Thursday, December 18, 2025
Home Blog Page 1369

R&B Star Bryson Tiller Has 8 of the Top 50 Streaming Singles, Number 1 Streamed Album

0

All Beatles celebrating aside, the biggest music act in the U.S. right is Bryson Tiller. Know who he is? He’s a modern R&B star, like Frank Orange or Chance the Rapper. He’s not just a rapper. Tiller sings. It’s rap- singing but it’s very appealing and definitely interesting.

Eight of the tracks from his “True to Self” are on the Streaming Songs chart from BuzzAngle. Eight. That’s the sign of a real hit album these days. The opposite of this is Harry Styles, a pop superstar whose self-titled album is not getting much streaming love at all.

“True to Self” is number 1 on the Sales Plus Streaming chart– a total of 116,400. Only 47,209 of that number comprises actual physical sales and paid downloads. Like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, Tiller is a streaming phenom. The urban audience doesn’t need to own the music– they just want unfettered access to it.

Tiller is worth checking out, if only because some of his album has sound effects that sound like they’re from the Beatles’ later work. He also samples a few older R&B tracks, but in a very low profile way.

 

TV: Leah Remini’s Chemistry With Kevin James Leads to Total Retool for “Kevin Can Wait” — Lead Actress Out

0

You can’t blame Leah Remini. She and Kevin James have more chemistry than one of those Scientology e-meters. When Remini appeared on the season finale of “Kevin Can Wait,” the more important meters– run by Nielsen– went crazy. Now she’s in as James’s co-star and “Kevin Can Wait” actress Erinn Hayes is out.

Remini and James, of course, had a 9 year hit run in “King of Queens” on CBS. They were like an update of “The Honeymooners” and “Roseanne” and other classic working class comedies. “Kevin Can Wait” was a hit, but not a big sustainable hit. So Remini’s arrival was watched closely. And when it hit big, that was enough for CBS.

Now Erinn Hayes, who played Kevin’s wife Donna, is out after one season. She’ll either disappear, be a dream, be killed off. Who knows? It’s sad for the actress, who probably thought she was going to be in a hit show for seven seasons. But ratings can’t wait.

Remini will return in the fall as her cop character Veronica. All summer she’ll be seen in her Scientology series on A&E, which has turned out to be a hit on its own. Scientology counted on Remini disappearing from TV and prominence. But now she’s really back, and she should only drive them crazy until they’re completely gone.

This is a double triumph for Remini at CBS, too. Remember, she was let go from “The Talk” several seasons ago after “King of Queens.” Now that she’s relocated at CBS, I’d love to see the same for Holly Robinson Peete.

As for Hayes, there is a precedent: Carla Gugino was cut from Michael J. Fox’s “Spin City” years ago. She went on to have a great career in movies, TV, and Broadway. So there’s hope yet.

All Hail “Wonder Woman” with $100 Mil Opening Weekend, Biggest Debut Ever For Female Director

0

Biggest debut ever for female director. Biggest debut ever for standalone comic book movie. With a female star. And with highest critics’ rating.

All these kudos and records go to Patty Jenkins, who directed “Wonder Woman” to an outsize $100 million opening weekend. Warner Brothers and DC Comics are uncorking Champagne. It’s like the old days. A real movie. A real hit. Shazam!

It’s a wonderful occasion when movie magic strikes. After WB’s “King Arthur” debacle, it’s extra sweet!

So get ready for at least two more “Wonder Woman” movies– not to mention “Justice League” this winter with Wonder Woman and Gal Gadot featured. DC Comics finally gets a boost like Marvel. And now “Justice League” is being retooled by Joss Whedon, who gave “The Avengers” their mojo for Marvel.

Elsewhere: despite bad reviews and basic apathy from US audiences, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” now has $500 million worldwide.

Fox has an animated hit in “Captain Underpants.” The movie has a very good soundtrack including a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Think” by Adam Lambert.

