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Morgan Wallen Wins Best Album, Forgiven by Academy of Country Music for Using the N Word

Roger Friedman
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Morgan Wallen Wins Best Album, Forgiven by Academy of Country Music for Using the N Word

Morgan Wallen’s time in purgatory is over.

Last night, Wallen won Album of the Year from the Academy of Country Music. His “Dangerous Double Album” took the big prize.

Last year, Wallen was momentarily ostracized for using the “N” word, caught on a video tape that wound up on TMZ. His record label and manager temporarily suspended him, then forgot about it because he was making millions for them.

Country music fans didn’t care much either. They kept buying “Dangerous” by the boatload, so much so that it was the best selling album of the year. So far, “Dangerous” has sold about 5.7 million copies, most of it streaming equivalent. Actual sales are around 305,000 according to MRC Music Connect.

So all is forgiven. What the heck? Money talks, and that’s the bottom line.

 

Dolly Parton Has the Number 1…Book? “Run, Rose, Run” Comes from the James Patterson Publishing Mill

Roger Friedman
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Dolly Parton Has the Number 1…Book? “Run, Rose, Run” Comes from the James Patterson Publishing Mill

Country superstar Dolly Parton is no stranger to the top of the music charts.

But books?

This morning, Dolly has the number 1 book on Amazon. It’s called “Run, Rose, Run” and it’s from the James Patterson publishing mill. Both of their names on the cover, even if neither of them actually put pen to paper.

“Run, Rose, Run” is about a young girl singer who arrives in Nashville with a load of secrets and ambitions. Armchair reviewers on amazon are less than impressed. One wrote: More than once I thought this was based on the television show Nashville. About halfway through the book, I stopped even calling her Ruthanna and just called her Dolly. She along with the other characters are all slightly damaged in some way. Emotional trauma. Secrets they can’t share. But the past always catches up to us. And Annielee is about to find that out.

Parton has already a soundtrack album of new songs she wrote for the occasion also called “Run Rose Run.” It’s number 5 on iTunes. Ironically, as bad as the book is, the album is quite good. It shows that Parton, 76, is at the top of her game musically, and that’s all that’s important. Patterson is a cynical guy who slaps celebrities’ names on his “books” and makes the cash register ring but contributes nothing to the world of letters. He’s probably the whole bottom line for Little, Brown publishers.

TV: Dreadful Independent Spirit Awards Fails to Make the Top 150 Cable Shows on Sunday

Roger Friedman
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TV: Dreadful Independent Spirit Awards Fails to Make the Top 150 Cable Shows on Sunday

Sunday afternoon’s Spirit Awards, on the IFC Channel, were a travesty. There has rarely been an awards show on television that was so badly written and executed.

Luckily, no one saw it.

The ratings for the top 150 cable shows for Sunday are now available, and the Spirit Awards are not on it. The lowest rated show recorded was just 96,000 viewers, a basketball game.

It’s not surprising the Spirit Awards didn’t make the cut off. They’ve gone as low as 65,000 in the past. I’ve no doubt this year was in that neighborhood. I’ll update if someone can find the actual number.

Everyone involved with Film Independent should be removed at this point. Hosts Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally — not ever associated with film of any kind —  couldn’t have been worse. Offerman was especially bad and offensive hosting the program. They seemed to make up half of what they were saying. Offerman knew nothing about the films or the people attending, had a scowl on his face, didn’t wear a shirt (which I still don’t get), and was dismissive of everything that was going on.

There were many embarrassing moments. But the best one was Kristen Stewart coming out toward the end, identified as chairman or something of the awards. She remarked that she’d never been to the Spirit Awards, had never been nominated in the past even though she’d made a lot of independent films. “Now I see you have to make a good one,” she cracked wise. Ouch!

The big winner for the day was “The Lost Daughter,” which won Best Feature, Directing, and Screenplay. It’s a fine film but certainly not independent as it comes from Netflix, which campaign for it vigorously. “Summer of Soul” won Best Documentary although it was an archival film pieced together from a 1969 film and distributed by Disney’s Searchlight division. And so on.

I really felt watching this desultory exercise that the era for this thing has passed. It’s over. The heyday was ten years ago. Stop it now before it gets worse.

Kanye’s “Donda 2” Ineligible for the Charts Because It Only Comes on $200 Stem Player

Roger Friedman
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Kanye’s “Donda 2” Ineligible for the Charts Because It Only Comes on $200 Stem Player

“Donda 2.” It’s out there, somewhere.

But Kanye West’s new album is ineligible to be counted on the charts. Any charts.

Billboard posted their reasons today: “Donda 2” is only available on Kanye’s $200 Stem Player. The player also includes the first “Donda” album and “Jesus is King.”

