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UPDATE “White Lotus” Season 2 Comes to a Tragic, Unsatisfying End, Killing Off Major Character

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE “White Lotus” Season 2 Comes to a Tragic, Unsatisfying End, Killing Off Major Character

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT BELOW

EARLIER Tonight a lot of attention will be focused on the season two finale of “The White Lotus” on HBO. Who dies? Who killed them?

At the start of the series, we saw one dead body floating in the water. There was an illusion to others who were dead.

In season one, Murray Bartlett’s very bad guy, Armond, was the loser. He deserved to be killed. Everyone else walked, especially Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya.

I do think Tanya will escape the Grim Reaper this time, too. She and show creator Mike White are very close, she’s very popular and we’ll probably see Tanya through all the seasons.

Tanya’s assistant, Portia, is likely safe, too. She’s the Good Girl. Somehow she’ll blow the whistle on “the high end gays” who want Tanya dead. My guess is, one or more of the high end gays is a floater.

Cameron, played by Theo James, is a walking target. He will either be killed by his wife, Daphne, or his best friend, Ethan. Even Harper, Ethan’s wife, could be his killer. He’s been set up for doom since day 1.

It’s unclear what will happen with the prostitutes– Lucia and Mia– and the DeGrasso’s — Michael Imperioli, F. Murray Abraham, and Adam Di Marco. Will Lucia’s pimp (or brother) get it? Could be. And in the lobby, I’m betting on the manager killing either that woman she has a crush on or her fiancee, even though we see them both alive in the prologue.

Whatever happens, it’s all fun! And then we move on to the White Lotus anywhere there’s a Four Seasons Hotel. (The next one should be set at the one in West Hollywood during Golden Globes week!)

WITH SPOILERS

Well I was wrong. I guess some people did know that Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya would die in the final episode. She did, which is surprising since I thought she would carry over to other episodes. Did Coolidge ask for too much money? Have a fight with Mike White? Her death makes no sense.

But little about this season made any sense. Two couples who didn’t like each other traveled together. They had ambiguous sexual encounters. Did Daphne have sex with Ethan on the island to get back at Cameron and Harper? We’ll never know.

Most disappointing character was Portia, who could have called the police when she got to the airport. She didn’t. She just took her flight home. She could have saved Tanya after the “nephew” dropped her off. Tanya’s blood is on her hands.

And the people at the hotel? Who cares? Lucia scammed Albie, Mia slept with the hotel manager and got the piano playing job. The piano player was furious but did nothing. And the DeGrasso’s learned nothing and returned home just as they’d arrived.

This was inferior season to the original. In the first season, the characters were richly drawn, their plots crossed over one another, and there were plenty of people to root for. Here, everyone was rotten. And the show killed off its one continuing character. I don’t get it. Grade: F.

Sunday Poll: Did The Doors Swing? David Crosby Says “Not ever,” I Say Yes — Were They a Wooden Ship? (No!)

Roger Friedman
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Sunday Poll: Did The Doors Swing? David Crosby Says “Not ever,” I Say Yes — Were They a Wooden Ship? (No!)

Here’s a Sunday debate: did The Doors swing? I don’t mean like at a western saloon, I mean as a great Sixties band?

I say Yes. David Crosby says no. I’m a big Crosby fan, so I’m disappointed he feels that way. But I love The Doors to this day.

You decide, :

Is this a Wooden Ship?

Only Stars in the Building: “SNL” Like Great Old Days with Steve Martin, Martin Short, Brandi Carlile

Roger Friedman
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Only Stars in the Building: “SNL” Like Great Old Days with Steve Martin, Martin Short, Brandi Carlile

To say last night’s installment of “Saturday Night Live” was a relief is an understatement. It came off like real show, with top notch writing and acting, and singing. It was funny, it was messy, it had authority.

Steve Martin and Martin Short, two “SNL” alumnus superstars, hosted. Brandi Carlile, a consummate singer, was musical guest. Selena Gomez, who co-stars with the Martins in “Only Murders in the Building,” dropped in for the monologue and a cameo. Everyone’s game was upped. Cecily Strong really rose to the occasion, so did Kenan Thompson. Mikey Day seemed enthused. All the new people were good. “Weekend Update” was jaunty.

