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UPDATED Thursday Night TV Ratings Chaos as New Hilary Swank Drama Closing In On Chris Meloni “Organized Crime” in Total Viewers

Roger Friedman
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UPDATED Thursday Night TV Ratings Chaos as New Hilary Swank Drama Closing In On Chris Meloni “Organized Crime” in Total Viewers

Things are getting worse for Chris Meloni’s “Law & Order: Organized Crime.”

Initial overnight numbers suggest that two time Oscar winner Hilary Swank’s “Alaska Daily” on ABC edged out “OC” in total viewers last night. “Alaska” had 3.09 million to “OC”‘s 3.06.

UPDATED NUMBERS show that “OC” beat “Alaska Daily” but not by much: 3.1 million vs. 2.8 million. “Alaska” is strong and growing, giving “OC” some nipping at its heels.

In the key demo, the Meloni show still beat “Alaska” but that number may be lagging behind thanks to Meloni’s lead in of “SVU.” That NBC show at 9pm and “Law & Order” classic at 8pn are strong with over 4 million total viewers each.

“Alaska Daily” is still finding itself but Swank is absolutely terrific. I can see this drama catching on big time, especially as “Organized Crime” remains a challenge insofar as struggling to discover its essence.

Remember Kanye West’s $200 Stem Player? He Doesn’t Appear to Own the Trademark

Roger Friedman
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Remember Kanye West’s $200 Stem Player? He Doesn’t Appear to Own the Trademark

You may recall that Kanye West’s last album, “Donda 2,” wasn’t released in a traditional way. Instead of a CD or a stream or a download it came on a $200 gadget called the Stem Player.

The Stem Player, which looks like a large hard plastic Valium, lights up. It also makes it possible to play with the elements of the music contained on it, changing he emphasis of vocals or beats. It was the brainchild of London’s Kano Computing, owned by a young guy from America named Alex Klein.

Now that Kanye’s businesses have gone sideways, it seemed like a good time to check in on the Stem Player and see who owns it. Well, it turns out Kano Computing applied for the trademark in the UK and here. Kanye did not. It does seem as though Kanye’s connection to the Stem Player was tenuous at best. Kano owns the player. Kanye just owns the music on it in the “Donda 2” edition.

Back on October 16th, when Kanye’s problems were escalating, Klein posted some odd images to social media. One was of the famous Delacroix painting called “Liberty Leading the People,” which shows the French revolution of 1830. Attached to that picture is a video of three little boys pitching what looks like Stem Players (maybe they’re just SuperBalls) as if they were bowling.

Was Klein declaring some kind of independence?

Klein also posted a message from Kanye’s lawyers asking for a way to contact Kano’s lawyers. There was paperwork that needed to be completed.

Kano, meantime, is proceeding with groundbreaking computer inventions. It’s unclear how many Stem Players they sold, if anyone made any money, or if they’ll ever be seen again. One thing’s clear, no one else issued an album on a Stem Player.

PS Klein is half-Jewish and may not be amused with Kanye’s anti-Semitic declarations.

Showtime Throws in the Towel on “City on a Hill” As Cabler Heads for the Hills

Roger Friedman
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Showtime Throws in the Towel on “City on a Hill” As Cabler Heads for the Hills

Showtime is heading for the hills.

The also ran cabler has cancelled Kevin Bacon’s “City on a Hill.” They never did anything to promote it, and the series in its third season averaged only 200,000 viewers a week.

With another unpromoted, unloved series, “Billions,” coming to an end, Showtime is basically a desert now. The only series they have left that anyone knows about is “Yellowjackets.” Season 2 will start next year, presumably.

Showtime says the “City on Hill” decision was made a long time ago. But the rumor is the cabler will be merged with the Paramount Network and/or Paramount Plus. The whole network is a mystery. They do nothing to try and get awards for their shows. Every time they have some quality in hand, they look the other way. Just think– they had Kevin Bacon — no Emmy love. Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis — same thing. Crazy.

Taylor Swift Aiming at Massive 1.5 Million Sales Debut for “Midnights” Madness

Roger Friedman
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Taylor Swift Aiming at Massive 1.5 Million Sales Debut for “Midnights” Madness

Taylor Swift will be crowned Queen of the Charts later today.

Swift’s 10th studio album, “Midnights,” has sold roughly 1.5 million copies in its debut week. More than 1 million of those copies are physical, and more than half of those are vinyl LPs.

Swift and her marketing team came up with a brilliant idea: four different LPs in different colors, all collectible because together they form a clock. The clock can be assembled with a $49 extra purchase on Swift’s website. It’s absolute genius. So divide that 1 million by 4 and you get around 250,000 customers. Add another half million in streaming, and you still get 750,000 customers. Insane.

Swift has outsold Adele, Harry Styles and Drake with the “Midnights” debut. Plus she’s ruled the charts in the three or four years with her “Lover,” “Folklore,” “Evermore,” and re-recorded albums. Success is the best revenge!

RIP Rock & Roll Pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, 87: No More Shakin’ Goin’ On

Roger Friedman
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RIP Rock & Roll Pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, 87: No More Shakin’ Goin’ On

No more shakin’ go on: rock and Roll pioneer and wild man, Jerry Lee Lewis, has actually died at age 87.

Jerry Lee’s death was announced a couple of days ago, erroneously. But now he’s most seriously dead.

