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Broadway: Tom Stoppard Is On His Way to Win a Tony Award and (Hopefully) A Pulitzer Prize for “Leopoldstadt”

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Tom Stoppard Is On His Way to Win a Tony Award and (Hopefully) A Pulitzer Prize for “Leopoldstadt”

British-Czech playwright has six Tony Awards for writing the Best Play on Broadway. This June should come his 7th statue, and maybe even a Pulitzer Prize.

I went back last week to see again his real masterwork, “Leopoldstadt.” The Longacre Theater was full, which was good since this production set to close in July. Frankly, it should run forever.

This time, a few standbys were in the cast. Plus Josh Malina, of “West Wing” fame, is now playing the key role of Herman, originally played by David Krumholtz.

But the original players are still there mostly including Brandon Uranowitz, Betsy Aidem, Jenna Augen, and the amazing Faye Castelow. Actually, the whole cast is amazing as this Jewish family in Vienna begins at the end of the 19th century feeling that they’ve made it financially and socially. They even have a Christmas tree so it looks like they fit in. One member has become a Catholic. Another has married a non Jew. This group of the family has convinced themselves they are Austrian above anything else, guaranteeing them assimilation and success.

Of course, they couldn’t be more wrong. Over the next two hours and ten minutes their lives will be destroyed, devastatingly and they would say — unexpectedly. But the writing has been on the wall. They’ve just refused to see it.

“Leopoldstadt” is a historical tale but it’s also a warning for Jews in 2023. That’s why it resonates so loudly and cuts so deeply. Antisemitism all over the world has increased tremendously. Even in New York, where people feel safe, the threat always looms. Are we ignoring the writing on the wall? I know plenty of people who feel like the family on this stage, wrapped in their own success, ignoring the signs around them. This is why when the “Leopoldstadt” comes to its close there’s a lot of sniffling in the audience. Every immigrant can identify with this experience.

You have until July 2nd to see this play. Don’t miss it.

Hollywood Retreat: Jonathan Majors’ “Magazine Dreams” Have Turned Into a Nightmare for Disney’s Searchlight and Marvel Studios

Roger Friedman
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Hollywood Retreat: Jonathan Majors’ “Magazine Dreams” Have Turned Into a Nightmare for Disney’s Searchlight and Marvel Studios

Jonathan Majors was the hottest movie star of the winter. He starred in “Creed III” and “Ant Man 3” and was Most Wanted by every studio. His Sundance film, “Magazine Dreams,” was bought up by Disney’s Searchlight studio for a lot of money and set for late fall release with Oscars on the agenda.

Not only that: Majors’ Kang the Conqueror was set to be the new villain in two “Avengers” movies set for 2025 and 2026 from Marvel, which is also Disney. How much hotter could you be? I met Majors at the Oscars and, like everyone else, was thrilled to greet the new hot star in town.

But then came The Incident. A week after the Oscars, in New York, Majors was arrested on domestic violence charges. It’s claimed he tried to strangle his girlfriend. He’s innocent until proven guilty, but not in Hollywood. This week his management company and his publicity team each dropped him. His talent agency is still with him, but everyone else seems to have fled before hearing the evidence. Majors has to be crushed. No one could have predicted this career destruction.

Can it be fixed? If Majors can bring the public proof that he’s innocent, yes. And quickly. He’s losing jobs left and right. Searchlight has the biggest exposure right now. They’ve invested a lot in “Magazine Dreams.” But they’ve also been down this road before. A few years ago they set up Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” until Parker got trapped in the scandal surrounding his undisclosed college rape trial. The whole Oscar campaign was shelved, the movie was dumped into theaters, and no one spoke of it again. This could happen to “Magazine Dreams.” Let’s hope it doesn’t, and this is all a big misunderstanding.

Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” So Long It Will Be Killer of Cannes Saturday Night

Roger Friedman
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Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” So Long It Will Be Killer of Cannes Saturday Night

Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” is long, long, long. I was told a while ago that it logged in at nearly four hours. Now Deadline says it’s down to three hours, twenty six minutes.

“Killers” is supposed to premiere in Cannes on Saturday, May 20th. But even if the film unfurls at 6pm sharp, it will take up the entire evening on the Croisette. And “sharp” is not a term heard a lot at Cannes events. In all likelihood, “Killers” won’t start rolling much before 7pm, ending at 10pm with the requisite “fifteen minute standing ovation” that accompanies every film.

