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TV: “Jeopardy!” EP Appoints Himself Permanent Host, Anthony Mason Dissed by CBS News in Favor of Former NFL Player

Roger Friedman
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TV: “Jeopardy!” EP Appoints Himself Permanent Host, Anthony Mason Dissed by CBS News in Favor of Former NFL Player

Two big doings in TV today:

CBS Morning News anchor and brilliant journalist Anthony Mason got dissed by CBS News this morning. They’ve ousted him from anchoring with Gayle King and Tony Doukupil. Mason is being replaced by ex NFL player Nate Burleson.

It’s insulting and ridiculous. Mason is the only reason many people watch the third rated network news show. No offense to Gayle and Tony, but Anthony has the experience and gravity needed to anchor the show. They’re throwing him a sop– he’s going to be arts and culture correspondent for the network. It’s total BS. I hope CNN or NBC or ABC swoop in and do something for him.

Over at “Jeopardy,” Executive Producer Mike Richards has appointed himself permanent host. His background of lawsuits at “The Price is Right” didn’t matter. But because this looked back, CBS — which syndicates the show– threw in Mayim Bialik in their announcement to host specials and a spin off show, whatever that means. I’ll take “The Fix Is In” was four hundred.

Back to Mason: apparently working your way up through the network, doing your job brilliantly, and being loyal wasn’t enough for him to be rewarded with keeping his job. It’s an old song, and I’m tired of hearing it.

 

Very “Smooth”: Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas Will Debut Their New Single “Move” at Clive Davis’s Mega Central Park Concert

Roger Friedman
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Very “Smooth”: Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas Will Debut Their New Single “Move” at Clive Davis’s Mega Central Park Concert

Here’s what we call marketing:

Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas won’t just be performing their 2000 hit, “Smooth,” at Clive Davis’s mega Central Park concert.

They’ll also debut “Move,” their first single together in 22 years. “Move” is dropping on August 18th, three days before the Welcome Back New York show, on radio. (Pop group American Authors is also featured on vocals.)

Their single, “Smooth,” is the best selling single of the last 20 years, and still most popular on radio. It was like catching lightning in a bottle.

What a way to launch a new record! CNN is carrying the whole Clive Davis show that includes Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson, The Killers, and more. It’s going to be a five hour concert spectacular.

“Move” precedes a new Santana album on BMG Records coming in October, called “Blessings and Miracles.” Santana also heads out on tour on August 25th. Get vaxxed, wear a mask, so you don’t miss them!

“‘Move’ came about was very much like how ‘Smooth’ happened,” says Santana in a statement. “It was like divine intelligence behind the scenes, and I just knew I had to record it with Rob. The song is about awakening your molecules. Ignite and activate yourself – you know, move. When Rob and I work together, we have a sound that’s splendiferous.”

PS Santana has a hit out right now with Diane Warren and G-Eazy called ‘She’s Fire” coming from Warren’s all star album due August 27th.

“Respect” Director on Cutting Aretha Franklin’s Famed Backup Singer Cissy Houston from Movie: “That is part of artistic license”

Roger Friedman
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“Respect” Director on Cutting Aretha Franklin’s Famed Backup Singer Cissy Houston from Movie: “That is part of artistic license”

One of the biggest mistakes in the forthcoming Aretha Franklin biopic, “Respect,” is the cutting of her most famous back up singer.

Cissy Houston, leader of the Sweet Inspirations and yes, mother of Whitney, sang on most of Aretha’s Atlantic Records hits featured in the movie which opens Friday. Cissy is still alive, and living in northern New Jersey. But the movie’s director simply ignores her contribution to Aretha’s records — something, by the way, Aretha would never do. Aretha loved Cissy so much she asked her to sing back up for her on her final appearance on David Letterman’s talk show.

In my review of “Respect,” I called out the director, Liesl Tommy, for having Aretha’s sister, Erma, sing Cissy’s most famous part on the song, “Ain’t No Way,” in the movie. I still remember talking to Cissy and her late husband, John, about “Ain’t No Way” back in 1989 at Whitney’s house. It was the first memory they mentioned when talking about working with Aretha.

Years later, I was privileged to be backstage after one of Aretha’s shows when Cissy came to see her. This was after Whitney died. Cissy was ushered into Aretha’s green room– we were all kicked out– so they could have a private meeting to discuss their grief and their decades long friendship. They spoke on the phone all the time but this was a rare chance to see each other in person.

Now Tommy tells Jon Pareles in the NY Times, when asked about the “Ain’t No Way” fabrication: “That is part of artistic license. You can only have so many characters. You have to keep it focused.”

So, so much for making a factual biography.

In her 1998 memoir, “How Sweet the Sound,” Cissy Houston wrote: “I am very proud of that record. Some months later, when we performed “Ain’t No Way” at New York’s Philharmonic Hall, the audience rose four times to give Aretha and a standing ovation.”

