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Ready for the Met Ball Super Spreader? Four Shots May Not Be Enough Protection from COVID at Freak Show

Roger Friedman
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Ready for the Met Ball Super Spreader? Four Shots May Not Be Enough Protection from COVID at Freak Show

Getting your frock ready for tomorrow night’s Met Ball?

With 600 people coming, even four shots — the first two vaccines and two more boosters — may not be enough to protect guests from getting COVID at the annual freak show.

Recent large gatherings like the Gridiron Dinner in Washington, and Clive Davis’s 90th birthday party in downtown Manhattan proved to be quick super spreaders for many who attended. At least 73 people who attended the Gridiron Dinner came down with COVID, according to reports.

Tweeting from last night’s almost certain petri dish, the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, reporter Jada Yuan wrote: “This room is like a horror film. No exits. Literally getting trapped between tables. Fear of breathing near people but people are everywhere. Creeping sense that you’re the only one who know this is insane.”

The dinner boasted 2,600 guests at 200 tables.

Even if the Temple of Dendur gang is fully tested all day tomorrow, their chances of getting sick by Wednesday are pretty good. On Friday, the CDC reported 3,117 new cases of COVID in New York City. The seven day average is 2,364.

Of course, the main guests — the Kardashians — don’t care, and if they get sick — they may be impervious to it with some much plastic filler protecting them — they’ll just film it for their reality show. But real A listers, people who have to work this week shooting TV shows, making movies, or appearing live on Broadway, may not be so amused when the two lines show up on the white stick.

By mid week, the ER may be the new hot spot in town. Paparazzi, prepare!

If Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson Are the Biggest Celebs, You Know the White House Dinner is a Bust

Roger Friedman
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If Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson Are the Biggest Celebs, You Know the White House Dinner is a Bust

Kim Kardashian, the Tupperware of celebrity. is the biggest name at this year’s White House Correspondents Dinner. She’s got Pete Davidson with her, and he looks like a deer in headlights.

This is not the WHCD of old. In the days of Obama, big Hollywood stars flew in to Washington for this event. Oscar winners. Studio heads. Rock stars. The old (real) Vanity Fair threw the biggest party, Bloomberg was runner up. Everyone clamored to get in.

Tonight, the WHCA has fielded a pleasant but unremarkable crowd. CNN is straining to find famous people from showbiz and they just keep coming back to Kim and Pete. If that’s how low things have fallen, you know we’re in trouble.

Spotted in photos or the TV coverage: Gayle King, Brooke Shields, Drew Barrymore, J. Cameron-Smith from “Succession.” Double Tony Award winner Judith Light. Corey Stoll from “Billions.” Comedian-actor Chris Tucker. Shall I go on?

Meantime, a doctor just appeared on CNN and told the anchors that a 200 table dinner at this time is not a good idea and this will probably be a super spreader. Wait til he sees Monday’s Met Ball. I hear the after party is at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Famed Country Singer Naomi Judd Dead, Daughters Say, from “Mental Illness”: “We are in unknown territory”

Roger Friedman
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Famed Country Singer Naomi Judd Dead, Daughters Say, from “Mental Illness”: “We are in unknown territory”

This is really a tragedy.

Famed country singer Naomi Judd, famous in her own right and as mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died at age 76.

Her daughters issued a statement saying they’d lost her to “mental illness,” which suggests Naomi took her own life. She and Wynonna were due to be inducted into the Country Hall of Fame tomorrow for their careers as mother-daughter stars, and were also set to go on tour. The appeared less than three weeks ago on the Country Music Awards together and performed for the first time in recent memory (see below).

Naomi Judd has suffered from depression her whole life. For many years she and Wynonna were estranged for various reasons but the mother’s struggles remained in the forefront.

Condolences to the Judds and all their fans.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Smd25IFck

Bill Murray Addresses His Responsibility for Movie Shutdown in LIVE Interview

Roger Friedman
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Bill Murray Addresses His Responsibility for Movie Shutdown in LIVE Interview

This afternoon live on CNBC, Bill Murray addressed the shut down of the movie “Being Mortal” and his responsibility in the matter.

Murray tells the CBNC reporters basically that “times have changed…what I thought was funny when I was a child isn’t anymore.” He doesn’t name names but the only woman he was working with on the movie was Keke Palmer, who evidently didn’t enjoy whatever Murray did, and took it the top of the food chain. Her Instagram post is at bottom.

Murray says in the interview that they’re trying to work it out, the only discussion going on is between the two actors and the studio — Disney Searchlight — is not involved. He doesn’t actually apologize but he sounds sorry and a tad confused about how this all went down.

