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Earlier I told you the Grammy Awards were happening on February 2nd.
Now comes news that the company with most nominees is pulling their parties.
Universal Music, home of Taylor Swift, and so on, will not entertain anyone over Grammy weekend.
“Today we have cancelled all of our Grammy-related events, including the Artist Showcase and After-Grammy Party and will redirect the resources that would have been used for those events to assist those affected by the wildfires,” a statement from the company read. “Our deepest gratitude goes to the first responders and emergency personnel, who continue to perform heroically.”
It concluded, “L.A. is home to so many of us. We are committed to helping and supporting the music community, our artists, our teams and the people of Los Angeles get through this horrific episode.”
Now the ball is in Sony Music and Warner Music’s respective courts. Will there be no events to go with the Grammys. Quite possibly. Stay tuned…
The Motion Picture Academy has cancelled the annual Oscars nominees lunch because of the wildfires situation.
The luncheon was supposed to take place on February 10th. It’s always been billed as one of the most fun activities of Oscar season.
But everything in LA is up in the air as everyone waits to see if strong winds this week will exacerbate the fires in Pacific Palisades.
On top of that, the Oscars have also extended voting ballots for nominations until January 19th. The new date for announcements is January 23.
“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship. Due to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members.”
The Grammys actually had no date they could switch to. February 9th brings the Super Bowl, the 16th Lorne Michaels has a three hour live anniversary show on NBC for “SNL,” the 23rd is the SAG Awards.
So the show must go on!
Here’s the letter that went out today to Academy members:
Dear Recording Academy Members,
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.
In response to this crisis, the Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort last week with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. Thanks to additional contributions, we have already distributed over $2 million in emergency aid to those most in need – and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance.
In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th GRAMMY Awards telecast on CBS on February 2nd will proceed as planned. This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.
In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else. The GRAMMYs will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.
With heartfelt concern,
Harvey Mason jr. Recording Academy & MusiCares CEO
MSNBC, hobbled by having no audience since the election, has pulled off a coup.
They’ve convinced Rachel Maddow to return to a five day a week schedule starting January 20th for Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Maddow had been working just on Mondays for the last couple of years. But now that Trump threatens to create mayhem when he takes office, she’s agreed to come back.
Ratings for her and for Lawrence O’Donnell at 10pm should improve greatly. Trump says he’s immediately going to deport millions of immigrants, reverse climate laws, start drilling in protected areas, and do anything cruel he can to the populace and the planet.
Maddow seems to be the only voice on TV or cable capable of taking Trump to task and exposing him. Her appearance will mitigate the outrage her viewers will feel once the inauguration is over and trouble begins.
Beyonce is the first music star to donate to the Los Angeles wildlife relief.
Through her Beygood Foundation, Beyonce says she’s sending $2.5 million to the LA Fire Relief Fund. That’s $1 million more than the total Beygood donated to causes in 2022.
The money is earmarked for the areas of Altadena and Pasadena. It is not for the much harder hit Pacific Palisades.
According to the organization’s Form 990 for 2022, Beygood had $43 million in assets after a single contribution, most likely from Beyonce herself and/or Jay Z. It gave away $1.5 million to a few groups, mostly in Houston.
Beyonce is up for several Grammy awards next month for her “Cowboy Carter” album.
I have never understood who Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are. Years ago I thought they’d disappear, and eventually they did.
Now, sadly, their house in Pacific Palisades has burned down. To generate income, I guess they’ve been encouraging their fans (they hae fans!) to download Montag’s 2009-10 pop records. (Who knew?)
And so, the fans have spoken They’ve sent Montag’s 2010 album, the aptly named “Superficial,” to the top of the iTunes chart. The title single and another track have zoomed up the singles chart. A release marked January 3, 2025 is also selling.
It’s not music, it’s garbage. It’s forgettable disco that sounds like it was frapped in a Cuisinart. This couple is obviously good at marketing. They lost their house — it’s very sad — but they can make money off of it. It’s better than just doing a GoFundMe page, but please don’t listen. There’s so much good music in the world.
PS Who are they? They’re from the 2000s “reality” show called “The Hills.” I never watched it. It was scripted, like most “reality” TV. It was made for people who’d just received lobotomies.
How much money can she make from Spotify? Probably not enough to rebuild a shed.
Leslie Charleson, star of “General Hospital” since 1977, has died at age 79. She would have turned 80 next month.
Three years ago Charleson was said to have fallen or to have had a series of falls that prevented her from returning to the show. She probably had a stroke, but it was kept secret.
