”

Included in the large and new cast is longtime Sting pal, Shaggy.

The announcement was just made at the Met, where Sting appeared after canceling two concerts in Florida after picking up a bug. At 74, and in top physical shape, even Sting — whose real name is Gordon Sumner — is human, as it turns out.

At the Met this afternoon, Sting sat center stage, flanked by his concert master and pianist Rob Mathes, and famed guitarist Dominic Miller. It was just them and just us, about two dozen people including press and a couple of lucky fans.

What a pleasure to hear Sting’s butterscotch voice, which hasn’t lost a note, singing unadorned in the Met. He performed a few songs from his Tony winning score including the now classic title song, plus the lovely Richard Rodgers-ish “The Night the Pugilish Learned How to Dance” and the effortlessly melodic “What Say You Meg?”

The new version of “The Last Ship” comes with an all new cast, as I said, with Shaggy playing the Ferryman. Reggae meets Northern England Celtic music. It’s going to be great. There’s also a whole new set although I loved the ship from the Broadway show. I’m told the book has been updated, too.

Sting is sold out around the world with his 3.0 tour, he doesn’t have to perform in “The Last Ship.” But he loves bringing the world of his rough childhood to audiences. He said today, “I didn’t know what would happen to me.” He got a scholarship, launched himself into jazz, and then, of course the world. “I knew,” he said, “I didn’t want to stay in the shipyard.”

Watch: Glen Powell Dances His Way Through One of The Best “Saturday Night Live” Promos Ever: “Don’t tell Lorne”

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This is one of the best promo’s ever for “SNL.”

Glen Powell dances his way through the studio. The results are, let’s say, smashing.

All to promote “The Running Man,” which opens Friday.

Watch the video to the end.

“Devil Wears Prada 2” Now Wink Wink Marketing as Disney Uses Madonna’s “Vogue” for Teaser, Movie Opens Met Gala Weekend

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Coming May 1, 2026, the highly promoted sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Disney licensed Madonna’s “Vogue” for the teaser trailer in case you don’t know what this movie is about. Very on the nose.

This will be the Wintour of our discontent since the film will open on the Friday before the Monday of Wintour’s Met Ball. No doubt the whole cast will be there. What used to be something provocative has become a marketing plan for everyone involved.

Apparently, Anna Wintour will make a cameo in the film. The first one was about lampooning Wintour as a cruel boss. Now she’s part of the joke. So the whole meaning of this thing is gone.

From the press release: “Almost twenty years after making their iconic turns as Miranda, Andy, Emily and Nigel—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2006 phenomenon that defined a generation.

“The film reunites the original main cast with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, and introduces an all-new runway of characters including Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B.J. Novak and Conrad Ricamora. Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman also reprise their roles as “Lily” and “Irv” from the first film.”

Adele Will Make Acting Debut in Supporting Role in High Pitched Film About 18th Century Italian Castrati Seeking Revenge

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Get out your hankies.

Tom Ford, the designer, is directing his third film. Adele will have a supporting role and there are a dozen famous names including Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor Johnson.

Ford is adapting Anne Rice’s 1982 novel called “Cry to Heaven.” No vampires are involved. “Cry to Heaven” takes place in 17th century Venice and it’s about opera. To cite Wikipedia: “it follows the paths of two unlikely collaborators: a Venetian noble and a maestro castrato from Calabria, both trying to succeed in the world of the opera.”

A young boy who is an opera star named Guido is castrated at age 6, but loses his voice at 18 anyway. Meantime, another boy is castrated and becomes a big star. The two eventually become student and teacher. There’s a lot of very high high note singing.

Who does Adele play? Maybe a singing teacher, opera star, or a mother. But the main roles are Hoult and Taylor Johnson, with other supporting turns from Ciarán Hinds, George MacKay, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Owen Cooper, and Thaniwe Newton.

It’s an interesting choice for Ford, who had a great success with the restrained “A Single Man” — which starred Firth and Hoult — and followed it up with the wilder “Nocturnal Animals” in 2016.

The only time I can remember a castrati boy featured in a film was Merchant-Ivory’s excellent “A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries.” I have a clear memory of a very young Anthony Roth Costanzo singing at the high pitched premiere party. He was nominated for a Spirit Award. He’s now General Director & President of Opera Philadelphia. According to his bio, he also operatically launched the purple M&M in a national commercial.

Adele will not be able to cuss in this film, but obviously she’ll sing and it will be a big deal. The movie is set for a year from now, which will mark five years since her last album. Love Adele, but Mariah Carey would have had the better range.

Stay tuned…

Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s Tearful Eulogy for Cleto Escobedo III aka “Junior,” Just 59 — And Cleto’s First Appearance on Show

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Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue last night was for his bandleader and childhood best friend, Cleto Escobedo III.

Cleto, of the Cletones, died yesterday morning at age 59. Kimmel didn’t give a cause of death, but at the end of the monologue he thanks long lists of doctors, nurses, and aides. We’ve all been there. Condolences to Jimmy and all the families involved.

Maybe the worst part of the story is that Cleto’s dad, Cleto II, and his mother outlive the musician. They were in the audience last night. Cleto’s dad plays saxophone in the band. All of this tells you the degree of love and loyalty Kimmel has and had. It’s a very tearful story.

Kimmel will be off the rest of the week. This also explains where he was last Thursday when he abruptly shut down the show. The next day was a rerun anyway, giving all of them the weekend to prepare for the inevitable.

It’s worth watching the whole video to hear of this deep friendship, and Cleto’s accomplishments. PS Everyone called him “Junior” even though he was the 3rd of the Escobedo men with that name.

May his memory be a blessing.

