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Kennedy Center Claiming “Sold Out” Shows While Giving Away Tickets, Can’t Sell Seats to Christmas Show Even Adding Animals

Roger Friedman
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Kennedy Center Claiming “Sold Out” Shows While Giving Away Tickets, Can’t Sell Seats to Christmas Show Even Adding Animals

The Kennedy Center’s holiday season is a mess.

They’re giving away tickets to shows, and claiming “sold out” performances.

But even the shows with no price for tickets aren’t drawing audiences.

Next week, Jesus-obsessed Trump lackey Dickie Grenell is flagging tickets for his Noel: Jesus is Born night so desperately that they’ve added live animals on stage. (Unclear how PETA feels about that.)

Despite the promise of a zoo, the show is mostly unsold. About half the orchestra floor is open, and the first tier is entirely unsold. The other two floors are closed.

On Thursday night, the Kennedy Center presented singer Melinda Doolittle with the National Symphony Orchestra in a program called “Notes of Honor: NSO Salutes the Military.”

Free tickets were distributed to military families. Fox News touted the show as “Sold out.”

Tonight, tomorrow afternoon, and tomorrow evening there are three more performances. The theater is wide open with unsold seats, although only the orchestra level is being used.

Tomorrow afternoon, on the Millennium Stage, the Kennedy Center is giving away tickets to a show with someone named Randy Barrett. According to the website, Barrett “has spent the last 40+ years playing music that makes people feel good.”

They’ll certainly feel good getting a free show!

Also free this week on that Millennium Stage, the Peace and Carol Ringers. And another show called “Gerdan’s The Wheel of Holidays.”

Olivia Nuzzi vs. Cheryl Hines: Who Sold Fewer Books About RFK Jr? And What About Kevin Federline’s Britney Tell All? Louis CK’s First Novel?

Roger Friedman
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Olivia Nuzzi vs. Cheryl Hines: Who Sold Fewer Books About RFK Jr? And What About Kevin Federline’s Britney Tell All? Louis CK’s First Novel?

It’s been a hard fall for celebrity books.

Mostly, it’s been an uphill battle for the women in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s life.

RFK’s wife, Cheryl Hines, sold just 3,200 copies of her memoir, “Unscripted.” It never got much better as “Unscripted” sales sent the book to the lower regions of Amazon’s best seller list.

Then there’s Olivia Nuzzi, Kennedy’s digital lover. She wrote “American Canto,” which also found no audience. NPD BookScan says it “Canto” has sold 1,500 copies. It’s also fallen to the bottom of the bottom of the Amazon list.

And there’s more: Britney Spears’s ex, Kevin Federline, tried to throw her under the bus. It didn’t work. Federline sold just 2,400 copies of — my title — “How I Made a Living off a Pop Star and Then Tried to Get More Money.”

Finally, what happened to Louis CK’s novel, called “Ingram”? Panned by critics, “Ingram” someone made the NY Times Best Seller list for one week. It was simultaneously past number 1,000 on amazon. BookScan says it sold 14,700 total. “Ingram” is now also a memory on Amazon.com at 1,501.

To all these publishers: what were you thinking?

Shen Yun Coming Back to the Kennedy Center Despite Last Year’s Bomb Threat: CFO Accused by DOJ of Money Laundering Scheme

Roger Friedman
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What do you when your theater gets a bomb threat over a dance company?

Why, invite them back!

Last year Shen Yun, the colorful dance troupe that may be a front for money laundering, kicked off its Kennedy Center run with a bang.

The theater got a bomb threat and had to evacuate the building.

You’d think that would be enough for the beleaguered Kennedy Center, which can’t even get “Hamilton” to perform there and is the subject of daily scandals. But they can’t entice much programming since Donald Trump, Tricky Dick Grenell, and the rest of the Christian right took over.

So Shen Yun is returning next month for more fun. Shows were announced for January 7th through the 14th, but that last show has already been cancelled.

