Lady Gaga has made an appropriately catchy, bold anthem like song for the movie “Top Gun Maverick.”
“Hold My Hand” should go ruight to the top of the charts tonight. It’s a hit, with a capital H.
RIP Emmy Winning Soap Actor Jerry ver Dorn, Long Star of “Guiding Light” and “One Life to Live”
I’m very sorry to report the death of actor Jerry ver Dorn,at age 72. He was the most consistent star of the CBS soap “Guiding Light” from 1979 to 2005. He won two Daytime Emmy awards playing lawyer Ross Marler in 1995 and 1996 both times in the category of Best Supporting Actor.
ver Dorn outlasted hundreds of actors who came and went on “Guiding Light” over the years. But when sponsor Procter & Gamble showed their usual disloyalty to fan favorites, ver Dorn bolted to ABC’s “One Life to Live.” He stayed there until that show ended in 2012.
Ross Marler started out as a kind of playboy and corporate hustler. But he turned into a good guy, the town’s moral center who was constantly defending amnesiacs, murderers, and kidnappers with aplomb. Condolences to his family and fans.
Tom Cruise Went to Lady Gaga’s Vegas Show Last Night But Couldn’t Get There Last Week for Cinema Con
Well, this is pretty interesting.
Last week, Tom Cruise couldn’t get to Las Vegas for Cinema Con and the presentation of “Mission Impossible 7.” He sent a video. He obviously didn’t want to meet the fans, let alone the press.
But last night, Tom managed to get to Vegas to see Lady Gaga’s show. As I told you exclusively last year, Cruise commissioned Gaga to write the song for “Top Gun Maverick” after seeing her in concert. He chucked the song– and the singer– that had already been hired. I can tell you that those people are not so thrilled with him.
Gaga’s song, called “Hold My Hand,” drops tomorrow or tonight after midnight. “Maverick,” which got ecstatic reviews from the CinemaCon captives, screens next week and opens at the Cannes Film Festival.
PS Tom and Gaga appear to be about the same height in these pictures.
Thank you for coming to the show last night. I love you my friend @tomcruise pic.twitter.com/G54WO5R54k
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) May 2, 2022
UPDATE: “The Simpsons” Faces Ratings Crisis As Audience Drops Below 1 Mil* For 3rd Week in a Row
*UPDATED TUES 4PM: With delayed viewing, “The Simpsons” managed to climb to just over 1 million viewers on Sunday. But the crisis still looms as the big numbers that come in over night from major markets remains depressed.
The folks at Fox must be wondering what’s going on. I know I am.
Ratings for “The Simpsons” were below 1 million for the third week in a row last night. The total number of viewers was 970,000.
Two weeks ago I mentioned it when the 33 year old animated hit fell below 1 million for the first time in its history. I figured it was an aberration.
Alas, it wasn’t. Something has happened to trigger an avalanche of the Simpsons ratings. Their weekly base averages 1.5 million viewers, but there are weeks when the numbers are triple that much, or more.
Of course, over 33 seasons you expect a decline. Each season sees a little bit more erosion, but this is the first time it’s of significance.
I actually watched last night’s episode, and it was excellent. It was all about little Lisa Simpson, who has somehow jumped over Bart and entered high school even at her age. She makes a cool friend, a sort of goth girl named Shawna, who plays drums like Sheila E. Lisa, of course, plays a mean sax, so they jam. Homer, meanwhile, has a funny storyline about making micro beer.
Who wasn’t really in the episode? Bart. Three weeks ago it seemed like the same thing. Is lack of Bart as the central character causing depressed ratings? If you’re a fan, chime with an email.
Broadway: Acclaimed Production of “Death of a Salesman” Starring Wendell Pierce Coming in Fall
This is exciting news.
This fall Broadway will get to see the Olivier winning West End production of “Death of a Salesman” starring Wendell Pierce as Willy Loman.
This mostly Black production co-stars Sharon D. Clarke as Willy’s wife, Linda. and is directed by Miranda Cromwell.
New to the New York effort is the famed Andre De Shields as Willy Loman’s brother, Ben, and Khris Davis, as Willy and Linda’s perpetual loser of a son, Biff.
Written by Arthur Miller, “Death of A Salesman” is the great American play and the most American play. In London, this production won many awards. That we’re getting it is a big deal.
