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Dawson’s Deal: James van Der Beek Bought His $4.5 Mil Texas Ranch Before Death, Then Family Raised $2.5 Mil from Go Fund Me

Roger Friedman
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Dawson’s Deal: James van Der Beek Bought His $4.5 Mil Texas Ranch Before Death, Then Family Raised $2.5 Mil from Go Fund Me

Actor James Van der Beek’s death at 48 this week was tragic. Too young for a father of six who leaves behind a nostalgia legacy for fans of “Dawson’s Creek.”

Immediately after his death, Van Der Beek’s wife started a GoFundMe page, claiming that the high cost of medical expenses had made her financial future uncertain.

The page has now raised $2.5 million so far from fans and people like famed director Steven Spielberg, who gave $25,000.

But now Realtor.com reports that last month, six weeks before his death, van der Beek bought the sprawling 36 acre ranch Texas ranch he and his family had been renting for $4.5 million.

The water front property includes a 5,149-square-foot main house that features five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It comes with a commercial kitchen, balconies with sky and river views, an outdoor living space with a pool, and a tram to the river. The grounds include a barn perfect for throwing a party.

Donors to Go Fund Me might raise their eyebrows at that story. Even devoted fans of “Dawson’s Creek” could question why they’re sending money to a family well situated for the future with a very rich portfolio. Most of them do not own homes of that scale.

The Go Fund Me page makes it sound like Van Der Beek’s illness and death were a surprise. He was sick for a long time, and could not have been unaware of the possibility of his death. He couldn’t appear at a tribute and fundraiser held by the “Dawson’s Creek” cast, and photos of him in recent months looked pretty dire.

It’s not as if Van Der Beek’s wife and six children don’t deserve a nice place to live, but it’s unclear why they would need millions from strangers.

Super Bowl Bounce: Bad Bunny is the Winner, Sells Close to Half a Million Albums While Kid Rock Doesn’t Dent the Charts

Roger Friedman
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Super Bowl Bounce: Bad Bunny is the Winner, Sells Close to Half a Million Albums While Kid Rock Doesn’t Dent the Charts

The winner of the Super Bowl?

You’d say the Seattle Seahawks. I’d say, Bad Bunny.

The star of the halftime show sold 460,000 albums in physical and streaming.

Not only that, his songs take up more than a third of the Spotify streaming chart. That includes the top 5.

Idiotic Republicans like Randy Fine are hilariously calling for “Congressional inquiries” and stewing in their filthy gases complaining that since they don’t understand Spanish, Bad Bunny’s act must have included giving away state secrets.

Read the room, Randy. Bad Bunny sold 28 times more albums than Kid Rock, who performed on the Turning Point USA-Charlie Kirk alternative right wing show.

Kid Rock sold only 16,700 albums as a result of the Super Bowl. That’s more than he’s sold in years, of course, but a tiny fraction of the main act. He should be deeply embarrassed.

Also, Bad Bunny performed live. Kid Rock pre-taped his show with the intent of releasing a single when the Super Bowl was over. He also lip synched. It’s pathetic. So he got a hit out of one song, but we’ll see how long it lasts. None of his albums sold one copy.

How it drives the right wing crazy that their open racism toward Bad Bunny, Puerto Rico, and brown people has been unmasked in one event. They’ve been defeated, and it hurts so good.

Box Office: “Wuthering Heights” Starts Strong with $3 Mil in Previews, “Crime 101,” “GOAT,” Lag Behind at $1 Mil Apiece

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Wuthering Heights” Starts Strong with $3 Mil in Previews, “Crime 101,” “GOAT,” Lag Behind at $1 Mil Apiece

Thursday previews were very strong for “Wuthering Heights.”

Emerald Fennell’s retelling of the Emily Bronte classic clicked, probably with females who need some entertainment.

“WI” took in $3 million last night also thanks to stars Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie. While reviews are mixed, never doubt the Warner Bros marketing team.

Two other films opened in previews last night. Both “Crime 101” and “GOAT” started with $1 million each. Not so hot, but word of mouth and good weather this weekend should bolster them.

“See BS” Continues Sell Out, Schedules JD Vance with Tony Dokoupil For One Hour Town Hall Special Next Month

Roger Friedman
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“See BS” Continues Sell Out, Schedules JD Vance with Tony Dokoupil For One Hour Town Hall Special Next Month

How low can CBS News go?

