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

Roger Friedman
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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”

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Get Back, Indeed: Peter Jackson’s Beatles Doc, Already a Year Late, Moves from August to November

Roger Friedman
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Get Back, Indeed: Peter Jackson’s Beatles Doc, Already a Year Late, Moves from August to November

They can’t just the let the date be.

Peter Jackson’s reimagining of “Let it Be” now moves to the end of November. It was supposed to be released in August, after a year’s postponement.

“Get Back” is a six hour documentary, three two hour parts, that takes all the footage from the 1970 film “Let it Be” by Michael Lindsay Hogg and tells a new story of how the band made their penultimate record.

By moving this project from August to November it now comes after Paul McCartney’s $100 memoir, set for the fall, as well as his own documentary series, dated for next month on Hulu.

The original two hour “Let it Be” film has been out of print and circulation for 50 years, although it’s easily found on the internet. Lindsay-Hogg showed a group with a lot of tensions, particularly those between Paul McCartney and George Harrison. John Lennon is mostly interested in Yoko Ono, and staying out of the way.

What Jackson’s trailer shows is a happier group, lots of kidding around, the presence of Linda McCartney and Yoko, and Billy Preston as the Fifth Beatle. Of course, the whole thing culminates in the group’s famous rooftop concert.

What isn’t clear from the original film is how the Beatles then went on to make their masterpiece, “Abbey Road.” There are hints of it in the original, but you’d be surprised to learn that “Let it Be” wasn’t the end even though it was the last official release.

The three part, two hour doc will air on Disney Plus November 25, 26, and 27. It’s unclear if the newest delay is because Jackson isn’t finished or the Beatles needed changes. But you know, Jackson is famous for making big trilogies, isn’t he?

Jackson said in a statement: “I’m very grateful to The Beatles, Apple Corps and Disney for allowing me to present this story in exactly the way it should be told. I’ve been immersed in this project for nearly three years, and I’m very excited that audiences around the world will finally be able to see it.”

 

 

Broadway: $8,500 for Hugh Jackman in “The Music Man”? Scalpers and Resellers Have Hijacked New Musical

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: $8,500 for Hugh Jackman in “The Music Man”? Scalpers and Resellers Have Hijacked New Musical

Want a ticket to see Hugh Jackman in “The Music Man” this winter?

Forgetaboutit.

The Scott Rudin-produced musical has been hijacked by scalpers.

Set to begin previews in December and open in February, “The Music Man” — also starring Sutton Foster — is going to become a template for greed in the history of the Great White Way. Not even Rudin’s production of “Hello, Dolly!” with Bette Midler was this avaricious.

So far you can only buy tickets for “The Music Man” on reseller sites like StubHub or Vivid Seats or SeatGeek. There are none available from December 2020 through July 2022 on Telecharge, the site that sells most seats to most Broadway shows.

On Stubhub, a pair of tickets in Row F for January 2, 2022 are going for $8,485.05. That includes a service fee of $1,505.  For that much money, I would expect Jackman and Foster to come clean my house for a week, repaint the garage, and babysit the kids every night while singing about Trouble in River City.

For that much money you could see 20 other Broadway shows including the revival of “Company” and the excellent “Girl from the North Country,” have dinner each time at the Palm, and still rent the classic movie of  “The Music Man” with Robert Preston for a week.

StubHub does offer financing through Affirm, if you want to spread the payments out. But I’d rather buy a decent used car for that much money, not sit through an old show starring Wolverine. Or maybe just buy groceries for a year.

Just think of it. For eighty-five hundred dollars you could own not 76 trombones, but five really good ones. And you could donate them to music schools and get a tax deduction.

And since you’re thinking it, thirty years ago Richard Gere only paid Julia Roberts $3,000 to sleep with him and be arm candy for a weekend in “Pretty Woman.” With inflation, Gere would have to pay $6,187 now — still far less than two tickets to “The Music Man.” You still might be able to get three days of sex and two balcony seats.

The producers of “The Music Man” — Rudin has supposedly stepped away, but he’s lurking in the background — have allowed ticket scalpers to play this game, basically insulting New Yorkers and tourists who might have enjoyed this show. When Jackman reads this he should be horrified. There’s simply no excuse for it except greed.

And these prices I quoted for January are no anomaly. They’re the norm through for months on end, and at every site, not just StubHub. And the prices will go higher once the show opens on February 10, 2022. The New York Times and other outlets will be drooling all over the stars, who are very talented, raving about the production. That should send prices even higher out of reach of the one-percenters.

Will it matter at that point whether you’ve seen “The Music Man”? Probably not. Once the Tony Awards come and go in June, the original cast will exit. Like other Rudin shows, replacements will come in and prices will drop. And almost all the time that happens, you get a better show.

You know, the whole point of “The Music Man” is that Harold Hill is a con man. So maybe that’s the point here.

You can watch a production of “The Music Man” on YouTube with Matthew Broderick and Kristen Chenoweth. For free. Right here. Or just skip to the big number below with Robert Preston.

 

 

 

 

 

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