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

Roger Friedman
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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.

(Watch) Paul McCartney Sing “Live” with John Lennon in Concert for First Time Since 1969

Roger Friedman
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(Watch) Paul McCartney Sing “Live” with John Lennon in Concert for First Time Since 1969

For the first time since the rooftop concert in “Let it Be,” Paul McCartney performed live with John Lennon last night in Spokane, Washington. McCartney sang along with video from the rooftop concert with Lennon performing “I Got a Feeling.” It’s the first time in his long post-Beatles career that he’s used footage of the group in his concerts. It’s about time.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Last night, Paul McCartney sang The Beatles song, “I’ve Got a Feeling”, with the voice of John Lennon for the first time since 1969:<a href="https://t.co/RqN4aeQdDm">pic.twitter.com/RqN4aeQdDm</a></p>&mdash; The Beatles (@BeatlesEarth) <a href="https://twitter.com/BeatlesEarth/status/1520035575901954049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

James Corden Will Wrap Talk Show in 2023, Can Write His Own Ticket on Broadway

Roger Friedman
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James Corden Will Wrap Talk Show in 2023, Can Write His Own Ticket on Broadway

James Corden told his audience last night that he will wrap up his “Late Late Show” at the end of 2023 after 8 seasons on CBS.

So what’s next? Everything.

When Corden made the deal for the talk show he was on the brink of starring in a revival of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” on Broadway. Let me tell you, Corden could pick right up where he left off and go for that in 2023 or 2024. A Tony winner for “One Man, Two Guvnors” in 2012, Corden can pretty much write his own ticket on The Great White Way if he wants to.

Corden’s smart get out of the “Late Late Show” now. He’s made his money and established himself in Hollywood. He’s been featured in a lot of movies, some good, some not but that’s true for everyone. He’s an extremely talented performer.

He’s also going to leave a terrific legacy from the show, from “Carpool Karaoke” to his impromptu musical numbers in street crossings. His trip to Liverpool with Paul McCartney is an all time highlight of TV and music history. Plus, he and producer Ben Winston expanded their horizons into things like the Grammy Awards without missing a beat.

So congrats to James Corden. Well played, sir. We look forward to seeing you back on Broadway.

Macbeth, The Name is…Macbeth: Daniel Craig, Ruth Negga Get An A Plus Crowd for Opening Night, Standing O’s, and Champagne

Roger Friedman
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Macbeth, The Name is…Macbeth: Daniel Craig, Ruth Negga Get An A Plus Crowd for Opening Night, Standing O’s, and Champagne

The big final opening night for the 2022 Broadway season was a sensation.

James Bond actor Daniel Craig opened in a new production of “Macbeth,” by that guy Bill Shakespeare, at the famed Longacre Theater. Ruth Negga, one of the hottest young actresses in the world, plays Lady Macbeth. (Have you ever noticed the Macb’s don’t have first names?) Barbara Broccoli, who produced 15 years’ worth of James Bond movies starring Craig, is the lead producer. Over the years she’s produced Craig in two other stagings including an amazing “Othello” with David Oyelowo at the New York Theater Workshop.

“Othello” and “Macbeth” were/are directed by Sam Gold, who recently brought us Glenda Jackson as “King Lear.” Gold won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for “Fun Home.”

You could throw a stone in any direction last night at the Longacre and hit a celebrity. Craig’s Oscar winner wife Rachel Weisz was first and foremost leading the standing ovations with CAA agent Bryan Lourd.

Bryan Cranston and his great wife Robin were sitting to my right. Married actors Elizabeth Marvel and Bill Camp — New York actor “rock stars” — were seated behind me. Marisa Tomei was two rows back. Candice Bergen was on the aisle across from Oscar Isaac. Danira Gurai was in front of us to the right. It was that kind of night. Jeremy Strong, on a break from being wired, unhappy Kendall Roy in “Succession,” was raving about the play. Josh Hamilton (New York’s most underrated actor) was chatting with Maggie Gyllenhaal and with 91 year old legend Lois Smith, who is even more a marvel than Elizabeth! “Are you working?” I asked Lois. She replied, “Not as much as I’d like!”

Also up front in the orchestra: Mike DeLuca and Pam Abdy, who just stepped down from MGM as it was subsumed into Amazon Studios. Broccoli loves what they did for her “No Time to Die” so much she invited them to fly in, and they obliged. For people who momentarily unemployed, they looked pretty successful. They weren’t the only movie people in the room. I also ran into Amy Pascal, titan of Sony Pictures and Queen of all things “Spider Man.” Plus there were Broadway regulars like Jamie deRoy and Bob Wankel, head of the Shubert Organization, and the great Pat Schoenfeld.