The Flower Moon won’t be the only thing the Scorsese film kills off. All parties and events connected to the actual festival will take a hit, too. By 10:15pm that crowd will be ravenous and not looking forward to a half hour ride to the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc or Antibes in general. Apple and Paramount may have to feed their guests right on the spot!

The length of “Killers” is not unprecedented. Back in 2008, Steven Soderberg unveiled his movie about Che Guevara, shot in natural light and lasting four hours and change. There was even a bathroom break. The great publicist Peggy Siegal brought a buffet in her large handbag with crackers and cheese. She was the most popular person in the Palais!

Fox News Caves on $1.6 Bil Defamation Suit, Settles with Dominion, Murdoch Avoids Trial, Will Pay $787.5 Million

Roger Friedman
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Fox News Caves on $1.6 Bil Defamation Suit, Settles with Dominion, Murdoch Avoids Trial, Will Pay $787.5 Million

Fox News has caved in and settled the $1.6 billion defamation case brought by Dominion Voting Systems. They will pay $787.5 million to Dominion.

All news outlets are reporting this except for the NY Post and Foxnews.com. The Wall Street Journal has posted a terse two paragraph story. Fox News’s Howard Kurtz just appeared on the network 20 minutes after all the other news networks. They are all owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Murdoch had to settle. He had to avoid a trial in which he would have to testify as well as his lying news anchors. There’s speculation that Dominion took $1 billion from Fox. Howard Kurtz just read a statement on Fox News that didn’t sound very conciliatory.

Huge success for foes of Fox News. More to come..

Exclusive: Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Will Meet a Logan Roy-Like Exit in “Yellowstone” Season 5, Part 2

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Will Meet a Logan Roy-Like Exit in “Yellowstone” Season 5, Part 2

Exclusive: “Yellowstone” isn’t ending, but Kevin Costner’s John Dutton is on his way out.

According to my sources, Dutton will meet a similar fate to that of “Succession”‘s Logan Roy,played by Brian Cox on the HBO hit, The show killed him off in the third episode, Of course, “Succession” was in its final season. “Yellowstone” is not. I’m told when the second part of Season 5 of “Yellowstone” resumes some time this fall, Dutton will be killed off and the repercussions will be played out in the remaining episodes.

“The whole team is down in Texas now meeting, and trying to figure out how to do it. I’m sure Taylor Sheridan has it worked out more or less.” The source adds: “We all knew Kevin would leave eventually.”

And so it goes. But wait! My source says “Yellowstone” will not end with Dutton’s death, and this has nothing to do with the Matthew McConaughey spin off. “I think the main show will go on for at least one more season after, they’ll have to see how it goes. Remember, this isn’t until 2024. A lot can happen.” As for McConaughey: “that show will like ‘1923’, its own series.

As I reported months ago, Costner and Sheridan have been at odds for a long time. Costner is ready to reclaim his movie career. He’s directing a multi-part series called “Horizon” that he will own rather than be part of Sheridan’s empire. It’s just a matter of figuring out how and when to get rid of John Dutton.

Meanwhile, the cast and crew of “Yellowstone” wait with baited breath for the executive to decide when Season 5, Part 2, starts shooting its remaining 7 episodes.

“Rust” Never Sleeps: Alec Baldwin Will Resume Shooting Film Next Week Despite Pending Trial and Civil Lawsuit Over Death of Halyna Hutchins

Roger Friedman
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“Rust” Never Sleeps: Alec Baldwin Will Resume Shooting Film Next Week Despite Pending Trial and Civil Lawsuit Over Death of Halyna Hutchins

Alec Baldwin will resume production of the movie “Rust” next week despite a pending trial and civil lawsuit over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Taking the low road, Baldwin feels compelled to finish a low budget movie that no one cared about in the first place and won’t go to if it’s made — except out of morbid curiosity. (These people act like they’re trying to finish “The Ten Commandments” or “Gone with thre Wind”!)

Yesterday Baldwin’s lawyers asked the court to dismiss a civil suit brought by Hutchins’ mother and sister, claiming that they were estranged from her so they don’t deserve any money. Also, Baldwin has made a deal with Hutchins’ husband, part of which includes his getting Executive Producer credit on the finished him. This is all in such poor taste, it boggles the mind.

