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Box Office: “Creed III” Crosses $100 Mil With Unlikely Saturday Surge, “Scream 6” Has Massive Opening Weekend

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Creed III” Crosses $100 Mil With Unlikely Saturday Surge, “Scream 6” Has Massive Opening Weekend

Box office: Paramount is on a roll. Hyped up with “Top Gun Maverick” very hot coming into the Oscars and making a fortune, the venerable studio had a big weekend. “Scream VI” took in almost $45 million in just three days plus previews and was number 1.

What revived the “Scream” franchise The fright fest has good reviews, Courteney Cox, and a serious ingredient: Jenna Ortega, the “it” girl of the moment from “Wednesday,” the Addams Family series. That’s a recipe for success.

Elsewhere, “Creed III” hit $101 million, crossing the magic line a day or two earlier than expected. What happened? A crazy Saturday surge, unexpected, pushed them into a weekend headline. By most accounts, “Creed III” was lagging and shouldn’t have hit the mark until tomorrow or Tuesday. We’ll see if the guesstimate pans out.

Flops of the weekend: Adam Driver in “65,” which turned out to have a speed limit. Just $12 million, with bad reviews. Next time, call it “90.” And “Champions” were losers, sadly, A basketball movie with Woody Harrelson, “Champions” collapsed with $5.1 million. Woody Harrelson’s appearance last week on “SNL”: didn’t add to the bottom line. We’ll see that one on Peacock pretty quickly!

The Oscars Are Here at Last! (You Can Tape The Last of Us): What Surprises Could Be in Store

Roger Friedman
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The Oscars Are Here at Last! (You Can Tape The Last of Us): What Surprises Could Be in Store

The Oscars are here at last on ABC, tonight at 8pm. What surprises are in store for us?

First of all, set your DVRs to tape “The Last of Us” on HBO. I haven’t seen it but I assure you, Joel and Ellie live even if something bad happens to them. The show is a huge hit. There will be a second season.

Anyway back to the Oscars: Will “Everything Everywhere” pull off a huge sweep? We know that Ke Huy Quan will win Best Supporting Actor right at the top of the show. He’s the one lock of the night. Michelle Yeoh is likely to take Best Actress, way at the end of the night. She’s almost a lock if Cate Blanchett doesn’t pull off an overturn.

But most everything else is up in the air. The nail biters will be at the very end. Will Steven Spielberg nab Best Director for “The Fabelmans”? Or will “EEAAO” be so strong that the Daniels take that spot. If they do, then their movie is Best Picture. If Spielberg wins, everyone will on the edge of their seats waiting for the last envelope.

There won’t be any slaps or violence of any kind. No cliffhanger there. This year security will be amped, plus everyone will want to be on their best behavior. It should be a funny and moving show, with Jimmy Kimmel at the steering wheel. He runs a live show five days a week. He knows how to do this.

Length of the show shouldn’t be an issue, either. Only four of the five Best Songs are being performed. Lady Gaga’s song will be acknowledged just in clips. That cuts down the time. There will be the usual focus on the In Memoriam section, with Lenny Kravitz singing and playing while the names flash by. There will be the usual “snubs,” of course: who didn’t make it? We’ll find out soon enough.

So get the popcorn, the drinks, and the ballots ready. And follow me from the Dolby Theater on Twitter @showbiz411.

Vanity Fair Gives it Away: In UK Nearly Half Their Monthly Circulation is from Freebies

Roger Friedman
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Vanity Fair Gives it Away: In UK Nearly Half Their Monthly Circulation is from Freebies

Vanity Fair is busy erecting their huge temporary buildings in Beverly Hills for their Oscar party tonight.

But the magazine that used to have clout like crazy has been reduced to giving away magazines in the UK to pump up their circulation.

According to ABC, which does the auditing in the UK, Vanity Fair’s monthly circulation in Great Britain clocks in at just over 58K copies Sounds good until you see the breakdown: over 23,000 of those copies are free. They’re given away.

The actual paid circulation looks a lot different: just 18,634 in subscriber copies — which are deeply discounted — and 14,973 in single copies bought on the newsstand. Their digital issue number is insignificant — just 6,476.

In the US, which has a far bigger population, Vanity Fair sells 1.2 million magazines a year, or 120,000 per issue. This is a far cry from its halcyon days under Tina Brown and Graydon Carter. There’s no immediate breakdown of free copies, but it’s likely to be commensurate with the UK numbers.

In the US, Vanity Fair circulation is dwarfed by People, AARP, Better Homes and Gardens, and many other periodicals. None of them has an Oscar party. But none of them need to, I guess.

Box Office: “Creed III” Sacked in 2nd Weekend, Adam Driver Faces His First Real Flop Critically and Financially

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Creed III” Sacked in 2nd Weekend, Adam Driver Faces His First Real Flop Critically and Financially

“Creed III” started its run last weekend with knockout punches all kinds of other big boxing puns.