At the end, Marty Short thanked Lorne Michaels. My guess is this show will win an Emmy and so will the hosts. It was that good. The “Father of the Bride” sketch was hilarious, with everyone chiming in. I’m just sorry Short’s Ed Grimley didn’t show up. He could have since Short never ages!

We have one show to go in 2022. “Elvis” star Austin Butler is coming and he’d better turn the studio into Heartbreak Hotel. The Yeah Yeahs Yeahs as No No No because of COVID, they say, so Lizzo– who pulled double duty last spring — is returning as musical guest. She can play the flute. (Why don’t they do a Pied Piper number with her?)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=CpNqR-ff_TQ

Sad News: Cher Announces the Passing of Her Mother, Georgia Holt, at Age 96

Roger Friedman
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Sad News: Cher Announces the Passing of Her Mother, Georgia Holt, at Age 96

Sad to report, Cher has announced the passing of her mother, Georgia Holt, at age 96. Late tonight the singer tweeted: “Mom’s gone.”

Georgia Holt was married and divorced six times. She gave Cher a half sister in Georganne LaPiere. Show business was in this family’s blood. Holt has a career as a country singer and model. Georgeanne has also acted.

The closeness of mother and daughters was always emphasized since Cher became famous with Sonny Bono in the mid 1960s.

Rest in peace. Condolences to the family.

Mark Wahlberg-Mel Gibson “Father Stu Reborn” Bombs in PG-13 Re-release with $108K

Roger Friedman
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Mark Wahlberg-Mel Gibson “Father Stu Reborn” Bombs in PG-13 Re-release with $108K

No one wanted to see “Father Stu” back at Easter time. No one wants to see it now.

The original R related release of the Mark Wahlberg-Mel Gibson dramedy made around $20 million. It went away quickly.

Sony thought they’d re-cut it and send it out for the holidays. Now the studio estimates that in wide release, “Father Stu Reborn” will make just $108K this weekend. Even cutting it a PG-13 edition didn’t help. Now the cursing comes from the audience instead of the screen.

#RIP Father Stu. If anyone’s contemplating a TV series, just forget it.

Watch Live Telethon Now: Hollywood Retirement Home Raising $750K — A Little Less than the CEO’s Salary

Roger Friedman
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Watch Live Telethon Now: Hollywood Retirement Home Raising $750K — A Little Less than the CEO’s Salary

The Motion Picture and Television Fund is raising money right now live on KLTA Los Angeles. You can watch the telethon here. It’s a little like a Jerry Lewis Telethon or the Joe Franklin Show.

The telethon is trying to raise $750K, which is a little less than CEO Bob Beicher’s annual salary.

Dig it.

And read this.

Shhhh! Selena Gomez Is Set to Sing on “SNL” Tonight, Appearing with Steve Martin, Martin Short

Roger Friedman
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Shhhh! Selena Gomez Is Set to Sing on “SNL” Tonight, Appearing with Steve Martin, Martin Short

Shhh!

World is Selena Gomez is singing tonight on “SNL.” She’s joining her “Only Murders in the Building” co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short, who are co-hosting. Brandi Carlile is the musical guest. Selena could be singing with her, or on her own. Maybe someone who goes to the dress rehearsal can send up a tip…showbiz411@gmail.com

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s Younger Son, Truman, Makes Movie Acting Debut in “A Man Called Otto”

Roger Friedman
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Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s Younger Son, Truman, Makes Movie Acting Debut in “A Man Called Otto”

It’s no secret that two of Tom Hanks’s kids, Colin and Chet, are in the acting biz. Colin, especially, has a long list of credits. Chet’s had a more colorful life but he has a few credits and had some nice moments in “Greyhound.”

Now Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s youngest son, Truman, turns up a not so small role in Marc Forster’s “A Man Called Otto.” Tom plays Otto, a wily neighborhood curmudgeon, in this sweet character study. Truman, who has no acting experience, plays Otto in flashbacks. He has a natural charm and, of course, resembles his dad.

Prior to this, Truman Hanks has one credit as a glorified extra in Tom’s “News of the World.” But this time around, he’s a full character, and an important one. He acquits himself very well, and could easily have a career if he wants. After all, with Tom and Rita and Colin and Chet, it’s the family business.

