Thursday, March 26, 2026
Donate
Home Blog Page 374

HBO’s “The Gilded Age” Renewed for Season 3 As Ratings Boomed with Most Recent Episode Season Finale

Roger Friedman
-
0
HBO’s “The Gilded Age” Renewed for Season 3 As Ratings Boomed with Most Recent Episode Season Finale

“The Gilded Age” is not over.

After wrapping Season 2 with what seemed like pretty final finale, the HBO soap set in New York circa 1882 has been renewed.

This means that the saga of the nouveau riche Russells and their friends will continue among horse drawn carriages and nasty social fights.

The series stars Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon as the new money Russells living across the street, on Fifth Avenue, from the haughty Agnes van RIjn– Christine Baranski, her sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon) and niece (Louisa Jacobson aka Streep). The rest of the cast is massive and also includes a huge Broadway posse with Nathan Lane, Kelli O’Hara, Donna Murphy, Denee Benton, Audra McDonald, and so on.

Laura Benanti appeared this season all too briefly, and I hope she’s written into season 3. It seemed like her character and storyline were dropped quickly, clearing the way for Jacobson’s heroine, Marian Brook, to marry the Russells’ son, Larry (Harry Richardson). Now the two families who look askance at each other are connected in a new way.

Some of the “The Gilded Age” has echoes of creator Julian Fellowes’ “Downton Abbey,” the the latter show takes place 30 years later. They are not actually connected. But whole thing has a very “Upstairs, Downstairs” feel except with some halting American accents.

“The Gilded Age” improved its ratings every week over this 10 episode season. The finale on December 17th was up 17.5% percent from the penultimate episode and scored 686,000 total viewers. The potential is there for Season 3 to be the breakout and go much higher.

Meantime, the lavish set actually exists — at least the exteriors. All of old New York is locked up on Long Island, where the carefully crafted facades are waiting to rev up again.

Warner Bros’ Final DC Movie in this Phase: “Aquaman 2” Drowns in Bad Reviews with a Very Low 38% Among Critics

Roger Friedman
-
0
Warner Bros’ Final DC Movie in this Phase: “Aquaman 2” Drowns in Bad Reviews with a Very Low 38% Among Critics

“Aquaman 2” is here.

As much as you think the super hero played by Jason Momoa is impervious to normal elements, he’s not. “Aquaman 2” is drowning in bad reviews.

Right now on Rotten Tomatoes, “Aquaman 2” has a low 38% among critics. Most everyone finds the sequel to the 2018 hit. The film also stars Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and — someplace in there — Nicole Kidman.

David Fear of Rolling Stone lived up to his name. He wrote: “A tonal mess, dogged by VFX that range from “video-game cut scene” to “last-minute rush job,” complicated yet curiously thin storytelling, and endlessly aggressive rib-nudging”

Preview results tomorrow should be interesting to say the least.

“Dukes of Hazzard” Star John Schneider Still Has Twitter X Account After Threatening Bidens with Hanging: Where is the FBI?

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Dukes of Hazzard” Star John Schneider Still Has Twitter X Account After Threatening Bidens with Hanging: Where is the FBI?

“Dukes of Hazzard” star John Schneider set off the internet today with a Tweet on his X account.

He suggested President Biden and his son, Hunter, be hanged for treason. If you or I did this, we’d lose our account and the FBI would be on our front stoop. So far, Schneider appears to be unaffected.

After Twitter users responded with outrage, however, Schneider removed the offending post.

But what he doesn’t get is that the internet is forever. That Tweet will follow him forever.

Schneider is illiterate as well as stupid. As my English teacher used to say, clothes are hung, people are hanged.

Schneider should hang his head in disgrace.

Golden Globes Finally Pick Mostly Unknown Comedian Jo Koy to Host 2024 Awards on NBC

Roger Friedman
-
0
Golden Globes Finally Pick Mostly Unknown Comedian Jo Koy to Host 2024 Awards on NBC

The Golden Globes have spoken.

Yesterday I told you they still had no host for their 2024 Awards show.

Now, they ‘ve responded by announcing their choice to run the proceedings on January 7th.

