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Broadway’s Back But the Audience is Tentative: Except for “Music Man” Ticket Sales Are Slow So Far, Even for “Hamilton”

Roger Friedman
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Broadway’s Back But the Audience is Tentative: Except for “Music Man” Ticket Sales Are Slow So Far, Even for “Hamilton”

It used to be you could not get a ticket to “Hamilton” to save your life.

Then the pandemic hit. And the filmed version of the award winning musical on Disney Plus.

Now, when “Hamilton” returns in the fall, you’ve pretty much got your choice of dates and prices. The first few weeks beginning September 29th are backed up with old orders. But as the calendar pages fly through October, November and hit December 1st, a chance to be “in the room” with Alexander H and all his friends is wide open.

Old shows that are selling tickets are having a tough time. But new shows are finding it even more difficult. So far tickets for “MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical” are stagnant. Even “Company,” the most anticipated holdover from the 2020 season, shows seas of blue — meaning open seats for sale — on telecharge.com. Same for “Diana: The Musical.” And the brilliant “Girl from the North Country.”

The only show with sold out dates? “The Music Man” with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. But you know, of course. “The Music Man” with those stars is beyond reviews, pandemics, tornadoes.

Want to see “The Lion King” on September 30th at 8pm? It’s yours, the whole house. Or how about “Wicked”, same night? Same thing.

So what’s going on? Prices are high, and obviously people are wary about returning to the tight seating of a Broadway theater. But if they’re vaccinated there should be no issue, and you can always wear a mask if you’re concerned.

But Broadway will need momentum and a shot of Adrenalin to get re-started. It will take more than a two hour special on CBS on September 26th. All summer the shows will have to be promoting themselves on TV, radio, and social media, priming interest in a return to the glories of Broadway.

Meantime, this is the moment, that very moment, to take advantage of ticket availability. This temporary lull in buying won’t last. The early bird will get that worm.

Broadway’s New “Lehman Trilogy” Adds Great British Actor Adrian Lester, Subtracts Ousted Producer Scott Rudin

Roger Friedman
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Broadway’s New “Lehman Trilogy” Adds Great British Actor Adrian Lester, Subtracts Ousted Producer Scott Rudin

The great British actor Adrian Lester, who is Black, will now play Jewish banker Ernest Lehman in the returning “Lehman Trilogy” when the play returns to Broadway this fall. It’s the new reality of Broadway: color blind casting. Very cool. (If it was good for Hamilton it will be good for Lehman!)

Lester replaces actor Ben Miles, who’s been playing one of the Lehman brothers since its first English production at the National Theater in 2018. Miles went with the production to the Armory in New York, and then at the Piccadilly Theater in London. He’s also in the filmed version.

Lester is making his Broadway debut after a huge TV, film and theater career. In 2012, Lester was stunning as Ira Aldridge, the first Black actor to play Shakespearean roles, in the play “Red Velvet” imported here to off off Broadway by the Tricycle Theater. Aldridge was a trailblazer, as is Lester.

(I feel bad for Ben Miles. He was also yanked from “Mare of Easttown” at the last minute and replaced by Guy Pearce. Both times the given reason was “scheduling conflict.”)

Director Sam Mendes says that when he directed the National Theater production, Lester was the first actor he talked to. They’d worked together 25 years ago in “Company.” He said, “It couldn’t be more perfect that Adrian Lester will be joining our production of “The Lehman Trilogy” on Broadway. He was the first person I offered the role to, way back when we first mounted the production in London at the National Theatre, so on some level it feels like destiny.”

The changing of actors for Emanuel Lehman in the five hour multi-generational play isn’t the only difference in the returning production. Producer Scott Rudin is gone, too, along with partners Barry Diller and David Geffen. “The Lehman Trilogy” now lists no actual New York producer. Like all of Rudin’s shows, including “The Book of Mormon,” “West Side Story,” “The Music Man,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” it’s a mystery as to who will actually be the producer. “Lehman” is the first to resume selling tickets.

Following a 14-week run on Broadway beginning October 14th, The Lehman Trilogy will visit Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles (3 March – 10 April 2022) and American Conservatory Theater’s Geary Theater in San Francisco (20 April – 22 May 2022), with casting to be announced.

 

NCIS Los Angeles: Gerald McRaney’s Promotion Suggests Linda Hunt May Be Stepping Down or Cutting Back Next Season

Roger Friedman
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NCIS Los Angeles: Gerald McRaney’s Promotion Suggests Linda Hunt May Be Stepping Down or Cutting Back Next Season

“NCIS Los Angeles” is going through some changes.

Gerald McRaney, TV veteran and Emmy winner, was just promoted from recurring to regular for next season. McRay, who’s 73, plays retired Adm. Hollis Kilbride, who advises and counsels the Los Angeles division of the NCIS Special Projects unit during their undercover operations.

