Lizzo — post lawsuits, some weight loss — is back.
She’s covering Meredith Brooks’s 1997 hit, “Bitch” and adding her own witty, raunchy material.
At first you’re thinking what??? But it works! Hard to believe. Give Lizzo some credit. This is her sassy snap back to all her naysayers and plantiffs.
If this isn’t a radio hit for the summer, I’d be very surprised.
The album of the same name comes out June 5th.
North West is 12 years old, the daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
If she weren’t famous because of her parents, no one would care that she’s dropped a 6 track EP of atrocious, unlistenable music/
One of the songs is called “Die.” The opening lyrics are “I wanna die, wanna die/But don’t really wanna die.”
The EP comes to us via Gamma Records, just like Kanye’s “Bully.” Larry Jackson runs Gamma, which is funded largely by Todd Boehly’s Eldridge company and Apple Music.
North — who might be in fifth or sixth grade — doesn’t seem to spend any time in school. I guess it doesn’t matter if she can read, write, or do math since her parents are so wealthy. She’s already tricked out like Nicki Minaj. Her chance at having a decent intellectual life is shot.
According to a press release, North is set to make her festival performance debut at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash in Chicago June 12th. So she will not be in class that week, in case anyone cares.
I know — I’m so conventional. But they’re creating a monster, and one who can’t write music or sing, but can make noises with a computer.
I guess cursive writing is out, too.
Fame, as we know, is fickle.
This year, Timothee Chalamet reached a boiling point, and then boiled over. Not getting the Oscar for “Marty Supreme” didn’t help. The whole Kylie Jenner saga was worse. Also, the orange ping pong balls, and the putting down of ballet and fine arts.
Now Club Chalamet, a big fan account on Instagram, is transitioning away from the “Dune” star. They’re moving on to “Heated Rivalry” actor Connor Storrie. That’s life, as Sinatra sang.
Account owner Simone Cromer says in her post: “I’m proud of all the work I have put into this community, as I don’t believe in half-assing anything that I believe in. But once I don’t fully believe in it anymore, I have to recenter my focus on things I believe in and that make me happy.”
Now Storrie will get her attention on a newly christened Insta account. She writes: “I have identified Connor Storrie, in particular, as an actor who will have a remarkable career in film and TV, and he will certainly win awards; he’s definitely a future EGOT-type talent.”
There’s no mention of what Simone is doing with her ping pong balls or “Marty Supreme” jacket.
“Michael,” the movie, is moonwalking all over the place.
On Monday, after the incredible start, “Michael” dropped 70% in receipts.
On Tuesday, fans wrote to me because box office rose 44% and spiked at $11 million. The social media types kept exclaiming it set a record for a Tuesday in an even numbered year during a full moon.
But yesterday the biopic fell back to the $7 million range, down 36%.
The fact is, “Michael” is very front loaded. How it will do this weekend it still in debate, with “Devil Wears Prada 2” coming in hot PR wise. Will “Michael” hold on to the lead?
“Prada” is probably even more front loaded. Whoever wants to see it will do this weekend. There are estimates of an $80 million weekend. But reviews have been mixed to not good, giving “Prada” a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. The problem is, many reviewers who assigned a “fresh” to “Prada” were just vamping. The reviews are actually kind of negative for the movie, but everyone loves the cast.
Front loading is the new trend for movies with flashy wrapping and hollow insides. These surging weekends lead to calmer followup.
We’ll see how “Michael” and “Prada” do tonight.
The last couple of days I’ve been hearing from people about the NY Times Magazine’s list 30 Best Living American Songwriters.
About the half the people chosen are completely idiotic. Worse, the omissions are serious.
We immediately pointed out that Billy Joel, one of the best ever, didn’t make the cut. Neither did James Taylor, Donald Fagen, soul stars Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and Jackson Browne.
We called out Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. The excuse there is said to be that they’re “Canadian.” They’ve each lived in the States for 60 years. They’re residents whether you like it or not. Sorry, they should have been included.
Instead, the Times editors think Outkast (one song — “Hey Ya”), rapper Young Thug, Mariah Carey (every song co-written by someone else, doubtful she wrote music), Jay Z (all songs sampled), The Dream (a nightmare), Fiona Apple (sing one song, dare ya), Stephen Merritt (who now?), Bad Bunny (sorry, but no), and Romeo Santos are better than the aforementioned.
Best Living Songwriters would also include Broadway — Lin Manuel Miranda, for example. Or Lady Gaga, who’s penned some real hits that are memorable. Neil Diamond is very much alive, but his songs would be too popular, I guess. Tom Waits? Patti Smith? Herb Alpert? David Byrne? Brenda Russell? Carole Bayer Sager? Al Green? The list goes on and on.
