Tuesday, December 16, 2025
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UPDATING Ken Cen Red Carpet D List: Kelsey Grammer, Frank Stallone, Dr. Oz, Shannon Tweed, Mike Farris, Criss Angel

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It’s time for the red carpet for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.

Meryl Streep? Harrison Ford? Denzel Washington? Lorne Michaels? Neil DeGrasse Tyson?

Nooooooo. Who needs THEM? They’ve been replaced with MUCH bigger stars, the kind of stars no one’s ever seen!

Guests include the honorees rock group KISS, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Michael Crawford, and Sylvester Stallone.

That group is D List enough, but new Ken Cen chief Tricky Dick Grenell has some nice surprises for us.

Top of the list is Kelsey Grammer, who is desperate for his own Honor next year. It looks like the former “Cheers” and “Frasier” star has brought one of his daughters. Also on hand: Frank Stallone, Sly’s brother.

Also getting paparazzed: Dr. Oz, someone named Mike Farris, and KISS leader Gene Simmons’ wife, Shannon Tweed. The latter is not smiling in the pictures and seems to be straining her leash.

Also part of the D team: actor Neal McDonough (he’s the one who says he got fired from a TV show because he didn’t want to kiss an actress), and low rent Vegas musician Criss Angel — not be confused with former KISS member Peter Criss, who’s shrunk a bit since leaving the group.

Did I mention David Ellison, son of Trump lackey Billionaire Larry Ellison, new owner of CBS Paramount?

And of course Pam Bondi, and purveyor of War, Pete Hegseth.

Bill Conti, who’s made a fortune from the “Rocky” theme, is there. I guess he’s performing the song with the orchestra.

Where are Trump ambassadors Jon Voight and Mel Gibson?

keep refreshing!

Trump, Bloviating, Thinks Jimmy Kimmel Once Hosted Kennedy Center Honors, That State Dept Dinner for Guests Never Happened Before

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The best part of the Kennedy Center Honors this year is Donald Trump.

Bloviating, talking through his hat, making wild claims that aren’t true, filibustering on irrelevant subjects.

At the White House ceremony yesterday he speculated about his hosting Sunday night’s show. He said Jimmy Kimmel was talentless, and “horrible” when he did it.

Kimmel has never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors.

Then Trump said they were all going over to the State Department for dinner — the first tim ever this has happened!

Ahem. The State Department Dinner is an annual tradition.

Trump may be confused because when he was president the first time, he never went to the Honors. Also, all the honorees boycotted him.

But this year, the Honorees– which Trump called the greatest ever — are middling choices, some of whom don’t deserve the prize. But they accepted.

Trump has changed the look of the Kennedy Center medallion so that when his term was over, and the traditional look is restored, his honorees will be wearing a physical asterisk forever.

Hollywood Celebrities Walk the Red Carpet in Saudi Arabia, Oblivious to Human Rights Violations Reports: The Need for Adulation

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It’s actually shocking.

To watch the Hollywood celebrities walking the red carpet at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia speaks so much to their lack of education.

There’s actually a Page Six video report from the red carpet. You can see it below.

Have any of these people read — yes, I mean read aside from a script — the Human Rights report about Saudi Arabia? Maybe someone can read it to them. It’s right here.

Here’s an excerpt: “In several cases the government did not punish officials accused of committing human rights abuses, contributing to an environment of impunity. Following the high-profile October 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, a court sentenced five officials to death and three officials to prison on December 23. The court ruled that guilt could not be established in the case of three other defendants.”

The need for adulation is so pathetic. If any of these celebrities touched down in Riyadh for an hour as a regular tourist they’d be arrested, if not chopped up for a salad.

The locals they’re talking to on the red carpet have no rights whatsoever. The Red Sea Festival isn’t happening independently of the royal family. If that’s what these actors think, they’re really more clueless than we imagined.

More to come. Just waiting for Angelina Jolie, UN Ambassador, to arrive!

UPDATING Ken Cen Red Carpet D List: Kelsey Grammer, Frank Stallone, Dr. Oz, Shannon Tweed, Mike Farris, Criss Angel

Box Office: Four Nights of “Five Nights at Freddie’s, Pt. 2” Produces Eye Popping $63 Million, “Wicked” Sequel Falls Short

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Four nights of “Five Nights at Freddie’s, Pt. 2” scared up a lot of good memories.

The horror sequel, panned viciously by critics (a stunningly low 12% on Rotten Tomatoes), was a smash hit over the weekend.

The total take from Thursday through today comes to $63 million. A lot of movies of much higher artistic quality playing now would love to see that number. The ostensible 2026 Best Picture, “One Battle After Another,” in theaters for 73 days, has made just $70 million for example.

At the same time, the fast starting hit “Wicked For Good” could not cross the $300 million finish line this weekend. The “Wicked” sequel is huddled at the five yard line, or $296.9 million, after slugging it out all week. Touchdown may come Monday or Tuesday, much to the relief of everyone.

