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The Last of Him: Video Game Maker Out at HBO Show After 2nd Season Tanked in Ratings and with Fans, Craig Mazin Taking Over

Roger Friedman
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The Last of Him: Video Game Maker Out at HBO Show After 2nd Season Tanked in Ratings and with Fans, Craig Mazin Taking Over

Goodbye Neil Druckmann.

The creator of the video game, “The Last of Us,” is out at HBO as co-showrunner of the TV show.

Craig Mazin is now in charge.

By following Druckmann’s game to the letter, “The Last of Us” devolved into chaos in its second season. In episode 2 star Pedro Pascal’s Joel was killed violently and viciously.

Then Bella Ramsey took over as the lead, and the show went very woke and completely off the rails. The great relationship between Joel and Ellie was gone. Guest stars came and went. It was impossible to follow, and no one cared.

The rationale is that this is what happened in the video game. Come on, it’s a video game. It’s not set up to keep fans for five seasons. Suddenly we were watching “The Walking Dead,” which was canceled a long time ago.

The show needs a strong male lead. It won’t survive with just Ellie and her pals. Pascal has moved on, so he probably can’t come back. Joel is also dead, but you never know…

It’s time to write “The Last of Us” like a series HBO wants us to watch. Let’s hope this decision pushes the series in that direction.

Sean Diddy Combs Beats 3 of 5 Charges, But Still Faces 20 Years in Jail and a Ruined Career, Reputation

Roger Friedman
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Sean Diddy Combs Beats 3 of 5 Charges, But Still Faces 20 Years in Jail and a Ruined Career, Reputation

Sean Diddy Combs got a split decision today from his jury of peers.

He beat three of his five charges and was convicted of two of them. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering, convicted on two counts of prostitution.

Combs faces a possible but unlikely 20 years in jail. He will still spend time in jail but five years is probably the top end.

There will be no White Party or Fourth of July freak off this weekend.

Diddy’s lawyers will definitely appeal the convictions. His lawyers have already asked the judge to release him to home detention.

Meantime, Combs’s reputation and career are ruined. No liquor company or record company will ever do business with him. He’s been convicted of prostitution. So almost everything is off the table.

There’s no way Diddy will overcome the hotel video of him beating Cassie Ventura, or any of the discussion of “freak offs” with male escorts.

Now that the case has been decided, watch for insiders to try and sell their stories. Plenty of people who were not called by the prosecutors will come out of the woodwork, don’t worry.

As for Diddy who once sampled The Police song, every breath he takes, they’ll be watching him.

Is it a victory? Only if you don’t mind your entire disgusting personal life laid out for the world to see.

Stay tuned…

Travis Kelce Admits He’s “A Guy That Can’t Really Read That Well,” His “SNL” Hosting Was “A Kind of F***ed Situation”

Roger Friedman
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Travis Kelce Admits He’s “A Guy That Can’t Really Read That Well,” His “SNL” Hosting Was “A Kind of F***ed Situation”

Travis Kelce has made a stunning admission on a podcast.

On “Bussin’ with the Boys,” Kelce — NFL star, boyfriend of Taylor Swift — described his time on “Saturday Night Live.”

When asked about working with the writers, the 35 year old Kansas City Chiefs tight end says the table read was hard for a guy “that can’t really read that well.” He sums it up as a “fucked situation.”

You can see it on the video at 2:06.

Kelce is at the top of the NFL. He’s gone through back to back wins at the Super Bowl. Kelce graduated from the University of Cincinnati only in 2022 after leaving early in 2013 to go pro. Before that he graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. How did he get through all that schooling without being able to read properly?

It’s a heartbreaking admission. You can tell from his recollection of “SNL” he must have been petrified. The question is, hasn’t Taylor tried to help him? She’s super-verbal, a very sophisticated writer, almost an autodidact. Taylor Swift is the most prolific writer of songs maybe ever.

Kelce seems like a good guy. He should hire a tutor now and work on his literacy for his post-football life. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. If he hears about this post, he should contact Literacy Partners in New York. That’s why they exist.

