Monday, December 22, 2025
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Miley Cyrus Wants to Go Back to G Rated from NC-17, But Music Buyers May Not Go With Her

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Miley Cyrus, a girl with a golden voice, has an image problem. Her new album “Younger Now” drops now, and it’s a far cry from her last very provocative and controversial commercial hit, “Bangerz.” There’s no more Wrecking Ball, twerking, or lascivious tongue snapping. This time it’s all about growing up, giving up weed, and being re-engaged to Liam Hemsworth.

Miley, who went from rated G to rated X, wants to go back. Can she?

So far the clean refresh return to the days of “Hannah Montana” isn’t clicking with fans. The title track “Younger Now” has been a dud on the charts since its release in August with just 35,000 copies sold. The album’s pre-sales haven’t been that swell, either. “Younger Now” is sitting at number 25 on Amazon waiting for blast off on Friday.

Sources say Miley and her peeps are hoping that her weekly appearances on “The Voice” as a judge will light a fire as will a performance on an upcoming installment of the show. And the album may get a kickstart from none other than Dolly Parton, who duets with her on “Rainbowland.”

Let’s see what happens when “Younger Now” finally hits the charts for sale…

(Updated) Tom Cruise Faces One of Worst Openings Ever with “American Made” Despite Good Reviews

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UPDATE Friday brought in $6.1 million, about a million higher than “Jack Reacher” or “Rock of Ages.” “American Made” could have a $16 million weekend, making it Cruise’s third worst opening.

Not a lot of people wanted to see “American Made” during its four week international run up to a  US opening. It’s made $58 million so far, spread out over two dozen territories.

But now “American Made” is facing a $13 million weekend– not an opening night but a weekend. The Tom Cruise thriller-suspense-comedy, directed by Doug Liman, is not going to be anywhere near a “Mission Impossible” size blockbuster.

Cruise’s last really bad openings in wide release were both in 2012– “Jack Reacher” (15.2 million) and “Rock of Ages” ($14.4 mil).  (Did he really make “Rock of Ages”? What were they thinking?)

This bad news is despite very good reviews. “American Made” has an 85 on Rotten Tomatoes, and most actual critics really liked it, not just basement bloggers.

But something is wrong. Is it the title? No one knows. The marketing problem is Cruise himself, who’s not doing any real press or giving interviews for many reasons including the death of two stunt pilots while filming the realistic flying scenes.

The movie also had no premiere (which I think sucks for Liman, who did an excellent job). “American Made” is basically opening in a vacuum.

Luckily, the other big opener today is “Flatliners,” which is so bad apparently that Sony skipped having Thursday night previews. Get ready for “Flatliners Flatlines” headlines on Saturday morning.

Advice: go see “Battle of the Sexes,” which expands to more cities today. Emma Stone and Steve Carell, as well as Sarah Silverman, are just perfect.

 

Exclusive: Oscar Isaac, Rupert Friend Circling Julian Schnabel Van Gogh Bio Pic

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Exclusive: it does seem like Julian Schnabel’s bio pic of the legendary artist Van Gogh is going ahead with casting.

Willem Dafoe — getting raves right now in “The Florida Project” — was already announced as Vincent. By the movie the movie is not called “Lend me an Ear” or even “Starry Starry Night.” It’s “At Eternity’s Gate.”

But now I’m hearing that Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron to you) is joining the cast as either Theo Van Gogh, Vincent’s brother and art dealer, or artist Paul Gaugin. He’s definitely in, say sources.

Also in is Rupert Friend, recently killed off of “Homeland.” He would be Van Gogh’s physician at the end of his life, Dr. Gachet.

Vincent and Theo — immortalized on film in a movie of that name by Robert Altman– each died in 1890. Vincent was 37, Theo was 33. So I’m not sure how Dafoe, though a great actor, will do at 62.  But it sure sounds interesting. Maybe Dafoe should play Gaugin, who died at 53. But hey, no one asked me.

It’s time for Schnabel, a great artist himself, to get back behind the camera. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “Before Night Falls,” and “Basquiat” are wonderful films that everyone should see.

