Friday, December 19, 2025
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Box Office: “Wakanda Forever” Takes Whopping Weekend with $180 Mil, 13th Biggest Opener, Disney Looks for Stock Revival Tomorrow

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Disney’s stock went off a cliff last week on news of layoffs and cutbacks. The Mouse House is hoping for a major boost on Monday after news of box office for “Wakanda Forever.” Will they get it?

“Wakanda” had a great weekend by any measure. They scored the 13th biggest opening weekend with $180 million. The worldwide total is now $330 million.

Will “Wakanda” keep up this pace? Doubtful, although there’s not much competition in terms of a blockbuster destination movie. Even though it’s not as good or compelling as “Black Panther,” the sequel will still bring in big business for two or three weeks.

Also, the novelty of mourning Chadwick Boseman — the movie’s main theme– may wear off a bit as time goes by. I’ll bet more people go back to watch the original movie. Whatever happens, “Wakanda” is a hit, no surprise, and a bridge to the big finale in two or three years.

Clive Davis, Serena and Venus, Chef José Andrés, Dr. Fauci Celebrated at A List DC Gala Included Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Alicia Keys, (See Photos)

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Washington’s National Portrait Gallery glittered with stars last night as the annual Portraits of a Nation were unveiled.

Alicia Keys unveiled the stunning portrait of music mogul Clive Davis, painted by legendary artist David Hockney. Nancy Pelosi took a few minutes off from saving the country and taking care of her husband to congratulate Clive and other honorees.

Those other honorees included José Andrés, Ava DuVernay, Marian Wright Edelman, Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Serena Williams, and Venus Williams, all of whom saw their portraits unveiled in style as well. On view were six newly commissioned portraits and one never-before-seen photograph by contemporary artists also including Ruven Afanador (Edelman), Hugo Crosthwaite (Fauci), Kenturah Davis (DuVernay), Kadir Nelson (Andrés), Toyin Ojih Odutola (S. Williams) and Robert Pruitt (V. Williams).

At the cocktail party before the dinner that followed the group was serenaded by no less than Wynton Marsalis. Hillary Clinton, as well as Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, were among the guests.

Hillary congratulated Marian Wright Edelman:

Nancy Pelosi and Clive:

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

Visually Stunning “BARDO” Comes from Five Time Oscar Winner Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu First Film Since “The Revenant”

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“BARDO, False Chronicle Of A Handful Of Truths,” had its LA premiere recently at AFI.  Five time academy award winner auteur Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who directed and co-wrote the film, explained the origins of his ambitious artful, semi-autobiographical labor of love. 

“This film comes from a very deep introspection that speaks about my personal and intimate memories but at the same time collective memory from the country that I belong.  Millions of immigrants dream to be in this country and to share in the opportunities here. At the same time there is no way to get out of the things that you’ve lost when you leave; your affection for the country you left, your friends and family, your roots.”

Alejandro continued his unique articulation the next day at a press conference for the Critics Choice Association. He talked about his feelings about being a ‘citizen’ of both countries. “I have surrendered and allow myself to live in this space of becoming.  I’m not attached to anything.  I’m from nowhere in a good way and that allows me to be in permanent transformation to become a better human being.  My nation is my family.  I think that’s the most beautiful thing.”

“BARDO” is a beautifully  affecting film which looks through a cinematic kaleidoscope of surreal and grounded storylines of the life of Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker Silverio Gama, played wonderfully by Daniel Gimenez Cacho.  Gama is about to be honored with a prestigious award which brings up complex feelings and regret as he made the decision earlier to move his family from Mexico to live in Santa Monica.   Inatrritu’s musings on his own guilt, the complicated country that is Mexico, what he left behind and his own work and family guilt is truly affecting.  Visually stunning, along with literal dreamlike, production, and a terrific cast, “BARDO” is at two hours and thirty nine minutes, entrancing and self-indulgent in the most charming and expansive way. 

Not What We Needed: Paulina Porizkova Changes Story of Ric Ocasek’s Death in New Book That Throws Cars Singer Under Bus

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Paulina Porizkova has turned out to be the anti-Olivia Harrison. While Olivia has spent her life since George Harrison’s death building his legacy, Paulina has done nothing but trash the Cars’ Ric Ocasek since his demise.

Paulina has given dozens of interviews, in print and on TV, going over the events of her marriage and the last time she saw Ric, ad nauseum. He cut her out of his will, he said she’d abandoned him, she has no clue why? None whatsoever.

