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The Amazing Story of Disney’s “Cruella” and How it Went from Bomb to Unexpected Hit

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You know, I really liked “Cruella.” I said so in my review.

Then came the naysayers, and the $30 surcharge to see it on Disney Plus. “Cruella” opened on May 28th against “A Quiet Place 2” and didn’t do so well. In fact, Disney started cutting its theater count and box office starting falling. On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of last week, “Cruella” dipped significantly below $1 million a day.

But then! Lo and behold! A trend popped up. Down from its high of 3,922 theaters to 3,100, “Cruella” has just had a terrific weekend. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday– respectively $1.5 mil, $1.9 mil, $1.7 mil. It’s up to $64 million US and $138 mil worldwide. Word of mouth must be good, and should be good. Emmas Stone and Thompson are a hoot, the whole thing is a lot of fun. Who cares that Cruella kills her adoptive mother? Get over it!

So maybe they’ll get to $75 million or more. And maybe instead of spending $30 over and above the Disney Plus sub, people are going to the movie theater to see those amazing sets and costumes. They’re award winners, by the way. and must be seen on a big screen.

“Cruella” gets a happy ending, and I’m very pleased. Plus, the soundtrack is a hit, Now we need a Volume 2.

RIP Joan Benny, 86, Daughter of Famed Comedian Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone, Best Selling Author (UPDATED)

It does seem that Joan Benny, the beloved daughter of famed comedian Jack Benny and his wife Mary Livingstone, has died at age 86 from pancreatic cancer.

There’s no official word, but several mentions have been made of Joan’s passing on Facebook. A friend, Vivian Serota, confirmed that she placed an obit in the New York Times’ paid obit section today.

According to the Facebook reports, Joan Benny died on June 10th, a week shy of her 87th birthday. She leaves four children and several grandchildren.

Joan was the author of “Sundays at Seven,” a bestselling memoir about her parents. I met her a few times over the years, and being a huge Jack Benny fan, was thrilled. She was a lovely lady.

Official obit:

Joan Benny died peacefully at home on June 10th, just seven days before her 87th birthday. Joan died of Pancreatic Cancer, ironically the same disease which took her famous father, Jack Benny.Joan grew up surrounded by fame, with movie magazines running feature stories about her family. Her first wedding drew huge press attention, mainly because her father paid for an extremely lavish and expensive wedding, despite his professional persona which was notoriously stingy.

Professionally, Joan had her own brushes with fame as she stood in for her mother in the last years of her father’s radio broadcasts. She also appeared as herself in several of the radio and television episodes. She was one of the most memorable contestants on Password in the early 60’s. The most entertaining were the games when her father was her opponent. These Password episodes can still be seen on Youtube.

Joan published “Sunday Nights at Seven” following her father’s death in 1974. Its title was an homage to the day and time when the Jack Benny Show aired. The book consisted of large parts of her father’s unpublished autobiography combined with her own memories and thoughts about growing up with a famous father in the heyday of Hollywood where stars like Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Ronald Coleman, Joan Crawford and George Burns were frequent visitors.

Ms. Benny leaves behind four grown children, Michael Rudolph, Maria Rudolph, Robert Blumofe and Joanna Meiseles, as well as seven grandchildren.

 

 

Box Office: “In the Heights” Only Made $4 Mil During the Week, Cancel Culture Destroys A Film’s Chances

What happened here is quite sad.

“In the Heights” made only $4 million during the week, bringing its total through Thursday night to $15.4 million. It’s pretty much DOA. This weekend will be crucial for its future. But I’m afraid the news is bad.

UPDATE: Friday night box office was only $1.4 mil, looking at $4mil tops for the weekend, maybe hitting $20 mil total.

The Jon M. Chu directed adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit got great reviews from critics, at one point up to 99%.

But it turned out to be for a very niche audience.

The first big problem was that there was no breakout song for people to hum or whistle, or want to hear on the radio. While the soundtrack sold well this week, it’s not a big crossover hit like “The Greatest Showman.”

