Thursday, December 18, 2025
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Taylor and Travis: Homecoming Couple Go Home Empty Handed After Losing Grammys, Super Bowl

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The Super Bowl is over, and so is football season. The year in music has ended, too.

Our homecoming couple, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, are going home empty handed.

Kansas City Chiefs football star Travis Kelce played no part in his team’s loss tonight to the Philadelphia Eagles. He looked shocked on the bench for most of the game.

Taylor picked up no Grammy Awards last week even though her album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” was the best selling collection of the year.

To make matters worse, Swift was booed at tonight’s game.

But you can’t always win. Every streak must be broken. So we wave goodbye to America’s Sweethearts.

Until next time!

Super Bowl: Trump Backs Losers as Kansas City Chiefs Wiped Out by Philly Eagles 40-22

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Donald Trump backed losers tonight. He was the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl game. He backed the Kansas City Chiefs. And they lost.

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Chiefs 40 – 22. The Chiefs didn’t even score in the first half of the game.

Trump spent about $20 million in travel and security to go to New Orleans. He brought adults children Ivanka and Eric. There was no sign of Trump’s wife, Melania, or their 18 year old son, Barron.

Now what happens? In 2018, when Trump was president, he uninvited the Eagles from coming to the White House after they won that Super Bowl. The players didn’t want to go there.

Will the Eagles be different now? Trump is a proven racist, and has started to implement odious laws. It seems unlikely the Eagles will be swinging by 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Lady Gaga Steals Super Bowl with Rousing “Hold My Hand” Song from “Top Gun Maverick” (Watch)

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Lady Gaga just stole the Super Bowl.

She dropped a an emotional performance video singing “Hold My Hand,” her Top Gun Maverick song, shot on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Dressed in white, Gaga gave a killer moment to launch the Super Bowl despite the corny surroundings with Tom Brady and the ubiquitous Michael Strahan.

Go Gaga! Choice of song was excellent. Maybe “Hold My Hand” will be on her “Mayhem” album. Very smart! This will send a third single into the top 10 tonight!

Hollywood Pariah Mel Gibson is at Aptly Named Mega-Con Taking Pictures with Fans for Up to $300 a Pop

Fave Indie Film “Anora” Leaps to Front of Oscar Race with CCA, DGA, PGA Wins

Report: Lady Gaga Will Cause “Mayhem” Before Super Bowl with Surprise Appearance to Plug Album

Reports from hitsdailydouble.com are coming in that Lady Gaga is going to open the Super Bowl.

She is not playing in the game, and she’s not a ref.

But she’s been seen in New Orleans. And considering the marketing so far, she’s going to cause “Mayhem” on TV and on the field.

Gaga is launching her “Mayhem” album on March 5th. Right now she has two of the top three singles with “Abracadabra” and “Die with a Smile.”

The former is about to break a record. The Super Bowl appearance should do it.

Who’s paying for all this? I would guess, Mastercard. They’re underwriting Gaga this season.

PS If Gaga wants to blow everyone away, include Steve Miller (see below)

Fave Indie Film “Anora” Leaps to Front of Oscar Race with CCA, DGA, PGA Wins

Super Bowl Stats: NFL Czar Roger Goodell Salary Is $63.9 Million, NFL Foundation Has Total Assets of MINUS $15.8 Million

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We’re waiting for the Super Bowl to begin.

So what about the NFL?

The transparency is mostly gone. In order to find out what’s going on, there has to be deep digging.

For example, Roger Goodell, czar of the league, made $63.9 million in 2022 according to reports. He made the same amount the year prior.

Back when the NFL itself was a 501c3, and Goodell’s salary was easily obtained, he was making around $44 million a year. The NFL didn’t like that transparency, so they went private and removed new reporting.

But the salary reports since then come from full time sports reporting at ESPN and other venues.

Goodell will have made $700 million by 2027 during his entire NFL run. No player can say that. Or dream it.

The NFL itself is no longer reporting numbers, but they still have a NFL Foundation. Their total reported assets for 2022-23 — found in their Form 990 tax filing — were MINUS $15.8 million.

In 2022-23, the NFL Foundation reported $61.2 million in total revenue. This was a steep drop from 2021-22, when the total revenue was significantly more — over $72 million.

The fans don’t care while the teams are winning, and the action level is high. But it’s worth noting that as one observer noted, “The NFL is run like the Mafia.”

PS I’m rooting for the Eagles!

