Friday, December 19, 2025
Home Blog Page 127

Alec Baldwin’s Tragedy Plagued “Rust” Finds a Distributor, Coming May 2nd to Theaters and Streaming (Video)

0

The tragedy plagued film, “Rust,” is coming to theaters and home video on May 2nd.

As we all know, “Rust” is the Alec Baldwin movie that caused the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the wounding of director Joel Souza.

Production was stopped, there were arrests, lawsuits, and a trial that exonerated Baldwin in the shooting of Hutchins. But Hannah Guitierrez, the young woman responsible for guns on the set, is in jail serving an 18 month sentence.

Then the movie resumed shooting, which is outrageous. The people involved say it’s a tribute to Hutchins, but the whole thing is in very poor taste.

Will there be a red carpet premiere? As someone once said, “Have you no decency?”

Falling Forward, the small distributor who brought us “Reagan” last year, and has the Looney Tunes film, “The Day The Earth Blew Up,” is ssnding “Rust” to theaters.

They must be “Looney Tunes” themselves if they think people will go to theaters for this unless they hope audiences are looking to see the gun go off and kill Hutchins and wound Souza.

The press release does not mention Halyna Hutchins or give ehr a credit as cinematographer. Husband Matthew Hutchins is listed as an Executive Producer because he cut a deal with Baldwin.

A proviso reads: As NPR reported, the film’s original producers will not gain financially from the movie. The terms of his settlement were sealed, but it has been confirmed that Hutchins and son Andros will receive profits from the film.”

Lady Gaga Bringing “Mayhem” to the World with New Arena Tour Announced for US, Europe

0

Lady Gaga is hitting the road. With her “Mayhem” album going through the roof, she’s going on an arena tour of 32 dates in 16 locations that should be sold out before you read the end of this sentence.

She says, “I wasn’t planning to tour this year after my shows in Singapore but the incredible response to the new album inspired me to keep things going. It came together super quickly thanks to Arthur Fogel and the amazing team at Live Nation, who planned a global tour in just a few weeks. We chose arenas this time to give me the opportunity to control the details of the show in a way you simply can’t in stadiums—and honestly, I can’t wait. This show is designed to be the kind of theatrical and electrifying experience that brings MAYHEM to life exactly how I envision it. The MAYHEM Ball Tour is officially coming your way. See you soon, monsters.”

Gaga could perform the whole album, it’s that good. Plus she has dozens of past hits. We can only guess what kind of cosplay will be going on in the audience, too! Gaga’s Little Monsters are deeply devoted to their leader.

This is likely just the beginning of “Mayhem” around the world and back through the US. This is Lady Gaga’s year!

PS Nice shout out to Live Nation’s legendary Arthur Fogel.

Here she is, dazzling, from yesterday’s Howard Stern Show.

Zendaya Will Play Rock & Roll Great Ronnie Spector in Film Directed by Barry Jenkins

0

Great news this morning from movies and music worlds.

Zendaya, the hottest actress in the word, will play rock and roll great Ronnie Spector in a biopic.

Barry Jenkins, of the Oscar winning “Moonlight,” will direct the film.

Ronnie chose Zendaya before her untimely death in 2022. Spector’s husband, Jonathan Greenfield, is executive producer.

Originally known as Ronnie Bennett, the powerhouse singer led the girl group trio, the Ronettes, produced by Phil Spector in the early 60s. With Spector, they rocketed to fame with perhaps the great single of the 60s — “Be My Baby.” (The Beatles and the Stones would agree, trust me.) An avalanche of hits followed including “Walking in the Rain,” “Baby I Love You,” and more.

In fact, Ronnie became very close to the Stones, taking Mick and Keith to Harlem for the first time.

In the adrenaline of the moment, she married Phil Spector. The rest was history and a lot of misery as Phil famously mistreated her and ripped her off. Ronnie getting away from Spector, earning her freedom and then attempting to get the millions she was owed is a central part of her story.

But there’s also music, lots of great music, costumes, and a raft of musicians from Cher to Tina Turner, Darlene Love and more who are all part of her life story. Ronnie was also a doll, a great person with a tremendous sense of humor. This could easily be Zendaya’s ticket to the Oscars.

No word yet on whether Zendaya will sing or they’ll use Ronnie’s spectacular voice. Getting the movie together is certainly a triumph for Jody Klein of ABKCO Records. His late father, Allen, bought the rights to lot of Ronnie’s original recordings, like the Phil Spector Christmas alum, decades ago.

The movie won’t just be about the Ronettes period. Ronnie became a cult figure in the 70s, recording with the E Street Band, and with Eddie Money. I can wait to see Zendaya’s version of Billy Joel’s “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.” Awesome!

