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Writers Strike Affects MTV Awards as Drew Barrymore Backs Out as Host: Will Ariana DeBose Exit Tony Awards? Who Will Write It?

Roger Friedman
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Writers Strike Affects MTV Awards as Drew Barrymore Backs Out as Host: Will Ariana DeBose Exit Tony Awards? Who Will Write It?

Drew Barrymore is out as host of the MTV Movie and TV Awards this weekend.

The reason? She’s in sympathy with the Writers Guild strike.

Thus begins the real affects of the strike. If it continues into June, the next problem could be the Tony Awards. Will Ariana DeBose stay as host? Will presenters and performers balk at being on the show? And who will write it? Dave Boone, who’s written the Tonys for several years, is a member of the WGA.

So the MTV Awards will go without a host. I feel for the producers. That show is like herding cats to begin with. But the strike must be respected.

Barrymore said in a statement:
“I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike. Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait but I’ll be watching from home and hope you will join me. I thank MTV, who has truly been some of the best partners I have ever worked with. And I can’t wait to be a part of this next year, when I can truly celebrate everything that MTV has created, which is a show that allows fans to choose who the awards go to and is truly inclusive.​”

The executive producer of the MTV show, Bruce Gillmer, told Variety the show will go on nonetheless.

“But we have a plan, since the award show is fan-voted, we want to honor the fans’ participation and also honor the talent that earn these awards. So we’ll be giving the awards away. We’re working on a plan on how to do that without the traditional presentation involved, should the talent or some of the talent not show. We’ve got backups to our backups. And we’re planning on keeping as many of the signature elements of the show intact. We will have a live audience and it will still be a live event. Different, with more pre-taped packages and so forth, which are scalable, but it’ll still have that live event feel.”

Breaking: Ed Sheeran Wins His Copyright Case as Jury Rules in His Favor Versus Marvin Gaye

Roger Friedman
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Breaking: Ed Sheeran Wins His Copyright Case as Jury Rules in His Favor Versus Marvin Gaye

The New York jury has just ruled that Ed Sheeran didn’t steal his song from Marvin Gaye.

The jury ruled against the estate of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer of “Let’s Get It On.” The estate said Sheeran ripped off “Let’s Get It On” for his hit, “Thinking Out Loud.”

But Sheeran’s response to the suit was indeed, “Let’s get it on.” He appeared on the stand a couple of times, played the guitar, was ginger spice. The estates couldn’t bring on Gaye or Townsend, and the jury was wowed by a charming rock star celebrity.

Will this discourage future similar cases? Doubtful. And Sheeran, who’s had a lot of these situations, had better start thinking out loud and to himself about future songwriting or he’ll wind up back in court.

Review: “Succession” Episode 7 Requires a Scorecard and Very Strong Drinks as the Whip Comes Down

Roger Friedman
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Review: “Succession” Episode 7 Requires a Scorecard and Very Strong Drinks as the Whip Comes Down

No real spoilers here, I promise.

Episode 7 of Season 4 means there are only three installments left. So now the tide is turning, and pretty damn fast. A lot of things are clarified, and there are enough surprises at a pre-election party at Shiv and Tom’s triplex that we may to watch this one a few times.

There are a couple of startling confrontations that will have just huge impact on the next three outings. If you’ve noticed, in this season now with Logan gone, people are being much more viciously candid than ever. We are watching several duels at once, like tennis matches with swords, and the cuts are getting deeper and deeper.

Now that Kieran Culkin jumped into the Emmy game as a lead and not supporting — in direct contest with Jeremy Strong — Matthew MacFadyen has jumped into the lead supporting actor in drama. Tom and Shiv go somewhere on Sunday that George and Martha from “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” could not imagine. Edward Albee’s emotionally ruthless characters would leave the room in tears, folks.

Who’s not at the big party, by the way? Sandi and Stewie, maybe because actor Arian Moyad was already rehearsing “A Doll’s House” on Broadway. (And Hope Davis is always busy.) Also missing: David Rasche (Karl must be exhausted after the last few episodes.) There’s only scene with Gerri that, of course, J. Smith-Cameron nails to the floor. A character from Seasons 1 and 2 returns. Kendall’s wife also returns and mention is made of his children.

Who is at the party? Lukas Mattson, whose whole world is being peeled like an onion.

Get out the scotch or whatever calms your nerves.