But in a true test, the second weekend has “Creed III” on the ropes. Friday’s box office fell 66% from last Friday. It seems like the big money was made in round 1, and round 2 may not fare so well.

This may be the way movies are going right now. Big opening weekends, followed by big fall offs. It used to mean a lot to have “legs,” but right now those legs are wobbly. “Creed III” will still hit $100 million by Monday or Tuesday, but that propulsive element is gone.

Meanwhile, Adam Driver is facing his first real flop with “65,” a title that sounds like it’s referring to retirement. Maybe it is, I have no idea. But “65” has disastrous reviews and just $4.4 million for its opening night. This is no “Star Wars” for Driver, who’s already had another off the books flop with Netflix’s “White Noise.” (Remember how “White Noise” was going to be their big Oscar movie?)

In the good news department, Paramount’s got a hit with “Scream 6.” They made $20 mil over Thursday and Friday. This is a huge leap from the last “Scream” movie in 2022. Horror of horrors, the new installment recalls the halcyon days of “Scream” when it first launched from Miramax decades ago. This episode has Courteney Cox, but no Neve Campbell, who turned it down after a low ball salary offer. You just never know how these things will go.

Exclusive: More Disorder at “Organized Crime” as 5th Showrunner Reportedly Out (UPDATED)

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: More Disorder at “Organized Crime” as 5th Showrunner Reportedly Out (UPDATED)

UPDATED: I reported this story exclusively at 3:38PM Pacific Time on Friday. A couple of hours later, Deadline.com stole it from this site and labelled it ‘exclusive.’ This is what I have to deal with all the time, especially from Deadline, where the people claim to be my friends. Good lord.

What Deadline won’t say, but I’ve said all along, is that no one knows what “Organized Crime” is about. Even after all these episodes, “OC” stands as an add-on to “SVU.” The Benson-Stabler non romance is what drives any viewers to it. They just keep replacing showrunners hoping to figure out a raison d’etre for this show.

EARLIER

Well. You get to Hollywood and there’s plenty of news.

The TV types out here tell me the showrunner for “Law & Order Organized Crime” is out.

Steve JablonskI was the 5th person assigned to guide Chris Meloni’s cop show. These producers are like Murphy Brown’s secretaries!

What next? A former OC EP was spotted around Dick Wolf’s Den recently. Bit who knows?

if anyone does let me know at showbiz411@gmail.com

Leonardo Di Caprio Heads Hollywood A List Night for Climate Change with Annie Lennox, Alicia Silverstone, Tom Ford, Trudie Styler, Simu Liu, Jodie Turner Smith

Roger Friedman
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Leonardo Di Caprio Heads Hollywood A List Night for Climate Change with Annie Lennox, Alicia Silverstone, Tom Ford, Trudie Styler, Simu Liu, Jodie Turner Smith

While Versace was having a pointless fashion show at one end of Hollywood last night, serious fashionistas gathered at TinselTown’s Neuehouse for something very special and moving: the Green Carpet Fashion Awards.

I had no idea how intense and important this event would be until I got there and encountered heavy hitters like Annie Lennox, Trudie Styler, Tom Ford, Jodie Turner Smith, Simu Liu, Heidi Klum, Alicia Silverstone, and so on. The Neuehouse was teeming with models and actors all festooned in sensationally beautiful outfits, not to mention more than a dozen young women brought in from all over the world who are working on projects to protect the environment save indigenous peoples.

The big surprise was Leonardo Di Caprio, who came and spoke eloquently and gave an award to Sonia Guadajara, Brazil’s minister for Indigenous Peoples. Leo’s dad, George, and step mother were beaming from the main table. George told me, “This is a huge triumph. Leo’s been locked in a debate with Bolsonaro [crazy ex president of Brazil] for years.”

Green Carpet Fashion Awards is the brain child of Livia Firth (now ex of actor Colin) who’s turned the organization into a triumph of her own. Among the other presenters and winners of awards were Tom Ford, who got his award from Trudie Styler (famed for the Rainforest Foundation), Alicia Silverstone, British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, Gucci Vault and Metaverse Ventures CEO, Robert Triefus, designer Gabriela Hearst.

Another welcome surprise: Jerry Hall and daughter Georgia May Jagger tag teamed to present an award to the Vivienne Westwood Foundation in memory of the great designer. Vivienne’s impressive granddaughter Cora Corre gave a grand speech that knocked out the intimate but influential audience.

Finally, none other than legendary singer Annie Lennox presented a group of a dozen young women from around the world who are climate activists working on issues with indigenous people. They’re called the GCFA Young Leaders, and I’ll tell you, they were inspiring and incredibly articulate. It gives you faith the world will go on despite all efforts to the contrary.

(On the red carpet, Cate Blanchett stopped by for a photo op before heading off to Oscar activities. She and Viola Davis were listed as co-hosts, but Davis was a no-show. Can’t do everything on Oscar weekend!)

