Friday, December 19, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 740

Former Child Star Turned Producer Brian Robbins Becomes Head of Paramount Pictures, Replaces Jim Gianopolous

Roger Friedman
-
0
Former Child Star Turned Producer Brian Robbins Becomes Head of Paramount Pictures, Replaces Jim Gianopolous

If you were a kid in the mid to late 80s, you knew Brian Robbins as a student named Eric in “Head of the Class.” It was a “Welcome Back Kotter” type show.

Now Robbins, 57, is head of Paramount Pictures. Bravo him. He worked his way up as a producer for the last 27 years, with credit after credit. Most recently he’s been the president of Nickelodeon and kids’ programming at Paramount.

Robbins’ appointment was announced today. He replaces Jim Gianopolous, 70, who came from 20th Century Fox and found himself in a mess when the pandemic struck. Paramount’s entire pandemic release schedule consists of “A Quiet Place, Part 2.” Everything else was sold off, postponed, or streamed. More recently, Paramount’s big family film, “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” was pulled from the schedule because of pandemic worries. (Or because it wasn’t ready.) Cliff was listed as a gala at TIFF, but that was scrubbed as well.

Gianopolous was old school and reportedly didn’t get along with Shari Redstone, who owns Viacom, the parent company. Robbins is “young” and new blood and will tackle Paramount’s problems. He’s gone to the head of the class!

 

Toronto: A Bad Night for “Dear Evan Hansen” Broadway to Movie Adaptation as Reviews are Brutal

Roger Friedman
-
0
Toronto: A Bad Night for “Dear Evan Hansen” Broadway to Movie Adaptation as Reviews are Brutal

I’m not in Toronto, and the opening night film, “Dear Evan Hansen,” is not available digitally to press outside of Canada.

From the tenor of the reviews coming out of there tonight, I guess I know why we can’t see it– and why it’s been so difficult to screen.

The early returns are not promising. Problem one is Tony winner Ben Platt, who is too old to play high school student Evan on screen. Problem 2 is the show, which on Broadway you could get away with but in a movie the premise doesn’t work.

When I saw the musical on Broadway, I didn’t understand why it was so popular. To me, Evan — who lies to everyone about a dead kid having been his bff — was a villain. But audiences embraced him as did the people of the town he lived in. And the show took off, and won Tonys.

Tonight, Evan is being found out in Toronto. The movie seems very divisive. Will update accordingly if things get better.

One quote, from Theatermania: “Film is a different story – it’s “real” real. Evan’s actions, which we sort of shrug off after seeing it on Broadway because they’re presented with hints of ambiguity, are truly grotesque in celluloid. He’s a Machiavellian villain in a story where he’s written to be the hero.”

Alison Willmore, of Vulture: “DEAR EVAN HANSEN: If there were any chance of making this character look like something other than a monster, it rested on emphasizing his raw youth, which makes the casting of an OBVIOUSLY GROWN MAN JUST HUNCHING HIS SHOULDERS an act of sabotage that’s near avant-garde “

 

Fleetwood Mac Won’t Stop Fighting About Tomorrow, And Yesterday, and Today in Public

Roger Friedman
-
0
Fleetwood Mac Won’t Stop Fighting About Tomorrow, And Yesterday, and Today in Public

Almost since the beginning of time, Fleetwood Mac has been fighting among themselves.

Long before Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks darkened the door Mick Fleetwood, the group has been in strife. It’s amazing, in retrospect, that John McVie has stuck it out all this time. Maybe that’s because we never hear from him.

Prior to the Buckingham Nicks addition in 1974-75, Fleetwood Mac went through a bunch of players who were considered integral to the group. Peter Green, Bob Welch, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan. Anyone remember them? They were actually the guys who joined, had hits, and then either departed or were chucked out. You wouldn’t have had “Sentimental Lady,” or “Hypnotized” or “Black Magic Woman” without them.

Then Buckingham and Nicks arrived. Suddenly everyone in the band was sleeping with everyone else, and yapping about it in the press. B&N brought their own little soap opera. That was 45 years ago, and it’s still going on. Before that, I’d like to add, Fleetwood Mac was about music.

Today in the LA Times, Buckingham is still squawking about the group firing him in 2018. And Nicks is firing back, of course. If touring ever resumes, the Mac will have go to back on the road for one last big tour. The fans don’t want to hear the squabbling. They want the band to perform with all players and keep their problems to themselves. But Fleetwood Mac can’t do it. Except for singing they should keep their mouths shut.

Mick Fleetwood presents himself as a bystander to all the brouhaha. But he was there before B&N, when all those other guys came and went. And when Fleetwood Mac imploded in New York at the Musicares Person of the Year show a couple of years ago, it was Mick we saw at the after party pacing back and forth and having screaming fights over his phone. He actually seems to be the common denominator.

And so it goes. On and on. And probably into the next afterlife for all of them. It’s a total snore at this point. As it was even in 1977. This is why we brought in the Clash, the Sex Pistols, and the Ramones, to flush these people out. I wish we could do it again.