“Donda 2” is otherwise not available in any conventional form that is measured by Soundscan or MRC. It’s not on any streaming service and doesn’t exist as a download or CD.

The Stem Player is only available through its own website, so there are no independent sales for it anyway.

But Billboard says the release violates its album bundling rule. An album cannot be bundled with other things like a player or other albums.

“Donda 2” can be found pretty much all over the internet at this point, for free. So Kanye has basically wasted all the work he did on it. My guess is one day he’ll release a very expensive collector’s CD.

If you’ve bought a StemPlayer and want to tell me about it, please email me at showbiz411@gmail.com. I did see a young woman wearing a bright red Kanye Gap jacket Saturday afternoon in the theater district. She was so happy she had it. It was certainly, um, noticeable.

Adele’s “30” Album Leaves the Top 10 After 4 Months, Just 2.3 Mil Copies, and No Rescheduled Shows

Roger Friedman
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Adele’s “30” Album Leaves the Top 10 After 4 Months, Just 2.3 Mil Copies, and No Rescheduled Shows

Adele’s “30” album is starting to fade after four months.

The album has sold roughly 2.3 million copies including streaming. Physical and digital sales have come to just 1.6 million.

“30” was released November 15, 2o21. It had a strong first couple of weeks but weakened as other tracks on the album failed to pick up steam. Absent from the project was Adele’s regular producer, Paul Epworth.

The single “Easy On Me” was the only one that topped the charts. After that, “Oh My God” did not crack the top 20 anywhere.

Times change and so do tastes. Adele’s previous album, “25,” released November 2015 has sold over 10 million copies. Much of that was in 2015-2016.

The problems with “30” were only exacerbated by Adele suddenly cancelling her thirteen weekends in a row of shows in Las Vegas. Her fans have been left high and dry without refunds in most cases, and out all the money they put up for flights and hotels. The dates have still not been rescheduled.

Today, “30” is number 16 on iTunes and number 12 on Amazon. “Easy On Me” has fallen to number 19 on iTunes.

Gizmodo Websites Announce Victory Forming Union After Week Long Strike with G/O Media

Roger Friedman
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Gizmodo Websites Announce Victory Forming Union After Week Long Strike with G/O Media

Victory!

Gizmodo websites including Jezebel, Deadspin, and other sites owned by G/O Media went on strike last week to unionize. And it worked. They’ve won. Congrats..

Here’s the press release:

GMG Union Reaches Fair Contract After First Open-Ended Strike in Digital Media History
The GMG Union Bargaining Committee is very excited to announce we reached a deal with G/O
Media, pending WGAE Council approval and a ratification vote by members. After four days of
picketing in the first open-ended strike in digital media, management has acknowledged the
strength and demands of our members.
To this end, G/O Media agreed to raise salary minimums, severance, and parental leave;
maintain our healthcare while requiring it to be trans-inclusive; and ensure annual increases for
our Unit members.
We want to thank all of our supporters and those who gave to our GoFundMe. Your donations
have ensured that none of our staffers and regular contractors had to lose a paycheck to fight for
a fair contract. We have been made stronger by all of you

What we won:

  • Higher salary minimums for all positions, including $62,000 at the lowest tier in 2022 (up from $55,000), with an additional $1,000 each year for the life of the contract

  • Guaranteed 3% annual raises for all unit members

  • 15 weeks parental leave

  • 12 weeks minimum severance

  • Maintained our current cost-sharing cap for healthcare

  • WPATH-compliant, trans-inclusive healthcare

  • Defeated management’s proposal to give up bargaining rights over changes to healthcare mid-contract

  • 45K diversity effort budget with audit and transparency

  • Goal of 40% of candidates at the hiring manager interview stage from underrepresented backgrounds

  • Retained right to publicly speak about working conditions, including social media escalation campaigns

  • Strengthened editorial independence language; management must now adhere to both G/O Media’s editorial policy and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics

  • Obtained guarantees against forced relocation for current remote staff

 

Broadway Rock Bottom Hail Mary Pass: Pamela Anderson Joining Limping Musical “Chicago”

Roger Friedman
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Broadway Rock Bottom Hail Mary Pass: Pamela Anderson Joining Limping Musical “Chicago”

Broadway needs to fill seats, but this is ridiculous.

The long running musical, “Chicago,” has always relied on stunt casting for its various roles. Sometimes it worked — like when Christie Brinkley joined the cast and wowed audiences. And sometimes it doesn’t.

Now comes Pamela Anderson, a Celebrity with no musical background other than she could hum to ex husband Tommy’s Motley Crue “songs.” Anderson, famous for being Julian Assange’s jail buddy and having made a sex tape years ago, will join “Chicago” playing Roxie Hart.

