Thursday, December 18, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 841

“Saturday Night Live” Books Oscar Nominees Carey Mulligan, Daniel Kaluuya for Hosting Gigs

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Saturday Night Live” Books Oscar Nominees Carey Mulligan, Daniel Kaluuya for Hosting Gigs

“SNL” host bookings are improving thanks to the Oscars.

The late night show has engaged Oscar nominees Carey Mulligan and Daniel Kaluuya for shows before Academy Award voting ends.

Kaluuya comes in April 3rd. He’s nominated for Best Supporting Actor in “Judas and the Black Messiah.”

Mulligan follows the next week, nominated for Best Actress in “Promising Young Woman.”

Their respective musical guests will be St. Vincent and Kid Cudi.

Already booked for March 27th and Maya Rudolph and Jack Harlow.

With the pandemic, “SNL” was having a little trouble getting celebrities to commit to appearances. But Mulligan and Kaluuya are campaigning, and this should help them get votes. Mulligan’s show should be hilarious is they parody her movie and have her date and kill all the guys on the show.

Ratings for Last Night’s “The Bachelor: After the Final Rose” Drop by 400,000 for Special with Race Conversation

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ratings for Last Night’s “The Bachelor: After the Final Rose” Drop by 400,000 for Special with Race Conversation

Here’s a referendum for sociologists to study:

Last night’s episode of “The Bachelor: After the Final Rose” dropped by 400,000 viewers at 10pm when the talk turned from roses to race.

The first two hours of “The Bachelor,” a snore of talk about Matt James choosing between two women, scored 5.7 million viewers.

But then the third hour, in which James had to confront his now estranged winner, Rachael Kirkconnell, fell to 5.3 million. That’s right — 400,000 people checked out when the conversation turned to race, to plantation parties, and world reality.

Host Emmanuel Acho  kept warning viewers that the coming talk in the third hour would be uncomfortable. They took that warning more seriously than if they were about to see sex or violence, and left.

All three hours were beaten soundly by “The Voice” on NBC, with over 7 million viewers. Where did everyone go at 10pm? Either to “Bull” on CBS or to bed. The whole thing is Bull, if you ask me.

America does not want the race conversation mixed in their romantic fantasies. That audience can’t take the truth, thank you very much.

Coming soon: two back to back “Bachelorette” seasons, no Chris Harrison, if ever, until next year.

 

RIP Great Character Yaphet Kotto, 81, Star of “Homicide,” “Live and Let Die,” “Alien,” “Midnight Run”

Roger Friedman
-
0
RIP Great Character Yaphet Kotto, 81, Star of “Homicide,” “Live and Let Die,” “Alien,” “Midnight Run”

The great character Yaphet Kotto has died at age 81, according to a Facebook post from his third wife, Tessie Sinahon.

She wrote:

“I’m saddened and still in shocked of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years. He died last night around 10:30pm Philippine time.
This is a very painfall moment for me to inform you all fans, friends and family of my husband.
We still have a lot of plans honey that we discussed you have a lot of interviews waiting and you have movie offers like G.I. Joe and the movie of Tom Cruise and others. You still have plan to release your book and build a religious organization based on Yogananda’s Teachings.
You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you’re a real hero and to a lot of people also. A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find.
One of the best actor in Hollywood a Legend. Rest in Peace Honey, I’m gonna miss you everyday, my bestfriend,my rock.I love you and you will always be in my heart.Till we meet again!”
Born Frederic Kotto in New York, and identified as Jewish on his Wikipedia page, Kotto was famous for his long run on TV’s “Homicide: Life on the Streets.” Acclaimed also for performances in movies like “Alien,” “Midnight Run,” and “Live and Let Die.”
His survivors include six children from his first two marriages. Condolences to his family and friends. He was an enormous talent.

 

Samantha Geimer, Roman Polanski’s Long Ago “Victim,” Angry with Mia Farrow Family for Misrepresenting Her in HBO Doc

Roger Friedman
-
0
Samantha Geimer, Roman Polanski’s Long Ago “Victim,” Angry with Mia Farrow Family for Misrepresenting Her in HBO Doc

Samantha Geimer is almost 58 years old, has been happily married with a family for a long time. She was revealed in the early 2000s has having been the 13 year old girl with whom Roman Polanski had sex in 1977. He was arrested, spent a short time in jail, and fled the country, never to return.

Geimer has forgiven him over the years, and advocated for an end to his legal woes in the U.S. She’s written a book about it, and been quite eloquent in her explanations and observations of this “scandal.”

