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“Independence Day: Resurgence” Finally Hits $100 Million After 27 Days in Release

Roger Friedman
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“Independence Day: Resurgence” Finally Hits $100 Million After 27 Days in Release

There should have been a fanfare on the Fox lot on Wednesday.

That’s when “Independence Day: Resurgence” crossed the $100 million mark at the US box office. It only took 27 days. Twenty seven long days.

The original “Independence Day” hit $100 million on its 6th day in 1996. On its 27th day, “ID4” was at $224 million US.

Luckily, overseas, “IDR” has made $243 million. Most of that came from China– $73 million. If the Chinese can get to the theater and get home without losing any human rights, they’re happy. They like seeing aliens get it. The plot or lack of character development is not a major concern.

So will there be another “Independence Day”? Hopefully not. Maybe just one in Chinese.

Disney May Have Pulled the Plug on Reality Star Ben Higgins’ Political Run in Colorado

Roger Friedman
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Disney May Have Pulled the Plug on Reality Star Ben Higgins’ Political Run in Colorado

It seemed ridiculous but no more ridiculous than anything else right now: Ben Higgins, 26 year old star of last season’s “The Bachelor,” filed to run for the state senate in Colorado. Higgins, unsurprisingly, is a Republican.

But yesterday came an announcement that Higgins was dropping his candidacy a couple of days after he announced. The statement came not from Higgins, but from Disney, which owns “The Bachelor” and is launching Higgins his fiancee in a new reality show this fall on its cable channel called Freeform.

For some reason, both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter omitted the fact that Disney sent out the statement. But the Denver Post’s Tracy Cook got it. Her sources told her: “[Disney] got very squeamish about the politics, especially with Ben being a Republican. The ultimatum that was given to Ben was ‘If you run, we will take you out of The Bachelor franchise.’ ”

And this does make sense. Disney chairman Bob Iger is a huge Hillary Clinton supporter and big Democratic fundraiser. He’s co-hosting a mega Hollywood fundraiser for Clinton on August 22nd. The idea of Higgins and Donald Trump igniting a reality TV PR campaign on ABC must have sent shivers down the spin of everyone at the company.

(Considering Colorado’s drug laws, Iger when he heard about Higgins must have said, “What’s he smoking?”)

In the end, Higgins chose show business over politics. But my guess is, if he goes through with his wedding to his reality fiancee, Lauren Bushnell, and they produce happy little babies, Higgins will be back soon enough.

Here is statement, issued by Disney’s Caitlyn Johnson:

It has been reported that Ben Higgins is running for public office in Colorado. He explored the idea and decided not to run. Here is his statement:

“I regret that I must withdraw my candidacy. Despite my best efforts to pursue this opportunity in good faith, I recently received information that has made such a pursuit unworkable. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to move forward as a candidate. I find solace in knowing that our intentions and actions have been fair and sincere. I entered into this endeavor wanting to bring positive change to my community, and it is with that same spirit that I will move forward, albeit on a different path.” — Ben Higgins

Billy Crystal Down Under Gives Inspirational Speech to Russell Crowe’s Rugby Team

Roger Friedman
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Billy Crystal Down Under Gives Inspirational Speech to Russell Crowe’s Rugby Team

Billy Crystal is a known quantity here in the US and we love him. And you know he’s a big baseball fan, particularly a Yankee fan.

In Australia this month on a huge tour that also includes New Zealand, Billy used his love of sports to help Russell Crowe. At dinner with Crowe and his rugby team The Rabbitohs, Billy wound up giving them an inspirational speech about winning that would make even Casey Stengel proud.

Crystal– who everyone would like to see back hosting the Oscars– has sold out his tour Down Under. He’s also gotten incredible reviews and the folks there are loving since Billy hasn’t been to see them since touring “700 Sundays” in 2007.

In Brisbane, the reviewer Roger Hall wrote: “The American comedian’s warm, hilarious show is the best thing I’ve seen this year and this is one bloke who deserved the standing ovation he got in the Concert Hall at QPAC.”

Billy’s just finished touring New Zealand to raves, then heads back to Australia (he already conquered Sydney) on Sunday for six shows in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne. You know he must love it there if he’s missing a huge chunk of the baseball pennant races that are developing!

Crystal starts work on the animated “Which Witch?” feature directed by Brian Henson and produced by Brian’s sister Lisa (they’re the successful children of the late Jim Henson) this fall.

Come home soon, Billy!

Worst Week Ever? Pop Charts 325,000 Total for Top 20 as No Big Name Releases Kill Summer

Roger Friedman
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Worst Week Ever? Pop Charts 325,000 Total for Top 20 as No Big Name Releases Kill Summer

The pop charts are dead.

Is there a song of the summer of 2016? Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” sort of was headed in that direction. But it’s unclear if it held on long enough.

Otherwise, this week’s total sales of Top 20 CDs and digital downloads came to 325,000. That’s the whole top 20. Need to Breathe’s “Hard Love” album notched just under 45,000 to be number 1. That is a truly awful number 1.

The number 50 album, by Switchfoot, sold 4000 copies.

Blake Shelton’s newest album was number 14 and sold just 10,000 copies. After that, from number 15 down to 50, it’s all less than 10,000 copies for everyone.

Streaming added a little but not a lot to the equation. For example, Drake sold 16,562 CDs and downloads. If you add in streaming, he gets up to 87,567. But Drake is the EXCEPTION. And for some reason, his audience doesn’t care about owning his music.

There are no big name releases scheduled between now and August 29th, when 70 year old Barbra Streisand has an album of duets with odd ball non singers. September looks pretty bleak too. I know of one big single by a Rock Star coming on September 2nd that will surprise everyone. But otherwise, it’s slim pickens.

