Saturday, December 20, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1468

While Sting Readies His New Single, Wife Trudie Styler Makes a Memorable Cameo in “The Night Of”

Roger Friedman
-
0
While Sting Readies His New Single, Wife Trudie Styler Makes a Memorable Cameo in “The Night Of”

Fervent fans of HBO’s amazing “The Night Of” might have wondered who the hot slightly older wealthy blonde was who John Turturro interviewed last Sunday. Her character was the prior wife of the may-be murderer, the physical trainer with an eye for mature wives. Why, that was none other than Trudie Styler, actress-producer-director and wife of rock star Sting.

Styler’s name was in the end credits Sunday night, but the role isn’t even listed on her imdb page. It was a stealth appearance, but a memorable one. Styler went toe to toe with Turturro– literally, as her toes turned out to be quite aggressively fetching!

“The Night Of” isn’t Styler’s only TV appearance this fall. She stars in three episodes of “Falling Water,” a mysterious new series on USA Network. A wearer of many hats, Styler is also the producer of a hot title at the Toronto Film Festival in September– Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey,” which caused a sensation in Cannes this past May. Nothing like keeping busy!

And Sting? He debuts his new single, “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You,” on KROQ in Los Angeles on August 31st. The whole thing will be live streamed to this site from KROQ’s. Who can’t he stop thinking about? You guess.

PS “The Night Of” is the best new series anywhere in a long time. There are only two more episodes– drat. Eventually, the murder will have to be solved. But everyone in it is splendid, from Turturro and Riz Ahmed to the entire supporting cast including Bill Camp, Amara Karan, and Jeannie Berlin, who also steals Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society” this summer.

Ann Coulter’s Trump Book, Priced to Sell, Isn’t Selling So Far

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ann Coulter’s Trump Book, Priced to Sell, Isn’t Selling So Far

ann coulterSurprise! I told you last week that Donald Trump’s latest book isn’t selling and didn’t sell that well when it first was published.

The trend continues.

Two days ago, conservative pundit Ann Coulter released a new book called “In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome!” Sentinel, the conservative imprint at Penguin, is the publisher.

You’d think there would be an immediate reaction in the marketplace– especially if Trump is doing better than the polls suggest. He certainly says he’s doing better.

And “In Trump We Trust” is priced to sell. It’s hard cover, but only $15 on Barnes and Noble.com, and $13 on Amazon.That’s so cheap for a hardcover it’s worth buying as a joke gift.

Anyway, it’s not selling well. The book is number 75 on Amazon, and 139 on Barnes and Noble. If only conservative pundits could just sell their writing as part of a radio call in show. But their followers don’t appear to be big readers.

Report: Music Stars–Not Even Drake–Can’t Make Money from Streaming, If They Make Any Money at All

Roger Friedman
-
0
Report: Music Stars–Not Even Drake–Can’t Make Money from Streaming, If They Make Any Money at All

Gone, gone, gone. Gone are the good old days of music artists making any money from records. (That’s what they were called.)

According to a chart put together by hitsdailydouble.com, rock stars are not making much from streaming. How can you tell?

Last week, a group called The Chainsmokers had the number 1 single. It produced a total of $225,956 in revenue that included downloading and streaming. The streaming part came to $104,634. And that little bit of streaming money was generated by sixteen million streams– 16,246,000 to be exact.

That miniscule $104,634 is just for one week, But their song, “Closer,” won’t be number 1 for long. Plus, think dividing up that money. There are five Chainsmokers, plus Halsey, a hot female singer, who’s featured on the record. The Chainsmokers have a record label, a manager, agents, publicists, etc. The money from “Closer” is already gone.

How about the number 1 song of the summer? Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” has been around since the beginning of June. Last week, its total revenue was $85,163. The streaming part was just $30,046. That’s what Timberlake spent on golf balls last week.

No wonder Adele and Taylor Swift have limited their streaming.

One note: Drake’s biggest hit this week, “One Dance,” had 12, 217,000 streams. But his total revenue was less than Sia, whose “Cheap Thrills” had 7.4 million streams. Drake has been the streaming king of the summer. But he may have made a lot less than if hadn’t limited himself to just one service at the start of the summer. Rihanna also suffering from a botched opening. And Kanye West isn’t even part of this story.