So now she has a book coming out on Tuesday. It’s called “No Filter” but it should be titled “Alternative Facts.” Paulina throws the Cars leader under the bus. She trashes him as much as she can but always does it lovingly. Poor Ric. He was a musical genius but obviously not smart about women (he was married three times and had six kids).

Detective Columbo would have fun with Paulina. Her story always changes just a bit. In the past she’s always said she went over to their town house, made Ric coffee and brought him cookies on the morning he was found dead. He’d just had surgery. He had no aide with him upstairs in the house, no buzzer or Life Alert. She says in the book she left him to go to a friend’s birthday.

OK: the friend was her boyfriend, a screenwriter she was living with. He is not named in the book. I’ve written about him before, but his name is easily Googled. Paulina has been pretending lately that he didn’t exist. Here’s a link to my past story.

In every retelling, there’s the coffee. In the book, the coffee is gone. There’s just a box of cookies. So this is what you bring a man who is gravely ill and recovering from surgery. And who, by the way, had cancer. She also neglects to say that.

It’s curious: she is and always has been only concerned about Ric’s will. His Last Will and Testament. The word “will” is in the book but online the word is not searchable on amazon. Very strange.

In the end, Paulina got what she wanted. She got the money. She probably got the rights to Ocasek’s songs. She sold her townhouse and got that money. She’s been posing naked wherever she can. Everyone grieves in their own way. Her way is without clothes. To put a twist on Ric’s song “Just What I Needed,” this book is not what we needed.

By the way, I guess this isn’t a full memoir, just a bashing of Ric Ocasek. There’s no mention of Paulina’s only movie of note, “Anna,” or her co-star Sally Kirkland. I guess that’s just as well.

Hey Jude: Julian Lennon, “Uncle” Paul McCartney Have an Accidental, Warm Beatles Reunion in Airport Lounge, Someone is Playing “Mind Games” in Heaven! (See Photos)

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You could cry.

Julian Lennon, eldest son of Beatle John, posted a pair of beautiful pictures this afternoon on Instagram.

Julian ran into Paul McCartney in an airport lounge. Look at their faces. They are beaming.

You know, Julian has an album out right now called “Jude,” in which he returns to form. He had a bunch of hits in the 80s.

When Julian was a wee lad, McCartney drove up to see him and his mother Cynthia after John left with Yoko. When he returned home, Paul wrote a song called “Hey Jules” that became “Hey Jude.” And now, this. Just lovely.

PS The first person to respond on Insta was Sean Ono Lennon, Julian’s younger brother, with three heart emojis. That was followed by Mary McCartney, Paul’s daughter: “makes me happy x” Also we learn that Paul carries a folding phone, probably a Samsung, not an iPhone. Now, I want one!

Also PPS: Who do ya think arranged that meeting? Someone is playing Mind Games in heaven!

“Saturday Night Live” Looks for Controversy and Ratings Tonight as Dave Chappelle Hosts, Ice T is a Guest Star, Heidi Gardner Summoned In for Work

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Hmmm…

It’s going to be a very different “Saturday NIght Live” tonight.

Dave Chappelle has already caused controversy as the host. He’s said a lot of offending things in the past. His choice has caused something of a writers’ strike for the week. Also, except for Kenan Thompson, none of the cast turned up in promos.

On Thursday night, Heidi Gardner — who was going to miss working on the show because she was supposed to interview recently departed cast member Melissa Villasenior at the 92nd St Y — suddenly cancelled. The reason given was “Work related.” Someone must have figured out she was AWOL.

Now NBC star from “SVU” Ice T says he’s a guest on tonight’s show. This is in addition to Black Star as the musical guests. Was Ice T needed to fill gaps in the cast who are unhappy?

All of this could be good ratings for NBC tonight. Everyone loves a car crash. The numbers go up, up, up!

FTX Purported Private Plan Keeps Flying Back and Forth to Argentina After Bankruptcy Filing

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If a private plan with the registered letters LV-KEB belongs to FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried it’s causing a stir in flying circles.

The Gulfstream Jet has been tracked going back and forth from Nassau, the Bahamas to Argentina several times in the last 8 days.

Fans of flight tracking sites have picked up the activity.

Yesterday, Bankman-Fried declared bankruptcy for bitcoin operation FTX. He may have losses between $8 billion and $50 billion.;

One snarky commenter suggested Bankman-Fried might be taking in World Cup soccer games. If it is his plane, there are other suggestions that the disgraced investor is visiting hidden money, mining more bitcoin. He could also be on a high protein diet and only eating Argentinian steak.

