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Madonna Cancels Another Show, This Time in Lisbon, With 45 Minutes Notice, Hopes to Return Tomorrow (“Fingers Crossed”)

Roger Friedman
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Madonna Cancels Another Show, This Time in Lisbon, With 45 Minutes Notice, Hopes to Return Tomorrow (“Fingers Crossed”)

Madonna is certainly suffering from her blown out knee. She cancelled another show, this time in Lisbon last night with 45 minutes notice. She wrote on Instagram: “Thank you again Lisbon! 🇵🇹 Sorry I had to cancel tonight but I must listen to my body and rest!! That white Port.🍸 got me through the rest of the show! See you on Tuesday fingers crossed”

Last night’s show was the 8th to get scrapped on the Madame X tour. She toasted the audience and her dancers at the previous show with some White Port, the most she’s had to drink, she says, so far on the tour. Madonna is worth at least $50 million. Maybe it’s time to rethink this tour and sit more, or cancel the rest of it until and if she’s recovered.

EXCLUSIVE: Recording Academy CEO Ouster May Result in Filing of Major Lawsuit As Exec Assistant Hires High Powered Hollywood Law Firm

Roger Friedman
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EXCLUSIVE: Recording Academy CEO Ouster May Result in Filing of Major Lawsuit As Exec Assistant Hires High Powered Hollywood Law Firm

EXCLUSIVE The saga of the ousted Recording Academy CEO continues to take sharp turns.

I’m told that Claudine Little, the beloved executive assistant to Deborah Dugan, is preparing to file a major lawsuit against the now ousted CEO.

Little, who has been at the Academy since before her former boss, Neil Portnow, ran the show, has hired high powered law firm Glaser Weil in Los Angeles to represent her.

The lawsuit would allege that Dugan caused an untenable situation in the executive offices that included verbal abuse and mistreatment. Little’s Recording Academy email says she’s out of the office through the end of 2019. But she hasn’t returned.

The announcement of Dugan being placed on administrative leave has turned the insular world of the music biz upside down. Dugan and lawyer Bryan Freedman have gone overtime insinuating that they have tremendous secrets to reveal about the Recording Academy.

But I’m told that Dugan has been planning an exit for weeks. A couple of incidents in the last two weeks are suspicious. One was a puff piece article about Dugan in the LA Times on January 15th, the day before was ousted. The article made it seem Dugan was on top of the world and approaching the forthcoming Grammys with great anticipation. Less than 24 hours later, she was out.

On January 10th, Dugan posted a photo of the executive staff on Instagram, all smiles and coffee. It read: Coffee and danishes to start the day with @RecordingAcademy team! 🎶 We’re ready for the #GRAMMYs (January 26)” (See below)

“She knew what she was doing,” says an insider.

In addition to the lawsuit from Little, there’s bound to be more accusations from the Recording Academy in the coming days, if not hours. Many of the Grammy trustees are women, and I’ve been told they back Little and the Academy in this fight. Dugan is said not to have made many friends during her short stint in the executive suite.

Many are agape at Dugan’s attorney announcing she required security after receiving “threats” since the news of her exit broke. (Really? What was the threat? To have to listen heavy metal or X rated rap all day?)

Indeed, what is this Instagram post from January 10th all about? Stay tuned…

 

Studios, Netflix, Everyone at SAG Awards Loses to Indie Mini Neon and Bong Joon Ho’s Cannes Winner “Parasite” (LOL)

Roger Friedman
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Studios, Netflix, Everyone at SAG Awards Loses to Indie Mini Neon and Bong Joon Ho’s Cannes Winner “Parasite” (LOL)

Well, ain’t that something?

All the studios and Netflix lost tonight. Mini indie Neon, smaller than a particle, won the SAG Best Cast Ensemble with the Korean movie, “Parasite.”

Yes, “Parasite,” a foreign language feature, is the first ever to win Best Picture at SAG or anywhere. And now it’s headed to the Oscars in competition with “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “The Irishman,” and “1917.”

And you know what? It may well win. When the director and cast were introduced tonight, they received a STANDING OVATION. I reported it in real time. I said, maybe they’ll win. And they did.

