Wednesday, May 20, 2026
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Broadway’s Already Fading “Book of Mormon” Will Be Closed at Least Through May 17th After Fire Damages Eugene O’Neill Theater

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The Broadway Mormons will not be ringing doorbells for a couple of weeks.

The Tony winning “Book of Mormon” will be shuttered at least until May 17th after a fire damaged the Eugene O’Neill Theater.

The musical, now in its 15th year, has had a rock box office in the last couple of years. For a long time, they were a leader on Broadway with more $1 million a week in receipts.

But last week, the total was $703,819. And that’s about average for quite a while except for holiday weeks. On January 25th they were down to $505K. That’s not enough to run a Broadway musical, which is why the actors are all unknown. Producers are keeping the budget light.

It’s hoped that the fire damage will be rectified quickly. The show has a lot of 15th anniversary promotions planned for the summer.

STATEMENT FROM
ATG ENTERTAINMENT & THE BOOK OF MORMON

New York, NY (May 6, 2026) – On the morning of Monday, May 4, a fire was reported at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. FDNY was immediately contacted, were on site within minutes, and quickly extinguished the fire.

ATG Entertainment and The Book of Mormon extend their deepest thanks to the firefighters and emergency responders for their bravery and speedy response.

The fire was limited to the follow spot booth of the O’Neill. At this time, the exact cause of the fire is unknown.

ATG Entertainment and The Book of Mormon are currently working with a team of industry professionals to begin repairs needed to the building.

Performances of The Book of Mormon are canceled through Sunday, May 17. Ticket holders for impacted performances will be notified via their point of purchase to receive refunds or reschedule.

Next week, ATG Entertainment and The Book of Mormon will provide an update regarding performances, which are anticipated to resume at the Eugene O’Neill in the coming weeks.

Mariah’s Lambs Will Be Sheepish: Carey Sticking with Gamma Records, Making Next Album, Signing Fashion Deal

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Mariah Carey’s “lambs” got all excited on social media.

They thought she was leaving Gamma Records, her current home (and also, sadly, home to Kanye West).

But I’m told Mariah will be trilling again for Gamma. Sources tell me she’s recording her new album for the label now.

The word also is that Mariah’s signed some kind of fashion deal we’ll be hearing about soon. Considering her whole “lamb” association, it should be for shearling coats.

Mariah doesn’t have a lot of options for labels aside from Gamma. She’s been everywhere– Sony, Virgin, etc. Her albums don’t sell like they used to — “Here for It All,” her album from this year, was a dud. But Gamma has money — they’re backed by Apple Music and Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries — and the people there, like label chief Larry Jackson, believe in her.

“Here for It All” suffered from poor song selection and execution. Maybe all the parties involved have learned some lessons from that experience.

Meantime, like all of us, Mariah is downsizing. She’s selling her Tribeca penthouse for $29 million. She may even cut back on being carried from one room to another. But don’t expect to see her on the subway anytime soon!

“Michael” Jackson Movie Crossing $200 Million Mark Today as Album, Singles Charts Are Dominated by Deceased Star’s Music

There’s no question that “Michael” remains a hit.

The Michael Jackson audience won’t stop til they get enough, apparently. The Antoine Fuqua directed film is crossing the $200 million mark today in domestic ticket sales.

The fact-plagued film — and I say that apart from other discussions of trials and accusations later in Jackson’s life — continues to draw audiences based on Jackson’s music and dancing.

Jackson currently has about a dozen singles and albums in each of the respective iTunes charts. This week, Jackson is on track to sell around 125,000 “records” including streaming. At least 45,000 are from his Number Ones greatest hits album.

The movie — despite all the reshoots and legal confusion — is a rainmaker for the Jackson Estate and his children.

Will there be a part two? Doubtful, because it will undo all of this success instantly.

A better question is, Where does this leave star Jaafar Jackson? Is he really a working actor or is playing his uncle the extent of his career? Time will tell.

Paul McCartney — Not to Be Outdone by the Rolling Stones — Will Drop His Single “Home to Us” with Ringo Starr Tomorrow

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It’s like a flashback to another world.

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the Rolling Stones all have new music out and more coming.

McCartney plays bass on a track on the new Rolling Stones album, called “Foreign Tongues,” announced yesterday with much fanfare in Brooklyn. It’s left over from the last Stones album sessions on “Hackey Diamonds.” Paul did two of these, apparently.

Ringo has a terrific new album out, called “Long Long Road,” produced by T Bone Burnett.

Tomorrow night, Paul will drop a new single called “Home to Us,” from his “Boys of Dungeon Lane” album. It’s the second time he and Ringo have sung together on a post-Beatles song. The album comes out May 29th, basically the 59th anniversary of “Sgt Pepper.”

What a time to still be alive! I fully expect this gang never to stop making new music!

PS Paul is the musical guest on “SNL” May 16th!