Then, disaster stuck as cancel culture came for the movie and anyone who supported it. The Latinx community criticized “In the Heights” for not having Afro-Latin cast members with dark skin. They said it didn’t represent the real community of Dominicans in Washington Heights.

Even Rita Moreno, the EGOT Winner and beloved 89 year old actress, was accosted by the social media lynch mob for voicing her support of the film. She actually apologized! She shouldn’t have done that. Rita Moreno has nothing to apologize for. These stupid people do.

So “In the Heights” is dead, killed by the mob. Its music, culture, colors, ebullience, all wrecked. I hope everyone is happy now.

 

 

“Springsteen on Broadway” Backtracks on Astra Zeneca Vaccinated Fans: Now All WHO Approved May Come

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WHO are you? WHO? WHO?

Springsteen on Broadway has backtracked on its vaccine proclamation, to the relief of Canadians and other international tourists.

The show — sold out, and selling from scalpers at astronomical prices — originally said they’d only accept those who could prove they’d had FDA approved vaccinations.

But now the show says also WHO approved, meaning Astra Zeneca and maybe even Russian Sputnik are okay.

The website now reads:

“Guests will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO approved vaccine in order to attend SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry into the theatre with their valid ticket. “Fully vaccinated” means the performance date you are attending must be:

  • at least 14 days after your second dose of a FDA or WHO approved two dose COVID-19 vaccine, or
  • at least 14 days after your single dose of a FDA or WHO approved single dose COVID-19 vaccine.”

Can you imagine being in Canada and spending a couple thou on tickets only to learn your vaccine was no good? (Actually I can’t imagine either part of that question.)

So good news for all. Frankly, after what I saw around town last night, everyone’s just gone back to pre-times, no proof of vax, no masks, no temp taking. This thing had really better be over!

Taylor Swift’s Revenge Against Scooter Braun Continues: Re-recorded “Red” Album Will Drop November 19th

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Taylor Swift will not let up in her campaign against Scooter Braun. She’s determined to render his purchase and flip sale of her master recordings be worthless.

Taylor is dropping the re-recorded version of her album, “Red,” on November 19th. This will be her second re-recorded album designed to take the place of the original recordings. She owns the new ones.

In April, Swift released the re-recorded “Fearless” album to great success. The Taylor’s version of “Fearless” has sold 218,000 copies in CDs and downloads, a total over 500,000 copies including streaming. And that’s just in two months.

The new version of “Red,” she says, will have all 30 tracks she intended for it in the first place. Here’s what she posted:

 

Two Big Rock Birthdays June 18th: Paul McCartney and “You’re So Vain” Producer Richard Perry Turn 79

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Paul McCartney turns 79 today. You know who he is, we love him. He’s probably the most successful modern composer of all time. His work is indelible. From “Love Me Do” in 1957 to his recent “McCartney III,” Paul has written or co-written the greatest songs of our time.

In 1973, after the Beatles broke up, Paul was convinced by producer Richard Perry to write a song for Ringo Starr’s “Ringo” album. The song is called “Six O’Clock,” and Paul and Linda McCartney sang on it as well. Earlier that year, Perry had recorded the McCartneys singing backup vocals on Carly Simon’s “Night Owl.”

Perry, who also turns 79 today, just published his memoir, “Cloud Nine.” He’s the most successful record producer of the 70s, 80s. 90s, and aughts. Just about every hit by Carly, Ringo, Harry Nilsson, the Pointer Sisters, Leo Sayer, were all made by Perry. He also produced Diane Warren’s first hit, “Rhythm of the Night,” sung by El DeBarge. In 2000, it was Perry who launched Rod Stewart’s American Songbook collection, five albums that sold 26 million copies. Not bad!

“Cloud Nine” is a sensational read. It covers not only all those artists but three tracks Richard made with Tina Turner in the early 80s before her ‘comeback’ album “Private Dancer.” Tina was so grateful to him Perry was her date to the 1985 Grammy Awards when she won several statues. It was Perry’s recording of Tina singing the Beatles’ “Help” that paved the way for her revival.

