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What? The Indie Spirit Awards Are Live on TV Tonight, Who Knew? Who Will Win? Who Cares?

Roger Friedman
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What? The Indie Spirit Awards Are Live on TV Tonight, Who Knew? Who Will Win? Who Cares?

I basically forgot all about the Independent Spirit Awards. Didn’t you?

Duh! They’re on TV tonight at 10pm, “live,’ and virtually. I cannot control my excitement.

Seriously, no press release, nothing. “SNL”‘s Melissa Villasenor is hosting, somehow.

Why so late, 10pm? To guarantee no one watches.

Here’s something funny. Deadline reports that Film Independent is also hosting a Viewing Party for audiences worldwide to gather from home to watch and chat online via Looper; registration has closed for that. Virtual tickets went from $2000 (for individuals) to $5000 (for VIPs) and $20000 for tables of 10. The annual event raises funds for the nonprofit 501(c) arts organization.

Yes, please, here’s my 20 thou.

For the first time, the Spirit Awards have added TV prizes to see if that will boost interest.

So make a pot of coffee, and see you at 10pm EST.  And if “First Cow” wins anything, you’re allowed to moo.

Best Feature
“First Cow”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
“Minari”
“Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
“Nomadland”

Best Director
Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari”
Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman”
Eliza Hittman, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
Kelly Reichardt, “First Cow”
Chloe Zhao, “Nomadland”

Best First Feature
“I Carry You With Me”
“The 40 Year Old Version”
“The Sound of Metal”
“Miss Juneteenth”
“Nine Days”

Best Female Lead
Nicole Beharie, “Miss Juneteenth”
Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Sidney Flanigan, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
Julia Garner, “The Assistant”
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”
Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”

Best Male Lead
Riz Ahmed, “The Sound of Metal”
Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Rob Morgan, “Bull”
Steven Yeun, “Minari”
Adarsh Gourav, “The White Tiger”

Best Supporting Female
Alexis Chikaeze, “Miss Juneteenth”
Yeri Han, “Minari”
Valerie Mahaffey, French Exit”
Talia Ryder, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
Yuh-jung Youn, “Minari”

Best Supporting Male
Colman Domingo, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Orion Lee, “First Cow”
Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”
Glynn Turmann, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Benedict Wong, “Nine Days”

Best Screenplay
“Bad Education”
“Minari”
“The Half of It”
“Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
“Promising Young Woman”

Best First Screenplay
Kitty Green, “The Assistant”
Noah Hutton, “Lapsis”
Channing Godfrey Peoples, “Miss Juneteenth”
Andy Siara, “Palm Springs”
James Sweeney, “Straight Up”

Best Cinematography
Jay Keitel, “She Dies Tomorrow”
Shabier Kirchner, “Bull”
Michael Latham, “The Assistant”
Hélène Louvart, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
Joshua James Richards, “Nomadland”

Best Editing
“I Carry You With Me”
“The Invisible Man”
“Residue”
“Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
“Nomadland”

Robert Altman Award
“One Night in Miami”

Best Documentary
“Collective”
“Crip Camp”
“Dick Johnson Is Dead”
“Time”
“The Mole Agent”

Best International Film
“Bacurau”
“The Disciple”
“Night of the Kings”
“Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time”
“Quo Vadis, Aida?”

Piaget Producers Award
Kara Durrett
Lucas Joaquin
Gerry Kim

Someone to Watch Award
David Midell, “The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain”
Ekwa Msangi, “Farewell Amor”
Annie Silverstein, “Bull”

Truer Than Fiction Award
Cecilia Aldarondo, “Landfall”
Elegance Bratton, “Pier Kids”
Elizabeth Lo, “Stray”

John Cassavetes Awards
“The Killing of Two Lovers”
“La Leyenda Negra”
“Lingua Franca”
“Residue”
“Saint Frances”

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
“Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children”
“City So Real”
“Immigration Nation”
“Love Fraud”
“We’re Here”

Best Scripted Series
“I May Destroy You”
“Little America”
“Small Axe”
“A Teacher”
“Unorthodox”

Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series
Elle Fanning, “The Great”
Shira Haas, “Unorthodox”
Abby McEnany, “Work in Progress
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, “Never Have I Ever”
Jordan Kristine Seamón, “We Are Who We Are”

Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series
Conphidance, “Little America”
Adam Ali, “Little America”
Nicco Annan, “P-Valley”
Amit Rahav, “Unorthodox”
Harold Torres, “Zero, Zero, Zero”

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
“I May Destroy You”
Ensemble Cast: Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Weruche Opia
Stephen Wight

Yay! Richard Lewis Returns to “Curb Your Enthusiasm” for One Episode After Recovering from Surgeries

Roger Friedman
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Yay! Richard Lewis Returns to “Curb Your Enthusiasm” for One Episode After Recovering from Surgeries

Great news! Richard Lewis is on set at “Curb Your Enthusiasm” today. He reports he’s shooting on episode after missing all of Season 11. He says Great news for him but it’s great news for us! Lewis plays himself on the show, Larry’s itchy scratchy best friend. Last season he was integral to the Spite Store arc. He’s one of my favorite all time comic actors. So glad to see he’s on the mend!

