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What Year is It? One Fifth of iTunes Top 100 Is Oldies, from “Sweet Caroline” to “You’re So Vain” to “Call Me Maybe”

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Maybe it’s a sign of needing comfort food music.

Or maybe it’s just that the current pop releases are not very satisfying. But 20 of the top 100 iTunes singles this morning are oldies. Yes, people are downloading old songs.

Indeed, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” from 1971, is number 6. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears is number 9.

Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me,” from 2000 is number 4.

“California Dreamin'” by the Mamas and the Papas, circa 1965, is number 13.

And on and on it goes.

Singles by Carly Simon, Bread, and ABBA are sprinkled through the charts. There also more recent oldies from Lady Gaga and Carly Rae Jepsen thrown in there for good measure.

“Stayin’ Alive” from the Bees Gees is on there. So is the Pet Shop Boys’s “Let’s Make Lots of Money,” but that might be explained by its use in a current commercial.

On the other hand, Nick Jonas’s new “Superman,” which debuted on “SNL” on Saturday night, isn’t selling at all. Before the show it was around number 30, and that’s where it’s stayed. Usually a song like that would get a good sales bounce. But “Spaceman” has remained, oddly, in space.

The same thing has happened on the album charts, where many groups’ greatest hits, heavily discounted.

No one is likely more shocked than the 60s and 70s hit R&B pop group The 5th Dimension. Two of their greatest hits albums are at numbers 6 and 7!  That may have to do with an excellent piece on CBS Sunday Morning about Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr, who have a wonderful new album of Beatles songs.

 

 

Ratings: Golden Globes Numbers INCOMPLETE But Early Figures Look Dismal, All Eyes on the Downward Trend Over Last Decade

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UPDATE 2:54PM: Early numbers are very incomplete but they dont look good. Right now the numbers for the west coast aren’t in. But the average looks like a shocking 6 million. Even if it’s twice that, 12 million with the west coast, then the show really tanked.
What’s clear from the three most Eastern time zones is that viewing went down hour by hour, from 6 million to 5.4 to 4.7 million. Each hour would have to triple or more to be considered bad. Frightening.

While we wait for the Golden Globes ratings, here’s how they’ve trended:

Last year’s awards ceremony drew 18.3 million viewers and a 4.7 rating among adults 19-49 according to Nielsen. That was down a slight 2% on 2019 in total viewership and half a point ratings-wise. For comparison, in 2019 the awards show ended up scoring a 5.2 rating and 18.6 million viewers, up a few percentage points from the 2018 telecast which drew a 5.0 rating and 19 million viewers.

The highwater mark was in 2004, with almost 27 million. In 2014 they were down to 20 million. There’s been a steady incremental decline since then, with 2017 briefly returning to 20 million and then a slow fall to last year.

The Globes benefited last night from little competition. There was no major sporting event to draw away viewers.

(Watch) Jane Fonda’s Speech at the 2021 Golden Globes Was One of the Best in the Show’s History

Jane Fonda keeps it real, all the time.

Her speech tonight at the Golden Globes, accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award, was one of the best in the show’s history. It addressed the power structure in Hollywood, lack of diversity, how to make things better in the most gracious way imaginable. And what a turnaround for Fonda, who has fought so long in Hollywood for respect by doing the right things and never veering from her core positions. Plus, she looked great.

Norman Lear’s speech was lovely, too, thanking Carol Burnett and also addressing his own positive activism for the last eight decades.

Golden Globes Boost Chances for Oscar Noms for Jodie Foster, Andra Day, Rosamund Pike with Surprise Wins

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The Golden Globes don’t predict the Oscars, but a surprise nomination won’t hurt three actresses previously not in the game.

Rosamund Pike won Best Actress, Comedy/Musical for the dour satire, “I Care a Lot.” That puts her into the Best Actress category for the Oscars with Frances McDormand, Viola Davis, Carey Mulligan and another surprise winner tonight, Andra Day.

Day won Best Actress, Drama for “The United States vs, Billie Holiday.” Day now jumps into the Oscar Best Actress category as stated above. She gives an Oscar winning performance.

Jodie Foster jumps into the running for Best Supporting Actress for her Globes win in that category for “The Mauritanian.” That win was really a shock, not just to us but to Jodie, who accepted in her pajamas.

Frances McDormand may have lost herself the Oscar tonight for “Nomadland.”  She didn’t even participate. Unless she’s  ill– and I certainly hope she ‘s not– that was just rude, plain rude. (Unless, of course, she’d been tipped in advance that she wasn’t winning.)

