Here’s a thought: with mostly reruns up against it on other networks, “American Idol” went up on Wednesday from Tuesday in number of viewers. “AI” scored a meager 3.7, but it was enough to win the night. The show had 12.71 million viewers from 8 to 10pm. That’s up from the night before. It’s also more than the total viewers who watched NBC from 8 to 10pm last night. NBC only had 10.96 million viewers who enjoyed two reruns of “Whitney” and one of “Law and Order: SVU.” So good for “Idol,” which still offered a kind of perplexing show. I do think the Tues-Weds pairing is better than Weds-Thurs. People are out on Thursday nights. As for NBC, bring over some of those USA Network shows like “White Collar” and “Burn Notice.”
Time Inc’s Odd Engagement to Meredith Publishing Is Over
Entertainment Weekly is safe. Time Warner’s planned sale of many magazines to mostly moribund Meredith Publishing is kaput. Time Warner announced today they are spinning all their mags off into a new company called Time Inc. Magazines that would have gone to Meredith in the sale– People, EW, InStyle, etc– won’t be leaving. When the Meredith folks finally got a look at the way InStyle conducts itself, they probably went to bed for a week.
EW might not have lived through the transition, so that’s the most important reason it’s good news the deal didn’t happen. I’ve had loads of friends at Meredith magazines over the years. When they leave, it’s always considered an escape. It would have been hard to imagine the Iowans caucusing around EW or People type Hollywood parties.
I’m not sure that any Kardashians have been featured in Ladies Home Journal. It’s actually hard to imagine any modern women receiving a magazine called Ladies Home Journal in 2013. And let’s not forget More, which may still be coming out every month. But there you are. Time Inc. remains an important part of the journo world, old school style. Except for maybe InStyle. But Time, Fortune SI, EW, People– it would be a harsher world without them.
The new company will be publicly traded. And un popular as hell chief Laura Lang is out. That’s a real defeat for the new order. Maybe John Huey will come back.
“Smash” Smashed At NBC, Rotten Ratings Spell Doom
“Smash” was an idea that never gelled. And now it is all but completely dead. The NBC drama about the making of a Broadway show scored a 0.6 last night in its target age group, 18-49. Its total audience was said to have been 2.6 million, but that’s just the people who had it on as background noise. No one is watching the second season of “Smash.” It was an experiment and it failed. It was beaten handily last night at 10pm by “Golden Boy” and by “Body of Proof” (a show I like). From the “Smash” cast Jack Davenport’s already found other work. It’s just a matter of time before we hear likewise about Anjelica Huston and Debra Messing. For an insider’s look at producing a Broadway musical, “Smash” was revolting to people who actually know how that works. To outsiders, it was a soap opera that was hard to follow. The question now is, when it goes, will “Smash” take some NBC execs with it. Undoubtedly yes.
American Idol Sinks With First Live Show–Ratings Down Again
“American Idol” took a beating last night. Even though it was the first live show of the season, “AI” drew just a 3.4 rating. It was first–NCIS had a 3.3 in the key 18-49 demo. But “AI” had almost ha;f as many total viewers. NCIS had 20.35 million vs. AI’s 11.49. Week by week the numbers are dropping for “Idol.” It was thought a live show might do the trick, but apparently not. And what’s interesting is that the contestants are good– there’s a lot of talented players this season, and it should be a hot race to the finish line. But the judges aren’t popping, so to speak. There’s no frisson, no action. Ah for the days of Simon Cowell insulting everyone! Audience wise, “AI” finished third for the night. NCIS: Los Angeles had a much bigger 15.95 million. Maybe “Idol” should change its name to “NCIS: Idol” and kill off someone each week. Just kidding! Tonight’s show, the second one ‘live’ from Las Vegas, had better show some life. Otherwise Nigel Lythgoe is going to have make some changes. According to our poll, adding an animal or pet of some kind would help. Get the little monkey, Finley, Â from “OZ” that’s my suggestion.