Cher’s Musical Show “The Cher Show” Set for Chicago Tryout Next June, Then Broadway

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“The Cher Show” is a go. The Broadway musical about Cher and her rise to fame, with all her great songs and costumes and Sonny Bono, will play a Chicago tryout next June for four weeks. If all goes well, “The Cher Show” should come to Broadway in the fall of 2018.

Cher herself just Tweeted the news:

Broadway is very busy these days with musicals about contemporary music stars. So far we’ve “Jersey Boys” about the Four Seasons, “Beautiful” about Carole King, “Tina” is coming about Tina Turner, “Motown” has already played twice. Maybe Bette Midler should just stick around after she leaves “Hello, Dolly!” in January and star in a show about herself.

PS Tonight I’m going to a launch event for Jimmy Buffet and his show, “Margaritaville.” Who’s next?

Julia Louis Dreyfus Reveals She Has Breast Cancer in Typically Disarming Smart Tweet

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Julia Louis Dreyfus has just revealed she has breast cancer. JLD posted — for her– a typically disarming and smart response on Twitter. The multiple Emmy winner will carry on, win the battle, and you know become an advocate for others going through the same thing. Bravo, Julia!

Exclusive: Greg Kelly Out at “Good Day New York,” Rosanna Scotto to Be Joined by Lori Stokes

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Exclusive: As I wrote last month, there will be no more Rosanna and Greg on “Good Day New York” on Fox 5. I’m told tomorrow is Kelly’s last day. He will be replaced by former Eyewitness News star Lori Stokes from WABC’s Channel 7.

Stokes left WABC earlier this summer, abruptly after 17 years. There was no word on where she was going until I reported her surprise jump to Fox 5.

Kelly– a solid journalist– has been co-anchoring Good Day New York with Rosanna Scotto for about 9 years after anchoring both the 6pm and 10pm newscasts. He’s always approached “Good Day New York” with good humor and a gung ho attitude.

Now “Good Day New York” will have two highly experienced female journalists running the show. Are there more changes coming to the show? We’ll wait and see.

Stokes will start her new job on Wednesday, October 5th.

Kelly, by the way, is getting married this fall. His bride, Judith Gray, is a creative director in advertising. Mazel Tov!

 

Jane Fonda, Robert Redford Score Premiere Triumph of “Our Souls at Night” Despite Megyn Kelly Ambush

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The very stupid Megyn Kelly could not keep Hollywood royalty like Jane Fonda and Robert Redford down last night. Netflix threw them a star studded premiere for their new film, “Our Souls at Night,” which premieres Friday on the streaming service but also opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

The Fonda-Redford screening was at the Museum of Modern Art followed by a packed reception at the Oak Room of the Plaza Hotel. Megyn Kelly was the farthest thing from anyone’s mind during the night. I ran into a ton of stars including my old pals actress Brenda Vaccaro and former Today show host Jill Rappaport (who’s got her own show now).

But the focus was on Fonda and Redford who previously starred together in “Barefoot in the Park” in the 1960s and Alan Pakula’s “The Electric Horseman” in the late 1970s. They’ve always wanted to do another film together. “Our Souls at Night” is based on the best selling novel by the late novelist Kent Haruf.

A sparsely told tale in print, “Our Souls” comes alive on screen with these two famed actors. They each give exquisite performances, detailed and moving. Each of the characters– Addie and Louis– has been widowed for some time in their small town of Holt, Colorado. One day Addie simply knocks on Louis’s door, says she’s lonely, and proposes that they sleep together at night– not sex, just sleep and talk.

Soon it comes to more than that– not just sex–but a deeper understanding of how the two people have conducted their lives. “Everyone has a past,” Addie says to those who question the relationship. There has to be a time when all is forgiven. Life is too short to hold on to mistakes.

Netflix is on a roll this week. “Our Souls” will be joined by Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories,” one of the best movies of the year, next week. But for fans of beautifully made films, “Our Souls at Night” should be a go-to choice this weekend on the streaming service.