I know it sounds funny and kitschy but it’s also embarrassing to all the great ladies who’ve played Roxie over the last 25 or so years. Right now that would be the amazing Charlotte D’Amboise. Tony winner James Monroe Inglehart is playing Billy Flynn. They must be gobsmacked.

“Chicago” gets a bad rap because the producers, Fran and Barry Weissler, are hosts to large swaths of international audiences that may not be fluent in English. The last time I visited the show, when the great Valerie Simpson guest starred as the prison matron, I was pretty much the only American in any direction, let alone New Yorker.

But with the pandemic, tourists are scarce. We have no numbers on “Chiccago,” but it can’t be easy over there. Who exactly would be attending at this point? So they need to stunt cast. Pamela Anderson from “Baywatch” no doubt has a big following of some kind. If the international tourists return, they’ll know who she is immediately. Meantime, Bob Fosse is turning in his grave.

The fun begins April 12th and lasts 8 weeks.

“Mockingbird” National Tour Will Feature Original Oscar Nominated 1962 Film “Scout” Mary Badham in Cast

Roger Friedman
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“Mockingbird” National Tour Will Feature Original Oscar Nominated 1962 Film “Scout” Mary Badham in Cast

Mary Badham was 10 years old when she played Scout Finch in the 1962 movie, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Now, some 60 years later, Badham will hit the road with the national tour of “Mockingbird” playing Mrs. Dubose, one of the townspeople Atticus and Scout Finch have to deal with. That would make Badham 70 years old.

Back in 1962, Badham was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the “Mockingbird” film that starred Gregory Peck. She had a few TV roles then including “The Twilight Zone” and “Dr. Kildare.” Then she took several decades off presumably to live her life. She appeared in indie films in 2005 and 2019.

Badham will be joined on stage by Richard Thomas, of “The Waltons” fame, who’s playing Atticus, and a big cast of talented actors. But she’ll be the only one who knew and worked with Peck and the 1962 movie cast. The only other actor alive from that movie is Oscar winner Robert Duvall, who’s 91. Maybe he can go backstage and say hello.

Nigel Lythgoe Bounced from “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Manifest” Is Filming, RIP Mitchell Ryan, “General Hospital” Actress Leaves for School

Roger Friedman
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Nigel Lythgoe Bounced from “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Manifest” Is Filming, RIP Mitchell Ryan, “General Hospital” Actress Leaves for School

Nigel Lythgoe has been a judge and producer on “So You Think You Can Dance” since 2005. That’s around 220 episodes. But no more Lythgoe posted on Friday that the Fox show is kicking him to the curb.

Lythgoe wrote: “I am so thrilled that America’s young aspiring dance talent will get to work with some of our greatest creative choreographers. On a personally sad note, I have not been asked to be on the judging panel this season. I don’t know who will be saying “Cue Music” but I wish them well…”

Lythgoe is 72 years young, so basically he’s been Bergeroned. (Tom Bergeron was aged off “Dancing with the Stars” for age.) Watch him bounce back big time!

MANIFEST is filming in New York. Fans of the show went ballistic when NBC cancelled it during a cliffhanger. This was to make room for a Law & Order show that never, uh, manifested, called “For the Defense.” Netflix came to the rescue and picked up “Manifest” for two more seasons. If they’re filming now, maybe we’ll see what happened to all those people in the fall…

RIP TV actor Mitchell Ryan, who was so hilariously droll on “Dharma and Greg,” a regular on TV going back to the Fifties, and built a loyal following in soaps like “Dark Shadows” and “Santa Barbara.” He was third billed in Clint Eastwood’s “Magnum Force,” and several other big movies of the mid 70s including “Electric Glide in Blue.” Ryan was zn actor’s actor with a granite jawline and obviously a good sense of humor, he was the kind I wish SAG would feature on their Awards show, Ryan entertained us for 60s years. He died this week at age 88. RIP.

On the younger end of things, a really talented teenish actress, Sydney Mikayla , is leaving her role on “General Hospital.” She’s at UCLA and wants to be there full time. This girl took off like a rocket on the soap, perhaps unintentionally. Now she’s going to wisely get her degree. Then she can act up a storm. But I’d be surprised if she didn’t pick up a couple of jobs along the way. Claire Danes and Jodie Foster are among the successful actors who’ve gone this route, It didn’t hurt them a bit!

Guillermo del Toro Wins 2 Lumiere Awards for “Nightmare Alley,” Calls It Film He’s Most Proud Of

Leah Sydney
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Guillermo del Toro Wins 2 Lumiere Awards for “Nightmare Alley,” Calls It Film He’s Most Proud Of

The Advanced Imaging Society recently held their 12th Annual Lumiere Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Filled with respected artisans that do all aspects of film and television, from VR, music, High Frame Rate, HDR, 3D conversions, live action and animation, and more.