“Otto” also boats a terrific spark plug of a performance from Mexican actress Mariana Treviño. We also need to see movies from director Marc Forster, who’s given us “Finding Neverland,” “Stranger than Fiction,” and “World War Z.”

“A Man Called Otto” doesn’t come out til the end of the month. There’s a review embargo, and most press haven’t seen it. I’d say the marketing strategy at Sony is unusual at best. But there are you are.

Awards: National Board of Review Tax Exempt 2019 Finances: $600K in Revenue, $300K in Salaries, $0 in Aid to Filmmakers

Roger Friedman
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Awards: National Board of Review Tax Exempt 2019 Finances: $600K in Revenue, $300K in Salaries, $0 in Aid to Filmmakers

EXCLUSIVE It’s the same old song.

This week we all received the National Board of Review’s winners of film prizes for 2022. The NBR is a fan based group that charges membership fees, then charges those members again to attend their annual gala. The whole thing is run by Annie Schulhof, who determines the winners of the prizes. David Laub, an executive with A24 Films, is on the board. This year, A24 got 7 citations for its films.

The finances of the NBR are always a question. Their most recent tax filing as a not for profit, 501 c(3), tells an interesting story. For 2019-20, with most of it falling in 2019, is alarming as usual.

Total revenue was $585,456. Total salaries came to $317,933. Net assets were listed as $556,323.

What did this not for profit entity distribute from their coffers? The answer is $0. Zero dollars. Nothing. Goose eggs. This was down from a mere $72,500 in 2018.

And still they claimed a loss of $48,044 from their one event, the annual gala at Cipriani 42nd St. where they charge studios for picking up the tables, and members to sit at them.

The NBR’s expenses including over $46,000 for rent, and $20,000 for advertising/promotion, office expenses, and “information technology” (that would be their mimeograph machine). The first listing– advertising/promotion– is ridiculous on its face since the studios use the NBR awards in their own ads. The NBR doesn’t promote itself.

It’s a scam. Nice work if you can get it. All this to have your picture taken with actors.

American Film Institute Snubs All Streaming Films for 2022 Best, Also Ignores Much Hyped “Whale”

Roger Friedman
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American Film Institute Snubs All Streaming Films for 2022 Best, Also Ignores Much Hyped “Whale”

Yesterday when I was traveling the American Film Institute announced its best films of the year.

And there was a big surprise: no choices from Netflix, Apple, Amazon, Hulu or any other streaming entity. Nada.

All 10 films, as well as special 11th, were from the major studios.

Also snubbed were several heavily hyped films that did come from the studios including “The Whale,” starring Brendan Fraser, and “Till” and “Bones and All.” (The former is from A24, the lattert two from MGM, now considered part of Amazon).

The lack of Netflix on the list is surprising because they spend millions on awards campaigns. But this year their only real prospect, Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” was thought to be in the running.

The top 10 movies are: Avatar 2, Elvis, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fabelmans, Nope, She Said, Tar, Top Gun Maverick, The Woman King, and Women Talking. The special award went to The Banshees of Inisherin because it’s technically a foreign film but in the English language.

About half of these will make it to the final round of the Oscars: Elvis, The Fabelmans, She Said, Tar, and Top Gun. The others are up in the air. The AFI also rejected Black Panther Wakanda Forever, Empire of Light, and Armageddon Time as well as Amsterdam and Babylon.

The whole list feels right, although I would have swapped out something for “Till.” The story was important enough to be included.

The AFI also chose 10 TV series including The Bear, Severance, Hacks, The White Lotus, Pachinko, Mo, Somebody Somewhere, Reservation Dogs, and the final season of Better Call Saul. Two perennials were missing– Succession and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — because their most recent seasons were covered last year.

The snubbing of The Whale is most interesting. Originally this was the most overhyped movie of the season. Then when it finally started getting reviews, the numbers were not encouraging. It’s now at 67 on Rotten Tomatoes. Not only did the AFI dismiss it, but the National Bored of Review ignored it totally despite giving its studio, A24, seven nods because one of its execs is on their board. Even his insider participation didn’t help!

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