Also: revival of “Kill Bill” with missing scenes, etc made $3.8 million for Lionsgate. Enthusiasm for the combined parts 1 and 2 was dampened by director Quentin Tarantino’s uncalled for take down of the very fine actor, Paul Dano, on a podcast. We’re all still waiting for his apology, which is already a day late and a dollar short.

One thing we did learn: one hour with Quentin is as long as five nights at Freddie’s!

Box Office: “Wicked 2” Wobbly After Two Weeks, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” Opens with $30 Mil, “Zootopia 2” Eyes $200 Mil

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Has “Wicked for Good” gone into over-saturation mode?

Maybe.

The big deal sequel that took the box by storm last weekend has significantly quieted down.

Yesterday, Jon M. Chu’s spectacular took in a very good but not outstanding $4.5 million. After 15 days, the total is $284 million. Unless today the numbers take a sharp turn up, “WFG” won’t cross $300 million.

That all of this has happened in just 15 days points to lowered expectations.

Yesterday, also the Critics Choice Awards gave nods to the movie and Ariana Grande, but not to Cynthia Erivo. That’s a shock — I voted for her — but it feels like the wind is out of the sails for the gang from Oz. “WFG” is also lagging behind the first movie by about $11 million.

“Five Nights at Freddie’s 2” really has passionate followers. With very poor reviews, “FNF2” already has banked $29.8 million. If it adds $20 mil tonight and tomorrow night, holy moly! Maybe their popcorn bucket is really exceptional!

Buzzing along: “Zootopia 2” will hit $200 million tomorrow in its second weekend. Disney’s long awaited sequel spent a lot less on promotion than “WFG,” that’s for sure, and its audience seems much more animated!

Good news from the more serious film crowd: “Hamnet” is building nicely, trying to catch the wind from Critics Choice, National Board of Review, and American Film Institute accolades. Stay tuned…

Vanity Fair Kicks Olivia Nutsy to the Curb, Writer’s Book Flops All Because of RFK Jr “Digital Affair”

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Olivia Nutsy Nuzzi is out at Vanity Fair.

Conde Nast is not renewing her contract as west coast editor after less than a year.

The magazine spent a lot of money on Nuzzi, excepting her book, plus paying salary and expenses.

Meantime, Nuzzi’s book, “American Canto,” is a sales disaster. No one wanted to pay for the story of her “digital affair” with Robert Kennedy Jr.

Nuzzi has lost everything: she was fired from New York magazine when they discovered Nuzzi’s involvement with Kennedy after she profiled him.

She also lost her creepy fiancée Ryan Lizza, who cashed in on the misery as a scorned lover.

Next up for Vanity Fair. How about Marjorie Taylor Greene?

“Sinners” Scores Most Critics Choice Nods, “One Battle” Second, Group Snubs “Avatar Fire and Ash” After Late Screening

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The nominations are in for the Critics Choice Awards, airing Sunday January 4th on USA and other networks.

“Sinners” scored 17 noms, “One Battle After Another” 14.

Totally snubbed was “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” which was screened at the very last minute. Not a big deal, since it’s the third iteration.

The Golden Globes were named Best Comedy. Pete Hegseth wins Worst Actor in a Drama.

FILM NOMINATIONS FOR THE 31ST ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

BEST PICTURE

Bugonia (Focus Features)

Frankenstein (Netflix)

Hamnet (Focus Features)

Jay Kelly (Netflix)

Marty Supreme (A24)

One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Sentimental Value (Neon)

Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Train Dreams (Netflix)

Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

BEST ACTOR

Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24)

Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams (Netflix)

Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)

Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent (Neon)

BEST ACTRESS

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)

Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value (Neon)

Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)

Emma Stone – Bugonia (Focus Features)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Paul Mescal – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Sean Penn – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly (Netflix)

Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value (Neon)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value (Neon)

Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value (Neon)

Amy Madigan – Weapons (Warner Bros.)

Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS

Everett Blunck – The Plague (Independent Film Company)

Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Cary Christopher – Weapons (Warner Bros.)

Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family (Searchlight Pictures)

Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)

BEST DIRECTOR

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)

Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)

Chloé Zhao – Hamnet (Focus Features)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly (Netflix)

Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)

Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Zach Cregger – Weapons (Warner Bros.)

Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby (A24)

Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams (Netflix)

Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee – No Other Choice (Neon)

Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Will Tracy – Bugonia (Focus Features)

Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet (Focus Features)

BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE

Nina Gold – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold – Jay Kelly (Netflix)

Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme (A24)

Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Francine Maisler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Claudio Miranda – F1 (Apple Original Films)

Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Łukasz Żal – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams (Netflix)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel Studios)

Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Marty Supreme (A24)

Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

BEST EDITING

Kirk Baxter – A House of Dynamite (Netflix)

Stephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)

Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)

Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)

Michael P. Shawver – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Malgosia Turzanska – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Lindsay Pugh – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)

Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella – Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)

Ruth E. Carter – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Flora Moody, John Nolan – 28 Years Later (Sony Pictures)

Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal – The Smashing Machine (A24)

Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins – Weapons (Warner Bros.)

Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)

Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson – F1 (Apple Original Films)

Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)

Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams – Superman (Warner Bros.)