Broadway is still very diligent and vigilant about COVID. Everyone wore masks, and showed vax cards and so on. There are no big after parties right now, but Barbara Broccoli gave a Champagne toast for family and friends in the theater after a long standing ovation and a couple of curtain calls.

Barbara told me: “Daniel had this on his mind since 2017. But he really wanted to come to Broadway now and be part of the comeback post-pandemic. He wants to bring people back to the theater.” Um, he has: “Macbeth” is one of the two or three hottest tickets around right now, along with “The Music Man” and “Funny Girl.” It doesn’t hurt that he is completely captivating on stage and Negga makes a historic Broadway debut. She lights up the stage. I also got to see one of my favorite newish actors, Asia Kate Dillon, rock it as King Duncan’s son, Malcolm (I’ll explain later).

Something successful this way comes…Oh yeah, PS lots of Tony Awards action here…

“Ozark” Final Episodes Drop Tonight: Will the Byrdes Fly Away? And What About Ruth?

Roger Friedman
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“Ozark” Final Episodes Drop Tonight: Will the Byrdes Fly Away? And What About Ruth?

Sometime tonight after midnight, the last seven episodes of “Ozark” will drop on Netflix. Will Marty and Wendy Byrde fly away after four seasons of using people to get what they want? And what about Ruth, who was a happy hillbilly until the Byrdes up-ended her life?

I am prevented from saying too much. But you will binge watch this group of episodes. I just implore you not to jump ahead and ruin it. Fans will need all the information of the six shows before they reach the stunning conclusion.

What makes “Ozark” so watchable and addictive? We know the acting is superb. Laura Linney is searing as Wendy seems to unravel, but “seems to” is the operative idea. Wendy has so many layers you can never trust her for a minute. Julia Garner is bonkers-great as Ruth. Years from now people will see her in reruns and say, “Oh my god, what was going on here?” Jason Bateman’s easy going Marty is the calm one, but his passivity is surface only.

Chris Mundy’s characters are so sharply drawn they feel real. I loved Lisa Emery’s Darlene, determined to undermine Wendy. Their final scene together is a mind blower. Felix Solis’s Navarro, the Mexican drug kingpin, is a performance of beauty. (Navarro could have been such a cliche, and he’s not.)

And let’s not forget Tony winner and Oscar nominee Janet McTeer, whose Helen, the very criminal lawyer, raised hell in Season 3. Yes, it was Season 3 where “Ozark” came together and rose to new heights. After two very good chapters, Mundy hit perfection, especially with Tom Pelprey as Wendy’s mentally ill bitter and sweet brother, Ben.

What surprised me about these 14 episodes of Season 4 is that instead of moving into a new chapter, Mundy used all the loose ends and chaos of what the Byrdes wrought and turned it against them. At the start of Season 4 we see the family’s SUV hit by a big truck and flip over on the highway. They should be goners. But they walk away clean, which should be a sign that these people can stare death in the eye and keep going.

Kudos to the whole “Ozark” production. As “Mrs, Maisel” hit new highs for comedy this season, “Ozark” has done it for drama. Watching this show you actually think you might want to go to Lake of the Ozarks it’s so enticingly portrayed on screen. And then you remember, um, no, better just to watch it on TV.

Emmys for everyone.

LA Theater: “Tootsie” Kicks Off “Broadway in Hollywood” With Knockout Production

Leah Sydney
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LA Theater: “Tootsie” Kicks Off “Broadway in Hollywood” With Knockout Production

How to get rid of the echo of Will Smith’s famous slap at the Dolby Theater just three weeks ago?

On Tuesday night, the musical of “Tootsie” debuted as part of the “Broadway in Hollywood” series which runs until May 15th. A middling hit on Broadway, “Tootsie” was the recipient of a enthusiastic standing ovation from a packed house on its opening night.

From the movie to the stage musical; “Tootsie” boasts impressive Broadway credentials, with a Tony-winning book by Robert Horn and a marvelous jaunty and funny score by multiple award winner David Yazbek (“The Band’s Visit,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”)

This hilarious musical tells the tale of the temperamental but talented actor Michael Dorsey (a terrific Drew Becker), who in an act of desperation lands a dream role in a Broadway musical transforms himself into an older, outspoken actress named Dorothy Michaels. Dustin Hoffman invented the character for the hit 1982 film in a memorable performance. Santino Fontana won the Tony Award for bring Michael/Dorothy to Broadway.

