Monday, December 22, 2025
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“Sesame Street” Saved By Netflix for PBS Same Day Showing, Streamer Endorses Public Broadcasting

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“Sesame Street” will have a 56th season. On PBS and Netflix.

The streamer is rescuing the famed learning show, putting it on their platform and giving PBS day and date access.

This is an implicit endorsement for pubic broadcasting which will probably drive Trump insane this morning.

The streamer is providing a new, qualified headwriter and has suggested some format changes.

But otherwise, “Sesame Street” will look mostly the same and continue to do what Trump doesn’t like — educate!

It’s a win win!

The move to Netflix is also a slight rebuke of Warner Bros. Discovery. HBO had picked up rights to “Sesame Street” in 2015 and it ran there until last year. In December, however, HBO dropped the show and it was in limbo.

“Sesame Street” is so popular around the world that it can’t even be summarized here. It was created by the Children’s Television Workshop, which also produced The Electric Company.

The show was the brainchild of Joan Ganz Cooney, who is now 95 years old, along with Lloyd Morrisett Jr. The original music was by Joe Raposo, who wrote the smash hit, “Sing,” for the show. Jim Henson’s Muppets launched from the series that taught kids to read, spell, do some math and pick up the first steps of history.

Hundreds of celebrities have performed on “Sesame Street” over the last almost six decades. Expect Netflix to help funnel many many more, in addition to the central cast and of course Big Bird.

Trump: New Unhinged Attack on Bruce, Oprah, Beyonce, Bono for Supporting Kamala — Six Months After Election

It’s another day cuckoo land for Donald Trump.

At around 1:30am Eastern time, Donnie went on the war path announcing he would “investigate” celebrities who drew fans to Kamala Harris rallies.

It’s been six months since the election. This is what Trump is worried about.

The current president is jealous that Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, and Beyonce endorsed Harris and helped raise money and attention for her campaign.

He writes, screaming in ALL CAPS:

“HOW MUCH DID KAMALA HARRIS PAY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT? WHY DID HE ACCEPT THAT MONEY IF HE IS SUCH A FAN OF HERS? ISN’T THAT A MAJOR AND ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION? WHAT ABOUT BEYONCÉ? …AND HOW MUCH WENT TO OPRAH, AND BONO???”

This is another attempt to divert attention from the news that his family is earning billions while exploiting the White House, that ICE thugs are kidnapping people, and that he’s offered not a word of solace or help to the people of the midwest who were just ravaged by tornados.

A new week of hell begins.

Cannes’ Off Year: Few Big Parties, Many Panned Films, But Mini Studio Mubi Pays $24 Mil for Jennifer Lawrence

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Am I sorry to miss the Cannes Film Festival this year?

No.

Everyone’s favorite festival has picked up a negative vibe despite many Americans and loads of celebrities. The buzz is not happening. That’s a surprise.

So far, it’s been hard to find a film everyone likes just a little bit. The big news is that Mubi, the small distributor of “The Substance,” just paid $24 million Lynne Ramsey’s “Die My Love.”

The movie has mixed to good reviews. With just 17 critics posting, the consensus is that Jennifer Lawrence lights up the screen in a film that no one can agree on. Sounds like Demi Moore in “The Substance.” Robert Pattinson also stars. The Hollywood Reporter gave the cast a nice party sponsored by Longine’s.

Some big ticket films have arrived with distributors already involved. But Focus’s Wes Anderson movie, “The Phoenician Scheme,” is getting roasted by critics on first look. Anderson has not changed course as his films have gotten more and more self indulgent. A24’s “Eddington” with Joaquin Phoenix et al is sitting at 69% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Some good news: Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague” got swell reviews. A tribute to French new wave cinema, the little gem is — a la Woody Allen — black and white, and in French. Voila! It needs a distributor. Linklater’s last film, “Hit Man,” would have been a box office hit but Netflix kept it on the platform.

Also, Kristen Stewarts’ “The Chonology of Water” got high marks — 92% so far. It’s also looking for a US distributor.

Meanwhile, the party scene has been very blah evidently. Vanity Fair skipped its annual party at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc despite so many stars hanging around town. The magazine’s editor, Radhika Jones, is out and no one’s been named to take her place. Circulation is minimal. They also blow their cash wad on the Oscars.