How low can Tony “The Weasel” Dokoupil go?

They just announced a Town Hall for Saturday March 14th with chief Trump ass kisser J.D. Vance.

Why? “to talk about the economy, foreign policy, the state of the Republican Party, and the 2028 race for the White House in a March edition of CBS NEWS THINGS THAT MATTER: A TOWN HALL WITH VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE.”

CBS– or as we all call it, “See-BS”– used the capital lettering.

This just as 20 CBS Evening News producers have taken a buyout and quit the show. One producer left a stinging message about the network being taken over by right wing ideology.

Last week’s ratings for Dokoupil were abysmal, again. They were flat at 4.5 million, down at least 25% from last year and from Norah O’Donnell’s run.

CBS News chief Bari Weiss is understood to be shilling for Trump, who’s given orders to Paramount Skydance owner David Ellison, whose father now owns TikTok thanks to Trump and is in business with him anyway.

What a disaster.

But is this the plan? To destroy CBS’s legacy? Yes it is. Good night and good luck.

“Melania” Long Goodbye: Pulled from 40% of Theaters After Two Weeks of Empty Venues, Drops 66% on Wednesday

Roger Friedman
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“Melania” Long Goodbye: Pulled from 40% of Theaters After Two Weeks of Empty Venues, Drops 66% on Wednesday

Bye bye “Melania.”

The Brett Ratner-directed infomercial about America’s most hollow wife is in retreat.

Amazon/MGM is pulling the grievously panned film from 40% of its theaters starting tonight.

“Melania” is losing 799 theaters, leaving it in 1,204 venues.

This is after two weeks of playing to windy, cold rooms without people in them.

This is also after increasing by 225 theaters last week. Not surprisingly that didn’t work out.

There should be a similar or bigger cut next week.

Soon, “Melania” will go to the Amazon Prime platform, probably priced at $20 even for Prime members.

Yesterday, “Melania” fell 66% at the box office and took in just $303,261. Even that seems high since most theater seating maps should no tickets sold.

“Melania” is currently at 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, up from a low of 5% last week. It picked up two ridiculous reviews this week from Deseret News, and Armond White, a critic who was thrown out of the New York Film Critics Circle. He though this was Ratner’s best ever film — lol — which must have made even the director gag.

Vanity Fair Gets Its Worst Cover Interview Ever With Margaret Qualley Not Talking About Anything, But We Learn the Writer is a Yoga Teacher

Roger Friedman
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Vanity Fair Gets Its Worst Cover Interview Ever With Margaret Qualley Not Talking About Anything, But We Learn the Writer is a Yoga Teacher

Vanity Fair’s cover stories, at least some of them, used to have a little punch.

Not the new one, a “profile” of Margaret Qualley, in which she says nothing. I mean, nothing.

The good news is we learn that the writer of the piece, Marissa Meltzer, is a yoga instructor.

Otherwise, Qualley — a real up and comer — refuses to discuss her famous mother, Andie MacDowell, doesn’t say much about her husband, the famous record producer Jack Antonoff, or anything about bringing together the music and movie worlds.

There is absolutely no discussion of Taylor Swift or Lana del Rey, Antonoff’s key recording artists. (Lana even sang at he weeding to Antonoff. Was that cool? We don’t know.) Qualley is not asked about her movies like her directors or co-stars. She made two movies with Ethan Coen. What was that like? Crickets. Can she talk about Brad Pitt or Quentin Tarantino or “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”? Apparently not.

Ethan Hawke is interviewed, but not his actress daughter Maya Hawke, who was actually in “Once Upon a Time” with Qualley. Or Lena Dunham or anyone who was in the Spahn Ranch scenes with Qualley. Meltzer has never seen “Novitiate,” a gem of a film that Qualley lit up. I’d have some questions about that.

No, the new Vanity Fair just needs the cover photo, which they got. And, hopefully, Qualley at the Oscar party, for the photo op. By the way, there’s a backlink in the VF story to an older one about Qualley and Antonoff, which itself has a link to Elle UK. They should have used a couple of the quotes from that story. It would have been a lot more interesting.

PS We never find out if Meltzer gave her subject a yoga lesson in Qualley’s home studio, something which is suggested in the piece. Look downward, dog.

