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MSNBC-Lawrence O’Donnell: “The Last Word” is Not Over as HUGE Fan Response Comes to Rescue of Show

Roger Friedman
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MSNBC-Lawrence O’Donnell: “The Last Word” is Not Over as HUGE Fan Response Comes to Rescue of Show

We may not have heard “The Last Word,” as it turns out.

I’m told that late yesterday afternoon, MSNBC finally contacted Lawrence O’Donnell‘s agency, WME, to have some talks about renewing his contract.

The contract runs out in less than four weeks. The network, some posit, was stalling as a “tactic.” It didn’t work.

Fan response to the news that O’Donnell might be gone has been HUGE. From Twitter and Facebook to old fashioned calls to MSNBC‘s Phil Griffith and NBC’s Andy Lack, it’s been actually shocking. Not that I’m surprised.

But it turns out MSNBC’s viewers have made “The Last Word” a hit not just because of Rachel Maddow and hatred for Donald Trump, but because they actually enjoy O’Donnell’s reasoned and impassioned approach to the events of the day.

So there may be a happy ending to this bizarre situation.

It doesn’t hurt that Maddow is clearly pulling for O’Donnell. Last night she ended her show with a soft segue into his, having a nice mutual chat before O’Donnell took over just after 10pm. She basically called him a friend and reminded everyone they are part of a team. The whole thing was very Kumbaya and just swell. It was very menschy of her.

So stick around. It may all be worked out soon…

Harry Styles New Album Going in One Direction on Charts Since Friday: Down

Roger Friedman
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Harry Styles New Album Going in One Direction on Charts Since Friday: Down

Ouch!

Where are all the One Direction fans? Harry Styles’ self titled album is going in exactly one direction since it was released on Friday: down.

Today, “Harry Styles” is at number 4 on iTunes after a three day run at number 1.

“Sign of the Times,” which was a bust upon release, had a flurry of movement after Harry’s “Today” show appearance. But it’s at number 7 right now. More importantly, none of the other tracks on the album are on the iTunes chart. With a Kendrick, Drake, Adele, Beyonce album, even a One Direction album, you’d see at least four or five tracks on the chart independent of the album. But none of them are moving.

Over at Spotify, “Sign of Times” is nearing 90 million streams. That sounds like a lot but it isn’t. On the Streaming Chart, “Sign” has languished around number 17 and never gotten higher.

Also on Spotify, “Sweet Creature” is up to 14 million sreams.  But the rest of the tracks are averaging at around 3.5 million streams. Very, very low.

Last week, on the Song Revenue chart, Harry earned just $65,000 from streams and downloads on “Sign of the Times.” The single was the 26th highest earner.

Radio is still waiting to kick in on “Harry Styles.” So far, it’s been a tough haul.

This week, Styles is on James Corden’s “Late Late Show” every night rather than Fallon, Kimmel, or Colbert.  This could be out of friendship with Corden (they’re Brits). But it also may point up disinterest from the earlier shows’ musical directors. Usually when you book the Today show and “SNL,” Fallon comes with it. Not this time.

 Here’s the clip from last night, which sounds remarkably like the record and all the other live shots:

 

Jimmy Kimmel Will Host the Oscars Again Next March, With Same Producers as Last Year

Roger Friedman
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Jimmy Kimmel Will Host the Oscars Again Next March, With Same Producers as Last Year

Jimmy Kimmel will host the 90th Academy Awards next March on ABC. Kimmel hosted the show this past February, and had a nice success. Michael DeLuca and Jennifer Todd will repeat as producers. The show airs late this year– March 4th– because of the Olympics on NBC.

Oscar prognosticators are already predicting the winners and front runners, etc for next year even though no one’s seen any of the movies. But some of the names already in the mix are Steven Spielberg with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep for “The Post,” Rooney Mara for “Mary Magdalene” from the director of “The Lion,” Christopher Nolan for “Dunkirk,” and so on. No one really knows a thing.

Kimmel’s hosting of the Oscars runs along party lines, so to speak. He’s on ABC. These days the hosts of awards shows are drawn from the networks they’re on. That’s the way it goes.