BEST STUNT DESIGN

Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda – Ballerina (Lionsgate)

Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1 (Apple Original Films)

Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)

Brian Machleit – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Andy Gill – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Giedrius Nagys – Warfare (A24)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Arco (Neon)

Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

In Your Dreams (Netflix)

KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (GKIDS)

Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

BEST COMEDY

The Ballad of Wallis Island (Focus Features)

Eternity (A24)

Friendship (A24)

The Naked Gun (Paramount)

The Phoenician Scheme (Focus Features)

Splitsville (Neon)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

It Was Just an Accident (Neon)

Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)

No Other Choice (Neon)

The Secret Agent (Neon)

Sirāt (Neon)

Belén (Amazon MGM Studios)

BEST SONG

“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1 (Apple Original Films)

“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams (Netflix)

“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

BEST SCORE

Hans Zimmer – F1 (Apple Original Films)

Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Max Richter – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme (A24)

Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST SOUND

Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films)

Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Laia Casanovas – Sirāt (Neon)

Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare (A24)

Movie Divide: “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” Scores Whopping $7.2 Million in Previews, But Gets Shmeared by Critics

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Horror is one place where critics and fans are divided.

Last night, Universal’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” made $7.2 million in previews.

That’s huge. Will it do multiples over the weekend? Hard to say. Horror films tend to bring in their fans on the first days, then slow down.

Still, who wouldn’t want an opening night like that?

The critics, however, were less impressed. The reviews may be scarier than the movie!

On Rotten Tomatoes the movie has around a 12% rating, panned by just about everyone. Eviscerated. Frank Scheck wrote in The Hollywood Reporter: “The film’s cast deserves credit, not so much for their performances as their ability to keep a straight face throughout.”

Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press wrote: “It’s an incoherent mess, something that, back in the day, would be straight to DVD. “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” has an after-school special vibe with no real horror and no real awareness that it should.”

The first “Five Nights” movie did wind up making over $137 million domestically. The original also made $3 million more on preview night than the new one. Including Thurs and Fri for that release, the total was just over $39 million. So that’s something to remember.

Taylor Swift’s and Ariana Grande’s Record Label Chiefs Will Be Honored at Clive Davis’s Annual Pre-Grammy Dinner: Will They Come?

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The Grammy weekend at the end of January just got a lot more interesting.

Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy dinner — produced along with the Recording Academy — is going to honor the record label chiefs of Republic Records as Grammy Icons.

Brothers Monte and Avery Lipman run Republic, the most successful label in the business. Republic is home to Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and dozens of other stars.

Clive Davis’s gala is the gem of the Grammy weekend, celebrating 50 years. Davis puts on a show to this hot ticket event that’s unrivaled, with the biggest acts in music.

So will Swift or Grande come and be guests? Will they perform?

Recently, Monte and Avery have been appointed to lead Universal Music Group’s East Coast Collective of labels including Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, Mercury Records, as well as Republic Records.

So the sky’s the limit, and tickets to Davis’s dinner on January 31st at the Beverly Hilton are now going to hotter than anything in Hollywood this winter.

“Monte and Avery are proof of how far drive and dedication, combined with passion and talent, can go in this industry,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Their collective vision and unwavering will to go above and beyond for the incredible community of artists they support have made Republic Records one of the most influential labels in the world. We look forward to celebrating their impact as true industry icons at the 2026 Pre-GRAMMY Gala.”

“Monte and Avery are two of the music industry’s most illustrious leaders, and I am thrilled that they will be this year’s Salute to Industry Icons honorees,” said Clive Davis. “Their longtime trailblazing commitment to supporting songwriters across the music spectrum as well as their staunch dedication to advocacy, diversity and equality in the music business are exemplary. Artists and the industry at large are fortunate to have Monte and Avery’s insights and passion at the helm.”

Netflix Buys Warner Bros and HBO, CNN Remains with David Zaslav’s Discovery as Possible Sale to Paramount, Ellisons Thwarted

Who’s not getting control of CNN? The Ellisons and Donald Trump’s efforts to take another news organization after CBS have been thwarted.

In a boffo sale announced overnight, Netflix is buying Warner Bros and HBO from David Zaslav, who will keep CNN as well TNT and TBS etc in a spun off Discovery Global.

There are people in Hollywood concerned that Netflix will destroy Warner’s theatrical arm. But this could have been a lot worse if the Ellisons — whose bid included all of Warner Bros Discovery — had gotten control of CNN.

Will Netflix indeed take Warner’s out of theaters? Let’s hope not. If they can keep Warner’s as a separate company, everyone wins. Why would they destroy a 100 Year old brand? Then we’ll all be watching movies on phones and tablets.

Also, for film, Netflix already has issues with places like the Cannes Film Festival, which won’t show their films because of streaming. If Warner’s was reduced to not putting films in theaters, the eco system of the movie business would be obliterated.

But let’s be happy that the Ellisons didn’t get what they wanted. That itself is a victory.

The cash and stock transaction is valued at $27.75 per WBD share with a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion (equity value of $72.0 billion).

From the press release:

“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” said Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix. “By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies—from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends—with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we’ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”