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HBO’s “White Lotus” — “Fantasy Island” with Balls — Fails to Find an Audience on Its First Outing

Roger Friedman
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HBO’s “White Lotus” — “Fantasy Island” with Balls — Fails to Find an Audience on Its First Outing

HBO’s “White Lotus” was no “Mare of Easttown” on Sunday night, more of a deputy mayor.

The first episode of the limited series pulled in just 420,000 viewers in fast overnights. It may pick up a few more fans in delayed viewing, but basically, that’s it.

Will “White Lotus” blossom and become a water cooler show? I’m not sure that’s possible. Unlike “Mare,” this mini series is static. There’s no mystery laid out up front, and the characters are a little weasely.  They’re white and rich and not very interesting. Jennifer Coolidge is thrown in, and we love her, but unless she kills someone soon, forget it.

The big shocker in the first episode is that Steve Zahn whipped out his manhood and grasped it full frontal with a close up on his scrotum. I think we could have all done without that. Was that supposed to be cutting edge? Sexy? Even Connie Britton, who plays his wife, was unimpressed.

“White Lotus” is really just “Fantasy Island” or any of the other 80s Aaron Spelling shows like “Love Boat” or “Hotel.” It’s just a summer filler until the good stuff comes back.

EXCLUSIVE Golden Globes Update: 60 Members Were on Zoom Call, Group Favors New Deal

Roger Friedman
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EXCLUSIVE Golden Globes Update: 60 Members Were on Zoom Call, Group Favors New Deal

Here’s an update on the earlier story about the Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and Eldridge Partners aka Todd Boehly.

According to my sources, around 60 of the almost 90 members of the HFPA were on the Zoom call today with Eldridge hearing the proposal. I’m told the group is favorably inclined to the deal being offered.

The HFPA is NOT Selling the Golden Globes to Boehly. What I’m told, in fact, is that the HFPA will continue in its present form with added members as a 501 c3 foundation, so their philanthropy and other activities will continue unchanged, but with a more diverse membership.

The big change is that they will partner with Eldridge on a Limited Liability Corporation for the Golden Globes and any other broadcasts. That company will not be registered as a charity, but for profit. The Eldridge proposals will be instituted, so that journalists will be added to the group at large, diversity will be instituted, and there will be more checks and balances.

But this way the Golden Globes will be separate from the HFPA’s other responsibilities, and voting on the Globes, etc will answer to the new LLC.

It does sound like a solid solution to the Globes’ current issues.

And I can tell you exclusively that once this is settled, the HFPA will announce their 2021 grants and philanthropic donations as they have done every summer. So we can expect that in late August. Maybe if Eldridge can sort this all out. NBC will re-think the 2022 hiatus and re-schedule the Globes for later in January, after the Critics Choice Awards on January 9th, 2022.

Report: Would the Hollywood Foreign Press Sell the Golden Globes to Dick Clark Productions Owner?

Roger Friedman
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Report: Would the Hollywood Foreign Press Sell the Golden Globes to Dick Clark Productions Owner?

Hmmm… here’s an interesting twist.

The New York Times and LA Times are reporting that Dick Clark Productions’ owner, holding company Eldridge which is owned by Todd Boehly, Zoomed with members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association today.

Boehly, who also owns MRC (so many names) and is in business with Variety owner Penske Media, wants to buy the Golden Globes.

In short: the Globes are in the middle of a scandal voer having no Black members and were put on hiatus by NBC for this coming winter. Dick Clark, NBC, and Boehly are losing millions in the process. They want to wrest away control of the Globes from the HFPA, restore some integrity, and get back on the air.

Will the HFPA agree? The NY Times says: “the core components involve the speedy addition of 50 journalist voters to the current group of about 80, with an emphasis on diversity; the creation of a spinoff, for-profit Golden Globes company in partnership with Eldridge that would be governed by a 15-member board; and tougher and more transparent requirements for reaccreditation as an H.F.P.A. member, which must be done annually.”