I told you in June 2024 that Shen Yun was caught in accusations of a money laundering scheme that included the Epoch Times and Chinese dissidents Falun Gong. The chief financial officer was indicted by the Justice Department for laundering $67 million.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Bill Guan, the Chief Financial Officer of a global newspaper and media company, conspired with others to benefit himself, the media company, and its affiliates by laundering tens of millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits and other crime proceeds. When banks raised questions about the funds, Guan allegedly lied repeatedly and falsely claimed that the funds came from legitimate donations to the media company.

Might that not have something to do with the bomb threat? They’ve had similar situations in other cities.

This what’s happened to the Kennedy Center. From January through the end of April they have almost no programming except their subscription series. A B level tour of the musical, “Chicago,” is coming in for a week.

But there’s a lot of competition in Washington. Both Arena Stage and the National Theater have a lot of hits on their schedule. The Kennedy Center will be looking like a ghost town through the winter.

Poor Shen Yun. It’s a beautiful show, but it’s so wrapped up in cults and Department of Justice lawsuits, not to mention bomb threats, it might be better to go somewhere else!

Tricky Dick Grenell is doing a great job at the Kennedy Center when he’s not helping launch World War III with Venezuela.

Epoch Times CFO May Have Laundered Millions Through Shen Yun Dance Troupe and Conspiracy Fueled Chinese TV Channel

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/chief-financial-officer-multinational-media-company-charged-participating-scheme

“SNL” Continued Ratings Comeback with Melissa McCarthy and Dijon Last Week: Josh O’Connor and Lily Allen Next While Cher Warms Up

Roger Friedman
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“SNL” Continued Ratings Comeback with Melissa McCarthy and Dijon Last Week: Josh O’Connor and Lily Allen Next While Cher Warms Up

This past Saturday’s “SNL” showed the 51 year old show is on a comeback.

For some reason, maybe because there’s a lot of new cast members, season 51 hasn’t been easy. After Bad Bunny opened with 4.4 million viewers, the show trended downwards until Miles Teller and Brandi Carlile bottomed out with 3.36 million. That was pretty shocking.

But every episode since then has restored order, with the most recent episode, featuring Melissa McCarthy and singer Dijon, getting back to 4.3 million again.

Still, “SNL” has not had a blockbuster episode this season so far.

This Saturday brings actor Josh O’Connor and singer Lily Allen, which looks perilous. O’Connor is the star of “Wake Up, Dead Man” and a few other films this fall, but his appeal is unknown. Lily Allen made a splash with an album about her divorce from “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour.

Even if this weekend is a bust the big pre-Christmas ender should go through the roof. Ariana Grande is hosting, and Cher is the musical guest. If they don’t bring in viewers, no one can, particularly if they sing “I Got You, Babe” and Cher — the queen of all celebrity — is in some sketches.

Who knows? Maybe Jeff Goldblum will show up. He and Ariana are releasing a single together this week. And Cynthia Erivo? What about a “Wicked” reunion with Cher? The mind boggles.

Vanity Fair Ditches Famous Oscar Party Tent for Deal with LACMA After Leaving Women off Hollywood Cover: Olivia Nuzzi Invited?

Roger Friedman
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Vanity Fair Ditches Famous Oscar Party Tent for Deal with LACMA After Leaving Women off Hollywood Cover: Olivia Nuzzi Invited?

Vanity Fair is ditching its famous Oscar party tent.

The floundering magazine is moving the party from its long held spot at the Wallis Annenberg Center on Santa Monica Boulevard to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

LACMA could be a fun place, but not the behemoth of the massive tents. It’s unclear if they’ll let guests eat In-and-Out Burgers near all that expensive art.

One guest who won’t be on the list: now ex West Coast editor Olivia Nuzzi. Although you never know: her notoriety of having a big flop of a book and being fired might be just what new editor Mark Guiducci wants on his red carpet.

