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RNC: Rules Committee “Disruption” from “Dump Trump” Faction Beginning at 1pm

Roger Friedman
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RNC: Rules Committee “Disruption” from “Dump Trump” Faction Beginning at 1pm

The Republican National Convention starts today at 1pm and things should be pretty entertaining from the moment the gavel drops.

The “Dump Trump” movement among the delegates is picking up steam as the vote on the party platform nears. Still up for major debate– the binding of the delegates. Will they be able to vote for whomever they want?

The #FreetheDelegates campaign continues. A source close to the Delegates Unbound effort suggests that “if the delegates are able to turn this from a scripted televised event to an actual convention they’ll be on the way to eliminate Donald Trump as the candidate.”

Now that would be show business!

from the FreetheDelegates website, a letter to Rance Preibus:

As Republicans, we are devoted to the pillars of conservatism that have made America great. For generations, we have worked to build a party that embodies the American dream.

That’s how the GOP became the party of freedom, prosperity, and opportunity.

It was the GOP that fought to abolish slavery, and was the GOP that championed women’s suffrage. Today, it is the GOP that works for stronger families and stronger communities for a strong and prosperous America.

Many of our country’s greatest leaders were, and are, members of the GOP — we are the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower, and Reagan.

But today, we are saddled with a presidential candidate who holds none of the qualities of our party’s greatest leaders.

He lacks common decency, respect of the Constitution, and the temperament of someone fit to be Commander-in-Chief.

That is why we cannot, in good conscience, support Donald Trump for President of the United States. We are standing firm for the core Republican principles we cherish and that Trump in no way represents. 

Mr. Chairman, we are calling on you to support us in reaffirming the longstanding principle that delegates to the GOP Convention can vote their conscience in the name of preserving the legacy of our party and our nation. 

Sincerely,

[The undersigned]

 

 

 

Paul Ryan’s America is the Republican Party Ideal: White White White (and he’s proud of it)

Roger Friedman
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Paul Ryan’s America is the Republican Party Ideal: White White White (and he’s proud of it)

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisc) posted this photo to his Instagram page. This is the Republican party. Look at this hard, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida. Can you find a non white person in this picture? Not even a waiter walking through the room. This is America circa 1947. And this is in the 8th year of a black president. Shameful.

This week, and for the next couple, politics and showbiz are interchangeable. Just wait til D list celebrities Scott Baio, Antonio Sabato Jr and Kimberlin Brown speak at the RNC. They’re not even the D list. They’re the duh list.

Box Office: “Ghostbusters” Surprises, “Independence Day” Falls Short Again, Woody Wins

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Ghostbusters” Surprises, “Independence Day” Falls Short Again, Woody Wins

The weekend box office continued to bring good news for “Ghostbusters.” Sony took in $46 million and maybe a little more once all the dimes and nickels are counted. There’s some frisson about sequels, but I’d like to see another of these. In fact, I’ll be a second one will turn out to be better. Put those ladies in some relationships. Let Annie Potts have a bigger role as their female mentor.

“Cafe Society” did very very well. Is it the Kristen Stewart factor? Whatever it is, Woody Allen’s latest could shape up nicely as a hit. I’m very pleased. We are all the winners if Woody is one!

“Independence Day: Resurgence” is a frustrating release. Fox is four weeks into this release and they’re still short of $100 million. That line will be crossed this week. But what a long strange trip it’s been. “IDR” is a really bad movie. Please, no more of these.

Warner’s “Central Intelligence” hit $117.5 million. They’ve got $180 worldwide US included. The comedy only cost $50 million. Nicely played.

Hamptons Weekend Goes from One Vegetarian (Russell Simmons) to Another (Paul McCartney)

Roger Friedman
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Hamptons Weekend Goes from One Vegetarian (Russell Simmons) to Another (Paul McCartney)

I start this Hamptons report by telling you I am absolutely not a vegetarian. That’s just the way it is. 