The male actors awards, to Chadwick Boseman, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Daniel Kaluuya, were spot on.

Golden Globes Make Up for Racist Accusations With Awards to Best Black Actor and Actress, Best Picture to “Nomadland”

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UPDATING GOLDEN GLOBES, PART 2

The HPFA was smart. They made up for the accusations of racism by choosing Best Actors in Drama both Black actors, the late Chadwick Boseman, and Andra Day, and “Nomadland” Best Picture. That should make up a little bit for their sketchy past. They also gave Best Supporting Actor to Daniel Kaluuya for “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Bravo to all!

Best Actor, Drama, Motion Picture: Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

Best Director Motion Picture: Chloe Zhao, “Nomadland”

Best Comedy/Musical: “Borat Subsequent Film”

Best Actor, Comedy/Musical: Sacha Baron Cohen, “Borat”

Best Actress, Drama: Andra Day! “Billie Holiday” Amazing! Congrats! Frances McDormand didn’t even bother showing up. Viola Davis looked so happy for Andra!

Best Picture, Drama: “Nomadland”

 

 

UPDATING LIVE Golden Globes Give First Two Awards to Black Actors Daniel Kaluuya, John Boyega After Ignoring Black Movies

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After Tina Fey and Amy Poehler “went there,” Laura Dern gave the Best Supporting Actor award to Daniel Kaluuya for “Jusdas and the Black Messiah.” There was no sound for Daniel so we almost didn’t hear his acceptance speech.

The other nominees looked surprised, but Bill Murray doesn’t care. Shock that Sacha Baron Cohen didn’t win for “Chicago 7.”

Angela Bassett looked outstanding. She gave Best Supporting Actor, TV: John Boyega for “Small Axe.” Very deserved.

Viola Davis leading a commercial for 50 years of L’Oreal. Interesting. They were a company with a huge Nazi background, no kidding. We’ve come a long way.

A coincidence that the first two awards wen to Black actors after ignoring Black movies? I don’t think so.

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy: Catherine O’Hara for “Schitt’s Creek.”

Animated Film: “Soul”

Actor in Limited Series, etc: Mark Ruffalo, “I Know This Much Is True.” a win for HBO!

Movies: Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, “The Trial of Chicago 7.” Expected.

Norman Lear, what can you say? He’s amazing and wonderful. A gentleman as always.

Actress, Television Series, Drama: Emma Corrin “The Castle”

Best Song in a Film: Diane Warren from “The Life Ahead”

Best Score: “Soul”

Actor, TV Series Comedy or Musical: Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”

Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy: “Schitt’s Creek”

Best Actress Musical or Comedy: Rosamund Pike! for “I Care a Lot”

Actor, TV Series, Drama: Josh O’Connor “The Crown”

Foreign Language: “Minari,” which will be a regular Best Picture nominee at the Oscars

TV Series, Drama: “The Crown”

BIG SHOCK Supporting Actress Jodie Foster, “The Mauritanian”

TV Supporting Actress: Gillian Anderson, “The Crown”

TV Best Actress Limited Series: Anya Taylor Joy, “Queen’s Gambit”

TV: Limited Series: “The Queen’s Gambit”

— go to next story–

 

 

 

 

Did Mia Farrow Get the Idea for Accusing Woody Allen from This Song by Dory Previn?

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Where did Mia Farrow get the idea for accusing Woody Allen of molesting 7 year old Dylan in her attic?

Some think it comes from a 1970 song written by Dory Previn, ex wife of Mia’s second husband, Andre Previn. When Mia’s marriage to Frank Sinatra broke up, she went to stay with the Previns. She befriended Dory, who’d been married to Andre for several years. WHen Mia left, she took Andre– 15 years her senior — with her.

Dory wrote and recorded this song, “With Daddy in the Attic,” in 1970. She also wrote and recorded a song called “Beware of Young Girls.” Dory knew a lot more than we ever did about Mia. It’s some coincidence, isn’t it?

If you’re watching the disingenuous and one sided mini series “Allen v. Farrow” on HBO tonight, keep this in mind. None of this is ever mentioned in four episodes.