This will be one time I won’t complain when A24 gets someone an award at the National Board of Review!

ABC Celebrates “Nightline” 45th Anniversary By Keeping OG Anchor Ted Koppel Mentions to a Minimum

0

The great broadcaster Ted Koppel launched ABC’s “Nightline” in 1980. He was the main anchor, voice, and face of the show until he was eased out in 2005.

This was when “Nightline” was so important it came on at 11:30pm. After Koppel was ousted, the show moved to follow Jimmy Kimmel. Nice at is now, “Nightline” does not have the same importance.

This week, “Nightline” is being celebrated for its 45th anniversary.

For the 40th anniversary, Koppel was really celebrated, with a separate interview as well.

In the new package promoting the show’s history, which you can see below, Koppel isn’t ID’d until 7 minutes and 58 seconds in. He disappears midway through the segment. His name is mentioned once. It’s as if ABC News doesn’t want to be reminded that Ted — now age 85 — is a senior contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning.”

Ted wasn’t even invited onto “Good Morning America” this week for a look back at the show’s history.

Hey, Ted, we remember what you did to make “Nightline” a big deal! TV news execs have no time for gratitude. But we do!

45th anniversary:

40th anniversary:

Bruce Springsteen Added to Carnegie Hall Patti Smith Tribute After All the Tickets Are Sold Out

0

You may know that the City Winery tribute to Patti Smith is this Thursday at Carnegie Hall.

What you may not know is that Bruce Springsteen has been a last minute addition to the show — now that all the tickets are sold out.

Michael Dorf hosts these annual tribute shows at Carnegie Hall annually. Often the subject of the tribute doesn’t come, but Patti will be there as may of her friends are coming too.

Besides Springsteen, there will be Michael Stipe, Glen Hansard, Susannah Hoffs, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn, Michael Shannon, Maggie Rogers, Ben Harper, Jesse Malin, and Sharon von Etten.

Chrissie Hynde was supposed to come, but the Heathrow Airport fires have kept her in London.

Not listed: Lenny Kaye, Patti’s friend and collaborator since forever. .

The band is pretty amazing, with Flea from the Red Hot Chili Pepper, Benmont Tench from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. plus Charlie Sexton, Steve Jordan (he’s with the uh Rolling Stones), and Tony Shanahan.

We can only assume (and cross fingers) that Patti will sing “Because the Night” with Bruce. That would be a Moment.

White Lotus Incest Episode Hands HBO a Big Jump in Ratings: 4.2 Million Across All Platforms Saw Brothers Do It

0

HBO got ‘handed’ a real ratings jolt last night.

About 4.2 million people across all their platforms watched the “White Lotus” incest episode called “Denials.”

The Ratliff brothers — played by Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola– had a threesome with Chloe. While Lochlan (Nivola) was having sex with Chloe he was also giving a handjob to his brother Saxon (Schwarzenegger).

Patrick’s Kennedy family must be so proud.

On linear HBO, that would suggest just over 1 million viewers, up from 840,000 last week.

Sex sells, especially if it’s gross.

There are only two episodes left this season. We already know someone is found floating in the water. We also know that Rick has gone to Bangkok to kill either the man who killed his father, or his actual father.

But now all eyes are on the incestuous relationships in the Ratliff family. Lochlan is staying overnight with sister Piper at the Buddhist retreat. He’s been eyeing her like a drumstick on Thanksgiving. Is she his next victim? Stay tuned…

Is this all kind of pointless and disgusting? Yes, frankly. Is it just for shock value and ratings? Seems like it. Very, very bizarre.

Netflix Kennedy Center Conan Show Set for May 4th, But Will it Survive Trump Scutiny or Be Censored?

0

Netflix sent out a press release this morning about last night’s Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center.

The show, honoring Conan O’Brien, will air on May 4th.

But now the focus will be the possible editing — and censoring — of a night of anti-Trump jokes. Trump is the self-appointed chairman of the board of the Kennedy Center. His brief reign has already caused mayhem with cancellations of shows, performances, etc. Celebrities are so averse to what he’s done most of them didn’t walk the red carpet last night

The May 4th show is a two hour special for Netflix. Last night they filmed a two hour show, with little fat. Remember, Netflix doesn’t have commercials to fill much that is edited or deleted. So they’re going to have a problem. Last night’s show became out of control. That’s a good thing for Netflix, if they can stand up to the heat from Trump.

As I reported last night, “there were many Trump jokes,” said a spy in the audience.

David Letterman and Stephen Colbert were particularly merciless. Sarah Silverman noted: “I really miss the days when you were America’s only orange asshole.”