But I do support Russell Simmons’ RUSH Philanthropic Foundation and their annual Art for Life fundraiser. Russell has done so much for young people, particularly in music, and the effects of his generosity and vision continue to spread. He used to throw the RUSH dinner in his own backyard in East Hampton, but the founder of Def Jam everything and brother of Reverend Run (Run-DMC) has relocated to Los Angeles and sold his beautiful home.

So on Saturday night the RUSH gala was held in a huge (and I mean huge) tent erected on a potato field on the water in Water Mill, the tony town between Southampton and Bridgehampton. No expense was spared, there was even some air conditioning! Gayle King was the estimable emcee, and somehow she graciously and humorously introduced us to the 8 honorees.

They included Debra Lee, the always elegant cutting edge fashion chief of BET Networks, and Frank Collins of BuzzFeed. But my favorite was my old pal Suzanne dePasse, of Motown Entertainment fame, Berry Gordy’s secret weapon and right hand since the late 60s.

When Bobby Taylor and Gladys Knight reported that they’d found a family group called the Jackson Five, it was Suzanne who brought them to Gordy. She told the glittering crowd on Saturday night: “Mr. Gordy said, I don’t have kids groups, you don’t know how much trouble Stevie Wonder was!”

Suzanne has Emmys, Grammys, Peabodys, Golden Globes. I met her in 1982. She is timeless, but she did admit to me and then to the crowd that next week she turns 70! “I don’t want to turn 70, but what choice do I have?” she said rhetorically.

Yes, we sat through all of this only to discover that Russell, an avowed vegetarian, was serving beet ravioli and cauliflower for dinner. Also, hummus. I’m sure this is how he rose to great heights of success, but dinner was still not consumed. What to do?

Off to Nick and Toni’s, the great East Hampton eatery started by the late Jeff Soloway and his wife Toni Ross. I only expected a great dinner. But upon arriving, we realized the main course was Paul McCartney. There he was, dining with wife Nancy Shevell, Paul’s nephew Lee Eastman and wife Vanessa. Keep in mind, Paul is a famous vegetarian.

Michael Lynn, founder of New Line Pictures, was eating at the next table, with his lovely wife Nineh. “Why didn’t you eat at Russell’s?” he asked as we were being seated. Paul was listening.

I stammered. “Oh, you know, it was just– were just under-fed.”

Michael asked, “What did they have?”

I answered uncomfortably. I didn’t know what Nick and Toni’s had whipped up for the great Beatle, but I had my eye on a steak.

And yes, though they were all there by accident, Michael Lynne and his partner Bob Shaye are still doing an animated film with McCartney— which I reported long ago.

And Paul? He’d just been in Las Vegas on Thursday for the 10th anniversary of the Beatles’ LOVE show with Cirque du Soleil– in the middle of his summer tour! He just turned 74 and plays the Meadowlands in New Jersey on August 7th. The diet must work!

BoxOffice: “Ghostbusters” Has Big Friday, Woody Allen’s “Cafe” Crowded

Roger Friedman
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BoxOffice: “Ghostbusters” Has Big Friday, Woody Allen’s “Cafe” Crowded

Friday box office: “Ghostbusters” opened very well, winning Friday with $17.2 million. They’re aiming for a $46 million weekend, and may it do a little better than that. Predictions are that “Secret Life of Pets” will clean up Saturday and Sunday and win the weekend. But for a live action comedy for adults, “Ghostbusters” is a hit.

Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society” is crowd pleaser is limited NY-LA opening and should expand nicely with mostly good reviews. Some negative reviews really shocked me. Listen, kids, Woody Allen owes us nothing. He is a master of filmmaking. Quick, dismissive reviews are a waste of time and show a lack of knowledge.

“Cafe Society” is very funny and quite profound. It’s a little echo of “The Great Gatsby” mixed with “Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Not since “Deconstructing Harry” has Woody has asked so many questions about what it is to be a Jew– and gotten so many laughs too.

Jeannie Berlin and Ken Stott steal the film as Jessie Eisenberg’s parents. Their discussion of the afterlife and consequences of religious integrity is part of Allen’s canon, but it remains an important one. And where else in filmmaking does anyone bring up philosophy of any kind? Woody’s world of ideas doesn’t exist anywhere else in cinema now.

