Thursday, December 18, 2025
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Kennedy Center: Coppola, Grateful Dead, Apollo Theater, Arturo Sandoval, Bonnie Raitt

The Kennedy Center has announced its inductees for 2024, and they are going very much in the direction of the Grammy Awards.

The only non musical honoree is “The Godfather” director Francis Ford Coppola, whose new movie, “Megalopolis” comes out this fall.

Otherwise, it’s all music, music, music: Bonnie Raitt, the Grateful Dead, Arturo Sandoval, and a tribute to the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

The Kennedy Center is snubbing Broadway yet again, and theater generally. Also, there are no actors from anywhere, not even Holllywood, when so many have been on the waiting list.

Do these musicians deserve the honor? Sure, but this isn’t the Grammy Awards.

Still, with the Dead they’ll get John Mayer and maybe Bob Dylan to perform. But Jerry Garcia has been dead for years, and the Kennedy Center Honors is not about posthumous nods. If it were, think of all the people who’d be eligible.

For The Apollo, this will guarantee Gladys Knight, a lot of classic R&B stars, and they’ll throw in a non sequitur current artist as well. The Apollo is getting ready for a major fundraising campaign to renovate the beloved building, so this will help. This will also bring diversity, so it checks off a KC box.

As for Raitt and Sandoval, they are each truly deserving, although you could see it in separate years.

Coppola is certainly deserving also, for “The Godfather” movies alone. Directors are rarely honored, but I’m sure there’s been a lot of politicking given that “Megalopolis” will be in some kind of Oscar race in December. But it may also have already been a box office flop given its reviews.

Still, the Coppola segment will drag out all the remaining “Godfather” cast, no doubt, and Adam Driver, who’s the star of “Megalopolis.” There will be some nod to Coppola’s winery, which he’s borrowed against heavily for the new film.

But these choices ace out Liza Minnelli, Denzel Washington, Broadway’s Tommy Tune, and dozens more from diverse genres including elder statesmen like Bob Newhart and Alan Alda

You’re really inducting the Grateful Dead over those people? Come on.

What horses were traded, promises made, donations offered? If only the Kennedy Center could speak. It would howl.

Armie Hammer Career Ending Interview: Frank Talk About BDSM, Cheating, Carving Initials into Women’s Bodies, Says He’s Broke

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Armie Hammer was expelled from Hollywood two years ago after claims of sexual abuse including cannibalism.

Hammer could have tried to come back after rehab and time off by lining up a serious interview somewhere in the media. He could have gone to Diane Sawyer, Oprah, 60 Minutes, etc.

Instead, Hammer went with Bill Maher on a podcast. Rather than have a classy conversation about contrition, Hammer chose a 90 minute talk about BDSM, his sex life, and cheating. It’s a frank talk, too frank, in fact, to secure him a return to his Hollywood career.

Hammer also says he’s broke, and has no family money to fall back on. But that seems unlikely since his father — heir to the Armand Hammer fortune — died last year. Armie would split that inheritance with his father.

This interview will unlikely get cut up into clips for social media. It will be around forever.

Around the 30 minute mark you get the whole discussion of carving letters into women’s bodies. Is this common dating practice now? What if you have a long name? Does he not think his kids will see this when they’re teenagers?

Hammer has blown what could have been a pretty long career as a leading man in movies and TV. He doesn’t seem to care, so why should we? He’ll likely end up going the Mel Gibson route, appearing in D movies for foreign territories.

2024 Emmy Awards Noms: Jimmy Fallon Snubbed in Talk, Kelsey Grammer’s “Frasier” 2.0 Ignored, HBO Lowest Number Ever

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UPDATED The 2024 Emmy nominations are out, but there are some surprising omissions. Or snubs.

In talk, Jimmy Fallon was excluded from the best shows. All his colleagues made it in, as well as The Daily Show. There are only four nominations in this category. Why isn’t he the fifth? Ridiculous.

In comedy, Kelsey Grammer’s reboot of “Frasier” was ignored. The actor, the show, all of it. The old “Frasier” couldn’t stop winning Emmys. But the first season of the new series just didn’t work.

HBO has its fewest number of noms in years. There are 91 scattered among “True Detective,” “Hacks,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “The Gilded Age,” but the grand old days of 127 (last year) nominations is over for now. The latter show, “The Gilded Age,” only yielded Best Actress in a Drama for Carrie Coon. But no Best Drama or other acting prizes except for Christine Baranski as Supporting Actress.

(Next season HBO should bounce back with “House of the Dragon” season 2 leading the way.)

Also not nominated, and he should have been: Jerry Seinfeld, for “Curb Your Enthuasiasm.” No “Curb” actors were nomination except for Larry David.

The good news: Selena Gomez was finally nominated for “Only Murders in the Building.” Much deserved!

The odd news: a strange nomination buried in the whole pack. But that’s showbiz.

Armie Hammer Career Ending Interview: Frank Talk About BDSM, Cheating, Carving Initials into Women’s Bodies, Says He’s Broke

Watch 2024 Emmy Nominations Here LIVE 11:30am: “The Bear,” “The Crown,” “Shogun” All in the Mix

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The 2024 Emmy nominations are here LIVE at 11:30am.

The Bear, Shogun, The Crown, Abbott Elementary, Saturday Night Live will all be in the mix.

Yes, these are the second Emmy Awards of this year. That’s because in January they gave out the delayed 2023 awards. You can’t have too many awards shows!

The Emmys are on ABC this September.