“Looking at Death of a Salesman from the perspective of a Black family living in a predominantly White capitalist world changes the way that you hear this text,” says . Cromwell. “Wendell and Sharon illuminate the heart of this play in a new way that is both universal and entirely specific.”
“I have always been fascinated by the Loman family’s wrestle with assimilation, and the cost of that struggle on one’s mental health, on your family and on your community,” says producer Kwame Kwei-Armah. “This production breathes new life into a show that people think they know.”
Nice to know who the winner of the 2024 Tony Award is so soon.
Pillow Talk: Conspiracy Theorist Mike Lindell Sneaked Back onto Twitter and Thrown Off Again
Mike Lindell got stuffed again by Twitter.
The right wing conspiracy theorist had been banned by Twitter permanently for helping to incite the January 6th insurrection. He was gone, and not allowed to return.
But this afternoon Lindell decided to try and come back. He started a new account called @MikeJLindell. Within two hours Twitter banned him again, permanently.
This is the second time Lindell tried to sneak back onto the platform after being permanently suspended. The first time was in February 2021 after his initial suspension.
Of course, Lindell posted a video announcing his return. I don’t think he knows the meaning of “stealth.” Instead, he bragged about sneaking in, and was immediately snuffed out.
This comes as Twitter is being purchased by Elon Musk, who may or may not reinstate the cranks and dangerous propagandists that Twitter chucked out, including Donald Trump. Maybe Lindell thought Musk was going to rescue him this time. But even Elon Musk needs to sleep sometimes, and he knows MyPillow is like sleeping on a log, not like one!
Mike Lindell today announces he has just created a new twitter account to try and evade his permanent ban. pic.twitter.com/M5VpFIMWra
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) May 1, 2022
Priscilla Presley Approves Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” Movie After Special Screening
Good news for Warner Bros.: Priscilla Presley approves of Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” movie.
She posted to Facebook yesterday a message giving her endorsement. Priscilla has a financial stake in the movie at least because its success will resonate with Graceland visitors and merch buyers and the playing of Elvis’s music everywhere. If “Elvis” is a hit — and it sure seems like it will be– Priscilla and Lisa Marie’s cash registers will be ringing loudly. And they need it after many financial disasters.
Here’s Priscilla’s post. (She doesn’t spell ‘director’ correctly, but no one’s perfect):
For those curious about the new film ELVIS, Baz Luhrmann, the director, provided a private screening for me and Jerry Schilling at Warner studios recently. This story is about Elvis and Colonel Parker’s relationship. It is a true story told brilliantly and creatively that only Baz, in his unique artistic way, could have delivered. Austin Butler, who played Elvis is outstanding. Halfway through the film Jerry and I looked at each other and said WOW!!! Bravo to him…he knew he had big shoes to fill. He was extremely nervous playing this part. I can only imagine. Tom Hanks was Col Parker in this film. What a character he was. There was two sides to Colonel, Jerry and I witnessed both. The story, as we all know, does not have a happy ending. But I think you will understand a little bit more of Elvis’ journey, penned by a directer (*director) who put his heart and soul and many hours into this film.
Box Office: Slow Stuff as “Memory” is Forgotten, “Father Stu,” “Morbius,” Nick Cage Meta Movie All Flounder
If you went to the best fish market in your town you wouldn’t find as much flounder than we had at the box office this weekend.
Yes,. animated films “The Bad Guys” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” continue to draw families, desperate parents who will park their kids in a movie theater and pray no one gets sick. Can you blame them?
But in the fare offered to, ahem, adults, it was not the kindest situation this weekend. The Mark Wahlberg-Mel Gibson “Father Stu” then is a fish ‘stew’ with now just $17 million in the pot. The end is near.
Liam Neeson’s terrible “Memory” wandered around in a fog for just $3.1 million.
Tne Nicholas Cage meta- movie, “Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” dropped 45% to to a total of $13.5 million.
Focus Features’ “The Northman” is directionless with just $6.3 million, total of $22 mil after two weeks. Maybe they should get a Viking stove.
Somewhere out there Spider Man fans are going back to see “Morbius.” Not a total flop, the Spider-verse extension has $71 mil at home and another $87 mil abroad. I guess they just write it off to the “No Way Home” budget and move on.
Speaking of foreign sales, in New Zealand, “Father Stu” has made $743 so far. Hey’s it’s a start!
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
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.