Meantime, Cheryl Boone Isaacs has stepped down from running the Academy after two progressive, innovative years. A number of people are running for the Academy board including actors like Rita Wilson. Hawk Koch, who preceded Isaacs, wants to return to the lead position, which I think is a good idea. No one asked me, however!

MSNBC-Lawrence O’Donnell Situation: “No Discussions” About Renewing Contract But He’ll Be on Tonight

Roger Friedman
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MSNBC-Lawrence O’Donnell Situation: “No Discussions” About Renewing Contract But He’ll Be on Tonight

The MSNBC – Lawrence O’Donnell saga isn’t over til it’s over. But it’s over, as Yogi Berra might say.

“There have been no discussions” between the network and the talk show star according to my sources. “The story in Variety is false.” That story speculated that this was all a negotiating ploy. I’m told it’s not.

Fans of O’Donnell on Twitter and Facebook are asking, demanding and begging MSNBC to offer O’Donnell a new contract. So far, crickets.

Last night O’Donnell was in Boston interviewing John Kerry before a live audience. It was planned, I am told. Tonight O’Donnell will be back on “The Last Word” at 10pm following Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. Will he address the situation? I doubt it but you never know.

Meantime, ratings for “The Last Word” remain high.

Exclusive: Al Pacino will Play Joe Paterno in Barry Levinson HBO Movie

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Al Pacino will Play Joe Paterno in Barry Levinson HBO Movie

Al Pacino and Barry Levinson will reunite with HBO for an untitled film about Joe Paterno and the Sandusky scandals at Penn State. The famed actor and director previously teamed with HBO for hit movies about Phil Spector and Dr. Jack Kevorkian. A previous incarnation of this film, called Happy Valley, was almost made for HBO with Brian DePalma directing. It was canceled in 2014. Production is set to begin in July.

Unfrozen: Idina Menzel Will Return to (Off) Broadway Next Summer But Not in a Musical

Roger Friedman
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Unfrozen: Idina Menzel Will Return to (Off) Broadway Next Summer But Not in a Musical

Idina Menzel is coming back to Broadway– well, the Broadway area, but an off Broadway theater. But she won’t be singing. She’s going to Let that go.

Menzel is starring beginning May 31, 2018 in “Skintight,” a straight play with some gay themes.

Here’s the description: “Reeling from her ex-husband’s engagement to a much younger woman, Jodi Isaac (Menzel) turns to her famous fashion-designer dad for support. Instead, she finds him wrapped up in his West Village townhouse with Trey. Who’s 20. And not necessarily gay. But probably an adult film star. At least, according to Jodi’s son. Who’s also 20. And definitely gay. Skintight assays the nature of love, the power of attraction, and the ways in which a superficial culture persists in teaching its children that all that matters is what’s on the inside.”

Venue is the Roundabout Theater’s Laura Pels Theater. Writer is Joshua Harmon, who just brought us the quickly closed “Significant Other.”

MSNBC You Later? Lawrence O’Donnell MIA Tonight on “Last Word,” Ari Melber Subs In

Roger Friedman
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MSNBC You Later? Lawrence O’Donnell MIA Tonight on “Last Word,” Ari Melber Subs In

I told you earlier that MSNBC is considering ending “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell. Well, @Lawrence is not on his show tonight. Ari Melber is subbing in as host.

O’Donnell is said to be at loggerheads with MSNBC and NBC News over the renewal of his contract. According to sources, until today no one from the network has made any overture toward O’Donnell. His contract expires in a couple of weeks.

Insiders say O’Donnell had pretty much given up the idea of staying with MSNBC. A story in the HuffingtonPost and then my confirmation that he was essentially outta there may have spurred a Variety story this afternoon. That one said the network wanted him to stay and was negotiating. But that may also have come after my story spurred an avalanche of support for O’Donnell from viewers. They’ve been Tweeting like crazy and calling Phil Griffith’s office at NBC.