Something about “Parasite” has captivated at least people in the business. In the general box office, “Parasite” has made a decent $28 million. But now on Friday Neon will most certainly pump up the number of theaters beyond the current 800 plus.

Could a foreign language film actually win the Academy Award for Best Picture? Harvey Weinstein wanted that so badly in 1999 for “Life is Beautiful.” Now Harvey’s on trial and his dreams are coming true. Unbelievable.

SAG Awards 2020 Winners: “Parasite” Wins! First Foreign Film Ever! Plus Actors Joaquin, Brad Pitt, Renee Zellweger, Laura Dern, “Mrs. Maisel,” “The Crown”

Roger Friedman
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SAG Awards 2020 Winners: “Parasite” Wins! First Foreign Film Ever! Plus Actors Joaquin, Brad Pitt, Renee Zellweger, Laura Dern, “Mrs. Maisel,” “The Crown”

UPDATE: “Parasite” won Best Cast Ensemble, the first foreign film ever to win the SAG Award. Little Neon Films distributed it. Now the Cannes Film Festival winner will go to the Oscars in lead against Golden Globe winners “1917” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

The four actors who won tonight will take the Oscars in three weeks: Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Laura Dern, and Brad Pitt. The only movie not nominated here, “1917,” will take on SAG’s winner for cast ensemble, “Parasite.”

The SAG Awards got off to a great start tonight with Eugene Levy and his son, Dan Levy, from “Schitt’s Creek” kicking it off with a hilarious sketch. Bodes well for the evening. Winner of Best Ensemble for film is a good indicator of the Oscar.

Sort of funny when you realize that if even if Al Pacino and Robert De Niro get nothing for “The Irishman,” they also appeared in other hit films. De Niro is  in “Joker” and Pacino is in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” All good!

Upset: Jennifer Aniston won! She beat a formidable group of actors: Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Elisabeth Moss. Wow.

Female Actor, Movies, Supporting Role: Laura Dern, for “Marriage Story”

8:32pm: The “Parasite” cast gets a standing ovation from the audience. This is amazing. Maybe they’ve won Best Ensemble.

Male Actor, Movies, Supporting Role: Brad Pitt, for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Quote: “Quentin Tarantino has separated more women from their shoes than the TSA”

Lead Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

Lead Actress: Renee Zellweger, “Judy”

 

Outstanding Male Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Shalhoub, for “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Phoebe Waller Bridge, for “Fleabag”

Comedy, Ensemble: “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (and I must say, thank goodness) Congrats to Amy Sherman Palladino and Dan Palladino

Female Actor in TV Movie or Ltd. Series: Michelle Williams, for “Fosse/Verdon”

Female Actor in a Drama Series: Jennifer Aniston! for “The Morning Show” (good for her!)

Male Actor, Drama Series: Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”

Drama, Ensemble: “The Crown”

Male Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series: Sam Rockwell, “Fosse/Verdon”

 

Prince Harry Says “We’re Not Walking Away” Speaks About “Megxit” For First Time And His and Meghan Markle’s Decision to Abdicate Royal Roles:

Roger Friedman
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Prince Harry Says “We’re Not Walking Away” Speaks About “Megxit” For First Time And His and Meghan Markle’s Decision to Abdicate Royal Roles:

Remarks from The Duke of Sussex, the former Prince Harry, at tonight’s dinner for supporters of Sentebale in London. Text and video follow:

“Before I begin, I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard, or perhaps read, over the past few weeks. So, I want you to hear the truth from me — as much as I can share, not as a prince or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the past 35 years, but now with a clearer perspective.”

“The U.K. is my home and a place that I love. That will never change. I have grown up feeling supported by so many of you, and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms, as you saw the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life. Finally, the second son of Diana got hitched, hooray!” he said. “I also know that you’ve come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do, and she does. And she’s the same woman I fell in love with.”

“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is, we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.”

“Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations, but without public funding,” former Prince Harry said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. I’ve accepted this knowing it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am, but I hope it helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life,” he said.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

at tonight’s dinner for supporters of Sentebale in London Video © SussexRoyal

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on

 

Report: Steve Carell Probably Not Returning to “The Morning Show” Since There’s No Deal for a Second Season

Roger Friedman
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Report: Steve Carell Probably Not Returning to “The Morning Show” Since There’s No Deal for a Second Season

Steve Carell will probably not return for a second season of “The Morning Show.” Nor should he.

According to reports from the Television Critics Association press tour, Carell doesn’t have a deal with the show for a second season. Thank goodness.

Carell played anchorman Mitch Kessler, who was sort of based on Matt Lauer. He was fired from “The Morning Show” after being accused sexual harassments and attacks. Why he was a character at all is a mystery since after the first episode it was clear Mitch was not redeemable in any way. As the season went along, things got worse. His character causes the death of another at the end of Season 1.

If “The Morning Show” on Apple+ is going to have a five season run, they’re going to have to come up with something more than #Metoo issues. The whole premise of season 1 is based on Lauer’s being fired, and women taking over the show which is unrealistically based on “The Today Show.” The final episode is a train wreck. So where they go from here really has to be thought through.

One good thing about “The Morning Show”: as I predicted, Billy Crudup has been a huge hit. He won a Golden Globe, and I think there will be more for him out of this. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are excellent. But the writing must be re-jiggered.

Carell should never have taken the role of Mitch. He has a fine movie career going, from “Foxcatcher” to “Cafe Society” to “Beautiful Boy” and “Vice.” Mitch is a character best forgotten at this point.

Box Office: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence “Bad Boys for Life” Soars, Robert Downey Jr “Dolittle” Does Little with $22 Mil Weekend

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence “Bad Boys for Life” Soars, Robert Downey Jr “Dolittle” Does Little with $22 Mil Weekend

Oh, Doctor “Dolittle” did little this weekend, earning just $22.5 million in the widest release possible– 4,155 theaters. I mean, that’s as many theaters as you can find in North America. “Dolittle” was stretched to the max. But with $175 million already spent by the studio, I would guess a lot of those sites will disappear this coming Friday.

Meanwhile, “Bad Boys for Life” with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence– at 400 fewer locations — grabbed a gigantic $59 million over the three day weekend. They’ll clear $100 million by next weekend and keep going. Will Smith is back. Martin Lawrence, wherever he was, is back. And they’re already talking a “sequel” to this sequel right away. Maybe Sony can mash ’em up with Spider Man.

“Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker” is scraping away to reach $500 million. It’s coming slowly, but will arrive toward the end of this week.

Hey– whatever happened to “Cats”? It’s exiting theaters with just shy of $26 million, a total worldwide of $61 million. People saw it, they’re just not talking about it. What happens in “Cats” stays in “Cats.”

Grammy Awards’ Other Problem is Taylor Swift: Snubbed in Best Album Category, Will Pop’s Princess Play?

Roger Friedman
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Grammy Awards’ Other Problem is Taylor Swift: Snubbed in Best Album Category, Will Pop’s Princess Play?

From the beginning of August when it was released, Taylor Swift’s “Lover” album looked like it would be Album of the Year at the Grammys. The best selling album of the year, “Lover” spawned hit singles like crazy and lots of good press. It was also very well reviewed.

But then the nominations came, and Swift was swiftly dispatched. She received only Pop Vocal and Song of the Year nominations. And Best Pop Vocal Album. But the big enchilada– Album of the Year– she was denied.

It didn’t seem like Swift would perform on the Grammys, especially since three of those awards are handed out during an untelevised afternoon session.

This wasn’t the way things were supposed to go. Swift had written a song for the movie musical, “Cats” and there was every expectation she’d get an Oscar nomination. That way she could appear on the Academy Awards two weeks after not being on the Grammys, and the problem of PR and saving face would be solved. But “Cats” bombed, the song disappeared, and so did that plan.

So now we wait to find out if she’ll do the Grammys after all. As it turns out, Swift’s Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” starts playing on January 30th, a week after its debut at the Sundance Film Festival. The publicity from a Grammy performance would be swell. And who’s to say she won’t win some or all of her categories at Music’s Biggest Night? “Lover” is definitely the Best Song of the Year.

