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Ratings: “Twin Peaks” Cable Revival Piques Little Interest with Just Half Million Viewers

Roger Friedman
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Ratings: “Twin Peaks” Cable Revival Piques Little Interest with Just Half Million Viewers

The “Twin Peaks” experiment at Showtime is not working out. Sunday’s ratings for the big two hour comeback were terrible– just 506,000 total viewers. A small percentage of them were in the key demo–just 0.2.

Among scripted shows, “Twin Peaks” was substantially outranked by “the Leftovers” on HBO and “American  Gods” on Starz.

What a mess. There are 16 more one hour episodes coming. I’ve watched the third and fourth installments and they are no better than the first two, even with guest appearances by David Lynch, David Duchovny, and Ray Wise as Leland Palmer.

Showtime didn’t show press advance episodes or provide anything other than stories about the “cult” of “Twin Peaks.” It was all shrouded in mystery and depended on people remembering what happened 25 years ago when the show was cancelled.

But what everyone involved forgot was that “Twin Peaks” was cancelled for a reason: it got bad fast. The original series about Laura Palmer’s death was perfection. But once that mystery was solved, the show just became a joy ride for weirdness. It ended in smoke and ashes.

The new “Twin Peaks” so far is notable for style only. The plot, if there is one, makes no sense. For long term viewing there is nothing to hang your hat on, no hook. It’s simply bizarre. As I wrote Sunday night, what we’re missing is a real incident like Laura Palmer’s murder, the arch characters, the banter, the off kilter ornamentation of cherry pie. And fun. There is no fun in the new “Twin Peaks.” Just people talking backwards.

Hollywood Faces Memorial Day Weekend Box Office Horror: “Baywatch” is a Disaster, “Pirates 5” Is Too (Review)

Roger Friedman
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Hollywood Faces Memorial Day Weekend Box Office Horror: “Baywatch” is a Disaster, “Pirates 5” Is Too (Review)

Hollywood is facing a very bad weekend unless there’s someone who hasn’t seen “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.”

Paramount’s “Baywatch” with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron is a disaster. Currently at 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, our Leah Sydney says it just falls flat. (See her review below.)

Disney’s 5th “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie has a 33, which ain’t much better. After the first night, big things are not expected.

The “Baywatch” situation was predictable. All parties insisted that the “Baywatch” premiere had to be in Miami because of Johnson’s schedule. But he hosted “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday night so he could have attended a Sunday premiere. Instead, the premiere was held away from the glare of New York and Los Angeles press.

Refresh here for Leah’s review.

Ok-truth be told, I truly wanted to love “Baywatch.” But after the first five minutes which showed loyal lifeguard Mitch Buchannon  (Dwayne Johnson) saving someone while dolphins high five each other, coupled with a catchy soundtrack, trainer toned spray tanned bodies all cavorting and frolicking on the heavenly beach, all seems that you’ll be on a fun kitschy ride.  

Alas “Baywatch” quickly starts to sag, bodies thankfully still unaffected by gravity, and just keeps drowning throughout.  Zac Efron (when you first see his six pack you do a double take and actually think it’s a special effect) plays screwed up arrogant, yet of course emotionally wounded, ex Olympian Matt Brody. Kelly Rohrbach, Alexandra Daddario, Ilfenesh Hadera and especially Priyanka Chopra (playing evil very well) all do what they can with a limited script and confused direction.  Jon Bass has a good turn, as does Cosby outer Hannibal Buress. 

The actors aren’t the problem; it’s the filmmakers’ indecisiveness.  Unfortunately they never decided what they wanted this movie be, cheesy, serious, R rated comedy.  They missed the boat on all.  The murder plot line that affects the bay is supposedly the story, but it’s not engaging at all.  With that said, there are some funny, albeit few moments.

The audience laughed most at the outtakes at the end. The sense of play, especially with this pop culture icon, the cleverness and irony are just not there.  But hell it might do well.  There’s plenty of eye candy to go around.  As a friend who sat next to me said, “I love the fact that Dwayne’s T shirts are two sizes too small for him.  That’s enough for me.”  Lets see if audiences agree. 