Let’s hope it works out. We have two few level headed commentators at this point. At clearly O’Donnell has the ratings.

Katy Perry Dropping New Album, “Witness,” June 9th, Announces Fall Tour, Will She Have Time for “American Idol”?

Roger Friedman
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Katy Perry Dropping New Album, “Witness,” June 9th, Announces Fall Tour, Will She Have Time for “American Idol”?

Will Katy Perry really be a judge on the new “American Idol”? She may not have time for the revived version of the former Fox show on ABC.

Today Katy announced a fall tour that will keep her pretty busy from September through February 2018. (She’s left time open to appear on the Grammys on January 28th.)

Perry also announced she’s dropping a new album called “Witness” on June 9th. Among the tracks is “Chained to the Rhythm”– which I really like in case anyone cares!

Katy could be taking February through May off to replace Jennifer Lopez on “Idol.” But you’d think she’d want a break before heading out on the summer tour circuit. We’ll see…

MSNBC Ending Lawrence O’Donnell “The Last Word” Show Despite Top Ratings (Exclusive)

Roger Friedman
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MSNBC Ending Lawrence O’Donnell “The Last Word” Show Despite Top Ratings (Exclusive)

today’s news about O’Donnell and MSNBC

I can confirm that MSNBC is ending the top rated “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell, the popular show that follows Rachel Maddow at 10pm. O’Donnell’s contract is up shortly, and the network has not made any overtures about keeping him on.

There is a fear that despite Maddow’s dogged liberalism, MSNBC is taking a turn to the right. O’Donnell would not fit into that model. But they’ve installed Fox News’s Greta van Susteren at 6pm, and more changes are coming. (This follows the disaster with Tamron Hall and the coming of Megyn Kelly from Fox News, too.)

It seems just like MSNBC to abruptly kill their own success. They’re finally beating CNN and Fox, so why not reverse course? Crazy. O’Donnell’s ratings have never been higher.

“The Last Word” has been on since 2011, and O’Donnell has been with MSNBC since it began. If CNN were smart, they’d pick him up right away. He’s one of the smartest guys in the room, and a pleasure to watch. Among his credits are writing for and consulting on “The West Wing.”

UPDATE

My NBC sources say that O’Donnell’s tireless criticism of Donald Trump is the cause of the trouble. O’Donnell calls Trump a liar on TV almost ever night. Says my observer: “Phil Griffin fought back Trump’s demands to Comcast chief Steve Burke that O’Donnell get fired for years. But now he’s president and now it’s Andy Lack’s decision and Andy has never run a single promo for O’Donnell and he wants access to Trump for Lester Holt interview and more.”
Morale at NBC News has been low for some time. My source says: “This version of NBC news would have handed the Pentagon papers back to the Pentagon. The New York Times and Washington Post remain our best hope.”

Maybe Bill O’Reilly will take his place. Maybe pigs will fly.

RIP Former Paramount Chief Brad Grey Dies at 59, Produced “The Sopranos,” “The Departed”

Roger Friedman
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RIP Former Paramount Chief Brad Grey Dies at 59, Produced “The Sopranos,” “The Departed”

It’s a terrible shock this morning to learn that Brad Grey has died. The former chief of Paramount Pictures was 59, and we all knew him very well. Reports say he had cancer, which was a well kept secret. Condolences to his family and friends.

Brad ran Paramount for 12 years with a lot of success including winner the Best Picture Oscar for Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.” He had a terrific relationship with Scorsese, distributing “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Shutter Island.” He had plenty of other hits during those dozen years, and made Paramount a much more hospitable studio than it had been in the past.

Prior to Paramount, Grey was a top tier TV producer. He guided “The Sopranos” and “The Larry Sanders Show” in partnership with the late and legendary Bernie Brillstein, picking up many awards including an Emmy in 2004.

There will be plenty of tributes and messages on Twitter, etc. from Brad’s friends as well as his enemies— frenemies. If cancer hadn’t taken him, which is as cruel as it could be, Brad would have produced hit movies and TV shows for the next twenty years. He was determined, and had great taste. I will miss him.

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