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Review: Award Winning “Ted Lasso” is Back For a Second Season of Insights and Quips

Leah Sydney
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Review: Award Winning “Ted Lasso” is Back For a Second Season of Insights and Quips

“Ted Lasso” triumphs yet again for season two.

Lasso, of course, is played by Jason Sudeikis who is also the co-creator and producer. He’s up for an Emmy and has already won a bunch of awards for playing this trenchant fish out of water.

Lasso is in the UK, far from home and coaching a fictional London soccer aka UK football team that is in the athletic dog house.

Once in a premier division, the group of misfit players and coaches are looking up at the sidewalk trying to figure out how to get back on top.  Lasso came over the pond knowing little about the sport, and that’s where the show has its major sweet spot.  Lasso is game to learn, he’s empathetic, honest, kind and genuine.

Topping it all off is his signature home spun style wisdom.   Rapid fire quips from Sudeikis and his ‘team’ of terrific actors just don’t stop.  They all are equal to Sudeikis’s massive charm and appeal.

The second season is even better than the first, as it navigates the up and downs of the first season. Apple TV rightfully doesn’t want spoilers, but suffice to say that Ted’s personal issues come more into play, the quirky characters veer into territory that’s deliciously unexpected,  a Lasso jolt that the audience is craving which the show lives up too many times over.

“Ted Lasso” is sublime, one of the best series on TV and not to be missed.  “Lasso” most certainly deserves all the accolades it’s receiving and more.

Pandemic’s Price: Emmy Awards Face a 2nd Year without Governor’s Balls or Live Audiences for Shows

Roger Friedman
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Pandemic’s Price: Emmy Awards Face a 2nd Year without Governor’s Balls or Live Audiences for Shows

There will be an Emmy Awards. But it will be like last year’s show– no live audience, and no Governor’s Ball.

Same as last year.

With COVID on the rise again in Los Angeles, and the Delta variant wreaking havoc, thousands of people will not be congregating at parties or the actual show on September 19th.

Ditto for the Creative Arts Emmys on September 11th and 12th.

According to the TV Academy, they will host “a series of enhanced Emmy Nominee Celebrations in advance of the Emmys at its NoHo Arts District campus. These intimate-themed gatherings will honor nominees across the numerous peer groups.”

The big Emmys show on September 19th will be limited to nominees and their guests.

You have to feel bad for these people. They’re not getting the treatment of past Emmy players. But until everyone is vaccinated and the variants have abated, this is how things will work all over the country, not just in Los Angeles.

Get vaccinated!

Michael Jackson is Having His Revenge from Beyond as Thomas Barrack, Who Snatched Away Neverland, Is Arrested and Jailed in Trump Scandal

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson is Having His Revenge from Beyond as Thomas Barrack, Who Snatched Away Neverland, Is Arrested and Jailed in Trump Scandal

That Thomas Barrack has been arrested and is actually in jail today should come as no surprise to Michael Jackson fans.

Barrack’s arrest now has to do with Donald Trump’s 2016 Inauguration and possible influence peddling with the United Arab Emirates. Barrack is accused by the US of acting as that country’s foreign agent.

But we know Thomas Barrack from before his dealings with Trump and the Arabs. He owns Colony Capital, the company that swooped in back in 2008 and bought Neverland out of the brink of foreclosure from Michael Jackson.

Tohme Tohme, who called himself a doctor, and became Michael’s final manager, worked for Barrack. As Tohme ate his way through what was left of Jackson’s life and career circa 2007-2008 and into the final year of his life, he acted as Barrack’s agent. When I interviewed Barrack about Tohme in 2008, he sang Tohme’s praises.

In the end, Barrack and Tohme caused the final upheavals in Jackson’s life financially and otherwise. Tohme introduced Michael to Dr. Conrad Murray, who hastened the end of his and went to jail for it. Tohme also introduced Jackson to Barrack, who bought the note on Neverland and took control of it. The irony was that for a decade Barrack was stuck with Neverland, which he renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch. No one would buy it. In the end, Michael’s friend, Ron Burkle, took it off his hands.

Tohme sued the Jackson Estate in 2012, claiming he was owed a 15 percent commission on compensation Jackson received during his last year of his life. He also wanted a cut of the concert film “This Is It,” which was released a few months after the singer’s death, and a finder’s fee for securing a loan that prevented foreclosure on Neverland Ranch.

And, of course, it was Barrack who provided that loan.

Tohme finally settled for $3 million in 2019, and was paid last year.  He and Barrack had done their damage.