No Cigar: Ryan Murphy’s Monica Lewinsky Series “Impeachment” Opens Low, Fails to Score a Million Viewers

Roger Friedman
-
0
No Cigar: Ryan Murphy’s Monica Lewinsky Series “Impeachment” Opens Low, Fails to Score a Million Viewers

“Impeachment” is impaired.

The Ryan Murphy FX series about Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton failed to score 1 million viewers on Tuesday night. The total came in at 916,000.

Since FX is not pay cable but on most cable systems automatically, this is a very low number. “Impeachment” didn’t come close to other Murphy series like “The People vs. OJ Simpson.” Another Murphy series, “Feud,” about the tug of war between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, started with 2.26 million viewers for example.

It’s not like the acting isn’t very good on “Impeachment.” Beanie Feldstein as Monica and Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp are doing top level work in their roles. The rest of the cast is just fine.

But “Impeachment” suffers from lack of objectivity. And lack of sex. At this point, the world knows the story of Monica and Bill Clinton, at least the official version. But with Lewinsky producing an authorized version of her story, we are getting more white wash than Whitewater. We’re not learning anything new about what brought Monica to this point, what she thought. We knew Clinton was a dog. But we’re not getting an new significant insights.

As “Impeachment” rolls along, things will not change. As much fun as it is to see all these people– and to see Paulson transform herself — where is that cigar wrapper? Where is the depiction of what actually happened in that White House? But I doubt it’s just Lewinsky’s fault. We’ll never see that story on a TV network, not one owned by Disney.

Toronto Review: “The Score,” with Songs by Johnny Flynn Scores with Naomi Ackie, Soon to Play Whitney Houston

Roger Friedman
-
0
Toronto Review: “The Score,” with Songs by Johnny Flynn Scores with Naomi Ackie, Soon to Play Whitney Houston

First Toronto film: “The Score,” written and directed by Malachiy Smyth, with songs by Johnny Flynn. And it’s a score. A plus.

TIFF isn’t offering any big films on their digital service and everyone is complaining. We don’t even get “Dear Evan Hansen,” opening the festival tonight. Most of the digital films are only available in Canada, if at all.

So I tried “The Score,” and loved it. A musical like “Annette,” except coherent, funny, beautifully made. Everything “Annette” was not, “The Score” is.

The performers are a trio– Johnny Flynn, who wrote the songs, Naomi Ackie*, who should be a star, and Will Poulter in a breathtaking performance. Imagine, three young sexy people who can act and sing, with terrific songs, catchy and well composed, and well sung, that fit in a plot that makes sense. I’ll take it!

Mike and Troy are low level gangsters, very low level, and they drive to a meeting at a faraway roadhouse (in rural UK). Gloria is their waitress. Troy and Gloria set eyes on each other and are in love. Mike, the “mastermind,” is waiting to consummate some kind of deal involving $20,000 in cash stashed in the boot of their Range Rover. A few others come and go, all excellent, but the story centers on these three.

Day changes to night, there are songs and a lot of smart talk. Smyth has written a lovely screenplay that must have been a play first and could be again. He’s opened it up for film. But the camera work and lighting are so good, and the actors are so surprising, that for 90 minutes you’re going to stick with it and care about all these people. Plus, there are a couple of plot twists to keep you on your toes.

So kudos to all these people. I saw Flynn off Broadway in “The Hangman,” and he was just sensational. He’s been in a few other things but is still unknown to Americans. Too bad. He should have a bigger career here. Poulter has also worked a lot, but this is the best thing he’s done.

TIFF may not be showing us big deal films, but “The Score” is a film festival find, which is really what it’s all about.

Since I’m in New York, if someone connected to this film wants to talk to me, I’m at showbiz411@gmail.com

 

*Naomi Ackie, I’m told, is playing Whitney Houston in the biopic, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” Now I have every faith in that performance.

 

Watch Nicole Kidman’s Commercial for AMC Theaters Welcoming Moviegoers Back

Roger Friedman
-
0
Watch Nicole Kidman’s Commercial for AMC Theaters Welcoming Moviegoers Back

AMC Theaters wants us back in their seats. So they’re spending $25 million on a promo campaign to get us excited. And they’ve made their first ever commercial, with Oscar winner and multiple nominee Nicole Kidman. If Nicole says come back, we’re going back!

RIP Michael Constantine, Legendary Character Actor, Great Star of “Room 222” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”

Roger Friedman
-
0
RIP Michael Constantine, Legendary Character Actor, Great Star of “Room 222” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”

Michael Constantine is the legendary character actor who played the ultra sympathetic principal on “Room 222” back in the day. He won an Emmy Award for his work there in 1970. Thirty two years later he was a star again as the father in “My Great Big Greek Wedding.” He died yesterday at age 94.

Constantine whether young or old always made his characters seem wise and understanding. He was also very funny. He was Greek American but really he was all American, born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1927. But he always seemed like an old soul, and in touch with his roots. He was the kind of journeyman actor that makes Hollywood work. He was in every TV show, and you’d always say, That guy, I love that guy.

