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Brian Tarantina, Veteran New York Actor, Featured on “Mrs. Maisel,” Found Dead in Apartment at Age 60

Roger Friedman
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Brian Tarantina, Veteran New York Actor, Featured on “Mrs. Maisel,” Found Dead in Apartment at Age 60

This is really sad. Brian Tarantina, a veteran New York with a long list of great credits, has died at age 60. According to reports, he was found full clothed and unresponsive in his Hell’s Kitchen apartment.

TMZ speculates that cause of death was a drug overdose.

Tarantina’s most recent and current credit was playing Jackie, the owner and emcee of the Gaslight Comedy Club on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” His repartee with Susie (Alex Borstein) was classic.

Half Italian, and half Irish, Tarantina listed his hobbies on the imdb as “Hobbies: playing pool, rooting for the New York Yankees and black jack”

He will be missed, especially at the Gaslight.

Digital Streaming Projection Problematic as “Irishman” Premiere at One Theater Scuttled, Apple TV SAG Screening Thwarted Twice

Roger Friedman
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Digital Streaming Projection Problematic as “Irishman” Premiere at One Theater Scuttled, Apple TV SAG Screening Thwarted Twice

Digital projection is still not completely groovy especially when it comes to screening films or TV shows for large audiences.

I’ve heard two accounts of the disastrous premier showing of Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” at the Landmark 57 Theater on Friday morning. The 11:15 show was supposed to be the first screening in New York, and it was sold out. But the whole thing went sideways, fast. The show was cancelled, and patrons were given passes to return next week.

One patron, who brought two friends, wrote: “After making reservations a month ahead of time to get good seats in the Fancy Landmark theatre.
Got there on time seeing an 11 15 am show yesterday.
Theatre was packed all set to see it. When a usherette
or whatever came down to make an announcement that they will not be able to show it
because part of it was missing,
You think it was the end of the world. People screaming that they came in from Jersey
to see this, people threatened to call Scorsese, 1 person called CBS thinking it is right
down the block but they said they weren’t interested. I guy. a lawyer is going to bring a class action
suit against the theatre. It went on and on.
Well I’m going to see it Wednesday I hope. They gave us passes.
I Let you know if they found the film.”

There was a problem with the second show as well, also cancelled. But things were straightened out after that.

Ah well. On Twitter, the account @AsALSeesIt wrote:

“#The Irishman #Theater owners: ‘The Irishman’ ‘deserved better’ release

Did anyone mention that the Landmark Theatre skunked it’s movie goers on Friday’s opening of The Irishman. They cancelled the shows due to technical difficulties. Now that’s news. Not covered!”
Meanwhile, SAG screened AppleTV’s “Dickinson” for its members at the Robin Williams Theater on Friday. “The place was packed, everyone was excited,” a viewer wrote me. “But they started and had to stop. They couldn’t connect to the server. They did it again, same thing. People were moaning, this is Apple! What’s going on?” Eventually, a digital handshake went through, “Dickinson”– which has received good notices– was presented without interruption.
Was film so much better? Yes. It was rare (and still is) that film unspooled or broke. Clever projectionists would break out tape, fix the break, and get on with the show. I was at a film festival where a sophisticated projector literally unspooled the film and it had to be rewound by hand. But these were freak things. Everyone learns from the mistakes.

Box Office: “Terminator” Is Back with a So-So Opening, “Jojo Rabbit” Nibbles, “Motherless Brooklyn” Needs a Parent

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Terminator” Is Back with a So-So Opening, “Jojo Rabbit” Nibbles, “Motherless Brooklyn” Needs a Parent

The last Terminator movie, “Genesys,” made $26 million in its first three days of release back in July 2015. That was a mid week opening so it’s hard to compare. But the new “Terminator” — which sent Linda Hamilton into extra sit ups — is about the same. It made $10 million last night. Maybe that’s a $30 million weekend, but probably less. Who wants to see this?

“Jojo Rabbit” expanded to 256 theaters and made $730,000 last night. The rabbit is nibbling at the box office. I’m waiting for it be to boiled. Let’s see if it can scamper away from the pot.