Fave Indie Film “Anora” Leaps to Front of Oscar Race with CCA, DGA, PGA Wins

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Little Neon Pictures suddenly has the lead in the Oscar race.

Sean Baker’s indie creation, “Anora,” on Saturday night picked up prizes from the Directors Guild and the Producers Guild.

On Friday night, “Anora” won Best Drama at the Critics Choice Awards.

As Oscar ballots go out Tuesday, “Anora” is suddenly in the lead for Best Picture. Baker is in the front of the line for Best Director. Star Mikey Madison — who had the lead in the Best Actress race early in the season – is back in position to surprise everyone.

“Anora” is a wild romp through the wilds of Brooklyn’s strip clubs and the world of Russian oligarchs. It’s a wholly rounded and satisfying film that may overtake “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Wicked,” “Emilia Perez,” and the other nominated Best Films.

Usually we would also know the winners of the Screen Actors Guild awards before Oscar voting begins. But this year SAG doesnt come until February 23rd, after Oscar ballots are returned. We may learn something from the SAG winners, but they won’t influence the vote. These three — CCA, DGA, and PGA — are now the bellwethers of this season.

If “Anora” does eventually win the Academy Award for Best Picture, no one can be unhappy. It’s a lot of fun, really well made, totally original. Baker has paid his dues with terrific films leading to this moment. And Neon is more than worthy.

Hollywood Pariah Mel Gibson is at Aptly Named Mega-Con Taking Pictures with Fans for Up to $300 a Pop

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The aptly named Mega-Con is going on right now in Orlando, Florida.

This is one of these conventions where fifty or so celebrities — mostly has-beens or never-was’s — sign autographs and take pictures with fans for a fee.

It used to be that big stars didn’t go to these events. For some reason, actual A listers like Jude Law, Ron Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard are all down there this time. Yikes. They must have enough money!

But this time there’s also Hollywood pariah Mel Gibson, charging $259 for a photo and $299 for a “premium experience.” The latter may be where he calls you “Sugar Tits” and reminds the fans of all his antisemitic comments. Maybe he teaches his Holocaust denial.

Gibson — named Ambassador to Hollywood by Donald Trump– charges even more — $356 — for a picture with actor Danny Glover, his co-star in the “Lethal Weapon” movies. Let’s hope it’s a 50/50 split, but you never know. Very sad.

Priscilla Presley, cut off from Elvis’s estate by granddaughter Riley Keogh, gets $106 per shot. She and Mel posed for a picture with Danny Glover I found on Instagram. Now, that’s a collector’s item!

It’s not only old timers doing the Mega Con. “The Juror” star Nicholas Hoult and “Stranger Things” newcomer Joseph Quinn are wearing their cash belts, too. Hoult charges $106 for a photo, and $186 for picture with the guy who played Lex Luthor on TV. Quinn’s price is $117.15 by himself, and $218.33 with Jamie Bower, who plays Vecna on “Stranger Things.”

How about Jude Law? $170.40 for a picture, and $400 bloody dollars with the cast of “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.”

Saddest story: pictures with the cast of “The Breakfast Club.” Judd Nelson submitted a picture that makes him look like a lost mountain man. You can have your shot with him for just $85.20. With Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, and Anthony Michael Hall for $323.84.

As for Ron and Bryce Dallas Howard, I’m a little disappointed they’re involved in this mishegos. But they may be doing it for “Happy Days” stars Donnie Most and Anson Williams, and for Ron’s brother, cult movie star Clint Howard.

But Andy Serkis, who has to very rich from “Lord of the Rings”: does he really need $117.15 for photos? Same for Hank Azaria, from “The Simpsons.”

What a group? That’s not counting about a dozen or so “celebrities” no one has ever heard of.

Weren’t Flipper or Lassie available? What about Kato Kaelin? Or Luigi, who assassinated the United Healthcare exec? Certainly he must have been available? Indeed, a better Mega Con would be paroled or exonerated criminals, people like Luigi or Amanda Knox. I’d definitely pony up for that convention!

JFK Grandson Jack Schlossberg Exits Social Media After Wild Ride: “I’m sorry to everyone I hurt”

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Caroline Kennedy has enough problems lately with her cousin, RFK Jr, and Trump’s take over of the Kennedy Center.

She also lost her job as Ambassador to Australia, which may be a good thing.

On Thursday her son, Jack Schlossberg, retreated from all social media after a wild, out of control ride that ranged from serious to absurd and was more often embarrassing.

