Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Donate
Home Blog Page 10

One Direction’s Zayn Cancels US Tour as New Album Stiffs, “Health Scare” Provided as Reason for Stepping Back

Roger Friedman
-
0
One Direction’s Zayn Cancels US Tour as New Album Stiffs, “Health Scare” Provided as Reason for Stepping Back

Former One Direction star Zayn Malik remains his own worst enemy.

This morning Zayn canceled his US tour dates supporting his new album called “Konnakol.”

The album hasn’t sold very well, and the tour wasn’t generating enough sales for the arenas it was booked for.

But the excuse for all this is Zayn’s health. A couple of weeks ago he posted a photo from a hospital bed and said he was working with a cardiologist.

Zayn is 32 years old, and his most evident health problem is being covered in tattoos.

Then there was a rumor he got into an actual fistfight with another One Direction member, Louis Tomlinson, at a taping for a Netflix documentary. The series was canceled consequently. Apparently Zayn made a joke about Louis’s dead mother. Malik punched Tomlinson, and possibly caused some scars emotionally and physically.

“Konnakol” has sold just 25K CDs and downloads, and a total 44K with streaming. There’s been no groundswell for it, and and also not hit single to propel it along. The singer could not sustain a tour under those conditions.

Does Zayn really need a cardiologist? Well, he might be heartbroken. But his pro-Palestinian stance isn’t winning him any new fans, either.

So no Zayn for a while. And he’s left with album that’s not going to pick up the slack.

Devil Wears Nada: Anna Wintour Put Meryl Streep on the Cover of Vogue, But Couldn’t Land Her for the Silly Met Ball

Roger Friedman
-
0
Devil Wears Nada: Anna Wintour Put Meryl Streep on the Cover of Vogue, But Couldn’t Land Her for the Silly Met Ball

Guess who’s not going to the Mwt Ball on Monday?

Why, three time Oscar winner Meryl Streep.

I’ve confirmed that the star of “The Devil Wears Prada” is declining to attend because Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is the sponsor. Bezos recently spent $75 million on the Melania Trump documentary. Next up, he’s considering relaunching “The Apprentice” TV show with Donald Trump Jr.

Streep is too Earthbound and sensible to spent an evening making small talk with the likes of Mrs. Bezos, Lauren Sanche, and various Kardashians.

Wintour tried everything to ingratiate herself with Streep including put herself on the cover with world’s greatest actress.

It didn’t work. Meryl buys her clothes off the rack. Other than the “Prada” promotional tour, she doesn’t have a stylist. Fried chicken was on the menu for her birthday last year at a road house in Massachusetts.

All of this is why we love Meryl Streep. I really think she silently considers, Would Katharine Hepburn do that? And uses that as her template.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” made $10 million in previews last night. But the reviews are middling at best – except for Meryl’s. The $10 mil barely pays for part of the money Disney has squandered on marketing. We’ll see what the box office is by the time Wintour and crew head down Monday’s red carpet.

By the way, check out Vanessa Friedman’s piece on the Met Ball today in the NY Times. She goes a long way around to say that without Wintour, the Met Ball’s future is cloudy. Also, she mentions the huge anti-Ball poster campaign going on all over the city.

Pop: Madonna & Sabrina Debut at Number 1, But Fake AI Songs Take Up Four Spots in iTunes Top 10 and More Infiltrate Top 100

Roger Friedman
-
0
Pop: Madonna & Sabrina Debut at Number 1, But Fake AI Songs Take Up Four Spots in iTunes Top 10 and More Infiltrate Top 100

Good news for Madonna.

Her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter is a hit. “Bring Your Love” debuts at number 1 today on iTunes. Hooking up with Sabrina, who’s young enough to be Madonna’s daughter, was a great move. Plus, dance record — very Giorgio Moroder — is good. Madonna may have a big summer thanks to Sabrina, writer/producer Stuart Price, and savvy management from Guy Oseary.

And good news for Lady Gaga, who dropped two more singles from “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” joining the hit, “Runway.”

Now the bad news. All those records I mentioned will be held back on the iTunes chart by non human, fraudulent music.

There are four fake AI singles on the iTunes top 10. Two are by “Eddie Dalton,” one is from “Inga Rose,” and one more from “Jada Monroe.” They are all completely fictitious and deeply offensive to real soul and R&B stars. They should also outrage real music stars who are vying for chart positions on iTunes.

Through the rest of the top 100 singles, there are plenty more of these frauds. There are more than a dozen in addition to the top four. There are plenty more on the album chart including two albums by “Eddie Dalton.”

iTunes doesn’t seem to mind being played. But they look ridiculous. Even Spotify says they’re going to start identifying AI releases.

Still waiting for word from the Recording Academy, RIAA, and other groups about the AI infiltration.

People are being played to be fools.

Lizzo Makes a Stunning Comeback Covering Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” And Adding Her Own Witty, Raunchy Material

Roger Friedman
-
0
Lizzo Makes a Stunning Comeback Covering Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” And Adding Her Own Witty, Raunchy Material

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.

12 Year Old North West, Daughter of Kanye and Kim Kardashian, Releases Unlistenable 6 Track EP Including Song Called “Die”

Roger Friedman
-
0
12 Year Old North West, Daughter of Kanye and Kim Kardashian, Releases Unlistenable 6 Track EP Including Song Called “Die”

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.


Fickle Fame: Timothee Chalamet Fan Site Giving Up, Transitioning to “Heated Rivalry” Star Connor Storrie: “Don’t deny the obvious”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Fickle Fame: Timothee Chalamet Fan Site Giving Up, Transitioning to “Heated Rivalry” Star Connor Storrie: “Don’t deny the obvious”

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.

Box Office: “Michael” Dropped 36% on Wednesday as Front Loading Looks Like This Year’s Trend, “Prada 2” Faces Challenge

Roger Friedman
-
0
Box Office: “Michael” Dropped 36% on Wednesday as Front Loading Looks Like This Year’s Trend, “Prada 2” Faces Challenge

“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.

Outrage and Laughs After Billy Joel, James Taylor, Gamble & Huff Omitted from NYTimes Mag’s LOL List of 30 Best Living American Songwriters

Roger Friedman
-
0
Outrage and Laughs After Billy Joel, James Taylor, Gamble & Huff Omitted from NYTimes Mag’s LOL List of 30 Best Living American Songwriters

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…

“Chicago” Has Highest Weekly Gross Ever in Its 30 Years on Broadway thanks to Reality Stars Mark Ballas, Whitney Leavitt

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Chicago” Has Highest Weekly Gross Ever in Its 30 Years on Broadway thanks to Reality Stars Mark Ballas, Whitney Leavitt

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 New Members Because They Can’t Find Any on Their Own, Send Form Letter to Potential Voters

Roger Friedman
-
0
The Golden Globes Are Looking for New Members Because They Can’t Find Any on Their Own, Send Form Letter to Potential Voters

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.

1...91011...2,395Page 10 of 2,395

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com