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E.J. Carroll Book Sales Not Taking Off After New York Magazine Cover and Accusation that Donald Trump Raped Her in the ’90s

Roger Friedman
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E.J. Carroll Book Sales Not Taking Off After New York Magazine Cover and Accusation that Donald Trump Raped Her in the ’90s

I wish I could say that sales for E. Jean Carroll’s “What Do We Need Men For?” have skyrocketed since Friday when news of the book and its revelations broke wide.

But the book is sitting at number 473 on Amazon right now after a brief spike to number 110 on Friday.

That was when New York Magazine’s startling cover story in which Carroll accused President Donald Trump of raping her in the mid 90s hit the stands.

The excerpt from the book also contained accusations about former CBS chief Les Moonves and other bold faced men. Carroll, who’s written a monthly column for Elle Magazine since 1993 and once had a popular show on CNBC’s precursor, America’s Talking, said she and Trump went into a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman, and he attacker her. Trump denied even knowing her, but New York ran a photo of the president, first wife Ivana, Carroll, and her then husband all together from 1987.

Despite Carroll’s credentials, some found her story unbelievable. And even though the New York Times confirmed with her sources that she’d confided in them after the alleged episode, the paper didn’t give the story much emphasis. In fact, they put the report in their Books section and didn’t feature it prominently on their website’s front page.

I want to believe Carroll. I tried to confirm her story with someone who knew her well from that time. But I was turned down cold by the person, whose name I’m omitting. They simply declined to comment, and didn’t sound happy about the whole thing.

I did think “What Do We Need Men For?” would soar on amazon Friday night. This morning Carroll is making the TV rounds, and even that isn’t helping. Either people don’t believe her story or don’t care. Either choice is fairly disturbing.

New Republic Magazine Seeks “Inequality Editor” And Gives Them First Story: Part Time Job Has No Benefits And Isn’t Part of Union

Roger Friedman
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New Republic Magazine Seeks “Inequality Editor” And Gives Them First Story: Part Time Job Has No Benefits And Isn’t Part of Union

The New Republic magazine, which I didn’t know was still in business, has a job opening: Inequality Editor.

The job is to produce four columns a week for the magazine’s website. The columns will be about… inequality. So it’s probably very apt that the position, which is part time, has no benefits and isn’t part of the magazine’s union. You work at home, 29.5 hours a week.

So the first column should be about this position. It’s like one month rent free. Or one of those come-ons from credit companies for cheap furniture.

And that is where publishing is these days, I’m afraid. Here’s the ad. (And PS. I’ll take that job. Who needs health care?)

INEQUALITY DEPUTY EDITOR, PART-TIME

Long a champion of equality in all its guises, The New Republic is looking for a part-time editor to oversee a forthcoming inequality vertical. The editor will be expected to recruit and oversee columnists and design potential partnership opportunities. You should be full of ideas, know how to make our coverage unique, how to inspire and mentor writers, and have ideas on how to use a small budget to grow this beat into something spectacular.

We are looking for an editor who is well-sourced in this beat and knows how to cover the pieces that no one else is; not only that, we need someone who can go into the 2020 elections raising hell.

Each week, you will be expected to edit 3-4 pieces for the website. You’ll also be expected to pitch story ideas to the print team—and also edit a print feature when the occasion warrants. While the editor will collaborate with others across the newsroom, we’re looking for someone who will work this vertical autonomously, reporting to both the executive editor and digital director.

The editor should think about stories, but also various platforms on which to tell these stories outside of print and web—think newsletters, podcasts, events, etc.

This is a non-Guild job and is open to internal and external candidates.

The New Republic is committed to diversity and encourages members of underrepresented communities to apply, including women, LGBTQ people, people of color, people with criminal records, veterans and people with disabilities.

While this job can be a remote position, we prefer those candidates who are already based in New York City or Washington, DC and who can work from our office. This is a part-time role, requiring 29.5 hours per week, and does not include benefits.

Send CV, samples of recent editing work, and a memo telling us how you would approach this job with a team of one staff writer and a few columnists.

Justin Trudeau Has Pillow Talk Problem in His Top Court: Ontario Judge Dated Defendant’s Wife’s Pal But Wouldn’t Recuse Himself from Trial

Roger Friedman
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Justin Trudeau Has Pillow Talk Problem in His Top Court: Ontario Judge Dated Defendant’s Wife’s Pal But Wouldn’t Recuse Himself from Trial

You know I’ve been following a case in Canada’s Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. The white collar defendant has been cooling his heels for 61 days in prison limbo in Toronto, denied bail.