She finally returned in 2023 for two short appearances in which she was seated and could barely speak. They would be her last shows.
Charleson played Dr. Monica Quartermaine, who was beautiful, smart, sarcastic and a little promiscuous. In the early 80s, Monica became a cult character after husband Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon) tried to kill her and her lover. The Quartermaines reunited, but had many affairs, divorces, and reunions until Damon was written off the show.
Charleson was the longest running cast member of “General Hospital,” although she took over the role of Monica from another actress. She had a long list of TV credits by 1977. It’s always fun to see her turn up in reruns of “Medical Center” or “Mannix,” or “The Streets of San Francisco.” She even had a small role in the great film, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Before “General Hospital,” she was on CBS’s soap, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”
She left an indelible impression for soap fans of a certain age, anyone who was in college in the late 70s would know her on sight.
Rex Reed is probably the most famous movie or theater critic of any generation. At a curmudgeonly 86, he’s done it all, from live singing performances to hobnobbing with the rich and famous to appearing in actual movies. A few years ago, he was even profiled in The New York Times.
So it wasn’t unexpected this past Tuesday when he got a rousing ovation at the annual New York Film Critics Circle dinner at TAO Downtown. When current president David Sims announced Rex’s own astounding 50th anniversary with the group, the room exploded into applause. He’s outlasted every critic of his generation and the one preceding it. He’s so important that stars mention him as their adversary recalling his reviews of them in their acceptance speeches.
Rex is one of a kind. His most famous on-screen moments were in the first “Superman” movie – playing himself, and “Myra Breckinridge.” The reviews are still coming in.
The evening was a little muted as many spoke of the fires in LA. Adrien Brody, Best Actor winner for “The Brutalist,” reflected on Tao’s décor with its giant statue mistaken for Buddha. He pointed out, that’s Shiva the destroyer — before becoming emotional. And that was before the girls were swooning in the bathroom: Robert Pattison showed up for Brady Corbet’s Best Picture presentation for “The Brutalist.”
Best moment of the night was when Guy Pearce, who’s also in the Corbet film, toasted Brody for his award. Pearce’s intro for Brody as the NYFCC choice for Best Actor: He started with “You make it seem effortless” and countered with, “Sorry I raped you, but it was consensual.”
As celebrations go, this one was cerebral, not raucous which had some attendees concerned. And then there were the outliers: Claire Dane was wildly animated as she introduced Kieran Culkin for his Best Supporting Actor award, the real pain in “A Real Pain.” They had starred together in “Igby Goes Down” as naughty teens but now, she pointed out, they each have kids. “Only you can be you,” she said gesticulating madly. To wit: he got up to say, “You are so kind, I wish I had been listening.”
Jim Jarmusch presented Best Screenplay to Sean Baker for “Anora.” He liked the snow falling in the last scene so much he proclaimed, “Hats off to the falling snow.” But you cannot admire the deftly constructed screenplay without admiring the sex. Fawned Jarmusch, “I loved the sex in the film: transactional, silly, showing the variety of what that is.” He had heard that Baker demonstrated some scenes coupling with his wife. And Sean Baker fawned back, noting that when he finished film school at NYU he only wanted to be Jim Jarmusch. “I used screen grabs from Night on Earth. All that matters is heart, Coffee and Cigarettes.”
Baker said when he pitched the idea of the film to his mother, she said, “No one wants to see that. My mother hates my movies.” Then he read randomly from the script: p. 23: The characters have sex in a bed. The characters have sex in the sauna. “You guys awarded that? Now it’s an award-winning screenplay!” Then he read from The New Yorker critic Richard Brody’s pan. “My mother agrees with you.”
Carol Kane – winner of supporting actress for the very indie, “Between the Temples,” was the offbeat but welcome choice of the night. She responded to John Turturro’s introduction with a huge list of everyone she was grateful to including her parents, Mike Nichols, Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, etc.etc.etc. Her movie, “Between the Temples,” is just the latest in decades of extraordinary work that includes TV’s “Taxi” and “Kimmy Schmidt,” and such films as “Hester Street,” “The Princess Bride,” and “Annie Hall.” Coming here from Cleveland decades ago, she more than anyone put the ‘New York’ in the New York Film Critics.
There’s a flood of tributes to R&B legend Sam Moore, who died Friday at age 89. Sam had friends in every part of the music world who respected and loved him. They all cite him as an influence in their careers.