But the jury’s out so far. This is also Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich’s final year running the show, so maybe Swift will do it for him.

All in all, Swift hasn’t had an easy time this past year. Adding to all this is her whole campaign to get her records back from Justin Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun. That struggle turned ugly, and pitted her against the music establishment. Did that situation lead to the mess at the Grammys? It all remains to be seen…or heard…

 

Producer’s Guild Chooses World War I Drama “1917” for Best Picture, Could Secure Its Academy Award

Roger Friedman
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Producer’s Guild Chooses World War I Drama “1917” for Best Picture, Could Secure Its Academy Award

Sam Mendes’s masterful World War I drama “1917” won the Best Picture award at the Producers Guild of America last night. The PGA has been astute bellwether of the Academy Award in most years. But most is the main word here. There have been exceptions.

Other PGA winners included “Apollo 11” for Best Documentary, which wasn’t nominated for an Oscar after winning many awards this season. The Oscars and the PGA have disagreed for years on what is the best doc. It’s very strange. “Toy Story 4” was named Best Animated Feature.

HBO picked up three major awards, for “Chernobyl” and for “Succession.” John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” was best talk series, as usual.  HBO also won for TV non fiction film, for “Leaving Neverland,”a film that consists of two men claiming Michael Jackson molested them, with no fact checking, and no comments from anyone else except their avaricious parents.

In things that are televised, Jerry Seinfeld won Best Short Form Series for his “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Best comedy series went to Amazon’s “Fleabag.” Best reality series was “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” “Sesame Street” was best children’s program, for the thousandth year. Outstanding sports program was “Muhammad Ali: What’s My Name?”

There was no mention of Netflix in any category, which stings considering this was their big year. As for Amazon, I think they’ve severely undermined “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” by favoring “Fleabag,” a series that is now over and isn’t coming back. The “Fleabag” wins everywhere this year are only good for Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The whole endeavor was short sighted.

The PGA honored a few people, too, and deservedly: Ted Sarandos (Milestone Award); Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures); Marta Kauffman (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television); Octavia Spencer (Visionary Award); and the Lionsgate film, Bombshell (The Stanley Kramer Award). Director Jay Roach and stars Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron were on hand for the latter. Roger Ailes would be so proud.

So is “1917” the Oscar winner for Best Picture? Ordinarily you might say Yes. But there are now ten days until Academy voters receive their ballots. A lot can be done for “The Irishman,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” or even “Parasite.” A lot of bloggers want “Parasite” to win but it’s a Korean movie from a small movie distributor (Neon). They feel it will cause an upset like “Moonlight.” We’ll see…

Exclusive: Grammy Awards Lose PR Firm in Fight with Ousted CEO as Sunshine Sachs Exits from Public Argument

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Grammy Awards Lose PR Firm in Fight with Ousted CEO as Sunshine Sachs Exits from Public Argument

Exclusive: Ken Sunshine and Shawn Sachs are still repping the Grammys for press next Sunday.

But I am told that they’ve resigned– or shall we say abdicated– from being involved in the current contretemps between the Recording Academy and their now ousted CEO Deborah Dugan.

Dugan has been put on administrative leave as the Academy figures out whether to fire her for cause, or negotiate her exit after six months on the job. Dugan is said to be readying a strong fight in which she’ll blame NARAS for everything from global warming to gerrymandering.

Whatever happens, the Academy is now scrambling to hire a spin outfit to get them through this crisis. They could easily align with Rogers & Cowan, Sitrick, or 42 West, all capable of taking on the task.

Sunshine Sachs has been working with the Grammys since last year. Prior to that, Rogers & Cowan handled them for decades.

The Grammys do not have a strong internal PR machine, unfortunately. And now they must come out, bullets blazing. Dugan and her attorney, Bryan Freedman, have already made the ousted exec seem like a martyr to the LA and NY Times, and to the trades. It’s going to be a brutal PR war in the next week. So stay tuned…

 

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