Brad Pitt Is Letting James Gray Take Him to Space After All: “Ad Astra” Commences Casting

Roger Friedman
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Brad Pitt Is Letting James Gray Take Him to Space After All: “Ad Astra” Commences Casting

With “War Machine” about to debut on Netflix, Brad Pitt is going to his “Plan B.” (Get it?)

A casting call has gone out for Pitt’s next movie, “Ad Astra,” to be directed by James Gray. Ad astra means to the stars, and that’s where they’ll all be going. The story is described as “an ambitious science fiction adventure that takes its central character on a compelling and revealing journey to the outer reaches of our solar system.”

A note sent to casting directors: the ensemble of military officers, astronauts, scientists & characters met
along the way, realism is key. These people need to be all shapes & sizes, un-actory in appearance, authentic, diverse & unique. Humor is valuable, too.”

Meanwhile, “War Machine” is getting so so reviews. As one person puts it, “Some people like, it’s not for everyone.” Netflix has had an interesting way of presenting it, too. They went all the way to Japan for a premiere, photocall, press conference, etc. Pitt is very popular there, especially from advertising gigs we don’t see. But the New York “premiere” was dubbed a “private screening” with no press.

“War Machine” has 8 positive and 5 negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, although I’m starting to wonder how much that matters since the “Twin Peaks” TV show has a 95– and most of those reviews are mixed to negative. The TV part of Rotten Tomatoes may not be reliable.

Roger Moore, The Longest Running James Bond and TV’s “The Saint,” Dies at 89

Roger Friedman
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Roger Moore, The Longest Running James Bond and TV’s “The Saint,” Dies at 89

Roger Moore, the longest running James Bond and TV’s “The Saint,” has died at age 89. The beloved actor was a raconteur extraordinaire. I hold him in great esteem because some time ago he and Michael Caine took Elaine Kaufman– who never ever left Elaine’s for anything — with them to the Deauville Film Festival. They were all great pals. Condolences to Moore’s family, and to Michael Caine, who was his BFF.

Everyone has a nostalgic idea of Sean Connery as James Bond. But Roger Moore made more Bond movies than Connery, and quite a few better ones including “The Spy Who Loved Me,” “Live and Let Die,” and “Octopussy.”

Cannes Fest On High Alert, Cancels Fireworks, Has 3 Minutes of Silence for Manchester, and 70th Anniversary All Star Photocall

Roger Friedman
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Cannes Fest On High Alert, Cancels Fireworks, Has 3 Minutes of Silence for Manchester, and 70th Anniversary All Star Photocall

The Cannes Film Festival is on even higher alert after the Manchester concert tragedy. I’m told the number of machine gun bearing soldiers is amped up considerably. The Festival also took a 3 minute moment of silence for the Manchester victims today at 3pm.

A big anniversary fireworks display that had been scheduled for tonight has been canceled.

But Cannes goes on. The Festival staged a 70th anniversary all star photocall today with everyone who was still in town. Nicole Kidman, Queen of Cannes this year, is front and center and looking marvelous. I’m told that Clint Eastwood skipped the photo call and has probably left town already. Clint conducted a master class in filmmaking this week. It made everyone’s day.

The other big news is one rock star in town, the other MIA. Sir Elton John, who owns a home in Cannes, was toasted at a luncheon at Le Petit Maison’s Majestic Hotel outpost yesterday. It was to promote the new music videos for some of his classic songs.

But totally missing is Mick Jagger, who usually appears at a couple of functions is the drawing card for a dinner thrown at the Hotel du Cap and a lunch nearby. Everyone who waits for him had to sing “Miss You” instead. Mick, you see, is not your Beast of Burden.

in the photo:

Jury presidents and members

Andrea ARNOLD (Jury 2012), Claudia CARDINALE (Jury 1993), Georges MILLER (President in 2016), Liv ULLMANN (President in 2001), Catherine DENEUVE (President in 1994), Isabelle HUPPERT (President in 2009), Nicole KIDMAN (Jury 2013)

