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“Jeopardy!” Host Competition Sharpens as Ratings Fall Again While “Family Feud” Rises

Roger Friedman
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“Jeopardy!” Host Competition Sharpens as Ratings Fall Again While “Family Feud” Rises

The competition for “Jeopardy!” host continues to sharpen as the weeks go by.

For the week ending June 26th. “Jeopardy! ratings dipped again, by 2%, to 4.9. They’d been at 5.0 the previous week, and 5.2 before that. They’ve been down appreciably with Mayim Bialik as host.

All syndicated shows are down during the summer, but “Jeopardy!” is the only major game show to lose viewers in June. “Family Feud” is up and has taken the number 1 spot away from “Jeopardy!” Meanwhile, “Wheel of Fortune” has remained steady.

Soon Sony TV will have to decide if Bialik is the permanent host or if they will select Ken Jennings. Jennings’ ratings are always consistently in the upper 5’s or 6 million. A lot of that has to do with the contestants’ success, but the host drives the show.

Bialik is busy either way. She goes back to her Fox sitcom soon to tape a new season.

RIP James Caan, Great Star of “The Godfather,” “Brian’s Song,” “Misery,” “Gardens of Stone”

Roger Friedman
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RIP James Caan, Great Star of “The Godfather,” “Brian’s Song,” “Misery,” “Gardens of Stone”

James Caan, forever cemented in movie history as Sonny Corleone, has died at age 82.

His family posted a notice to social media but didn’t give the cause of death.

Caan rose to fame in the early 1970s in a seminal TV movie, “Brian’s Song” as Chicago Bears football player Brian Piccolo. You can’t imagine how big that movie was at the time. He received an Emmy nomination but also his career was established overnight.

From then, Caan’s star rose meteorically as Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather.” He got an Oscar nomination and never looked back. He immediately co-starred with Barbra Streisand in “Funny Lady,” two hits “The Gambler” and “Cinderella Liberty,” and on and on through the 70s. For a time in the 80s he was AWOL but then had a nice comeback with “Gardens of Stone.” I still remember the premiere, and how thrilled everyone that James Caan was back. He was a lovely guy.

And then came “Misery” with Kathy Bates, Rob Reiner’s mega hit. And Caan was really back. A second wave career commenced, with “Honeymoon in Las Vegas” leading the way. From 2003 to 2007 he starred in the TV series, “Las Vegas,” still in reruns, in which he excelled.

Among his children is Scott Caan, a successful actor who recently appeared on the long running “Hawaii Five O” revival on CBS.

Although he had current credits, Caan was thought to be in ill health for some time. He was really a great, great actor and a Hollywood favorite, Condolences to his family and friends.

New “Thor” Movie Starts Tonight With Meh Reviews Compared to Last One: Will it Matter?

Roger Friedman
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New “Thor” Movie Starts Tonight With Meh Reviews Compared to Last One: Will it Matter?

In 2017, critics fell in love with “Thor: Ragnarok.” The third “Thor” movie from Marvel got a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and went on to become a blockbuster.

Tonight, the new “Thor” installment, “Love and Thunder,” also directed by Taika Waititi, has previews before opening officially tomorrow. Reviewers are lukewarm, giving it 69% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The reviewers are largely unimpressed. They’re saying it’s a redo of the last movie, and kind of a hot mess. But will it matter? Probably not. Disney publicity has been in hyper drive for weeks. They’ve planted stories of so many different kinds in so many places, you can’t escape “revelations” from Chris Hemsworth or Natalie Portman on every subject.

There’s an overall feeling that Thor, the former Norse God, has become a witless bumbling fool. Waititi has turned him into a wise cracking Deadpool. And where is Loki?

The Rolling Stone review: “A collision of competing tones, subplots, conceptual big swings and chaos masquerading as pathos, this new addition to the Asgardian-gods-and-monsters corner of Marvel Cinematic Universe is a holy mess.”

Check back tomorrow. My guess is fans will flock to it, anyway. It’s rare that a Marvel Universe film isn’t embraced enthusiastically and seen over and over on opening weekend.

Broadway: “Almost Famous” Musical Is Almost Here from “MJ” Team This October

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Almost Famous” Musical Is Almost Here from “MJ” Team This October

Penny Lane is coming to Broadway.

Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous,” the musical, has a theater, a start date, and an opening night.

“Almost Famous” will move into the Bernard Jacobs Theater on West 45th St, taking over from “Company.” Previews being on Monday, October 3rd ahead of an official opening on Thursday, November 3rd.

Lia Vollack, who’s made such a success of the Michael Jackson musical, “MJ,” is producing. Her Tony winning husband, Derek McLane, is doing the sets.
Almost Famous has music and lyrics by Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer Prize Award winner Tom Kitt, direction by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Jeremy Herrin, and choreography by Sarah O’Gleby.

The production will star Chris Wood, Tony Award nominee Anika Larsen, Solea Pfeiffer, Drew Gehling, Rob Colletti, and introducing Casey Likes. The company will also include Matt Bittner, Chad Burris, Gerard Canonico, Julia Cassandra, Brandon Contreras, Jakeim Hart, Van Hughes, Jana Djenne Jackson, Katie Ladner, Danny Lindgren, Erica Mansfield, Alisa Melendez, Emily Schultheis, Daniel Sovich, Libby Winters, and Matthew C. Yee.

“Almost Famous” is one of my favorite movies of all time. I’m crossing my fingers for a big hit on stage!

Netflix Holding Reviews of $200 Million “Gray Man” Until Very Last Minute Next Week

Roger Friedman
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Netflix Holding Reviews of $200 Million “Gray Man” Until Very Last Minute Next Week

How bad is “The Gray Man”?

Netflix is obviously concerned. They’re holding reviews until 9am on Thursday, July 14th, the same day that performances begin in preview in limited release.

“The Gray Man” — directed by “Avengers” helmers Anthony and Joe Russo — cost $200 million, the most Netflix has spent on one of its own films. Starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, the thriller has been a mystery itself from production through its upcoming release. We told you last year that reshoots and chaos put the ending budget up to at least $220 milllion or more.

Netflix will release “The Gray Man” in a few theaters officially on Friday, July 15th for one week, then turn it over to the streaming platform, where it will sink or swim without box office information. After laying off 450 people in the last few months, the company was hoping for a hit. But they’ll have to rely on “Stranger Things, Season 4,” which is an enormous success for them on the platform. If they put the last chapter of Season 4 in theaters for a week, it would sell out.

Meantime, the social media embargo for “Gray Man” lifts on July 10th at 8pm eastern after review press see the film on both coasts. We’ll get a good idea then why reviews are being curtailed until Thursday morning.

The Trailer is Here for David O. Russell’s All Star “Amsterdam” with Margot Robbie, Robert DeNiro, Taylor Swift, John David Washington

Roger Friedman
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The Trailer is Here for David O. Russell’s All Star “Amsterdam” with Margot Robbie, Robert DeNiro, Taylor Swift, John David Washington

David O. Russell’s “Amsterdam” is coming in November. It stars only Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldaña, Rami Malek, and Robert De Niro.

Russell kept the title and plot secret for a long time, and even the cast was a mystery. Will this be his big Oscar movie? It has the feel of a screwball comedy, it’s obviously a period piece. After “Silver Linings Playbook” and all his other hits, I’m psyched for this one!

“Hollywood” Murders Feature Nobodies Nobody’s Ever Heard Of, The Underbelly of Tinsel Town

Roger Friedman
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“Hollywood” Murders Feature Nobodies Nobody’s Ever Heard Of, The Underbelly of Tinsel Town

The New York Post this morning– and other lemmings– are screaming on their front pages about grisly Hollywood murders of models.

The murders happened. But the alleged murders have nothing to do with the film or TV business. They represent the underbelly of Tinsel Town.

“Producer” David Pearce has produced nothing of any interest or value. He has no credits and no one’s heard of him. He’s just one of those guys you see at parties, lounge lizards who are not involved in the day to day business of Hollywood.

The Post is excited about an “actor” named Brandt Osborn. But he has no credits either. His real name, or his stage name, is Bobby Delfrati. He’s from Staten Island, of course. His four IMDB credits include a non speaking role on Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.” He was arrested by LAPD on the set of “NCIS Los Angeles,” although it’s unclear what he was doing there. Maybe working the craft food table.

