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No Thanks, Chet Hanks: When Bad Children Happen to Good Parents, In This Case Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Roger Friedman
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No Thanks, Chet Hanks: When Bad Children Happen to Good Parents, In This Case Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

I’ve been reluctant to comment on Chet Hanks. He’s the son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, actually lovely people.

Chet has posted two videos railing against the vaccine even though Tom and Rita were among the first to be diagnosed with COVID and really suffered from it.

For a long time, the regular press wouldn’t touch Chet Hanks, a literal walking disaster area. When he’s done some acting, you can tell he’s talented. But he’s also disturbed. He has a long trail of shenanigans posted to the web. So it was easier just to ignore his antics and celebrate his occasional successes.

But now the UK press is calling him an idiot, and other mainstream outlets are taking him to task. I think they’re all overreacting, frankly.

It’s not easy being the child of superstar parents. We think of Tom and Rita as “perfect.” But they’re humans. Look at Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, their close friends. They’ve got a daughter who appears in adult films. At one time so did actor Laurence Fishburne. Nobody is perfect. Tom Cruise brought his whole family into a religious cult and doesn’t see his now-teenage daughter. I could go on and on.

The Hankses are not going to speak out against Chet. They love him. They’re doing the right thing. We all have to be smart enough to realize at this point, Chet has underlying issues. Let’s not exacerbate them or encourage them. Anyway, I keep hoping he’s pulling our legs, putting us on, maybe it’s an acting exercise. Wouldn’t that be great?

 

HBO’s Media Darling Series, “The White Lotus,” Heads to Finale with Critics Raves But Middling Ratings

Roger Friedman
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HBO’s Media Darling Series, “The White Lotus,” Heads to Finale with Critics Raves But Middling Ratings

The media loves HBO’s “The White Lotus.” It’s become the top topic among media writers and on the TwitterVerse, a clubhouse for people who like edgy, ironic series that are also a tad unpleasant.

Those people can’t get enough of Mike White’s six part satirical soap opera starring Jennifer Coolidge, Steve Zahn, Connie Britton and Murray Bartlett. So much so that HBO has renewed the series for another round with new characters and a new setting.

But the ratings tell  a different story. The good news is, they’ve risen every week fo five weeks. First week brought 420,000 linear HBO viewers. This past Sunday saw 541,000. They are middling numbers but at least they grow and never recede.

On the other hand, the key demo ratings go up and down. Last week fell back to 0.11 after rising briefly the week before with 0.14. Even though three teens are among the featured cast, young people aren’t swarming to “The White Lotus.” It’s definitely a show for adults above 25, maybe above 35.

One thing that Mike White and his team should consider for the next round: this series has improved slowly and incrementally. It’s taken a long time to peel back the characters’ personas, back stories, and plots. “The White Lotus” has been more subtle and leisurely than, say, “Mare of Easttown” or “The Undoing.” The episodes don’t to get to a point quickly.

So we’ll see what happens this Sunday, what kind of conclusion this all comes to, and if the audience finds it satisfying. HBO may have an issue with Season 2 if none of the original characters return. We’re just starting to love them. It would be a shame to say goodbye forever!

 

A Cool Indie Record Company Marks 35 Years: Chesky Records Celebrates with Jazz, Classical, Folk, Pop Collection

Roger Friedman
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A Cool Indie Record Company Marks 35 Years: Chesky Records Celebrates with Jazz, Classical, Folk, Pop Collection

The best indie record company is right here in New York, thriving after 35 years. Next Friday brothers David and Norman Chesky will celebrate with the release of a best-of collection, their greatest hits.

David is an accomplished composer, performer, and producer with a wide following. Norman is the entrepreneurial brother who also runs HDTracks.com, the best source of high end audiophile downloads on the web. They’re a powerhouse duo and did it all themselves, I might add. They’re very cool guys, too, almost like their own Steely Dan.

Congrats to the Cheskys! Here’s what they just sent me:

Right from the start Chesky Records had a sound. David Chesky set out to make “aural photographs” of each session, capturing as much of the sound of being there as the technology allowed, continually pushing it forward. Every note of every session was recorded “live,” there were no overdubs, no fixing it in the mix. What went down at the session, with some of the world’s greatest musicians, was in the CD, LP, or later on, high-resolution digital download.

Chesky mostly recorded in great sounding acoustic spaces, namely churches and concert halls, with the earliest sessions conducted in the legendary, and sorely missed, RCA/BMG studios in midtown Manhattan.

Every session presented unique challenges, but David Chesky and his engineers, first Bob Katz, then, Barry Wolifson, and for the last decade or so, Nicholas Prout, continued to advance the state of the recording art. We hope you enjoy the music as much as we did recording it! – Steve Guttenburg

We’re celebrating our 35th Anniversary by presenting you with a collection of some of our favorite and most influential tracks, complete with an in depth look at our record-making history. The collection features a selection of tracks from some of the world class musicians that we have had the privilege of working with over the past 35 years such as John and Bucky Pizzarelli, McCoy Tyner, Paquito D’Rivera, Ron Carter, David Johansen, Amber Rubarth, Livingston Taylor, Astor Piazzolla, Babatunde Olatunji, Ana Caram, Macy Gray, Casey Abrams, Luiz Bonfa, and more! The included digital (printable) booklet features photos, first hand accounts from David Chesky and Bob Katz, and interviews conducted by Steve Guttenburg with Bob Katz, Barry Wolifson, and Nick Prout. Not only that, but when purchased on HDtracks, this collection comes with an additional 13 tracks. And of course, like all Chesky Records releases, every track in this collection features the crystal clear sound quality that you’ve enjoyed over the years. We’ve included the highest resolution available of each track, whether that’s 192 kHz, 96 kHz, 48 kHz, or 41.1 kHz, for your listening pleasure. Come reminisce with us and listen to The Chesky 35th Anniversary Collection today!