And then there’s the criminal case in Santa Fe against Baldwin and Hannah Guitierrez-Reed. Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and presumably will stand trial unless some kind of plea agreement can be reached. Special prosecutors have been appointed who will carry on with the case.

When the gun went off that killed Hutchins, director Joel Souza was also shot. He doesn’t seem to care since he will resume directing the movie. Will they stick to the script so we see the scene that was supposed to be shot when the two people were actually shot? Since there’s no bottom to how low this goes, why not? Why not write the shooting into the screenplay?

What I can’t wait for are the press junkets and interviews when “Rust” is finally released by whatever film company can be convinced to do it. You can hear the publicists now: “Don’t ask about the shooting, or the trial, or the lawsuits.” Unbelievable.

Blues Rocker George Thorogood in Health Crisis, Needs Surgery, Cancels Tour Dates Through Mid May

Roger Friedman
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Blues Rocker George Thorogood in Health Crisis, Needs Surgery, Cancels Tour Dates Through Mid May

“Bad to the Bone” singer George Thorogood is in trouble.

The blues rocker has cancelled all his upcoming tour dates. His website states:

With great sadness, we must announce the cancellation of our Canadian & U.S. tour dates from April 27, 2023 through May 21, 2023.  George has been diagnosed with a very serious medical condition that will require immediate surgery and quite a few weeks of recuperation and healing.  You, our fans, mean the world to us, and we know this news is not want you wanted to hear, but rest assured George Thorogood & The Destroyers will be back.  We’ll keep you updated as we know more.

This is a tricky time for a lot of celebrities. Jamie Foxx is in Atlanta suffering from unidentified medical crisis Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler is recovering from a variety of ailments, and so on.

We’re sending a Get Well Soon message to George. Hope to see him on the road again soon!

Tribeca Film Fest Theme: Celebrity Directors Steve Buscemi, Lily Rabe, John Slattery, Randall Park, Michael Shannon, David Duchovny, Jennifer Esposito, More

Roger Friedman
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Tribeca Film Fest Theme: Celebrity Directors Steve Buscemi, Lily Rabe, John Slattery, Randall Park, Michael Shannon, David Duchovny, Jennifer Esposito, More

The 2023 Tribeca Film Festival has a theme: movies directed by actors and celebrities. This means stars, stars, stars all over town in mid June.

Here’s just the Spotlight Narrative selections. Bold faced names everywhere! This is going to be fun.

PS Pay close attention to the Lily Rabe film. She’s a great, underrated actress, daughter of director-writer David Rabe and the late amazing actress Jill Clayburgh. She’s collaborated with husband Hamish Linklater. If this were a horse at Belmont, I’d put some money on it!

The Adults, (United States) – North American Premiere. A short trip back home reunites three siblings with a complicated past. The Adults explores the family dynamics that unfold when one of the siblings tries to assert his dominance as the best poker player in town. Directed and written by Dustin Guy Defa. Produced by Allison Rose Carter, Jon Read, Michael Cera, Julia Thompson, Hannah Dweck, Theodore Schaefer. With Michael Cera, Hannah Gross, Sophia Lillis.

Afire, (Germany) – New York Premiere. Leon and Felix travel to a summer home near the Baltic Sea hoping to dive into creative pursuits, but an unexpected guest disrupts their plans. As the sky turns orange from a nearby forest fire, it’s clear that trees aren’t the only thing burning. Directed and written by Christian Petzold. Produced by Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Michael Weber, Anton Kaiser. With Thomas Schubert, Paula Beer, Langston Uibel. A Sideshow and Janus Films Release.

The Blackening, (United States) – US Premiere. Based on the viral digital skit, The Blackening tells the story of old friends who reunite in a cabin in the woods (where have we heard that before?). The fun weekend quickly becomes a fight to survive, and the only way to make it out is to figure out which friend is the Blackest of them all. Directed by Tim Story, written by Tracy Oliver, Dewayne Perkins. Produced by Tim Story, Tracy Oliver, E. Brian Dobbins, Marcei A. Brown, Jason Clark, Sharla Sumpter Bridgett. With Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, Yvonne Orji. A Lionsgate release.