Lyrics:

Ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
That is where
My being wants to bed
With the
Mattress ticking showing
And the tattered pillow slip
And the pine
Unpainted rafters overhead
With the
Door closed on my mama
And my sibling competition
And my Shirley Temple doll
That truly cries
And my essay on religion
With the pasted paper stare
Proving tangibly
I’d won the second prize
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
That is where
My dark attraction lies
With his
Madness on the nightstand
Placed beside
His loaded gun
In the terrifying nearness
Of his eyes
With no
Window spying neighbours
And no
Husbands in the future
To intrude
Upon our attic
Past the stair
Where we’ll live on
Peanut butter
Spread across assorted crackers
And he’ll play
His clarinet
When I despair
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
Passed the stair
Where we’ll live on
Peanut butter
Spread across assorted crackers
And he’ll play
His clarinet
When I despair
Ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
Passed the stair
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
With my
Daddy in the attic
Passed the stair

Ratings: “SNL” Posts Dreary Numbers with Nick Jonas Despite a Grade A Funny Show

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“Saturday Night Live” returned with a grade A funny show last night, a real relief after the last few weeks.

The opening sketch with Kate McKinnon as Dr. Fauci, right through the Nick Jonas monologue, even Weekend News Update was better. The best sketch was McKinnon and Jonas returning to flirting at a bar, and Ego Nwodim as Dionne Warwick was a blast. Also the return of Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong after going AWOL last fall has brightened everything.

But the ratings are anemic. The show scored a 4.1 overall, and 1.9 of that was in the key demo. Nick Jonas should have been more of a draw. Certainly he was the liveliest host in some time, and his musical performances were top notch.

“SNL” is touting a big ratings season, but that’s all from before Christmas. Since the New Year return, the show cannot pull itself up over 4.2 million viewers. Why no Biden impersonation? Well next week the host is Maya Rudolph (no offense, but she’s been a cast player all season, now she’s hosting?) and someone named Jack Harlow.

I do think “SNL” is having trouble getting hosts and musical guests because of the pandemic. Guests don’t have much to promote and they don’t want to waste the shot. It may also be a travel issue.

Nick Jonas introduced his new song, “Spaceman,” which is so-so. But his second song, “This Is Heaven,” sounded like a real hit.

Hollywood Women’s Group Times Up Spent Whopping $2.4 Mil on Compensation in 2019, Just $19K in Grants

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Time’s up for Time’s Up. Really.

Last November, the Daily Mail reported that the Hollywood women’s advocacy group spent lavishly on themselves in their first year of operation but did little for other people. The Mail story cited $1.4 million on compensation, among other things. It was outrageous.

But now Time’s Up has posted its financial report for 2019, and it’s worse! Salaries and compensation totaled $2.4 million —  including almost $600,000 to get rid of CEO Lisa Borders, formerly the head of the WNBA, after her son was accused of groping a woman (that’s putting it nicely) during a “healing” session. (He hired Kevin Spacey’s lawyer to defend him, but Borders left with a neatly wrapped exit package.)

Time’s Up now, according to their website, has an all new staff, with Tina Tchen running the show. But I also count a whopping 25 main employees, all with fancy titles, and no doubt six figure salaries.

The list of 2019 salaries staggers the imagination for a start up group dedicated to advocacy work. Currently, Time’s Up is shooting fish in a barrel, attacking the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for not having black members. Duh. They’re acting like this is a revelation.

In 2019, Time’s Up also paid Washington DC law firm Arnold & Porter almost half a million dollars in legal fees —  $454,693. (The only good thing you can say about that was that it was a decrease from 2018’s $719,000.) They also paid a New York recruiter $165,000. Why? It couldn’t have been that hard to find women qualified to come in and make six figures to do nothing. At least in 2019 there’s no listing for a fee to a PR firm. In 2018, Time’s Up paid $112,435 to Rally Public Relations.

And nothing is what all these people did. In the end, after raising $1.7 million (half of what they reported in 2018) they donated just $19,342 to the National Women’s Law Center. That was their sole grant. And it was down from the almost $180,000 they gave away in 2018.

The filed Form 990 is full of more discrepancies than  I usually see on these things. There are plenty of contradictions from one page to the next. And what is the point of creating an advocacy group that helps no one but spends over $400,000 on travel and rent? I must be missing the point.

The group’s payroll taxes– $23,287 — were higher than their one donation to a women’s group.

I don’t get it. I don’t know who’s supporting this group or giving them money, but I’d maybe stop it immediately and give it a food bank. This is ridiculous.

 

Marvel Fans! Sam Wilson aka Falcon aka Anthony Mackie Has Captain America’s Shield in Teaser for New Series

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You do remember as “Avengers Endgame” concluded, Chris Evans handed Anthony Mackie Captain America’s red white and blue shield.

And now we see that Mackie aka Sam Wilson aka the Falcon has the shield is ready to use it as more than a breakfast tray. It’s all in the teaser for “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” coming to Disney Plus for six episodes beginning March 19th. Bucky Barnes is back in the person of Sebastian Stan.

Can’t wait for the Mack Attack!