Cissy and the Sweet Inspirations sang on at least three of Aretha’s Atlantic albums, providing all of the backup vocals. In that time they also had a big R&B hit with their own song, named for their group. By wiping them out of the movie, Tommy has done the history of soul music a grave disservice that is really disgraceful. And by the way, it wasn’t just Aretha’s records they sang on. In demand everywhere, the Sweets also backed up Elvis all through the 60s and 70s. They sang with David Bowie, as well.

Here’s “Ain’t No Way” and below it, “Sweet Inspiration”:

 

 

Bad News: LeVar Burton’s Much Ballyhooed “Jeopardy!” Stint Scored Lowest Ratings of All, Dropped 6%

Roger Friedman
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Bad News: LeVar Burton’s Much Ballyhooed “Jeopardy!” Stint Scored Lowest Ratings of All, Dropped 6%

LeVar Burton’s much anticipated guest hosting sting on “Jeopardy!” was a bust.

Burton scored the lowest ratings of the year, and lowest of all guest hosts with just 4.4 million. His numbers were down 6% from the prior week.

Of course, Olympics coverage was his competition. But still, Burton was so pushed by fans that over 250,000 of them signed an online petition for his to take Alex Trebek’s podium.

But his first week was a disaster. There’s no way he would have been a contender for permanent  host. The petition and enthusiasm didn’t translate into ratings.

Burton fans could argue that the show put him at a disadvantage with the Olympics as his ratings rival. But they didn’t do very well, either.

Meantime. the show’s producers are under fire over the choice of Mike Richards for that role. The Executive Producer seemingly chose himself in the end. He’s gotten a ton of bad press for lawsuits he encountered as producer of “The Price is Right.” It’s still unclear if he will claim the job.

The highest ratings getter of the year, Ken Jennings, has yet to comment on Richards’ self appointment.

Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Writer of Most of Group’s Hits, Sells Publishing Rights for Undisclosed Sum

Roger Friedman
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Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Writer of Most of Group’s Hits, Sells Publishing Rights for Undisclosed Sum

Half of the 16 songs on Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits are written by Christine McVie. They include “Over My Head,” “Don’t Stop,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Say That You Love Me” and “Little Lies.”

McVie also wrote the hits “Hold Me” and “Heroes are Hard to Find.”

Now she’s sold her publishing rights to Merck Mercuriadis and his Hipgnosis Songs Fund. McVie has sold 100% of the rights, all out and all in.

No sum was disclosed, but given what Mercuriadis and others have been paying lately, my guess is she got upwards of $100 million.

Hipgnosis now owns most of the hit Fleetwood Mac catalog including Lindsey Buckingham’s songs like “Go Your Own Way.” Last year, Stevie Nicks sold 80% of her rights to her own songwriting catalog, including hits like “Rhiannon,” “Landslide” and “Edge of Seventeen,” to music publisher Primary Wave for a reported $100 million.

PS I noticed in the news that Lindsey says Mick Fleetwood wants him to return to the Mac. LB says it all depends on Stevie giving the ok. But if they’re going to have one last world tour, it would all make sense. The days left to cash in or cash out are dwindling.

Henry Kissinger & Eric Schmidt’s Big Treatise on Artificial Intelligence Panned in Early, Important Book Review

Roger Friedman
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Henry Kissinger & Eric Schmidt’s Big Treatise on Artificial Intelligence Panned in Early, Important Book Review

Who knew?

Henry Kissinger, age 97, has written a new book. One of his two co-authors is former Google chief Eric Schmidt.

Little, Brown has “The Age of A.I.: And our Human Future” set for a November release.

But very quietly, the book was panned back in June in Publishers Weekly. It’s not a good sign.

PW wrote: “While they raise thought-provoking questions about the implications of AI on geopolitics (notably as European nations debate whether to use U.S. or Chinese platforms), their musings on the impact AI has and will have on humans’ daily lives feel cursory. The authors also rely on familiar examples of AI success stories—AlphaZero, a chess-playing machine, and halicin, an AI-generated antibiotic, come up time and time again. Despite the work’s brief moments of insight and the authors’ bona fides, there isn’t much to recommend this.”

Currently the book is number 843,499 with little advance promotion or sales. The PW review doesn’t help.

“The Age of A.I.” started out as an article two summers ago in The Atlantic called “Metamorphosis.” So at least the authors are guaranteed a decent review in that magazine when the book is published!

Little, Brown might want to change the title of the Kissinger-Schmidt book, by the way. There are a ton of other previously published books, articles, TV shows, and so on with the same name. Just sayin’…

HBO’s Cult Hit “White Lotus” Renewed for Second Chapter with New Characters, Locale

Roger Friedman
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HBO’s Cult Hit “White Lotus” Renewed for Second Chapter with New Characters, Locale

HBO’s “White Lotus” will come back after this Sunday’s finale. The limited series from Mike White is ending its run but HBO says it will return with new characters set at different locale in the White Lotus chain.

Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming says in a statement: “Mike has once again delivered a quintessential HBO show, and it’s the talk of the town. We were thrilled to hear where he wanted to go next, after closing this epic chapter in Hawaii, and can’t wait to keep following him wherever he takes us.”

The ratings aren’t yet in for this past Sunday, but the show’s average numbers are around 450K a week. The show will conclude this Sunday with the reveal of who was being loaded in a coffin onto a plane in the first episode. If it’s not the hotel manager, played by Murray Bartlett, White would be smart to have him continue as manager of the next White Lotus property.

It’s too bad “White Lotus” came out after the Emmy deadline. And there are no Golden Globes from them to look forward to. But a lot of the cast deserves nominations for acting, and the writing has improved from week to week. Jennifer Coolidge would have been a slam dunk for Best Supporting Actress, easily.

 

LIVE NOW Watch Livestream of Governor Andrew Cuomo Resigns Over Sexual Harassment Scandal, Will Leave in 2 Weeks

Roger Friedman
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LIVE NOW Watch Livestream of Governor Andrew Cuomo Resigns Over Sexual Harassment Scandal, Will Leave in 2 Weeks

Andrew Cuomo is addressing his political scandal in Albany over sexual harassment right now live, here. His attorney is also speaking. No press involved.

Broadway: Michael Jackson Musical Sets Cast, Reveals Characters Including Jackson 5, Berry Gordy, and Michael’s Parents

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Michael Jackson Musical Sets Cast, Reveals Characters Including Jackson 5, Berry Gordy, and Michael’s Parents

The cast and characters for “MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical” were revealed this morning.

We now know who the main characters are in the story. They include Michael, his parents, the Jackson 5, and Motown founder Berry Gordy.

So far not included in the characters list are people like Diana Ross, or Bobby Taylor, who discovered the Jackson 5 with Gladys Knight and brought them to Gordy. They may very well not be in this story.

There are no marquee names on the cast list, but these people are no doubt incredibly talented. They include:

Myles Frost plays Michael. Quentin Earl Darrington as Joseph Jackson / Rob, Whitney Bashor as Rachel, Gabriel Ruiz as Alejandro, Antoine L. Smith as Berry Gordy / Nick, Joey Sorge as Dave, John Edwards as Jackie Jackson / Ensemble, Ayana George as Katherine Jackson, Apollo Levine as Quincy Jones / Tito Jackson, Tavon Olds-Sample as Michael, Lamont Walker II as Jermaine Jackson / Ensemble, Zelig Williams as Marlon Jackson / Ensemble, with Raymond Baynard, Kali May Grinder, Oyoyo Joi, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Renni Anthony Magee, Aaron James McKenzie, Aramie Payton, Kamille Upshaw, Ryan VanDenBoom, and Darius Wright rounding out the ensemble.

“MJ” starts previews December 6th and opens February 1st. Again, the people putting the show together are among the best on Broadway, including producer Lia Vollack and her husband, the great Tony winning set designer Derek McLane. Lynn Nottage wrote the book, Christopher Wheeldon is the director/choreographer.

Everyone involved is top notch. So if this show doesn’t work, with all of Michael’s hits and Jackson 5 singles, etc. it’s time to go home!

 

Broadway: Scott Rudin’s Miserable “West Side Story” Will NOT Re-open, As Predicted Here, To Make Way for Spielberg Movie

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Scott Rudin’s Miserable “West Side Story” Will NOT Re-open, As Predicted Here, To Make Way for Spielberg Movie

As I predicted, Scott Rudin’s “West Side Story” revival will not reopen on Broadway.

I’m told this is because Disney does not want this reviled revival to interfere with their big Oscar buzzed Steven Spielberg movie coming in December.

It wasn’t hard for Spielberg to talk financial backers David Geffen and Barry Diller into letting this go. They certainly don’t want to be in business with Rudin, who is a pariah right now. Plus, the show was terrible.

This “WSS” was so bad that that it opened but was omitted from the 2020 Tony Awards. The production was then supposed to be eligible for the next Tony’s. But now it will disappear between the cracks in the sidewalks of Broadway.

This production was really terrible in so many ways. Jerome Robbins’ famed choreography was chucked in favor of new dance numbers that were considered ‘edgier’ but in fact looked like Mike Myers doing “Sprockets” on “SNL.” And there were no sets, just big video screens, the trademark of director Ivo von Hove.

So goodbye to this “WSS” and welcome to the Spielberg movie.

“It is with great regret that we are announcing today that the 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story will not reopen. This difficult and painful decision comes after we have explored every possible path to a successful run, and unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, reopening is not a practical proposition. We thank all the brilliant, creative artists who brought West Side Story to life at the Broadway Theatre, even for so brief a time, especially the extraordinary acting company, 33 of whom made their Broadway debuts in this production.”

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