Geimer is angry, though, that she’s been lumped in with Dylan Farrow as a “victim” buy Mia Farrow and the filmmakers of “Allen v. Farrow.” She posted to Twitter on Monday Night:

“I’m upset that apparently the Farrow family decided to use a clip of me, without my permission in their film. I hear it clearly does NOT represent my feelings. Sad how so many “victims” will abuse another if they see some benefit to themselves, even a family member in some cases.” She added: “So I found the clip, me saying it was not consensual, along with Tarantino saying he believed Roman. One guilty plea and 2 apologies later, who wants to portray me as harmed, and famous men as impossible to convict. What a load of horse shit.”

On Sunday while the final episode of HBO’s “Allen v. Farrow” was airing, Geimer posted: “I’m glad when my mother believed I was sexually assaulted at 13, she asked me once, “was it true” & then called the police on the spot. She didn’t first videotape me over a series of days for proof. Worked out much better for our family that way, and that is one low f*cking bar.”

Farrow, as shown in the mini-series, did what Geimer described to 7 year old Dylan, coaching and rehearsing her on video tape about Woody Allen.

Ironically, Farrow — who has accused Allen of child molestation — defends Polanski, an old friend, and even testified for him in a libel trial in 2005.

Geimer wrote an insightful piece on her blog back in 2014 which is worth reading anew. Here is the link.

Golden Globes Promise to Add 13 Black Members as Hollywood Publicists Threaten to Withdraw Clients

Roger Friedman
-
0
Golden Globes Promise to Add 13 Black Members as Hollywood Publicists Threaten to Withdraw Clients

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who run the Golden Globes, have no Black members. They haven’t had any in decades.

When this news broke, criticism came from all corners, we know. Now, under pressure, the HFPA has been forced to say they will add 13 Black members immediately. They currently have around 87 members, many of whom are not professional journalists and shouldn’t be there.

The HFPA was forced to make this announcement after receiving a letter signed by 200 PR firms (See below) saying they would withdraw their celebrity clients from Golden Globes activities if change didn’t happen pronto. Celebrities are the lifeblood of the HFPA. They have no choice.

This has really been a disastrous scandal for the Globes. They overlooked many Black films and actors and directors this season. Today’s Oscar nominations were the absolute opposite, striving for inclusion. The HFPA must make changes quickly if they want to go on. It’s time to eject members who are not legitimate journalists, as well. It’s very peculiar that the HFPA has allowed Globes hosts like Ricky Gervais, and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, to mock them on their own show. They thought people were laughing with them. They were laughing at them.

I know most of these undersigned publicists. I am so proud of them that they took this stand. They’ve wanted to for a long time. Bravo.

 

Here’s the letter from the PR firms addressed to

Greg Goecker, COO & General Counsel
Ali Sar, President
Meher Tatna, Board Chair
Hollywood Foreign Press Association

As publicists we collectively represent the vast majority of artists in the entertainment industry. We call on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to swiftly manifest profound and lasting change to eradicate the longstanding exclusionary ethos and pervasive practice of discriminatory behavior, unprofessionalism, ethical impropriety and alleged financial corruption endemic to the HFPA, funded by Dick Clark Productions, MRC, NBCUniversal and Comcast.

In the last decade our industry has faced a seismic reckoning and begun to address its failure to reflect and honor the diversity of our community, yet we have witnessed no acceptance of responsibility, accountability or action from the HFPA, even as systemic inequity and egregious behavior are allowed to continue. We collectively and unequivocally agree that transformative change in your organization and its historical practices is essential and entirely achievable. We want to be part of the solution.

To reflect how urgent and necessary we feel this work is, we cannot advocate for our clients to participate in HFPA events or interviews as we await your explicit plans and timeline for transformational change.

While we stand ready to support your good faith efforts, please know that anything less than transparent, meaningful change that respects and honors the diversity and dignity of our clients, their colleagues and our global audience will result in immediate and irreparable damage to the relationship between our agencies, our clients and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and those who sanction the institutional inequity and insular culture that currently define it.

The eyes of the industry and those who support it are watching.