Developing: Golden Globes More Chaos as Hollywood Foreign Press Reportedly Fighting with New Owner, May Return to Old Ways

Roger Friedman
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Developing: Golden Globes More Chaos as Hollywood Foreign Press Reportedly Fighting with New Owner, May Return to Old Ways

It’s always something with the Golden Globes.

Now Richard Rushfield of The Ankler reports that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has reared its ugly head again.

I’m so glad Richard has been reporting this story. I wrote it about for 20 years, only to get myself banned from the ceremony by the worst elements of the HFPA. Two years ago they wouldn’t invite me, but they used my picture in their promos. LOL.

You may recall that following numerous scandals, the HFPA was supposedly dissolved. The Globes were sold to Variety/Hollywood Reporter owners Jay Penske and Todd Boehly. They offered to give the remaining 60 members of the HFPA $75,000 salaries — which would encourage them to get off their various gravy trains.

Rushfield has been the case. He reported a few weeks ago that Penske and Boehly abruptly terminated the contract with those members saying they weren’t going to pay them anymore.

It turns out that whole sale of Penske/Boehly had to be approved by the California Attorney General. It was never was, and now the HFPA wants to take the Globes back and say adios to their new “owners.”

This will a lot of fun to watch. Penske and Boehly bought the Globes because they own Dick Clark Productions, which produces the show. Then they made a deal with CBS to air the show after NBC kicked it to the curb. The deal was possible because Penske and Boehly promised the past corruption had ended, there were now non-white members, and the prickly former members were gone.

But the HFPA is tenacious. Decades of swag, graft, and racism are hard to abandon. The HFPA was famous for members who had no bylines, taking studio paid trips around the world, and their own private press conferences with stars where they could get pictures and sometimes grab asses.

CBS may say that’s it if the HFPA is really back. That would eliminate networks because NBC won’t take them back and ABC has the Oscars.

Meantime, the Critics Choice Awards — 100% legit — have built up good will everywhere and air a week before the Globes on the E Channel and USA Network. The mishegos is at a minimum and all the members are professional and accounted for. Isn’t that the way to go now?

Jennifer Aniston Cast in the Unfortunately Titled — for Her — Series Adaptation of “I’m Glad My Mom Died”

Roger Friedman
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Jennifer Aniston Cast in the Unfortunately Titled — for Her — Series Adaptation of “I’m Glad My Mom Died”

This was not thought through by anyone.

Jennifer Aniston is adapting Jeannette McCurdy’s best seller, “I’m Glad My Mom Died.”

It’s for Apple TV, where Aniston has a hit with “The Morning Show.”

Aniston will play the mother — who I guess is/was dead — and has a difficult relationship with her daughter.

The title is unfortunate as Jennifer was famously estranged from her own mother, Nancy Dow, right up til her death.

Dow more or less lived in squalor and enjoyed no perks of being a famous actress’s daughter. Aniston wrote checks for medical care and that was it.

(I know another situation close to this, and it’s mind boggling. And Meg Ryan had a similar situation.)

Jennifer was angry that Dow wrote a book about her early days as “Friends” took off. But maybe Dow had to do that to survive. She’d been divorced from “Days of Our Lives” actor John Aniston a long time. Could she really have been so heinous?

Well, Jennifer is a terrific actress and must see possibilities in this material. But is it a good idea? Won’t she be asked about her own mother in every interview? You can hear the question now: Were you glad your mother died? Oy vey.

PS I just found a clip of Drew Barrymore interviewing McCurdy. That’s also unfortunate considering Drew has sequestered her mother, Jaid Barrymore, somewhere. No one’s seen or heard from her in years. She may be with Shelly Miscavige, for all we know!

Scooter Braun Steps Down at KPop Biz, Watches Taylor Swift Regain Masters, Sees Justin Bieber Career and Finances Paralyzed

Roger Friedman
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Scooter Braun Steps Down at KPop Biz, Watches Taylor Swift Regain Masters, Sees Justin Bieber Career and Finances Paralyzed

Scooter Braun has just posted pictures and videos on Instagram. He’s living his best life, jet skiing and scuba diving on vacation, drinking glasses of wine outdoors in romantic settings, and so on.

