Saturday, December 20, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1204

Broadway: Shonda Rhimes Gives Her Name to Kerry Washington’s “American Son,” Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” Almost a Musical

Roger Friedman
-
0
Broadway: Shonda Rhimes Gives Her Name to Kerry Washington’s “American Son,” Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” Almost a Musical

Broadway is bursting with news this morning.

First of all, Cameron Crowe‘s Oscar nominated 2000 movie “Almost Famous” is being turned into a musical. Crowe is writing the book, Tom Kitt is writing the songs with Crowe. They’ll have to use some existing songs, too, like Elton John‘s “Tiny Dancer” for the bus sing along. Jeremy Herrin, from the UK, is set to be the director. From his credits, I can’t figure out why. Note to Cameron: there has to be a song called “Rock Stars Have Kidnapped My Son” sung by the mother.

Bigger news: Kerry Washington has called in the big guns to Executive Produce her play, “American Sons.” Shonda Rhimes, who produced Kerry’s hit TV show, “Scandal,” has added her name over the title on the marquee. So have Jada Pinkett Smith, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Steve Stoute and Nnamdi Asomugha.

The great Kenny Leon directs “American Son” a new play by Christopher Demos-Brown opening November 4th. Stephen Pasquale plays Washington’s estranged husband. The couple waits in a Miami police station for news of their teen son, who’s been pulled over by police. Notices from the initial production were strong, with reviewers citing the last 30 minutes of the 90 minute drama. Sounds like it’s a two acter-with no intermission. Let’s cross our fingers. We need new plays desperately!

Patti Smith Finishes Three Night Stand in NYC for Audible with Extraordinary Performance

Roger Friedman
-
0
Patti Smith Finishes Three Night Stand in NYC for Audible with Extraordinary Performance

Patti Smith is nearing 72 years on this planet and I only mention that because it seems impossible. Her performance last night at the Minetta Lane Theater– her third in a row, produced by Audible.com– was absolutely extraordinary. If you didn’t know her history– and you may not–you’d think she was at least twenty years younger.

But, you know, I’m a decade younger, and I saw Patti in her early days playing in the East Village, CBGB’s, the Ritz etc, when she was dubbed the Queen of Punk Rock. But she was really a poet and so much more than that.

If rock writers in the mid 70s hadn’t been looking for man who’d be “the next Dylan” (anyone remember what that did to poor Steve Forbert?) they would have realized Patti Smith was the next Dylan. She should have all his accolades, a Pulitzer, a Kennedy Center Honor. Does she even have a Grammy? (No.)

So Clive Davis saw the Dylan in her back in 1974, and signed her to Arista Records. All the years he made money on Barry Manilow and Air Supply (this is long before Whitney) Clive knew he had an artist for the ages. The first albums– “Horses” and “Ethiopia”– were artistic landmarks. Then he put her together with Bruce Springsteen for “Because the Night,” and her career soared commercially.

Patti based The Audible show on excerpts from her insanely great bestselling memoir, “Just Kids.” This is the story of her friendship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe and her love affair and marriage with the late Fred “Sonic” Smith (they were each named Smith) of the MC5. Mapplethorpe died of AIDS. Smith died in 1994 of heart failure. He was just 46.

The Smiths had two kids, now grown, Jackson and Jessie, who played with her last night, as well as the gifted Tony Shanahan. (I don’t know where her other longtime collaborator, Lenny Kaye, was last night.)

Patti interspersed her songs with readings from “Just Kids,” reminiscing about those salad days when she and Mapplethorpe had no money and just wanted to be successful and recognized. And then came the songs: “Pissing in a River” from her second album, “Dancing Barefoot,” “Because the Night,” “People Have the Power,” “Peaceable Kingdom,” “Frederick” (still a heartbreaker), and a cover of U2’s newish “Love is All We Have Left” that she should release as a single.

The two hour show (it was supposed to be 90 minutes) was one of those moments no one who was there will ever forget. Smith tells off the cuff stories as if they’re not scripted, and then cutely actually relates memories that pop into her head. As the audience was leaving the theater she stopped everyone to tell an anecdote about the 1974 Golden Earring hit “Radar Love” which was ‘accidentally’ playing over the PA system with such genuine charm that she could turn this show into an off Broadway version of Bruce Springsteen’s show without any trouble.

Audible.com is on a roll. When they offer this Patti Smith show in the near future, download their app ASAP!