Letterman said: “History will show this was the most entertaining gathering of the resistance, ever.”

Colbert: “When he accepted this award the Kennedy Center was a very different place. Today they announced two new board members: Bashar al-Assad and Skeletor.”

Sarah Silverman described Trump as “The guy who took over loves grabbing pussy.” She added, to O’Brien: “I really miss the days when you were America’s only orange asshole.”

“Welcome to the Kennedy Center or, as it will be known next week, The Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big Strong Men Who Like Cats.” That came from John Mulaney.

So stand by: the special, if it airs, may be just ten minutes long!

HBO Breaks Two Taboos with Gay Incest on “White Lotus,” Fans On Social Are Outraged

0

It’s not incest. It’s gay incest.

Tonight HBO crossed a line with “The White Lotus.” After teasing it last week the show went forward with scenes that made fans on Twitter outraged.

Brothers Saxon and Lochlon Ratliff — played by Sam Nivola and Patrick Schwarzenegger — had sex. Lochlon, while having sex with a young woman on the show, simultaneously gave his brother a happy ending.

It may not be a happy ending for the fans. Even though they’ve come to expect some out there stuff, they were vocal in their disgust.

HBO played with incest in “Game of Thrones,” when Cersei and Jamie Lannister became a romantic couple. But that was fantasy, not contemporary fiction. And even though it was icky, the whole milieu of “Game of Thrones” was beyond regular mores.

What happened tonight on “White Lotus” is going to be discussed, a lot. (Discussed rhymes with disgust.) What happens next? A lot of rationalizing on the part of the cast.

Stay tuned…

UPDATE !!! LIVE From the Kennedy Center: Celebs Skip Red Carpet on Conan O’Brien Award Night: Letterman Invokes ‘the Resistance’, “Many Trump Jokes”

EXCLUSIVE Conan O’Brien is taping the Kennedy Center Mark Twain prize show tonight. It airs on Netflix soon.

Reports from spies down in DC say the red carpet is kind of spare. The only celebrity not paid to be there is Jake Tapper, who doesn’t care what Donald Trump has done to the country’s premier arts institution.

Celebs who came but skipped the black carpet included Adam Sandler, John Mulaney, Sarah Silverman, Stephen Colbert, Tracy Morgan, and Will Ferrell.

There was no pre-reception, but an after party will take place at The Reach, a restaurant next door.

David Letterman spoke as the top of the show. He also presented O’Brien with his award.

“This will be the most entertaining gathering of the Resistance.”

Colbert joked about new members of the board being Arabs: the former head of Sudan who’s in prison, and Skeletor, a fictional super villain and main antagonist from Mattel toys.

The people who came are friends of Conan — who everyone loves. They include Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, plus Nikki Glaser, Kumail Nanjani, Bill Burr, E Street drummer Max Weinberg, Reggie Watts. So far, no photos of people I expected, like Conan sidekick Andy Richter, or the Kennedy Center’s new chief Richard Grennell.

If more show up, I’ll update.

Trump himself isn’t there, but he sent his usual lackeys. The word inside is that veteran staffers were mostly turned down for tickets by the new people installed by Trump.

Conan, according to The Hill’s Judy Kurtz, was diplomatic about the tense situation. He told her, “Only he [Trump] knows his priorities best. There’s a lot going on in the world, but probably taking control of the Kennedy Center should be at the top of the list.”

According to observers in the room: “There are plenty of Trump jokes. Conan very specifically thanked Deborah Rutter and David Rubenstein. They got a huge ovation.” Trump fired the latter. He’s running out the contract of the former.

Conan thanked all the Kennedy Center employees.

Spies say the former communications director Eileen Andrews showed up, causing a stir.

Colbert said, “He remembered when Conan was the only red-headed asshole.”

keep refreshing…

Joe Biden Makes First Post-Inauguration Appearance at Denzel Washington’s Broadway “Othello” Opening

0

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are opening tonight on Broadway in “Othello.”

A few celebs turned out. But the main one was former President Joe Biden. He was wearing a natty tuxedo and waved to the people outside. On his arm, of course, was Dr. Jill Biden. And former spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre.

This was Biden’s first appearance since the country was overtaken by monsters two months ago. You will never see any of them at a Broadway show.

Other celebs included Jamie Lee Curtis, Jennifer Lopez with Emme, her child, Cynthia Nixon, Samuel L. Jackson, Ariana DeBose. and singer Kandi Burruss.

Not a big red carpet, but a quality one!

The Kenny Leon production awaits reviews, although it’s said to be a bit “dull.” The most exciting thing about it seems to be the $921 ticket price.

Love Joe and Jill and they look great!