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“Michael” Movie Eyeing $12.5 Mil in Previews Despite Being a Concert Film, Not a Biopic: Audience Accepts Him Like Trump

Roger Friedman
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“Michael” Movie Eyeing $12.5 Mil in Previews Despite Being a Concert Film, Not a Biopic: Audience Accepts Him Like Trump

The Michael Jackson movie exploded at the box office yesterday.

Projections are a preview night of around $12.5 million.

It turns out the audience doesn’t care about the movie’s insufficiency, like it’s not really a movie. They just want to dance.

Forget about talk of trials or child molestation. The audience doesn’t care. Even if they think they’re a chance Michael was guilty of something, they won’t stop til they get enough.

Last night, the audiences in different theaters were dressed like Michael, and/or they danced in front of movie screens. It looked a little like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, with audience participation.

No one compartmentalizes like Michael Jackson fans. Who does that remind of us of? Donald Trump, of course. He can call Mexicans rapists and drug addicts, make fun of poor people, and so on and still have fervent followers who leave the rest of us with heads shaking.

It also doesn’t seem to matter that “Michael” is not a good movie. It’s a recreation of an accepted story that’s been told over and over for 60 years without any substance. The audience doesn’t care if almost nothing in the move really happened. They’ve always liked this settled version of the story. Do they learn anything about any of the people? No. Again, this isn’t a dramatic narrative. It’s a concert movie.

So maybe we should stop calling “Michael” a biopic. It has the largest opening for any concert film.

Meantime, the “Thriller” CD is number 2 on amazon. Both “Off the Wall” and “Bad” are in the top 25. The only laggard is the movie’s soundtrack, hanging back at number 300.

This morning, Sony and the Estate are releasing a new video for “Human Nature,” a sleeper track from “Thriller,” so the Jackson fans can manipulate it up the charts.

Vanity Fair’s Famous Former Editor Graydon Carter Will Upstage Newbies with A List Cannes Party Partner Anthropic (Claude)

Roger Friedman
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Vanity Fair’s Famous Former Editor Graydon Carter Will Upstage Newbies with A List Cannes Party Partner Anthropic (Claude)

A couple of years ago, when he was still running AirMail, Graydon Carter got the best of Vanity Fair.

The famous former editor of VF staged a party in Cannes with Warner Bros, the studio’s 100th anniversary.

Using the fabulous Hotel DuCap Eden Roc in Antibes, Carter upstaged Vanity Fair, getting a better list of guests.

Now Carter will do it again. The Hollywood Reporter reports that Carter will join with Anthropic, the AI home of Claude, another blowout at the Eden Roc.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is the man of the moment. His Claude AI has usurped Sam Altman’s Chat GPT, making inroads everywhere very quickly. Carter plus Amodei should equal a bonanza. If they have the party on the right night, they’ll get celebs like Barbra Streisand, Julianne Moore, Demi Moore, Jacob Elordi, the whole L’Oreal crowd of famous actresses, and so on. The big American cast of James Gray’s “Paper Tiger” — should be sensational with Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Miles Teller. Heads will be swiveling left and right.

For Graydon, an annual Cannes party makes sense. He lives in the South of France already. He’s already made his mark!

More AI Fake Songs, Singers Hit iTunes Chart: This Week 10 Positions Occupied by Content Creator Infiltrating Top 100

Roger Friedman
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More AI Fake Songs, Singers Hit iTunes Chart: This Week 10 Positions Occupied by Content Creator Infiltrating Top 100

AI music and fake artists continue to flood the iTunes Top 100.

Currently 10 chart positions are occupied by an AI content creator who continues to infiltrate the system.

Three of them are by something called Soul Archive Room, three more from Eddie Dalton, two from Inga Rose, one from Blu Monroe, another from Benny Rivers.

They’re all fake. They also have a similar signature which makes them look like they’re coming from Dallas Little’s Crunchy Records in Greenville, South Carolina.

