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Queen Fans– Even Monica Lewinsky– Are Having a Ball with Anthony Scaramucci’s Name on Twitter: Will He Do the Fandango?

Roger Friedman
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Queen Fans– Even Monica Lewinsky– Are Having a Ball with Anthony Scaramucci’s Name on Twitter: Will He Do the Fandango?

Queen fans are having a ball this afternoon with the name of Donald Trump’s new communications director, Anthony Scaramucci.


His Italian last name is derived from the Italian scaramouche. Probably every human who listens to the radio and is under 65 has one immediate reference when they hear that word: Queen’s epic classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”


The lyrics are “Scaramouche/Scaramouche/Will you do the fandango/thunderbolts and lightning/very very frightening/Me.”


In Italian, a Scaramouche is like a court jester. He’s considered the clown of the Italian comedia della’arte.

There was no greater Scaramouche than Scaramucci’s predecessor, Sean Spicer. Melissa McCarthy did the fandango– a cute little dance for two– on her, to great applause.

Of course the main refrain of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is “nothing really matters/to me.”

We’ll see how that holds up in the coming weeks!

 

 

Trump’s Personal Lawyer Quits, Now Sean Spicer Resigns as White House Chaos Explodes

Roger Friedman
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Trump’s Personal Lawyer Quits, Now Sean Spicer Resigns as White House Chaos Explodes

The rats are jumping from Donald Trump’s sinking ship.

Last night his personal lawyer in the Russia investigations, Marc Kasowitz, called it quits.

Now the New York Times is reporting Sean Spicer, the worst presidential spokesman ever, has resigned his post.

Melissa McCarthy is up for an Emmy award for playing “Spicy” on “Saturday Night Live.” It was the single funniest performance on TV in years.

Spicer allowed himself to be a figure of public ridicule thanks to Trump. Late yesterday, Trump put Anthony Scaramucci in charge of communications, basically forcing Spicer out. That’s what Spicer got for his loyalty.

Spicer should write a book if he didn’t sign a non disclosure. He could make millions if he told the truth.

 

Listen: George Harrison’s Son, Dhani Harrison, to Release First Solo Album in October

Roger Friedman
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Listen: George Harrison’s Son, Dhani Harrison, to Release First Solo Album in October

Dhani Harrison, George Harrison’s gifted musical son, will release his first solo album in October. Listen to the first track, “All About Waiting” right here:

The album is called “In///Parallel” and will be released October 6th on BMG Records.

Dhani follows Julian Lennon, Sean Lennon, and James McCartney in the Beatles legacy, sons of the Fab Four who’ve released their own albums. Dhani’s already had a solid career as a film score composer having worked on Beautiful Creatures” and “Learning to Drive,” “The Divide,” “Outsiders,” and “Good Girls Revolt.”

With his mother Olivia Harrison he has also been a great keeper of his father’s flame, carefully re-releasing George Harrison’s catalog and participating in or organizing events like “The Concert for George.” A couple of years I took the picture here at Lincoln Center when Dhani played with Paul McCartney at an event honoring Stella McCartney. He referred to Stella as his “big sister.”

The track here sounds terrific. We’re all in for Dhani Harrison!

PS Here’s another potential track for the record. Dhani and Paul Hicks wrote “The Sharp Knife” for the indie movie “Seattle Road”

“Valerian,” Most Expensive Indie Film Ever Made, Set to Flop Big Time Against “Dunkirk”

Roger Friedman
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“Valerian,” Most Expensive Indie Film Ever Made, Set to Flop Big Time Against “Dunkirk”

Luc Besson’s “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” is coming, opening Friday night with a 58 on Rotten Tomatoes– really a 38 if you read the reviews. It cost $225-$250 million. The most expensive indie film ever made, and it’s going to bomb big time.

Bomb is the appropriate word because “Dunkirk,” which will beat it handily is all about real bombs going off during World War II on the beach in France. “Dunkirk” is looming between a 94 and 98 on Rotten Tomatoes. It should be 100.