Have the record companies just given up? Feels like it. We need a real surprise album drop fast. But who could it be? The only superstars are over 50, and even they get one big week during release. This is a broken business.

The Rolling Stones Tweet: “We Do Not Endorse Donald Trump,” Song Was Used without Permission

Roger Friedman
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The Rolling Stones Tweet: “We Do Not Endorse Donald Trump,” Song Was Used without Permission

The Rolling Stones have spoken, joining Paul Rodgers and Free, and George Harrison’s heirs, and Queen, and just about every rock group whose song has been used by Donald Trump in his campaign.

Last night at the end of the convention, the RNC blared the Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” over the loudspeaker in Quicken Loans Arena (what name!). You know, I thought Trump chose it, but that doesn’t make sense. The title sounds more like something from the RNC itself to the delegates who didn’t want Trump.

Anyway, it was just another violation of copyright.

Leonardo DiCaprio NEW Money Scandal: Swiss Bank Sponsor of St. Tropez Party Fined $547 Million For Tax Evasion, Fraud by U.S. Government

Roger Friedman
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Leonardo DiCaprio NEW Money Scandal: Swiss Bank Sponsor of St. Tropez Party Fined $547 Million For Tax Evasion, Fraud by U.S. Government

EXCLUSIVE You may be reading about the lavish over the top party Leonardo DiCaprio threw in St. Tropez this week. Lots of stars came, and Leo made a big deal about donating millions to environmental causes– even though his Foundation does not file any paperwork and has no transparency.

But wait– the sponsor of the night was Swiss banking firm Julius Baer. They’re very private and handle only very discreet, exclusive customers.

In February of this year, Julius Baer was fined $547 million by the Department of Justice--” charged with conspiring with many of its U.S. taxpayer-clients and others to help U.S. taxpayers hide billions of dollars in offshore accounts from the United States Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and to evade U.S. taxes on the income earned in those accounts.”

It’s not enough that DiCaprio is already involved in the federal investigation into the financing of his movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” by Red Granite Productions, a Malaysian film company up to its eyeballs in trouble. Or that two of Leo’s former BFF’s– the late Dana Giacchetto and art dealer — spent time in federal prison for fraud and racketeering.

No, no. Julius Baer’s prosecution by the United States Attorney General is fascinating. Two of Julius Baer’s bankers Daniela Cadadei and Fabio Frazzetto, pleaded guilty to “conspiring with U.S. taxpayer-clients and others to help U.S. taxpayers hide their assets in offshore accounts and to evade U.S. taxes on the income earned in those accounts.”

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement: “Bank Julius Baer not only turned a blind eye to tax avoiders, but actually conspired with them to break the law.  Together with our partners at the IRS, we will continue to prosecute financial institutions and individuals who facilitate tax evasion.”

But Leo is seen in hand out photos from the event this week with Bono and other celebrities who probably have no idea what Julius Baer is or what they’ve done against the law.

Other guests included Tobey Maguire, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Prince Albert of Monaco, and Kate Hudson. There were performances by Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd.

More to come…read all today’s top stories click here…..

Trump Campaign Flouts Copyright Laws, Uses Ton of Unauthorized Music at Convention Without Permission

Roger Friedman
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Trump Campaign Flouts Copyright Laws, Uses Ton of Unauthorized Music at Convention Without Permission

Donald Trump and the RNC are using a ton of music tonight without permission. They used Free’s All Right Now, written by Paul Rodgers tonight. But they also used it three days ago and were warned by Rodgers on Twitter.

Also being used is the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” I’m sure we will hear from the Rolling Stones and ABKCO shortly.

George Harrison’s Estate Denounces Trump Use of “Here Comes the Sun” at Convention

Roger Friedman
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George Harrison’s Estate Denounces Trump Use of “Here Comes the Sun” at Convention

George Harrison’s estate has denounced the Trump campaign for using “Here Comes the Sun” when Ivanka Trump walked out on stage tonight. Don’t cross the Beatles, Donald. You’ve gone too far. “If it had been Beware of Darkness, we might have approved it!” the Harrison estate Tweeted as a clever rejoinder.

Rupert Murdoch, 85 and Out of It, Will Take Over Running Fox News– Ailes Has No Successor

Roger Friedman
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Rupert Murdoch, 85 and Out of It, Will Take Over Running Fox News– Ailes Has No Successor

And so Rupert Murdoch is back.

At 85 years old and newly married (for the third time), Murdoch will take over running Fox News and Fox Business as Roger Ailes is pushed out.

Murdoch has been on vacation since he married Jerry Hall on March 4th. He Tweeted on that day that he would Tweet no more, and hasn’t.

Instead he’s been enjoying whatever satisfactions an 85 year old can.

Now he will oversee Bill Shine, Jay Wallace, and Mark Kranz, who will all compete for Ailes’s job and none will get it. Murdoch and his sons, who hated Ailes, will comb the world for a Big Name to take over.

This is in the summer before a presidential election.

The only upside might be that Jerry Hall would come to New York. Everyone likes her. But she probably spends the summer in an exotic locale, and not at 1211 Sixth Avenue.

Lachlan Murdoch gets his revenge for Ailes taking away running the TV stations. Megyn Kelly gets hers for Ailes’ perceived lack of support during the Trump fight last winter. Trump gets his revenge for Ailes slighting him at every turn. A number of female reporters and staff are probably thrilled.

An ignominious end, to be sure.

Roger Ailes Officially Resigns from Fox News, Here’s the Full Fox Memo and Ailes’s Letter

Roger Friedman
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Roger Ailes Officially Resigns from Fox News, Here’s the Full Fox Memo and Ailes’s Letter

And Drudge has Ailes’s letter of resignation

fox statement

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