So far, iTunes has done nothing to combat AI music taking chart spots from real artists. The “songs” don’t appear on Spotify charts, although they’re uploaded to that system for streaming.

SoulArchiveRoom.com has its own YouTube channel and a website (on which the word ‘accessibility’ is misspelled), where new fake music is being pumped out every day.

Robots are here, kids!

Here’s an example of one of the songs on iTunes. It has 14,200 subscribers.

Janet Jackson Living Her Best Life as “Michael” Movie Opens: Posting Happy Photo, Mysterious Messages About Loyalty, Truth

Roger Friedman
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Janet Jackson Living Her Best Life as “Michael” Movie Opens: Posting Happy Photo, Mysterious Messages About Loyalty, Truth

Janet Jackson would not allow herself to be portrayed in the movie about her brother.

There’s no mention of Michael Jackson’s little sister in “Michael.” According to reports, Janet went to a screening and had a lot of notes for the director.

Janet doesn’t like the movie, and is letting us know on social media.

Today she posted a picture of herself looking very happy and relaxed with a big smile and a heart emoji.

In the last week she’s also posted messages as her way of communicating with fans.

In one she wrote: “Loyalty is not about who acts true to your face. It’s about who remains true to your back.”

The one person whom Janet might find most disloyal is her old friend, John McClain, co-executor of Michael’s estate and a producer of the movie. McClain was Janet’s friend originally, and helped shape her recording career at A&M Records with the “Control” album. Janet may be asking him, “What have you done for me lately?”

Liza Minnelli Getting Star Studded 80th Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Hall — That She’s Writing — With Everyone on Broadway

Roger Friedman
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Liza Minnelli Getting Star Studded 80th Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Hall — That She’s Writing — With Everyone on Broadway

EGOT* winner Liza Minnelli is getting an all star 80th birthday tribute in June. (*She has an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. One of the few.)

The show at Carnegie Hall on June 2th features dozens of Broadway stars singing and dancing, as well as actors like Candice Bergen and Jim Parsons on stage.

And Liza is co-writing the script with Hannah Oren, of the Transport Group.

“Liza! at 80” will be directed by Transport Group Artistic Director Jack Cummings III, a five-time Drama Desk Award nominee and two-time Obie Award winner.

This all comes on the heels of Liza’s best selling memoir, “Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!” Tickets to the Carnegie Hall show include a copy of the book.

The cast is huge, and as follows. Strangely two of Liza’s best pals, Michael Feinstein and Billy Stritch, are absent from the list so far.

Look at this group! Kate Baldwin (two-time Tony nominee, Hello, Dolly!, Finian’s Rainbow), Lauren Blackman (Ragtime, Hugh Jackman: From New York, With Love), Mario Cantone (Tony nominee, Laugh Whore, Assassins, Sex and the City), Kristin Chenoweth (Tony winner, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Wicked), Nikki Renée Daniels (Once Upon a Mattress, Company), Dez Deron (Maybe Happy Ending, The Voice), Claybourne Elder (The Wild Party, Company), Andrew Barth Feldman (Dear Evan Hansen, No Hard Feelings), Katie Finneran (two-time Tony winner, Promises, Promises, Noises Off), Robyn Hurder (Tony nominee, Moulin Rouge!), Beth Leavel (Tony winner, The Drowsy Chaperone), Bonnie Milligan (Tony Winner, Kimberly Akimbo), Donna Murphy (two-time Tony winner, Passion, The King and I), Lauren Patten (Tony winner, Jagged Little Pill), Khori Petinaud (Just in Time, Dancin’), Andrew Rannells (Grammy winner, two-time Tony nominee, The Book of Mormon, Falsettos), Helen J. Shen (Grammy nominee, Drama Desk nominee, Maybe Happy Ending), Elizabeth Stanley (Tony nominee, Jagged Little Pill), Alysha Umphress (On the Town, Bring it On), Marisha Wallace (Olivier Award nominee, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret), and Natalie Weiss (American Idol, Breaking Down The Riffs). Guest speakers will include Candice Bergen (five-time Emmy winner, Academy Award nominee), Jim Caruso (Liza’s At The Palace!, seven-time MAC Award winner), Kathy Griffin (two-time Emmy winner, Grammy winner), Julie Halston (Special Tony Award recipient, four-time Drama Desk nominee, Sex and The City), Isaac Mizrahi (Drama Desk winner, Chicago (Amos), The Women (costumes), The Threepenny Opera (costumes)), and Susan Stroman (five-time Tony winner, two-time Olivier Award winner, American Theatre Hall of Fame).

Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 23 at 11:00 a.m. and may be purchased by phoning Carnegie Hall (212) 247-7800, visiting carnegiehall.org, or at the Carnegie Hall box office on 57 Street and Seventh Avenue.

Michael Jackson Movie Cut Actress Kat Graham’s Scenes as Diana Ross, She Says: “Certain Legal Considerations Affected Scenes”

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson Movie Cut Actress Kat Graham’s Scenes as Diana Ross, She Says: “Certain Legal Considerations Affected Scenes”

Actress Kat Graham says she was cut from “Michael,” the Michael Jackson movie.

Graham was announced long ago to play Diana Ross, Michael’s close friend and confidante.

But Graham says “legal considerations affected some of the scenes.”

She doesn’t give a reason but possibly Ross, like Janet Jackson, didn’t give her approval be included in the film.

The other reason might be that Ross was in scenes defending Michael during his 1993-96 period of accusations of child molestation from the family of Jordan Chandler. Their settlement prohibited their story from being depicted in a film — something the Estate only realized after scenes had been shot.

Actor Kevin Shinick was also cut from the movie after filming scenes playing Dick Clark.

“Michael” opens in previews today, and Lions Gate is predicting a massive weekend turnout. They want it to be record setting. This is despite very negative reviews, and no endorsement from Michael’s daughter, Paris. She’s actually criticized the movie.

Quite a bit of “Michael” was cut in the end, and left on the editing room floor (so to speak). The result is that the movie has no real third act. It just sort of ends in 1988 after the release of the “Bad” album.

As I wrote in my review this week, there are numerous factual errors in the film. Some are about the people who helped Michael with his career, from manager Frank DiLeo to choreographers and directors. The Jackson brothers don’t even have lines or actual characterizations — they’re shadows.

There are also issues of just plain facts. A note buried at the end of the credits acknowledges that the song “Never Can Say Goodbye” is performed three years before it was released — something that either happened in editing or it was a mistake.

Harry Styles MSG Show Tickets Were Scooped Up by Scalpers, Ticketmaster Says They’re Going to Re-sell Them at a Normal Price

Roger Friedman
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Harry Styles MSG Show Tickets Were Scooped Up by Scalpers, Ticketmaster Says They’re Going to Re-sell Them at a Normal Price

Since they went on sale, tickets for Harry Styles’ Madison Square Garden shows were sold out.

That’s what it read on the website. If you wanted Harry Styles tickets you had to go to resellers who charged a fortune.

Now Ticketmaster — frightened after the court ruling against them and Live Nation — is stepping in.

They say they’re getting all those tickets back and will re-sell them directly at a normal price beginning April 30th.

They say on Twitter:
“We caught scalpers with tickets, took action and we are working with Harry and his team to get them back to fans at the original price.

“Fans can request tickets April 30 at 12pm EDT – May 1 at 5pm EDT. Anyone can request tickets but fans who don’t yet have tickets to the NYC shos will be prioritized. Once you’ve submitted your request, look out for an email summarizing your request details.

“If your request can be fulfilled, you’ll receive a second email by May 8 at 11:59pm EDT confirming your requested tickets.”

If none of this makes sense, go to Twitter or X.com and follow @ticketmaster or read below.

