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Nomadland’s Bob Wells Lives in a Van But He Knew All About Oscar Winner Frances McDormand

Roger Friedman
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Nomadland’s Bob Wells Lives in a Van But He Knew All About Oscar Winner Frances McDormand

Bob Wells may live in a van and keep to himself, but when he met Frances McDormand he knew eexactly who she was.How do I know? I asked him today. So I was surprised when I just read in USA Today that McDormand, two time Oscar winner, thought he didn’t know when they made “Nomadland.”

Wells told me on Zoom Tuesday afternoon, “Of course I knew her. She’d just won the Oscar for Three Billboards.”

Well and his two other members of the Nomadland cast have been carrying the weight of “Nomadland” publicity because McDormand has been mostly AWOL. She didn’t even bother opening the lid of a laptop to participate in the Golden Globes Sunday night. I thought maybe she was ill. But a source close to her confirmed it’s just her famous prickly attitude toward awards and Hollywood.

“She’d be just as happy seeing someone from the new generation [win awards],” they said. And so it’s quite possible “Nomadland” will win Best Picture at the Oscars, but McDormand will not pick up a third gold statue. She doesn’t care. This will clear the way for Viola Davis or Andra Day or Carey Mulligan.

“Nomadland” is Chloe Zhao’s extraordinary film about life among not homeless but mobile homeful independent spirits thriving off the grid and away from conventional society. Wells, as well as all the others whom Zhao enlisted from real life for her take on Jessica Bruder’s 2017 non fiction book, including Linda May and Swankie, was a delight to meet today. He called McDormand — who was not on the call “regular people”–but he’s the regular people.

Wells says he’s starting to get inundated with emails and fan mail from people who’ve seen the people. He has a website called CheapRVLiving where he interacts with fellow travelers. Right now he’s staying in Oregon with family, where he’s needed. Otherwise he’d be back in the desert, he said. “It’s too cold to be up north.”

Aren’t all his other Nomadic pals missing him while he’s in Oregon, I asked? Just as he’s depicted in the movie, he’s kind of their leader. But Wells is a modest man. “I’m pretty much of a loner,” he said, unwilling to be labeled a Nomad celebrity. But what a lovely guy, who is immortalized now in this instant classic of a film.

 

 

Alec Baldwin Takes a Crappy “Epic Disaster Movie” Because Now He Has Six Kids to Feed

Roger Friedman
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Alec Baldwin Takes a Crappy “Epic Disaster Movie” Because Now He Has Six Kids to Feed

First, read this: “Supercell is an epic disaster movie that tells the tale of William, a good-hearted teenager, who always lived in hope of following in his father’s footsteps, the legendary storm chaser Bill Brody, killed by a massive super tornado. His father’s legacy has now been turned into a storm-chasing tourist business, managed by the greedy and reckless Zane Rogers (Alec Baldwin), who is now using William as the main attraction to lead a group of unsuspecting adventurers deep into the eye of the most dangerous supercell ever seen.”

Yeah. That’s Alec Baldwin’s next project, directed by Martin Scorsese? Quentin Tarantino? No, directed by Herbert James Winterstern (NBC’s “Siberia”) from a script by Winterstern & Anna Elizabeth James (Deadly Illusions).

Who are these people? What is Alec doing? With now six kids to feed (a new one was added this week), Alec — who used to take quality fare for the most part — is off to do impressions of himself in shlock movies for a good payday.

I’m sad about this. He’s also got some kind of B action movie with Frank Grillo in pre-production. And let’s not forget something called “Chick Fight,” which ‘released’ quote-unquote last November when he still had just 5 kids. And then he’s playing Enzo Ferrari in a “Lamborghini” biopic produced by Monika Bacardi. Need I say more?

All straight to video or streaming. Very much the Bruce Willis-Mel Gibson route. Alas, remember “Working Girl” and “Married to the Mob”? Jack Donaghy?

 

Voting Begins in Earnest for Last Year’s Tony Awards, Which Will Be Handed Out Sometime in the Future

Roger Friedman
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Voting Begins in Earnest for Last Year’s Tony Awards, Which Will Be Handed Out Sometime in the Future

Yes, we are still talking about the 2020 Tony Awards. For the 2019-2020 season that ended abruptly a year ago.

Yes, the Tony Awards that announced nominations last fall, six months late, and didn’t include any of the shows that were in previews on March 12, 2020.

Those Tony Awards. Now the Tony voters can start voting for the shows and performances they actually saw, which isn’t all of them.

The only thing anyone knows is that Aaron Tveit has won Best Actor in a Musical, for “Moulin Rouge.” He was the only nominee. If he loses, he will be very disappointed.

And when are the Tony Awards going to be given? Winners announced? No one knows. “Sometime in the future.”

Curtain down.