The lucky winner is Jo Koy.

Who?

He’s a comedian. He is mostly unknown and has never hosted an awards show.

There’s an irony here. For a short time, this year’s Critics Choice host, Chelsea Handler, dated Koy. The Critics Choice Awards are on January 14th.

“I’ve stepped onto a lot of stages around the world in my career, but this one is going to be extra special. I’m so excited to be hosting the Golden Globes this year,” said Koy in a press statement. “This is that moment where I get to make my Filipino family proud. Mahal Kita (Google it)!”

So, is this all good or bad? All you can say is God Bless, we hope it works out. No one else would host the Globes, so at least they got someone!

Grotesque: $500K Golden Globes Gift Bags for Nominees, Still No Recipient Announced for Lifetime Achievement Award

Roger Friedman
-
0
Grotesque: $500K Golden Globes Gift Bags for Nominees, Still No Recipient Announced for Lifetime Achievement Award

This is beyond grotesque.

There are 83 nominees for the Golden Globes. Since they are all actors or directors or songwriters they are already pampered with free everything. Celebrities rarely open their wallets.

But now the Globes are going give them gift bags worth up to $500,000. That’s some incentive to campaign for a Globe statue. Other critics groups will give the winners a small statue, dinner, and maybe a round trip car ride. But not the Globes. The winners will get all sorts of fancy four star vacations, caviar and — in one case — a $190,000 bottle of wine.

That last item — the wine — presumably goes to the winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement. However, as of this writing, no recipient has been announced. Indeed, because there’s no host for the show, no one seems to have noticed the lack of an honoree. I guess the $190K bottle of wine would be an inducement to accept the prize — and an inducement to reluctant nominees to show up at all.

By the way, last year’s recipient, Eddie Murphy, was announced on December 14, 2022. This year”s honoree may be announced live on the air at this point on January 7th.

There have always been gift bags, but this staggering amount really shows the venality of this situation. After all, the United States is involved in two dangerous international wars. There’s a tremendous unsolved homeless problem in Los Angeles. The viewing audience is already skeptical of awards shows, particularly the Golden Globes after three years of scandal. But are we really going to see the stars schlepping these massive piles of swag from the Beverly Hilton? It sounds very unbecoming.

Maybe donate the value of all this crap to charity? Hmmmm…Nah.

Here’s what they get and how many of the nominees are involved for each item. PS Who pays taxes on all this stuff?

Travel and Experiences

  1. Abbaye de la Bussiere: Two-Night Stay in Burgundy, France ($2,200, available to all 83 recipients)
  2. Celestia Phinisi Yacht: Five-Day/Four-Night Luxury Yacht Charter in Indonesia ($50,000, all 83 recipients)
  3. Flockhill Lodge: All-Inclusive Stay in New Zealand for Two People ($15,000, up to 3 recipients)
  4. Four Seasons Punta Mita: Full Luxury Experience ($15,000, all 83 recipients)
  5. Hotel Wailea, Relais & Château: Two-Night All-Inclusive Stay ($5,500, all 83 recipients)
  6. Les Bordes Estate: Stay with Golf Experience ($1,500, up to 15 recipients)
  7. Liss Ard Estate: Two-Night Stay in Ireland ($2,200, all 83 recipients)
  8. One Aldwych: Three-night stay in Signature Suite, Inclusive of Theater Tickets, VIP Experiences, and Private Tours ($16,000, up to 3 recipients)
  9. Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman: Five-Day All-Inclusive Luxury Experience, Including Transportation and Yacht Experience ($20,000, all 83 recipients)
  10. Robb Report Car of The Year: Two Drive Spots for a Total of Four Guests ($28K)
  11. Seabird Ocean Resort: Three-Night Stay in SoCal with Private Surf Lessons and Custom Surfboard ($6,500, all 83 recipients)
  12. The Britely, Pendry West Hollywood: One-Year Membership to a Private Social Club ($3,000, all 83 recipients)
  13. The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston: Two-Night Stay with Luxury Wine Experience for Two ($5,000, up to 2 recipients)
  14. XO Jet: Complimentary Membership with $10K in Flight Credits ($11,000, up to 10 recipients)

