Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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UPDATED Disney Launches “Devil Prada” Social Media Assault Before Review Embargo Lifts Tomorrow, But Sequel Called “Boring”

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As expected, Disney has launched a social media assault for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

As Donald Trump would say, no one’s ever seen anything like it before.

Twitter is bursting with thousands of posts from accounts very excited to see the sequel to the 2006 way before they’ve seen it. The hyperbole is beyond just being purple prose. From the sound of it, you’d think “Prada 2” is “The Godfather” and “Citizen Kane” rolled up in one mink muff.

The lavish social media praise is genius on Disney’s part. They’ve held real reviews back until noon on Wednesday. They ran full page ads on Sunday without any critics quotes, which is very unusual. The first weekend box office will be big, no matter what anyone says.

But real reviewers — including members of the Critics Choice association — who saw the movie in New York and Los Angeles last night were not so lavish in their evaluations.

What’s going to happen? A first flush of seeing familiar characters in a recognizable setting gets the adrenaline running, but then reality sets in.

Scott Mantz, usually a cheerleader for movies (and a big Beatles fan) says: “Sorry to say, but THE DEVIL IS BORING. Yeah it’s good to see the characters again after 20 years, but their arcs aren’t as fully realized as they were in the 1st movie, and the story just wasn’t strong. It never really engaged me. It’s ok & it has its moments, but THAT’S ALL.”

Courtney Howard wrote: “Gird your loins: I didn’t love #TheDevilWearsPrada2. Outside of its well-intentioned spotlight on the flailing state of journalism, the narrative fails to resonate. Felt like a series of thinly connected story whims. No suspense, but beautiful sequins everywhere.”

Tomris Laffly wrote: “Didn’t expect parts of #TheDevilWearsPrada2 to feel like a documentary on the painful state of journalism. Glad that a mainstream film unfolds around this urgent reality. Overall, I’m more muted in my reaction than my peers. Still, it’s nice to see you again, cerulean sweater.”

Scott Menzel: “The Devil Wears Prada 2 reactions feel incredibly muted.
The general consensus seems to be: it’s fine, story is timely but this sequel isn’t really necessary or worth the wait. Of course, no surprise that the cast is great because all the main actors are Hollywood icons and are doing the heavy lifting with ease. I guess it’s a good sign that no one appears to outright hate it, but very few seem genuinely blown away by it.”

finally, a New York spy praised the stars but told me: “It’s fine, not great. The problem is they make Miranda more likable. Her one liners that were so funny in the first one are not present here. It’s just not the Event I was hoping for.”

I’ve also gleaned that there are a lot of cameos in the movie, including Lady Gaga, who recorded four new songs for the soundtrack. Her fans will no doubt add to the bottom line. Gaga is always value-added.

It’s notable that Anna Wintour’s cameo was cut out of the movie after Vogue and Conde Nast invested so much in the film — even putting it on their cover with Wintour. Anna’s survival instinct is off the charts. Maybe she knows something we don’t.

Watch: Imelda Marcos’s Daughter, a Filipino Senator, Cosplays as Meryl Streep’s Character in “The Devil Wears Prada 2”

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Imelda and Fernando Marco’s daughter is a Senator in the Philippines. Of course. (Imelda, you know, is 95 years old.)

The over achieving child of the deceased former (and taxidermied) lunatic dictator and his shoe-happy wife is Senator Imee Marcos. Imee, as in “I”-“me,” the perfect description of a Marcos. Her parents terrorized the Philippines for decades, leaving her with some power.

No surprise: Imee is a fan of “The Devil Wears Prada.” Particularly the imperious main character, magazine editor Miranda Priestly. So she posted a very short of herself dressed and acting like Miranda.

The Marcoses killed, tortured, falsely imprisoned and kidnapped tens of thousands of people during their reign of terror. And this is the punctuation mark at the end of their story.

Watch Jimmy Kimmel Takes Melania Trump’s Demand to Fire Him In Stride, Plays Old Video of Trump Praising Him

Jimmy Kimmel isn’t going anywhere, don’t worry.

Even though Melania and then Donald Trump called for ABC to fire him, Kimmel took it in stride on last night’s show.

He even played a video from 2010 when Trump admitted to being a Kimmel fan. How times have changed!

Kimmel said of Melania’s criticisms: “I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do, and I think a great place to start, to dial that back, would be to have a conversation with your husband.”