RIP James Van Der Beek, 48, Star of “Dawson’s Creek,” Bud Cort, 77, Made a Lasting Impression in “Harold and Maude”

Roger Friedman
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RIP James Van Der Beek, 48, Star of “Dawson’s Creek,” Bud Cort, 77, Made a Lasting Impression in “Harold and Maude”

Two great actors passed away today.

James Van Der Beek, 48, was better known because he starred in the hit drama, “Dawson’s Creek,” on TV from 1998 to 2003, followed by steady work mostly in TV. He also appeared in the movies “The Rules of Attraction” and “Varsity Blues.” He really fought to stay alive. Van Der Beek leaves a wife and six children. See his remembrance below. A GoFundMe page has been set up for his family, as medical expenses have wiped them out.

Bud Cort’s heyday was in 1970-72. Unique and eccentric, he appeared in late 60s movies of the moment Robert Altman’s classic “MASH,” plus “The Strawberry Statement,” and his most famous, “Harold and Maude,” with Ruth Gordon, directed by Hal Ashby and written by Colin Higgins, songs b Cat Stevens. “Harold and Maude” became an instant cult hit. Watch it now if you’ve never seen it.

Bud Cort had a sparse career after a serious car accident in 1979 nearly killed him. There were multiple surgeries. Every once in a while he’d turn up in something and fans of those early movies would be thrilled. Just before the accident he also starred in Joan Micklin Silver’s excellent “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” based on the story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. He did come to Academy screenings in Hollywood from time to time, and it was always very cool to see him.

Two Time Oscar Winner Michael Douglas Publishing Memoir in October, Hollywood Dynasty Family Will Be Examined, Crazy Days

Roger Friedman
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Two Time Oscar Winner Michael Douglas Publishing Memoir in October, Hollywood Dynasty Family Will Be Examined, Crazy Days

One of my favorite people, Michael Douglas, is publishing his memoir this October.

Douglas won Oscars for producing “One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest” and acting in “Wall Street.”

He’s made dozens of classic movies, and starred with biggest Hollywood actors.

Not only that, Douglas is the son of the late Hollywood legend, Kirk Douglas. He’s a legacy dynasty kid, and — like Jane Fonda and Candice Bergen — knows where all the bodies are buried.

Michael has also had a roller coaster personal life, which I’m sure he’ll cover including life with Oscar winner Catherine Zeta Jones, plus the travails of his marriage to Diandra Douglas and the hard won comeback of his son, Cameron. Michael has been a steadfast, supportive dad.

Mike Fleming left Deadline.com a few weeks ago and everyone wondered why. But he’s writing the book with Douglas, so you know it’s going to be good. There should be a whole chapter on “Fatal Attraction.”

Jennifer Hudson — EGOT Winner — Joins the New Broadway Production of “Dreamgirls” as a Producer Coming This Fall

Roger Friedman
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Jennifer Hudson — EGOT Winner — Joins the New Broadway Production of “Dreamgirls” as a Producer Coming This Fall

Effie White is back — as a producer.

Jennifer Hudson has joined the team producing the new Broadway revival of “Dreamgirls.”

The show will be directed and choreographed by Camille Brown.

Hudson won the Oscar playing Effie in the movie version.

“Twenty years ago, my life changed forever because of a film called ‘Dreamgirls.’ Inspired by the iconic stage musical, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to portray the one and only Effie White—a woman whose story and voice remain an ever-present force in my life,” JHud said.

“I am beyond honored to join the extraordinary producing team behind this special, newly reimagined Broadway revival, and to help bring ‘Dreamgirls’ back to the stage through the visionary direction and choreography of Camille A. Brown. This fall cannot come soon enough.”

The original “Dreamgirls” launched the careers of Jennifer Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph back in 1981-85. The show, loosely based on the Supremes and Motown, has never been revived. Other cast members included Vondie Curtis-Hall, Obba Babatundé, Loretta Devine and Phylicia Rashad under her maiden name.

JHud is already an EGOT but she could pick up another Tony Award with this production.

Kanye West Reward for Virulent Antisemitism: 7 Figure Deal from Record Company Backed by Apple and Owner of the LA Dodgers, Lakers

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West Reward for Virulent Antisemitism: 7 Figure Deal from Record Company Backed by Apple and Owner of the LA Dodgers, Lakers

You thought Kanye West would never find a record deal again after the hateful antisemitic crap he’s spewed for the last several years?