“Valerian,” bloated indecipherable according critics, will be lucky to clear $18 million for the weekend according to tracking reports. The movie stars a lot of people including Ethan Hawke, who knows from sci fi failures. He met his first wife, Uma Thurman, making “Gattaca,” a disaster.

Pop star Rihanna makes her debut (she’s been in a couple of other films, but this is a role) in “Valerian.” She picked the wrong horse. While Harry Styles shines in “Dunkirk,” Rihanna is headed for airplane viewing.

The budget bloat of the film is added to because STK licensed a Beatles song, “Because” for their trailer. Those songs do not come cheap. “Because” is not on the soundtrack.

O.J. Simpson Parole Approved by Nevada Board Unanimously– Will Get Out of Jail in October

Roger Friedman
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O.J. Simpson Parole Approved by Nevada Board Unanimously– Will Get Out of Jail in October

OJ Simpson has been paroled by the Nevada Board of Corrections. He will be released on October 1st despite — well, everything. The Parole Board felt that nine years was enough.

Simpson will now face the real world. For one thing, the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown who have a $31 million civil judgement against him. If Simpson tries to earn a penny, they will be right there.

Simpson will return to Florida, where his home and pension cannot be attached in that judgement.

A lot of people are joking on Twitter that he’ll wind up playing golf with Donald Trump. That would be the biggest PR mistake in history. Simpson is a pariah. No matter what happens, he’s the killer of two people. The other big joke is that now he can return to the search for “the real murderers.”

Let the next chapter begin..,

Shock: Chester Bennington, Lead Singer of Hugely Successful Linkin Park, Commits Suicide

Roger Friedman
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Shock: Chester Bennington, Lead Singer of Hugely Successful Linkin Park, Commits Suicide

TMZ reports that Chester Bennington, 41, leader of Linkin Park, has committed suicide. He was found in his Rancho Palos Verdes home this morning. Bennington had six children and a history of depression. Linkin Park was one of the most successful rock groups of the 2000s and 2010s.  What a shame.

I was not a follower of Linkin Park per se, but I’ll tell you this: their releases literally SAVED the last regime at Warner Music Group, the Bronfman-Lyor Cohen group. They had almost no hits during their run except for Linkin Park.

Recently Bennington posted this Tweet after the suicide of his friend Chris Cornell.

OJ Simpson Tells Parole Board: “I’ve never lived a criminal life” and “I’m a conflict-free guy”

Roger Friedman
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OJ Simpson Tells Parole Board: “I’ve never lived a criminal life” and “I’m a conflict-free guy”

UPDATE Despite having stood trial for killing two people– one of them his ex wife and mother of two of his children– OJ Simpson told a parole board today: “I’ve never lived a criminal life” and “I’m a conflict free guy.” I don’t know about you, but I did spit take when he said these things. Simpson has insisted to the parole board that he’s a good guy, a good Christian, and just “wants to get back to his kids and his friends.”

+++++

OJ Simpson’s parole hearing in Nevada is taking place right now. He’s been in jail for 9 years for a robbery gone wrong when he tried to back– with a weapon–souvenirs he thought belonged to him.

He never went to jail for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1994. He was acquitted by a criminal jury but held accountable for them by a civil jury.

Everyone cashed in the OJ Simpson murders, from OJ himself to a cast of characters including Kato Kaelin, Faye Resnick and even Kris Kardashian Jenner who loves to use tidbits from that story to fuel her celebrity.

Even OJ’s sister flogged a book proposal at the time. Nicole Brown’s family sold videos of Nicole and OJ’s wedding. Nicole’s sisters started a charity and ran it into the ground.