Constantine also had his own short lived series in 1977, called “Sirota’s Court.” Before “Room 222” he was in dozens of series in the 60s, too including “Perry Mason,” “Gunsmoke,” and both “Dr. Kildare” and “Ben Casey.”

Rita Wilson, who produced “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” posted a lovely tribute to Constantine on Instagram. I include it here.

Ratings: “Billions” Returns to Showtime with No Promotion and No Viewers, Drops 73%

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ratings: “Billions” Returns to Showtime with No Promotion and No Viewers, Drops 73%

It’s a good thing my favorite show, “Billions,” was already renewed for a sixth season.

When the fifth season returned on Sunday after an 18 month pandemic break, ratings dropped 73% in total viewers and 80% in the key age demo. Is it possible only 192,000 people tuned in on Sunday?

On June 14, 2020, “Billions” had crested to a high on Showtime of 660,000 viewers. The show was killing it. Everything looked promising. But the pandemic hit, shooting stopped, and everyone went home.

During the time off, we missed Chuck and Axe and Taylor and Wendy and all of them. Paul Giamatti, who plays Chuck, dropped a ton of weight and shaved his beard. When he came back on our screens Sunday, he looked terrific. But bad things happened, too. Damian Lewis’s beloved wife, the talented actress Helen McCrory, died from cancer.

The first two new episodes of season 5 pick up where the season stopped in June 2020. The show is just as deliciously acted, written, and directed as ever. I like to say it’s the thinking man’s “Dallas.” “Billions” is a smart soap opera, and definitely as good as “Succession” on HBO. It just doesn’t have the hype machine.

This blow out ratings drop on Sunday  is thanks to Showtime getting no love from CBS/Viacom promotions. “Billions” gets no Emmy nods because this gang does nothing to appeal to voters. Now they’re doing nothing to appeal to viewers. This is terrible. Giamatti and Lewis should each be nominated for Best Actor in a Drama every year. Asia Kate Dillon (who prefers ‘they’) and Maggie Siff should be up for supporting. Same for David Costabile and Jeffrey DeMunn.

You can jump into “Billions” with any episode. If you love good TV, like “The West Wing,” you can always start watching and catch up later. There’s a great twist at the end of Sunday’s episode regarding the kidney donor Chuck has been trying to get for his father. Chuck has turned the world upside down looking for that kidney. You’ll never guess who the donor is. I did a spit take when it was revealed!

Brian Koppelman and David Levien are the killer creators and writers of this show. They deserve better than 192,000 viewers. “Billions” fans, I know you’re out there, come home!

PS Bring back Malin Akerman! And Nina Arianda!

It’s Come to This: Latest Bruce Willis D Movie Sold to Fox’s Free Streaming Site Called Tubi

Roger Friedman
-
0
It’s Come to This: Latest Bruce Willis D Movie Sold to Fox’s Free Streaming Site Called Tubi

Bruce Willis is in the middle of a run of D movies, unprecedented in film history. Dozens and dozens of shlock films made for video and countries and planets where no discernible language is necessary.

Today they announced a new one called “Corrective Measures,” which has been placed with a streaming service you’ve never heard of, called Tubi. It’s a free service owned by Fox Entertainment. Michael Rooker, who’s pretty good right now in “Suicide Squad,” will star. Bruce will lend his name and likeness and appear in a few scenes shot over the course of a day.

“Corrective Measures” will be seen by no one in 2022.

Since 2015 Bruce has “starred” in a dozen or so of these things, all produced by him and Stephen J. Eads. There is no thought to Bruce’s screen legacy, which has been dismantled by these loony tune movies. I guess they make some money from them, people in banana republics have no idea what’s going on but see Bruce’s bald pate and think they’re getting “Die Hard 17.”

Sad.

 

Wednesday UPDATE: Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy” at 451K Copies, Could Hit Half a Mil, “Donda” Still Selling

Roger Friedman
-
0
Wednesday UPDATE: Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy” at 451K Copies, Could Hit Half a Mil, “Donda” Still Selling

Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy” is outta control.

Drizzy’s new album is at 451,000 in streaming equivalent units sold. And it’s just Wednesday. There’s another day left for sales. He could hit 500,000.

“CLB” is a streaming giant. In sales though, not so much Paid downloads come to 18,000.

The individual tracks are monsters. “Champagne Poetry,” with the Beatles’ “Michelle,” is at 270,000 streaming equivalent copies. Paul McCartney is popping Champagne right now! “Girls Want Girls” is at 320,000. All the other tracks are streaming away!

And Kanye? “Donda” is more of a shonda, selling just 405K in two weeks. Second week is 90,000. The tracks like “Hurricane,” “Jail,” and “Off the Grid” are booming, however. Def Jam keeps issuing notices for “Donda” breaking streaming records. (‘Streaming records’ is a contradiction in terms, no?)

Will see Kanye and Drake at the Grammys? I don’t care if a stranger on the street has to nominate them, NARAS has to acknowledge these two releases BIG TIME. If Pierre Cossette were still alive, he’d have McCartney come and perform the “Michelle” part of “Champagne Poetry.”

1...739740741...2,324Page 740 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com