Well, good luck getting the HFPA to agree to this. They love the money from NBC and love spreading it around. The power of the Globes is all they’ve got. But they might be persuaded to do something like this if NBC otherwise never allows them back on the air.

What I don’t understand is why the HFPA has done nothing for months now to fix their situation. They seem lost. By now they could have added a dozen Black members and shown a good faith effort to right their ship. But so far, zip.

Stay tuned…

 

Elton John-Princess Diana Connection 24 Years Later Produces Meghan Markle-David Furnish Movie Project

Roger Friedman
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Elton John-Princess Diana Connection 24 Years Later Produces Meghan Markle-David Furnish Movie Project

It will be 24 years since Princess Diana was killed by the Palace– er, died in a car accident in Paris.

Diana’s friendship with Sir Elton John is legendary, and has obviously gone on past her death. Elton remains great friends with Diana’s sons, William and Harry.

Now Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, is going into business with David Furnish, Elton’s husband and partner. Sounds like a great idea! If they’re lucky, maybe they’ll get a new Elton John song for their film. (Hmmmm….)

Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Productions announced today that it is developing a new animated series for Netflix. Created by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, “Pearl” (working title) will be a family series that centers on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl, who is inspired by a variety of influential women from history. Markle, aka The Duchess of Sussex, will serve as an executive producer alongside David Furnish, Dan Cogan, and Liz Garbus.

David is one of the most capable producers in literally the world. He keeps the Elton John AIDS Foundation going. He also produced “Rocketman,” the hit movie of Elton’s life, and the animated film “Gnomeo and Juliet.”

In a statement, Furnish said:“I am delighted that we are finally able to announce this exciting animated series. Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and I are deeply passionate about bringing the inspirational and positive stories of extraordinary women from around the world to a global audience of all ages. The team collaborating on the series are first class, and Netflix are the perfect partner.”

These people are smart– they’re keeping it “in the family.”

“Jeopardy!” Score Card: CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gutpa Keeps Show Under 5 Million, Tied with Savannah Guthrie

Roger Friedman
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“Jeopardy!” Score Card: CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gutpa Keeps Show Under 5 Million, Tied with Savannah Guthrie

The doctor was in, but his guest hosting wasn’t a successful prescription.

“Jeopardy!” ratings for Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s first week of work at the fabled game show remained under 5 million– 4.9 million to be exact.

The CNN medical expert retained the same number of viewers left him by Savannah Guthrie. He didn’t improve on her numbers but he didn’t go below, so that’s a good thing.

This week, ABC’s George Stephanopolous has taken over. He’ll be followed by his “GMA” co-anchor Robin Roberts. Then comes LeVar Burton.

Elsewhere in the syndication world, talk shows are in and out of reruns or mixing them up with new shows even though this month is a ratings period. “Live with Kelly and Ryan” is still number 1 but down to a 1.6 million audience because viewers “smell” that the shows are cobbled together with older interviews. For that reason, Drew Barrymore rose to a still very low 5 million viewers.

Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make it Through the Night” Turns 50 and Stars in Matt Damon’s New “Stillwater”

Roger Friedman
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Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make it Through the Night” Turns 50 and Stars in Matt Damon’s New “Stillwater”

Get ready for a Sammie Smith Renaissance.

The late country singer’s biggest hit, “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” ruled the charts in 1971. It was written by Kris Kristofferson, who won a Grammy Award in 1972, as did the record. “Help Me” put Kris on the map, along with his “Me and Bobby McGee” for Janis Joplin.

Smith had a smash all year and it established her a female country superstar.

Now “Help Me Make it Through the Night” could make a comeback. It’s featured big time in “Stillwater,” the new Matt Damon movie opening July 30th. Radio programmers would be smart right now to take it out and dust it off. There are going to be requests like crazy.