But why need McRaney full time when Linda Hunt, who’s been playing Hetty since 2009, runs that NCIS? Hetty is beloved, and the audience tunes in for her.

But Hunt, who’s 76, didn’t really participate this season because of COVID. She appeared just in the last episode, fully vaccinated, and sparkling as usual. But at 76, the much awarded actress has had a phenomenal career and may not want to have a grueling schedule.

McRaney’s promotion suggests that he will be running NCIS Los Angeles in the next season, with Hetty semi-retired. Hunt could make occasional appearances. McRaney certainly isn’t replacing the two younger actors who just got written out of the show. He and Hunt would be the same demographic.

Linda Hunt should get a special Emmy or something this fall. She was Oscar nominated years ago for “The Year of Living Dangerously.” She’s a gem in Hollywood.

“Jeopardy!” Gets No Buzz from Buzzy Cohen as Tournament of Champions Sends Show Down Again in the Ratings

Roger Friedman
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“Jeopardy!” Gets No Buzz from Buzzy Cohen as Tournament of Champions Sends Show Down Again in the Ratings

“Jeopardy!” fell back to 5.1 million viewers with Buzzy Cohen at the helm.

Cohen hosted two weeks of the “Tournament of Champions” during sweeps, which was supposed to boost the audience.

But Buzzy had no Buzz. His ratings fell 2% from Bill Whitaker’s final week, to 5.1 million. “Jeopardy” has lost 1 million viewers since the beginning of the year.

So far the endless parade of guest hosts since Ken Jennings’ six week run has been abysmal. The farther away we get from Jennings, the lower the ratings go. Why not test it out and bring Ken back for a week in July? It’s too late. “Jeopardy!” went with this plan, and there was no turning back.

This mess will go on until the week of August 13th with sportscaster Joe Buck. Before that we get George Stephanopolous, Robin Roberts, Savannah Guthrie, Sanjay Guptah, CNBC’s David Faber, and so on. The only guest host of any interest will be LeVar Burton, July 26-30th, last week of sweeps. Burton is Jennings’ only competitor for permanent host.

The show will return after Labor Day with a permanent host. By then, the rating should be scraping 4 million or lower.

Meantime, beloved long time host Alex Trebek will be honored posthumously at the Daytime Emmys and Critics Choice Reality TV awards.

 

Scooter Braun Isn’t Worried About $50 Mil Lawsuit from Ex-Goldman Sachs Exec: “Got to love a good opportunist”

Roger Friedman
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Scooter Braun Isn’t Worried About $50 Mil Lawsuit from Ex-Goldman Sachs Exec: “Got to love a good opportunist”

Scooter Braun. superstar manager of Justin Bieber and Ariana Grade, Tweets this afternoon: “One day I woke up to find out that a guy who took $5 million from us years ago with zero results has now read a headline of our success and has shown up out of the blue to ask for more money. Got to love a good opportunist. Unfortunately we don’t scare easy. Wish him well.”

He adds: “Now back to reality.”

Braun is having a good day, bad day. He signed Kid LaRoi, who’s had a big hit with Miley Cyrus all spring.

On the downside, he’s being sued for $50 million by a former Goldman Sachs exec who alleges Scooter swindled him. Peter Comisar, former vice chairman at Guggenheim Securities, says Braun lured him over to his Ithaca Holdings to a start-up that would tap his network for hundreds of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, Braun says Comisar is suing him because of the impending $1.05 billion sale of Braun’s holding company, Ithaca to BTS’s Korean company.

Comisar says Braun promised that he’d raise $200 million from high rollers like David Geffen. But it never happened, and Comisar was tagged out between 1st and 2nd. Now Scooter says Comisar waltzed off with $5 million. Who’s telling the truth? We’ll know, sooner or later.

A Country Star is Born: Social Media Hit Kaleb Austin Goes Straight to Number 1 on iTunes with “Sun Goes Down”

Roger Friedman
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A Country Star is Born: Social Media Hit Kaleb Austin Goes Straight to Number 1 on iTunes with “Sun Goes Down”

Yikes.

Who is Kaleb Austin? He’s some kid with a guitar. And right now his song, “Sun Goes Down” has debuted on iTunes at number 1.

He has no album, no label, nothing. Just a massive following on social media. He’s all over Tik Tok and Facebook, etc. His website says he’s a very young father, he’s married, etc. He’s unknown. Until now.

In January he had a #1 single on the iTunes country chart with “Sound of the South.” But “Sun Goes Down” is at the top of the main chart. And it’s excellent.

So forget “American Idol” and “The Voice.” Wanna be a star? Just go out do it, and build a constituency.