TV Shell Shock: “The Conners” Drops 35% from Last Week, Loses Over 1 Million Viewers in 1 Week

Roger Friedman
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TV Shell Shock: “The Conners” Drops 35% from Last Week, Loses Over 1 Million Viewers in 1 Week

What happened last night to “The Conners”?

The “Roseanne” spin off dropped 35% from last week in the key demo, 28.4% in total viewers. They lost over 1 million fans from last week, dropping from 3.9 million to 2.8 million.

Granted, last week’s 3.9 million was high for them, but the prior week was 3.3 million. So that’s still a huge drop. And it’s the first time the sitcom dropped below 3 million.

Somehow, “The Conners” has just gone wrong this season. ABC moved the hit from Tuesdays at 8 to Wednesdays at 9 and everything fell apart. They are beaten by everything else at their hour. They’re just on too late, frankly, and the Wednesday move didn’t help.

Will “The Conners” be renewed? The end may be on the horizon.

 

CBS Sunday Morning Giving Right Wing Actor Jon Voight Forum for Anti-Abortion Views, Filmed at $20 Mil Beverly Hills Mansion

Roger Friedman
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CBS Sunday Morning Giving Right Wing Actor Jon Voight Forum for Anti-Abortion Views, Filmed at $20 Mil Beverly Hills Mansion

I don’t understand what’s going on at the “CBS Sunday Morning” show.

On Sunday, they’re letting right wing actor Jon Voight spout his anti-abortion views to promote his movie, “Roe v. Wade.” This is a re-telling the Roe v Wade case from an anti-abortion perspective. The movie is funded by anti- abortion deep pockets including Nick Loeb, the guy who sued actress Sofia Vergara for her fertilized eggs after they broke up.

“Roe v. Wade” has been reviewed by just 5 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, all rotten. It has a Zero (0). Why would “Sunday Morning” give Voight this forum when they know it will spur interest, if not sales, that this film doesn’t deserve?

Voight’s publicist, Valerie Zucker, has sent out a press calling the movie, which has been panned and is not being distributed to theaters, the “true story” of the case.

From a press release: “This role was important for me as people have taken termination of pregnancy lightly,” says Voight. Voight said of the Landmark ruling, “You can’t help to wonder what would have been.”

Also from the press release, the tidbit that the interview with Ben Mankiewicz, from TCM, was filmed at a $20 million mansion in Beverly Hills. We should know it wasn’t Voight’s home. Is that a truthful profile of Voight? Where he does actually live? Will they ask about his relationship with daughter Angelina? She cannot possibly be a fan of “Roe v. Wade.”

To wit:

CBS was provided an exclusive use for the Jon Voight interview at a private residence located at 1005 N. Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills, CA. The French Provincial style home is 14,000 sq. ft. on 30,000 sq. ft. lot with 8-bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms, 4-car garage, private tennis court and much more. The residence is for sale at $19,795,000.

It’s difficult to understand what’s going on at “Sunday Morning.” Two weeks ago they promoted Hunter Biden’s book, giving the “author” a big fat kiss. The book is terrible, Hunter came off like Eddie Haskell, yet the “Sunday Morning” appearance put the book on the best seller list for two weeks. (It’s dead now, number 540 on amazon.)

Well, the ratings will be good among the conservative right. I’ll watch, but not before taking medicine for nausea.

PS Very surprised Voight has engaged a PR firm owned by two women to represent him in this endeavor. Zucker and Lewis is out of Miami, and they represent a lot of clients who might take umbrage at this project.

 

 

 

Book Biz Bust: Publisher Puts Brakes on Blake Bailey’s Philip Roth Bio But Amazon Is Still Selling it in All Forms

Roger Friedman
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Book Biz Bust: Publisher Puts Brakes on Blake Bailey’s Philip Roth Bio But Amazon Is Still Selling it in All Forms

Now what?

An avalanche of accusations against Philip Roth biographer Blake Bailey today in the New Orleans press spread quickly to publisher WW Norton. They immediately said they were putting the brakes on the 900 page tome, not promoting it or thinking about it anymore.

