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TV: “Scandal” Will End Next Season– I Told You that Two Months Ago

Roger Friedman
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TV: “Scandal” Will End Next Season– I Told You that Two Months Ago

The news is breaking that “Scandal” is coming to an end with its next, and seventh, season.

I told you that was happening back on February 28th. That’s when I told you the seventh season would only be 16 episodes long.

“Scandal” actually could have ended a couple of weeks ago, when the show had a fantasy episode– a what if? thing. It was the first time I ever understood what was happening. It was the best episode of the series.

By now, all the characters have been president, haven’t they? “Scandal” was like “The West Wing” on acid.

Meantime, Kerry Washington can get back to movies. Her film career was really taking off when she got “Scandal.” The show raised her profile, but she belongs back on the big screen.

Broadway: “Hello, Dolly!” — With Biggest Box Office Advance of All Time– Not Giving Charity Performance for Actors Fund

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Hello, Dolly!” — With Biggest Box Office Advance of All Time– Not Giving Charity Performance for Actors Fund

Every year, Broadway producers turn over their house one for a charity performance to raise money for the Actors’ Fund. This year three of the four nominated new musicals are doing it– “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Groundhog Day,” and “Come from Away” have all set days in June.

But guess which show is not going to pony up for the Actors Fund? Why, it’s “Hello, Dolly!” touted by press releases as having the biggest advance in history– $40 million– and for breaking every record in the history of Shubert Theaters.

Is it because Horace Vandergelder, the Yonkers half a millionaire, wouldn’t approve? Horace is the fictional character in the musical played by David Hyde Pierce. (I’d say played so well, but I wasn’t offered press seats, so I don’t know.)

Instead of giving the Actors Fund “Dolly,” producer Scott Rudin is throwing them a bone. He’s donating an extra performance of his play, “A Doll’s House, Part 2.” But get this– the performance is at midnight on May 18th. “A Doll’s House” runs 90 minutes without an intermission. So Rudin is making the actors, who finish at 9:30pm, return two hours later and do the show again. The special price is $59.

Has there ever been a midnight show for the Actors Fund? A spokesman for the charity–which is such an important safety net for performers who don’t have a $40 million advance and don’t make $100,000 a week– says there was only one time. That was for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Appropriate.

Those three musicals that doing Actors Fund shows– they’re regularly scheduled shows at 8pm.

As for “Hello, Dolly!”: when I asked, I was told “I’m sure Dolly will [do something for the Actors’ Fund].” Well, maybe they will, now that I’ve asked. Stay tuned…

 

PS Since the press release went out for the Midnight Performance– and I questioned it– the Actors Fund website now says 11pm. Check with the box office.

 

 

Jackie Collins: A Life in Chapters ––Own a Piece of her Treasured Collection

Leah Sydney
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Jackie Collins: A Life in Chapters ––Own a Piece of her Treasured Collection

Jackie Collins, the sexy, scandalous, and adored storyteller of Hollywood’s glamour, drama and scintillating goings on, passed away a year a half ago to the shock of many who mourn her still. Her classy handprint on Hollywood pop culture is unparalleled; her 31 novels together sold more than 500 million copies in 40 countries worldwide.  Not only did she know where all the bodies were buried– she had a great attitude about keeping the secrets. They turned up reimagined in those novels. (“Hollywood Wives” maybe the greatest roman a clef tale of all time.)

To her family and friends, she was a beloved fixture at Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy party, at Spago on Horn in the old days and Craig’s on Melrose more recently– Jackie was simply worshiped by all. 

Ironically, grande dame Jackie was down to earth, bawdy with just the best sense of humor.  She always had supportive words and advice for everyone including me, how grateful I am.  She also had zero arrogance and no illusions of grandeur.

Where diva Jackie was grand though was through her collections of art, objects and fine jewelry that she lovingly amassed along with her late husband, gallery and nightclub owner Oscar Lerman.  Some of her treasured possessions will be available to her devoted fans at an upcoming auction at Bonhams in Los Angeles;  May 16 and 17 is the live auction, on the 18th, the online sale of Objet d’arts and jewelry goes live.  

Jackie’s daughter Rory Green summed her up best.  “Every piece of art our mother owned tells a story, and a visit to her home was like entering that story.  Our mother loved nothing more than to share her passion, which is why she had such a long and illustrious writing career. Each object in these collections has a glimmer of her essence-beautiful, loving, empowered, warm and truly one of a kind.”  

A percentage of the proceeds from the sales of the 1,000-lot estate estimated to be worth $3 million will benefit three charities, TheMalala Fund, Equality Now and WriteGirl. For more info:  http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24319/

 

photo of Jackie and Joan Collins c2017 Showbiz411

Warner Bros. Facing An Early Summer Box Office Disaster with “King Arthur” Misfire

Roger Friedman
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Warner Bros. Facing An Early Summer Box Office Disaster with “King Arthur” Misfire

This week we don’t have Friday the 13th, but Friday the 12th will suffice. “King Arthur” is looming as a huge box office disaster for Warner Bros. The $150 million Guy Ritchie-directed adventure is getting scathing reviews. It’s only registering a 21/100 on Rotten Tomatoes.