Jimi Hendrix: He’s Hot, He’s Dead, and He’s Number 1 on Amazon, Number 2 on iTunes
Jimi Hendrix has been dead 42 years. And he’s number 1 on amazon.com today. He’s number 2 on iTunes. He’s got the best selling physical CD over all, and he’s number 1 in rock, pop, and classic rock. “People, Hell, and Angels” also has the distinction of being an album of entirely unreleased material. It’s not a greatest hits package. His publicist, Bob Merlis, is over the moon and rightly so: the album is amazing.
Of course, amazon.com skews older, and they are not the total indication of an album’s sales. Plus, today is the official release date, so there are plenty of advance orders. But the number 2 on iTunes says a lot. Eddie Kramer and co. deserve a lot of kudos. They put together a stunning tribute to Hendrix. Get that album and listen to “Mojo Man.” That’s a lot of mojo to travel four decades.
Prayers for Valerie Harper, Emmy winner, Tony Nominee and Great Lady
It’s like a punch to the gut this morning: People magazine reports that Valerie Harper has terminal brain cancer. The multiple Emmy winner for “Rhoda,” Tony nominee for “Looped,” and great lady and friend to so many, seems too full of life to have it taken away. Still, her attitude in People is bright. Valerie has been a mover and shaker in the Screen Actors Guild, a tireless advocate for causes she believes in, and an all around champion. When she was fired from her own TV show, “Valerie,” by crazy producers, she fought back, sued them, and won. A versatile stage actress from Paul Sills’ “StoryTheater” in the late 60s, Valerie made the one of the most indelible impressions in cultural history as Rhoda Morgenstern. It’s a role she can’t shake, but who would want to? Rhoda was an iconic character that still–watch her now on DVD– steals the show. She tells like it is, just like Valerie. I know everyone will send prayers to Valerie, Tony, and their daughter Christina.
Regis Is Back! Daily Half Hour Show Starts August 19th on New Sports Network
When Fox Sports 1 starts broadcasting on August 19th, Regis Philbin will have his own daily half hour show at 5pm. This is the best news ever. Regis, an avowed football fan, will be going nuts from Day 1. Plus, he told me tonight at the sensational Cafe Carlyle opening for Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, there will be celebrities.
“If Clooney’s on, we’ll talk about his favorite team. Then we’ll talk about his new projects.” So it’s be going to sports mixed with mainstream celebrity, Regis style, I asked? “That’s it!” Reege declared. “You’ve got it!”
I wish it were starting now. But Regis feels the sports season runs through the World Series up til the Super Bowl. So he’s just signed on for five months. And then? “We’ll see,” he said, although I think Joy–who looked beautiful as usual– will not let him work full time again.
Meantime, you must go see Herb Alpert and Lani Hall at the Carlyle. One of their guests tonight was famed jazz and pop producer, Tommy LiPuma. It was also press night, which meant the staff looked sort of horrified at what the cat dragged in. I felt like I was in “Downton Abbey.” But you know, Lani Hall’s voice is like butter even after all these years. (She’s only in her late 60s.) And Herb Alpert’s trumpet is worth the price of admission alone.
They’ve been married 39 years and tour all the time. They tell stories, and Herb plays his hits from “Rise” to “This Guy’s In Love with You” to “Spanish Flea.” They play from a new album, too, including a dark and cool arrangement of one my all time favorite songs, “It’s All in the Game.”
You know that Herb Alpert was the A in A&M Records with Jerry Moss, too. He signed the Carpenters, Peter Frampton, The Police, Sting, Cat Stevens, made the deal with Lou Adler for Carole King from “Tapestry” on, and so on. He’s a living legend. Lani is sensational. Regis and Joy can’t be there every night, but there are always stars in the audience at Cafe Carlyle. A great night.
Exclusive: Family of Springsteen Band’s Clarence Clemons Pursuing Malpractice Claim Against Doctors
EXCLUSIVE: When Clarence Clemons, the Big Man of Bruce Springsteen‘s E Street Band, died in June 2011, the word was it from complications from a stroke. But now I’ve learned that the situation may not be so cut and dried. Clemons’s family quietly filed a malpractice suit against Clarence’s doctors in 2012. Last month the case was approved to go ahead to a jury trial.