Blood for Dust, (United States) – World Premiere. Jeff loses his traveling salesman job and decides to take on a risky new opportunity with Ricky, an old acquaintance. Soon, he is submerged into a dangerous underworld in this edge-of-your-seat action thriller. Directed by Rod Blackhurst, written by David Ebeltoft. Produced by Noah Lang, Mark Fasano, Nathan Klingher, Bobby Campbell, Arun Kumar, Ari Novak. With Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington, Josh Lucas, Stephen Dorff, Ethan Suplee, Nora Zehetner, Amber Rose Mason.

Bucky F*cking Dent, (United States) – World Premiere. Aspiring novelist and Yankee Stadium peanut slinger, Ted, discovers his estranged, Red Sox fanatic father is terminally ill. Wanting to mend fences and take care of the old man, Ted returns home with results as wild and unpredictable as the 1978 baseball season. Directed and written by David Duchovny. Produced by Jordan Yale Levine, Jordan Beckerman, Tiffany Kuzon, David Duchovny. With David Duchovny, Logan Marshall-Green, Stephanie Beatriz.

Cinnamon, (United States) – World Premiere. Two young lovers risk it all to chase their dreams. With great performances, including a menacing Pam Grier, Cinnamon deftly brings the Blaxploitation genre to the modern day. Directed and written by Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. Produced by Oz Scott. With Damon Wayans, Hailey Kilgore, David Iacono, Jeremie Harris, Pam Grier. A Tubi release.

Cold Copy, (United States) – World Premiere. The kinetic drama Cold Copy follows an ambitious journalism student’s tactics to impress, and get into the good graces of, an esteemed yet cutthroat news reporter — even if it involves manipulating her latest story … and truth itself. Directed and written by Roxine Helberg. Produced by Justin Lothrop, Brent Stiefel, Daniel Bekerman, Roxine Helberg. With Bel Powley, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jacob Tremblay, Nesta Cooper.

Downtown Owl, (United States) – World Premiere. Based on the novel by Chuck Klosterman, Downtown Owl is a stylish and energetic adaptation that thrusts viewers into small-town Owl, North Dakota, as a motley crew of characters brace for a historic blizzard. Directed by Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater, written by Hamish Linklater. Produced by Bettina Barrow, Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater, Rebecca Green. With Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, August Blanco Rosenstein, Jack Dylan Grazer, Arianna Jaffier, Finn Wittrock, Henry Golding.

Eric LaRue, (United States) – World Premiere. In the aftermath of a shocking crime at the hands of their son, two parents seek solace in rival religious congregations in Michael Shannon’s emotional directorial debut. Directed by Michael Shannon, written by Brett Neveu. Produced by Sarah Green, Karl Hartman, Jina Panebianco. With Judy Greer, Alexander Skarsgård, Alison Pill, Paul Sparks, Tracy Letts.

First Time Female Director, (United States) – World Premiere. Chelsea Peretti makes her directorial debut with this hilarious ensemble comedy set in a Glendale theater where a new female director struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy. Directed and written by Chelsea Peretti. Produced by Deanna Barillari, Chelsea Peretti, Amy Poehler, Kate Arend, Jordan Grief. With Chelsea Peretti, Amy Poehler, Kate Berlant, Benito Skinner, Megan Stalter, Megan Mullally.

Fresh Kills, (United States) – World Premiere. After their patriarch goes to prison, the loyal women of the Larusso family must survive by following the unspoken code of the New York City mafia world in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Directed and written by Jennifer Esposito. Produced by Leslie Owen, Jennifer Esposito, Samantha Sprecher, Christine Crokos. With Emily Baden, Odessa A’zion, Jennifer Esposito, Dominick Lombardozzi, Annabella Sciorra, Nicholas Cirillo.

The Good Half, (United States) – World Premiere. An emotionally distant writer returns home for his mother’s funeral in this tender family dramedy. The Good Half offers an honest and nuanced approach to grief, regret, and healing. Directed by Robert Schwartzman, written by Brett Ryland. Produced by Russell Wayne Groves. With Nick Jonas, Brittany Snow, Matt Walsh, David Arquette, Alexandra Shipp, Elisabeth Shue.