Updated to acknowledge the change in gender awareness, the show manages to do all that with looniness, humor, wittiness, poignancy and fun. The entire cast is sensational, especially Peyton Reilly as Michael’s frantic, put up on ex girl friend who’s looking for love and success and not finding it so fast.. The crowd simply loved her and deservedly so.  

The rest of the “Broadway in Hollywood” rest of the season includes Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill,” “Moulin Rouge,” ” Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird,” ” Six The Musical,” “Tina.” and “Beetlejuice.”  Theatergoers in LA get exactly the same fabulous theatrical experience as they do on The Great White Way. Pretty impressive

“SNL” Preps Last 3 Shows of Season, Gets Ready for Farewells to Long Time Cast Members

Roger Friedman
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“SNL” Preps Last 3 Shows of Season, Gets Ready for Farewells to Long Time Cast Members

Next Saturday, May 7th, “SNL” returns for the first of its three final episodes of the season. Benedict Cumberbatch is hosting, and musical guest is Arcade Fire. The hosts/mg’s for the last two episodes haven’t been announced yet. (UPDATE The May 14th show will feature host Selena Gomez and music guest Post Malone.)

But soon we will also hear about the exits of several long time cast members. My guess is Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong are done, so is Kyle Mooney. Also probably gone is Pete Davidson, who hasn’t been on the show in weeks and has moved on to a Lorne Michaels-produced sitcom for Peacock and life as a Kardashian appendage.

In all likelihood, Kenan Thompson will stick around as captain of the team. His “Kenan” sitcom is up in the air at NBC with low ratings. But NBC has bigger issues with “Mr. Mayor” (which has to go), “The Weakest Link,” and “Young Rock,” all of which are dead in the water. “Kenan” may yet survive another season.

McKinnon and Strong have already spread their wings this year. Kate starred in the “Tiger King” series for Peacock, Strong was off off Broadway in the Lily Tomlin revival. They are each supremely talented. But 10 years is a long time, and with the pandemic subsiding, production picking up, both women could do well with streaming series, Strong also has the return of “Schmigadoon” coming as “Schmicago,” as I reported here.

As for Mooney, I’d love to see him and Beck Bennett join up and do something clever and unexpected. Cross fingers.

“SNL” has a strong bench now, and can proceed with Colin Jost and Michael Che, Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day and Alex Moffat, plus Melissa Villasenor, Heidi Gardner, Bowen Yang, James Austin Johnson, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, and so on.

Yes, There’s a Sixth “Jurassic Park” Movie Coming, Watch the Trailer Here

Roger Friedman
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Yes, There’s a Sixth “Jurassic Park” Movie Coming, Watch the Trailer Here

“Jurassic World: Dominion” is the sixth “Jurassic Park” movie. Hard to believe, right? And this one is the third of the newer group which began with “Jurassic World” in 2015, directed by Colin Trevorrow, and starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. .

Then there was a sequel that I don’t even remember called “Jurassic World: The Money Is There” (just kidding) in 2018 not directed by Colin Trevorrow, because remember there was some kind of disagreement. But now Trevorrow is back, and so are the dino’s. It seems like Chris and Bryce got married and had kids or something, I missed all that part.

Anyway, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum are all back from the original “Jurassic Park,” which was released in the fall of 1933. I’m done with all this, but if you’re into it, here’s a look at the new one, coming soon.

Review: Billy Crystal Gets Vindication for “Mr. Saturday Night” After 30 Years

Roger Friedman
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Review: Billy Crystal Gets Vindication for “Mr. Saturday Night” After 30 Years

Buddy Young Jr. is back. Three decades ago, Billy Crystal’s character, a 70ish comic who was over the hill, was not so pleasant in “Mr. Saturday Night.” It was Crystal’s least popular movie. It was actually a downer at the time, and we thought Buddy and his pals were gone for good.

But tonight, Buddy is back, and he’s on top. Crystal himself is 74, and he’s reworked “Mr. Saturday Night” into a warm, wise, wonderful musical. Yes, it’s unexpected. But that’s what show business is, isn’t it? Talent and luck. Crystal felt there was more to Buddy than just being stuck in that movie. He was right.

Tonight, Crystal got plenty of adulation from the audience including heavyweights Steve Martin, Martin Short, Jimmy Fallon, and Tina Fey. More comics will be coming to see how Billy pulled it off. I can tell you how — with charm and lots of heart.