Post Oscar Winning “Parasite”: Cannes 2021 Line Up Excludes South Korea Films in Competition for First Time in Five Years

Roger Friedman
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Post Oscar Winning “Parasite”: Cannes 2021 Line Up Excludes South Korea Films in Competition for First Time in Five Years

Cannes 2021 has unleashed its line up, and South Korea filmmakers must be perplexed.

Two years ago, at the last Cannes, “Parasite” took the festival by storm. Bong Joon-ho’s social satire won the Palme D’Or and went on to win the Academy Award.

“Parasite” marked the fifth year in a row that South Korean films were in the main competition at Cannes.

They included: Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” in 2016, Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” (2017), Hong’s “The Day After” (2017), and Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning.”

So it was expected the streak would continue. But no South Korean film is in the mix this year.

“Emergency Declaration,” directed by Han Jae-rim, and “In Front of Your Face” by Hong Sang-soo were invited to this year’s Cannes Film Festival. But out of competition, in side showings. There is no chance of a Palme D’Or even if they receive ecstatic receptions.

And that’s the way the Croisette crumbles!

Cannes Unveils Huge 2021 Program with Sean Penn, Tom McCarthy, Andrea Arnold, Sean Baker, Oliver Stone

Roger Friedman
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Cannes Unveils Huge 2021 Program with Sean Penn, Tom McCarthy, Andrea Arnold, Sean Baker, Oliver Stone

Cannes 2021 will have a lot of films. There won’t be a lot of Americans, but the ones who will are important: Sean Penn, Sean Baker, and especially Tom McCarthy, of “Spotlight” fame. McCarthy’s “Stillwater” could be a big player next fall and in awards season.

Sean Baker’s last movie was “The Florida Project,” still a breath of fresh air in filmmaking.

Sean Penn’s “Flag Day” will be of interest because, well, it’s Sean Penn. It stars Josh Brolin, Kathryn Winnick, and according to the imdb, both of Sean’s kids, Dylan and Hopper, have roles. Screenplay is by Jez Butterworth, which is very good news.

As previously noted, the opening film is Leos Carax’s “Annette,” which I’ve heard interesting things about. Adam Driver stars in it, and there’s a lot of him. Marion Cotillard is said to be in only part of the film with music from the totally cult and outlier duo, Sparks.

Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” is in there, as expected.

Will there be another “Parasite”? Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar winning film began at Cannes in 2019. Is there film not in English that will surprise everyone? Thierry Fremaux hopes so.

Spike Lee leads the jury, and the show begins July 6th. But France is the key question here. Will Cannes guests have to quarantine for 7 days when they arrive? Can anyone afford a week of staying in the hotel before ten days of the festival? I have a feeling Cannes will be the same as ever, overcrowded and full of mischief!

 

COMPETITION

“Ahed’s Knee” OR “Ha’berech,” Nadav Lapid

“Annette,” Leos Carax — OPENING FILM

“Benedetta,” Paul Verhoeven

“Bergman Island,” Mia Hansen-Løve

“Casablanca Beats,” Nabil Ayouch

“Compartment No. 6” OR “Hytti Nro 6,” Juho Kuosmanen

“Drive My Car,” Ryûsuke Hamaguchi

“Everything Went Fine” OR “Tout s’est bien passé,” Francois Ozon

“Flag Day,” Sean Penn

“France,” Bruno Dumont

“The French Dispatch,” Wes Anderson

“A Hero,” Asghar Farhadi

“La fracture,” Catherine Corsini

“Lingui,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun

“Memoria,” Apichatpong Weerasethakul

“Nitram,” Justin Kurzel

“Paris, 13th District” OR “Les Olympiades,” Jacques Audiard

“Petrov’s Flu,” Kirill Serebrennikov

“Red Rocket,” Sean Baker

“The Restless” OR “Les Intranquilles,” Joachim Lafosse

“The Story of My Wife,” Ildikó Enyedi

“Three Floors” OR “Tre Piani,” Nanni Moretti

“Titane,” Julia Ducournau

“The Worst Person in the World” OR “Julie (en 12 Chapitres),” Joachim Trier

UN CERTAIN REGARD

“After Yang,” Kogonada

“Blue Bayou,” Justin Chon

“Bonne Mère,” Hafsia Herzi

“Commitment Hasan,” Hasan Semih Kaplanoglu

“Freda,” Gessica Généus

“Gaey Wa’r,” Na Jiazuo

“Great Freedom,” Sebastian Meise

“House Arrest” OR “Delo,” Alexey German Jr.