Socrates is not a name you’ll hear in any other film this year. Yes, he did say “An unexamined life is not worth living.” It’s Woody who added “But an examined life is no bargain either.”

Don’t forget that. See “Cafe Society.”

Mick Jagger: Sympathy for the Devil as Rock’s Great-Grandfather to Be Dad Again at 73 with 29 Year Old GF

Roger Friedman
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Mick Jagger: Sympathy for the Devil as Rock’s Great-Grandfather to Be Dad Again at 73 with 29 Year Old GF

You do know Mick Jagger is a great grandfather. His daughter Jade, whose mom is Bianca Jagger, has a grand child. Jade, who’s 44, has a daughter named Assisi, who’s 24. And Assisi has a baby girl named Ezra, who’s three years old.

No moss grows on these Rolling Stones. The Fertile Jaggers are now expecting a new little one from Great Grandpa Mick’s 29 year old girlfriend, Melanie Hamrick. The baby — Mick’s 8th — will be the great uncle or aunt of Ezra, who will be four years its senior.

I am waiting for photos of Ezra holding her great aunt or uncle in her arms. Cute!

Mick Jagger is Benjamin Button.

He started dating Melanie right after his long time girlfriend and fiancee, L’Wren Scott, committed suicide.

Mick will be 91 when Melanie’s kid graduates high school. Mick will narrowly miss the graduation ceremony after staying up the night before to play the Garden with Keith, Ronnie, and Charlie on the Oxygen Tent tour. He will be accompanied by his three year old twins by Vivienne Jolie-Pitt.

“Captain Fantastic” Producer on Viggo Mortensen’s Full Frontal: “He didn’t balk at all”

Leah Sydney
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“Captain Fantastic” Producer on Viggo Mortensen’s Full Frontal: “He didn’t balk at all”

Viggo Mortensen lets it all hang out, literally, in the pretty great “Captain Fantastic,” opening wide today around the country. Matt Ross’s tale of a family living off the grid coming to terms with modern America is one of the best of the year, and a must- see for adults who want to be in a theater and see real super heroes.

Mortensen’s Ben — truly loving Dad whose raising his six kids in relative isolation in the Pacific Northwest when their lives are struck by tragedy– is a real super hero with no cape (and no clothes at one point).

At a private screening last week in Hollywood, I asked one of the producers how Mortensen (who really shies away from press) handled the scene in question. “Viggo was so immersed in the role and didn’t balk at all. He’s a character actor. He gets it,” said Shivani Rawat.

The director of “Captain Fantastic” is Matt Ross, whom audiences will recognize from HBO shows “Big Love” and “Silicon Valley.” He’s a multi tasker. How does he handle reviews, I wondered? Ross said, “After Sundance I stopped reading reviews because when they are positive I’m happy but when they’re negative I’m devastated. I can’t self evaluate the reactions of others. When people don’t like it I’m sad, but when people do like it I feel their energy. So I just tune it out. I want everyone to have their own experience. We don’t all love everything.” He then added cheekily, “but only talk to me if you love it. “

What’s so artistically wonderful about this film is that Ross strikes the right unsettling chord. From scene to scene you’re never sure if Ben is the best Dad in the universe, or conversely the most irresponsible. Ross’s singular vision of the family works on many emotional levels, especially Ben and the children learning how imperfect they and life are in their seemingly perfect bubble world.

Besides Viggo’s typical intense, funny and go-for-broke character work he does in each and every film he’s in, the added bonus of a naked hunky Viggo in a laugh out loud wacky scene. The kids are standouts, especially George MacKay and Sami Isler. Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn and Ann Dowd are all equally terrific.

Woody Allen: “You want to write about neurotic men and murderers and neurotic women”

Paula Schwartz
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Woody Allen: “You want to write about neurotic men and murderers and neurotic women”

Woody Allen was chatty on the red carpet at the New York premiere of “Cafe Society,” at the Paris Theater Wednesday night. His wife Soon Yi smiled broadly as she stood to the side while he spoke to the press. A nostalgic, bittersweet ode to 1930’s Hollywood, “Cafe Society” is pretty much stolen by Kristen Stewart.