Of course, these lists are meant to be provocative. Rolling Stone does some dumb list four times a year, and everyone hates them. They’re supposed to draw attention be good for publicity no matter how mad they make readers. But what if there were a smart list, one that showed the magazine really got it? But the NYTimes Magazine? They should stay in their own lane and write about prisons, the homeless, and ice floes. Leave the arts and culture to others.
Now, of course, the Times is publishing lists of people they’ve forgotten. It won’t work.
Sorry, Billy, you came thisclose. If only you had a few ditties we could all sing. Maybe next time…
You have to hand it to Broadway producers Fran and Barry Weissler.
The musical, “Chicago,” just had its biggest weekly box office ever. Ever! The musical has been playing for 30 years.
“Chicago” usually runs around $600K to $800K a week. But this week was double, and up from last week’s $1.4 million.
The reason for this renewed interest is excellent stunt casting. Mark Ballas from “Dancing with the Stars” and Whitney Leavitt from “Mormon Wives” are in until May 3rd.
Talk about off beat success! But the Weisslers know what they’re doing! Ballas especially is wildly popular from his TV show. Leavitt, as long as she’d not related to the press secretary, is fine by me.
“Chicago” is a great musical and was also an Oscar winning movie. In New York, we’re jaded and a little tired of it. But the Kander and Ebb songs, the Bob Fosse dancing, if it’s refreshed and done right, can’t be beat.
Also, it’s nice to see a Broadway musical with reasonable ticket prices.
Tip of the hat to Bebe Neuwirth, the late Ann Reinking, and James Naughton, the original stars!
The Golden Globes are looking for members.
They’ve sent out a form letter to most everyone, inviting them to apply for membership.
I started to do it, but the application was so long and complicated, I gave up. (PS They didn’t send this to me. It was forwarded by a spy.)
I can’t get into a long shpiel about the Globes. You know their history. Even if they accept you, there’s no ticket to their show. You have to sit in the Beverly Hilton parking lot, or over at the Starbucks on Little Santa Monica.
Anyway, here’s the letter.
“As part of our ongoing expansion of the Golden Globes voting body, we’re now opening the process to U.S.-based entertainment journalists working for domestic media outlets.
We’d like to invite you to apply. You can find the application form HERE. As part of the process, you’ll be asked to submit five recent examples of your work for a U.S. outlet.
All applications are reviewed by the Membership Board of Directors, which is made up of independent entertainment and media professionals. Approved voters will maintain their status for two years without the need to submit news clippings next year.
The deadline to apply has been extended for you to Friday, May 8, 2026 at 6 PM PDT.
This invitation is non-transferable, and we kindly ask that you not share it.
We hope you’ll consider applying and being part of the voting body for the 84th Annual Golden Globes on Sunday, January 10, 2027.”
God bless.
The Drama Desk nominations are out, and they’re pretty stunning.
The group snubbed almost anything to do with Hollywood stars. So Daniel Radcliffe, Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss Bacharach, Adrien Brody, Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer are all out.
The Drama Desk had little use for new musicals “Beaches” and the “The Lost Boys.”
Most of the nominees come from off Broadway or somewhere near Poughkeepsie. Tough group!
Outstanding Play
Caroline, by Preston Max Allen
Cold War Choir Practice, by Ro Reddick
Meet the Cartozians, by Talene Monahon
Prince Faggot, by Jordan Tannahill
The Balusters, by David Lindsay-Abaire
The Porch on Windy Hill, by Sherry Stregack Lutken, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Morgan Morse, and David M. Lutken
Well, I’ll Let You Go, by Bubba Weiler
Outstanding Musical
Beau the Musical
Mexodus
Schmigadoon!
The Seat of Our Pants
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Outstanding Revival of a Play
Becky Shaw
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
Death of a Salesman
Los Soles Truncos
Titus Andronicus
You Got Older
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Chess
Ragtime
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Baker’s Wife
The Rocky Horror Show
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Well, I’ll Let You Go
Noah Galvin, The Reservoir
Synnøve Karlsen, Pygmalion
John Krasinski, Angry Alan
Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman
John Lithgow, Giant
Lesley Manville, Oedipus
Laurie Metcalf, Death of a Salesman
Aigner Mizzelle, The Monsters
Patrick Page, Titus Andronicus
Anika Noni Rose, The Balusters
Kara Young, Gruesome Playground Injuries
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Nicholas Christopher, Chess
Micaela Diamond, The Seat of Our Pants
Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show
Joshua Henry, Ragtime
Dulé Hill, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Amber Iman, Goddess
Caissie Levy, Ragtime
Brian Quijada, Mexodus
Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus
Matt Rodin, Beau the Musical
Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
Caroline Aaron, The Reservoir
Edoardo Benzoni, Are the Bennet Girls Ok?