So it was no surprise when Barrack turned up in 2015 as a Trump associate, now wheedling his way into what became presidential affairs. How ironic that first Murray was behind bars, and now Barrack. Michael Jackson is having his revenge after all.

read all today’s Showbiz411 headlines click here

Venice Film Festival Jury Includes Last 2 Oscar Winning Directors, Bong Joon Ho and Chloe Zhao, Plus Cynthia Erivo

Roger Friedman
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Venice Film Festival Jury Includes Last 2 Oscar Winning Directors, Bong Joon Ho and Chloe Zhao, Plus Cynthia Erivo

The Venice Film Festival doesn’t begin until September 2nd– many weeks away– but they’re ramping up with big announcements.

The jury will consist of the last two Oscar winning directors — Chloe Zhao of “Nomadland:” and Bong Joon Ho, who made “Parasite.”

The other jurors announced include Tony winning and Oscar nominated actress Cynthia Erivo, Belgian/French actress Virginie Efira, Italian director Saverio Costanzo, Canadian actress and producer Sarah Gadon, and Romanian directorAlexander Nanau.

They are an eclectic group, to say the least. There are no American actors. Their choices will be very interesting.

The opening night film, called “Parallel Mothers,” reunites director Pedro Almodovar with one of his stars, Penelope Cruz. If for some reason you’ve never seen “Volver,” watch it immediately. It’s one of the great films of all time.

 

 

Kanye West Called George W. Bush Racist on TV in 2005, Names New Song for His “No Child Left Behind” Program

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West Called George W. Bush Racist on TV in 2005, Names New Song for His “No Child Left Behind” Program

We’re coming up on 16th anniversary for Kanye West and George W. Bush. Kanye called then President Bush a racist on national television on the Hurricane Katrina telethon September 2, 2005. He blurted out on live TV, “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.”

It was the first time realized collectively that Kanye had no control over his mouth.

Flash forward to last night. Kanye released a snippet of a new song called “No Child Left Behind. It’s from his “Donda” album, coming Thursday night with a listening party in Atlanta. The song, with the refrain “He’s done miracles on me,” set against a church organ indicates a religious theme in keeping with Kanye’s last couple of Christian themed albums. Ut’s used in a commercial for a decidedly unreligious product, Beats headphones by Dr. Dre, for Apple.

But the title is most interesting. Reports failed to note that “No Child Left Behind” was the name of a famous Bush administration program from 2001, designed to help poor and needy kids. It was ambitious but is also considered a historical failure.

Meantime, in the clip below, you can see Bush years later telling Matt Lauer of the Today show how much Kanye’s declaration hurt him. “It was disgusting,” Bush said.

In the time since, Kanye has become a Trump thumping Republican. And Trump became the enemy of the Bushes. So this new reference back to Bush by Kanye should signal that trouble is coming with “Donda.”

“Jeopardy!” Fell Back To Its All Time Low with Dr. Sanjah Gupta’s Second Week as Guest Host

Roger Friedman
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“Jeopardy!” Fell Back To Its All Time Low with Dr. Sanjah Gupta’s Second Week as Guest Host

Well, people are on vacation. Or something.

But Dr. Sanjay Gupta did not have the right prescription to cure “Jeopardy”‘s ratings woes during his second week of guest hosting.

“Jeopardy” fell 4% back to its all time low of 4.7 million for the week ending July 11th. This tied the all time low set by Savannah Guthrie.

Last week, George Stephanopolous took over. This week, his “GMA” co-host Robin Roberts is at the podium. Next week, we finally see if Levar Burton has the right stuff.

This week the categories seem very odd and niche, and certainly aimed at a younger demo. On Monday there was a whole category devoted to podcasts– the companies that make them, the hosts. Very arcane. I don’t mind saying, I lost that whole column. Maybe this is why ratings are down, I don’t know.

In other news of syndicated ratings, Ellen DeGeneres fell back to her all time low of 800,000 viewers. Drew Barrymore dropped 20% to 400,000 fans per day.

Kanye West Listening Party at Atlanta Stadium Isn’t Selling, Tickets for “Donda” At All Prices

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West Listening Party at Atlanta Stadium Isn’t Selling, Tickets for “Donda” At All Prices

Slavery is a choice, Kanye West says, and so is buying tickets for his album listening session this Thursday in Atlanta.

The Mercedes Benz stadium event for the album “Donda” isn’t selling very well. There are tickets available at every price. If you really want to get in there, $150 seems to be the price point although some poor shnooks are re-selling seats for $900. They may be disappointed.

Kanye seems to be dropping “Donda” on Thursday night. The big question is, after a short surge of interest, will anyone care? He’s wrecked his career by stumping for Trump, mouthing off crazy statements, and so on. The only people who will benefit from a new album will be the ones who wrote the songs he sampled. If they get paid.

48 hours to go…get with it, Atlanta!

Bob Dylan’s “Shadow Kingdom” Streaming Show is a HIT, Will Stay Up Longer on Live Nation Service

Roger Friedman
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Bob Dylan’s “Shadow Kingdom” Streaming Show is a HIT, Will Stay Up Longer on Live Nation Service

If you haven’t seen Bob Dylan’s “Shadow Kingdom” yet, you are really missing something great.