The Beatles Will Release “Super Deluxe” 50th Anniversary White Album on November 9th

Roger Friedman
-
0
The Beatles Will Release “Super Deluxe” 50th Anniversary White Album on November 9th

The 50th anniversary of The White Album is upon us.

The Beatles are releasing a Super Deluxe version on November 9th, two weeks ahead of the album’s actual 50th anniversary. This version will include a remixed version of the original album on 2 CDs, plus a disc of what are known as the “Esher Demos,” three more CDs that include 50 additional recordings, most previously unreleased, from ‘White Album’ studio sessions; all newly mixed from the four-track and eight-track session tapes, sequenced in order of their recording start dates.

There are several versions, starting at $24.98 and then going up depending on merchandise included.

Whew– and there’s more! There’s also:
– 2018 album mix in high resolution PCM stereo
– 2018 DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 album mix
– 2018 Dolby True HD 5.1 album mix
– 2018 direct transfer of the album’s original mono mix

Here’s the tracklist:
CD 1
1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Glass Onion
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. Wild Honey Pie
6. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
9. Martha My Dear
10. I’m So Tired
11. Blackbird
12. Piggies
13. Rocky Racoon
14. Don’t Pass Me By
15. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?
16. I Will
17. Julia

CD 2
1. Birthday
2. Yer Blues
3. Mother Nature’s Son
4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
5. Sexy Sadie
6. Helter Skelter
7. Long, Long, Long
8. Revolution 1
9. Honey Pie
10. Savoy Truffle
11. Cry Baby Cry
12. Revolution 9
13. Good Night

CD 3
1. Back In The U.S.S.R. (Esher Demo)
2. Dear Prudence (Esher Demo)
3. Glass Onion (Esher Demo)
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Esher Demo)
5. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (Esher Demo)
6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Esher Demo)
7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Esher Demo)
8. I’m So Tired (Esher Demo)
9. Blackbird (Esher Demo)
10. Piggies (Esher Demo)
11. Rocky Raccoon (Esher Demo)
12. Julia (Esher Demo)
13. Yer Blues (Esher Demo)
14. Mother Nature’s Son (Esher Demo)
15. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (Esher Demo)
16. Sexy Sadie (Esher Demo)
17. Revolution (Esher Demo)
18. Honey Pie (Esher Demo)
19. Cry Baby Cry (Esher Demo)
20. Sour Milk Sea (Esher Demo)
21. Junk (Esher Demo)
22. Child Of Nature (Esher Demo)
23. Circles (Esher Demo)
24. Mean Mr Mustard (Esher Demo)
25. Polythene Pam (Esher Demo)
26. Not Guilty (Esher Demo)
27. What’s The New Mary Jane (Esher Demo)

CD 4 – Sessions
1. Revolution 1 (Take 18)
2. A Beginning (Take 4)/Don’t Pass Me By (Take 7)
3. Blackbird (Take 28)
4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (Unnumbered Rehearsal)
5. Good Night (Unnumbered Rehearsal)
6. Good Night (Take 10 With A Guitar Part From Take 7)
7. Good Night (Take 22)
8. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Take 3)
9. Revolution (Unnumbered Rehearsal)
10. Revolution (Take 14 Instrumental Backing Track)
11. Cry Baby Cry (Unnumbered Rehearsal)
12. Helter Skelter (First Version Take 2)

CD 5 – Sessions
1. Sexy Sadie (Take 3)
2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Acoustic Version Take 2)
3. Hey Jude (Take 1)
4. St Louis Blues (Studio Jam)
5. Not Guilty (Take 102)
6. Mother Nature’s Son (Take 15)
7. Yer Blues (Take 5 With Guide Vocal)
8. What’s The New Mary Jane (Take 1)
9. Rocky Raccoon (Take 8)
10. Back In The U.S.S.R. (Take 5 Instrumental Backing Track)
11. Dear Prudence (Vocal, Guitar & Drums)
12. Let It Be (Unnumbered Rehearsal)
13. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Third Version Take 27)
14. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care (Studio Jam)
15. Helter Skelter (Second Version Take 17)
16. Glass Onion (Take 10)

