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That’s everywhere except in the tiny mind of Donald Trump, who arbitrarily changed the name to Gulf of America. He bullied Google and Apple to use the name on their maps.
But the Associated Press said no. So Trump banned them from covering the White House.
It’s total breach of the 1st Amendment. Now the AP has filed suit against the Trump administration.
This won’t be the last lawsuit against Trump from a news organization. The Pentagon is also making it very difficult to cover them, or for the press assigned there to do their jobs properly.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have donated $1 million to five different charities for wildfire causes.
They’re urging others to do the same.
My words not theirs — Hollywood seems to have forgotten about the wildfire devastation.
A friend of mine, an Academy member, tells me that instead of buying tickets this year she’s sending the money to the Altadena charities.
Meantime, both Vanity Fair and Charles Finch-Chanel are doing next to nothing except downing Inn and Out Burgers and living it up at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
In 1971, on her “Anticipation” album, Carly Simon sang a politically charged sensationally dramatic song called “Share the End.” It was written by her with longtime collaborator and friend, Jacob Brackman.
The song’s lyrics addressed the political chaos of the time, and the fear among young people, as Richard Nixon had brought the country to a standstill with Vietnam — and later Watergate.
Brackman, who wrote the lyrics, was inspired by his own famous 1968 Esquire essay called “My Generation.” It was a perilous time.
Carly tells me that when Brackman visited her recently on Martha’s Vineyard, they talked about the similarities to the current situation with Donald Trump. Simon realized she should re-release “Share the Land” and called the record’s original producer, Paul Samwell-Smith, and engineer Frank Filipetti. He brought in musician Peter Vettese to help remix, remaster, and polish up the 50 year old recording.
Carly has this to say about the song in 1971 and today: “Share the End” always felt like a hidden gem—quiet but powerful.” She adds, “Today, in a time of war, real and phony despots, division, and dishonesty across the globe, it sometimes feels to me the world is still “going up in flames—five decades after I first recorded this song.”
The result, out today, is a song that should be on the charts and every radio station. Simon is the forerunner of all the “girl singers” so popular now, but mostly write about relationships — the foundation of her career. But Simon’s recordings are far more complex musically and lyrically. They still resonate on many levels. “Share the End” — like Paul Simon’s “American Tune” — is a song for the ages.
Carly says: “In the original, I was reflecting on personal relationships, but in this version, I’m thinking more about what’s happening everywhere in the world—how to move forward while treasuring what’s behind us. Working with Paul, Peter, and Frank brought out a layered, almost cinematic quality to the song that feels like a natural progression of its story.”
The full lyrics are below. The new “Share the End” is on YouTube, Spotify, and all streaming venues. PS Rhino should do this with a whole newly updated “Anticipation” album.
Here come the priests, each one wailing and bemoaning Lordy, they got their heads bowed down Here come the madmen, they’re too excited for atoning: “Burn the mosque, ” they’re shouting, “Burn it down!” Save me a place, surround me with friendly faces All of us have gathered here to share the end To watch the world go up in flames Please, Lord we’re not ready Give us a day Give us an hour Here come the kings, Let’s dispense with their apologizing Just bring on the acrobats and clowns Here comes the rumble, Hang on for universal dying Please ignore the baying of the hounds Save me a place, surround me with deadly faces All of us have gathered here to share the end – To watch the world go up in flames Please, Lord we’re not ready Give us some time to work things out Please, Lord we’re not ready Give us a day Give us an hour Please, Lord we’re not ready Give us some time to work things out Please, Lord we’re not ready Give us a day Give us an hour
Kanye West spent the overnight spewing hate on Instagam and Twitter.
He posted dozens of antisemitic proclamations, and attacked his perceived enemies including CAA chief Richard Lovett.
West — who says his real name is Ye — shared his admiration for Adolph Hitler.
Yes, he’s a sick sick man. But he also has millions of followers. Elon Musk refuses to remove his account from X, and West knows he has a captive audience for his disgusting thoughts.