“King Arthur” stars Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law, good actors caught in Ritchie’s net. Ritchie, despite his “Sherlock Holmes” movies, has some of the most spectacular failures ever on his resume including ex wife Madonna in a remake of “Swept Away.”

It doesn’t help that “King Arthur” apparently offers a celebrity cameo by former soccer star David Beckham. Screening audiences have been vocal about Beckham’s lack of acting talent.

“King Arthur” has been a problem for Warner’s for a long time. Shot in 2015, it was supposed to be released in Summer 2016. Then it started moving on the schedule like a chess piece that wanted to be removed from the board. It was finally set for this past March, but then moved again so as not to interfere with Warner’s “CHiPS” movie. “CHiPS” was a big flop.

Now “King Arthur” will face the second weekend of blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” Ritchie and co. will die by the sword, I’m afraid. Warner’s will hope this, too, shall pass as they wait for four big releases in 2017– “Wonder Woman,” “Justice League,” “Dunkirk,” and “Blade Runner 2049.”

“SNL,” Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon Handed Comedy Gold by Spicer, Conway, Trump

Roger Friedman
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“SNL,” Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon Handed Comedy Gold by Spicer, Conway, Trump

Last night, Sean Spicer, Kellyanne Conway and of course Donald Trump handed comedy gold to the show and the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” You can only imagine the writers’ room today.

In real life, so to speak, Spicer and Conway, delivered the news about the firing of FBI director James Comey outside, in the dark, trying to hide from reporters. Yes, this really happened.

It’s like a gift that never stops giving. Melissa McCarthy as Spicer, Kate McKinnon as Conway, and Alec Baldwin as Trump now have the makings of something so wonderful that I’m already laughing, you are, too. It’s almost like virtual comedy. Almost nothing those great actors can do will equal what you can imagine.

According to the Washington Post:

For more than three hours, Spicer and his staff had been scrambling to answer that question. Spicer had wanted to drop the bombshell news in an emailed statement, but it was not transmitting quickly enough, so he ended up standing in the doorway of the press office around 5:40 p.m. and shouting a statement to reporters who happened to be nearby. He then vanished, with his staff locking the door leading to his office. The press staff said that Spicer might do a briefing, then announced that he definitely wouldn’t say anything more that night. But as Democrats and Republicans began to criticize and question the firing with increasing levels of alarm, Spicer and two prominent spokeswomen were suddenly speed-walking up the White House drive to defend the president on CNN, Fox News and Fox Business.

“Another Tuesday at the White House,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders quipped as she finished speaking on Fox News from its outdoor set, as the voice of Kellyanne Conway continued to spar with CNN’s Anderson Cooper from the next booth over.

After Spicer spent several minutes hidden in the bushes behind these sets, Janet Montesi, an executive assistant in the press office, emerged and told reporters that Spicer would answer some questions, as long as he was not filmed doing so. Spicer then emerged.

“Just turn the lights off. Turn the lights off,” he ordered. “We’ll take care of this. … Can you just turn that light off?”

Spicer got his wish and was soon standing in near darkness between two tall hedges, with more than a dozen reporters closely gathered around him. For 10 minutes, he responded to a flurry of questions, vacillating between light-hearted asides and clear frustration with getting the same questions over and over again.

“SNL,” we are all waiting.

Cannes Film Festival Declares War on Netflix, Amazon Over Non Theatrical Releases: Hundreds of Millions of Dollars at Stake

Roger Friedman
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Cannes Film Festival Declares War on Netflix, Amazon Over Non Theatrical Releases: Hundreds of Millions of Dollars at Stake

The Cannes Film Festival has taken a stand against festival eligible movies not being shown in movie theaters. This comes as news that two movies in competition this year will never be shown in French movie theatres– Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories” and Bong Joon Ho’s latest release, “Okja.” Both films are financed by Netflix, which plans only to show them via their TV platform service.

This has caused an uproar among French theater owners and cineastes who are lamenting the death of cinema– something the French take seriously. A statement from the festival indicates that they tried to get Netflix to agree to put these films in theaters, but so far have been unable to persuade them. The result is a decision that starting next year, all films in competition will have to be shown in French theatres.

This will be an interesting confrontation, because Netflix and Amazon are now pouring money into movie making, as they see it. That doesn’t always include movie theaters.

See the statement below.

“A rumor has recently spread about a possible exclusion of the Official Selection of Noah Baumbach and Bong Joon Ho whose films have been largely financed by Netflix. The Festival de Cannes does reiterate that, as announced on April 13th, these two films will be presented in Official Selection and in Competition.

“The Festival de Cannes is aware of the anxiety aroused by the absence of the release in theaters of those films in France. The Festival de Cannes asked Netflix in vain to accept that these two films could reach the audience of French movie theaters and not only its subscribers. Hence the Festival regrets that no agreement has been reached.

“The Festival is pleased to welcome a new operator which has decided to invest in cinema but wants to reiterate its support to the traditional mode of exhibition of cinema in France and in the world. Consequently, and after consulting its Members of the Board, the Festival de Cannes has decided to adapt its rules to this unseen situation until now: any film that wishes to compete in Competition at Cannes will have to commit itself to being distributed in French movie theaters. This new measure will apply from the 2018 edition of the Festival International du Film de Cannes onwards.”