But his position in the music business is in question. Today it was announced that Scooter was stepping down from K Pop business HYBE which handles acts like BTS.

Five years ago, Scooter merged his Ithaca Holdings into HYBE and became wildly rich. His management clients like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato all left him.

Then he helped buy Taylor Swift’s master recordings out from underneath her, and sold them to a finance company. Swift re-recorded all her albums and made the originals worthless. Now she’s bought them back at much less of a price.

Justin Bieber’s career is paralyzed. He’s in mental and financial peril after working as Braun’s golden goose and establishing his career. Bieber is a Lost Boy, a manchild with a rich wife and a baby and no recordings. He sold his catalog at a very young age, as well. He doesn’t tour.

Meantime, Braun posts those pictures and videos of living the good life. Mazel tov! It’s a happy ending. Scooter remains a large shareholder in HYBE, says The Hollywood Reporter, whatever that means. So far this year the once mighty BTS has sold 300K albums, almost all from streaming.

Trump Announces He’s Selling $250 Bottles of Cologne and Perfume as the Senate Debates Future of His Big, Ruinous Bill

Roger Friedman
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Trump Announces He’s Selling $250 Bottles of Cologne and Perfume as the Senate Debates Future of His Big, Ruinous Bill

Isn’t this against the law? A sitting US president selling bottles of fragrance on his web site?

And yet, Donald Trump is doing just that. Around 8pm Eastern, while the Senate readied to vote on Trump’s bill — one that will gut services in the country irreparably — he dropped this notice.

He trumpets on Truth Social: “Trump Fragrances are here. They’re called “Victory 45-47” because they’re all about Winning, Strength, and Success — For men and women. Get yourself a bottle, and don’t forget to get one for your loved ones too. Enjoy, have fun, and keep winning!”

The fragrances smell like “Fear” and “Shame.” They’re subtitled “Spittle” and “Urine a Bad Mood.” They cost $250 a bottle. There is also a woman’s fragrance that has top notes of sweat and used underwear. All the different variations can be used for hair growth on any part of the body.

For the gals, the copy reads: “With every spray, Victory 47 captures confidence, beauty, and unstoppable determination. A sophisticated, subtly feminine scent that’s your go-to signature for any occasion.”

It’s very good for meeting male sex clients in motel bars. 

Each bottle depicts a gold figure on a pedestal, like an Academy Award.

As Trump milks his base — who already have had opportunities to buy worthless bitcoins and all kinds of tacky souvenirs — the US senate is fighting over his “big beautiful bill” — an ugly document that will gut the country of healthcare and other necessary items to continue living properly.

We are only now entering the sixth month of this charade of a presidency. We’re a year and four months away from mid term elections. When the Democrats take the House and Senate again, impeachment proceedings must begin. Trump has made a mockery of the position, and laughed in the faces of his really stupid followers.

PS Several of the bottles are sold out. LOL. When you smell a skunk coming your way with rolls of fat adorned with tattoos, and a MAGA hat atop a head with a vacant look, you’ll know where you are!

The National Enquirer Still Exists? Caroline Kennedy’s Son Jack Schlossberg Says They’ve Got a Story About His Mom!

Roger Friedman
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The National Enquirer Still Exists? Caroline Kennedy’s Son Jack Schlossberg Says They’ve Got a Story About His Mom!

First of all, I didn’t realize The National Enquirer still existed. OMG. I thought it was killed off after David Pecker shilled for Trump and almost went to jail. Pecker also got roughed up, so to speak, by Jeff Bezos for leaking his affair with Lauren Sanchez. And now those two have had a $50 mil wedding.

Anyway, Caroline Kennedy’s social media grazing son Jack Schlossberg says they’re preparing a story about his mother. The gist of it is that she’s upset with eccentric social media posts.