Edward Norton’s “Motherless Brooklyn” is not going to work out. Audiences must realize Bruce Willis is only in it for 15 minutes and doesn’t do very much. Still, the whole noir aspect is excellent, and Norton remains a fascinating actor. But last night’s take was just $1 million in just over a million locations. Warner Bros. was brave to release it, it’s not in their wheelhouse. But they’ve tried a lot of smaller movies this season, and deserve credit for it. “Joker” is their bread and butter.

Paramount is trying to leave “Gemini Man” in theaters until it reaches $50 million. That’s like a death by paper cuts. They’re five mil away.

 

Kanye West Scores a Number 1, Heavy on Streaming, with “Jesus is King”: Christian Market Comes Through for Him

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West Scores a Number 1, Heavy on Streaming, with “Jesus is King”: Christian Market Comes Through for Him

It’s been a while since Kanye West had a big hit album. But he has one new with “Jesus is King.” Kanye’s deep dive into the Christian market has produced a winner. He knew it, and he pulled it off.

“Jesus is King” sales are heavy on streaming. Almost two-thirds of the 270,000 total sales were from streaming. Individual tracks are all over the streaming chart on hitsdailydouble.com.

Total paid downloads came to 109,668. Streaming sales were 164,036. What makes it even sweeter that the reviews were very positive. “Jesus is King” is well made and a lot catchier than most Christian albums.

Kudos to the lucky winners of the sampling on the album. They should be getting nice checks. If they’re not, they should call their lawyers immediately.

Meantime, the short film called “Jesus is King” has made $1 million in theaters since its release last Friday. It hasn’t quite “cratered” yet.

Watch Tony Winner Cynthia Erivo — On Oscar Path — Sing Her Self-Penned Title Song from “Harriet,” Opening Today

Roger Friedman
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Watch Tony Winner Cynthia Erivo — On Oscar Path — Sing Her Self-Penned Title Song from “Harriet,” Opening Today

Since I saw “Harriet” at the Toronto Film Festival I haven’t heard a lot about it. But this fine film opens today, and Cynthia Erivo must certainly get an Oscar nomination for playing Harriet Tubman brilliantly. The Tony Award winner (for “The Color Purple”) is a gifted actress and singer.

Erivo wrote the title track, “Stand Up,” with Jonathan Brian Campbell. On Tuesday, Cynthia performede the song at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for the Critics Choice and other press and friends. That night at the “Harriet” premiere, Janelle Monae, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Elizabeth Banks and Debra Martin Chase were among the guests, and so was “Harriet” director Kasi Lemmons.

I’ll tell you why you have to see this movie: all of us, especially those under 50, don’t really know that Harriet Tubman was a real person. “The Underground Railroad” is something you hear tossed around. What was it? How did she do it? The crazy thing is, Harriet Tubman was like Wonder Woman without the cape. I’ve heard people say this is “like a Lifetime movie.” Bull shit. This is something we have to sit down and watch, everyone. And lucky us, in the middle of this presentation there’s a GREAT performance.

Best actresses: Renee Z, Cynthia, Charlize, Scarlett are the top competitors I’ve seen so far. “Little Women”? Don’t know, won’t see it for another week.

Chris Martin and Coldplay Have Made Some Strange Deal with the Jordan Tourism Board to Release New Album

Roger Friedman
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Chris Martin and Coldplay Have Made Some Strange Deal with the Jordan Tourism Board to Release New Album

I didn’t realize that Jordan, the country, next to Israel, is a big market for Coldplay. Who knew?

Anyway, Coldplay and Chris Martin are launching their new album, called “Everyday Life,” in Amman, Jordan on November 22nd. They will play two songs live from Amman on YouTube. I know I’m excited.

This news comes to me from a press release from the Jordanian Tourism Board. And so: “Everyday Life” is a double album, split into two halves, “Sunrise” and “Sunset” and will feature 16 songs, one of which is titled “Bani Adam” and is written in Arabic script. “Bani Adam,” literally translates to “Children of Adam”, The track is inspired by the 1258 AD poem of the same name by Iranian poet Saadi Shirazi who was recognized for his artistic work that revolves around social responsibility and morality.”