Watch the TV Ad Driving Matt Gaetz Crazy: Revealing His Scandals with Sex, Drugs, Underage Girls

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Florida congressman Matt Gaetz is the kind of wise guy who’d get decked on a playground.

Today he caused trouble being stupid with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He’s rude and stupid.

Why is Gaetz so upset? A Florida PAC is running a searing ad against him back home, highlighting his sex, drugs, and money scandals. The people of Florida are not as stupid as he thinks.

See the two videos below:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1813333503414817088

Good News! Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd Star in New Film from John Carney (“Once” and “Sing Street”)

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If there’s a new John Carney film, things can’t be too bad.

Carney has given us only delightful musical movies including “Once” — a massive hit that became a Tony Award winning Broadway musical, plus “Begin Again,” and “Sing Street.”

Now Lions Gate has picked up his “Power Ballad,” starring Nick Jonas from the Jonas Brothers and the eternally young Paul Rudd.

There are songs, too, by Carney and UK pop tunesmith Gary Clark.

The film, which recently finished shooting in Dublin, focuses on a talented but past-his-prime wedding singer (Rudd) and a young rock star (Jonas) who uses the wedding singer’s songwriting prowess to revitalize his own career.

I hope Lions Gate will put some effort into this release. Carney’s last movie, “Flora and Son,” was kind of botched by Apple when it was released two years ago.

But Jonas and Rudd should be good selling points.

I loved Carney’s “Begin Again,” with Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley. The songs were by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois of the New Radicals. It should have been a monster hit. But Harvey Weinstein changed the title from “Can A Song Save Your Life?” to its bland successor, and that didn’t help.

By the way, where is Keira Knightley? I miss her!

“Power Ballad” is written by Carney and Peter McDonald. The very talented Anthony Bregman and Peter Cron are producing the film through their Likely Story banner, alongside Robert Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan for Treasure Entertainment, and Carney.

Rent “Begin Again”!

JD Vance’s Controversial Memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” Zooms to Number 1 on Amazon with Nomination

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He hated Trump, but JD Vance really owes him now.

Vance first rose to public recognition in 2016 with his book, “Hillbilly Elegy.” The story of his life in Appalachia became a hit after it was picked up by the conservative press.

Then Ron Howard made a movie of it, and Vance was all over the place.

Now the book has zoomed back to number 1 on amazon following his anointment as Trump’s pick for vice president. Until yesterday it was completely off any charts, no one had thought of it or bought it in years.

Amazing.

“Hillbilly Elegy” was a hit some quarters, but reviled by many critics. (The movie was, too.)

Vance is accused by many reviewers — even reviewing the book today — of throwing the people of Appalachia under the bus to promote his agenda. He’s also accused of only spending summers there, and not knowing what he’s talking about.

But the book is back now. Expect to hear the people he wrote about speak up soon, and not in a good way.

Claudia Conway Refuting Mom, Kellyanne, On Social Media Over JD Vance Pick for Veep

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In the last election cycle, Claudia Conway emerged on social media as a strong critic of Donald Trump and everything he stands for.

Claudia’s mother, Kellyanne, of course, is the Trump lackey who managed his campaign, spoke for him, and said a lot of stupid things including creating the term “alternative facts” and citing the nonexistent Battle of Bowling Green.

Now Claudia and her mom have returned to social media, with Claudia commenting on Kellyanne’s endorsement of JD Vance as Trump’s VP choice.

Kellyanne started, calling Vance “a new generation of America First warriors.”

Claudia retorted: “Thought he called Trump ‘Hitler’? He did. Thought he said he opposes marriage equality and abortions for r*pe and incest? ..Oh right he did.”

Game on!

Watch the TV Ad Driving Matt Gaetz Crazy: Revealing His Scandals with Sex, Drugs, Underage Girls

Trump Call to Robert Kennedy Jr, Leaked and Apologized for, But Worth a Listen

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Robert Kennedy Jr. is “mortified” that a call he received from Donald Trump was leaked online.

Trump, on speaker phone, sounds like James Austin Johnson imitating him on “SNL.” (I wouldn’t be surprised if the call is fake.)

Kennedy has since Tweeted: “When President Trump called me I was taping with an in-house videographer. I should have ordered the videographer to stop recording immediately. I am mortified that this was posted. I apologize to the president.”

Good stuff!

Ben Stiller Will Open Toronto Film Fest in Warm Hearted Family Comedy, “Nutcrackers”

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Ben Stiller produced and stars in “Nutcrackers,” the opening night film for the Toronto Film Festival.

“Nutcrackers” is directed by David Gordon Green, and co-stars Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson, Tim Heidecker and Toby Huss.

From its description, “Nutcrackers” sounds like a lighthearted family comedy, akin to “Baby Boom” and others in which a jaded city guy is forced to take on country kids and come to love them.

The Toronto Fest will close with Rebel Wilson’s “Deb,” which has a similar theme: jaded city high school girl must move to a small Australian town where she befriends a farm and learns o enjoy the simple pleasures of a debutante ball.

(I want to know where the movie is where a city person goes to the country for a weekend and leaves, vowing never to return?)

TIFF will be full of stars this September, with latest additions including Ron Howard’s “Eden,” a survival thriller directed by Ron Howard, starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney; and “K-POPS,” a dramatic comedy that takes inspiration from eight-time Grammy Award winner Anderson.Paak’s own life, bridging family lineages and cultures.

There will also be tributes to Cate Blanchett, Amy Adams, David Cronenberg. Sandra Oh is the chair of the TIFF fundraising gala.