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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!

Report: Designer Karl Lagerfeld’s Hedonistic Life Heading To, Of All Places, Disney Plus

Roger Friedman
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Report: Designer Karl Lagerfeld’s Hedonistic Life Heading To, Of All Places, Disney Plus

Disney, home of Mickey Mouse and Baby Yoda, is welcoming a new character to its platform: late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.

In keeping with Disney traditions, Lagerfeld once said: “I am no longer human. I am an abstraction. I am both the puppet and the puppeteer. And that’s how I like it. I have little to do with earthly problems.” Lagerfeld once told a reporter: “I was once a mere mortal like you… I no longer feel like a human being.”

So this should be fun. Variety reports that the six part Disney Plus series will take place in the hedonistic 70s, with plenty of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Esteemed German actor Daniel Bruhl will play Karl with his sunglass shields intact.

Lagerfeld and Disney have a history. Just a few weeks ago Disney announced they were using a drawing of Donald Duck made by the designer to brand their 100th anniversary. The merch can be found at Karl.com.

Variety says:” A showcase of queer subculture and the glamorous Parisian world of fashion, the upcoming premium series will mark the first dramatic series on the famed designer, who has previously been the subject of documentaries.” The series “will also explore the rivalry between Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent’s partner Pierre Berge, as well as his love story with Jacques de Bascher.”

The premiere party will be held at Governor Ron DeSantis’s home sometime in the future.

(Listen) Elton John’s Debut Performance of “Rocket Man” from 1972 from New 50th Anniversary “Honky Chateau”

Roger Friedman
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(Listen) Elton John’s Debut Performance of “Rocket Man” from 1972 from New 50th Anniversary “Honky Chateau”

We are in the middle of 50th anniversary releases for Elton John’s amazing run of albums between 1970 and 1976. Coming on March 24th, the remastered “Honky Chateau” all polished up with a glistening new sound and a bunch of demos from the original sessions.

Here below is “Rocket Man,” performed live at The Royal Festival Hall in London along with the whole album right before the 1972 release. “Rocket Man” was the first single from the album, and of course has gone to lots of fame as the title of Elton’s movie etc.

My favorite songs from this album were “Honky Cat,” which remains one of Elton’s greatest piano performances, and “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.” The album was released on the heels, literally, of “Madman Across the Water,” and just before “Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player.” Elton John, seriously, set new heights then for a solo artist. He wasn’t from a group like the Beatles. He was on his own. Remarkable.

This Sunday Elton and his husband David Furnish throw their annual Oscar gala to raise money for their AIDS Foundation, the most successful organization in their field. They set up an enormous series of tented buildings in West Hollywood and play host to a combination of A list stars and donors. Bravo!

Oscars Line Up More Stars for Sunday Show Including Nicole Kidman, Andrew Garfield, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas

Roger Friedman
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Oscars Line Up More Stars for Sunday Show Including Nicole Kidman, Andrew Garfield, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas

The Oscars have lined up more top notch stars for Sunday’s show on ABC at 8pm.

The latest group includes:

Halle Bailey, Antonio Banderas, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Chastain, John Cho, Andrew Garfield, Hugh Grant, Danai Gurira, Salma Hayek Pinault, Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh and Sigourney Weaver.

Previously announced were Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy, Janelle Monáe, Deepika Padukone, Questlove, Zoe Saldaña and Donnie Yen.

Rihanna, David Byrne, the people from “RRR,” and Diane Warren with Sofia Carson are all performing their nominated songs. Still to be discerned: who is singing Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” if she can’t make it. She’s shooting the new “Joker” movie.

Jimmy Kimmel is hosting, and won’t allow any funny business on stage at the Dolby Theater — but the show will be funny!

HBO Comes to a Crossroads as Two Hit Series — “Succession” and “Barry” — Will End After This Season, “Euphoria” and “Hacks” Should Be Next

Roger Friedman
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HBO Comes to a Crossroads as Two Hit Series — “Succession” and “Barry” — Will End After This Season, “Euphoria” and “Hacks” Should Be Next

There has to be some anxiety at HBO.

The cable network is about to lose two of its biggest series this spring. Both “Succession” and “Barry” will end after four seasons apiece.

Gone are the days of dragging out a series to six or eight seasons, like “The Sopranos” or “Game of Thrones.”

Now we get announcements that the series’ creators are “done” and “saw a natural ending.”

Forget that “Law & Order SVU” and “Greys Anatomy” have been on long enough for the original viewers to be grandparents. That’s at network TV.

HBO has been through this before, when the original “Sex and the City” and the aforementioned “Sopranos” went away at the same time. It take a while for a network to get that rhythm back.