The Hotel — one of the great stations of wealth and privilege in the world — must be pretty sore that they lost that booking as well as a much downsized dinner organized by London flack Charles Finch — at a small restaurant in town — for Benicio del Toro in “The Phoenician.” (Celebrity guests were Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding, who’s still dating De Niro’s ex-daughter-in- law.)The great era of the big Finch soirees at the famed hotel is over. Now they wait for the Eurotrash to wash up with amFAR later in the week.

I know everyone hates him now, and a lot for good reason (obviously), but Cannes swung under Harvey Weinstein. His enthusiasm for the place, its history, and films gave Cannes a buzz it hasn’t regained. His sense of showmanship upped everyone’s game. Alas, there’s obviously much less money to go around, and Netflix — which isn’t allowed to show movies at Cannes — stays quiet. Will the fun ever come back? I’m glad I was there when it was hot!

The Who Fire Zak Starkey a Second Time After Pete Townshend Reinstated Him: He Won’t Get Fooled Again!

A few weeks ago, drummer Zak Starkey — Ringo Starr’s 59 year old son — was fired by The Who after almost 30 years.

Roger Daltrey did the job, sparking outrage. Then Pete Townshend intervened, and Zak was reinstated.

But now Zak says he’s out for good. He won’t get fooled again. You better you bet on it. He’s had enough.

All this takes place as The Who plan their farewell tour of North America. All this infighting is really childish for two 80 year old men. They’re whittling down my interest in seeing them.

Beatles fans will be angry. Sean Ono Lennon wrote under Zak’s statement: “Without Zak, who’s the who?”

I don’t know if Ringo was ever friendly with these guys, but he has to be livid at this point.

It’s sad to see The Who go out this way. But Zak can see for miles and miles by now.

One more joke: Now The Who need a SUBSTITUTE!

Warner Bros. Scores Unexpected Hat Trick: “Final Destination,” “Sinners,” “Minecraft” Year’s Biggest Hits

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Warner Bros. has had a had trick with the three unexpected gigantic hits of 2025.

This week came “Final Destination: Bloodlines.” Total for the weekend in the US is $51 million. Shocking. International is the same, making $102 million worldwide.

Will you see it? No. But kids are going, and that’s what everyone wants.

Ditto “A Minecraft Movie.” Are you ready for this? It’s made $928 million. It’s 40/60 US/international. What is it? Who cares? Kids are lining up over and over. If you’re over 50, you could swear they’ve been saying “Mindcraft.” Don’t worry about it.

For adults and more serious filmgoers, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is a smash. There will be awards season action for this film which has made $316 million worldwide. Michael B. Jordan stars. Coogler and Jordan made “Fruitvale Station,” followed by “Creed,” and the “Black Panther” movies. They know what they’re doing.

Everyone in Hollywood is jealous of Mike DeLuca and Pam Abdy. They pulled Warner’s out of a nosedive. Before this trio of winners was released, every Hollywood scribe wrote articles of the executives’ demise.

Naysayers They were sure Warner Discovery chief David Zaslav was going to cut them loose. Now we wait with crossed fingers for “Superman.” If James Gunn’s take on the DC super hero works, Warner’s is in clover for the year. Nicely done!

Malia Obama Smeared Over “Plagiarism” — But Then Natalie Jasmine Harris Lifted Scene from “The Color Purple”

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Lots of headlines this morning.

“Malia Obama plagiarizes indie filmmaker!”

Natalie Jasmine Harris complaining that Malia used a patty-cake scene from “Grace,” her indie short for a Nike commercial.

But if Malia stole from Harris, then Harris stole from “The Color Purple.”

The 1985 Steven Spielberg classic featured a famous scene of Celie and her sister Nettie joyously playing the kids game. The scene is iconic. It’s repeated at the very end of the film with Celie and Nettie reunited.

Harris is looking for attention. She got it. She smeared Malia.

Also, frankly, the short, Grace,” borrows a lot from both of “The Color Purple” movies.

I call fraud.


go to the end of this clip, friends:

Scarlett Johansson Was Great on “SNL” Last Night, But Why Is She on the Cover of Vanity Fair’s TV Issue?

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Scarlett Johansson was just terrific last night hosting “Saturday Night Live.” She’s a bright light wherever she goes, frankly.