HITS_Daily_Double_Rumor_Mill_-_REVENUE_CHART_SOMETHING_YOU_CAN_BANK_ON_-_2016-08-25_11.23.04

Media Mayhem: The “Lou Grant” of Time Warner Cable, Steve Paulus of NY1, Replaced by Charter Cable

Roger Friedman
-
0
Media Mayhem: The “Lou Grant” of Time Warner Cable, Steve Paulus of NY1, Replaced by Charter Cable

Steve+Paulus+NY1+20th+Anniversary+Celebration+TWOmxgV8BdMlHmmm…neither the New York Times or the NY Post reported this when it happened late last Friday afternoon.

The news: Steve Paulus, founder of New York City’s fabled Time Warner NY1 channel, is out after 25 years. He’ll leave next week after a stunning run building and carrying out the popular local channel.

The reason: Charter Communications bought what is called Time Warner Cable, but no long has anything to do with Time Warner, the company that makes movies, magazines, and CNN. Investors bought the cable company, wrecked it, and then sold it to Charter.

Paulus, whose sister Diane is the award winning Broadway director, is a legend in New York news circles. Dozens of his reporters have graduated to local and network news. And all of his anchors– like Pat Kiernan, Roma Torre, Lewis Dodley– have become local superstars. Movie coverage with Neil Rosen and George Whipple is legendary.

Paulus has made NY1 must-see TV whenever anything big or little is going on in town. It’s where we get reports on local heroes in the outer boroughs, murders, fires, burglaries, the weather, and if the subway is still running.

The NY1 press release says that Paulus is “retiring” and he said in it that he was looking forward to watching the presidential campaign rather than work on it. What? I’ve never heard a news man say that about a national election.

Paulus’s number 2 has taken over day to day operations, but my sources say the chatter at Charter is that the new company’s people are moving in. The staff is wondering what will happen to the channel. It sounds a little like when Lou Grant was let go from WJM. Sad. But maybe now Steve can appear in one of Diane’s productions!

Denzel Washington Is Going to Have a Heck of a Fall Season with “Magnificent 7” and “Fences”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Denzel Washington Is Going to Have a Heck of a Fall Season with “Magnificent 7” and “Fences”

The fall season is about to spring upon us, and a few people will be highlighted.

My money is on Denzel Washington, who has two big hits coming to bookend the season.

Denzel stars in Antoine Fuqua’s “The Magnificent Seven,” opening the Toronto Film Festival on September 8th, and then opening in theatres everywhere on September 23rd.

Washington heads up an all star cast that includes Peter Sarsgaard, Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt, Haley Bennett, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Luke Grimes. The buzz is very strong from early screenings. While some remakes like “Ben Hur” have collapsed at the box office, “M7” looks like a winner.

But wait– there’s more for Denzel. His film adaptation of August Wilson’s “Fences” comes in December. Washington directs himself and Viola Davis in the main roles, with Russell Hornsby. Denzel already knows his way around “Fences,” having staged it himself on Broadway with Viola, who won a Tony Award for Best Actress. “Fences” the movie is an Oscar certainty.

Remember– Viola Davis first came to attention on film when she played the lead character’s drug addicted mother in “Antwone Fisher,” which Washington also directed.

One irony of the Oscar season– Nate Parker, who wrote, directed and stars in “The Birth of a Nation,” is also a Washington graduate. He starred in Denzel’s “The Great Debaters” nine years ago. If the movie can overcome its current problems and head to awards, Washington can also take pride in that accomplishment.

(Watch) Mary J. Blige Sings “World’s Gone Crazy” New Theme from “The View” (Scooped Here)

Roger Friedman
-
0
(Watch) Mary J. Blige Sings “World’s Gone Crazy” New Theme from “The View” (Scooped Here)

I told you last week EXCLUSIVELY that Mary J. Blige had recorded the new theme song for “The View.” The song is called “World’s Gone Crazy,” and it’s written by the great Diane Warren.