If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thinks he’s got problems with Donald Trump, and with China, he should take a look at his judicial system. As I’ve said before, the case– going on for five-and-half-years — reads like a John Grisham novel.

Ontario’s Doug Ford just did a major shuffle in his own government, abruptly demoting the Ontario Attorney General, Caroline Mulroney, to the Dept. of Transportation. Mulroney has quite a background, too: She’s also the daughter of former PM Brian Mulroney. Her father in law is the great Lewis Lapham, former editor of Harper’s magazine in the U.S.

But before she was removed as Attorney General of Ontario, Mulroney received an urgent letter from a famed and highly respected Canadian defense attorney. He advised her that a judge in the Superior Court refused to recuse himself from a wildly out of court trial in which the judge had been dating a friend of a defendant’s ex wife. The trial has now been going on for five-and-a-half years. The defendant has spent 61 days in jail, in court limbo, since being found guilty after his crazy trial.

The attorney wrote to Mulroney: “The trial judge was confronted with the fact that he shortly before the trial commenced had an intimate relationship with the best friend of my client’s wife. A recusal motion was refused. This situation created a reasonable apprehension of bias.” In other words, pillow talk is an issue in Canada’s top court.

The fact that Mulroney ignored the letter, which contained other allegations of judicial misconduct, could be indicative of why she was relieved of her more important position last week.

Trudeau is on the record as saying if the rights of any Canadian are violated, Canada will not stand idly by and Canada will pay a steep price.

In this case, there’s a huge irony: In 2015, the defendant in this case was invited by the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, to attend a state dinner in honor of the President of the Philippines held at the General Governor’s Residence at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Canada only invites its best and brightest to these state dinners (just as the White House did in previous administrations).  The defendant — who had then been jailed for two weeks for contempt of court– went directly from prison to the State Dinner.

After 61 days, it’s time for Trudeau’s court system to let bail be posted for this defendant, and to review the possible misconduct that has occurred.

 

 

No Soap: CBS’s “Young and the Restless” Has 3rd Week Out of Last 4 Below 4 Million Viewers as Show Tries to Right Ship

Roger Friedman
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No Soap: CBS’s “Young and the Restless” Has 3rd Week Out of Last 4 Below 4 Million Viewers as Show Tries to Right Ship

Ratings trouble continue for CBS’s number 1 show, “The Young and the Restless.”

For the first week of June, “Y&R” fell below 4 million viewers again for the week. It’s the third time in four weeks that’s happened. One Tuesday, June 4th they were down to an alarming 3.8 million.

The actual number is 3,966,000. Back in December 2017 “Y&R” was up to 4.8 million. That was far off old highs but still showing signs of life.

The current trend is worrisome because they’ve lost a million fans and they don’t seem to be coming back. Abrupt cast changes have led to a kind of destabilization. Some of the actors who left returned, but Eileen Davidson is still MIA.

All the soaps are down coming out of May sweeps and going into summer, a traditionally slow time. But it’s time to step up the game or they will be gone, replaced by more inane reality and talk shows.

Roseanne Barr’s Just-Failed Comedy Tour Prompts Andrew Dice Clay to Invite Her on a “Mr. and Mrs. America” Tour

Roger Friedman
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Roseanne Barr’s Just-Failed Comedy Tour Prompts Andrew Dice Clay to Invite Her on a “Mr. and Mrs. America” Tour

Readers of this column know how badly Roseanne Barr fared last month in her short comedy tour. One stop had to be canceled entirely. The other shows sold very poorly, with tickets going for rock bottom prices and the theaters full of empty seats.

So now Andrew Dice Clay has invited Barr on a tour with him called “Mr. and Mrs. America.” He gave this headline to Fox News, which is where I guess his audience is. Will he be the headliner? And who will produce a tour with Roseanne after her poor turnout just last month?

“Mr. and Mrs. America” will have to lean heavily on red states, and keep the prices low because those people are not paying more than $30 for a ticket– and even that’s high for this stuff in the mid west.

Tickets are supposed to go on sale next week. We’ll stay on top of developments.

 

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On Sale Next Week !!!

A post shared by Andrew Dice Clay (@andrewdiceclay) on

Disney-Pixar Box Office Major Disappointment as “Toy Story 4” Comes in Way Below Expectations with a $118 Mil Weekend

Roger Friedman
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Disney-Pixar Box Office Major Disappointment as “Toy Story 4” Comes in Way Below Expectations with a $118 Mil Weekend

Any movie that made $118 million for a weekend would be considered a huge hit. But “Toy Story 4” has turned out to be a major disappointment even with great reviews.