Box Office: “Wonder Woman” Scores Massive $38.9 Mil Friday, Heads Toward $100 Mil-Plus Weekend

0

“Wonder Woman” has just reset Warner Bros’ year. Patty Jenkins’ rip roaring super hero movie made just over $38.9 mil from Thursday previews and last night’s take. Star Gal Gadot will lasso up over $100 for the weekend.

This means that “Wonder Woman” had made in two days more than Warners’ “King Arthur” has done in two weeks–$36 million. And just wait til last night’s word of mouth bulks up Saturday and Sunday sales, not to mention repeat visits from tween girls who will want to see it again.

Meanwhile, the dogs are barking at Disney where the 5th “Pirates of the Caribbean” has collapsed completely. They made just under $7 million on Friday night, around 75% lower than last Friday’s opening.

More to come…

The Beatles Finish at Number 1 with “Sgt. Pepper 50th,” Rake in Around $10 Mil In One week

0

The 50th anniversary box set of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” finished at number 1 on Friday. The $117.99 set retails for $117.99, and earned the Beatles over $7 million in one week (including pre-sales). That’s a low number, too, which doesn’t include all formats and all countries.

But it’s quite an accomplishment. They sold 61,521 copies of the box set in the US alone– that’s the physical box plus downloads. Counting in other markets and other versions of the set, the Beatles probably made $10 million just in sales. That doesn’t count publishing royalties for how many times their songs played on all kinds of formats all week.

Nice work by all involved.

PS The box set is the only configuration that features the Mono CD, and the two outtake CDs, not to mention the new stereo CD and the two video discs. It’s well worth it just for the 3D cover and the hardcover book. Package of the year– Grammy Awards take note.

It Was 50 Years Ago Today– June 2nd Was American Date for Beatles “Sgt. Pepper” Release

0

There’s been lots of Beatles celebrating today over the 50th anniversary of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

In fact, the U.S. anniversary is Friday, June 2nd. The album was released a day earlier in the UK.

A lot of the cork popping can be heard on Sirius XM, where Channel 18 has gone all Beatles. I’ve been listening to avidly. I’d give them an A minus. The minus part is too many records that are “Beatles influences.”If I want to hear a Motown song or a Chuck Berry track, there are plenty of stations.

The Beatles Channel will grow and add tracks in weeks to come, I assume. So far I’ve haven’t heard any Badfinger or Mary Hopkin. There have been some solo tracks, but it feels like it’s a lot of McCartney (biggest of the four solos). Today I heard “I’m the Greatest” by Ringo, written by John, for the first time.

The worst thing I’ve heard by far is Neil Diamond’s cover of “Yesterday.” I hope once was enough. What they’re really missing is a Beatles cover record by Roberta Flack, commissioned a short time ago by Sony-ATV and then kind of dropped. It’s a wonderful set that should be re-discovered.

Also, Tina Turner singing “Help.” Phoebe Snow performing McCartney’s “Every Night.” Michael Jackson singing McCartney’s “Girlfriend.” Joe Cocker, and so on.

It will take time. But I was happy to hear Dennis Elsas and Bill Flanagan on a weekly show called “Fab Forum.” And they’ve got Chris Carter’s “Breakfast with the Beatles.” But what about a May Pang show? She knows so much!

It does look like the “Sgt. Pepper” 50th anniversary box, retailing for $117.99, sold around 50,000 copies. It will finish at number 2 or 3 for the week. Final numbers will be in tomorrow night.

Congrats to Apple and to producer Giles Martin, who’s done his late dad, George Martin, the real “Fifth Beatle,” and an heralded genius, proud.

NY Daily News Friday: ‘Trump to World Drop Dead’ Cover Evokes Famous 1975 Headline ‘Ford to City Drop Dead’

0

amd-ford-to-city-jpgFriday’s cover of the New York Daily News reads: “Trump to World: Drop Dead.” It’s meant to evoke the famous Daily News cover from October 1975 when President Gerald Ford refused to step in and save New York from financial ruin. We got the last laugh on Ford– look at thriving New York now. And we’ll get the last laugh on Donald Trump, the most mocked politician in the world– by the world.

trump daily news cover

 

Jennifer Garner Calls Out People Magazine on Cover Story: “I Did Not Pose for this Cover” Or “Authorize It”

0

Actress Jennifer Garner has called out People magazine on Facebook. Garner says this week’s People cover story was not authorized by her and she didn’t participate in it. In the magazine business that would be called “a write around” when the star doesn’t participate.