Not to suggest that “Mr. Saturday Night” is now G rated. Let’s say heavy PG-13. There’s a lot of toilet humor, as we used to call it, and jokes so old they have whiskers. A lot of the script is like a Friar’s Roast, with one liners, zingers, put downs and punchlines you can see coming a mile away. But Buddy is now so endearing, you’re hoping for material you’ve known all your life.

Buddy– famous way back in 1955 for a TV variety comedy show– sees his own obit card on the Emmy Awards one night in 1994, which brings his brother/former manager Stan (David Paymer, also from the movie, and very welcome) up from Florida. Once Stan realizes Buddy is alive and kicking, Buddy wants to cash in on the Emmy mistake, and winds up being interviewed by Gene Shalit on the Today Show, (Note: Shalit is still alive at age 96, I hope he can enjoy this moment.)

Buddy not only has to deal with Stan, but with his own long suffering wife Elaine (Randi Graff) and single 40 year old daughter, Susie, who blames him for her life (Shoshanna Bean). He also winds up with a new agent, a young Black woman whose name he purposely forgets all the time (played by Chasten Harmon, a real find).

The writers of the movie, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, long time disciples of Garry Marshall, are back, and with Crystal they’ve reshaped the action so it’s a little meta, inside, and heartfelt, In the movie, no one liked Buddy. In the musical, they love him begrudgingly. And that’s all it took to fix this thing up.

There are songs. They are not demanding but they are catchy. Jason Robert Brown wrote the music. Amanda Green’s lyrics do what so few musical lyrics do anymore– they move the show along while also revealing the characters’ inner thoughts. This turns out to be a very good score even when some of the tunes sound familiar.

So what’s the takeaway? This is sort of “Death of a Salesman” with music and a happy ending. I wouldn’t be surprised or unhappy if Billy Crystal won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He certainly deserves it. At 74, in good shape, this is a demanding job. Eight shows a week? No understudy, either, because without Crystal, there’s no show. (No slight to the others, but still…) “Mr. Saturday Night” is the kind of Broadway show you can recommend to anyone, and they will thank you later.

What more do you want?

PS Crystal gets to mug a little, throw in his imitations of Marlon Brando and others. He has to stop himself, I’ll bet, from blurting out “You look mahvelous” to someone on stage or in the audience. If he did say it, no one would be unhappy.

Second Biggest Hollywood Slap of the Month: “Ted Lasso” Actor Serves Olivia Wilde with Custody Papers in Public (UPDATED)

Roger Friedman
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Second Biggest Hollywood Slap of the Month: “Ted Lasso” Actor Serves Olivia Wilde with Custody Papers in Public (UPDATED)

Slap! A figurative slap in the face for actress-director Olivia Wilde.

It’s the second biggest Hollywood slap of the Month.

Deadline and other onlookers report that while Wilde was presenting the trailer for her new movie on stage at Cinema Con in Las Vegas, a process server walked down the aisle and served her with papers. Wilde reportedly accepted them, saying, “Is this for me?”

The papers were from ex-lover and baby daddy Jason Sudeikis, Emmy winning star of “Ted Lasso.” They are thought to be custody papers.

Wilde and Sudeikis, who have two kids, a boy and a girl, split last year. She started dating much younger pop star Harry Styles, who reportedly moved into her house. Styles stars in Wilde’s next directed film, “Don’t Worry Darling,” with Florence Pugh.

This is good stuff, right? Was there no other way to serve Wilde but in public and during her presentation? We thought Ted Lasso was the ultimate good guy. But maybe he had enough of Styles hanging out in Olivia’s House. Styles’ new album is called “Harry’s House,” you know.

What are the issues? Who knows? But “Ted Lasso” films in London. Maybe Sudeikis wants the kids with him in Blimey.

Wilde’s real last name is Cockburn, pronounced Coh-burn. Her parents are well known writers Alexander and Leslie Cockburn. Olivia was raised in tony Georgetown, Washington DC. She took the last name from Oscar Wilde.

Frankly the whole thing is pretty Wild!

UPDATE

Variety quotes an unnamed source, which means a publicist for Sudeikis. It’s not in the realm of believability but here it is: “Papers were drawn up to establish jurisdiction relating to the children of Ms. Wilde and Mr. Sudeikis,” the source said. “Mr. Sudeikis had no prior knowledge of the time or place that the envelope would have been delivered as this would solely be up to the process service company involved and he would never condone her being served in such an inappropriate manner.”

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