Maria-Christina Oliveras, The Balusters
Nathan Darrow, (un)conditional
Emily Davis, Well, I’ll Let You Go
West Duchovny, Diversion
Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
Linda Emond, Becky Shaw
David Greenspan, Prince Faggot
River Lipe-Smith, Caroline
Lizan Mitchell, Cold War Choir Practice
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Richard Thomas, The Balusters
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Chris Blisset, Beau the Musical
Max Clayton, Schmigadoon!
Lilli Cooper, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show
Judy Kuhn, The Baker’s Wife
McKenzie Kurtz, Schmigadoon!
Ruthie Ann Miles, The Seat of Our Pants
Erin Morton, Heathers the Musical
Jackson Kanawha Perry, Saturday Church
Jasmine Amy Rogers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime
Layton Williams, Titaníque
Outstanding Solo Performance
Savon Bartley, Holes in the Shape of My Father
Jack Holden, Kenrex
Hailey McAfee, and her Children
Natalie Palamides, Weer
Julia McDermott, Weather Girl
Josh Sharp, ta-da!
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Jesse Berger, Titus Andronicus
David Cromer, Caroline
Trip Cullman, Becky Shaw
Kenny Leon, The Balusters
Joe Mantello, Death of a Salesman
Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bijan Sheibani, The Brothers Size
Jack Serio, Well, I’ll Let You Go
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
Gordon Greenberg, The Baker’s Wife
Danny Mefford, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
David Mendizábal, Mexodus
Josh Rhodes, Beau the Musical
Leigh Silverman, The Seat of Our Pants
Outstanding Choreography
Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
Edgar Godineaux and Jared Grimes (tap choreography), Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Natalie Malotke, Jonathan Platero, and Oksana Platero, Blood/Love
Toran X. Moore, Try/Step/Trip
Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys (includes aerial choreography)
Outstanding Music
The Lazours, Night Side Songs
Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
Ethan D. Pakchar & Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
Michael Thurber, Goddess
Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus
Outstanding Lyrics
Jim Barne & Kit Buchan, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Dahlak Brathwaite, Try/Step/Trip
Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Dahlak Brathwaite, Try/Step/Trip
Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
Jesse Malin & Lauren Ludwig, Silver Manhattan
Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus
Outstanding Orchestrations
Bryan Carter (music supervisor and arranger), The Fear of 13
Daniel Kluger, The Seat of Our Pants
David M. Lutken, Morgan Morse, Lisa Helmi Johanson, and Sherry Stregack Lutken, The Porch on Windy Hill
John McDaniel, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
The Bengsons & Or Matias, My Joy is Heavy
Outstanding Music in a Play
John Patrick Elliott, Kenrex
Donald Lawrence, Oh Happy Day!
Stan Mathabane (composer) and Munir Zakee (musician), The Brothers Size
Johnathan Moore, The Imaginary Invalid (Molière in the Park)
Ro Reddick, Cold War Choir Practice
Darron L West and Alexander Sovronsky, The Wild Duck
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
Harry Feiner, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
Soutra Gilmour, Waiting for Godot
Tatiana Kahvegian, Meet the Cartozians
Chloe Lamford, Death of a Salesman
Derek McLane, The Adding Machine
Derek McLane, The Balusters
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Daniel Allen, Beau the Musical
dots, The Rocky Horror Show
Rachel Hauck, CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys
Arnulfo Maldonado, Goddess
Jason Sherwood, The Baker’s Wife
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play
Kindall Almond, Initiative
Enver Chakartash, Meet the Cartozians
Enver Chakartash, Tartuffe (New York Theatre Workshop)
Qween Jean, Oh Happy Day!