Watch Trailer: John Travolta’s Vanity Film “Propeller One Way Night Coach” Showing in Cannes, Kid’s Movie for Apple TV

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Somehow the Cannes Film Festival has allowed in a movie premiering on Apple TV.

John Travolta’s “Propeller One Way Night Coach” looks like a sweet film about a kid getting to fly across the country.

It’s Travolta’s first ever directed project. The production is stylized early 60s, very “Mad Men” or “Mrs. Maisel.” They either shot it at the old TWA Terminal at JFK or faked it.

Yes, even with Scientology center ambushes in vogue, John, daughter Ella Bleu, and this gang will walk the red carpet next week. Cannes doesn’t allow movies made for Netflix, Amazon, or any other streamer, so it’s unclear how this one passed muster.

“The Bear” Has A Special Secret Episode Written by Starring Ebon Moss Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, It’s Called “Gary”

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Ebon Moss Bachrach and Jon Bernthal really like spending time together.

They’re currently on Broadway starring in “Dog Day Afternoon.”

The co-stars of “The Bear” wrote and star in a secret new prequel episode of “The Bear,” which you can watch on Hulu and Disney Plus.

Merritt Weaver is a guest star. So is Gillian Jacobs as Richie’s wife, Tiffany, when they were still married and happy.

The episode takes place before “The Bear,” when Carmie’s brother Mikey is alive, and Carmie is away. Ritchie and Mikey go on a road trip to Gary, Indiana. No food is cooked. It ends badly.

Is this the beginning of a prequel series without Jeremy Allen White? The episode is marked season 1, episode 1.

Rolling Stones Drop New Single (Listen), Announce New Album Six Decades After Debut: It’s Only Rock & Roll, But They Like It

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Here’s the news: “Foreign Tongues” will be released on July 10th.
New single: “In the Stars,” followed by “Rough and Twisted”

Here We Go Again! Another Murdoch Will Own New York Magazine: Son James Buying it 35 Years After Dad Rupert Sold It

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This is getting to be an old story.

Another Murdoch will likely own New York Magazine.

Rupert owned it from 1976 to 1991. Now son James is buying it from Vox Media.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting the new sale. Their writer may not know that Rupert already made everyone crazy when he owned the magazine.

James Murdoch presents himself as the anti-Rupert. He has a family trust that invests in media properties separate from dad’s News Corp. James, for example, has a controlling interest in the Tribeca Film Festival. He also has the same in Art Basel. His wife invested in The Bulwark.

So what does this mean for New York Magazine? When I there in the 90s the owners were KIII. We covered Murdoch and the NY Post mercilessly. Of course, media coverage isn’t the same anymore. Very little is addressed with a hard edge — except in the Status newsletter. Everyone is so afraid of losing their job and needing one somewhere else, no one wants to come down hard on a competitor.

PS When Rupert bought New York, he forced out the creators, Clay Felker and Milton Glaser. This caused ripple effects everywhere in the mid 70s. Eventually Ed Kosner became editor in chief and did a great job. But there was horror when Rupert took over. Now there will be yawns.

The Devil Wears Michael Kors at Met Gala as Movie Largely Ignored by Anna Wintour: No Gaga, No Streep, No Director or Producers

You’d think Anne Hathaway or Emily Blunt would wear a dress designed by Prada at the Met Ball.

But the two stars of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” went other ways. Hathaway wore a hand painted dress by Michael Kors. Emily was blunt with a pants suit and pearls.

Stanley Tucci wore an Etro jacket to the Ball. Doesn’t Prada make tuxes?

The movie, which Anna Wintour went to great lengths to promote before its opening, was absent from the Ball. The movie only opened four days ago!

Wintour didn’t invite director David Frankel or any of the producers. Stars Meryl Streep and Lady Gaga skipped the whole event.

One reason for this cold shoulder might be the moving turning out to be a send up of Met Gala sponsors Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. Blunt and Justin Theroux — also not invited last night — send up the couple brutally. LOL.

Watch Anna not mention the movie again, or the cover with Meryl Streep on which Wintour appeared. She got whatever she wanted, and now it’s the Wintour of Discontent.

Anne Hathaway, by the way, was one of the best dressed in that sea of inanity. Good for her. She’s moved on, too.

Watch the Trailer for Anthony Bourdain Movie, “Tony,” About Chef-Writer’s Younger Days, with “Holdovers” Star Dominic Sessa

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Matt Johnson’s “Tony” looks good, like “The Bear” writ large.

It’s the story of chef-writer Anthony Bourdain’s younger days. No adult life, or suicide, or any bad stuff.

“Tony” is the “Michael” of Bourdain movies. Dominic Sessa, of “The Holdovers,” and Antonio Banderas have a great rapport.

Shocked to receive an A24 trailer upon release. A positive sign. This should whisk away with audiences!