CD 6 – Sessions
1. I Will (Take 13)
2. Blue Moon (Studio Jam)
3. I Will (Take 29)
4. Step Inside Love (Studio Jam)
5. Los Paranoias (Studio Jam)
6. Can You Take Me Back (Take 1)
7. Birthday (Take 2 Instrumental Backing Track)
8. Piggies (Take 12 Instrumental Backing Track)
9. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Take 19)
10. Honey Pie (Instrumental Backing Track)
11. Savoy Truffle (Instrumental Backing Track)
12. Martha My Dear (Without Brass And Strings)
13. Long Long Long (Take 44)
14. I’m So Tired (Take 7)
15. I’m So Tired (Take 14)
16. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (Take 2)
17. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? (Take 5)
18. Julia (Two Rehearsals)
19. The Inner Light (Take 6 Instrumental Backing Track)
20. Lady Madonna (Take 2 Piano & Drums)
21. Lady Madonna (Backing Vocals Take 3)
22. Across The Universe (Take 6)

Stormy Daniels Lawyer Avenatti Claims He Has Evidence of Kavanaugh, Friends Participation in “Gang Rape”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Stormy Daniels Lawyer Avenatti Claims He Has Evidence of Kavanaugh, Friends Participation in “Gang Rape”

Stormy Daniels’s barnstorming lawyer, Michael Avenatti, has sent a message to Mike Davis, Chief Counsel for Nominations for U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary and posted it to Twitter. Avenatti indicates he has a client or clients who know of potential Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his pal Mike Judge of participating in a gang rape in the early 80s. This comes on top of a new New Yorker piece containing accusations of exposure by a second woman, Deborah Ramirez, following the accusations against Kavanaugh and Judge by Professor Christine Blasey Ford.

Will Kavanaugh make it to Thursday’s hearing? You know there will more to come, and fast.

Broadway: A West Coaster Charmed by “Come from Away,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Carousel”

Leah Sydney
-
0
Broadway: A West Coaster Charmed by “Come from Away,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Carousel”

With the lovely “Carousel” recently closing, two supremely superb musicals are playing on Broadway that simply cannot be missed. “Come From Away,” and “The Band’s Visit.”  Multiple Tony Award winners each, these two unique and phenomenal shows are true powerhouse theatrical experiences. I saw both on a recent trip to NYC and both were glorious and affecting in different ways.  

“Come From Away,” set in the week following the Sept 11th attack when 7,000 strangers landed in the small town of Gander Newfoundland, tells a poignant, funny and meaningful story that has touched a patriotic nerve; the influx of tourists the night I saw it were enraptured. The show is already slated to tour and is landing at the noted Ahmanson in LA on November 28th. “Come From Away,” also has universal appeal, our friend Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail recently scooped that the show is coming to the UK in February 2019.  

Next on to sublime perfection of  “The Band’s Visit.”  The story is about 10 Egyptian musicians who land in a desolate Israeli town by mistake; the play is based on the movie of the same name.  This show is simply perfection.  Tony Shalhoub as the band leader Tewfiq won the Tony, but I saw the wonderful Israeli actor Sasson Gabay who played the role in the film.  The goddess Katrina Lenk, playing Dina the Israeli Café owner,  deservedly won for Best Leading Actress.  Lenk  gives one of the most memorable turns ever seen on a stage.   Her singing the affecting “Omar Sharif” is a performance for the ages.  Oozing with humor, charm and humanity, “The Band’s Visit,” is set to start its tour in June 2019. 

So a fond farewell to “Carousel,” and thank the theatrical Gods that “Come From Away,” and “The Bands Visit” will be around for eons to come.

 

Before Regina King Won Her Emmy She Ordered 100 Uniquely Empowering Backpacks for School Kids as Gifts

Leah Sydney
-
0
Before Regina King Won Her Emmy She Ordered 100 Uniquely Empowering Backpacks for School Kids as Gifts

The great actress Regina King is one of our heroes. Before she won her Emmy Award last Sunday night for “Seven Seconds,” a limited series on Netflix, she’d been nominated she’d been nominated three years in a row for playing three different characters on “American Crime.” A TV and movie vet, King should be in the Oscar mix now, along with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.

On the Friday before the Emmys we ran into Regina at the rooftop GBK gift suite at L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills organized by Gavin Keilly. What caught her eye? The same thing that caught ours: unique school backpacks designed by Casey Kelly and her Jacksonville, Florida company, Blended Designs. Kelly made them after her 7 year old son said he wanted to see pictures of African American kids like himself on school products. Kelly whipped a line of colorful backpacks with the drawings of girls and boys her son’s age, teams of African American kids, emblazoned with the exclamation “I can do anything!”

Regina spotted them and immediately fell in love with Casey Kelly. “I’m ordering 100,” she said, after deliberating with her business partner. “We’re going to give them away.” At $45 the price point is right. Also, Kelly’s features the year 1954 on everything– it’s the year of Brown vs. the Board of Education, when integration was ordered into public schools. Her more adult backpacks include one covered in newspaper clips of that momentous decision.