See clips below.

But Scarlett is a movie star. She does no TV at all. Yet, she’s on the cover of Vanity Fair’s TV issue. Why? I mean, why?

Vanity Fair’s top editors are exiting over the summer after a miserable 7 years. They actually had their Hollywood issue in December, three months before the Oscars. They don’t know what they’re doing.

I feel bad for whoever worked on the TV issue. There are dozens of good TV shows vying for Emmys this summer. Why weren’t they featured in the issue? Instead, there’s a feature on “Twin Peaks.”

Scarlett is promoting the new “Jurassic Park” movie. For some reason, we always look forward to that franchise. And seeing her in it.

See the cold open at the bottom. Toward the end, James Austin Johnson actually morphed into Trump. Eerie!

The Weeknd Had a Disastrous Weekend at the Box Office: “Hurry Up Tomorrow” Dropped 31% from Saturday to Sunday

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“What,” asked the Countess Dowager on Downton Abbey, “is a week end?”

Abel Tesfaye may ask that question today. His movie, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” bombed in its debut weekend.

After a quick start Thursday night, the critic-slammed music video fell fast. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 13%. No one liked it.

Total receipts were $3.3 million, which sounds good except almost all of it came on Thursday.

Today’s numbers indicate a 31% fall off from yesterday. Just $395,000 today.

Lionsgate will have to cut the 2,020 theater count quickly. If they even leave “Hurry Up” in any theaters, I’d be surprised.

To make matters worse, the film didn’t help record sales. The Weeknd is currently MIA from all charts.

“Hurry Up” lists 13 producers including Tesfaye, co star Jenna Ortega, and Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. All the money is gone, but I guess no one will notice it. As Jerry explained to George once on “Seinfeld,” this is a write-off!

Two Years After We Scooped David Geffen Wedding, Billionaire Philanthropist Files for Divorce

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Billionaire philanthropist David Geffen has filed for divorce after two years.

This column scooped the marriage to former “go go dancer” David Armstrong, then known as Donovan Michaels. Geffen was 80, Armstrong was 30.

I know what you’re thinking: what could go wrong?

TMZ broke the news of the divorce. There’s no prenup! Geffen has hired Hollywood super divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. They’ve already disseminated the news that Armstrong won’t get much after a little less than two years.

Still, it seems like Geffen’s net worth has increased in the two years by millions. Armstrong will be looking for a nice pay day to sign an NDA and never write a book about the relationship. It’s possible, however, that Geffen won’t care what Armstrong says or writes at this point.

That would be quite a twist to the story!

Why did Geffen marry him after not getting hitched his whole life? Companionship, probably (yes, and sex).

Geffen has given us so much including the new Geffen Hall in New York and gazillions in charitable donations we know nothing about. He also brought us Laura Nyro, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Guns n Roses, and “Dreamgirls.” So he gets a pass.

The divorce news comes just as Geffen’s close friend, Barry Diller, has revealed his not-so-secret gay life while being married to Diane von Furstenberg. After decades, it seems like we’re coming to an end of a chapter. All that’s left is Calvin Klein’s manifesto.

The original story is here. Below, another one about a get together shortly after.

Exclusive: Wedding Bells Ring for Media Mogul David Geffen And Much Younger Boyfriend

UPDATED: Media Titan Philanthropist David Geffen Dines with New Husband, Kris Kardashian, Barry Diller, Clinton Pals in Los Angeles

The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” Slows Up on Second Day, Drops 40%, Critics Hate It, Sells No Records

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As I noted yesterday, The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is a bust.

The movie by the pop star started strong on Thursday night with $1.65 million.

On Friday, the movie went from Hurry Up to Slow Down, falling 40% and doing only $850,000 in business.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the ranking is only 13%. Critics hate it. Audiences aren’t thrilled. Just 73% of them had any interest in it.

How did Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega get mixed up in this mess?

The movie’s arrival has not sold a single album or single either, and this was supposed to be the companion to the album of the same name. The Weeknd has no records on any chart.

So, now what? Lionsgate has “Hurry Up” in over 2,000 theaters and they are empty.

Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd has a great voice and usually makes popular records. But starting with the HBO series, “The Idol,” he’s squandered a lot of good will.

Time for Abel to move on, and get back to what works.