Jack says: “Here’s my comment: am I bothering you guys ? All I want is confirmation of Megyn’s gender since it remains so unclear to so many. Oh and hey Andrew Cuomo stop planting stories about me in the press.”

I don’t know if he means Megyn 3.0 from the movie or Megyn Kelly. And it doesn’t matter.

Lucky for Jack, no matter how weird he gets, cousin Robert Kennedy Jr is actually doing damage to our lives. He’s the worst member of the once illustrious family.

If the Enquirer is doing a story, no one read it unless Jack turns it into a cause celebre — which he will, and maybe that’s the point. The Enquirer website had just 26,000 visits last month, so I wouldn’t worry.

Also, I’d say to David Pecker or whoever, if Caroline cared, she would have said something a while ago.

Why Did Oprah Go to the Garish Bezos Wedding? She Loves Super Rich People — Doesn’t Make Her a Bad Person, Just Practical

Roger Friedman
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Why Did Oprah Go to the Garish Bezos Wedding? She Loves Super Rich People — Doesn’t Make Her a Bad Person, Just Practical

Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are getting kicked around for going to Jeff Bezos’s wedding.

Critics say the wedding in Venice was garish, over the top, disgusting, tone deaf.

Of course it was! What did you expect? A chamber orchestra at the Plaza Hotel?

Anyway, why are Oprah’s fans and critics surprised she said Yes to the invite. (And where was Steadman? Is he even still alive? All answers in confidence to showbiz411@gmail.com.

Back to Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. Oprah likes to be with celebrities. She used to give herself huge parties just like this wedding. Invitees were people she didn’t know, but they were famous.

Oprah doesn’t seem to get that people look to her for discernment. She’s still chasing her public profile.

Years ago, I wrote about Oprah’s friendship with a vile wealthy guy named Harold Simmons. She hung out with him, flew on his plane. Simmons was a major funder of Republican campaigns and dirty tricks including the John Kerry Swift Boat scandal. Oprah didn’t care. He had a plane.

None of this makes her a bad person. If Putin invited her over, she’d be there in a second. Barbara Walters used to do the same thing. If only Oprah would write a book about all these experiences. But she won’t. She’s just collecting people and memories.

PS Why do you think she was so interested Harry and Meghan?
Oprah’s Politically Opposite Billionaire Republican Pal, Harold Simmons, Is Dead

Broadway Stunt Casting: TV’s Cedric the Entertainer Coming Next Spring in August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”

Roger Friedman
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Broadway Stunt Casting: TV’s Cedric the Entertainer Coming Next Spring in August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”

When Cedric the Entertainer made his Broadway debut in 2008, critics were not impressed.

Cedric appeared in David Mamet’s “American Buffalo,” which was panned and closed quickly.

The Times said: “Cedric, a veteran of stand-up, is obviously at his ease on a stage, and his low-key, naturalistic performance registers inappropriately large in ways that go beyond his hefty physique.”

And that was one of the kinder notices.

So here’s a good idea, thought the producers of the recent “Othello.” Let’s put Cedric in a really classic play, August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” We can charge a lot of money and tell him he’ll get a Tony Award.

Cedric:: you will not a get a Tony Award. Trust me. No matter how much the producers charge for a ticket.

This is a bad idea. Debbie Allen is directing, and Taraji P. Henson, of whom I am fan, will appear. But Cedric is the wrong person at the wrong time. The star of ignominious TV shows like “The Neighborhood” and “Soul Man” does not belong in this venue.

The producers — including Brian Moreland — saw their cash registers ring with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal in “Othello.” But what’s the point? The production got bad notices, and received not a single nomination for anything.

The opening is set for spring 2026, and the push will be on. But this sounds so much like what people in LA think is theater: TV stars ill-equipped for the material, mugging and carrying on.

Does August Wilson deserve more harm? The theater that was named for him was completely transformed for “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.” Now it’s closing. The movie version of “The Piano Lesson” was a mess, and disappeared. Now, this? Come on.

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