Jim Chabin, President of the AIS, jokingly called the room, ‘the geek Oscars.’ Three Oscar Nominated directors garnered awards for their films and their work. Guillermo del Toro for his “Nightmare Alley as well as receiving the inaugural Gene Kelly award. Adam McKay received the inaugural Voices for The Earth Award and Denis Villeneuve to receive the Harold Lloyd Award and the award for best live action feature.

Guillermo Del Toro, always his eloquent poetic self, told the esteemed crowd after accepting the Best Audio for theatrical for his much lauded “Nightmare Alley”: “We stopped the movie for 6 months because of Covid. On the last day of shooting the first time, Rooney Mara came in and said to me, don’t tell anyone but I’m pregnant. I said that’s fantastic. Then we re-started. And I can tell you when she crosses that door from the station to the toilet, she’s pregnant on one side and had the baby on the other.”

Equally eloquent Patricia Kelly pointed out of her late iconic husband Gene: “Some of you may not know that Gene wanted most to be remembered for being behind the camera as a director and choreographer. Especially for changing the look of dance on film. He was determined to find new ways to capture dance. He worked with color and light in the ballet for “American in Paris.” In “Singing in the Rain” he quite literally brought dancing into the streets and gave it a bold, new kinetic energy. Gene maintained a childlike sense of enchantment throughout his life. He loved poetry, fables, Irish ghost stories. He was a true visionary; pushing boundaries and always looking for the next horizon.

She then presented GDT with the award, calling him, “another great artist of vision.” Guillermo quipped, “When I heard about this award, I thought maybe someone had finally seen me dancing! Then I thought, no maybe it’s for something else!” He went on to pay respect to the brilliant Gene Kelly. “The fact is that Gene Kelly was a futurist. He was a man who was painfully aware of where the art form was and where it could be taken. He was a link to the perpetuity of the art. What he did with the camera, that the camera becomes the lyrics, the camera dances with the actors. Being part of a tradition and pushing it forward is something that I value a lot. We should preserve the past so we can change and recognize the future. We are not by any means gatekeepers. We are gate holders. So that the next generation can storm the castle and go through the door of the past.” He went on to say, “I couldn’t identify more with an artist then I do with Gene Kelly. He completely transformed the art that he touched. He made it even more cinematic if that was possible. He gave his all. He pushed it in every single aspect; sound design, composition, color, nothing was accidental as I try to do in my films. “

GDT  thanked everyone that worked with him on his current release,  “Nightmare Alley,” saying it’s made him the proudest of all his work. “It’s a movie that tries to take a genre and reclaims it for the future. The fact that we are honored by the AIS which understands that we all live in the crossroads of what is possible and what should be possible is very significant for me. “

VIP’s in the room were Film Executive/Producer Chris DeFaria, Film Producer William Santor, Jabez Olssen, editor for Best Documentary Award winner “The Beatles: Get Back” (who also just won an ACE Eddie Award for his work), Paloma Garcia-Lee and Kyle Allen from “West Side Story,” Oscar-nominated Oliver Tarney (Sound editor for No Time To Die), Squid Game executive producers/writers Alex Yee and Christian Linke, Prem Akkaraju, CEO of Wētā FX, and more!

The Complete List of Winners:

The complete list of winners:

Best Documentary: The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)
Best Audio – Episodic: WandaVision (Disney+)
Best Use of AR: Expo Dubai Xplorer
Best Use of VR: Machu Picchu and the Spirit of the Condor (City Neon)
Best Original Song: Encanto/We Don’t Talk About Bruno (Disney Animation)
Governor’s Cinema Award: Spider-Man: No Way Home (Sony / Marvel)
Best Use of High Dynamic Range – Live Action: Dune (Warner Bros.)
Best Use of High Dynamic Range – Episodic: Foundation (Apple TV+)
Best 2D to 3D Conversion: Shang Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings (Disney)
Best Musical Scene or Sequence: West Side Story, “The Dance at the Gym” (20th Century Studios)
Best Episodic – Animated: Arcane (Netflix)
Best Motion Picture – Musical: West Side Story (20th Century Studios)
Sir Charles Wheatstone Award: Epic Games’ Unreal Engine
Best Episodic – Live Action: Squid Game (Netflix)
Best Feature Film – Animated: Encanto (Disney)
Voices For The Earth Award: Adam McKay, Don’t Look Up
Gene Kelly Visionary Award: Guillermo del Toro
Best Audio – Theatrical: Nightmare Alley (Searchlight)
Harold Lloyd Award: Denis Villeneuve
Best Feature Film – Live Action: Dune (Warner Bros.)
Best Scene or Sequence in a Feature Film: No Time To Die (MGM/UA Releasing)

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