Disney loves all this, it drives up the ratings.

Magician Oz Pearlman Makes Himself Disappear from Jimmy Kimmel Show After Trumps Demand Host’s Firing, Proves to be a Coward

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Now we really know the ddeal with Oz Pearlman.

The magician mentalist was supposed to be a guest tonight on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.

But during the day, Donald and Melania Trump each called for Kimmel’s firing.

Pearlman, fresh off the disastrous dinner Saturday night, and obviously taking orders from Trump, has backed out of the show.

He made himself disappear. He’s not just a mentalist, but actually mental. Pearlman, who’s short, has fully decamped to the Trump World. So much for him. By the way he pronounces his first name “Oze.” As in, he Owes us an apology/

The Trumps are mad at Kimmel for a joke he told on Friday, before the WHCA dinner. He gave his own fake monologue as if he were hosting the dinner. He called Melania an “expectant widow.”

LOL. Melania’s so upset about this that she wrote her own post denouncing Kimmel, or someone wrote it for her. She’s not upset about all the hateful, disturbing, racist things her husband has said or done. This is what she’s made about. Too bad, Mel.

As for Pearlman, he can go back to doing kiddie shows for MAGA birthdays. Colbert and Fallon won’t book him now, and this act of cowardice will follow him forever.

On tonight’s show: the great Anthony Anderson, and the guys from Pod Save America.

Jimmy Kimmel in Cross-Hairs of Trumps Who Want Him Fired, Tonight’s Guest is Oz Pearlman Fresh from Disaster Dinner

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Both Melania and Donald Trump want Jimmy Kimmel to be fired.

What else is new?

They’re angry that Kimmel cracked a joke last week about Melania being an “expectant widow.” This was BEFORE Saturday night’s disaster dinner at the WHCA at which a potential shooter was stopped from doing any damage.

Melania “wrote” or someone did it for her:
“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.
People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.
A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.
Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”

Donald wrote something similar (See below)

Kimmel’s ratings tonight will be through the roof. He doesn’t tape live for a few hours. And Oz Pearlman, the mentalist who was doing tricks with the Trumps when gunshots were heard from the floor above at the Washington Hilton, is a guest tonight unless he cancels. This will be must-see TV!

The Trumps have no idea that no thinking person has any sympathy for them. I was visiting someone in the hospital on Saturday when the whole ballroom blitz happened. The staff — nurses, doctors, cleaners — was laughing. They all said, You know he set this up. I’m not kidding. That’s what 18 months of insanity gets you.

Lizzo Post-Scandals Will Try for a Comeback with Aggressively Titled Album, Single Based on Meredith Brooks Hit “Bitch”

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After two years of scandals and lawsuits, you’d think Lizzo would come back with something positive to say in her music.

Alas, she’s going with a single and album called “Bitch.” The title song is an ‘interpolation’ of Meredith Brooks’ much maligned hit of the same name. It sounds really terrible, but no one asked me.

Lizzo is still recovering her reputation from lawsuits filed by former dancers and employees. Her music sales stopped cold when that happened, and never recovered.

The R&B diva did have success with short runs recently at the Blue Note Jazz Clubs in New York and Los Angeles.

The big winner here? Brooks, and all the other writers whose work will turn up sampled on the new album.

Exclusive: Fabled Friars Club Building Sold to Mega Developer Extell, May Be Transformed Into Outpost for Hot London Club

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The British may be on their way to New York.

There’s an unconfirmed rumor that the former Friars Club townhouse on East 55th St. will get a new, exclusive tenant.

That would be Annabel’s, London’s hottest club for the rich and famous.

Richard Caring owns Annabel’s, as well as many top restaurants in London. He reopened the club in 2018 and has never looked back. Annabel’s attracts people like Mick Jagger, Harry Styles, Kylie Minogue, etc. In other words, you and I are not getting in, even for a glass of water!

This news comes as Gary Barnett of Extell Real Estate has purchased the famed Friars building at 57 East 55th St. out of foreclosure for $19 million. Barnett loves to build skyscrapers, but the Friars is landmarked. It’s a unique Tudor style building with a rich history.

With private clubs flourishing in Manhattan, it would seem likely one of them would want to move in and make the place over. It’s better than making it a Sephora! If it’s not Annabel’s, it could easily be an outpost for one of the other clubs that cost tens of thousands for members.