Track Listing

Jazz

1. Pick Yourself Up and Start All Over Again – Johnny Frigo & Bucky Pizzarelli

2. Ow – Clark Terry

3. Maracangalha – Chuck Mangione

4. Superette – Phil Woods

5. My Romance – The McCoy Tyner Quartet

6. The Peanut Vendor – Paquito D’Rivera

7. I Had the Craziest Dream – Jimmy Cobb

8. Bahia Com H – Ron Carter & Rosa Passos

9. Sicilian Walk – Oregon

10. Emily – Monty Alexander

11. Gabriela’s Song – Caminho De Casa

Blues

12. Well, I’ve Been to Memphis – David Johansen & The Harry Smiths

13. In My Time of Dying – CC Coletti

14. Up the Line – John Hammond

15. Mama, Let Me Lay It On You – Cephas & Wiggins

16. Nightbird – Natasha

Folk

17. Hold On – Amber Rubarth

18. Down by the Riverside – Noah Wall

19. Isn’t She Lovely – Livingston Taylor

20. Mr. Bojangles – John McEuen

Classical

21. No 3, Ragtime – Stravinsky

22. Laudate Dominum – Westminster Choir

23. Dance of the Fish That Live in the Trees – David Chesky

24. Little Village – Orquesta Nova

25. Concerto in E Major, ‘La Primavera’ (Spring) RV 269, Allegro – Vivaldi

26. Muerte Del Angel – Astor Piazzolla

World Music

27. Sare Tete Wa – Babatunde Olatunji

28. Elube Chango – The Conga Kings

29. Bate-Coxa – Badi Assad

30. Home – Priya Darshini

31. Silk Road – I Ching

Singers

32. You Haven’t Done Nothin’ – Jen Chapin

33. My Blue Heaven – John Pizzarelli

34. If You Close That Door – Sara K.

35. Meditation – Ana Caram

36. Spanish Harlem – Rebecca Pidgeon

37. Redemption Song – Macy Gray

38. Got to Get You Into My Life – Christy Baron

39. La Flor – Marta Gomez

40. Eight Days a Week – The Persuasions

41. Round Midnight – Kenny Rankin

42. Baby Talk – Dave’s True Story

43. Alfie – Valerie Joyce

 

Bonus Tracks (HDtracks Download Only)

44. Alfie – Manha de Carnaval – Leny Andrade

45. How Deep is the Ocean – Lee Konitz

46. Caribbean Sunrise – Mongo Santamaria

47. Milestones – Fred Hersch Trio

48. Sex Machine – Coryell, Bailey, & White

49. On Green Dolphin Street – Jones, McBride, & Cobb

50. Congo Blues – Red Rodney

51. Footprints – Jon Faddis

52. La Llave – Xiomara

53. Everything is Broken – Memphis in Manhattan

54. Quiet Desperation – David Chesky

55. I’ve Got the World on a String – Casey Abrams

56. Samba De Orfeo – Luiz Bonfa

Broadway: Beanie Feldstein Chosen for First Ever Revival of “Funny Girl” Since Streisand Launched it In 1964

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Beanie Feldstein Chosen for First Ever Revival of “Funny Girl” Since Streisand Launched it In 1964

Barbra Streisand burst onto the scene in 1964 with “Funny Girl” and everything changed. Her career took off like a rocket. No Tony wins but everyone was nominated for something. The movie came four years later and Streisand split her Oscar win with Katharine Hepburn.

(Just FYI “Hello, Dolly!” and Carol Channing beat them in almost every category. Then in 1970, Barbra played Dolly in that movie. Crazy world.)

“Funny Girl” has never been revived on Broadway. Until now. I guess they didn’t want to rain on anyone’s parade. But it’s coming next spring, with Beanie Feldstein as Fanny Brice. I’m thrilled. Beanie is one of personal faves, a great girl, if you can still say that! She will sweep the Tony Awards next June.

Beanie– who’s also the sister of Jonah Hill — said in a statement: “The first time I played Fanny Brice was at my third birthday party, in a head-to-toe leopard print outfit my mom made for me. So, it’s safe to say that stepping into this iconic role, on Broadway and not in my family’s backyard, is truly my lifelong dream come true. I am immensely grateful to be able to do so alongside such a remarkable creative team, and cannot wait for audiences to get back in theaters again!”

Just FYI Leah Michele of “Glee” was rumored to get this role many years ago. She certainly campaigned for it. But nothing came together. I’m told that on social media there are catty depictions of Leah Michele being very disappointed. Well, I’m sure she’s moved on and has better things to do than think about this.

Michael Mayer is directing, Sonia Friedman (no relation to moi) is producing, Matt Polk is doing the PR, and this will be a big rival in Best Revival of a Musical to Hugh Jackman’s “Music Man.” Buckle up! And mask up!

PS Beanie starred in a movie last year called “How to Build a Girl.” See it. Rent it, stream it, steal it. The pandemic ruined the release. But it is wonderful, and she should have had her breakout moment right there!

 

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’…

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