In a chameleon role, Stewart’s character goes from a down-to-earth, fragile Nebraska gal finding her way around Tinseltown to a glamorous but jaded Hollywood insider who’s lost her way.

On the red carpet, complimented on the complexity and depth of his female characters, the writer-director and narrator of the film replied, “I identify with the women I write. I identify with Kristen Stewart’s character,” he said.

Woody continued: “I am also a fragile flower and so it’s not hard for me to write females because the interesting ones on film are ones that are neurotic, ones that are fragile, ones that are screwed up. They make the ones that give you the stories to write about. [Writing about] competent men and competent women is boring. You want to write about neurotic men and murderers and neurotic women. These are the ones that give you the dramatic stories so it’s perfect for me.”

Allen went on to compliment his leading lady and noted how challenging her role is. “Some women can play one and not the other.”

At the sweaty, overcrowded non-air conditioned party at the Carlyle (which Woody and Soon Yi had the good sense to leave quickly): a “Sopranos” reunion of Michael Imperioli (Christopher) and Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts), plus Tony winning writer-director Doug McGrath (he co-wrote “Bullets Over Broadway” and has a cameo in “Cafe Society”), actress Carol Kane, Patti Smith, and Richard Kind.

Photo c2016 Showbiz411 by Paula Schwartz

Emmy Awards: Major Networks Have No Noms for Best Drama, Just 2 for Best Comedy

Roger Friedman
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Emmy Awards: Major Networks Have No Noms for Best Drama, Just 2 for Best Comedy

You do remember the three major TV networks, right? I wonder if you asked most TV viewers what those were if they would know the answer? ABC, CBS, NBC, and uh FOX– garnered not one Emmy nod for Best Drama, and just two out of the seven for Best Comedy. Those 2 were only on ABC. None for the others, although Fox could claim F/X is theirs somehow. There’s a big difference between Fox and F/X. (Interesting that not even “The X Files” on Fox bore a mention.)

Other snubs include Showtime’s “Billions,” which got nothing. This is amazing to me since Paul Giamatti probably gave the best performance of any actor on any TV show. “Orange is the New Black” also struck out. Jane Fonda was snubbed again for “Grace and Frankie.” Christine Baranski was ignored for “The Good Wife” and “Big Bang Theory” even though she was nominated last year. Only Maggie Smith was nominated for “Downton Abbey,” which is too bad since even Jo Froggatt missed it this time. Weird stuff.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA (2015 winner: Game of Thrones)
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mr Robot

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA (2015 winner: Jon Hamm)
Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
Rami Malek, Mr Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (2015 winner: Viola Davis)
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Taraji P Henson, Empire
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Keri Russell, The Americans
Robin Wright, House of Cards

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (2015 winner: Uzo Aduba)
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Constance Zimmer, UnREAL

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA (2015 winner: Peter Dinklage)
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (2015 winner: Margo Martindale, The Americans)
Laurie Metcalf, Horace and Pete
Molly Parker, House of Cards
Ellen Burstyn, House of Cards
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex
Margo Martindale, The Americans
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA (2015 winner: Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards)
Max von Sydow, Game of Thrones
Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards
Mahershala Ali, House of Cards
Paul Sparks, House of Cards
Hank Azaria, Ray Donovan
Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING COMEDY (2015 winner: Veep)
black-ish
Master of None
Modern Family
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Veep

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY (2015 winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Laurie Metcalfe, Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY (2015 winner: Jeffrey Tambor)
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Aziz Ansari, Masters of None
Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
William H Macy, Shameless
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY (2015 winner: Allison Janney)
Niecy Nash, Getting On
Kate McKinnon, SNL
Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
Allison Janney, Mom
Judith Light, Transparent
Anna Chlumsky, Veep

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY (2015 winner: Tony Hale)
Louie Anderson, Baskets
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tony Hale, Veep
Matt Walsh, Veep