Smith died in 2005 at age 61 of emphysema. But Kristofferson just turned 85, and he knows what a stir that song caused 50 years ago. Director Tom McCarthy picked a good one here. He understood that Damon’s Bill Blake was core country to his roots and boots. If you want to get romantic countrywise, “Help Me Make It Through the Night” can light a lot of fires.

The 2021 Emmy Scandal: Where Are “Lupin,” “Call My Agent,” “Billions,” “Yellowstone,” “The Undoing,” “Genius: Aretha”?

Roger Friedman
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The 2021 Emmy Scandal: Where Are “Lupin,” “Call My Agent,” “Billions,” “Yellowstone,” “The Undoing,” “Genius: Aretha”?

Now that we’ve absorbed the Emmy nominations for 2021, it’s time ask what happened to all the other shows?

One dozen shows scored more than 12 nominations each. Around 20 other shows garnered between 5 and 9 nominations each.

And the rest? Some shows like “Mrs. Maisel,” we know, were ineligible because they didn’t have seasons thanks to the pandemic.

But “Billions” had half a season and got nothing. Of course, the Showtime drama is ignored year after year by the Television Academy, as if it didn’t exist. It’s completely unbelievable that regulars like Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Asia Kate Dillon, and Jeffrey DeMunn — not to mention guest stars like Nina Ariana and Corey Stoll — are invisible to Emmy voters. But they are, over and over.

Same thing for Kevin Costner’s “Yellowstone.” Critics love it, and so do viewers. Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, and Costner himself all do Emmy Award winning work. But the show merited just one nomination this year, for production design! Ridiculous!

And then there’s the whole French thing. “Lupin” and “Call My Agent,” each on Netflix, come from France. They were wildly popular, and executed with the highest quality elements. Omar Sy should have been nominated for Best Actor in a Drama, and the show should have been a Best Drama. “Call My Agent” — the whole cast is top notch, and the show is a Best Comedy certainly. They were completely ignored.

What else? “The Undoing”– was undone. No Nicole Kidman or a Best MiniSeries, Limited Series nomination. Nothing for Donald Sutherland? Are these people on drugs?

And then there’s “Genius: Aretha,” the mini series about Aretha Franklin. Only Cynthia Erivo was cited. No one else, not Courtney B. Vance, whose performance as Reverend CL Franklin should absolutely have been rewarded. Also, their production was Emmy worthy. But there was nothing for them.

The Emmy voters seem limited in their ability to ferret all this out. That so few shows divided up the spoils indicates that the voters aren’t able to deal with everything that’s available to them. That’s a scandal, and a shame.

 

Review: Matt Damon Gives His Best Performance Since “The Martian” In Tom McCarthy’s Excellent “Stillwater”

Roger Friedman
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Review: Matt Damon Gives His Best Performance Since “The Martian” In Tom McCarthy’s Excellent “Stillwater”

The hardest thing you can do right now in movies is make one that’s simply original– not based on a novel or a musical or revived from old material. The public is so accustomed now to material that comes from something they know, it’s hard to digest, even market, a complex new idea.

Tom McCarthy, the really terrific Oscar winning writer and nominated director of “Spotlight,” (also the wonderful “The Station Agent,” and “The Visitor”) has done that with “Stillwater.” You could say the idea is not completely original. It’s certainly influenced by the case of Amanda Knox, the American girl who was accused of killing her roommate in Italy. She spent four years in an Italian prison until she was acquitted and released by the Italian Supreme Court of Appeals.

McCarthy, who stuck to the original story for his “Spotlight,” uses Amanda Knox as a jumping off point to write his own version of what might have happened. In the process he’s created the father of the girl in the person of Matt Damon, named Bill Blake. From Cannes much was made of Bill being a Trumper, but it’s not true. He’s asked point blank if he voted for Trump, and responds that he didn’t vote at all.