Vanity Fair’s whole relationship with Hollywood has changed since Guiducci took over from the former editor. The magazine has mostly ignored all the new releases heading to awards season. For its Hollywood issue — out now — they couldn’t get a lot of stars. All actresses turned them down. Only a couple of the male stars warranted a cover.

From Guiducci’s quote on the VF website today, it does seem like doesn’t care about Hollywood per se. He’s looking at tech bro’s as the new stars. I’m surprised no one’s decided yet to launch their own big Oscar winner party now that VF is fading away.

“Wicked for Good” Finally Hits $300 Million After Long Slog, Waits for China and Japan on International Side

Roger Friedman
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“Wicked for Good” Finally Hits $300 Million After Long Slog, Waits for China and Japan on International Side

“Wicked for Good” has been a slow starter at the box office.

After a big take off, the Oz sequel slowed down quite a bit. Yesterday it hit $300 million after 20 days.

For any other movie that would amazing. But the first “Wicked” was at $330 million in the same time frame.

“Wicked 1” took in $475 million in theaters by the end of its domestic run. It doesn’t seem like “For Good” will get near there, but there could be a Christmas resurgence.

On the international side, “WFG” has not gone over so well in foreign countries. The lag is big. But Universal is still waiting for numbers in China and Japan, which should help the bottom line.

Certainly not getting Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture Musical or Comedy was disappointment. But the Critics Choice is something they can advertise, and I can’t imagine a total snub from the Oscars.

Trump: New York Times should “cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful ‘source’ of information”

Roger Friedman
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Trump: New York Times should “cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful ‘source’ of information”

Donald Trump is upset about the New York Times.

He says on Truth Social the newspaper of record should “cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful “source” of information.”

Why is he is a snit this time? Because he thinks no one believes his medical test results, especially for cognition. His long rant is below.

The man who falls asleep in public regularly says: a’I will know when I am “slowing up,” but it’s not now!a’

He says it’s treasonous for anyone to say that a 79 year old man who stumbles around and can’t keep his eyes open during public events, who filibusters even in short comments about nothing to do with the subject at hand, is impaired at all.

“Trump writes: “After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe it’s seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean “THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.” They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it.”

I feel bad that he’s so disturbed. After all, he said last week he didn’t even know why he had an MRI, or what it was for.

“Marty Supreme” Jacket Selling on ebay for $7K, Two Weeks Before Release, Ping Pong Balls in Most Demand Since “Captain Kangaroo”

Roger Friedman
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“Marty Supreme” Jacket Selling on ebay for $7K, Two Weeks Before Release, Ping Pong Balls in Most Demand Since “Captain Kangaroo”

You can buy 12 white ping pong balls at Target for $2.99.

A six pack of orange balls are on sale at Dick’s Sporting Goods for $4.99.

But on ebay right, now orange ping pong balls emblazoned with the logo for the movie, “Marty Supreme” are selling for twenty bucks apiece — and higher.

The movie, starring Timothee Chalamet and directed by Josh Safdie, doesn’t open until Christmas.

Chalamet plays a real life motor mouth kid named Marty Mauser who rises from the Lower East Side circa 1959 and becomes an international table tennis champion. The movie is a hit with critics who’ve seen it, and Chalamet is on his way to an Oscar nomination.

Last night, Chalamet appeared at the Hollywood premiere in an orange suit, albeit with much more material than his girlfriend Kylie jenner, also in orange but wearing basket balls.

The movie should be a hit on its down, but themarketing and merchandising machine behind it is in overdrive. And let’s not forget, almost one one has seen this movie.

“Marty Fever” is in the air. Yesterday, Doni Nahmias, the designer who got the license to may “Marty” clothes, staged a pop up shop in a trendy LA neighborhood. The lines were around the block, with people sleeping overnight. Some intrepid Tik Tok videographers determined that the prospective buyers weren’t really interested in the movie or were fans of Timothee Chalamet. They were resellers anticipating a big market when the movie opens.