George Foreman Movie Knocked Out in 2nd Round: Sony Feature Film Has No Legs, Finds Itself on the Ropes

Roger Friedman
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George Foreman Movie Knocked Out in 2nd Round: Sony Feature Film Has No Legs, Finds Itself on the Ropes

Sony Pictures as a movie about boxing great George Foreman playing in 3,000 theaters.

It’s a stealth release, with almost no promotion or publicity. For a while, when I heard the title, I thought it was a documentary.

But it’s not. George Tillman Jr. directed it. There are probably actors involved.

Foreman has been knocked out plenty of times in career, but this one was pretty fast. After making $3 million in its first weekend, “Big George Foreman” has taken in just half that this week. Whoops! Every day this week has been a huge decline. On Wednesday, the film took in just $190,000.

The movie is on the ropes at the box office. If Sony doesn’t start pulling it from theaters, the ref may start blowing a whistle. Or get out his George Foreman Grill and heat up some Rotten Tomatoes. (Score there: 44%.)

Ed Sheeran Admitted in Interview He’d Nicked a Coldplay Song for Keith Urban’s “Parallel Line” — And Chris Martin Wouldn’t “Clear” It

Roger Friedman
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Ed Sheeran Admitted in Interview He’d Nicked a Coldplay Song for Keith Urban’s “Parallel Line” — And Chris Martin Wouldn’t “Clear” It

Ed Sheeran is being sued for copying Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On” into his own “Thinking Out Loud.” Jury deliberations begin this morning.

Sheeran has faced this kind of accusation in the past. We knew about him taking TLC’s “No Scrubs” and turning it into “Shape of You.” He had to add the songwriters of the former to his credits and pay them big time.

Now it comes out — I didn’t know — that Coldplay’s Chris Martin (who famously lifted a piece of music for his own “Viva La Vida”) — was upset when Sheeran stole from him. In 2018, Sheeran gave Keith Urban a song called “Parallel Line.” Sheeran admits he had to call Martin and explain that he’d taken Coldplay’s “Everglow” for it.

Sheeran told Apple’s Zane Lowe in an April interview:

“I had a song that I wrote for Keith Urban and it sort of sounded like a Coldplay song. So I emailed Chris Martin and I said, ‘This sounds like your tune. Can we clear it?’ And he went, ‘Don’t be ridiculous. No.’”

Sheeran told Lowe: “And on the song I made sure they put, ‘I think it sounds like “Everglow,” Coldplay.’ But he was just like, ‘Nah, I know how songs are written. And I know you didn’t go into the studio and go, I want to write this.’”

Sheeran acts like it was his idea to amend the Parallel Line credits, which is hilarious. But now the Urban song says it contains a sample from “Everglow.” Martin is getting paid, so he’s happy, and in fact invited Sheeran on stage for a duet a couple of years ago. Money talks, everybody sings.

But what is going on here with Sheeran? He’s like a human jukebox.

American Actors Brie Larson and Paul Dano Will Represent the US in Eclectic Cannes Jury for 2023

Roger Friedman
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American Actors Brie Larson and Paul Dano Will Represent the US in Eclectic Cannes Jury for 2023

The Jury for the 2023 Cannes Palme d’Or is eclectic as usual.

Led by “Triangle of Sadness” Ruben Ostlund this year’s jury features Moroccan director Maryam Touzani, French actor Denis Ménochet, British-Zambian screenwriter & director Rungano Nyoni, American actress & director Brie Larson, American actor Paul Dano, Afghan author Atiq Rahimi, Argentinian director & screenwriter Damián Szifrón and French director Julia Ducournau who won the top prize in 2021.

Larson and Dano will represent the US. Larson is an Oscar winner and Dano is a multiple nominee.

The Palme d’Or and other awards chosen by this jury will be presented at the closing ceremony on May 27th. It will be followed by the Festival’s final screening: Elemental, Disney and Pixar’s animated film by Peter Sohn.

Graydon Carter Is Back! Superstar Guests Rumored for Biggest Cannes Party Ever Saluting Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary — Including De Niro, Hanks, The Weeknd, More

Roger Friedman
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Graydon Carter Is Back! Superstar Guests Rumored for Biggest Cannes Party Ever Saluting Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary — Including De Niro, Hanks, The Weeknd, More

The party wars are on, and the winner is Graydon Carter.

The beloved former Vanity Fair editor in chief — the one who made the magazine soar — has just sent out the invite for the biggest Cannes party of all time.