Debbie Harry Rocking at Almost 72 and Blondie Is Still the Epitome of NY Punk Sound

Roger Friedman
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Debbie Harry Rocking at Almost 72 and Blondie Is Still the Epitome of NY Punk Sound

When Blondie broke in the mid 70s at CBGB they were the sound of punk and new wave in New York. I might say even more than the Ramones. “X Offender,” “I’m Always Touched by Your Presence Dear,” and then the whole Parallel Lines album — they were it. I can tell you it was very hard to pay attention to more conventional music like Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel once Blondie happened. They were the new sound. They sounded like adventure– after midnight, downtown, the ultimate in cool

Now it’s 400 years later. Debbie Harry is almost 72. Chris Stein is 67. They weren’t young when they broke through, and now they’re the ages of classic rock stars. But they have retained all their originality and feistiness. The Blondie drums kick in, the beat is ferocious, Stein rips through chords and Debbie’s glass like voice remains unchanged. She is ice in the glass.

So check out their new album, “Pollinator.” Someone told them to push a song called “Long Time,” which is good enough. But I am all about two songs on the new album– “Destiny or Doom” and “Fun.” Debbie, Chris, start played “Destiny or Doom” on every TV show. That’s your song. That’s your hit. It’s better than any of this crap the kids are playing today. They should be so lucky.

PS Value added– Joan Jett sings on the record!

 

 
OMG these songs are now stuck in my head. Thanks, Debbie.

Tupac Shakur Authorized Documentary to be Made by “12 Years a Slave” Director Steve McQueen

Roger Friedman
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Tupac Shakur Authorized Documentary to be Made by “12 Years a Slave” Director Steve McQueen

“12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen will direct the authorized documentary of Tupac Shakur.

Oscar winner McQueen says in a statement: “I am extremely moved and excited to be exploring the life and times of this legendary artist.  I attended NYU film school in 1993 and can remember the unfolding hip-hop world and mine overlapping with Tupac’s through a mutual friend in a small way. Few, if any shined brighter than Tupac Shakur.  I look forward to working closely with his family to tell the unvarnished story of this talented man.”

A press release reads: Shakur Estate trustee Tom Whalley and Amaru Entertainment, the company created by Afeni Shakur to release her son’s posthumous projects, announced today that Nigel Sinclair’s White Horse Pictures and Jayson Jackson will team up to produce a fully authorized documentary with Amaru on the life of acclaimed hip-hop artist, writer and poet Tupac Shakur.

Interest in Tupac is always high but it’s heating up right now with a feature film about to be released next month.

Twilight of the Gods? Kardashians Lose Another 100K Viewers for TV Show, Caitlyn Jenner Book Slides More

Roger Friedman
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Twilight of the Gods? Kardashians Lose Another 100K Viewers for TV Show, Caitlyn Jenner Book Slides More

Is it Gotterdammerung for the Kardashians? And do they even know what that is?

On Sunday, “Keeping Up with Kardashians,” the mother ship of all things crass, lost another 100,000 viewers from the prior week. In total viewers, the K’s finished 18th out of the top 25 cable shows. One of the few shows they beat– narrowly– were the “MTV Movie and TV Awards.”

At the same time, Caitlyn Jenner’s “The Secrets of My Life” has dropped to number 399 on amazon among all hardcover books. It’s number 900 on the Kindle list.

It’s not over til the fat lady sings, of course. Except in the Kardashians’ world, the fat lady would have already had liposuction, so no one would know when the real end was. But it’s getting closer. I still say, Should they kill off a cast member? It works in daytime, and you can always bring them back.

 

 

Broadway: Box Office Sharp Downturn as “Hello, Dolly!” Cools Off, “Glass Menagerie” Sets Closing

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Box Office Sharp Downturn as “Hello, Dolly!” Cools Off, “Glass Menagerie” Sets Closing

The Broadway box office was up, up, and away for a few weeks. But all of a sudden there’s been a big cooling off. Total receipts last week were just over $32 million. Compare that to two weeks ago when the total was $41 million.

All the hype around “Hello, Dolly!” may have finally soured with the public. The total box office was off by $141,510 from the previous week. Soon theatergoers are going to realize Bette Midler won’t be there at matinees, and may not be sticking around that long. MEanwhile, you can stream all the musical numbers from the show at www.playbill.com or over at the NPR website.

Sally Field’s “Glass Menagerie” put up a closing notice for May 21st. Sally is terrific, so are Joe Mantello and Finn Wittrock. But their box office has been terrible. They’re doing about 65% of capacity. Why? Not so much promotion. Producer Scott Rudin’s put everything into “Dolly.” And that means, “Goodbye, Sally!” Try and catch this before it closes.

“Amelie” closes next. “Anastasia” has no Tony nominations and nothing to recommend it except the connection to the animated movie. Same for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Those ladder two will soldier on until the movie-associations peter out, probably next winter if not sooner.

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