Food and Beverage

  1. Caviar Russe: Essential Collection of Gold Ossetra ($545, all 83 recipients)
  2. Distillerie de Monaco: Limited Edition Edon Roc Gin ($275, all 83 recipients)
  3. Komos: One Bottle of Komos XO ($2,000, 3 recipients)
  4. Komos: Bottle of Komos Varietals ($200, all 83 recipients)
  5. Liber Pater: The World’s Most Expensive Wine ($193,500/bottle, 1 recipient)
  6. Razza: Private Class with one of America’s Greatest Pizzaiolos ($7,000, 1 recipient)
  7. Robb Report Culinary Masters: Full Weekend Experience for Four Guests ($25,000)

Apparel and Beauty

  1. 111SKIN: Black Diamond Retinol Oil ($250, all 83 recipients)
  2. 111SKIN: Rose Gold Radiance Face Mask ($35, all 83 recipients)
  3. Atelier Eva: Tattoo Session with a Celebrity Tattoo Artist ($2,500, all 83 recipients)
  4. Biologique Spa: Choice of Bespoke Facial or Body Treatment and Skin Analysis ($600, all 83 recipients)
  5. Byroe: Tomato Filling Serum ($150, all 83 recipients)
  6. Byroe: Truffle Eye Serum ($114, all 83 recipients)
  7. Crasqi: Custom Swim Trunks ($200, all 83 recipients)
  8. Coomi x Muzo: Colombian Emerald Earrings ($69,000, up to 1 recipient)
  9. CurrentBody: LED Facemask ($380, all 83 recipients)
  10. Joanna Czech: The Kit; Skincare Essentials ($1,250, up to 25 recipients)
  11. Le Domaine: The Cream ($250, all 83 recipients)
  12. Le Prairie: Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm ($1,100, up to 40 recipients)
  13. Opie Way: Bespoke, Custom-Made Sneakers ($1,500, up to 5 recipients)
  14. Metier: Marrakech Brown Suede Bag ($600, all 83 recipients)
  15. Perfumehead: Luxury Perfume ($450, all 83 recipients)
  16. Rossano Ferretti: Hair Spa Treatment and Blowout ($1,500, all 83 recipients)
  17. S.T. Dupont: Le Grand Dupont Lighter ($1,595, up to 10 recipients)
  18. Zenith: Watch and Manufacture Experience ($14,000, up to 2 recipients)

Paramount-Warner Bros-CNN-CBS-HBO-Max-Discovery? Report Says Merger Talks Are on for Super Studio to Take on Hollywood

Roger Friedman
-
0
Paramount-Warner Bros-CNN-CBS-HBO-Max-Discovery? Report Says Merger Talks Are on for Super Studio to Take on Hollywood

Axios is reporting that Paramount and Warner Discovery are trying to engaged to be married.

After Disney bought 20th Century Fox, this wasn’t far behind.

Makes a lot of sense, especially for Paramount, which is struggling despite best intentions. For example, they have no big Christmas or Oscar movies, other than “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which really comes from Apple Studios. Warner’s is loaded with movies.

But Paramount has a big TV business. Merging Paramount Plus with Max and HBO with what used to be Showtime– perfect match.

CNN and CBS would be very happy together. CNN already loans Anderson Cooper to CBS. CNN needs programming, which they could supply CNN with especially on weekends.

Axios reporter Sara Fischer is listed as a CNN contributor, so she had good sources on this one.

Soon Apple will buy NBC Universal from Comcast, and whole new worlds will emerge.

Stay tuned, friends.

Barbie Fans: Here’s the New Ryan Gosling Version and Video of “I’m Just Ken” with Mark Ronson

Roger Friedman
-
0
Barbie Fans: Here’s the New Ryan Gosling Version and Video of “I’m Just Ken” with Mark Ronson

“Barbie” fans, this is for you, kids. See you at the Oscars.

PS If you think a novelty song can’t make it at the Academy Awards, go back to “Blame Canada” from the 1999 “South Park” movie. It can happen!