The Friars Club was once a thriving enterprise until it was taken over by people who literally looted it, diminished its standing until no celebrities would set foot in the place. There was an FBI raid, lawsuits, scandals.

Bit by bit, it was destroyed. The former home of Sinatra, Joan Rivers, Jerry Lewis, Larry King, and so on was squandered for all kinds of personal gain.

You can still see the Friars– or at least a replica — in a famous “Seinfeld” episode. But it’s sad to think all these great institutions — I’m still mourning the 21 Club — are gone forever.

Michael Jackson Sales Skyrocket With Movie Success: King of Pop Logs 13 Singles, 8 Albums Takes Over iTunes Top 100

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Michael Jackson is back on the charts.

Thanks to the $97 million US haul on the “Michael” movie this weekend, sales are soaring.

Jackson has lodged 13 singles and 8 albums on the respective iTunes Top 100 charts.

The singles in the top 50 include “Billie Jean,” “Human Nature,” “Don’t Stop til You Get Enough,” “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Man in the Mirror.”

“Thriller,” “Off the Wall,” and “Bad” are all on the amazon top 10 CDs and vinyl.

So what if the movie has mostly negative reviews? It’s bringing money into the Jackson Estate bedazzled glove over fist in the air. Paris Jackson has disowned the movie, but it’s making her wealthier than ever. That should take some of the sting out of factual issues.

I’m not taking sides here, but when Michael was alive he was bankrupt. I wrote about it almost daily. He was hundreds of millions in debt. Neverland and his family home Havenhurst were in trouble. Employees were unpaid and laid off at both places. It was a mess. Jackson went to Bahrain and skipped off with $7 million of his host’s money. (Yes, this happened.)

That means the Estate has managed to correct all that, and turn Michael Jackson’s assets into gold. As it said, that’s the story, and we’re stuck with it.

PS There’s a little known duet between Paul McCartney and Michael on Paul’s “Pipes of Peace” album. It’s called “The Man.” A gem!

“Prada 2” Movie Opens Thursday, Today’s Newspaper Ads Had No Critics Quotes Because No One Has Seen It Except Fans and Influencers

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Thursday afternoon comes “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” Some theaters will begin showing it at 2pm.

There’s a lot of pent up expectation about the sequel to the 2006 film. Disney has spent a fortune — maybe more than the film’s shooting budget — to promote “Prada” all over the world. The marketing has been jaw dropping.

As yet, however, no critics have seen it. Or if they have, they’ve signed away their first born agreeing to go along with Wednesday’s lifting of the review embargo.

Today’s New York Times carried a full page without any review quotes, which is very unusual for a big studio movie opening this Friday.

The assumption among some in the press is that “Prada 2” is not good. Or, it’s fun but it’s a rehash of the original film.

But so far, there is silence. And by the time the reviews come in on Wednesday afternoon, it will be too late for any potential bad news to spread. Disney will use all the hyperbolic quotes they can from influencers and reviewers who are kind to their films pro forma, and bypass even the slightest negativity.

Will audiences find the sequel as amusing and disarming as its predecessor? This is a new hard core take on marketing, after all. Disney has deals with Grey Goose vodka, TRESemmé haircare, Target, Old Navy, Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Condé Nast. The last one is the most troubling. Conde Nast publishes Vogue, which is supposed to be the butt of the satire here. But Vogue and Anna Wintour have fully embraced the film, putting the latter and Meryl Streep on the cover this month.

Is it too much? And what if things go wrong? Can you imagine a disappointing box office report on Sunday? Does Anna uninvite everyone to the Met Ball next Monday?

So, cross fingers.

Trump on Shooter’s Manifesto: “I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody” Norah O’Donnell: “Did you think he was referring to you?” (Video)

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Norah O’Donnell interviewed Norah O’Donnell tonight on “60 Minutes” less than 24 hours after a potential shooter was arrested at the White House Correspondent’s dinner.

At first it seemed like O’Donnell was shilling for the new CBS News. But then she read Trump a quote from the would-be shooter’s manifesto about not tolerating rapists and pedophiles.

Trump shot back that O’Donnell was “a terrible person” and fell over himself saying “I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anyone.” He also declares, “I’m not a pedophile.”

In fact, he lost a case to writer E. Jean Carroll for sexual abuse. He was found “liable,” with emphasis on the first syllable. The judge in the case called Trump a rapist.

I apologize to Norah O’Donnell. This clip was last forever. Actually, brilliant.