Luckily there’s always “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” now in its 23rd year (with half the number of actual seasons). Plus there are new hits like “The Last of Us” and “House of the Dragon.”

But “Hacks” — as wonderful as it is– seems like it has a limited shelf life. And no one really enjoys the “Sex and the City” reboot. HBO also needs a new drama, and it doesn’t sound like The Weeknd’s “The Idol” is going to be the winner. Plus, “Euphoria” seems like it will be next to wrap up since Zendaya is a movie star by now.

We never count HBO out, that’s for sure. They’re still the best content provider. Just wait– next year we’ll be talking about a new must-see hit.

Ratings: HBO’s Last of Us Posts 2nd Week with Over 1 Million Viewers on Main Channel, 7 Mil More Elsewhere

Roger Friedman
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Ratings: HBO’s Last of Us Posts 2nd Week with Over 1 Million Viewers on Main Channel, 7 Mil More Elsewhere

Sunday night’s installment of “The Last of Us” on HBO was another milestone.

The sci-fi post-apocalyptic Zombie show posted its second consecutive week with over 1 million viewers on the main channel at 9pm.

HBO says the total for the night was 8.1 million, meaning another 7 million watched on HBO Max or other extra terrestrial platforms. How is that measured? Only the know.

Sunday’s episode was excellent, the best I thought so far. Ellie and Joel are still on the run, and most of the people they meet along the way wind up getting killed. We never really see the zombies. It’s the humans who are more problematic. This week’s episode featured a special appearance by the actor who hosts the “Last of Us” podcast — Troy Baker– who played Joel in the original video game — as a baddie. Spoiler alert: it was a one-off shot.

This week’s episode is the last of the season. It comes in the middle of the Academy Awards over on ABC. My advice: tape the HBO show. Or watch the re-broadcast around midnight.

Surprise! Ratings Mystery as “Saturday Night Live” Numbers Jump with NFL Star Travis Kelce, Singer Kelsea Ballerini

Roger Friedman
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Surprise! Ratings Mystery as “Saturday Night Live” Numbers Jump with NFL Star Travis Kelce, Singer Kelsea Ballerini

Well, no one knows anything.

“SNL” ratings jumped this past Saturday with host Travis Kelce and musical guest Kelsea Ballerini.

The NFL star commanded a 4.5 million total viewer number, up by 400,000 viewers from the week before when “Last of Us” star Pedro Pascal hosted.

Why? Who knows? Maybe a fresh face, unexpected, did the trick. Maybe the Super Bowl win helped.

Anyway, it’s good news for the show and for Ballerini. Her appearance pushed her EP, called “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat” — to number 3 on iTunes. It’s not called “Rolling Out the Welcome Mat.” That would mean she’s welcoming people. Rolling Up means turning people away, which obviously “SNL” did not.

Any lessons here? Country music is very popular. So are football players. These two were like homecoming king and queen. Interesting.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=K2u7P5M9dbU

It’s Complicated: Nancy Meyers to Direct a $130 Mil Rom-Com with a Woody Allen Cast About Herself Based on One of Her Movies

Roger Friedman
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It’s Complicated: Nancy Meyers to Direct a $130 Mil Rom-Com with a Woody Allen Cast About Herself Based on One of Her Movies

Back in 1984, Charles Shyer directed a movie called “Irreconcilable Differences.” His wife, Nancy Meyers, wrote it with him. It was a romcom about a movie making couple — Ryan O’Neal playing Peter Bogdanovich and Shelley Long as his real life wife, Polly Platt — who split but have to keep working together. (The movie introduced Sharon Stone.)

Along the years, Meyers — who went on to make a movie about Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin living in a great kitchen — and Shyer split in real life. Now Meyers is going to make her first movie since 2015. It’s a rom-com about a filmmaking couple who split but must work together on a new film to save their careers. The film, revealed by the Puck newsletter yesterday, has no title. It’s just called “Paramount Paris.”

Is it is set in Paris? That would be important because Woody Allen, whose movies Meyers echo, had his biggest hit with “Midnight in Paris.” That movie starred Owen Wilson, who is one of the four main actors in Meyers’ new movie. The others are Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, and Michael Fassbender. Cruz and Johansson starred in another Allen hit, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

The budget for “Paramount Paris” is said to be $130 million– which I guess makes sense if it’s shot in Paris. But Woody Allen’s new movie, “Coup de Chance,” was just shot in Paris for probably a quarter of that price. And the movies he made with the same actors, ditto. It’s all a little confusing. But years from now it will make a great theme night on TCM!

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