JFK Grandson Jack Schlossberg Announcing Congress Run Weds AM: Can He Go From Eccentric Social Media Star to Politician?

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Here comes Jack Schlossberg.

On Wednesday morning he’s announcing his candidacy for Congress. He wants Jerry Nadler’s seat in the 12th District, which is Manhattan.

Jack has been an eccentric social media star for a couple of years now. He’s made news by being completely off the wall until just recently.

But Jack is the grandson of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. He’s the son of Caroline Kennedy, and the last chance for the Kennedy dynasty to recover from the craziness of recent events — including his cousin, Robert Kennedy Jr.

Will Jack be taken seriously? Will he edit his social media to get rid of some embarrassing posts? And what about serious security issues for a Kennedy etc? How is this all that going to work?

Lots to consider here but I think he can do it, and I hope he succeeds.

See Jack’s recent posts below:

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Jack Schlossberg (@jackuno)

 

 

 

 

 

Cheryl Hines Book Sales Non Existent After First Day as Former “Curb” Actress Rejected Over Kennedy Support by Readers and Fans

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It’s all over for Cheryl Hines. All enthusiasm for her has been curbed.

Once a kind of hip actress because of her association with Larry David, Hines has wrecked any possibility of respect.

Her book, “Unscripted,” was published today and apparently had no advance sales and no current ones either.

It’s sitting at number 12,208 on the Amazon list of books as of 8pm. “Unscripted” had a whole day to show some traction after a month long publicity campaign.

But no one wanted it.

Hines has done nothing but rationalize her insane support of husband Robert Kennedy Jr, now unbelievably, Health Secretary of the United States. She’s stood up for his conspiracy theories, his positions on vaccines, and his “digital” affair with a journalist.

Only women would have bought this book anyway, and they are obviously ignoring it and her.

Was it worth it, Cheryl?

Over the weekend she appeared on stage at a crazy gathering for anti-vax nutcases and underscored her position. That pretty much cemented her shoes.

“Unscripted” is published by Skyhorse, which is pretty much of a vanity press. She probably paid them to publish it. Look for “Unscripted” on the remainder table by Christmas if not sooner.

 

 

“Running Man” Starring Glen Powell, Directed by Edgar Wright, Opens to Disappointing Reviews: Will They Matter?

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I had high hopes for Edgar Wright’s revived “Running Man.”

After all, Wright is a top director and Glen Powell is the biggest new mainstream star in a long time.

But 71 reviews just got unleashed onto Rotten Tomatoes, and they aren’t encouraging.

Right now the score is 62%, right on the border of ‘rotten.’ It’s possible that number can be worked up to 70% but it’s certainly not what was hoped for.

Wright, whose “Baby Driver” is one of my favorite films, has never had a rating this low. He usually hits in the 90s. What could have gone wrong?

Powell has only been going up and up since Richard Linklater’s “Everybody Wants Some” in 2016. The lone exception was his romcom with Sydney Sweeney, “Anyone But You.” That one got a 53% from critics and turned into a box office hit.

Can Powell’s infectious grin get him out of this mess? Do the reviews matter? I guess we’ll find out on Thursday night when “Running Man” opens in previews.

Broadway Box Office Boffo: Up to Highest Level Since Late June with $40 Million Take, Maybe the Canadians Came Back After All!

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Boffo Broadway last week at the box office!

Total was $40.7 million, up more than $7 million from last week. Not bad.

“Hamilton” with Leslie Odom Jr continues to lead the way with almost $3.9 million. Everyone wants to be in the room where the award musical happens! This is good news. The more people who see “Hamilton” may actually explain to them how the government has gone wrong.

Many shows are booming. “Just in Time” continues to fill Circle in the Square. Doesn’t Jonathan Groff get tired? Evidently, not. “Just in Time” should be a gold mine not only for him and the producers but all the songwriters who made Bobby Darin’s hits.

All the “Wicked” talk about the new movie has sent the musical up to almost $2.3 million.

What needs help? Not “Art” with its all star cast. But the little plays: “Liberation” and “Little Bear Ridge Road.” Not everything be sung about, you know!

New shows this week: “The Queen of Versailles” opened to mixed reviews Sunday night. Next up is “Chess,” on Sunday.

Jon Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, Comics Star at Veterans Event, Trump Lackey Howard Lutnick Tries to Redeem Himself with $250K Donation

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It wouldn’t be Veterans Day without Bob and Lee Woodruff’s Stand Up for Heroes.

Nor would it be the launch of Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox’s NY Comedy Week.

The annual event, this year, at David Geffen Hall aka the NY Philharmonic, had a star studded cast of comics.

Jon Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, Alex Edelman, Mike Birbiglia, and Tom Papa were among the jokesters.

Tony winners Leslie Odom Jr., Lea Michelle, and Idina Menzel sang their hearts out. Odom was in the room where it happened — his day off from appearing on Broadway in “Hamilton.”

The audience went wild. (A little disappointment this year: no Bruce Springsteen telling “dirty” jokes.)

During a “raise your paddle” donation moment, Trump lackey and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick gave $250,000 to the cause. Does it make him a better person? Not really. He’s let Trump run amok in private business. But if it helps wounded veterans, he gets some points.

Jon Stewart on aging: “You know what I don’t look good in anymore? Pictures.”

The Woodruff Foundation was founded by ABC correspondent Bob and wife Lee after he recovered from a roadside bomb attack in Ira in 2006. He suffered traumatic brain injury and a 36 day coma, but came back stronger than ever. Now he and Lee do everything they can for soldiers harmed in any situation. They’re amazing people, and so are the soldiers and their families!