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Irony: “American Idol” 2nd Place HunterGirl Out-Charts Winner Noah Thompson on iTunes

Roger Friedman
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Irony: “American Idol” 2nd Place HunterGirl Out-Charts Winner Noah Thompson on iTunes

Isn’t this the way we thought it would go?

Last Sunday, HunterGirl (real name Hunter Wolkonowski) lost “American Idol” in the final moments to Noah Thompson. She should have won. He was fine, but bland. They are each country artists.

On Tuesday both singers released singles. And now who’s ahead on iTunes?

HunterGirls’s “Red Bird” is number 10. Thompson’s “One Day Tonight” is number 11.

It was pretty clear on Sunday that HunterGirl would be one in a long line of “Idol” so called losers who would do better than the winner.

Broadway: “Funny Girl” Star Beanie Feldstein Keeps Missing Shows, Giving Understudy Julie Benko a Surprise Showcase

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Funny Girl” Star Beanie Feldstein Keeps Missing Shows, Giving Understudy Julie Benko a Surprise Showcase

It pains me to say this. But there’s some trouble at “Funny Girl.”

I’m a big fan of Beanie Feldstein, who plays Fanny Brice, the star role created decades ago by Barbra Streisand.

But at today’s matinee understudy Julie Benko — said to be quite good — will be playing the part. She also filled in this past Wednesday at the matinee, and all of last weekend’s three shows.

Benko also subbed for Beanie the first weekend after the show opened. Ms. Feldstein went to a wedding.

The missed shows are giving Benko a great showcase. But they’re also begging the question of what’s going on at “Funny Girl”?

The musical revival was snubbed by the Tony Awards in all categories excepted Jared Grimes as featured actor in a musical. The fact that Beanie was ignored is really criminal: she’s excellent and deserved the nomination.

Are the missed performances because of disappointment? Allergies? Allergies to the Tony Awards? COVID (probably not, because the absences are spotty).

Beanie’s got to remember that People who Love People Are the Luckiest People, and she’s very Lucky to have that job. The audience is buying tickets to see her. They don’t care about the Tony nominations.

As for Benko, there are plenty of Broadway stories about understudies who took over the main roles and became famous. Two notable examples: Michele Lee in “How to Succeed in Business” and Shirley MacLaine in “Pajama Game.” The departures of the leads turned out to be career making for those ladies. So Julie Benko, just hold on.

“Top Gun Maverick” Takes $32 Million Friday Looks Toward Tom Cruise’s Biggest Opening Weekend Ever

Roger Friedman
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“Top Gun Maverick” Takes $32 Million Friday Looks Toward Tom Cruise’s Biggest Opening Weekend Ever

“Top Gun Maverick” will give Tom Cruise his biggest opening weekend everf, and his first $100 million ever.

Last night “Maverick” took in $32 million. Add to Thursday previews and we have an official opening night of $51 million. The movie is pointed to a $120 mil opening three day weekend.

That might be a little lower than expected. But for Cruise, who is not a traditional box office king, it’s great news. It’s especially good in the post-pandemic climate with audience still sketchy about hitting theaters.

So the movie is making its money back quickly, and Cruise, who likely has a huge stake in gross profits and dollar one, can afford to heap money on Scientology now down in Clearwater, Florida. Thank Xenu! Also thank director Joseph Kosinski, Christopher McQuarrie, Jerry Bruckheimer, and a very talented cast.

Pop Bop: Harry Styles New Album Biggest Debut of Year So Far Including A Record 175K Vinyl LP Records

Roger Friedman
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Pop Bop: Harry Styles New Album Biggest Debut of Year So Far Including A Record 175K Vinyl LP Records

Somewhere out there, there are 175,000 record players. (I haven’t used one since 1990.)

That’s right. Harry Styles sold a record 175,000 vinyl LP records this week of his new album, “Harry’s House.” It’s a vinyl record “record” of sorts in the current era. (In the old days, artists sold millions o these things.)

“Harry’s House” sold 515,000 copies including all those LPs, paid downloads, and streaming equivalent sales.