Perry made nine hit albums with the Pointer Sisters, and singles like “Fire,” “Jump,” “I’m So Excited,” “Dare Me,” “Happiness,’ and so on. During a recent hospitalization, they visited him– courtesy of his ex-partner Jane Fonda, and serenaded him with “Slow Hand,” one of their top 10 collaborations. It worked! He felt better instantly. (That story will be for the next book.)

So there was rock and roll magic i the air on June 18, 1942. And we’re the luckier for it! Happy birthday, gentlemen.

PS Richard told me on my recent visit that the record he’s most proud of is Ray Charles’ “My World” which includes Ray singing “A Song for You.” I say his “perfect” record is Nilsson’s “Without You” but he says it’s Carly’s “You’re So Vain.” There are too many too choose from! A lot of people love Art Garfunkel’s “Breakway” album. And when you hear the opening of Ringo’s “Photograph,” it’s a stunning moment in rock history.

 

 

(Midnight Listen) Jennifer Hudson Sings New Song Written with Carole King from Aretha Franklin BioPic “Respect”

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Dropping at midnight: Jennifer Hudson sings “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” written by her with Carole King for the movie “Respect.”

Carole, of course, wrote Aretha Franklin’s famous “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman.”

“Here I Am” will be up as a possible Best Song nominee for the Oscars next March. Even though Atlantic Records has the “Respect” soundtrack, Epic Records gets the single. But the song will be included on the movie’s soundtrack along with Jennifer’s other Aretha reimaginings.

Is Box Office Disappointment Coming for “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” Despite Terrific Actors, Apparently No Script?

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It looks like we’ve got a big box office disappointment coming in this week.

Yesterday, “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” opened poorly with less than $4 million to cover Wednesday, Tuesday night previews and earlier screenings.

Now LionsGate is preparing for a much lower five day total through the weekend. If they don’t make $14 million, things will be very bleak.

The original film made $75 million in the US and another $100 million internationally. That’s not a massive hit, but Avi Lerner and co. went ahead with sequel. Even if the sequel cost nothing to make, they thought they’d have a hit again.

But Rotten Tomatoes scores it around 27% and the audience interest is only at 83%. This is despite terrific actors– Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, and Salma Hayek. Who wouldn’t want to see them in action comedy?

But the reviews say there was so script, and that the movie is plodding and repetitive. Theatergoers may wind up putting off their return to movie houses and wait for “Fast and Furious 9” next week.

Me? I thought this was called “The Hitman’s Bodyguard’s Wife.” Maybe that was a better idea. If this one is a dud I doubt we’ll see a third installment, but you know it will be a TV series in five years if not less.

Will Do: Pop Singer Songwriter Charlie Puth Asks Fans for a Little More Time On His Coming Album

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Pop singer songwriter Charlie Puth, who’s had a lot of hit singles but no big album, is asking fans for a little more time. He’s trying to write and produce a great album. He’s explained all this on Instagram stories and then reposted it to Twitter in a way that I can’t just reproduce it here. (Charlie, you need a publicist.)

Anyway, he explains the whole thing here. I think this guy could be great so no pressure– take your time. He’s obviously talented and capable. He wants to be more than just a pop star who pops out top 10 songs. I get it. He needs some good collaborators, perhaps. Get in a studio. Call some cool cats (Nile Rodgers?).

Springsteen on Broadway May Not Be Possible for Tourists, Others Without FDA Approved Vaccines

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Wanna see Bruce on Broadway? People are paying thousands of dollars on reseller site for the tickets to “Springsteen on Broadway.”

But you can only come into the St. James Theater if you’ve had the FDA approved vaccines and can prove it. None of that Astra Zeneca stuff from Canada and various countries around the world.

Only Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are allowed.

This may be a harbinger for other Broadway shows coming later in the year. If it is, the tourists will either be turned off or get the shots. I think it’s a good idea. You don’t want to get sick seeing a Broadway show, and there’s no reason to.

Get the shots! See the Boss! Wear a mask, too, frankly!