Bill Baker is no simpleton despite the trucker’s hat planted on his head and his deep, monotonous Southern accent. The voice is almost like Nicole Kidman’s nose in “The Hours.” It’s what you’ll remember about Bill because Damon sounds like he’s deeply scooping up earth with every utterance. His Boston accent from “Good Will Hunting” and his regular voice are so erased, you do forget it’s Matt Damon.

Let’s say “The Martian” was Damon’s best performance in 25 year career of top acting accomplishment. Bill Baker is just beyond that one. Damon is happily submerged into this straight shooter, no frills Oklahoman who’s already been visiting his daughter, Allison, in a Marseilles prison when we meet him. But now she has something to tell him. She knows who the real murderer is, if only he can be found. Bill will have do it since Allison’s lawyer says the lead is a dead end.

Allison is played by Abigail Breslin, the child star of “Little Miss Sumshine” who has grown up to be a fine young adult actress of 26. She and Camille Cottin, the French actress who made such a splash in the TV series “Call My Agent,” make up the two other points of the “Stillwater” triangle. They are just as good as Damon, and hold their own, although Breslin has the advantage because Allison is a character of more shading. Cottin’s Virginie is a little more straightforward, but charming nevertheless.

The story of who killed Allison’s roommate is almost beside the point. McCarthy is really studying Bill as he peels back layers of himself. How far will he go to free Allison from prison? That’s really the question. In the process, how will he change, if at all? This man from Stillwater, Oklahoma (Stillwater is the Rosebud of this story, I think) is out of his element in Marseilles, France. Or is he?

Focus Features should have a box office hit with “Stillwater,” even with a few small logic holes that are better ignored than nitpicked. This is a real tour de force for Matt Damon, easily relatable for men and women. You don’t want to miss it.

Emmys: HBO/HBO Max Vanquishes Netflix by 1, 130-129, for 19th Record Season with Most of Any Network

Roger Friedman
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Emmys: HBO/HBO Max Vanquishes Netflix by 1, 130-129, for 19th Record Season with Most of Any Network

For the 19th time, HBO now coupled with HBO Max, set the Emmy Awards ablaze. It was tight this time. They beat Netflix by just 1, 130-129 (although I would have deducted 7 for the terrible “Allen vs. Farrow.”)

Netflix could have had more had something not gone wrong with “The Undoing.” It was a shock that the series, Nicole Kidman, and Donald Sutherland got no nods. Very surprising.

HBO picked up 15 noms just for “Hacks,” the best comedy series of the year. “Mare of Easttown,” the best limited series, got 16 by itself. So HBO is still in there fighting the good fight, staying in the lead on both cable and streaming.

Here is the full list:

HBO Emmy nominations:

18 nominations for LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Jurnee Smollett), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jonathan Majors), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Michael K. Williams), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Aunjanue Ellis), Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Courtney B. Vance), and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Misha Green)

16 nominations for MARE OF EASTTOWN, including Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, Outstanding Lead Actress in a A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Kate Winslet), 2 for Outstanding Supporting Actress for A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Julianne Nicholson and Jean Smart), Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Evan Peters), Outstanding Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Brad Ingelsby), and Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Craig Zobel)

9 nominations for I MAY DESTROY YOU, including Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Michaela Coel), Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Paapa Essiedu), Outstanding Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Michaela Coel), and 2 for Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Sam Miller, Michaela Coel)

7 nominations for LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, including Outstanding Variety Talk Series, Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series, and Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series (Christopher Werner)

7 nominations for ALLEN V. FARROW, including Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series, Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program (Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering, Mikaela Shwer and Parker Laramie) and Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program (Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering)

6 nominations for THE BEE GEES: HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART, including Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program (Mark Monroe), and Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program (Frank Marshall)

6 nominations for DAVID BYRNE’S AMERICAN UTOPIA, including Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special (Spike Lee)

5 nominations for A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW, including Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, 2 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Yvette Nicole Brown, Issa Rae)Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series,

4 nominations for PERRY MASON, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Matthew Rhys) and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (John Lithgow)

3 nominations for EUPHORIA, including Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (One Hour), Outstanding Contemporary Costumes, and Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)