He Went That Way, (United States) – World Premiere. A fateful meeting in 1964 along Route 66 pairs a 19-year-old serial killer with a celebrity animal handler shepherding an American TV darling — his chimpanzee, Spanky. Directed by Jeffrey Darling, written by Evan M. Wiener. Produced by Marc Benardout, Hugh Broder, James Harris, Jeremy Kotin, Mark Lane. With Jacob Elordi, Zachary Quinto.

I.S.S., (United States) – World Premiere. Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as nuclear war begins on Earth. Reeling from these events, astronauts and cosmonauts receive similar orders: take control of the station at any cost. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, written by Nick Shafir. Produced by Pete Shilaimon, Mickey Liddell. With Chris Messina, Ariana DeBose, Pilou Asbæk, John Gallagher Jr., Costa Ronin, Maria Mashkova.

John Early: Now More Than Ever, (United States) – World Premiere. A comedy special by way of The Last Waltz, New York’s alt-comedy godfather John Early performs his silly, surreal, spontaneous stand-up set in front of a live audience, a full band … and his parents. Directed by Emily Allan, Leah Hennessey. Produced by John Early, Dave Kneebone, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Janel Kranking. An HBO Original Release.

LaRoy, (United States, France) – World Premiere. After discovering his wife’s affair, Ray Jepsen plans to kill himself, but fate intervenes. Through a bizarre turn of events, he is mistaken for a low-rent hired killer and decides to become one. Directed and written by Shane Atkinson. Produced by Caddy Vanasirikul, Sébastien Aubert, Jérémie Guiraud. With John Magaro, Steve Zahn, Dylan Baker, Megan Stevenson, Matthew Del Negro, Brad Leland.

The Lesson, (UK) – World Premiere. A young novelist eager to make a name for himself begins tutoring the son of one of the most influential writers in the world. Good intentions soon give way to suspicion as darker motivations surface and the lines of master and protégé are blurred. Directed by Alice Troughton, written by Alex MacKeith. Produced by Camille Gatin, Cassandra Sigsgaard, Judy Tossell, Fabien Westerhoff. With Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy, Daryl McCormack, Stephen McMillan, Crispin Letts. A Bleecker Street release.

The Line, (United States) – World Premiere. Coming-of-age feature The Line explores the moral ambiguity of loyalty to tradition, as seen through a college sophomore in the throes of fraternity culture. Directed by Ethan Berger, written by Ethan Berger, Alex Russek. Produced by Alexandre Dauman, Jack Parker, Adam Paulsen, Lije Sarki. With Alex Wolff, Lewis Pullman, Halle Bailey, Austin Abrams, Angus Cloud, Scoot McNairy, John Malkovich.

The Listener, (United States) – North American Premiere. An understated drama about a night in the life of a mental health helpline volunteer, The Listener is a stirring testament to the power of empathy. Directed by Steve Buscemi, written by Alessandra Camon. Produced by Wren Arthur, Steve Buscemi, Oren Moverman, Lauren Hantz, Tessa Thompson. With Tessa Thompson.

Maggie Moore(s), (United States) – World Premiere. A small-town sheriff is baffled when two women with the same name get murdered days apart. Things quickly ratchet up in this comedy that reunites leading Mad Men alumni. Directed by John Slattery, written by Paul Bernbaum. Produced by John Slattery, Vincent Newman, Dan Reardon, Santosh Govindaraju, Nancy Leopardi, Ross Kohn. With Jon Hamm, Tina Fey, Micah Stock, Nick Mohammed, Happy Anderson, Mary Holland. A Screen Media release.

The Miracle Club, (Ireland, UK) – World Premiere. Three close friends who have never left the outskirts of Dublin (much less Ireland) get the journey of a lifetime – a visit to Lourdes, the picturesque French town and place of miracles. Directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan, written by Joshua D. Maurer, Timothy Prager, Jimmy Smallhorne. Produced by Joshua D. Maurer, Alixandre Witlin, Chris Curling, Larry Bass, Aaron Farrell, John Gleeson, Osín O’Neill. With Laura Linney, Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, Agnes O’Casey, Stephen Rea. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

Our Son, (United States) – World Premiere. Fed up with the state of his relationship, Gabriel files for divorce from his partner of thirteen years, Nicky. Thus begins their complex journey to find themselves and support their son along the way. Directed by Bill Oliver, written by Peter Nickowitz, Bill Oliver. Produced by Fernando Loureiro, Eric Binns, Guilherme Coelho, Jennifer 8. Lee, Christopher Lin. With Billy Porter, Luke Evans, Robin Weigert, Andrew Rannells, Isaac Powell, Phylicia Rashad.