You do know that Jerry Lee, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Conway Twitty, and Roy Orbison were the creators of rock and roll — not mention Chuck Berry and Little Richard. What Jerry Lee could do on the piano is beyond legendary. Forget about his crazy persona life — because we all know how crazy that was — Jerry Lee’s songs form the foundation of rock and roll. “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and all the rest of them are where it all begins. I was very lucky to see him play that piano in my lifetime. There’s a reason he was known as The Killer.

Of course, Dennis Quaid memorably played Jerry Lee in the movie “Great Balls of Fire.” And he was featured in dozens of documentaries. In the 2000s late kinda billionaire Steve Bing fell in with Jerry Lee and underwrote albums and tours that formed his renaissance. Bing will always be remembered for this kindness to a legend, and Jerry Lee thought of him as a son (more than Bing’s own family).

And yes, Jerry Lee was infamous for marrying his underage cousin a thousand years ago. It was a different time, and a different planet. His music outlives all that mishegos.

Exclusive: Britney Spears Rumored to Make Appearance at Elton John’s Final Dodgers Stadium Shows

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Britney Spears Rumored to Make Appearance at Elton John’s Final Dodgers Stadium Shows

You know that Britney Spears is on the comeback trail. She’s working on a new album, and has a book coming early in 2023 about her conservatorship, parents, and marriages.

No, she is not a great mother. She poses semi-nude on Instagram much to her teen sons’ chagrin.

But Britney has also had a hit all summer and fall with Elton John on “Hold Me Closer.” a rework of Elton’s “Tiny Dancer.”

Now I’m told that there’s a fairly good chance we’ll see Britney on stage with Sir Elton at Dodger Stadium for probably his final show on November 20th. By final I do mean the end of all Elton John touring forever. His “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour has been a smashing success despite breaks for COVID.

Will Britney do any of the preceding shows at Dodger Stadium? My guess is no, just to make that finale extra special. Who would I like to see at the final show? How about Kiki Dee, singing “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” I’d fly across the country see that. And Dua Lipa– who’s had a massive hit with Elton on “Cold Heart.” And I’ll bet Billie Jean King will be there. There should be lots of guests, but Britney will steal the show!

By the way, credit is being given to David Furnish for coming up with the Elton-Britney duet. You may recall Furnish teased me at the Tony Awards that he had something big in the offing. Their single has been streamed on Spotify over 105 million times!!! Not bad!

Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform Aretha Franklin’s “Don’t Play That Song” from New Album

Roger Friedman
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Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform Aretha Franklin’s “Don’t Play That Song” from New Album

Ahmet Ertegun isn’t usually thought of as a songwriter. But the legendary head of Atlantic Records co-wrote a major hit for Aretha Franklin in 1971. It’s called “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).”

Now Bruce Springsteen has recorded it for his “Only the Strong Survive” album coming November 11th. (By coincidence you can find another cover of “Don’t Play That Song” by Bruce’s collaborator, R&B great Sam Moore, with Wynonna Judd on YouTube, from 2006.) Great song, great cover.

PS I’m waiting for Bruce’s album so everyone can hear his cover of Dobie Gray’s “Soul Days.” Amazing.

Rihanna Releases Beautiful New Song, “Lift Me Up” from “Wakanda Forever” — First New Music in 6 Years

Roger Friedman
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Rihanna Releases Beautiful New Song, “Lift Me Up” from “Wakanda Forever” — First New Music in 6 Years

Rihanna has dropped her first new music in six years. “Lift Me Up” is an actual song, and it’s the theme from “Wakanda Forever.” Four writers are credited, and the song was recorded in five countries–ridiculous. But it’s an actual song, it’s original, and has a melody. That’s very unique these days. An instant hit, and a definite Best Song nominee for the 2023 Oscars.

Harry Styles Flounders in Odd Choice for New Video as a Piece of Sushi Based on a Not-Actual Song

Roger Friedman
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Harry Styles Flounders in Odd Choice for New Video as a Piece of Sushi Based on a Not-Actual Song

The new video from Harry Styles is based on a song that features little singing and a lot of horns.

Harry flounders as a piece of live sushi in “Music from a Sushi Restaurant.” The video will be a hit but radio won’t welcome this as the third single from “Harry’s House.” It’s a weird choice to say the least. But maybe Harry’s counting on fans wanting to watch him this way. Very fishy.

Kanye West’s Private School for Children Closes Abruptly, Not Unlike Will Smith’s Former School

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West’s Private School for Children Closes Abruptly, Not Unlike Will Smith’s Former School

Here’s a lesson for everyone: do not send your kids to wonky private schools created by celebrities.

The London Times reports that Kanye West’s Donda Academy has shut down abruptly. The school is in Los Angeles’s Simi Valley and costs $15,000 a year. The Donda Academy was famous making its students sing praise to Kanye’s dead mother every morning at assembly.

When West’s antisemitism scandal broke two weeks ago the head of the school quit. Since the parents are bound by NDA’s they haven’t spoken, but without administrators and possibly teachers the school had to shut down. The remaining administrator says they’ll be back in September 2023, but I doubt it. By then Kanye will be absolutely broke and this school will be a distant memory.

For the parents, though, this has to be a nightmare– switching schools after two months into the new year. Any parents who want to talk to me in confidence, please email me at showbiz411@gmail.com.

This situation is not unlike how Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s neo-Scientology school, New Village Academy, shut down in 2012. That school actually made it for three or four years before the whole thing collapsed in educational rubble.

Meantime, West — instead of apologizing or demonstrating contrition, has been mocking his critics over the last several hours on social media. Also, he tried to visit the Skechers headquarters yesterday to try and replace Adidas after they bailed on him. They very publicly kicked him out. Kanye is in a free fall now, having lost most of his income in one day.

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