Respectfully,

42 West
Advantage PR
Agence Contact
align Public Relations
American Entertainment Marketing (AEM)
Anderson Public Relations Group
Array
Ascend Public Relations Group
BazanPR
Bespoke Publicity
Carol Marshall Public Relations
Cassandra Butcher PR & Marketing
Cinematic Red PR
CLD Communications
Core PR Group
DawBell
DDA
Detail PR
E2W Collective
Elzer & Associates
Flash Forward Publicity
Forefront Media
Full Coverage Communications
Guttman Associates Public Relations
Heidi Schaeffer Public Relations
Herring PR
Hive Collective
ICON PR
ID
Image Management PR
imPRint
Independent Public Relations
Indie PR
Integrated PR
JCPR
JDS
Jill Fritzo Public Relations
Jonas PR
JONESWORKS
Joy Fehily Management + Consulting
Katrina Wan PR
Katz Public Relations
Kovert Creative
LongstreetWorks
LSG Public Relations
Luna Entertainment
Main Stage Public Relations
Marleah Leslie & Associates
Marque PR
McClure & Associates Public Relations
Meghan Prophet Public Relations
MLC PR
MPRM Communications
MRC Publicity and Marketing
Nancy Seltzer & Associates
Narrative
NMA PR
Patricola Public Relations
Paula Woods Consultants
Persona PR
Personal PR
Pinnacle Public Relations
Platform Public Relations
PMG-Platform Media Group
Polaris PR
Portrait PR
PR Machine
Premier
PRStudio USA
Presse Public Relations
Principal Communications Group
Prism Media Group
Prosper PR
Public Eye Communications
Rebel PR
Red Sea Entertainment
Relevant
Rogers & Cowan/PMK
Rosenfield Media Group
Rowe PR
Schure Media Group
Sechel PR
Shelter PR
Slash Agency
Slate PR
Strategic Heights Media
Strategic Public Relations
SYStrategies & PR
TCOPR
Tencer & Associates
The Chamber Group
The Collins Jackson Agency
The Initiative Group
The Lede Company
The Oriel Company
The Samonte Group
True Public Relations
TS Collective
VanIden Public Relations
Viewpoint
Vision PR
Wolf Kasteler
ZTPR

TV: Race Invades “The Bachelor” After All These Years and Ends The Season with A Thud and Embarrassment

Roger Friedman
-
0
TV: Race Invades “The Bachelor” After All These Years and Ends The Season with A Thud and Embarrassment

For all the years “The Bachelor” and its distaff “Bachelorette” have been on TV, race was skirted as if it did not exist.

Then came Matt James, the first Black Bachelor, and all hell broke loose.

Tonight, James’s season ended in tears. James, a good looking guy who had managed maybe never to encounter a life speed bump, was confronted with reality in a harsh way. The woman he chose to give his “final rose” to and perhaps spend the rest of life — Rachael Kirkconnell —  was revealed to be racially clueless and insensitive. She had appeared in photos back in 2018 at a plantation party, an event most of us didn’t know existed.

The rumors of these photos had been all over the internet. But then Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette back in 2017, asked “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison about it in an interview on “Extra.” Lindsay elicited from Harrison his own cluelessness as he tried to defend Kirkconnell and said maybe in 2018 such a party would have been alright. Lindsay’s response was deadly as she asked him what role he thought she, Lindsay, might have played at such a party. Harrison’s life must have flashed before his eyes. He was toast.

Meantime, James, the “Bachelor” wrapped and waiting to reunite with Kirkconnell, got the message. He broke up with the girl. She had taken a long time to apologize before the “After the Rose” special tonight, which was hosted not by Harrison but by a Black substitute, Emmanuel Acho, who was just the right person for the job. Even though Acho was another intellectual plane than James, he made his points. Kirkconnell, dressed inappropriately for a cocktail party, came from a place of no education about the world. James, even though weeks have passed for him to process all this, was inarticulate and gobsmacked by reality. His pain was raw. It was something you never ever see on live American television. Sociologists should study this episode.

And so the two are parted for good. Acho suggested a final embrace, which was hilarious. James looked as if he was going to throw up. (It did not happen.) What Kirkconnell got from this is anyone’s guess. James, I think, had a full education distilled in short. This was a tragedy for him, but also maybe an ice bucket of reality that will just make him smarter and wiser. (Earlier in the show we’d met his mom and brother; I wish we’d heard their reactions to all this. They could sense the whole thing was a disaster.)

At the end of the show, Acho introduced two of James’s castoffs as the next Bachelorettes. Did they learn nothing from watching all this? I thought they’d say, “You know what? This is barbaric and we’re not doing it.” But, no, they each think they will “find love.” That they paid no attention to what happened in the last round is itself tragic. But as Phil Donahue always said to me, “One day we will see televised executions.” In fact, Will Forte is supposed to be in a “comedy” soon about a man planning his own suicide.

Don’t we have that already?

Academy to Nominees: You Can Only Bring One Guest to Oscars, No Parties, Governors Ball, Screenings, Nominees Lunch

Roger Friedman
-
0
Academy to Nominees: You Can Only Bring One Guest to Oscars, No Parties, Governors Ball, Screenings, Nominees Lunch

EXCLUSIVE Oscar nominees are getting a letter to dampen their spirits this afternoon. David Rubin, the fine casting director who’s running the Motion Picture Academy, sent a letter out to the freshly minted noms giving them good news and bad news: the Oscars are happening, but because of the pandemic it won’t be the same as in other years.

The good news, is there are great posters this year. And a lot of terrific movies and nominees. I have high hopes for a solid Oscar show on April 25th.