The fourth installment of the cherished franchise came in way lower than expected, which was more in the $130 million -plus range. It sounds like a lot of money but as Exhibitor Relations points out, “Toy Story 3” box office adjusted for inflation had a $126 million opening weekend in 2010.

This is actually pretty alarming because “4” was supposed to be a slam dunk. Disney-Pixar et al love touting “record-breaking” numbers. Even as late as yesterday another site, boxofficemojo.com, was hoping for $125 million. But remember that $118 mil includes $12 mil from Thursday.  So now the studio will eye the coming week to see what the legs are like. But either audiences didn’t relate to “4,” or the marketing didn’t connect. I feel like it sneaked up on us with little preparation. But I’m not the target audience. Still, we’re not getting much love in New York from Disney these days other than one time all-media screenings. (Come back, Disney! We love you!)

Never fear, however, since internationally “4” has already racked up more than $120 million from foreign countries. And “Aladdin” business is booming everywhere.

 

Neil Young on the Passing of Lifelong Manager Elliot Roberts Dead at Age 76: “All the words in the world could not express my sense of love and thanks”

Roger Friedman
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Neil Young on the Passing of Lifelong Manager Elliot Roberts Dead at Age 76: “All the words in the world could not express my sense of love and thanks”

Read Neil Young’s statement below in italics.

 

Elliot Roberts owes me one of those Pono players. For two years in a row he said he’d get me one. He never did, but I think he knew why: it was just going to cause trouble. Roberts died this week at age 76 after tending to rock stars for basically 50 years. He guided, suffered their whims of fancy, and tried to keep everyone out of trouble. I think he knew Neil Young’s Pono would not be a toy for me.

Every year Elliot came to Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy dinner, and Clive would give him a major shout out. White maned with a deep suntan, Elliot basically helped invent Southern California rock. You can read about him in David Browne’s excellent new book called “CSNY.” Elliot managed Neil Young for most of his career, he also managed Joni Mitchell. He was the glue that kept all those people together when they wanted to pull apart.

We rarely saw any of these people on the East Coast. It wasn’t like Carole or Carly or James, or Paul and Artie, or even Bruce and Billy. There was a whole myth about the West Coast rockers, and you really only got it through Rolling Stone (when it was Rolling Stone). Elliot Roberts was at the center of everything. He was not a shouter or pugilistic. He was mellow, like the music, but knew how to keep everything straight.

So I never got the Pono, but that’s okay. Talking to Elliot was always a lot of fun, and I will miss him. But he will be missed so much more by those LA music superstars. RIP.

Neil wrote this on his website yesterday:

My friend for over 50 years, Elliot Roberts, has passed away. We are all heartbroken, but want to share what a great human being Elliot has been. Never one to think about himself, he put everyone else first. That’s what he did for me for over fifty years of friendship love and laughter, managing my life, protecting our art in the business of music. That’s what he did.

He was devoted to each of his kids from the very beginning. He would fly half way around the world just to see his family for one day. That’s just the way he loved them. He was so happy with his soul-mate Dana.

No matter where I was in the world, no matter his other obligations, he was always by the side of the stage as much as he could be.

Elliot was the funniest human being on earth with his uncanny wit and a heart filled with love. You never knew what he was going to say, but almost always a laugh was coming.

Elliot never thought of himself, always someone else. He was my best friend in the world for so many years, and he was so happy for me and the life I had found, with Daryl, my wonderful wife and soul sharer.

All the words in the world could not express my sense of love and thanks to Elliot Rabinowitz and his beautiful family, who adored him. He was there for all of us.

When it came to our business, Elliot guided me through every move. We talked every day. Often I would call him multiple times in a day, arguing, discussing, planning and sharing. He was there for me and protected my music with a fierceness. He loved music and managed over the years many greats, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, David Blue, Tracey Chapman, Tegan and Sara, Crosby Stills and Nash, Tom Petty, The Eagles, among others.

Elliot loved making deals for all of us, saving our publishing rights, ensuring we were treated well, helping book our concerts, as well as booking the Bridge Concert with Marsha Vlassic from the very beginning for over 30 years. He made it happen. This world is forever changed for me, for all who knew him and loved him. His memory shines with love.

 

Elliot Roberts was the greatest manager of all time.