Watch the Trailer for “Coyote vs. Acme,” Dropped by Warner Bros. But Finally Being Released At the End of This Summer

Roger Friedman
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Watch the Trailer for “Coyote vs. Acme,” Dropped by Warner Bros. But Finally Being Released At the End of This Summer

Will Forte, John Cena, and some clever Looney Tunes animation star in “Coyote v Acme,” coming at the end of this summer.

Warner Bros., the long time home of Looney Tunes, didn’t want the movie and cancelled it. Eventually it was picked up by Ketchup Entertainment, which is oozing with excitement.

Looney Tunes star Wile E. Coyote is at the center of the action in this live and animated film. Look for Bugs Bunny at the very end of the trailer. I wish they’d release this now — why do we have to wait?

Kanye’s “Bully” Pummeled This Week With Disastrous Sales Figure of 826 Downloads and CDs As Interest in Racist Peters Out

Roger Friedman
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Kanye’s “Bully” Pummeled This Week With Disastrous Sales Figure of 826 Downloads and CDs As Interest in Racist Peters Out

It’s pretty much over for Kanye West’s new album.

“Bully” has been pummeled as reality has set in and interest peters out in the racist, antisemitic rapper.

The album has been squished despite efforts by its record label, Gamma, to try and explain why it even exists.

Total sales this week will total a shocking 826 in CD and downloads.

Counting in streaming, the total is an alarming 14,000.

Total sales including all formats is 315K. The physical number is 73,000.

Kanye should have to pay Gamma back for any advances and expenses, frankly. They’ve lost money and reputation. But it was their own fault for signing him in the first place.

The rapper has also been cut off from performing in many locations, including the UK, Australia, France, Switzerland, and Poland.

Kanye a a year ago released a song called “Heil Hitler.” He sold t shirts with swastikas. Over the years he doubled down on his love of Hitler and hatred of Jews. He called himself a Nazi. Then, when he was running out of money, he took an ad in the Wall Street Journal claiming that a 2002 head injury made him so hateful.

Sorry, Ye. No one’s buying it.

Michael Jackson Movie “Michael” Killed by Critics, Slapped with 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 38 on Metacritic: Will It Matter?

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson Movie “Michael” Killed by Critics, Slapped with 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 38 on Metacritic: Will It Matter?

I’m not looking for “Michael,” the Michael Jackson movie, to be a bust at the box office.

I went into it hoping for the best despite the many strikes it had against it. But the “MJ Musical” on Broadway had managed to sidestep controversy and became an international hit. Why not the movie?

But “Michael” is a hollow movie because on the big screen, the plausibility disappears. Who was Michael? Who were all these people around him? The movie provides a mystery shrouded in an enigma and has no answers, just a lot of good music and dancing.

The reviews are terrible. A 32 rating right now on Rotten Tomatoes. A 38 on Metacritic. Will it matter? I think so. After the first flush of Michael Jackson fans rush in on Thursday night and Friday I do think reality is going to hit the box office. The only way for this movie to have legs is for raves to support it. Publicity won’t do it. Too many people have an opinion about Michael Jackson to override bad reviews.

I’ve filed my review, and given “Michael” a splat on Rotten Tomatoes. The super fans are unhappy. Michael’s devoted nephew Taj has written on Twitter: “Sorry media, u don’t get to control the narrative anymore of who Michael Jackson truly was. The public gets to watch this movie…they will decide for themselves. And you can’t handle that.”

He adds: “Can’t wait till some critics have to eat crow. And yes I will be that petty.”

He could be right. The crows are definitely circling. Where they will land over the weekend is anyone’s guess. But he should know, “Michael” is not a good movie. On its own terms, it fails.

By the way, right now at least the soundtrack CD is not selling. It’s around number 450 on amazon.com. “Thriller” is at number 2, but that’s “Thriller.” It stands on its own without the movie. Stay tuned…

Review: “Michael,” Michael Jackson’s Real Life Nephew Wows the Audience with Singing and Dancing But It’s Fact Free and Devoid of Any Depth

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