Indeed, on ebay, someone is selling a medium sized Nahmias made Marty Supreme jacket for $6,969,69. (See below.) The seller assures me this is the original, unopened, “real” jacket, and not the the fakes also selling ebay for $72.99.

There’s also an A24 Marty Supreme Wheaties Box Cereal + Ping Pong Orange Ball Glass Ornament Set priced to sell at $150.

The movie studio, A24, just sent out a promo gift box for Christmas. There’s an attractive pop corn container with the names of all their 2025 movies including “Marty,” “The Smashing Machine,” and others. There are also a great deal of orange ping pong balls. I noticed that recipients have removed the plastic encased popcorn from the bucket, and replaced it with all the ping pong balls. Someone is selling the bucket now for $99.

Other than playing ping pong in our basement in the 70s, my only other reference to them is in the video below. I’m surprised A24 hasn’t found a tie in between the movie and “Captain Kangaroo,” but there’s still time!

Famed Drummer Zak Starkey Hitting the Road, Coming to New York for Evening of Stories About Playing for The Who, And Being Ringo’s Son

Roger Friedman
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Famed Drummer Zak Starkey Hitting the Road, Coming to New York for Evening of Stories About Playing for The Who, And Being Ringo’s Son

Zak Starkey won’t get fooled again.

The famed drummer for The Who (for thirty years) is hitting the road to tell stories and pound some skins this winter.

Zak, son of Ringo Starr, is actually 60 years old. How is this possible? He’ll explain on February 20th at the Gramercy Theater on West 23rd St. The evening is called “Zak Starkey…Who?: An Evening of Drums and Conversation,” a very special one-man show set plus Q&A.

Starkey left The Who after being fired, then quitting, and whatever this past year. I can’t wait to hear him tell stories about Harry Nilsson, Marc Bolan, Jeff Beck, Debbie Harry, and Joe Walsh to Mick Jones, Primal Scream, Johnny Marr, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Richard Ashcroft, Oasis, and of course Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band.

He’ll being playing live, too. Starkey will step behind the kit for performances of songs by Toots and the Maytals, his new supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, Johnny Marr, and the Who, the latter featuring original backing tracks contributed by Pete Townshend himself. More surprises will be announced soon.

You can buy tickets here. I want to find out if Ringo sang “Good Night” to his kids when he was home!

Prepare for a long night. When Zak was 12, Keith Moon named his new band The Next. Other local bands followed, getting Zak onto the London and UK club and college circuit. During this time, Kenney Jones and Andy Newmark were occasional drum tutors for Zak, and while visiting his father in Los Angeles, he would regularly jam with Stephen Stills, Dr. John, Rick Danko, Billy Preston, and Garth Hudson.

The stories will go on for hours. It’s time for Zak to write a book!

Is Tony Dokoupil the Next Walter Cronkite? CBS Evening News Sending Former Hair Model to News Desk — Watch His Past Auditions

Roger Friedman
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Is Tony Dokoupil the Next Walter Cronkite? CBS Evening News Sending Former Hair Model to News Desk — Watch His Past Auditions

Bari Weiss is on the move at CBS News.

She’s kicked out John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois at CBS Evening News.

Her replacement? Tony Dokoupil, one of the CBS Mornings trio. Dokoupil was once a hair model, and doesn’t have much gravitas.

Is he the next Dan Rather? Walter Cronkite? No. Will this end in tears? Definitely.

Dokoupil’s main attraction to Bari Weiss is that he converted to Judaism in 2014. Then, last fall 2024, he had an on air blow up with author Ta-Nehisi Coates over anti-Israel book. Dokoupil was tough on Coates, whose book he called “extremist” in criticism of Israel’s right to exist. That made him a star in the eyes of then-CBS owner Shari Redstone, and now no doubt Weiss and new CBS owner David Ellison.

Dokoupil has subbed at the CBS Evening News as anchor over the years. Below you can see his past auditions. What do you think?

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