He even took a swipe at actor Timothee Chalamet, and posted a picture of Johnny Depp with it. Under the picture he wrote, “Nah for real Timothee is one of my favorite people. I’m just doing reflecting the Hitler twee
In another Tweet, he wrote “Even Dave Chappelle has been attacked on stage. Free speech comes with a cost. And I’m ready to pay any cost to say whatever the fuck I want to say. Forever.”
The worst posts are directed to Richard Lovett, head of Creative Artists Agency. He calls him “Dick Lovitz.”
“I KNOW WILL SMITH WANTS TO SAY FUCK RICHARD LOVITZ since he hasn’t said it yet. I’LL SAY IT — FUCK DICK LOVITZ.”
The irony is that Lovett is one of the nice guys in Hollywood, which attests to his longevity in the business.
Many of the posts are un-publishable – at least here.
First James Bond has been sent to the we-don’t-know-where.
Now owner New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner says the team will allow players to wear “well groomed beards.”
The sky is falling. (Trump and Musk not withstanding, etc.)
The Yankees have never allowed beards or wild hair, the kind you see on ballplayers in both leagues. We always held ourselves to a higher standard. I’m disappointed Hal has made this decision, but they have to change with the times.
What will happen next? Chaos. What would Babe Ruth say?
The great R&B singer Jerry Butler — known as “The Iceman” — has reportedly died. He was 85 years old, and lived in his hometown of Chicago.
Jerry had been suffering from a variety of illnesses for the last five or six years since his beloved wife, Annette, passed away.
Jerry became a star as a member of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, who had enormous hits like “People Get Ready,” “Amen,” and “It’s Alright,” to name a few.
He went off on his own, and had even more hits. As Mayfield’s protege, Jerry had hits written and produced by him, or with his brother, Billy. Some of his solo hits included “For Your Precious Love,” “Ain’t Understanding Mellow,” with Brenda Lee Eager, and Burt Bacharach’s “Make It Easy on Yourself.”
In the late 60s, Jerry experienced a Renaissance after leaving the world of Chicago R&B and heading to Philly soul. With Gamble and Huff, he scored again with songs like “Only the Strong Survive,” and “Hey Western Union Man,” and “Mr. Dream Merchant.” He also scored with Goffin and King’s “He Will Break Your Heart,” which Tony Orlando later turned into “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You).”
With Betty Everett, a huge star on her own, he had “Let it Be Me” and several more.
He got the name “The Iceman” because he was so cool and polished in his delivery. His actual voice was silky smooth, like a great crooner. In another universe he would have been on a par with singers like Mel Torme or Tony Bennett. When he sang standards like “Moon River” or his own, “I Stand Accused” — covered by both Isaac Hayes, and then Elvis Costello — he could make the hairs on the back of your head stand up.
Not only was Jerry a consummate singer but he had a second life as a Cook County Commissioner in Chicago. He was a politician at heart, too. I dare say, he played his cards close to the vest. For some time early on he was also president of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in its heyday.
I knew Jerry very well, and will miss him terribly. I named my documentary, “Only the Strong Survive,” after him. Bruce Springsteen used the same title for his R&B cover album last year. This is certainly a blow after losing Sam Moore just a short time ago. The world of classic soul is shrinking down. But the music lives on.
You can read a remembrance of Jerry below from Marshall Thompson, of the Chi Lites, on Facebook along with many other heartfelt tributes.
For years, Marvel Studios was on top and not letting anyone forget it.
But the last couple of years, apart from “Spider Man” movies, haven’t been an easy go.
Now comes “Captain America: Brave New World.” Opening weekend brought $88 million.
But since then, it’s been all downhill. On Monday, which was a holiday, receipts were down by 45%. On Tuesday, down again 43%. Last night, another 46%.
This isn’t looking for the weekend. If the week to week drop is 50% or more, that’s trouble in Disney Land.
The only competition, starting tonight: a Stephen King horror movie called “The Monkey.” (Don’t ask.) So far it’s got an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and audiences. Could it knock off “The Monkey”?