Things we learn: Amman was known in ancient times as “Philadelphia.” Petra was known as “Martha’s Vineyard.” (No, just kidding.)

Is Chris Martin dating someone in Jordan? Anyway, Jordan has a logo. They sent it. Here it is:

The Jordan Tourism Board www.visitjordan.com #visitjordan (CNW Group/Beattie Tartan Communications Ltd.)

Let’s keep an eye on this. Maybe Queen Noor digs “The Scientist.” Maybe Goop is making a move into Jordan. Time will tell.

Apple TV+ “Morning Show” Off the Rails: Spoilers Sent to Press Before Show Is Seen, Final Episode Jumps Several Sharks

Roger Friedman
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Apple TV+ “Morning Show” Off the Rails: Spoilers Sent to Press Before Show Is Seen, Final Episode Jumps Several Sharks

(WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS, EVEN THE SLIGHTEST S0 BE PREPARED) What is going on at Apple TV+, which launches today?

Last evening they sent out an email to press–who’d presumably seen just the first three episodes of “The Morning Show” with Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell. The balance of the season also arrived in a separate notice.

But the email asked reviewing press not to reveal any spoilers when we watched the shows. Then it LISTED all the spoilers, many of which no one had actually seen yet. I sure hadn’t.

Well, that kind of ruined the deal. I read the spoilers and said, “Whaaaaa?” to no one, not even the chair. So I skipped to the final episode to see what the heck was going on.

Episode 10 of “The Morning Show” is set just three weeks after the pilot, in which Aniston and Witherspoon are thrown together to host a “Today Show” type program. Aniston’s former co-host, played by Steve Carell, has just been fired after being accused of sexual harassment. There’s a massive cover up at the network, called UBA, to protect the people who covered for Carell’s Mitch.

I was a little surprised that not much had happened in the intervening 6 episodes since part 3. Whatever had happened didn’t really matter. Jumping back in, you could figure it all out without much help. The ladies were each secretly working against each other. Aniston’s Alex wanted to get rid of Reese, whom she’d handpicked; Reese’s Bradley was working in cahoots with others to do something that didn’t quite make sense.

Anyway, all of it backfires. There’s a terrible, unnecessary tragedy mid way through, and that would have been enough. The denouement from that point should have been stirring and pointing toward the 2nd batch of this thing. But no, crazy, ridiculous stuff occurs, many sharks suddenly jump out of the water, it’s a Sharknado at “The Morning Show.” I can’t believe the writer, Kerry Ehrin, thought this was the way a $150 million set of 10 episodes should end. The finale turns into a crazy screed that could not possibly happen in real broadcasting, just in bad big studio movies. Any attempt at realism or a serious dramatic ending becomes the kind of train wreck Amtrak stays up at night worrying about.

What a shame. All the actors are excellent. Aniston made me laugh out loud a couple of times. But something went really wrong here. It’s hard to believe that Steve Carell took the unpleasant role of Mitch, or that he would continue with it into a second season. He’s too good to take more of this abuse. The others, they’ve signed on. Ok. But this is like “Vinyl” and so many other series that seemed like a good idea until they did it. Stop it.

And publicists: please, all you have to do is send a notice asking not to reveal spoilers. Don’t actually delineate them. We’re not stupid.

Jane Fonda Will Be Arrested This Morning at the Capitol with Rosanna Arquette, Catherine Keener, Advocating for Climate Change Reform

Roger Friedman
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Jane Fonda Will Be Arrested This Morning at the Capitol with Rosanna Arquette, Catherine Keener, Advocating for Climate Change Reform

This morning Jane Fonda will be arrested for the fourth week in a row at the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. Her colleagues in arms this week will be actresses Rosanna Arquette and Catherine Keener. There may be some others. Keep refreshing. Previous stars who’ve joined her include Ted Danson, and Sam Waterston.

This is the 4th “Fire Drill Friday” in which Fonda is committing “acts of civil disobedience” to make legislators take climate change seriously.