The Perfect Find, (United States) – World Premiere. Looking for a fresh start, a forty-year-old returns to the workforce, where she must navigate a challenging workplace, a demanding boss, and a lusty secret romance. directed by Numa Perrier, written by Leigh Davenport. Produced by Glendon Palmer, Gabrielle Union, Jeff Morrone, Codie Elaine Oliver, Tommy Oliver. With Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers, Aisha Hinds, DB Woodside, Janet Hubert, Alani “La La” Anthony, Gina Torres. A Netflix release.

Shortcomings, (United States) – New York Premiere. A biting satire following the romantic journeys of its trio of protagonists, led by an appealingly misanthropic Justin H. Min, Shortcomings is a charming, witty and hilarious directorial debut from Randall Park. Directed by Randall Park, written by Adrian Tomine. Produced by Hieu Ho, Randall Park, Michael Golamco, Margot Hand, Jennifer Berman, Howard Cohen, Eric d’Arbeloff. With Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Debby Ryan, Tavi Gevinson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jacob Batalon, Timothy Simons. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.

Ratings Collapse For “Saturday Night Live” with Ana De Armas, Karol G As Show Dips Well Under 4 Million Viewers

Roger Friedman
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Ratings Collapse For “Saturday Night Live” with Ana De Armas, Karol G As Show Dips Well Under 4 Million Viewers

“SNL” has been able to keep its weekly numbers above 4 million most of this season. For the last several weeks, the average has been 4.1 or 4.2 million viewers, occasionally exceeding that norm.

But this past Saturday was a disaster. Ana de Armas, the Oscar nominee for “Blonde.” was the host. She was delightful and gorgeous. She was in a lot of sketches. But this didn’t grab the audience. Total viewers fell to 3.8 million. Ouch!

Karol G was the musical guest. I have no idea who she is, and neither did the audience evidently. Whoever she is, Karol G doesn’t have a single on the iTunes top 100. Why would “SNL” have thought she’d be a ratings getter?

I don’t understand why “SNL” doesn’t look for legacy artists with huge followers from concerts and oldies radio? There are so many cool acts who the “SNL” age audience will tune in for. Considering Creedence Clearwater Revival’s greatest hit sells like crazy, why not get John Fogerty?

The next scheduled show is May 6th with Pete Davidson returning, and Lil Uzi Vert, a rapper with hits. But that show may not happen if the Writers Guild goes on strike. And that seems like a looming possibility.

“Succession” Ratings: Watercooler Show Is a Streaming Sensation But Lags on Conventional Cable

Roger Friedman
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“Succession” Ratings: Watercooler Show Is a Streaming Sensation But Lags on Conventional Cable

We also know “Succession” is a hit. It’s what we used to call a ‘water cooler show’ back when people were in offices gathered around clear plastic bubbling stands.

This past week, though. “Succession” didn’t rise that much on HBO’s main channel. Just 695,000 viewers caught the 9pm Sunday show, which up from the previous week but not by much.

Streaming was a different story. HBO says 2.6 million total viewed the post-death episode in which Connor Roy agreed to purchase his father’s Park Avenue aerie for $63 million from the old man’s estranged widow. That means around 1.9 million came in through HBO Max or Max as it is now known.

Only HBO knows the veracity of that number, 1.9 million. Streaming numbers are not divulged by an independent source. We take their word for it. Logan Roy wouldn’t, but we will. We have no choice.

Important to note– I was at dinner with some friends last week. Their smart, media savvy 25 year old son joined us. “None of my friends have cable,” he told us. “Everyone has subscriptions to HBO Max, Netflix, etc. We all share them.” Where do they get their news? Not from CNN, Fox, or MSNBC on cable. “We get it from social media, You Tube, some Twitter alerts, Facebook.”

So this generation is not watching “Succession” or “Barry” — which got only 274,000 viewers on cable Sunday after “Succession.” They’re comprising those other numbers. Maybe.

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