“Being Mortal” also starred Seth Rogen, and is written and directed by Aziz Ansari.  Murray was interviewed for CNBC at the Berkshire Hathaway stock holders meeting. He’s got the stock and Warren Buffet is apparently an old friend.

Palmer wrote on Instagram:
It’s not always about how good you are at the actual job… It’s about how you show up to the job. Are you on time? Do you have a good attitude? Are you efficient? Are you flexible? Are you calm under fire? Do you represent yourself and the employer well? Are you a good communicator?

These are the things people sometimes don’t think matters, especially those who work in fields that come natural to them. It can double your rate in any field if you create an enjoyable EXPERIENCE for the client. And it can lower your rate when people don’t like the experience of working with you, no matter the outcome of the actual task.

I’m talented but I’m not arrogant enough to believe that there aren’t many talented people. However, not every talented person is a professional and people PAY for PROFESSIONALISM.

Broadway: No One’s Laughing at “Funny Girl” as Both Lead Stars Are Out Less Than a Week After Premiere

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: No One’s Laughing at “Funny Girl” as Both Lead Stars Are Out Less Than a Week After Premiere

If you’re going to “Funny Girl” this weekend, this joke’s on you.Star Beanie Feldstein, who plays Fanny Brice. is out of the show, not with COVID but for a friend’s wedding. She wasn’t on stage Friday night, today’s two performances, and tomorrow as well. She’s scheduled to return on Tuesday.

It’s no surprise if Feldstein did test positive. Her co-star, Ramin Karimloo, dropped out of the show for 10 days beginning on Thursday. Karimloo plays Nicky Arnstein. And he tested positive right after opening night.

This is the worst timing for COVID troubles. Tony voters are making their way through all the Broadway shows so they can cast ballots starting next week. But between the casts getting sick, and the voters also susceptible, the Tony deadline had to be extended til May 9th.

Feldstein and Karimloo needn’t worry, though. They should be cinches for Best Actress and Actor in Musical unless something really goes sideways. They’re knockouts in their roles, the first actors to take them on since the show finished its four year run on Broadway in 1968.

PS Julie Benko, Feldstein’s standby, is on her for all weekend. Her next stint as Fanny Brice, already scheduled, will be at the end of August.

Liam Neeson’s Latest Clunker Set for $3 Mil Weekend: What Happened to This Oscar Nominated Star?

Roger Friedman
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Liam Neeson’s Latest Clunker Set for $3 Mil Weekend: What Happened to This Oscar Nominated Star?

Everyone has to make a living, but Liam Neeson has chosen a path that he can’t be happy about.

His latest clunker, called “Memory,” whould be forgotten. Another D movie, it’s headed for a measly $3 million weekend. “Memory” has a rotten 30% rating from critics.

“Memory” is just the latest in a series of really awful films that have made little money. Just in 2022 there was already “Blacklight,” which cost $43 million and made $15 million. In 2021, there was a pair of these, and also in 2020. In 2019, something called “Ordinary Love” made just $775K.

Neeson was a respected Oscar nominated actor for years. “Schindler’s List,” “Kinsey,” “Michael Collins,” “The Good Mother.” all showed he was a top tier actor. In 2008, he had an action-thriller hit with “Taken,” followed by a big screen hit version of “The A Team,” and then everything changed. Neeson became a one man grindhouse. Included in his cavalcade of artistically forgettable but financially memorable titles were two more “Taken” films. By the time the trilogy was finished, there was no one left in his fictional world for kidnappers to take!

But as Neeson approaches his 70th birthday, nothing lasts forever. His long run of formula films is starting to burn itself out. The air started to go out of this balloon in 2019, after a hit with “The Commuter” (you never saw it?) and a pair of thrillers that each made $76 million worldwide.

But “Memory” is just the latest signal that maybe it’s time to look for some quality films before the whole “Schindler’s” period becomes a distant memory.

Grace and Frankie: Seven Smart, Funny Seasons Come to An End with Perfect Finale — and Dolly Parton

Roger Friedman
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Grace and Frankie: Seven Smart, Funny Seasons Come to An End with Perfect Finale — and Dolly Parton

“Grace and Frankie” ends its seventh and last season now as Netflix drops the rest of the episodes. You will binge watch them, I guarantee.

The season finale, episode 16, is called “The Beginning.” You couldn’t ask for a classier, better ending to a smart, funny series. There’s a reason “Grace and Frankie” is Netflix’s longest running series.

From the beginning, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston had a hit on their hands. The supporting cast wasn’t bad either, especially the very funny June Diane Raphael, and all the different guest stars who popped in and out as Grace or Frankie’s respective love interests.