Here it is:

Sugar Ray Leonard, 60, Stops the Show at Robert DeNiro Movie Premiere “Hands of Stone”

Paula Schwartz
-
0
Sugar Ray Leonard, 60, Stops the Show at Robert DeNiro Movie Premiere “Hands of Stone”

EXCLUSIVE It was a thrill meeting Sugar Ray Leonard, who at 60 still looks terrific, at Monday’s premiere of “Hands of Stone.” This is the movie about boxer Roberto Duran, starring Edgar Ramirez as Duran, Robert DeNiro as his trainer Ray Arcel and the singing star Usher as Sugar Ray. The movie’s title comes from the boxer’s nickname.

Sugar Ray pulled up his shirt to show me his impressive abs and I took a photograph.

The legendary boxer said when he first heard Usher was going to play him he thought it was a joke. “And then he called me and said, ‘Help me out!’ I was a fan of Usher since he was a kid,” he said. “He had that movement, that music in his head, and for me that’s my thing too, the flow… I tried to emulate Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, Elvis Presley and Bruce Lee.”

robert and grace deniro by paulaAlthough the movie is about Duran, the movie’s anchor is the rivalry between the boxers and their famous three fights. The first fight, June 1980, Duran won on a close decision. In the rematch, only five months later, Duran shocked boxing fans when he quit in the eighth round – the famous “no mas” moment, a remark the boxer later claimed he never made.

I asked Sugar Ray what went on in his head when Duran just waved his hands and quit their famous fight in 1980.

“That moment will never go away, it’s locked in my head forever. I didn’t know. I thought it was a trick. I didn’t believe what was happening. I couldn’t understand, like the press of the world, didn’t know what was going on that day. I couldn’t tell you. We’re friends now.” He whispered to, “ I used to hate that son of a bitch!”

On the red carpet, Usher pulled out his iPhone to show a photograph of Sugar Ray in boxing trunks in his prime, an image that inspired him.

What did he learn about himself playing the role I asked?

“I can actually develop a second layer of act. I know about the sixth act, but I developed an eighth act with this role.”

I showed Usher the photograph of Sugar Ray I just took on the red carpet. “Amazing, and at 60! Isn’t that crazy? At 60 that man is still looking like that! Black don’t crack!” Usher said. laughing, before going into the theater.

Beyoncé and Jay Z were also in the house at the New York premiere  at the SVA Theater, followed by a glamorous party. Ramirez mixed and mingled with everyone. Other guests included DeNiro’s wife Grace, and cast member Ruben Blades.

Earlier in the evening on the red carpet I spoke to director Jonathan Jakubowicz, a Venezuelan Jew, who told me that growing up in Venezuela the Panamian Duran was a hero. (Arcel was Jewish, and Jakubowicz sprinkles the movie with his Yiddishisms.)

“I really wanted to tell that story when I started reading about him, his relationship with Ray Arcel was so unique. Duran is the son of an American marine who abandoned him and his dreams of avenging Americans, yet an American is the one who turns him into a world champ. Also, his rivalry with Sugar Ray is the biggest in the history of the sport and the enigma of ‘no mas’ is the biggest in the history of boxing… I think we finally answered the enigma.”

Jakubowicz told me his next project will also star Ramirez and De Niro. “We had so much fun working together and we want to do it again. It’s based on a true story about an intelligence officer that uncovered the biggest counterfeiting operation in history.”

 

Photo of Sugar Ray c2016 Showbiz411 by Paula Schwartz

Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” Album Is Number 1 on iTunes, But a Mess in All Other Respects

Roger Friedman
-
0
Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” Album Is Number 1 on iTunes, But a Mess in All Other Respects

Frank Ocean released two albums last week– first a visual album called “Endless.” What was that? Who knew? Then on top of it he released “Blonde” which may or not be spelled with an ‘e’ at the end.

“Blonde” went right to number 1 on iTunes, where it sits now. But otherwise, “Blonde” is part of a big mess.

Apparently, “Endless” was created to fulfill Ocean’s contract with Universal Music Group.