Jane Fonda’s 4th “Fire Drill Friday” will focus on the ways in which women carry the greatest burden imposed by climate change and how they will continue to play the leading role in the fight to win a Green New Deal, switch urgently to clean energy, and prevent new fossil fuel development.  “Efforts to turn back climate change can be exponentially enhanced if the needs and priorities of women were addressed. This is why the Green New Deal calls for inclusive representation of women in political and economic decision making around environmental and climate policies. Women bear the brunt and women hold many of the solutions to the climate crisis,” said Fonda.

Last Friday, Fonda– showing grace and humor (a pun on Grace and Frankie, her hit TV show)– accepted a Britannia Award from BAFTA will she was in full protest mode.

These protests are not for fun, and not to be ignored. Fonda is serious, and so should all of us be, about climate change. She’s putting in the time and walking the walk. That takes guts and courage for the 82 year old two time Oscar winner and political activist. Bravo, Jane!

Exclusive: All Weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun) “Irishman” Shows in Manhattan Sold Out at Three Theaters Booked by Netflix

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: All Weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun) “Irishman” Shows in Manhattan Sold Out at Three Theaters Booked by Netflix

Want to see “The Irishman” in Manhattan this weekend? Good luck.

Netflix only has it playing in three theaters, and they are basically all sold out. The movie directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel, has a 99 on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s pitched for multiple Oscar nods. But you wanna ticket? Marone!

The Belasco Theater on West 44th St. is running two shows a day, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There may be one or two seats left at each show. When I looked today, pretty much everything was gone.

At Landmark 57, the most inconveniently placed movie house in the Western Hemisphere, you are out of luck. The 57th St. cross town bus is going to be very packed (you take it all the way west, until the driver is scuba diving). All the shows are sold out except for a few seats in the front rows.

Downtown, at the IFC Center, there 21 shows over the three day weekend. Only three of them have spots left, and they maybe gone by the time you look.

Monday and Tuesday at all locations are filling up, and word of mouth should do the trick. “The Irishman” would have been so great at the Ziegfeld, or the real Beekman, or the Coronet and Baronet. And the Paris? Don’t get me started. It’s just sitting there across from the Plaza Hotel, abandoned, shutdown by the greedy landlord, with the “Pavarotti” banner fading on the marquee.

By the way, an update: in many places outside of Manhattan, “The Irishman” doesn’t start until November 14 or 22nd and plays for just a few days. This is sinister. In Brooklyn there are no showings until the 14th. Fuhgeddaboutit!

Shady Global Citizen Wants to Compete with the Nobel Prize: First Move is “Global Citizen Prizes” TV Show with John Legend and Humanitarian Honorees

Roger Friedman
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Shady Global Citizen Wants to Compete with the Nobel Prize: First Move is “Global Citizen Prizes” TV Show with John Legend and Humanitarian Honorees

I told you that Global Citizen, the shady not for profit that gives nothing to charity and no money to the poor or hungry, was branching into broadcasting. They hired Lee Rolontz from I Heart Radio to start producing awards and TV shows.

Rolontz’s first project is the phony sounding Global Poverty Prizes for NBC, on December 12th in London at Royal Albert Hall.  They’re positioning themselves as a new Nobel Prize, when in fact, they are not nearly or remotely in that category.

John Legend is hosting it. They’re going to hand out a bunch of awards they’ve made up. According to their press release:  “The Cisco Youth Leadership Award will honor an individual 18-30 years old who has contributed meaningfully toward the goal of ending extreme poverty. In addition, they will recognize and Artist, Business Leader, World Leader as well as the Global Citizen of the Year.”

All the money from NBC and sponsors will go to the production, and into the Global Citizen 501 c3 salaries. None of it will go to poor people.

But they will talk about poor people. Because that’s what Global Citizen does. They talk talk talk about what other people are doing to battle poverty and hunger. Then they take credit for it. Then everyone goes to a good restaurant. (Honestly, I wish I’d thought this up. ) It bewilders me that no one vets this group, they just want to be party of a celebrity scrum.

Stay tuned…

 

 

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