Ratings: Gayle King’s CBS Mornings Comes Within 14K Viewers of ABC’s “Good Morning America” in Key Age Group — Closest Since 1991

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ratings: Gayle King’s CBS Mornings Comes Within 14K Viewers of ABC’s “Good Morning America” in Key Age Group — Closest Since 1991

Last week, something shocking happened in the morning news race.

Gayle King’s “CBS Mornings” came within 14,000 viewers of beating ABC’s “Good Morning America” in the key age demo of 25 to 49. In fact, one day, “CBS Mornings: actually did beat “GMA.”

It’s the closest CBS has come to ABC in the morning hours since 1991. CBS had 507K younger viewers vs. ABC’s 521K.

CBS has always had the third place morning news show lagging far behind “GMA” and NBC’s “Today.” But persistence has paid off. King has turned into a mega-star, and for once in CBS’s history they’ve stuck with a star and an approach.

Now it’s paying off. “CBS Mornings” last week also came within spitting distance of both rival shows in total viewers– five hundred-to-six hundred thousand.

“GMA” still narrowly leads “Today” in total viewers, but “Today” swamps “GMA” in younger viewers.

Adweek magazine notes that the King’s shows ratings were aided by the announcement of Golden Globe nominations and so on. But I do think that Gayle King’s consistent approach is winning CBS a growing, loyal audience. And “Mornings” is a serious stand out, while “Good Morning America” often feels like a game show.

Golden Globes: Still No Host for CBS Show Three Weeks Away, Airing from Same Hotel that Last Year’s Host Said “Killed Whitney Houston”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Golden Globes: Still No Host for CBS Show Three Weeks Away, Airing from Same Hotel that Last Year’s Host Said “Killed Whitney Houston”

Good Morning.

It’s December 20, 2024. The Golden Globes air live on CBS on January 7, 2024. The show still has no host.

According to reports, many comedians have turned down the opportunity to front for the formerly scandal plagued group. It’s the irony of the Globes, who one insider told me “is a great brand” but “no one respects it.”

One report said Chris Rock declined the job. Former hosts Ricky Gervais, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, have no interest in returning.

Last year’s host, comic Jerrod Carmichael, was a disaster. He referred to the Beverly Hilton Hotel — which, like the Globes, Dick Clark Productions, and the Hollywood Reporter are all owned by the same person, Todd Boehley — as being the place where Whitney Houston died. So he’s off the list, too.

Other awards shows have their hosts well in advance. The Critics Choice Awards are all set for January 14th with Chelsea Handler, for example. The Grammy Awards have Trevor Noah. The Oscars are represented by Jimmy Kimmel. The Super Bowl has already booked Usher to perform in the half time show.

But the Globes so far are rudderless. CBS is airing the show three decades after kicking the group off the air for accepting trips to Las Vegas from singer Pia Zadora’s rich husband and then giving her an award. But now, needing programming because of the strikes this past year, CBS has welcomed them back.

The Globes have other problems, too. There’s a report that 64 members of the group are protesting the show because they won’t be able to sit in the Beverly Hilton’s capacious ballroom. They’ve been told there aren’t enough seats. That doesn’t seem possible given that the official capacity for the ballroom is 1,100.

The clock is ticking…

Here are some of Carmichael’s best jokes from 2023. At 2:08 you can hear the Whitney Houston joke.

Ryan Gosling, Mark Ronson Giving “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie” the Full Phil Spector Treatment Tomorrow

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ryan Gosling, Mark Ronson Giving “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie” the Full Phil Spector Treatment Tomorrow

Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson really want the Oscar for “I’m Just Ken.”

According to Mrs. Gosling, aka Eva Mendes, the pair are launching a Phil Spector version of the song tomorrow with a video. It sounds like a rock anthem set against a wall of sound. Cool!

Trust me, this song will win Best Song at the Oscars this year. If Gosling performs it, the whole Dolby Theater will go nuts.

Eva gave a snippet on Instagram today. Stay tuned….

1...373374375...2,370Page 374 of 2,370

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com