Thus freed, Ocean has released “Blonde” on his own Boys Don’t Cry label. That’s easy to do, since “Blonde” is only digital. There is no hard CD. If anyone wants a CD, they’ll have to make it themselves, since Boys Don’t Cry is virtual at the moment.

This is either wrecking the record business or revolutionizing it. But what’s happening in real time is that no tracks from “Blonde” can be purchased separately. It’s all “album only.” So there are no songs from “Blonde” on the iTunes singles chart. That’s because there are no singles. “Blonde” is kind of a mood piece. You can’t really separate out the tracks. It’s all or nothing.

The tracks have no choruses or hooks, either. So they’re not radio friendly. Hence, no radio play. I like “Blonde” but I think if I heard it on the radio in my car, I’d fall asleep. That wouldn’t be good.

Meanwhile, hitsdailydouble says UMG’s Lucian Grainge is laying down the law with Universal artists about all digital drops that bypass the actual record business. Why did it take so long, I wonder? The business is already in a free fall. Now “artists” are just putting out music with no editing, marketing, sales or distribution. The result — look at Kanye’s Pablo debacle– is a big mess. Want to see the business really works? Look at Taylor Swift or Adele for successes. Or even Drake.

People are fighting over what Ocean’s album is– is it good, for example? It’s interesting. It’s not really a full album. It’s noodling and doodling. But I guess no one can tell him that. No one’s brave enough to.

No one listened 20 years ago and they were warned about hip hop sampling old music and not creating anything new for a generation. Now the music you hear in commercials all comes from the original songs. A whole generation of music is missing– it can’t be used, and no one’s really nostalgic for hit. Puff Daddy’s biggest hit was a rework of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” Trust me, as cool as “Blonde” seems this week, it will be forgotten.

For a coherent R&B recording for 2016, try instead Maxwell’s “blackSUMMER’snight 2016.” You’ll see the difference.

Timberlake “Trolls” Soundtrack Features Duet with Gwen Stefani, and Anna Kendrick with Another Cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Timberlake “Trolls” Soundtrack Features Duet with Gwen Stefani, and Anna Kendrick with Another Cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence”

All summer long, Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Fight the Feeling” has been number 1 and ubiquitous on the dance floor. The song comes from the “Trolls” soundtrack, which will release this fall.

Now Timberlake has released the track listing for the “Trolls” CD, and we see a lot of things. First of all, co-star Anna Kendrick is really singing a lot. Anna covers Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence” (which was already revived once this year on the charts by The Disturbed), plus she joins Justin on four tracks. Timberlake has no other solo tracks, but he joins in with the others and has a duet with Gwen Stefani called “What U Workin With?” Also, there’s a remake of Earth Wind and Fire’s “September” with the group plus Justin and Anna. Also it seems like Ariana Grande covers “They Don’t Know,” a hit for Tracey Ullman years ago and for Kirsty McColl. Zooey Deschnanel supplies a song called “Hello,” which hopefully is not an Adele cover.

UPDATE Al Pacino-Judith Light Tennessee Williams Play Will Start in Los Angeles

Roger Friedman
-
0
UPDATE Al Pacino-Judith Light Tennessee Williams Play Will Start in Los Angeles

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE Last week I told you (actually for the second time) that Al Pacino and Judith Light would star on Broadway in “When God Looked Away” about playwright Tennessee Williams.

The play–written by Dotson Rader– workshopped in Los Angeles last week for potential investors and other insiders. By all accounts it went very well. Everyone was convinced that “When God Looked Away” would come to Broadway ASAP.

Not so fast. Now I’m told the play there’s a better chance a Broadway run will be preceded by a run in Los Angeles– hence the location of the workshop.

A source tells me: “Al had such a bad time with reviews in David Mamet’s China Doll last year, he wanted to do a soft opening far from Broadway first.”

Makes sense, I pointed out, but lately reviewers and snarkers report right back from first previews wherever they are, very different than the old days when there was an official opening night. But “When God Looked Away” sounds like it will be Pacino’s comeback in a big way.

1...1,4671,4681,469...2,324Page 1,468 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com