 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Vote Puts Jay Z Last, Fela Kuti First, Followed by Tina Turner, Foo Fighters

Roger Friedman
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Vote Puts Jay Z Last, Fela Kuti First, Followed by Tina Turner, Foo Fighters

If the fans had anything to say about it, Jay Z would not be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

After 3 weeks of voting, Jay Z is dead last in the public poll with just 56,651 votes.

The top vote getter, shockingly, is Fela Kuti. He has 211,123 votes. The pioneering Nigerian musician is the exact opposite of Jay Z musically: he’s talented. He’s also Black, so you can’t say the lack of interest in Jay Z is racist.

Indeed, the number 2 public vote winner is Tina Turner, as it should be. It’s disgraceful that Tina isn’t in the RRHOF as a solo act.

Number 3 is Foo Fighters, who are eligible for the first time and will definitely be voted in by the Rock Hall membership.

My guess is that Jay Z will get in whether the fans like it or not. The nominating committee will overrule the fans and even the membership in the end. It’s political.

Numbers 4 and 5 are headscratchers: Iron Maiden (yeeesh), and The Go Gos. Neither belongs in the Hall.

Carole King is number 6. Where are her fans? On the 50th anniversary of “Tapestry,” Carole should be inducted.

Still missing from the Rock Hall: Chubby Checker, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Carly Simon, Sting as a solo artist, and many, many more.

This year’s induction ceremony will be held at the Rock Hall in Cleveland on October 30th.

Golden Globes Numbers Were Worse Than Thought: Lowest Ever, Down 62%, A Third of Regular Audience

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes Numbers Were Worse Than Thought: Lowest Ever, Down 62%, A Third of Regular Audience

The final numbers for the Golden Globes were worse than imagined. Just 6,913,000 tuned into the NBC show on Sunday.

Last year’s Globes had 18.3 million viewers.

What the heck happened?

Contributing factors were the scandals around the Globes which finally resonated for viewers. I’ve written about the Hollywood Foreign Press for years. But it finally sank in this year that the group has no black voters and constantly snubs black films.

This year, the revelations came just in the week leading up to the broadcast. Suddenly, three of the four acting winners in the main categories were black actors. It’s hard to believe those were the original choices, but I’ll accept it.

I don’t know how the Globes can change, but there is a replacement: the Critics Choice Awards. Diverse and professional, the voting membership of around 300 critics is qualified and unimpeachable. The show airs this Sumday on the CW Network. CBS should just pick it up and run it on their main networks. There’s never any controversy and the group’s choices are usually spot on.

 

Woody Allen-Mia Farrow Doc Ratings Fall From Last Week, No One’s Buying What They’re Selling

Roger Friedman
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Woody Allen-Mia Farrow Doc Ratings Fall From Last Week, No One’s Buying What They’re Selling

“Allen v. Farrow” is a ratings bust.

Sunday night’s episode 2 of the HBO mini series drew just 333K viewers. That was down from the previous week’s 349K.

No one is buying what filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering are selling. A mini series of hysterical fiction, “Allen v. Farrow” is simply not ringing true for viewers. Mia Farrow’s nearly 30 year old allegations against Woody Allen are coming off as fake and false, a scorned lover’s never ending vendetta against her one time boyfriend.

And it wasn’t like the Golden Globes drew eyes away from HBO. The Globes ratings were terrible.

“Allen v. Farrow” was beaten by about a dozen different cable shows, and finished at number 96 overall for Sunday cable shows.

Mia Farrow has given better performances– watch “Zelig” or “Broadway Danny Rose.” She’s not getting any awards for this one.

PREVIOUSLY ON SHOWBIZ411: Did Mia Farrow Get Her Ideas from this Song? and What About This Song? 

and Read About Mia Farrow’s Convicted Child Molester Brother

 

Nat Geo’s “Genius Aretha” Series Got No “Respect” So 8 Part Show Will Be Heavy on 80s Hits Like “Freeway of Love”

Roger Friedman
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Nat Geo’s “Genius Aretha” Series Got No “Respect” So 8 Part Show Will Be Heavy on 80s Hits Like “Freeway of Love”

National Geographic’s 8 part “Genius Aretha” special launches on March 21st with a reported Emmy worthy knockout performance by Cynthia Erivo. The series is said to be “dazzling” and nevertheless serious about civil rights issues from the 60s.

But if we’re looking for “Respect,” we won’t be hearing it in “Genius.”

I’m told that miniseries is light on early Aretha hits from the 60s like “Respect” and “Think” and even “Natural Woman.” That’s because they were scooped up early for the Jennifer Hudson biopic coming in August from MGM.

Instead, “Genius” will be heavy on Aretha’s 80s hits like “Freeway of Love,” “Jump to It,” and “Who’s Zoomin’ Who.” We may also get to hear Erivo perform Aretha’s version of “Nessum Dorma.” Rights to Puccini are open to everyone.