One thing is for sure: The FTX logo will be coming off Major League Baseball uniforms next season. It was planted on all the umpires and everyone in a massive sponsorship last season.

Box Office: “Wakanda Forever” Huge $84 Mil Opening Night Should Ease the Pain of Disney’s Coming Layoffs, Cutbacks, and Hiring Freeze

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The “Black Panther” sequel, “Wakanda Forever,” was as big as a hit as everyone predicted last night. It made $54 mil. On top of Thursday previews of $28 million, the total opening night reads as $84 freaking million!

“Wakanda Forever” also got an A Cinemascore from audiences. So word of mouth is very good.

This news is especially good for Disney, which announced this week that massive layoffs are coming throughout the Mouse Kingdom. A hiring freeze is going to effect, and employee travel is being restricted. Travel to and from Wakanda will have to be approved by execs at Stark Industries.

Disney’s next blockbuster is “Avatar 2,” the 13 year late sequel to James Cameron’s original movie. Length of the film is a daunting three hours plus. It’s unclear from the trailers they’ve released so far if it’s all animated or if there are some live humans on screen.

Meantime, Universal has played “Ticket to Paradise” just right. Last night the George Clooney-Julia Roberts romcom took in $2 million as it garnered $53 million US and tot al worldwide coming on $150 million. And it’s also the number 1 most watched home video of the week. They’re playing it from both ends and winning like crazy!

Exclusive: “Grey’s Anatomy” Ellen Pompeo Last Show February 23, 2023, More Greys Coming (UPDATE)

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UPDATE FRIDAY NOV 11: Ellen Pompeo is leaving Grey’s Anatomy. Her final is February 23, 2023. More Greys coming– as I wrote last week…

Republish Nov 11th..,

LAST WEEK: Word on the street is Ellen Pompeo is almost out of “Grey’s Anatomy” after 19 seasons. She said she’d only be in 8 episodes this season and five of them have aired. Meredith Grey may be gone pretty soon.

So how do keep calling the show “Grey’s Anatomy”? Bring back some other family members, Meredith has a sister, Lexie, and a dead mother, Ellis. I’m told they’re likely returning for duty.

Ellis Grey in the person of the great Kate Burton may be haunting Seattle soon. She was killed off years ago, but Ellis always manages to return in some form.

If Meredith is gone, who can Ellis haunt? That could be Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey, Meredith’s half sister through her father. She’s been off the show for a while, but actors now come and go from “GA” through a revolving door.

Of course, it could be revealed that Burton’s Ellis had a kid no one knew about — this is a soap opera — or Ellis might just haunt Meredith to her new locale. On the Grey scale, she’s the best actor the show has ever had. So it’s smart to bring her back.

You might want to know where Thatcher Grey, the father of Meredith, is? Jeff Perry, the actor who also was featured on “Scandal,” is now on “Alaska Daily” starring Hilary Swank. This guy never stops working!

Plus he and his first wife, amazing Laurie Metcalf, are the parents of Zoey Perry. She plays Young Sheldon’s mom on that series. Just FYI. (But Kate Burton has it over them– her dad was Richard Burton and her step mom was Elizabeth Taylor.)

Broadway Bible Playbill Says They Will No Longer Use Twitter For Any Accounts– They Have Over 400K Followers

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Playbill is off Twitter. The Broadway bible has over 400,000 followers.

Read below. Keep refreshing…

To our dear friends and valued followers,

This year Playbill celebrated its 138th anniversary. We, as a family-owned company, have always strived [sic] to be a constant source of support for the entire theater community, engaging fans and spotlighting the incredible professionals who work tirelessly to keep the lights of Broadway shining brightly across our nation. Our core values have always centered around community, kindness, collaboration, inclusion, and truth.

In recent weeks, Twitter, Inc. has greatly expanded its tolerance for hate, negativity, and misinformation. As a respected news outlet for the Broadway community, we feel we can no longer continue to utilize a platform where the line between actual news and insidious rhetoric has become blurred beyond recognition.

As of today, Friday, November 11, Playbill will no longer be active on Twitter.

The following accounts will no longer be active: @Playbill, @PlaybillTravel, @PLAYBILLder, @PlaybillArts, @PlaybillStore. Regardless of blue or gray checkmarks, if you see a tweet from a Twitter account that contains our name, please understand that it is not us.

Moving forward, we hope you will continue to follow us on Playbill.com. We will also continue to participate in Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Our participation on those three social media platforms are subject to ongoing review.

This decision reflects the standards that we hold dear at Playbill.