Guess again.

West aka Ye — a pariah for his Nazi rantings and antisemitic claims, love of Hitler, shouts of “Slavery is a choice” — is coming back. Count this effort as the normalization of antisemitism. He’s being rewarded for his hate.

West has been signed to Gamma Records to release a new album called “Bully” with a  figure paycheck.  The album is set for release on March 20th, although West rarely makes his release dates. (We can only hope this one doesn’t.)

Gamma — run by former Apple music exec Larry Jackson — is backed by Apple — yes, the iTunes, iPhone Apple — and Todd Boehly’s Eldrige Industries, which owns the LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, and is the partner of Penske Media, which owns Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard among other media properties.

The most high profile release from Gamma recently was Mariah Carey’s most recent album, a total sales disaster.

The Wall Street Journal broke the news of Kanye’s signing a week ago on January 28th. Two days earlier, Kanye ran a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal in which he “apologized” for his ceaseless hideous insanity, claiming a 2002 head injury in a car accident was the cause of disturbing diatribes. Monday came the letter, in the Journal, Wednesday the announcement. It was a set up. First place the ad, then give the sympathetic interview.

The Wall Street Journal is still part of Rupert Murdoch’s empire. It’s the New York Post with tablecloth

What Jackson’s done here is mind blowing. He’s not only given Kanye West permission to return to society, he’s done it with influential backers who will leverage this monster back into the culture. I’m shocked, and you be, too. A full page ad in the Journal doesn’t wipe out what Kanye West has done and said over and over.

Indeed, West lost his livelihood because of it. His major businesses, with companies like Adidas, The Gap, and Balenciaga, ended in an uproar. Universal Music stopped releasing his new music. The latter wouldn’t touch “Bully” with a ten foot pole.

When West first began screaming the loved Hitler and Nazis, and blamed Jews for everything, Adidas said in a statement that the rapper’s remarks were “unacceptable, hateful and dangerous.” The Gap described them as “inexcusable.”

Apple and the LA sports teams obviously don’t care.

It was less than a year ago that West aka Ye released songs like “Mein Kampf” and “Heil Hitler.” I know people have short memories but you do remember that, don’t you?

Some excerpts from Kanye West campaign of antisemitism:

“Jewish people actually hate white people and use black people.”

“I’m never apologizing for my Jewish comments. I can say whatever the fuck I wanna say forever. Where’s my fucking apology for freezing my accounts.”

“I don’t even know what the fuck anti Semitic means. It’s just some bullshit Jewish people made up to protect their bullshit.”

“Planned Parenthood was made by Margaret Sanger, a known eugenics, with the KKK to control the Jew population. When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race Black really are. This is who our people are.”

West, using some kind of publicity machine, made a big deal of his Wall Street Journal apologia. But this wasn’t a one time thing. His disgsusting rants came in every possible form, and they were constant. People who suffer from a bipolar condition are not known to write and record songs like “Heil Hitler.” Australia understood that. They banned him from entering their country last year.

Let’s see a real boycott of Apple, and of this album, and this record label. Let’s see the Recording Academy and the record industry denounce Gamma Records.

Here are the lyrics video and to “Heil Hitler.” Remember this was just from last May:
Let’s see a real boycott of Apple, and of this album, and this record label.

Man, these people took my kids from me
Then they froze my bank account
I got so much anger in me, got no way to take it out
Think I’m stuck in the Matrix
Where the fuck is my nitrous?
Yes, I’m a cuck, I like when people fuck on my bitch
The shit that I’m posting on Twitter—
They telling me “Ye, don’t say that”
How niggas can’t see me in public?
I’m driving a all-chrome Maybach
With all of the money and fame
I still can’t get my kids back
With all of the money and fame
I still don’t get to see my children
Niggas see my Twitter
But don’t see how I be feeling
So I became a nazi
Yeah, bitch, I’m the villain

[Chorus: Ye]
Nigga, heil Hitler
Nigga, heil Hitler
They don’t understand the things I say on Twitter
Nigga, heil Hitler
They don’t understand the things I say on Twitter
All my niggas Nazis, nigga, heil Hitler
Nigga, heil Hitler
Nigga, heil Hitler
All my niggas Nazis, nigga, heil Hitler

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