The 2017 Juries

Pedro ALMODÓVAR (President), Maren ADE, Jessica CHASTAIN, FAN Bingbing, Agnès JAOUI, PARK Chan-wook, Will SMITH, Paolo SORRENTINO, Gabriel YARED

Uma THURMAN (President of the Un Certain Regard Jury), Mohamed DIAB (Un Certain Regard Jury), Reda KATEB (Un Certain Regard Jury), Joachim LAFOSSE (Un Certain Regard Jury)
Winners of Best Actor/Actress

Vincent LINDON (Best Actor 2015), Kirsten DUNST (Best Actress 2011), Elodie BOUCHEZ (Best Actress 1998), Emilie DEQUENNE (Best Actress 1999), Mads MIKKELSEN (Best Actor 2008 – Jury 2010), Emmanuelle BERCOT (Best Actress 2015), Christoph WALTZ (Best Actor 2009), Bérénice BEJO (Best Actress 2013), Juliette BINOCHE (Best Actress 2010), Benicio DEL TORO (Best Actor 2008 – Jury 2010), Séverine CANEELE (Best Actress 1999)
Guests

Oliver STONE, Diane KRUGER (Master of ceremonies in 2007), Monica BELLUCCI (Master of ceremonies in 2002 and 2017), Lambert WILSON (Master of ceremonies in 2014 and 2015), Sandrine BONNAIRE (Œil d’Or President 2017), Nastassja KINSKI, Gaspar NOE, Abel FERRARA, Salma HAYEK, Sofia COPPOLA, Mathieu KASSOVITZ, Charlize THERON, MAÏWENN, Alfonso CUARON, Guillermo DEL TORO, Dario ARGENTO, Alejandro G.INARRITU, Elle FANNING, Agustin ALMODOVAR, Laetitia CASTA, Cécile DE FRANCE, Colin FARRELL, Emmanuelle BEART, Valérie DONZELLI, Marion COTILLARD, Nicolas WINDING REFN, Emmanuelle DEVOS, Naomi KAWASE, Abderrahmane SISSAKO, Jacques DOILLON, Laura MORANTE (Master of ceremonies in 2004), Fatih AKIN, André DUSSOLLIER, Tilda SWINTON, Adrian BRODY, Nicole GARCIA, Jean-Pierre JEUNET, Marthe KELLER, Michel HAZANAVICIUS, Kristin SCOTT-THOMAS (Master of ceremonies in 2010), SHU-QI, Diego LUNA, Paul LAVERTY, Yorgos LANTHIMOS, Tonie MARSHALL, Elie SULEIMAN, Jerzy SKOLIMOWSKI, Valeria GOLINO, Gael GARCIA BERNAL, Ludivine SAGNIER, Matteo GARRONE, Céline SALLETTE, Antonio BANDERAS, Edouard BAER (Master of ceremonies in 2008 and 2009), Ariane LABED, Amos GITAI, Virginie LEDOYEN (Master of ceremonies in 2002), Ferid BOUGHEDIR, Sergio CASTELLITO, JIA Zhang-ke, Alain CAVALIER, Benoit JACQUOT, Raoul PECK, BONG Joon-ho, Barbet SCHROEDER, Jean-Paul GAULTIER, Michèle RAY-GAVRAS, Brillante MENDOZA.

Dina Merrill, the Real Owner of Mar-a-Lago, Actress, Socialite, Heiress, Dies at 93

Roger Friedman
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Dina Merrill, the Real Owner of Mar-a-Lago, Actress, Socialite, Heiress, Dies at 93

Dina Merrill has died at age 93. The great actress-socialite-heiress had been in ill health for some time. Elegant, beautiful, and popular, Dina was the daughter of E.F. Hutton (yes, the real E. F. Hutton) and Marjorie Merriweather-Post, the real owners of Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate that Donald Trump bought and turned into a golf club– and now his “winter White House.”

She was also a fine actress who worked in television for years and was featured in a lot of movies including Robert Altman’s “A Wedding.” She was married three times. Her second husband was the actor, Cliff Robertson. With her third husband, Ted Hartley, she bought what was left of RKO Pictures, but they didn’t have much success.