I think it’s great all these people are listening to Harry on vinyl, although his album isn’t necessarily a sonic experience. But it’s a great entry point especially for young people.

Are you ready for this? “Harry’s House” average price on LP is a whopping THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS or seven times the amount we paid when records ruled the roost! If records had cost that much in 1975, I’d have had no collection at all.

Kids, go to Amoeba Records on line and buy some really great albums for your new record players. Try some Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell jazz, Sting, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and, of course, Beatles. For fun add the Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, and Nina Simone. Buy them used for $1.99. A few scratches? That’s the whole point!

PS I’m worried you don’t have a little integrated amp and cool speakers. Go to AudioAdvisor.com.

NY Swells Are All Around Town Including “Bull” Star Michael Weatherly and His Famous Doctor Wife

Roger Friedman
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NY Swells Are All Around Town Including “Bull” Star Michael Weatherly and His Famous Doctor Wife

We hear the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation held a kickoff party for the 18th Annual Hampton Happening and the Step Up To Turn Cancer Off virtual fundraiser at Versa NY. Notable attendees included: Dr. Samuel Waxman, Richard Kind and this year’s honorees Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, Chef Julian Medina, Chef and Owner of Toloache, Tacuba, Coppelia, Kuxe, La Chula, and El Fish Shack, and Mark Melchiorre, Executive Managing Director, CIO & Head of Brean Investment Group.

Lifeline New York held its annual benefit dinner to help children’s hospitals in Serbia and Ukrainian refugee children. Some notable attendees included: Dr. Bojana Jankovic Weatherly and her hsuband, “Bull” star Michael Weatherly, David Hryck, Susan Gutfreund, Cheri Kaufman, Peter Pizzino, Tijana Ibrahimovic, Dragana Djuknic, Kyle Wool, philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, and Bill Sclight.

We hear the Southampton Animal Shelter will hold a kickoff party for the 13th Annual Unconditional Love gala at the Southampton History Museum. This year’s gala, its most vital fundraiser of the year, as they rely on donations and grants to keep the shelter running will be held on July 16, 2022, will honor Former NY City Police Commissioner William Bratton and Jonathan McCann.

MVVO ART hosted a reception at Havas New York to announce the AD ART SHOW 2022 winning artist Chanell Angeli, who received a specialty Clio award in Contemporary Art. Notable attendees included: Maria van Vlodrop, Laura Maness, Dan Lucey, Laura Skoler, Isaac Aden, Eric Shiner, Chanell Angeli, Parme Marin Lindsay Stein, Laura Skoler and Layla Nami.

Manhattan School of Music (MSM) hosted its 2022 Gala at The Rainbow Room, Rockefeller Plaza, in New York City. This year’s gala celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the School’s Orchestral Performance Program and honored MSM Trustee Emerita Carla Bossi-Comelli. Notable attendees included: honoree Carla Bossi-Comelli; MSM President James Gandre; MSM Board Chair Lorraine Gallard; Fabrizio Di Michele, Katharine Aulitzky and Isabel Leonard.

Party Poops: amFAR Cannes, Friars Club Roast of Tracey Morgan Attract D List Celebrities

Roger Friedman
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Party Poops: amFAR Cannes, Friars Club Roast of Tracey Morgan Attract D List Celebrities

The heady days are over.

Thursday night in Cannes, amFAR threw its annual gala. The party that once attracted Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, Sharon Stone, and Calvin Klein brought out a crowd of D list celebrities. All the big stars are gone. Stone, ever the wise woman, was the star of the Cannes red carpet all week but blew out of town before amFAR. She made the right decision.

In New York, the troubled Friars Club had a “roast” comedian Tracy Morgan at the former Ziegfeld Theater, now Ballroom. This was a rogue’s gallery of awfulness starting with Rudy Giuliani and Geraldo Rivera, followed by former “SNL” cast member Chris Kattan. No Tina Fey or Jane Krakowski from “30 Rock,” none of the “SNL” heavyweights. From the photos it looks a lot like the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Both organizations have been mired in controversy. amFAR is now under the aegis of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Festival. Contributions and grants are severely diminished yet salaries keep going up. Most of last night’s guests were models paid to be there. And as is now the custom, the group made no announcement today of how much money the evening raised. (They used to make these announcements immediately but that stopped a few years ago.)