Bruce Springsteen wrote: “Over on E Street, we are heartbroken to hear of the death of Sam Moore, one of America’s greatest soul voices. There simply isn’t another sound like Sam’s soulful tenor in American music. Having had the honor to work with Sam on several occasions, he was a sweet and funny man. He was filled with stories of the halcyon days of soul music, and to the end had that edge of deep authenticity in his voice I could only wonder at. We offer our prayers to his wife Joyce and thanks for the immortal recordings Sam left us. God bless.”
Stevie van Zandt: “RIP Sam Moore. One of the last of the great Soul Men. Him and Dave Prater were the inspiration for me and Johnny to start Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. An important righteous wonderful man.”
Jon Bon Jovi: “Sam Moore, the Soulman, one of the pioneers and greatest singers ever has left us.. I’m not saddened as much as I felt incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to be in his presence. Having had the opportunity to perform and even record with Sam was humbling and an honor But knowing that I convinced Dorothea to come on what was our first date to see Sam and Dave In the spring of 1980 at the Fast Lane in Asbury park was one of my fondest memories.. Sending my luv to his wonderful wife Joyce And imagining that heaven sounds a little better with the voice of an Angel Much luv Soulman”
The Estate of Isaac Hayes: “The Estate of Isaac Hayes extends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Sam Moore, of Sam & Dave. Sam’s voice was a powerful force of nature and unforgettable. He brought Isaac’s songs like Hold On, I’m Comin’, Soul Man, and many others to life. Rest well Sam.”
Bootsy Collins:
“Danggit, I just found out my good friend & life long pioneer/Legend Mr. Sam Moore of Sam & Dave has changed frequencies.
Samuel David Moore (Oct. 12, 1935 – January 10, 2025) was an American singer who was best known as a member of the soul and R&B duo Sam & Dave from 1961 to 1981. He is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame (for “Soul Man”), the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. (R.I.P. my Brother)”
In Memoriam: Sam Moore – As half of the Memphis soul powerhouse Sam & Dave, 1992 Inductee Sam Moore helped bring the sounds of the Black gospel church to pop music. A cornerstone act for Stax Records, Sam & Dave are the most successful soul duo in history, 1/2 pic.twitter.com/l9nnndeg7z
I know there's so much heartbreak and devastation going on in southern California right now, but I have to share the passing of Sam Moore. The original soul man has left us to join his many brothers and sisters in the afterlife. This once in a lifetime experience i had rehearsing… pic.twitter.com/UT20GwZNis
I don’t know if yall reading this even know how Sam Moore ( Sam and Dave) part of my life soundtrack. Rest In Beats Mr Sam . pic.twitter.com/2KpbMxSsPw
A couple of years ago, small studio A24 managed to hypnotize enough Academy voters to get the Oscar for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Most voters didn’t like it, but there was momentum. Also there were hot dog fingers.
This season A24 has a three prong attack for awards season. But that’s been reduced to two as Luca Guadgnino’s “Queer” — starring Daniel Craig — has disappeared from the theaters. The last time numbers were reported for “Queer” was before Christmas. The total so far is about @2.8 million, plus another $1 million internationally. “Queer” was no “Brokeback Mountain.”
The studio has had more luck with Nicole Kidman’s steamy “Babygirl.” The sex-fueled psychological character study is up to $21 million in three weeks, and shows no sign of flagging. Kidman is superb as a buttoned up CEO who takes a walk on the wild side. She’s won some awards already and may get an Oscar nomination (she should). “Babygirl” is pulling an audience to the theaters.
Then there’s “The Brutalist.” Brady Corbet’s epic three and a half hour original story won the Golden Globe last week for Best Motion Picture, Drama. Adrien Brody won Best Actor, and is headed into the Oscar race. Brody got a SAG nomination. The movie did not, which means hypnosis has not worked.
“The Brutalist” is brutal. It soars and then crashes. After four weeks of limited release, the total is $2.7 million. A couple of theaters in Manhattan have sold out. In other places, “The Brutalist” is being ignored. It’s not not going to win Best Picture because it does not have hot dog fingers. “Wicked,” “Conclave,” “Anora,” “A Complete Unknown” are all actual enjoyable, which is going to figure heavily in this tumultuous time.
As for “Queer,” there’s a rumor it’s coming to pay-for streaming this week. After that, it heads to HBO and Max. Whatever is cost — $20 million maybe with Craig taking a big paycut — it’s a write off. The only success of it was getting the former James Bond his first Oscar nomination (it’s coming) as well as accolades from the CCA, Globes and BAFTA. So, mission accomplished.