Dina’s son Stanley Rumbough, tells the New York Times she suffered from dementia. It was sort of an open secret for the last several years that she’d been bedridden. This was a sad end for someone who was kind of sparkling in person. I had the good luck to speak to her several times over the years and she was a delight. She wasn’t a Doris Duke-type, who dabbled at different things. Merrill was a good actress, and worked a lot. She was a beloved philanthropist, who used her money for good causes.

Condolences to her family and friends.

 

 

Ariana Grande “Broken” After Terrorist Attack Leaves 19 Dead Following Her Manchester Show

Roger Friedman
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Ariana Grande “Broken” After Terrorist Attack Leaves 19 Dead Following Her Manchester Show

What a horrible night in Manchester. We’re sending all of our good thoughts, love and compassion to the people of Manchester, the survivors and victims of the terrorist explosion that killed 19 people at Manchester Arena.

The nail bombs went off just as Ariana Grande’s show ended. She tweeted later tonight:
“broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.”

Grande, as innocent a bystander as anyone else in this disaster, has nothing to apologize for. But there’s going to be a whole new level of security at pop and rock shows, not to mention all large public gatherings across the globe. This is not the world we grew up in, that’s for sure. Children and young people are now targets. It’s insanity.

Here’s a link to the ongoing story.

Bad Reviews May Damage Johnny Depp’s Career with Disney’s 5th “Pirates of the Caribbean” Possibly Its Last

Roger Friedman
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Bad Reviews May Damage Johnny Depp’s Career with Disney’s 5th “Pirates of the Caribbean” Possibly Its Last

How much more damage can Johnny Depp’s career take? “The Lone Ranger” was a gigantic disaster. “Alice Through the Looking Glass” was a worldwide hit, but a dud in the US. Little movies like “Mortdecai” have bombed as well. His divorce from Amber Heard was heard, literally around the world. His crazy finances have been splashed all over the tabloids.

So what’s left? Seems that the 5th “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie — called “Dead Men Tell No Tales” — could be his last. Depp’s Jack Sparrow may finally have worn out his welcome as early reviews are quite bad. Typical is the Hollywood Reporter take: “Depp remains wholeheartedly the focus of this fifth Pirates film, and saying the character’s loopy novelty has faded is like complaining that there are maggots in the below-decks gruel: You knew what you were getting when you came aboard.”

Still, brand recognition should help “Pirates” have a decent first weekend before the bottom drops out. Disney is hoping people will flock to the movie the way they buy Oreos or Diet Coke in the supermarket only to realize when they get home they didn’t need them.

If the franchise is over for Depp, he’ll be forced back into regular movies. He has a few in the can including “London Fields” and “Murder on the Orient Express.” Will he be able to act without the gimmickry of Jack Sparrow? So far, he hasn’t had an easy time of it. But I always liked his work in “Finding Neverland.” Hey may yet surprise us. As for “Pirates,” let’s hope Paul McCartney’s cameo will be the draw.

The “Twin Peaks” Revival Was A Terrible Mistake; First 4 Episodes are Emperor’s New Clothes

Roger Friedman
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The “Twin Peaks” Revival Was A Terrible Mistake; First 4 Episodes are Emperor’s New Clothes

The reason “Twin Peaks” was cancelled in 1991 after its second season is simple: no one knew what was going on, or what the point was. Frankly, once Laura Palmer’s killer was revealed, the show should have been over. The original conceit was excellent. Belaboring it became the central problem. After around 13 episodes, all the cute stuff either had to stop or be explained. And David Lynch had no explanation for it.

I remember asking Lynch about this a few years later. He and Mark Frost initially conceded that they had no game plan. All the so called “clues” were just affect. I can tell you that when the show first started, the water cooler conversation in my office was ‘what did the log mean’? and ‘why was that woman constantly pulling her drapes open and close?” We figured, it all meant something. Listen: it meant nothing.