But since the Hudson movie is called “Respect,” they got that iconic Otis Redding song. “Genius” will feature Erivo singing “Don’t Play That Song for Me,” written by Atlantic Records chief Ahmet Ertegun, as well as “I Never Loved  a Man (The Way I Love You)” and “Son of a Preacher Man,” and “Chain of Fools” as well as Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.”

Insiders are raving about 14 year old Shaian Jordan, by the way, who they say steals the series as Young Aretha.

PS Someone at Nat Geo should take a few minutes and fix their IMDB pages. The three “Genius” series– about Einstein, Picasso, and Franklin– all run together as if they’re one show from 2017. No “Genius” in that.

 

Golden Globes on Track for Lowest Ratings Ever, Not a Good Omen for Oscars As Audience Hasn’t Seen Movies

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes on Track for Lowest Ratings Ever, Not a Good Omen for Oscars As Audience Hasn’t Seen Movies

The Golden Globes posted early numbers today that indicate possibly their worst ratings ever, and by a lot. It’s possible fewer than 12 million people watched the show, down from 18 million last year.

This should be worrying to the Oscars, set for April 25th. For one thing, they’re two months away, which is a long time to be celebrating the same movies.

Second, the Globes numbers do indicate that not many people have seen this year’s movies, and they’re not going to by April.

There is simply no buzz in the air despite this group of films being above average, a really great group of movies. But they also small films, indies, no blockbusters to mitigate the art house films. And that’s really the problem. The pandemic has just watered down everything.

ABC and the Academy may have to adjust their thinking about how this year’s show could possibly do, given the circumstances. There are going to be a lot of lowered expectations. Maybe they can get Adele to come sing some old Oscar Best Song winners. That would be my first move.

What Year is It? One Fifth of iTunes Top 100 Is Oldies, from “Sweet Caroline” to “You’re So Vain” to “Call Me Maybe”

Roger Friedman
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What Year is It? One Fifth of iTunes Top 100 Is Oldies, from “Sweet Caroline” to “You’re So Vain” to “Call Me Maybe”

Maybe it’s a sign of needing comfort food music.

Or maybe it’s just that the current pop releases are not very satisfying. But 20 of the top 100 iTunes singles this morning are oldies. Yes, people are downloading old songs.

Indeed, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” from 1971, is number 6. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears is number 9.

Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me,” from 2000 is number 4.

“California Dreamin'” by the Mamas and the Papas, circa 1965, is number 13.

And on and on it goes.

Singles by Carly Simon, Bread, and ABBA are sprinkled through the charts. There also more recent oldies from Lady Gaga and Carly Rae Jepsen thrown in there for good measure.

“Stayin’ Alive” from the Bees Gees is on there. So is the Pet Shop Boys’s “Let’s Make Lots of Money,” but that might be explained by its use in a current commercial.

On the other hand, Nick Jonas’s new “Superman,” which debuted on “SNL” on Saturday night, isn’t selling at all. Before the show it was around number 30, and that’s where it’s stayed. Usually a song like that would get a good sales bounce. But “Spaceman” has remained, oddly, in space.

The same thing has happened on the album charts, where many groups’ greatest hits, heavily discounted.

No one is likely more shocked than the 60s and 70s hit R&B pop group The 5th Dimension. Two of their greatest hits albums are at numbers 6 and 7!  That may have to do with an excellent piece on CBS Sunday Morning about Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr, who have a wonderful new album of Beatles songs.

 

 

Ratings: Golden Globes Numbers INCOMPLETE But Early Figures Look Dismal, All Eyes on the Downward Trend Over Last Decade

Roger Friedman
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Ratings: Golden Globes Numbers INCOMPLETE But Early Figures Look Dismal, All Eyes on the Downward Trend Over Last Decade

UPDATE 2:54PM: Early numbers are very incomplete but they dont look good. Right now the numbers for the west coast aren’t in. But the average looks like a shocking 6 million. Even if it’s twice that, 12 million with the west coast, then the show really tanked.
What’s clear from the three most Eastern time zones is that viewing went down hour by hour, from 6 million to 5.4 to 4.7 million. Each hour would have to triple or more to be considered bad. Frightening.

While we wait for the Golden Globes ratings, here’s how they’ve trended:

Last year’s awards ceremony drew 18.3 million viewers and a 4.7 rating among adults 19-49 according to Nielsen. That was down a slight 2% on 2019 in total viewership and half a point ratings-wise. For comparison, in 2019 the awards show ended up scoring a 5.2 rating and 18.6 million viewers, up a few percentage points from the 2018 telecast which drew a 5.0 rating and 19 million viewers.

The highwater mark was in 2004, with almost 27 million. In 2014 they were down to 20 million. There’s been a steady incremental decline since then, with 2017 briefly returning to 20 million and then a slow fall to last year.

The Globes benefited last night from little competition. There was no major sporting event to draw away viewers.

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