See you at the gig, Elliot.
ny

 

 

 

Photo by Ros O’Gorman

Friday Box Office: “Toy Story 4” Hits New Heights, Beats Previous Chapter Opening, “Rocketman” Aims for $75 Million, Sad “Shaft”

Roger Friedman
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Friday Box Office: “Toy Story 4” Hits New Heights, Beats Previous Chapter Opening, “Rocketman” Aims for $75 Million, Sad “Shaft”

“Toy Story” took in $47,390,000 on Friday night including $12 million of Thursday previews. That’s pretty good considering “Toy Story 3,” a mega hit, made $41 million on its opening night in July 2010. A $130 million weekend is being eyed by Disney through tomorrow night. Disney just keeps swinging!

Elsewhere at the box office:

“Rocketman” has nice legs. They’ll cross $75 million this weekend, heading to $100 million. Everyone should be proud. They were never going to duplicate “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This is a huge success.

The remake of “Shaft” is kind of dead with around $14 million. The Isaac Hayes thing hurt. We’ll see it on a plane, maybe with some snakes.

“Dark Phoenix” is closing out the weekend at around $60 million. By the time of star Sophie Turner’s wedding next week it will be a memory. I hope no one was going to the wedding dressed as an X Man.

 

 

Writer E. Jean Carroll Accuses Donald Trump of Rape in New Memoir, New York Times Confirms She Confided in Friends at Time

Roger Friedman
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Writer E. Jean Carroll Accuses Donald Trump of Rape in New Memoir, New York Times Confirms She Confided in Friends at Time

E. Jean Carroll, who writes for Elle Magazine and used to have a terrific cable TV show, has accused Donald Trump of raping her circa 1995-96. The accusation comes in an excerpt from her forthcoming memoir that’s on the cover of New York Magazine.

Trump has denied the whole thing, of course, and says he doesn’t know who Carroll is. But the New York excerpt contains a photo of Trump, then wife Ivana, Carroll, and her then husband John Johnson from 1987.

Meantime, Carroll says she told two friends when the rape happened. The New York Times called those friends, each in the media, who re-confirmed Carroll’s account.

The idea that Trump wouldn’t know Carroll from the mid 80s to the mid 90s at least is absurd. I knew both of them, they knew each other at least on the celebrity circuit. Trump was also aware of anyone who was on TV, especially a smart, beautiful blonde. His protestation is ridiculous.

Carroll’s memoir, “What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal” comes out July 2nd. It’s been thoroughly vetted by her esteemed publisher, St. Martin’s Press. She tells tales of being hit on, sexually harassed, worse by many New York men including former CBS chief Les Moonves.

None of this is surprising. As I read the excerpt I thought of many women her age from the media who had soaring careers until they didn’t, all of whom likely have similar tales to tell.  Since #MeToo started, I’ve had countless women I thought I knew tell me horrifying stories of sexual misconduct foisted on them by “guys” I thought I “knew” and admired. You know they are not lying. They are telling you stuff you can’t believe, but you must.

It’s unclear what impact E. Jean’s memoir is going to have. Will anyone in Trump’s base be swayed by her story? Probably not. I’m starting to wonder if one of the bases’s daughters or sisters came home with such an account if their menfolk wouldn’t be proud that Donald Trump had attacked them. That’s how bad things have gotten.

So far, “Modest Proposal” has hit number 110 this morning on amazon. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here.

Madonna’s Pyrrhic Victory Over Bruce Springsteen: She’ll Be Number 1 with An Asterisk Thanks to Ticket Bundling

Roger Friedman
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Madonna’s Pyrrhic Victory Over Bruce Springsteen: She’ll Be Number 1 with An Asterisk Thanks to Ticket Bundling

“Madame X” will be number 1 for the week just ended thanks to ticket bundling.

Madonna’s new album is really not the top of the charts. Bruce Springsteen’s “Western Stars” was number 1 all week on amazon and iTunes, and clearly deserves the top spot.

But “Madame X” technically outsold “Western Stars” by around 25,000 copies thanks to inclusion with her concert tickets. Very Trumpian, I’d say.

Next week, “Madame X” will have dropped like a rock and everyone will wonder Why? Oh, we know.

Already with new releases today, “Western Stars” has dropped to 10, but “Madame X” is 27. So that gives you an idea.

Congrats to Bruce, who’s on his way to multiple Grammy nominations (we hope, you never know). His whole catalog is selling like hotcakes, too.

What is a Pyrrhic victory? It’s one that isn’t, it inflicts so much damage on the winner that it’s not worth it.

PS Bruce fans I hope you’re listening to Little Steven’s “Summer of Sorcery” and Nils Lofgren’s “Blue with Lou.” It’s a great summer for E Streeters!

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