It’s been such a hit on Veeps.com that they’ve decided to keep the streaming concert up a few more days, through July 25th.

Veeps.com is a streaming service developed by Benji and Joel Madden, the 41-year-old twins who front Good Charlotte. One of them is married to Nicole Richie and the other one is Cameron Diaz. They and and their partners sold Veeps last January to Live Nation. Michael Rapino saw a good thing, that’s for sure.

Originally the Dylan video was supposed to be up for 48 hours. But I guess a lot of people want to see it, or keep re-watching it. It’s the perfect venue for older artists like Dylan. Veeps gives artists a way to monetize their live performances via video. If “Shadow Kingdom” is any evidence, other artists are going to start using it.

 

Watch Trailer: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Get All Medieval on Adam Driver in New Ridley Scott Film

Roger Friedman
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Watch Trailer: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Get All Medieval on Adam Driver in New Ridley Scott Film

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck get all medieval on Adam Driver in Rrdley Scott’s new swashbuckler, “The Last Duel.”

The trailer looks like “Gladiator” meets “Game of Thrones.”

For Damon, this is his reunion with Ridley Scott after their great collaboration on “The Martian.”

Alternate title: “Bad Will Hunting.”

Coming October 15th from 20th Century formerly Fox now Disney Studios.

“Dear Evan Hansen” Will Open Partially In Person Toronto Film Festival That Includes “Clifford the Big Red Dog”

Roger Friedman
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“Dear Evan Hansen” Will Open Partially In Person Toronto Film Festival That Includes “Clifford the Big Red Dog”

TIFF 2021 is on, and partially in person thanks to relaxed border restrictions announced by Canada yesterday. The film version of “Dear Evan Hansen” will open the festival and there are plenty of exciting features. What they don’t have yet are the Cannes winner, “Titane,” or Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” and few others they may add over the next month. They did include a children’s movie, the live action “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” which looks like it might be an ironic horror film. (Just kidding! We love Clifford!)

 

GALA PRESENTATIONS 2021
*previously announced

*Belfast Kenneth Branagh | United Kingdom
World Premiere

Clifford the Big Red Dog Walt Becker | USA/United Kingdom/Canada
World Premiere

Opening Night Film.
Dear Evan Hansen Stephen Chbosky | USA
World Premiere

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain Will Sharpe | United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Michael Showalter | USA
World Premiere

*Jagged Alison Klayman | USA
World Premiere

*Last Night in Soho Edgar Wright | United Kingdom
North American Premiere

*The Mad Women’s Ball (Le Bal des folles) Mélanie Laurent | France
World Premiere

*Night Raiders Danis Goulet | Canada/New Zealand
North American Premiere

.Closing Night Film.
One Second Zhang Yimou | China
North American Premiere

The Survivor Barry Levinson | USA/Canada/Hungary
World Premiere

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2021
*previously announced

Ali & Ava Clio Barnard | United Kingdom
North American Premiere

All My Puny Sorrows Michael McGowan | Canada
World Premiere

*Benediction Terence Davies | United Kingdom
World Premiere

Bergman Island Mia Hansen-Løve | France
International Premiere

*Charlotte Eric Warin, Tahir Rana | Canada/France/Belgium
World Premiere

*Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over Dave Wooley, David Heilbroner | USA
World Premiere

Drive My Car Ryusuke Hamaguchi | Japan
North American Premiere

Encounter Michael Pearce | United Kingdom/USA
International Premiere

*The Guilty Antoine Fuqua | USA
World Premiere

I’m Your Man Maria Schrader | Germany
North American Premiere

Inexorable Fabrice du Welz | Belgium/France
International Premiere

*Lakewood Phillip Noyce | Canada
World Premiere

The Middle Man Bent Hamer | Norway/Canada/Germany/Denmark
World Premiere

Official Competition (Competencia Oficial) Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat | Spain/Argentina
North American Premiere

Paris, 13th District (Les Olympiades) Jacques Audiard | France
North American Premiere

*Petite Maman Céline Sciamma | France
Canadian Premiere

*The Starling Theodore Melfi | USA
World Premiere

The Story of My Wife Ildikó Enyedi | Hungary/Germany/Italy/France
North American Premiere

Three Floors (Tre Piani) Nanni Moretti | Italy/France
North American Premiere

Violet Justine Bateman | USA
International Premiere *already acquired by Relativity/Rogue, yes this is Justin Bateman from “Family Ties,” sister of actor-director Jason Bateman. Has a lot of huzz!

The Worst Person In The World (Verdens Verste Menneske) Joachim Trier | Norway/France/Sweden/Denmark
North American Premiere

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