In the end, though, the love that “Grace and Frankie” was about wasn’t the carnal kind. It was friendship late in life among survivors who weathered all kinds of storms. By the end of the show Frankie can’t hear and Sol is losing his memory. But that’s not stopping either of them, and no one gets maudlin, which is totally refreshing.

“The Beginning” offers a nice value added gift, too: it reunites Fonda and Tomlin with their “9 to 5” co-star Dolly Parton. It’s been FORTY YEARS since that movie was a hit, and it’s never gone out of fashion. I won’t spoil it, but you’ll get a kick out of Dolly’s turn.

I’d like to see a little Emmy action for “The Beginning,” for the actors and the writers. They did a bang up job. Ironic, isn’t it? All four of the show’s main actors have huge resumes with tons of awards and landmark projects. But these seven seasons will be what they’re remembered for years from now. And they can be proud of that.

Celine Dion Cancels Rest of 2022 Shows Because Of Continuing Illness, Raises Worries Over Health

Roger Friedman
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Celine Dion Cancels Rest of 2022 Shows Because Of Continuing Illness, Raises Worries Over Health

What’s wrong with Celine Dion?

Her continuing health problems have caused the famed singer to cancel the rest of her 2022 shows and re-schedule them until 2023.

But it’s unclear if those shows will happen. Dion has cancelled shows over and over for the last year because of these issues. According to her website, Dion “recently has been treated for severe and persistent muscle spasms which are preventing her from performing, and her recovery is taking longer than she hoped. Her medical team continues to evaluate and treat the condition.”

“I’m so sorry we have to change our tour plans for Europe one more time; first we had to move the shows because of the pandemic, now it’s my health issues causing us to postpone the shows,” Celine said. “I am doing a little bit better…but I’m still experiencing some spasms. I need to be in top shape when I’m on stage. I honestly can’t wait, but I’m just not there yet… I’m doing my very best to get back to the level that I need to be so that I can give 100% at my shows because that’s what you deserve.”

(Watch) Is Bruce Willis Being Exploited? Another Pathetic B Movie Trades on Star’s Name, Legacy

Roger Friedman
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(Watch) Is Bruce Willis Being Exploited? Another Pathetic B Movie Trades on Star’s Name, Legacy

This is pathetic. “Corrective Measures” is yet another B movie that trades on poor Bruce Willis’s name.

In the trailer to this heap of crap, Willis says few words and looks like a zombie. He’s the only actor from the movie not interviewed for the trailer and promo clip.

For the last few years I restrained myself from saying this, but Willis’s inside circle is using him. He’s had dementia for years, and now his family admits to aphasia as his latest condition. Now he can’t speak at all. When he made these forgettable bits of celluloid junk Willis had to have to his one or two lines fed into an ear piece or repeated to him. He’s usually in one or two scenes that are cut up and shown throughout these “movies.”

Now that Willis’s condition has been conceded, looking back at all the trailers is even more alarming, I think. If Bruce understood what was going on, he’d be livid.

As Netflix Stock Flounders, First Round of Painful Layoffs Hit the Company

Roger Friedman
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0
As Netflix Stock Flounders, First Round of Painful Layoffs Hit the Company

Back on April 19th — just 10 days ago, Netflix stock was up to $348. Then their quarterly report was issued. The company admitted to bleeding subscribers.

Today, the stock is down to around $196 after hitting a low this week at $187. Ouch! The stock has gone off a cliff and things are changing fast at the number 1 streamer.

Today the company announced painful layoffs at its Tudum site (tudum, as in the sound the Netflix logo makes, or tu-dum!). Tudum was the website for Netflix users. But it turned out to be expendable. And that won’t be the end of layoffs. More to come.

This happens as CNN Plus shut down yesterday after less than a month in operation. The streaming site had no viewers and lost at least $300 million. Some of the staff will be moved into CNN. But many will just be let go.

When I was part of the original News Digital group responsible for Foxnews.com in 1999, we saw the same thing. News Digital was like a balloon that just kept getting bigger and bigger until it burst. We had gorgeous movie-set like offices in the Bed Bath and Beyond building on Sixth Avenue. More and more staff moved in from different divisions. Emotions were high. And then one day, it was all over. The whole thing had gotten way too big. There was no revenue. Luckily, I was one of a few people who were moved uptown to the main company. But I can remember standing in the News Digital offices after everyone was let go, the lights were turned off, and there were just rows and rows of abandoned computers. It’s very sad.

Netflix will rebound, of course. “Ozark” dropped today. The big new season of “Stranger Things” is coming next month and it’s going to be huge. So, fear not. But this will be a painful period.

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