But you can buy it on Amazon in all forms, so that didn’t work.

Bailey is accused of serious stuff, like rape, by former students, all female, who say in interviews they were “groomed” by Bailey, their teacher, from the 8th grade. When they got above 18, they say he pursued them. One says she was raped.

Bailey denies all accusations.

Here’s the big interview with Eve Peyton.

Bailey’s emails with one woman are reprinted. In one he admits his behavior toward the woman was “deplorable” but he didn’t have sex with minors. Well, that’s a relief!

The women in Philip Roth’s novels always came off as objects. Then we learned how badly he treated actress Claire Bloom. Now it turns his biographer is no better or maybe worse. Could anyone have predicted this?

Peyton claims she was raped by Bailey after she became of legal age. In an email, Bailey– thinking this is a defense– wrote to her:  “For what it’s worth, you weren’t in 8th grade when the night in question occurred; you were in your 20s and I was in my 30s (just), and for the record I wasn’t attracted to you when you were in 8th grade and have never laid a glove on any student, while she was my student, including college and grad school students.”

Norton is still selling “Philip Roth: A Biography” and look, it’s probably an important book about a great writer. But the guy sounds like a pig. At least his literary agent, The Story Factory, has fired him. And he’s unlikely to be nominated for Book awards next fall.

I’ve emailed two marketing people at Norton for a response, but they’re not responding. I’m not surprised.

I’m using a photo of Philip Roth because he was a literary giant and an actual celebrity. Bailey’s picture maybe we can look for in post offices.

 

“Jeopardy!” Fans Get Their Way: LeVar Burton Will Finish the Season as Guest Host, But Will He Get the Job?

Roger Friedman
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“Jeopardy!” Fans Get Their Way: LeVar Burton Will Finish the Season as Guest Host, But Will He Get the Job?

Two hundred forty six thousand people can’t be wrong.

LeVar Burton has finally been asked to guest host “Jeopardy!” After a petition with 246,000 signatures has blossomed imploring producers to sign him up, it’s happened.

Burton will join George Stephanopolous and Robin Roberts — ABC promoting “GMA” since “Jeopardy!” runs on ABC stations, and sportscaster Joe Buck in the last round of guest hosts.

The season will end with this group and return in September with a permanent host. The competition is between Burton and Ken Jennings, the first guest host and the only one so far to maintain the ratings at 6 million.

Burton is campaigning for the job, and he certainly seems to have a following. Jennings does, too, and he’s a contracted consultant to the show.

Stay tuned!

Burton wrote on Twitter: THANK YOU… to all y’all for your passionate support! I am overjoyed, excited, and eager to be guest-hosting Jeopardy!, and will do my utmost best to live up to your faith you in me. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE! Go ahead and take my word for it, this time.

UPDATE Clive Davis Scores First Interview with Superstar Joni Mitchell Since Illness for Grammy Gala Zoom

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE Clive Davis Scores First Interview with Superstar Joni Mitchell Since Illness for Grammy Gala Zoom

I am really, really jealous. And intrigued.

Music mogul Clive Davis tells me he’s scored the first interview with superstar legend Joni Mitchell since her 2015 brain aneurysm.

The interview will be part of Clive’s May 15th Grammy Zoom Gala that features a panoply of A list stars. Davis interviews Paul Simon, Elton John, and a host of big names. HER, the hot hot hot female pop R&B star, is among the performers.

But the Joni interview is a BIG deal. Clive says, “We chose a great performance of Joni singing Both Sides Now for the piece.” What did they talk about? “Oh, you’ll have to wait and see. I don’t even know how we’re going to edit it down. There’s so much great stuff. We talked for a long time.”

I know the feeling. I once had a six hour phone interview with Joni back in the day. It was a transformative experience.

Clive’s last Zoom Gala had over 2,000 guests on, more than a third of them were celebrities, stars, VIPs. The event went on for five hours.

What’s so great about Joni being involved: she started coming to Clive’s pre-Grammy dinner a few years ago, with producer Richard Perry. Joni, who is very critical when she’s watching performances, fell in love with the event. She’s returned year and year. Now we’ll hear her talk a little about her career and recovering from her illness, which she’s done beautifully.

If you want to catch up on Joni pre-event, go to rhinorecords.com and discover her new box sets. Joni’s transformation from folk and pop to jazz and beyond is breathtaking. My favorite album is “The Hissing of Summer Lawns.” And then, listen to Tina Turner sing “Edith and the Kingpin” on Spotify. It will blow your mind.