“The Innocents,” Eskil Vogt

“La Civil,” Teodora Ana Mihai

“Lamb,” Valdimar Jóhansson

“Let There Be Morning,” Eran Kolirin

“Moneyboys,“ B.C Yi

“Noche de Fuego,” Tatiana Huezo

“Rehana Maryam Noor,” Abdullah Mohammad Saad

“Unclenching the Fists,” Kira Kovalenko

“Un Monde,” Laura Wandel

“Women Do Cry,” Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova

OUT OF COMPETITION

“Aline, the Voice of Love,” Valerie Lemercier

“Bac Nord,” Cédric Jimenez

“Emergency Declaration,” Han Jae-Rim

“In His Lifetime” OR “De son vivant,” Emmanuelle Bercot

“Stillwater,” Tom McCarthy

“The Velvet Underground,” Todd Haynes

MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS

“Bloody Oranges,” Jean-Christophe Meurisse

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

“Babi Yar. Context,” Sergei Loznitsa

“Black Notebooks,” Shlomi Elkabetz

“H6,” Yé Yé

“JFK: Through the Looking Glass,” Oliver Stone

“Mariner of the mountains” OR “O Marinheiro das Montanhas,” Karim Aïnouz

“The Year of the Everlasting Storm,” Jafar Panahi, Anthony Chen, Malik Vitthal, Laura Poitras, Dominga Sotomayor, David Lowery and Apichatpong Weerasethakul

CANNES PREMIERE

“Cow,” Andrea Arnold

“Deception” OR “Tromperie,” Arnaud Desplechin

“Evolution,” Kornél Mundruczo

“Hold Me Tight,” Mathieu Almaric

“In Front of Your Face,” Hong Sang-soo

“Jane by Charlotte,” Charlotte Gainsbourg

“JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass,” Oliver Stone

“Mothering Sunday,” Eva Husson

“This Music Is Playing for No One,” Samuel Benchetrit

“Val,” Ting Poo and Leo Scott

Billie Eilish Tries a 4th Single from July Album After “Your Power” Tanks with Just 12K in Hard Sales

Roger Friedman
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Billie Eilish Tries a 4th Single from July Album After “Your Power” Tanks with Just 12K in Hard Sales

Billie Eilish is having a little trouble with singles.

She’s just released a fourth single from her forthcoming July album. It’s called “Lost Cause.” Let’s hope it isn’t one.

Billie is coming off a dud of a third single, “Your Power.” Released on April 30th, the song got no airplay, had mediocre sales in its first week, and went on to get a lot of streaming. Total paid downloads: 12,000. Total including streaming: 450,00.

“Lost Cause” is off to a better start. In a few hours it went to number 11 on iTunes. It already has 5 million views on YouTube.

Of course, Billie can look forward to her her Grammy winning James Bond theme, “No Time to Die,” getting a revival in November when that movie is finally released.

The new album, “Happier than Ever,” with a punch line of “without you,” comes July 30th. If “Lost Cause” doesn’t hit, they’ll have to try another one. That’s a lot of singles available before the album is released.

I think listening to “Your Power” again and “Lost Cause” that they will wind up being album cuts in a solid album. The whole thing has to be heard. Releasing all these advance singles might be a mistake.

Just sayin’…

Chris Harrison Still Being Punished by Bachelor Nation Even Though “Offended” Couple Got Back Together

Roger Friedman
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Chris Harrison Still Being Punished by Bachelor Nation Even Though “Offended” Couple Got Back Together

Chris Harrison still being punished by the producers of “The Bachelor,” and for no reason now.

They just announced he won’t host this summer’s moronic series, “Bachelor in Paradise.” He also won’t host the next round of “The Bachelorette.”

Harrison is being penalized for being surprised and giving the wrong answers, live, to former “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindsay during an interview on Extra. They were discussing pictures that had surfaced of “Bachelor” player Rachael Kirkconnell at a party on a restored Southern plantation. Kirkconnell was dressed for an Antebellum Ball.

At the time, The Bachelor was Matt James, the show’s first Black Bachelor. He was choosing her as his finalist. Harrison, flustered, defended Kirkconnell. Lindsay asked him, “What role do you think I would play at that party?” (She meant, slave.) Harrison equivocated, and imploded.

James broke up with Kirkconnell. There were a lot of tears and much anger. But he’s several lightbulbs short of a chandelier. So guess what? He’s back together with Kirkconnell! They’ve decided to put her ignorant, racist past behind them.

And Harrison? As Boris used to say to Natasha on “Rocky and Bullwinkle” after setting a bomb that backfires: “Who gets blown up? Me!”

At this point, “The Bachelor” execs should just reinstate Harrison, have him go on the air and talk about what happened and what he learned, and move forward. Instead, they’re going to torture the audience with David Spade, the obsequious and painful former “SNL” cast member, as host of “Bachelor in Paradise.”

I will never see it. It’s Yankees season, and even if it weren’t, I’d become a fly fisherman or something. Let’s call a Spade a Spade.

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