Director of “The Monkey” is Oz Perkins. His late father was Hollywood star Anthony Perkins, known so well for “Psycho.” His mother was Berry Berenson, actress and socialite who died tragically in a plane on 9/11. His aunt is Marisa Berenson, the great actress and model. He”s not monkey-ing around!
United Talent Agency is canceling its pre-Oscar party. They’re the first group in Hollywood to acknowledge the fires took place at all.
So far, Vanity Fair and Chanel (guided by London flack Charles Finch) are having parties without a thought to the wildfires.
UTA says they’ll donate funds instead to three groups:
· SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund is providing disaster relief assistance to SAG-AFTRA members whose homes were damaged or destroyed.
· Entertainment Community Fund (Formerly the Actors Fund) is accepting applications for essential needs and financial relief (housing, utilities, healthcare, etc.) for entertainment performers and professionals.
They say they’ll also donate to the Motion Picture and TV Fund, but that’s what we call a canard: everyone donates to the fund anyway. Vanity Fair is doing the same thing. The Fund has little to do with the fires at all. In fact, the Fund already as a party on Oscar eve called The Night Before, paid for by the studios. Celebrities line up to get swag bags full of expensive trinkets.
As for Vanity Fair, they will just party on. Same for Finch and Chanel.
Other talent agencies like UTA — Creative Artists, WME, etc — have parties planned for Friday night, February 28th.
Meantime, the studios themselves are looking warily at parties. Universal and Focus will celebrate “Wicked” and “Conclave” on the Wednesday before the Oscars. Last year, with “Oppenheimer” looking at multiple wins, the studio took over SoHo House after the Oscars show.
So far no word from Searchlight (“A Real Pain,” “A Complete Unknown”), or Neon (“Anora”) about their plans. Netflix may be gunshy with “Emilia Perez.”
It’s bewildering that the movie community has not stepped up like the music world did for Grammy Week. “Fire Aid” raised $100 million, half of which has been donated to aid groups this week.
“The White Lotus” was back on HBO Sunday night with its mix of dizzying strands of murder, suggested incest, homoeroticism, infidelity, frontal nudity, and white collar crime.
Spirituality in Thailand? Not so much.
The numbers: Earlier this week HBO said 2.4 million people watched the first episode of season three.
But the only monitored part of that was HBO itself, with 420,000 fans. These are known as linear ratings, reported by Nielsen. Did 2 million more people watch “The White Lotus” on streaming on Max? Who knows?
The new “White Lotus” is a lot like the prior seasons, just moved to a new locale. A wealthy American family from the South (Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sam Nivola, Sarah Catherine Hook ) arrives at the resort, followed by three gal pals including Michelle Monaghan as a TV star, Leslie Bibb, and Carrie Coon. Plus Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) from season 1 Maui comes to do research. In short order she crosses paths with Greg, the mysterious husband of the late Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), whom Greg killed at the end of season Season 2.
There’s also a mysterious man named Rick played by Walton Goggins, who’s mean to his girlfriend (Aimee Lou Wood, who seems like she time traveled from a Robert Altman movie) and hasn’t come to the White Lotus for enlightenment.
Greg (Jon Gries) was a surprise, unpublicized by HBO. He’s the through-line from season 1. What’s he doing there? Is he spending Tanya’s money? Do the authorities know where to find him?
What’s going to happen? This Sunday, not a lot. We’re still establishing everyone’s weirdness. But looking ahead, things are going to get, um, really weird. Episode 5 is the key. That’s when Goggins has a jaw dropping conversation with a special guest actor. Also, two characters do something incredibly inappropriate (big vibe from a shocking conversation in season 2). Also, we get an eyeful of one actor after having already seen too much of Schwarzenegger’s Saxon. After episode 5, you’re almost afraid of what happens next.
Will also these shenanigans drive up the ratings? It may take a month before audiences kick in for real. But I did laugh out loud when Goggins’ character is delivered that surprising news. And then it felt like the real “White Lotus.”