Everyone who sees the product line wants more than one backpack. If Oprah saw them, she’d try to buy the company. Why haven’t they been on “Shark Tank”? Casey’s proud husband, Harvey, dressed in a suit and meeting everyone, said, “We’re not ready, they want you to already be a success. We’re getting there.”

Hey Scholastic, or any other fine education company– there’s a fortune to be made here. — ROGER FRIEDMAN

from Leah Sydney: Other products at GBK were pretty tantalizing:  Pilot Pen proved to be a hugely popular spot with their stylish pens.  G2 is the # 1 selling gel ink brand in America, and for good reason. They have fifteen fun colors and are truly easy to write with.  Other buzzy products included Athenaromas, candle therapy for your pet, B opulent, Ezequils Healing Tools, GWEN skincare products, Nelsons Pampered Tails for your pooch.

For the kids:  Razorturbo jets step electric power heel wheel and skateboards. Very popular– Burke Williams, always a perennial favorite and must go for Hollywood VIPs and everyone.  Even otherworldly Tyler Henry, the widely popular medium on E!, loved his chair massage and proclaimed loudly, “I go to Burke Williams all the time!”  Tyler also bonded with Ike Shehandeh, of the popular “Ike’s Love and Sandwiches.”   

Six different vacations valued over $50,000, including Caribbean Living/Swanky Resorts Moon Palace in Jamaica and Amresorts vacations as well as Sailrock Resort and La Corte Dell Astore in Italy no less. Malibu Wine Safari’s and Santa Inez wine were a welcome appearance.  Brian Appiano’s Rib Line Restaurants and Catering of course was a must stop for his delicious fare. Guests sipped Buoncristiani WineCo. More highlights were WEN Hair Care’s fall fresh apple cleansing conditioner, and Bella Spirit lip scrub, WEN  had a hair styling station which everyone stopped at.  To see this all  clearly, Zenni had trendy sunglasses and Optical computer glasses. They are the largest retailer of prescription eyewear in the country.  

Also at this trendy VIP suite were Anthony Anderson, Josh Malina, Tyler Henry, Mimi Kennedy, David Alan Grier, Paul Sorvino, Sinbad, Tituss Burgess, Naomi Grossman, Logan Browning, Richard Lewis, Suzanne Cryer, Shaun Toub, Jackie Tohn, Adina Porter, Marty Kroft, Matt Craven, Charlie Sarabia and Morgan Keilly, Bailey Bass, Janie Brewer and more. Educating Young Minds, GWEN and Stray Cat Alliance benefitted from the suite. 

Congrats GBK’s CEO Gavin Keilly and Pilot Pen for another A plus event! 

Box Office: “Fahrenheit 11-9” Best Opening for a Documentary in 2018, On Track to Be Biggest in Strong Year

Roger Friedman
-
0
Box Office: “Fahrenheit 11-9” Best Opening for a Documentary in 2018, On Track to Be Biggest in Strong Year

Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11-9” made $3.1 million on its opening weekend in just 1,719 theaters. That’s the best opening for a doc in 2018. At that rate, “F11-9” should be the top doc at the 2018 box office.

By comparison, especially with political films, DiNesh D’Souza’s “Death of a Nation” made just $5.8 million its entire run. Death could not come fast enough to that misguided diatribe.

Among quality films, Moore reached the $3 million twice as fast as popular docs about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Mister Rogers.

The Moore film also made $1 mil more than Dan Fogelman’s “Life Itself,” which had an all star cast and the backing of Amazon.

The number 1 movie of the weekend was “The House with a Clock in Its Walls,” which made $26 million.

Hey– we are a country with the clock ticking, so get out and see “F 11-9” now.

Paul Simon Goes Slip Sliding Away With No Fanfare or Art Garfunkel as Touring Career Ends

Roger Friedman
-
0
Paul Simon Goes Slip Sliding Away With No Fanfare or Art Garfunkel as Touring Career Ends

So that’s it. Forty six years after his solo career began, fifty-something after Simon & Garfunkel became all the rage and part of the culture, Paul Simon’s touring career ended last night, without fanfare, in Flushing Meadow Park. He played the same set he’d played the last few nights. There was no Art Garfunkel, just five S&G songs, no “Slip Sliding Away.” No “Mrs. Robinson.” A kind of throwaway “Bridge Over Troubled Water” in the middle of the set.