Look, they have to be realistic and take precautions. Back on the red carpet in 2022!

The letter as follows:

“Dear Fellow Academy Members,

I join you in congratulating all our Oscar nominees. We are now less than two months away from an Oscars show at the iconic Los Angeles landmarks Union Station and Dolby Theatre. A show that will undoubtedly be unique and memorable!

Though we’d hoped the pandemic would be more in our rearview mirror by the month of April, the health and safety of our members and Oscar nominees are our primary concern, so we’ve had to make some necessary decisions about some of our highly anticipated Oscar-week events.

This year, those attending the awards in person will be nominees, their guest, and presenters — with an audience of millions watching and cheering from all around the world. As a result, we will not be able to conduct our annual member ticket lottery.

We also will not hold any in-person events, including nominations screenings, the Oscar Nominees Luncheon and such beloved Oscar-week occasions as the International Feature Film nominee cocktail reception, and public programming for the Short Film, Documentary, Animated Feature, International Feature Film and Makeup and Hairstyling categories. I’m sorry to add that this year’s awards also will not include a post-Oscars Governors Ball celebration, or Oscar Night watch parties in London and New York.

In a year marked by so much uncertainty, one thing is without question: We have enlisted the ideal trio of producers—Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh—to put together an Oscars show like none other, to honor the extraordinary movies, memorable performances and achievements in filmmaking of the past year.

We appreciate your support and understanding, as we all look forward to an exciting show on April 25th.”

Top 3 Albums on iTunes Not From Grammy Performances But from “CBS Sunday Morning” Segments

Roger Friedman
-
0
Top 3 Albums on iTunes Not From Grammy Performances But from “CBS Sunday Morning” Segments

The top three albums on iTunes today are not by Grammy artists, spurred by last night’s performances.

No, they’re by artists who were featured on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday and have nothing to do with the Grammys.

Number 1 and Number 2 are by a British artist named Michael Kiwanuka. The albums are respectively five and two years old.

Number 3 is by Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, a 73 year old bluesman unknown to everyone except his friends. Holmes was nominated for Best Traditional Blues album but lost to Bobby Rush in the same category as my old friend, Don Bryant.

Despite neither of these men not being on the Grammys last night, they are currently outselling everyone who was. They are even outselling Nick Jonas, who released his “Spaceman” album today which has only gotten as high as number 12.

Kiwanuka is also number one on Amazon, and number 14, where he’s also fending off a slew of current releases by known pop stars. Holmes’s records are at the moment marked Unavailable on amazon, perhaps because there was no stock when CBS Sunday morning.

UPDATE Grammy Awards Ratings Revised Up to 9.2 Million, Still All Time Low Despite Clever Show with Some Great Moments

Roger Friedman
-
0
UPDATE Grammy Awards Ratings Revised Up to 9.2 Million, Still All Time Low Despite Clever Show with Some Great Moments

TUESDAY MORNING: The totals for the Grammys were revised up to 9.2 million, which is better than the fast overnights but still the all time low. That’s 50% of last year’s number.

Once upon a time, in 2012, the Grammys had 39 million viewers. That was the year of Adele and her “21” album and the song “Rolling in the Deep.”

That was a long time ago. Last year the Grammys were down to 18 million. Not quite the bottom, but close.

And last night? The total seems to be 7.9 million viewers despite a clever show with great moments. Maybe the biggest upside is that the average stayed above 8 million til the last hour. That’s when a million dropped out.

New EP Ben Winston faced a lot of obstacles. The show had a shaky start but improved consistently as it went along. The highlight was the In Memoriam section, a real tour de force featuring Lionel Richie, Bruno Mars and others. After that, things got better.

Losing 10 million viewers from last year isn’t great, but that’s the new normal. Oscars beware.

Oscars: Directors Branch Brings in Women But Black Directors Fail to Score a Nomination in Diverse Year

Roger Friedman
-
0
Oscars: Directors Branch Brings in Women But Black Directors Fail to Score a Nomination in Diverse Year

Regina King? Shaka King? Spike Lee? George C. Wolfe?

All three Black directors were in contention for an Oscar nomination this year. But they struck out.

Their films, “One Night in Miami,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” all scored many awards and nominations throughout the season. But except for “Judas,” none made it into the Best Picture category and none of the directors got to the final round.

This will come as a shock considering the Motion Picture Academy has widened and deepened, adding many more diverse members over the last couple of years. Two women, Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell, made the cut, which is progress, but lack of standing for African Americans remains a huge frustration.

In the acting categories, there were also some snubs considering the huge field of Black actors from which to choose especially in supporting. But two Black actresses in Best Actress is good news, and three Best Supporting actors. So it’s not a Black Out, or Oscars So White, but progress is incremental at best.

1...840841842...2,323Page 841 of 2,323

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com