For over a year, Schlossberg posted — mostly to Instagram — ridiculous videos that demonstrated he had no career or job. He was appropriately critical of Trump, but also mixed in non sequitur musical and comedy numbers.

But once the election was over, Schlossberg lost it. Schlossberg was also complaining in videos about a romantic break up. He made odd videos targeting Usha Vance and Megyn Kelly, without prompting.

His attacks on his conspiracy theory anti-vaccine cousin, RFK Jr, became intensified. Out of nowhere, he began publicly chiding other cousins for not speaking out against RFK Jr.

That may have been the last straw.

Not all of it has been washed from the internet. A lot of it, in fact, still exists no doubt to the chagrin of family and friends. He wrote on Thursday: “I’m so sorry to everyone i hurt. I was wrong. I’m deleting all my social media. Forever. It’s been fun. Thanks anyways everyone.”

Unlike Kanye West, none of Schlossberg’s posts were hurtful or mean. They were amusing, like those of a drunk uncle. He’s obviously talented and bright. He was very good at accents. At one point, Anna Wintour liked his posts so much she made him a special guest poster, or something. That ended very quickly.

The world is very intense right now. It’s hard to process the craziness. Hopefully he’ll get some help, and write a book about all of it. That would be a best seller!

The Kennedy Center Rebuffs Donald Trump Hostile Take Over: “We Are a Unique Private-Public Partnership”

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The Kennedy Center has released a statement after President Donald J. Trump announced that he would install himself as Chairman of the board and dismiss some of the current board members. He declared that he’d already replaced David Rubenstein, longtime leader of the Kennedy Center.

Trump wrote in part: “I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”

It’s unclear if Trump’s declaration of madness will stand up.

The Center said, “Throughout our history, the Kennedy Center has enjoyed strong support from members of Congress and their staffs—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Since our doors opened in 1971, we have had a collaborative relationship with every presidential administration. Since that time, the Kennedy Center has had a bi-partisan board of trustees that has supported the arts in a non-partisan fashion.”

It added, “While we are a living memorial to President Kennedy, we are also a unique public-private partnership. The Center is supported by federal annual appropriations for the upkeep and maintenance of the building as a federal memorial, or approximately 16% of the total operating budget. Support for the Center’s artistic programming comes from ticket sales, donations, rental income, and other revenue sources. The Kennedy Center is aware of the post made recently by POTUS on social media. We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees. We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.”

The statement concluded, “Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.”

Trump has no cultural vision. He has no interest in the arts. This is just spite. If he thinks a right wing Kennedy Center Honors, with D level musicians who support him, will work, he’s wrong. But he doesn’t care. Destruction and mayhem are his only goals.

RIP Beloved Actor Tony Roberts, Foil for Woody Allen in Many Films Including “Annie Hall” and “Play It Again, Sam”

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Tony Roberts has died. He was 85 and had been sick for many years.

It’s very hard to write an obit for Tony, who I met decades ago. He was famous for being the foil for Woody Allen’s characters in many famous films including “Annie Hall” and “Play it Again, Sam.” Woody was always the shlub, and Tony was the good looking, suave pal. Together they made a memorable team.

Tony’s career went beyond Woody’s projects. He starred in a stunning 24 — twenty four — plays and musicals on Broadway including Woody’s “Play it Again, Sam” and “Don’t Drink the Water,” plus “Victor/Victoria,” “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” and “How Now Dow Jones.” He received two Tony Award nominations.

Tony also had a long list of film and TV credits that included three more Woody Allen movies — “Stardust Memories,” “Radio Says,” and “Stardust Memories” He had a memorable turn in Sidney Lumet’s “Serpico” and in the TV version of Alan Alda’s “The Four Seasons.”

One day in maybe 1983, Tony took the bike next to me at the old Sports Training Institute on East 49th St. We were on the same schedule, and go to know each other. I was very honored. Years later, I would see him in Elaine’s when he was starring on Broadway with Julie Andrews in “Victor, Victoria.” When Julie left, Raquel Welch came in and was, well, a diva. Tony entertained us many nights with backstage stories. He was always the gentleman, but it was an eye opening experience.

A really bright light has gone out in the firmament of New York actors, the real thing. Condolences to his daughter, and family, and friends like Woody Allen and Diane Keaton. Tony was certainly famous for “Annie Hall” See below. But I loved him from “Play It Again, Sam,” long before cell phones, checking in with his answering service every five minutes.