He’s not on the cover of either New York tabloid today either. If Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen had retired, you know we’d have heard about it in a big way. At Elton John’s final show they’ll probably shoot him out of a cannon. But Simon? He went out with a whimper, not a bang.

What a strange ending. He didn’t seem to care how it was perceived, either. There were literally almost no press tickets given away. The sets for the shows were not particularly retrospective. And what seemed like an off hand comment at the first show– “Strange times…don’t give up”– was apparently scripted for all three New York shows. We thought it was profound on the first night. Reading about it again and again after the shows was…disappointing.

Still, that first show at MSG on Thursday night was in itself a winner, very much like Simon’s regular performances. The musicianship was of the highest quality. Working with his regular band, he brought in the New York based Y Music Ensemble, who were a revelation. As he’s done with African musicians, Simon didn’t appropriate anything– he showcased Y Music and integrated their unique classical sensibility into his own universe.

Simon says he’ll travel more now that he doesn’t have to tour. Okay, it’s not like anyone was stopping him from doing anything. He also says he’ll keep composing music, which is just fine since his last few albums– like “Surprise” and “Stranger to Stranger” — have been among his best even if they weren’t commercial hits.

But maybe one day before it’s too late he’ll indulge the fans, broker a peace with Garfunkel, and have a truly satisfying finale in my, his, and our little town.

 

 

Mariah Carey’s “GTFO” Comeback Single Fails to Chart, Sell, or Stream After 1 Week in Release

Roger Friedman
-
0
Mariah Carey’s “GTFO” Comeback Single Fails to Chart, Sell, or Stream After 1 Week in Release

Whither Mariah Carey?

On Friday she offered an energetic, upbeat, but soulless half hour in Las Vegas for the I Heart Radio show. She stuck to hip hop songs and eschewed ballads. She looked great.

But Mariah is having the same trouble experienced by a lot of “older” artists. She can’t sell records, in any format. Her big comeback record, “GTFO,” which was lifted from a four year old EDM track called “Goodbye to a World” by Porter Robinson, was released a week ago Friday.

According to BuzzAnglePro, “GTFO” sold zero copies from Friday the 14th through Monday the 17th. This was in streaming or downloads.

“GTFO” also does not appear on the iTunes top 200 singles. Nothing. For a brief time mid week it showed up around number 117, then dropped, and dropped off completely.

On Spotify’s charts, both Top 50 US and Viral Top 50 US, “GTFO” is invisible.

I know I will get hate mail from Mariah fans who think Madonna is paying me to say this, and vice versa. (I love those Tweets and emails– they are so completely crazy.) Facts are facts and not alternative. “GTFO” has been met by the sound of crickets. And this follows a string of flop singles dating back to 2009’s “Obsessed,” her last chart hit.

Mariah’s next album is set for a release in early October.

Life Itself, a Box Office Disaster: Amazon Studios Bets on “This is Us” Creator, and Bombs with $2.1 Mil Weekend

Roger Friedman
-
0
Life Itself, a Box Office Disaster: Amazon Studios Bets on “This is Us” Creator, and Bombs with $2.1 Mil Weekend

Amazon Studios, like Netflix, wants hit movies of their own so badly they can taste it. They’ve made valiant tries, and even come up with one Oscar worthy film, “Manchester by the Sea.”

On Friday they released Dan Fogelman’s “Life Itself” into 2,609 theaters– a wide release certainly. But the results are daunting– just $760,000 for the night in ticket sales. UPDATE  “Life Itself” made  $2.1 million for the weekend.

The movie comes from the writer-director of the hit NBC show, “This is Us.” I guess it should have been a bad omen that NBC’s Universal Pictures didn’t release the movie. They, wisely, knew.

Fogelman has been kvetching that male reviewers didn’t understand his hideous film. But women reviewers didn’t like it, either. There is nothing to like whatsoever. It’s a big mess, full of good actors trying to make sense of the crazy, over written, under thought, screenplay. I’m personally offended because it takes place in my neighborhood and involves a city bus killing someone. Thanks, we have enough problems.

Amazon Studios will have to write this off and ponder anew their strategy. They are sitting on Woody Allen’s “A Rainy Day in New York” because they’re scared of false accusations against the great filmmaker. That is also a problem. It takes courage to release films. I am sure that the actual people at Amazon Studios are having headaches from the produce (as in lettuce, not produce as in producers of films) department. Believe me, no people who “absolutely hate” Woody Allen for the wrong reasons, armed with inaccurate info, are going to buy TVs somewhere else on line.

 

1...1,2031,2041,205...2,324Page 1,204 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com