3 nominations for TINA, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program (Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin), and Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program

2 nominations for THE UNDOING, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Hugh Grant) and Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program

2 nominations for OSLO, including Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special

1 nominations for IN TREATMENT, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Uzo Aduba)

1 nomination each for BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME, THE NEVERS, Q: INTO THE STORM, REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER, and WELCOME TO CHECHNYA

HBO Max Emmy nominations:

15 nominations for HACKS, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Jean Smart), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Hannah Einbinder), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Jane Adams), Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky), Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Lucia Aniello)

9 nominations for THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Kaley Cuoco), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Rosie Perez), Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Steve Yockey), Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Susanna Fogel)

4 nominations for FRIENDS: THE REUNION, including Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special (Ben Winston)

2 nominations for LEGENDARY, Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program and Outstanding Contemporary Makeup For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Non-Prosthetic)

2 nominations for A WEST WING SPECIAL TO BENEFIT WHEN WE ALL VOTE, including Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special (Thomas Schlamme)

1 nomination each for DOOM PATROL, MADE FOR LOVE, RAISED BY WOLVES, and WARRIOR

The 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday, September 19.

Emmy Nominations: Shock Snubs for Nicole Kidman and “The Undoing,” “Genius: Aretha,” Ditto Corden, Myers, Fallon

Roger Friedman
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Emmy Nominations: Shock Snubs for Nicole Kidman and “The Undoing,” “Genius: Aretha,” Ditto Corden, Myers, Fallon

The Emmys will be held on September 19th on CBS, hosted by one of their stars, Cedric the Entertainer.

The presenters for the Emmy noms were father and daughter Emmy winners Ron Cephas and Jasmine Cephas Jones who would have each benefited from rehearsing pronunciation of many names.

“The Crown” and “The Mandalorian” tied for 24 nominations apiece.

The biggest shock snubs are Nicole Kidman acting in “The Undoing” and the show itself. I am surprised by this. Only Hugh Grant was nominated. “Genius: Aretha” mini series wasn’t nominated but its main actor, Cynthia Erivo, got a nod.

Among talk shows, no nods for Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, or James Corden. In competition shows, nothing for “American Idol.”

Link to full list.

Kathleen Turner was snubbed for her role in “The Kominsky Method.”

GOOD NEWS: Jean Smart was nominated twice, for “Hacks” and “Mare of Easttown.” Julianne Nicholson was also nominated from “Mare,” as was Evan Peters.

“Saturday Night Live” picked up 21 nominations including performers Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang. Four of the five nominees for Guest Actor in a comedy came from “SNL” and two more for Guest Actress.

Drama Series

The Boys
Bridgerton
The Crown
The Handmaid’s Tale
Lovecraft Country
The Mandalorian
Pose
This Is Us

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K Brown
Jonathan Majors
Josh O’Connor
Rege-Jean Page
Billy Porter
Matthew Rhys

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Uzo Aduba
Olivia Colman
Emma Corrin
Elisabeth Moss
MJ Rodriguez
Jurnee Smollett

Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series

I May Destroy You
Mare of Easttown
The Queen’s Gambit
The Underground Railroad
WandaVision

Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology/Movie

Michaela Coel
Cynthia Erivo
Elizabeth Olsen
Anya Taylor Joy
Kate Winslett

Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology/Movie

Paul Bettany
Hugh Grant
Ewan McGregor
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Leslie Odom Jr

Comedy Series

Black-ish
Cobra Kai
Emily In Paris
Hacks
The Flight Attendant
The Kominsky Method
Pen15
Ted Lasso

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson
Michael Douglas
William H. Macy
Jason Sudeikis
Kenan Thompson

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Aidy Bryant
Kaley Cuoco
Allison Janney
Tracee Ellis Ross
Jean Smart

Competition Program

The Amazing Race
Nailed It!
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice

Variety Talk Series

Conan
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Keep refreshing as we add the names of nominees…

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