Larry David Says He Might “Take the Knee” One Day in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” as Hilarious Ninth Season Begins

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The fictional Larry David has been put in every preposterous situation the real Larry David could think of in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” from investing in a Palestinian chicken franchise to pitting a Holocaust survivor against a “Survivor” cast member. At last night’s star studded premiere of the 9th season of “Curb,” US asked David if the fake Larry would ever “take the knee.” “Take the knee,” he replied and said, “Now that’s a good idea.”

David was joined last night at the “Curb” premiere by his cast– Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, JB Smoove and Susie Essman– not to mention two Kennedys– Robert Kennedy Jr and Caroline Kennedy, as well as actor Marc Feuerstein, whose new show “9JKL” debuts this Monday on CBS, plus Aida Turturro (The Sopranos), Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (“Homeland”), Keegan-Michael Key, HBO’s John Oliver, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, Amy Schumer, Steve Buscemi, Bryant Gumbel, Andrew Rannels, Lorraine Bracco, Aziz Ansari, SNL’s and Pete Davidson.

I’m not allowed to tell you what the “Curb” story arc is going to be, but I can tell you it’s hilarious. All of the above mentioned cast is in it as well Ted Danson, who gives a surprise fake meta announcement, and Richard Lewis, of course. In Episode 5, which we also saw last night, there’s kind of a genius sequence devised by Larry and director Larry Charles involving “giving a face.” In a continuous fire of rat-tat-tat jokes, this is like a mini story arc that shows the real artistry here.

At the after party at Tao Downtown former “Sopranos” Turturro and Bracco gushed over Michael Gandolfini, 18 year old son of the late James Gandolfini. He told US he’s just started NYU where he’s going to take after his Emmy winning dad and study acting. “I was already in the Law & Order Menendez Brothers movie,” he said, “playing Erik’s friend. But I was cut from the final edit. But it was a good experience because I got to be there with Edie Falco, who was with my dad on the Sopranos.”

Legendary Writer, Producer Norman Lear, 95, Takes The Knee on Twitter

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I love Norman Lear. The creator of “All in the Family” and so many important shows has always stood for the right things. He created People for the American Way. Now he kneels for the right thing on Twitter. God bless him. He’ll be given a Kennedy Center honor in December, too.

The Clock Is Ticking on Megyn Kelly as She Insults Jane Fonda, Makes Debra Messing Regret Interview

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Maybe Megyn Kelly is not cut out for interviewing celebrities. Or talking to people.

This morning she insulted two time Oscar winner Jane Fonda on live TV. Fonda was on Kelly’s 9am Today show hour to talk about her reunion with Robert Redford in the excellent Netflix movie “Our Souls at Night.” A few minutes into the conversation, Kelly decided to ask Fonda about her plastic surgery. It was a jaw dropping moment. On the video you can see Fonda’s eyes flare. But she’s a pro and segued into a better answer with aplomb.

God only knows what went on backstage. And this was in front of Robert Redford, who never does TV. He won’t be back.

On Monday, Kelly had the “Will & Grace” cast on, as well as a real life gay lawyer who loves the show. Kelly insulted that man not once but twice.

First Kelly said to Russell Turner: “Is it true that you became a lawyer — and you became gay — because of Will?”

Whaaaaat?

Turner replied: “I look at Will Truman, I’m like, ‘He has it made’: lawyer, best apartment in New York City, and gay?” he quipped. “Come on, trifecta.”

Then as the segment was ending, Kelly said to him: I think the Will & Grace thing and the gay thing is going to work out great!”

“Will & Grace” star Debra Messing was furious. She later tweeted that she’d never have done the interview if she’d known it was with Kelly. She thought she was going to be on the actual “Today” show.

Kelly is out of her league on the Today show, and a far cry from the nice Tamron Hall-Al Roker show she has unceremoniously replaced.  A gaffe here and there is ok. But she’s aggressively stupid. She’s very reminiscent of Debbie Matanepolous or Elisabeth Hasselbeck. And we know what happened to them.

https://www.today.com/video/jane-fonda-recalls-the-moment-she-knew-robert-redford-would-be-a-star-1056058435951