Heard around the room: “Shang Chi” star Simu Liu promised me there would be a sequel to his hit Marvel movie. I hear Shang Chi is also appearing in two more Avengers movies for Marvel…Edward Enninful told me he will never be the editor of American Vogue. “I don’t want to live in New York, thank you,” he said. Too bad since his magazines are so good…I tried to scam some free Tom Ford sunglasses from the famed designer. How do I get a pair? I asked him half-seriously. His responseL go to the Tom Ford store!

NYC: James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Pat Benatar Bring in $3 Mil for Gods Love We Deliver at 7th Annual Love Rocks Show

Roger Friedman
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NYC: James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Pat Benatar Bring in $3 Mil for Gods Love We Deliver at 7th Annual Love Rocks Show

What a blast last night at the Beacon Theater in New York!

James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, the John Mayer Trio, Pat Benatar, Mavis Staples and a raft of all -star musicians played the seventh annual Love Rocks show produced by Greg Williamson, Nicole Rechter, and John Varvatos .

The gang — which also included guitar virtuoso Gary Clark, Jr., plus Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers, St. Vincent, the amazing Ledisi, and even NY Yankees great Bernie Williams, brought in $3 million for NYC’s essential charity, Gods Love We Deliver. The organization is famous for bringing hot meals to people too sick to shop or cook meals for themselves. Over 7 years Love Rocks has donated $25 million to the cause.

Other special guests taking the stage and sharing their enthusiasm for God’s Love We Deliver included Stephen Colbert, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Phoebe Robinson, Gina Gershon, David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris. Colbert called attention to the fact that there is never a waitlist to join God’s Love We Deliver, jokingly saying, “Maybe they should be in charge of Taylor Swift tickets.”

The John Mayer Trio featuring John Mayer, Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan reunited for the first time in 6 years performing two of their originals and an electric cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic “Who Did You Think I Was.” All of the artists returned to the stage to close the night with a rousing performance of Curtis Mayfield’s classic, “People Get Ready.” in tribute to Jeff Beck, who had a hit on the song with Rod Stewart years ago. Curtis would have approved!

RIP Topol, 87, Star of the Film Version of “Fiddler on the Roof” Who Became Tevye Many Times

Roger Friedman
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RIP Topol, 87, Star of the Film Version of “Fiddler on the Roof” Who Became Tevye Many Times

Chaim Topol, known as Topol, has died at age 87.

The Israeli actor was chosen by director Norman Jewison in 1969 to play Tevye in the big screen version of “Fiddler on the Roof.” At the time, no one had ever heard of him, fans wanted Zero Mostel for the role as he was hot off Mel Brooks’ “The Producers.” Mostel created Tevye on Broadway, winning the Tony Award.

But Topol got the job and was cemented in history as Tevye, much to Mostel’s chagrin. He went on to playing Tevye as an industry, even performing on Broadway in a revival. It became a…tradition!

Topol never broke out of that role in America. But he was an international star and beloved. May his memory be a blessing.

Oscars: Lady Gaga Won’t Perform Her Nominated Top Gun Maverick Song, But She’ll Be in the Audience

Roger Friedman
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Oscars: Lady Gaga Won’t Perform Her Nominated Top Gun Maverick Song, But She’ll Be in the Audience

Lady Gaga’s maintaining a Poker Face this Sunday at the Oscars.

The Oscar winning singer-songwriter will not perform her song, “Hold My Hand,” from “Top Gun Maverick,” after all. She’s filming the new “Joker” movie and didn’t have time to put together a presentation. (No, the dog didn’t eat her homework!)

Gaga will be in the audience and will presumably walk the red carpet, however.

Can we blame her? All signs point to “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR” winning Best Song. So why bother putting in time, dressing up like an Air Force pilot, bringing in a plane, etc if she’s otherwise occupied the next day? That’s a lot to ask.

It’s ironic considering the mishegos that went into her writing and recording the song in the first place. Other music was being lined up for the movie when Tom Cruise went to a Gaga show in Europe and went…gaga. He immediately commissioned the song, and the music was used throughout the film. “Hold My Hand” was a radio hit, too. But all that seems like a long time ago.

Lady G will be back next year at the Oscars with music from “Joker 2,” and maybe an acting nod as well.

Oscars Bring the Fashion: Versace Runway Show Thursday, Armani All Star Party Saturday

Roger Friedman
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Oscars Bring the Fashion: Versace Runway Show Thursday, Armani All Star Party Saturday

Oscar weekend kicks off with a lot of fashion.

On Thursday, Versace is going to sashay down the runway at the Pacific Design Center starting with VIP arrivals at 3:30pm. The show kicks off at 5pm and promises to be full of stars. The show was supposed to take place on Friday but the weather forecast isn’t good and people in L.A. freak out in the rain!

Saturday will bring stars to the Armani boutique on Rodeo Driver for a tribute to Oscar nominee Michelle Yeoh. Last year the guests included Sophia Loren, Samuel L. Jackson, Colman Domingo, and Miles Teller, all of whom toast Nicole Kidman. This year the guests are still a surprise but they should be everywhere all at once!

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