Emilio Sosa, The Balusters
Paul Tazewell, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Qween Jean, CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Qween Jean, Saturday Church
David I. Reynoso, The Rocky Horror Show
Kaye Voyce, The Seat of Our Pants
Catherine Zuber, The Baker’s Wife
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, Prince Faggot
Jeff Croiter, The Adding Machine
Stacey Derosier, Well, I’ll Let You Go
Jack Knowles, Death of a Salesman
Kate McGee, without mirrors
Studio Luna, Marcel on the Train
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Mextly Couzin, Mexodus
Adam Honoré, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Adam Honoré & Donald Holder, Ragtime
Bradley King, The Baker’s Wife
Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
Japhy Weideman, Beau the Musical
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play
Angela Baughman, Initiative
Caroline Eng, The Unknown
Tom Gibbons, Oedipus
Kieran Lucas, Weather Girl
Nevin Steinberg, Anna Christie
Giles Thomas, Kenrex
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical
Jordana Abrenica, Beau the Musical
Jason Crystal, The Baker’s Wife
Mikhail Fiksel, Mexodus (includes looping systems architecture)
Kai Harada, Ragtime
Alex Hawthorn & Drew Levy, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Outstanding Projection and Video Design
David Bengali, My Joy is Heavy
Akhila Krishnan, Kyoto
Johnny Moreno, Mexodus
Tal Yarden, Oedipus
Outstanding Wig and Hair Design
Alberto “Albee” Alvarado, The Rocky Horror Show
David Brian Brown, The Lost Boys
David Brian Brown and Victoria Tinsman, Fallen Angels
Nikiya Mathis, CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Robert Pickens, Tartuffe (New York Theatre Workshop)
Outstanding Puppetry
Axtell Expressions, Amaze
Emily Batsford (creator) and Yuliya Tsukerman (puppet design), Cumulo
Julian Crouch, Goddess
Monkey Boys Productions, The Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire
Outstanding Fight Choreography
Gerry Rodriguez, The Monsters
Thomas Schall, The Balusters
Rick Sordelet, Titus Andronicus
Rick Sordelet, Ulster American
Sordelet Inc., The Lost Boys
Outstanding Adaptation
and her Children, by Rosie Glen-Lambert and Hailey McAfee
Are the Bennet Girls Ok?, by Emily Breeze
Oedipus, by Robert Icke
Pride & Prejudice, by Abigail Pickard Price, with Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches
Room 204, by Taylor Massa
The Imaginary Invalid (Molière in the Park), by Lucie Tiberghien
Outstanding Revue
About Time
Baile Cangrejero
I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical
Unique Theatrical Experience
Amaze
Burnout Paradise
Color Theories
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Rheology
Slanted Floors
Mixed to negative reviews are coming for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
IndieWire: C+
Not a surprise. Disney really hid this film from actual reviewers until the last minute, and spent tens of millions promoting it around the world. Meryl Streep is getting good notices, naturally. And it’s nice to see the cast reunited.But the movie has no purpose of its own, according to reviews.
Guy Lodge writes in Variety, comparing it to the original: “by almost any metric, a lesser movie: narratively, emotionally and cinematically flatter, buoyed by game performances that nonetheless steadfastly fail to surprise. And in almost every way that it falls short, it illustrates something that’s been taken from mainstream Hollywood moviemaking since 2006.”
Deadline.com, which likes everything, calls it “an underwhelming return.”
The Wrap is vicious: “’The Devil Wears Prada 2’”’ doesn’t have a coherent theme, so its vibes have nothing to stick to. It never makes the convincing argument for its own existence, other than saying the journalism business stinks right now, and that there’s no solution that doesn’t involve billionaires who are more likely to ruin the industry than save it. Maybe that’s true but it’s not much of a movie. At least the gang’s all here, and the gang’s still charming, but the gang would have been better off doing something else.”
David Rooney in THR: “I had complicated feelings about THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2. Fun to see Streep, Hathaway, Blunt & MVP Tucci back in these roles, but this is a flimsy story with diluted conflicts that strains for substance and mostly falls short.”
Disney deserves all this bad news, frankly. Their PR department has done everything to make enemies along the way. Absolutely nothing was done to curry good will — which could be considered refreshing.
This is yet another mis-handled 20th Century Fox release from the Mouse House. They’ve bungled all of them, most recently “Deliver Me from Nowhere,” which was a good film poorly presented to the audience.
Will this affect box office? Not the first weekend. There’s too much pent up interest thanks to all that expensive marketing. But beyond that, Prada may be nada.
Yikes!
updating…
There’s no question that Michael Jackson’s “Michael” movie was gigantic hit over the weekend.
The total from Wednesday through Sunday was an astonishing 97.2 million in the US alone.
“Michael” mania was certainly in the air.
But does the movie have staying power?
It’s unclear, but Monday’s drop off was pretty severe. “Michael” was down 70% from Sunday to Monday.
That’s a far bigger drop than the movie it’s compared, to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” on its 4th day back in 2018.
It’s also a bigger 4th day drop than either “Project Hail Mary” or “Super Mario Galaxy,” two other current but older blockbusters.
Has the “Michael” audience been front-loaded? Probably. But even if a second weekend is down 50%, “Michael” will be considered a blockbuster.
We’ll see the Tuesday numbers this afternoon. Listen, Lions Gate and Universal won’t stop til they get enough!