Twenty five years later, this is worse than ever. The first four episodes of the new “Twin Peaks” are turgid and miserable, and a waste of time. If you have time for this nonsense, so be it. But there is no central conceit this time. The charm is long gone. So is Michael Ontkean as Sheriff Harry Truman. The sheriff’s office is like a sad send up of itself. The town of Twin Peaks is hardly used in these episodes. Much of the action takes place in Las Vegas, New York, and Philadelphia.

There are no new characters of interest, no plot point to jump from, no one to care about. I’m sorry, we love David Lynch for so many great movies. But his last film, “Inland Empire,” was just like this: just a pointless slog, total masturbation. “Twin Peaks 2.0” follows in its footsteps. There’s nothing clever going on. I’m sort of gobsmacked about how awful it is. It takes three episodes before we Lynch himself, or the late Miguel Ferrer. Four to see David Duchovny. There’s no hero since Ontkean didn’t return.

And what of Kyle Maclachlan as Agent Dale Cooper? I doubt he has any idea what he was asked to play or what the heck is going on. It’s just as well. When “Twin Peaks” ended, Cooper was possessed by the Devil, or Bob. That made no sense either, but it was a kooky way to say goodbye. A quarter century later, Cooper is sitting in some alternative universe talking to Laura Palmer– even though she’s been dead for 25 years, she’s still somehow aged. I don’t know why.

The mill is gone, the myth of the town is MIA, Julee Cruise has been replaced by long tedious musical sequences. So far there’s no explanation for the absence of Sheriff Truman. Seemingly none of the story lines or beloved characters from the old series have been thought out or resuscitated in a meaningful way. I think they just had no idea what to do, so they goofed off this 18 episode (18 hours! no!) sequel. You could just skip to episode 4 to get the idea. There is no plot of any kind.

I don’t know why Frost and Lynch just didn’t have a new high school girl get murdered, Cooper return to Twin Peaks to find Harry, who’s dead or retired to Florida. Introduce new people in the sheriff’s office, new friends of the dead kid (maybe a boy this time). make references to the Laura Palmer murder as a guide to this one. Instead, we are in New York, where two people we don’t know are staring out a portal, no one’s talking, time is passing, and I really want “Billions” to come back.

Frankly, after “Twin Peaks” we got Tarantino, the Coens, Fargo, and so on. They were the sequels to “Twin Peaks.” You can’t go home again. No one is there.

PS Poor Catherine Coulson aka The Log Lady. She died after filming. She looks so awful in her scenes. I felt so bad for her.

Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman Score at Cannes with Netflix Hit But Risk No Oscar Love

Roger Friedman
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Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman Score at Cannes with Netflix Hit But Risk No Oscar Love

Adam Sandler found love today in Cannes with Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories.” The New York Woody Allen-ish comedy was a hit on the Croisette by all accounts. Sandler, Ben Stiller and two time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman are all being celebrated.

But “The Meyerowitz Stories” is being released by Netflix, which may kill its Oscar chances no matter how enthusiastic the notices. Netflix will release the movie the same day it goes out on their service. And while their Oscar eligibility will remain intact, Academy voters may not care.

This was the case a couple of years ago for the much praised “Beasts of No Nation.” That film received great reviews, kudos all over, and some awards response, especially from the Screen Actors Guild. SAG nominated “Beasts” for Best Ensemble, which led many of us to think an Oscar nod for Best Picture was coming. Alas, “Beasts” got no Oscar nominations, not even for Idris Elba, who won the SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor.

“Meyerowitz” faces an uphill Oscar battle as does Netflix’s coming release “War Machine” with Brad Pitt, Ben Kingsley, and Tilda Swinton. Of course, “War Machine” is not going to get Oscar type reviews (although at least one person I know really liked it). A private screening in New York excluded press– insiders say because of Brad Pitt’s current problems not because the movie is bad. Netflix isn’t touting “War Machine” in Cannes.

The tug of war over TV platform releases and theatrical releases is just beginning. Netflix is more vulnerable than Amazon, which seems to honor the movie release (maybe because their execs come from studios). It’s ironic for Sandler, who gets no respect as an actor but has finally found some today. Of all the “Meyerowitz” actors, my guess is Dustin Hoffman will have the best shot at overcoming Academy prejudice.

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