The Friars have settled a $1 million sexual harassment lawsuit, fired their CEO after federal agents raided the place and he– Michael Gyure — was found guilty of tax fraud. They can’t re-open their restaurant because they don’t want to pay union fees to workers. Now they’re also suing Gyure (pronounced, ironically, “jury”).

“Grey’s Anatomy” Ends Season 18 Down 21% from Last Year, 1 Million Fans Depart Show

Roger Friedman
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“Grey’s Anatomy” Ends Season 18 Down 21% from Last Year, 1 Million Fans Depart Show

“Grey’s Anatomy” ended its 18th season last night on ABC. It will be back in the fall.

The hospital soap opera finished the season down 23.8% from last year. They’ve lost 1 million viewers over the course of the year.

When “Grey’s” returns in the fall, the three principal actors will on hand — whiny Ellen Pompeo plus Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. Debbie Allen directs and produces, so she’ll likely return. But several characters left Seattle as contracts aren’t resolved. As we know from “Grey’s,” anything can happen.

Harry Styles’ Tracks from New Album Were Big Streamers But Not Big Sellers

Roger Friedman
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Harry Styles’ Tracks from New Album Were Big Streamers But Not Big Sellers

This week we’re waiting for the total sales numbers on Harry Styles’ new album, “Harry’s House.” Predictions are between 400,000 and 500,000 including streaming.

Indeed, the individual tracks for “Harry’s House” were very big on streaming. They were not that successful on paid downloads.

Seven of the top 10 streaming tracks on the hitsdailydouble chart for this week came from “Harry’s House.” The balance of the album in individual tracks, are scattered in the top 25. Four of top 5 are from Styles’ album.

It’s a different story at iTunes. The lead single, “As It Was,” has been in the top 3 all week, and for the last few weeks. But that’s it. Another single, “Late Night Talking,” a very close cousin to Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” is number 29. “Boyfriends,” which borrows Simon & Garfunkel’s guitar from “I Am a Rock” and “Old Friends/ Bookends,” is number 51.

And that’s it.

I am advised that kids no longer download or buy tracks. They have Spotify subscriptions and just play these songs over and over. But even millions of streams add up to many fewer dollars than purchases.

This is why Styles is doing 10 dates at Madison Square Garden, another 10 in LA and a couple of other cities. His live shows will make money for him. Record sales will not.

“The Good Fight” is Ending After Coming Season: I Told You the Reason Back in March

Roger Friedman
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“The Good Fight” is Ending After Coming Season: I Told You the Reason Back in March

“The Good Fight,” an extension of “The Good Wife,” is ending its run on CBS All Access or Paramount Plus after its sixth season this fall. I see the show’s producers have given interviews saying why they’re wrapping up. But the story I reported on March 9th is the real reason. The show’s long time showrunner was ousted in the middle of directing the first new episode of the 6th season. “The Good Fight” has been loaded with HR issues, I was told.

Otherwise, the Kings would have continued for more seasons.

As for the great Christine Baranski, she’s playing the role of Diane Lockhart for 13 years. That’s an amazing run. She’s already got one season in of “The Gilded Age” and another coming. And she always has movies and theater awaiting her.

TV Exclusive: Over at CBS’s “The Good Fight” Word of a Bad Fight Backstage as Producer-Director Departs

Cruise Carnival: “Top Gun Maverick” Scores $19.3 Mil in Previews, Heads to Huge Opening on Widest Release Ever

Roger Friedman
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Cruise Carnival: “Top Gun Maverick” Scores $19.3 Mil in Previews, Heads to Huge Opening on Widest Release Ever

Paramount is taking no chances with “Top Gun: Maverick.” They’re ensuring a record breaking opening night and weekend with the widest release ever in movie history. The Tom Cruise starrer is playing in 4, 735 theaters. Who knew there were that many?

Thursday total:$19.3 million. If the movie makes $20 million every day this weekend, that’s $80 million, and $100 million through Monday. Maybe the weekend will bring more. We’ll see…

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