Carter (and his terrific Air Mail online magazine) and Warner Discovery chief David Zaslav are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. with a blow out on May 23rd at the majestic Hotel du Cap Eden Roc.

Guests already rumored (yeah, they’re coming) I’m told include Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost, Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman, Rebel Wilson, Vicky Krieps. Plus the party is the same night as the premiere in Cannes of Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City.” Focus Features is bringing the entire cast to Cannes including Jason Schwarzman, Edward Norton, and so on. They will come right up the duCap after their no-doubt standing ovation premiere.

Also coming is the whole cast of HBO’s “The Idol” starting with The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye). There are also a phalanx of supermodels on board, because what is Cannes without them?

Carter’s party will surely eclipse the annual Vanity Fair party thrown by the gang that has wrecked that magazine. Unlike Vanity Fair, the Carter-Zaslav event is invite only and every name is checked. At the moment, several concierge services are selling tickets to the Vanity Fair event to the hoi polloi. You can see a bunch of them here. The Warner 100 gala is tight as a drum and already the hardest ticket in Cannes this year!

Scooped Last Week: Michael Douglas At Cannes Opening, Receiving Honorary Palme d’Or Prize

Roger Friedman
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Scooped Last Week: Michael Douglas At Cannes Opening, Receiving Honorary Palme d’Or Prize

I did tell this 8 days ago. Michael Douglas will be part of the opening of the Cannes Film Festival. He will received the honorary Palme d’Or.

Past winners include Forest Whitaker, Agnès Varda, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Jodie Foster or Manoel de Oliveira.

Douglas has two Oscars. He’s appeared at Cannes twice in the past and most assuredly deserves this award.

He says: “It is always a breath of fresh air to be at Cannes, which has long provided a wonderful platform for bold creators, artistic audacities and excellence in storytelling. From my first time here in 1979 for The China Syndrome to my most recent premiere for Behind the Candelabra in 2013, the Festival has always reminded me that magic of cinema is not just in what we see onscreen but in its ability to impact people all around the world. After more than 50 years in the business, it’s an honor to return to the Croisette to open the Festival and embrace our shared global language of film.”

Rock Hall Inducts 13 Artists Except for Top Vote Getter Cyndi Lauper, Adds Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, George Michael, and Even Al Kooper

Roger Friedman
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Rock Hall Inducts 13 Artists Except for Top Vote Getter Cyndi Lauper, Adds Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, George Michael, and Even Al Kooper

You can always count on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to do something weird. So this year they’ve more than doubled the number of new inductees but left out the top living vote-getter.

What happened to Cyndi Lauper?

The list includes George Michael, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and my personal favorite, The Spinners.

There are also a bunch of miscellaneous people like great blues guitarist Al Kooper, late “Soul Train” producer and innovator Don Cornelius, Link Wray, rap originator DJ Kool Herc, and the towering living lyricist and Elton John collaborator, Bernie Taupin.

What happened to Cyndi Lauper? She was number 1 in the Fan Vote among living people. Why do the fan vote if you ignore the musician who got the most votes? Time after time, this is what happens. The Rock Hall shows its true colors.

Well, anyway, these are all fine people, and the sheer number of them ensures a long night at Barclay Center this fall.

Broadway: Andrew Lloyd Webber Snubbed by Tonys for “Bad Cinderella,” Bob Fosse’s “Dancin'” Closing After No Nominations

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Andrew Lloyd Webber Snubbed by Tonys for “Bad Cinderella,” Bob Fosse’s “Dancin'” Closing After No Nominations

The Tony Awards are the great leveler for marginal shows.

Without any nominations, Bob Fosse’s “Dancin'” will now close on May 14th.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s really useless “Bad Cinderella” also received no nominations. ALW has received at least a couple of nominations in the past for his worst shows. But this hits rock bottom. Playing only to 65% capacity, “Bad Cinderella” will likely close soon.

Another current resident on The Great Light Way is “The Thanksgiving Play.” Catch it now because with no noms, and 79% capacity, this one is doomed. Also, “Pictures from Home” has run its course. The play starring Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein, and Zoe Wanamaker got nothing, and closed on Sunday.

Who might benefit from their Tony nominations? “Some Like it Hot” picked up the most nods of any show. It should win Best Musical. And while it’s been struggling, this could give it a boost. I hope so. Also, “Leopoldstadt” is already set to close on July 2nd. It will win Best Play. The Tom Stoppard play is the best of the season and must be seen.

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