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY (2015 winner: Joan Cusack, Shameless)
Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
Amy Schumer, Saturday Night Live
Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory
Laurie Metcalf, The Big Bang Theory
Melora Hardin, Transparent

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY (2015 winner: Bradley Whitford, Transparent)
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory
Tracy Morgan, Saturday Night Live
Larry David, Saturday Night Live
Bradley Whitford, Transparent
Martin Mull, Veep
Peter MacNicol, Veep

TV MOVIE
A Very Murray Christmas
All the Way
Confirmation
Luther
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

LIMITED SERIES (2015 winner: Olive Kitterridge)
American Crime
Fargo
The Night Manager
The People v. OJ Simpson
Roots

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE (2015 winner: Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge)
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Audra McDonald, Billie Holiday: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill
Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson
Lili Taylor, American Crime
Kerry Washington, Confirmation

LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE (2015 winner: Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge)
Bryan Cranston, All The Way
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Idris Elba, Luther
Cuba Gooding Jr, The People v. O.J. Simpson
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE (2015 winner: Regina King, American Crime)
Melissa Leo, All The Way
Regina King, American Crime
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel
Jean Smart, Fargo
Olivia Colman, The Night Manager

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE (2015 winner: Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge)
Jesse Plemons, Fargo
Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson
David Schwimmer, The People v. O.J. Simpson
John Travolta, The People v. O.J. Simpson

REALITY SHOW HOST (2015 winner: Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night)
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night
Steve Harvey, Little Big Shots
Heidi Klum & Tim Gunn, Project Runway
RuPaul Charles, RuPaul’s Drag Race

REALITY SHOW COMPETITION (2015 winner: The Voice)
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
The Voice

VARIETY TALK SERIES
Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Real Time With Bill Maher
The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Emmy Nominations: “Billions” Snubbed in a Shocker, People vs. OJ Simpson, Blackish, The Americans Lead

Roger Friedman
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Emmy Nominations: “Billions” Snubbed in a Shocker, People vs. OJ Simpson, Blackish, The Americans Lead

keep refreshing…
I want to register my horror here. “Billions,” the best drama on TV, was totally snubbed by the Emmys. No noms at all. Nothing for Paul Giamatti or Damian Lewis or the writing. This is so bizarre, it’s beyond belief.

“Orange is the New Black” is also completely missing. Something went wrong with these shows, big time.

Downton Abbey got blanked in acting except for Maggie Smith. The Good Wife final season got on writing nomination, and that’s it. My guess is “The Americans” sweeps in drama, and “Veep” in comedy. “People vs OJ Simpson” is going to do very well. “Americans” and “OJ” are both from F/X so clearly their publicists are kicking ass.

Lead Actor Drama in a Drama
Kyle Chandler
Rami Malek
Bob Odenkin
Matthew Rhys
Kevin Spacey

Lead Actress in a Drama
Claire Danes
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Tatyana Maslani
Keri Russell
Robin Wright

Lead Actor in TV Mvoie
Bryan Cranston
Benedict Cumberbatch
Idris-Luther
Cuba-People vs.
Tom Hiddletson
Courtney B Vance

Lead actress in a Mini Series
Kirsten Dunst
Felicity Huffman
Audra McDonald
Sarah Paulson
Lili Taylor
Keri Washington

Lead actor comedy
Anthony Anderson
Aziz Ansari
Will Forte
Wm M Macy
Thomas Middleditch
Jeffrey Tambor

Lead actress comedy
Ellie Kemper
Julia Louis Dreyfus
Laurie Metcalfe
Tracee Ellis Ross
Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin

Best Movie
A Very Murry Xmas
All the Way
Confirmation
Sherlock
Luther

Best Mini Series
American Crime
Fargo
Night Manager
People vs. OJ Simpson
Roots

Best Comedy Series
Blackish
Maser of None
Modern Family
Silicon Valley
Veep
Kimmy Schmidt

Best Drama Series
The Americans
Better Call
Downtown Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mister Robot

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