This is the sort of thing that’s typical of tabloids but well outside the world of People, which is owned by Time Inc. People was supposed to be the high standard in celebrity magazines since it began in 1974. The whole idea of People was to get the exclusive interview with whomever they were writing about. It’s hard to imagine the original editors of People– or the editors up til now– approving such a move.

To make matters more obtuse, the Garner story — called “Life After Heartbreak”– isn’t even featured on the People website. The cover itself is being used to promote subscriptions. Something must be up at People. Editor in chief Jess Cagle would never get into such a situation unless he was forced by management. With Time Inc. unable to find a buyer, and the “bottom line” getting tougher than ever to meet, editorial sense seems to have been subjugated to ad dollars. It never,ever works,

Here’s Garner’s statement:

 

It has been brought to my attention that there is a People magazine cover and article out today that appear to be coming from me. It isn’t unusual for me to receive calls from loved ones thinking I forgot to tell them I am pregnant–with twins!–(Geez Louise), but those are so ridiculous they’re easy to ignore.

This isn’t a tragedy by any measure, but it does affect me and my family and so, before my mom’s garden club lights up her phone, I wanted to set the record straight:

I did not pose for this cover. I did not participate in or authorize this article.

While we are here, for what it’s worth: I have three wonderful kids and my family is complete.

Have a beautiful day,

Love,
Jen

Kardashian Ratings Free-Fall: 400,000 Viewers Disappear in One Week from E! Show

0

I think the party might be over at the Kardashian house.

On Sunday, there were only total 973,000 viewers. That’s down from over 1.3 million the week before. The down trend is turning into a gathering storm.

The demo number dropped, too, from o.6 to 0.4. Fewer and fewer people are watching the antics of these self-absorbed nitwits. It’s like an awakening.

Losing Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner as a character probably didn’t help. But she’s said she’s done with it. And her book was a dismal sales failure.

Meanwhile, “Twin Peaks” on Showtime registered just 195,000 viewers on Sunday night for Parts 3 and 4. The justification may be that subscribers had already streamed those episodes. But I think it’s a bust. No one knows what’s going on. It’s not good. It’s certainly not sustainable for 14 more weeks.

Michael Ontkean must be laughing from his home in Hawaii.

PS Maybe these episodes are a ‘prequel’ to the final ones? Who knows? It’s a mistake if that’s the case.

The best show on TV continues to be “Veep,” which is on so late– 10:30pm– on HBO Sundays. Absolutely sublime. This past week was heaven. Julia Louis Dreyfus can do no wrong.

 

CNN Severs Ties With Kathy Griffin Over Trump’s Severed Head, Anderson Cooper Throws Her Under the Bus

CNN has fired Kathy Griffin from their annual New Year’s Eve show over the Donald Trump decapitated head thing.

Anderson Cooper then threw Griffin, his friend, under the bus with this Tweet:

Lesson learned: In the media, no one is your friend. Cooper could have just kept his Tweet shut. Yes, Griffin was wrong, and what she did showed no judgement no matter how much you dislike Donald Trump. But the piling on is just way too much. Shall we stone her, a la Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”?

Certainly Donald Trump’s crimes against humanity outweigh what she’s done here. He’s taken to Twitter to say his son is upset. But on his personal Twitter account– which has a larger following than his @POTUS– Trump has yet to express dismay or condolences for the two brave men killed in Portland for fighting a racist. Is son Barron upset about that? I doubt it.

Anyway, the CNN New Year’s Eve show is an abomination. Cancel it already. It’s a total embarrassment.

Griffin has apologized (see below). Has Trump apologized for making fun of a handicapped journalist?

No.