Speaking of Tina, Clive also interviewed Oprah Winfrey about Tina for the Zoom Gala. Oprah never lets other people interview her. That should be something!

Clive is already the greatest music man, record exec etc in history. Now he’s turned into a historian and journalist for the ages. He’d better turn all of these pieces into a documentary. A second “Soundtrack of our Lives.”

“Music Man” Star Hugh Jackman Says Scott Rudin Has Stepped Away But There’s Trouble in River City with a Capital T

Roger Friedman
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“Music Man” Star Hugh Jackman Says Scott Rudin Has Stepped Away But There’s Trouble in River City with a Capital T

“Music Man” star Hugh Jackman is not leaving the show, don’t worry. He’ll still be starring in the musical revival this winter even with the scandal surrounding producer Scott Rudin.

Jackman sent out a statement, all in CAPS, although I’m not sure that means he’s screaming. The statement below says basically Rudin is stepping back and they’re all moving on.

“I hope and pray this is a journey of healing for all the victims,” says Jackman, “and the community.”

It’s a tepid response, I think. I’m frankly a little surprised by it. There’s still trouble with a capital T in River City.

Here’s the statement:

“I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I RESPECT AND APPLAUD THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN UP ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SCOTT RUDIN. IT TAKES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF COURAGE AND STRENGTH TO STAND UP AND STATE YOUR TRUTH. THIS HAS STARTED A CONVERSATION THAT IS LONG OVERDUE, NOT JUST ON BROADWAY, AND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, BUT ACROSS ALL WORKFORCE. THE MOST IMPORTANT VOICE WE NEEDED TO HEAR FROM WAS SCOTT RUDIN, HE HAS NOW SPOKEN UP AND STEPPED AWAY FROM THE MUSIC MAN . I HOPE AND PRAY THIS IS A JOURNEY OF HEALING FOR ALL THE VICTIMS AND THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE CURRENTLY REBUILDING THE MUSIC MAN TEAM AND ARE ASPIRING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NOT ONLY SAFE, BUT ENSURES THAT EVERYONE IS SEEN, HEARD AND VALUED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.”

Lincoln Center’s NY Film Festival Sets September 24th for Hybrid Festival of In Person and Virtual Screenings

Roger Friedman
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Lincoln Center’s NY Film Festival Sets September 24th for Hybrid Festival of In Person and Virtual Screenings

The New York Film Festival will be a hybrid one.

They’ve just sent out a query for film submissions and also announced their dates. The festival begins September 24th and it will a mix of in person and virtual screenings.

The pandemic has hobbled all the festivals. Lincoln Center isn’t open now, and they’re not taking chances in the fall. The pandemic has really hit the finances of the Festival which can’t do fundraising galas like their Chaplin Awards.

It’s interesting how the Film Society of Lincoln Center is wording all this. The Tribeca Film Festival, which runs in June, many months earlier, is thinking people will come to theaters to see their films. They’re holding a big premiere night at the 3,000 seat United Palace Theater in Washington Heights.

The New York Film Festival depends on the Walter Reade Theater, Alice Tully Hall, and Geffen Hall for premieres. Geffen is closed for renovations. But Alice Tully and Walter Reade in September? Even with limited seating? We’ll see.

Which Demi Lovato Song Will Debut on “Law & Order SVU”: “Demi has written some great songs about hitting bottom,” says producer

Roger Friedman
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Which Demi Lovato Song Will Debut on “Law & Order SVU”: “Demi has written some great songs about hitting bottom,” says producer

A “classic” Demi Lovato song will be featured on tomorrow night’s “Law & Order SVU.” Lovato is currently embroiled in a scandal after getting into a fight with a yogurt shop. The plot of the episode has nothing to do with that.

Says producer Warren Leight on Twitter: “The episode takes place on the worst day of guest star Sarita Choudhury’s character’s life. We’ve all had a day, or many days, like that in the last year. Demi has written some great songs about hitting bottom. Start there…”

Leight tells me exclusively: “Existing recording. really glad we were able to get it. Sarita Choudhury is great in the episode, by the way. And Carisi and Rollins have almost all their scenes together.”

Choudhury is featured in tomorrow night’s episode called “In the Year We All Fell Down.” She plays a restaurant owner who’s been shut down during the pandemic and finally snaps.  She’s recurred as a character on “SVU” but she’s best known from Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala and dozens of film and TV roles.

Lovato is promoting her YouTube documentary and hit album called “Dancing with the Devil.”

“SVU,” by the way, is on a ratings roll in its 22nd season. It’s the hottest show on NBC right now.

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