A third person arrested in conjunction with the alleged murder of models and so on is named Mike Ansbach. He’s a camera operator on reality shows like “Shark Tank” (that credit was 11 years ago). He’s also listed as an associate producer for films called “Nice Pants” and “Brides of Satan.” I don’t remember any of these titles on the AFI Best Films list.

All these guys are accused of murder, rape, assault, involving drugs. They’re lowlifes. They’re mot even the Billionaire Boys Club. They’re penny ante at best.

“Hollywood Monsters”? Their only connection to Hollywood is maybe illegally parking there.

Carlos Santana Is Human! Collapses On Michigan Stage from Dehydration, Taken to Hospital

Roger Friedman
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Carlos Santana Is Human! Collapses On Michigan Stage from Dehydration, Taken to Hospital

Oy vey!

Carlos Santana, whose many hits include “Oye Como Va,” is recovering from heat, exhaustion and dehydration in a Michigan hospital. He collapsed onstage at Pine Knob last night twenty minutes into his set and was rushed to the hospital.

Santana posted on Facebook:
“to one and all
thank you for your precious prayers
Cindy and I we are good just taking it easy
forgot to eat and drink water
so i dehydrated and passed out
blessings and miracles to you all”

Carlos is 74 years young, and an Energizer bunny onstage and off. The amount of energy that it takes to do what he does is incalculable. His blistering guitar work. not to mention running his huge band, requires sustenance and support.

Santana will take a few days off before returning to his tour.

Hardcore Michael Jackson Fans Win Small Victory from Estate: Disputed Songs Removed from Streaming

Roger Friedman
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Hardcore Michael Jackson Fans Win Small Victory from Estate: Disputed Songs Removed from Streaming

Back in 2010, I was the first to hear an album of songs Michael Jackson sang vocals on, written by family friend Eddie Cascio and his friend James Porte. It was a year after Michael’s death, and the idea that Michael had recorded in the Cascio’s basement in 2007 was an exciting find.

But the hardcore Michael Jackson fans never accepted the songs. Even as the Estate put three of the songs on Michael’s posthumous self named album, the fans boycotted the release. They claimed the vocals were created by a Jackson impersonator, which simply wasn’t the case. To my mind, they poisoned a perfectly good record that Michael intended for his family friends to profit from. The “MIchael” album didn’t sell well, and the fans — a small but vocal group– continue to carp about the songs.

Today the Estate removed the offending songs from all streaming platforms. I’m told this was not because they are fake in any way, but because they want to concentrate on the positive. “MJ the Michael Jackson Musical” is a hit, there will be a West End version with Tony winning star Myles Frost, and a national tour. There’s also a Jackson biopic in the works written by John Logan and set for distribution by Lions Gate. So why rock the boat?

The songs– “Breaking News,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Monster” — will remain on the physical CD because they’re already made and you can’t undo that. They are not fake vocals. A forensic musicologist confirmed it. I always knew it. Jackson went to the Cascio’s home in New Jersey in 2007 and stayed there for several weeks. He was happy to add his vocals, really. He loved the Cascios, something the fans don’t seem to get. He knew he was giving them a gift.

So that’s the “breaking news.” Maybe one day all of the tracks will be released as Michael wished.

Box Office: “Elvis” Is a Hit, Crosses $76 Mil Mark in 12 Days, Sends Albums Up the Charts

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Elvis” Is a Hit, Crosses $76 Mil Mark in 12 Days, Sends Albums Up the Charts

Well, well.

There’s still an audience for Elvis Presley, and it’s a big one.

Warner Bros. is celebrating today. Over the weekend, Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” crossed the $76 million mark and could be headed to $100 million.

For the studio that has lived on DC Comics movies, this is a nice result. “Elvis” is not part of a ‘universe.’ It’s a standalone movie, a biopic with music, and a film aimed at adults. A lot of people said ahead of time that no one remembered Presley, that young people wouldn’t be interested.

But the naysayers were wrong, The movie has even sent Presley’s records up the charts. The movie soundtrack is number 8 on iTunes, and three different greatest hit collections are in the top 100.

Austin Butler is electric on screen, and the audience has responded. Tom Hanks is having his first hit in some time. Bravo!

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