Ryan Seacrest Returning to Host an “American Idol” No One Wants, with Katy Perry as Judge

Roger Friedman
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Ryan Seacrest Returning to Host an “American Idol” No One Wants, with Katy Perry as Judge

“American Idol” is coming back, there is nothing we can do about it. Today, it was announced officially that Ryan Seacrest was returning as host, this time on ABC. But really, we knew that almost a day after Seacrest joined Kelly Ripa on ABC’s “Live.” It was part of his deal.

But why is “American Idol” coming back? No one wants it, no one. Once a ratings juggernaut– 2006 was its high mark year– “Idol” limped to its conclusion in 2016 with 11 million viewers. And they may not have actually been aware the TV was on. “Idol” went off a cliff in 2014 and never recovered. Between 2011 and 2016, 15 million viewers left. They are not coming back.

Can you name the winners of “American Idol”? Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson (was not the winner her year), Fantasia are the names that come to mind. In those early days, “Idol” winners went directly to Clive Davis, who made them into stars. But as the years went on, the winners weren’t very idol-worthy. Some, like Phillip Phillips, had one off hits. But after Jordin Sparks in 2007, the winners are not memorable. Anyone know
Scotty McCreery?
Candice Glover?
Caleb Johnson?
Nick Fradiani?
Trent Harmon?

No.

And to make matters worse, NBC’s The Voice has signed up Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson for the next two rounds. So if you’re so nostalgic for “American Idol” you can watch the former winners right there. Katy Perry? We love her. But it’s unclear what her contribution ratings wise will be.

“American Idol”? It’s good for me. There will be plenty of headlines about the ratings. But for the audience? It seems like a waste of time.

Julia Roberts, Once Queen of the Movie Box Office, Heads to TV with Amazon, HBO Series

Roger Friedman
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Julia Roberts, Once Queen of the Movie Box Office, Heads to TV with Amazon, HBO Series

Julia Roberts is throwing in the towel on movies.

Once the queen of the Big Screen and box office, Roberts is facing the same dilemma of a lot of actresses between ages 50 and 60. There are no roles.

So Roberts has made a deal with Amazon for a series with a two season commitment. “Homecoming” will be created by Sam Esmail of “Mr. Robot” fame.

Roberts also has a series in development at HBO.

Isabella Rossellini said in a recent interview that there is no work for actresses from age 45 to 60. They’re too young to be ingenues and not old enough to play grand dames. Roberts, who turns 50 in October, hasn’t had a hit movie in eons.

Roberts’ last feature film was the dud “Money Monster.” She had an Oscar nomination for “August: Osage County” four years ago. But her heyday of top-lining hits was in the ’90s and ended with “Erin Brockovich” in 2000. Commercials and real estate have kept her going.

“Homecoming” sounds promising. Esmail is the guy right now. Look forward to seeing what they put together.

Fleetwood Mac Will Be MusiCares Person of the Year for Radio City Grammy Tribute

Roger Friedman
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Fleetwood Mac Will Be MusiCares Person of the Year for Radio City Grammy Tribute

These aren’t just Rumours: Fleetwood Mac will be the MusiCares Person of the Year recipients this year. The Grammy centric all star celebration will take place January 26th at Radio City Music Hall because the Grammys are back in New York.

Hats off to Irving Azoff. The reunited Mac just played his big mega concerts in Los Angeles, and are heading here t0 CitiField this month to join Azoff’s other superstar acts for his Concerts East– with The Eagles, Steely Dan, Earth Wind & Fire, the Doobies, and Journey.

Fleetwood Mac has been together in some form since before I was in high school. But in 1975, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Christine McVie, and magie happened. A zillion records sold later, from “Rumours” and beyond, the Macs have proven to be everlasting.

Now we’ll wait and see which performers sing which Mac songs. Courtney Love should do “Silver Springs,” for sure.

The evening’s tribute chairs include Shelli and Irving Azoff, Dorothy and Martin Bandier, Kristin and James Dolan. Grammy chief Neil Portnow will preside, with aplomb. Tickets should sell out like immediately if they haven’t already!

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