William Clemons–Â Clarence’s brother and father of Jake Clemons, who now plays with the E Street Band– filed his case against the Palm Beach Cancer Center and three physicians. The allegation is that the medical team involved may have made a mistake by advising that Clarence off of blood thinners when he had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. By doing so, and not giving him intermediary blood thinners, they could have caused his stroke.
Victoria Clemons, Clarence’s widow, told Rolling Stone a month after her husband’s death: “Shortly before the stroke, Clarence lost sensation in his index finger and his thumb. He had carpal tunnel surgery performed. He was seriously concerned about the ability to play sax again.”
Over the years, Clarence, who was 71, suffered through a minor heart attack, spinal fusion surgery, retinal detachment and several joint replacements.
Even though the Clemons family wants a jury trial, which will be public, the case was sealed by a judge on May 25, 2012 in a Palm Beach court. Neither of the lawyers in the case has responded for comment. And the case has been so low key that even musicians Clarence played with didn’t know it had been filed.
But I’ve obtained the complaint which accuses Drs. Robert J. Jacobson, David W. Dodson and Keith Meyer– three specialists connected to the Palm Beach Cancer Center– of not administering Lovenox, a short term blood thinner, before or after the hand surgery. The hand surgeon is not a defendant– that surgery went fine. Clemons also did not have cancer in case you were wondering. But Victoria Clemons says that the day after the surgery she found Clarence “on the floor, beside the bed, confused and dysarthric [unable to speak properly].”
The allegations may explain at least in part what happened to the world renown sax player who was beloved by everyone. His death rocked the rock world and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band when it happened. William Clemons, according to sources, has not yet accepted his brother’s death. “They were best friends,” says a source.
Taylor Swift and The Kennedy Compound House: The Whole Original Story
Remember last summer when everyone was obsessed with Taylor Swift and the Kennedy compound house in Hyannisport? Taylor was dating five years younger Conor Kennedy and hanging out with grandma Ethel. Then the word went out that Taylor had bought–for a song– the only non Kennedy house in the famous Hyannisport neighborhood.
Now Nancy Jo Sales writes in Vanity Fair (www.vanityfair.com) that Swift did buy the house after all. Well, we know she did because it was reported in the Cape Cod Times back in November by Robert Gold. Gold uncovered the Ocean Drive LLCÂ that Sales mentions in her piece. So she did buy the place. http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121107/NEWS/211070350
Sales suggests that the house was flipped right after that. Swift didn’t keep it. But read my explanation from last summer of what may have happened.
http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/08/15/taylor-swift-and-the-kennedys-a-weird-yet-plausible-explanation
Exclusive: Sarah Jessica Parker Looking at Off Broadway Return This Fall
EXCLUSIVE It’s been a long time since Sarah Jessica Parker has been on stage. But the “Sex and the City” star is getting ready to shed Carrie Bradshaw, from what I hear, and join hubby Matthew Broderick treading the boards. Right now Broderick is on Broadway in “Nice Work if You Can Get It” with Blythe Danner in a featured role.
But come the fall, Danner is said to be switching allegiances and joining Parker off Broadway. The play in question is said to be written by actress Amanda Peet. Parker and Danner told our REGINA WEINREICH last night at the East Hampton Guild Hall awards that the deal isn’t completely done, but it looks good. Parker’s last appearance off Broadway was in A. R. Gurney’s “Sylvia.”
EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: Yes, this play–called The Commons of Pensacola– will be at Lynne Meadow’s Manhattan Theater Club. I always enjoy MTC opening nights because Lynne has a town hall chat welcoming the audience.
Broderick and Parker were there to cheer on pal Nathan Lane, who won an award for performing arts. Walter Isaacson got the literary award for his Steve Jobs book. Dan Aykroyd and Lorne Michaels were among the presenters. Guild Hall is the cultural center of the Hamptons, maintained beautifully partially because of the money raised at this annual event.
Broderick, meanwhile, has my everlasting support after speaking out so vehemently against New York University’s continuing plans to destroy Greenwich Village. Every effort must be made to thwart NYU in its efforts to devour one of New York’s most important historic neighborhoods. Kudos to Broderick for using his name to help stop them.