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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.

Box Office: “King Arthur” Disaster with $14.7 Mil Weekend on $175-Million-Plus Cost

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “King Arthur” Disaster with $14.7 Mil Weekend on $175-Million-Plus Cost

“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” will be known as “Legend of the Bored.” Almost no one went, and the result is a $14.7 million weekend.

The Warners movie cost $175 million plus, which could be high as $250 million for promotion, etc. That’s a total write off even with some international box office thrown in. So far there’s about $30 million in the till from foreign audiences.

“King Arthur” is the Hindenburg of the 2017 movie season, and a great disappointment, no doubt, as Time Warner tries to merge with AT&T. If that merger should ever occur, these huge failures won’t be tolerated so well.

Luckily, Warner Bros. has potentially four blockbusters coming — Justice League, Wonder Woman, Dunkirk among them. But this hurts. And it certainly makes Guy Ritchie’s future more questionable with a “Man from UNCLE” sequel being discussed (I don’t know why) and more Sherlock Holmes films with Robert Downey Jr. a possibility. Ritchie may need a time out after this debacle.

The next big blockbuster release is Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean 5” due on Memorial Day weekend. There are many questions about Johnny Depp’s viability after all his bad press, not to mention the aging of the franchise. Disney, thriving with Marvel, animation and Pixar, can just shrug it off if P5 doesn’t work.

Pop Music: No Desert Trip II This Fall, as Rival Knocks Out Promoter with Double Smash Shows

Roger Friedman
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Pop Music: No Desert Trip II This Fall, as Rival Knocks Out Promoter with Double Smash Shows

Remember last fall’s Desert Trip shows in Indio, California? I broke the story that Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan et al would participate in what became known as OldChella. The two October weekends grossed $160 million for Goldenvoice and AEG Live.

But there will be no Desert Trip II. That was confirmed today in press reports. I hate to say I told you so, but I did. When producer -manager Irving Azoff announced his Classic East and Classic West shows a few weeks ago, I said that was the end of Desert Trip. Azoff, a brilliant chess player, called checkmate.

Azoff’s shows sopped the rest of what is considered classic rock. And they’re all his clients! He’s bringing back the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald, Earth Wind & Fire, Journey and Steely Dan. That’s it. Who’s left, really for that kind of huge rock weekend? The shows will play Dodger Stadium and New York’s CitiField (Shea Stadium) in July.

Desert Trip tried to reunite Led Zeppelin and got nowhere. McCartney is on tour by himself all fall in the US. The Stones are in Europe. I do wish Santana were on Azoff’s dates. Otherwise, the Mt. Rushmore-type Rock Acts have been used up. (Aerosmith and Bon Jovi would be next of remaining acts.)

Who will be the future big acts? I can’t see any of the current rock and pop stars ever having massive followings the way these groups I’ve just mentioned do. Maroon 5? No. Bieber? One Direction? Really?

 

Sony Music Gives L.A. Reid the Bum’s Rush with Terse Farewell Statement

Roger Friedman
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Sony Music Gives L.A. Reid the Bum’s Rush with Terse Farewell Statement

Sony Music did not have any flowery thanks for L.A. Reid as he was ousted from Epic Records this week. Their sole statement, according to Billboard: “L.A. Reid has left the company.”

Excuse me?

Reid struggled, as everyone does, with getting hits. But on balance he’s done pretty well running Epic the last couple of years. Future had double hit albums, DJ Khaled has a top hit single right now, Fifth Harmony always produces, and Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabelo is being primed for take off.

Additionally, Jennifer Hudson is working on her first Epic album and has a hot single called “Remember Me.” Reid has a Spanish album by Jennifer Lopez set for release, and Mariah Carey is…well, she’s Mariah Carey. Epic has also reaped the benefits of Sara Barielles’s hit, “Brave,” and her current Broadway hit “Waitress.”

During Grammy week, Reid threw a lovely brunch at his Beverly Hills home for execs and press to introduce Epic artists (many of the above were there). But that’s when it also became clear that Sony had moved veteran exec Sylvia Rhone out west. She’s bought a home and it seemed like her mission was to watch Reid for the New York honchos.

It’s possible that the next step for Sony is to merge Epic into Columbia Records as an imprint. There’s always been talk of Epic ending as a free standing label. With all the consolidation in the record business, that’s possible. As terse as their send off was to Reid, believe me, L.A. will be back. He will have big hits. This story is not over.

Box Office Bust: $175 Mil “King Arthur” Friday Night Take Points to $15Mil Weekend

Roger Friedman
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Box Office Bust: $175 Mil “King Arthur” Friday Night Take Points to $15Mil Weekend

“King Arthur” arrived and died in one fell swoop. The $175 million Warner Bros. swashbuckler from Guy Ritchie took in $5.3 million from Thursday night previews and Friday night audiences. A $15 million weekend ($18 million on the high side seems a lofty ambition) points to a total write off. Maybe international audiences will help. But not by much.

Ritchie is an ambitious filmmaker whose work is hit or miss. His “Sherlock Holmes” movie are hits. The rest are not, at least since his initial hits years ago with “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels,” and “Snatch.” His more recent “Man from UNCLE” was a flop financially and editorially. I’ve been seeing weird remarks on Twitter that there should be an “UNCLE” sequel. No no no. Please, no. 

Ritchie’s biggest flop was with ex wife Madonna on “Swept Away.” A new “Sherlock” Movie should set things right. Meanwhile Warner Bros. writes off $150-$175 million. They have four blockbusters coming this year.

Broadway, TV: “Rent” the Groundbreaking Musical Coming to Fox As a Live Presentation

Roger Friedman
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Broadway, TV: “Rent” the Groundbreaking Musical Coming to Fox As a Live Presentation

Of all things, “Rent” is coming to Fox TV as a live broadcast.

The hit Jonathan Larson musical, with a cult following, wouldn’t seem like the sort of show you’d see on conservative old Fox. But Marc Platt, producer of “La La Land” and “Dear Evans Hansen,” is shepherding the project to Fox from Broadway.

Who knows? Maybe Platt’s son, Ben,” who’s right now the star of “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway, will be cast in the TV special. The producer knows how to reach the star.

“Rent” is an odd choice for Fox. It’s a rock musical, for one thing. For another, it deals with young people confronting AIDS and HIV in mid 1990s New York.

The original production ran for 12 years on Broadway. It won 4 Tony Awards in 1996 and launched the careers of Daphne Rubin-Vega, Idina Menzel, Jesse L, Martin, Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and won a Tony for Wilson Jermaine Heredia.

“Rent” is based loosely on the opera “La Boheme.” But it took on real life tragedy when Larson died at age 35, unexpectedly, on the eve of the show’s first preview. He was misdiagnosed at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village, which has since been razed and turned into ultra luxury housing.

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