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“Saturday Night Live” Ratings Tumble with Regina King and Nathaniel Rateliff to Season Low Without Trump or Much Politics

Roger Friedman
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“Saturday Night Live” Ratings Tumble with Regina King and Nathaniel Rateliff to Season Low Without Trump or Much Politics

“Saturday Night Live” wasn’t very funny last night, and that showed in the ratings.

The numbers for the Regina King- hosted, Nathaniel Rateliff episode were lower than they’ve been all season. Total viewers were 4.1 million. The average this season has been 4.3 million, and the highs were really high at one point.

I’m not surprised that “SNL” is starting to wear down. Trump fueled their ratings for four years. It gave them a reason to exist. There was buzz every week about what they would say about some Trump scandal.

But with Trump gone, the jokes are, too. The sketches are very lame. And while I love Regina King, she wasn’t a draw. If they really wanted her, a buzzy musical guest would have helped. But I find Rateliff to be a yawn. He sounds like a cover band of The Band. Snore. He’s musical but dull.

The only nod to politics last night was in the cold opening. But after that, the show consisted mostly of pedestrian comedy.

Why aren’t Mikey Day and Alex Moffat doing Trump brothers from Mar-a-Lago? Where is Kate McKinnon? Her witch was fun, but we’re missing her upfront and all through the show.

This coming week should kick things up with “Bridgerton” star Regé-Jean Page and music guest Bad Bunny. But it’s the writing. “SNL” needs some good parodies. A big “Bridgerton” number should help, or several. Where was the Regina King “Watchmen” skit? Or “One Night in Miami” reimagined? That could have been daring as an updated meeting of all kinds of people. Chris Redd could have played Sam Cooke so easily!

Well, on to next week.

 

MONDAY UPDATED Taylor Swift Socks it to Scooter Braun, Shamrock Cap with 6 Million Streams in One Day for New “Love Story”

Roger Friedman
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MONDAY UPDATED Taylor Swift Socks it to Scooter Braun, Shamrock Cap with 6 Million Streams in One Day for New “Love Story”

MONDAY FEB 15 2021: The new “Love Story” sales are at around 84,000 just Friday and Saturday.

SUNDAY: Wherever Taylor Swift is today. she’s cackling and petting one of her cats. She’s won. She’s socked it to Scooter Braun, SCott Borchetta, and Shamrock Capital Holdings.

Her re-recorded “Love Story” had 6 million streams on Friday, its debut day. That translated into sales of 52,000 including streaming. Downloads came to 10,000. That was one day with little notice. “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” is number 1 on iTunes since Friday.

This leaves the aforementioned group of men scratching their heads about what to do next. Their $300 million investment has gone up in smoke. To wit: Scooter bought Scott’s record company, the main asset of which was Taylor’s master recordings of six albums. Then Scooter turned around and sold the masters to Shamrock for $300 million.

And now it’s all worthless. Taylor will release the whole remade “Fearless” album with he new “Love Story” and six more unreleased songs. That will nullify the old album. Then she’ll do that with five more albums.

Not to mention that Taylor’s biggest albums– “Lover,” “Folklore,” and “Evermore”– aren’t even part of the Scooter pie. And when she releases a new version of the now Shamrock owned “1989” there will be skyrocketing sales.

They’re going to study all this one day at Harvard Business school. With Taylor getting an honorary doctorate. (And Don Passman, PhD.)

Read Joe Biden’s Classy Statement About Donald Trump’s Impeachment Trial: “The substance of the charge is not in dispute”

Roger Friedman
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Read Joe Biden’s Classy Statement About Donald Trump’s Impeachment Trial: “The substance of the charge is not in dispute”

I like Joe Biden. Here is his classy statement following the trial of Donald Trump. “While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute.”

That’s right. I really feel Biden conveyed to Nancy Pelosi to wrap this thing up so he could get on with his plans. Enough already.

President Biden:

It was nearly two weeks ago that Jill and I paid our respects to Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who laid in honor in the Rotunda after losing his life protecting the Capitol from a riotous, violent mob on January 6, 2021.

Today, 57 Senators – including a record 7 Republicans – voted to find former President Trump guilty for inciting that deadly insurrection on our very democracy. The Senate vote followed the bipartisan vote to impeach him by the House of Representatives. While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute. Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” and “practically and morally responsible for provoking” the violence unleashed on the Capitol.

Tonight, I am thinking about those who bravely stood guard that January day. I’m thinking about all those who lost their lives, all those whose lives were threatened, and all those who are still today living with terror they lived through that day. And I’m thinking of those who demonstrated the courage to protect the integrity of our democracy – Democrats and Republicans, election officials and judges, elected representatives and poll workers – before and after the election.

This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism has no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.

That is how we end this uncivil war and heal the very soul of our nation. That is the task ahead. And it’s a task we must undertake together. As the United States of America.

Claudia Conway Returns to Twitter The Night Before Her “American Idol” Audition Airs: “It is not a publicity stunt”

Roger Friedman
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Claudia Conway Returns to Twitter The Night Before Her “American Idol” Audition Airs: “It is not a publicity stunt”

She’s baaack.

The night before her “American Idol” audition airs on ABC, Claudia Conway has returned to Twitter. She’s been off since August 23rd, 2020.

What does the daughter of Kellyanne and George Conway have to say? First: “side note but how in the world could trump have been acquitted”

OK. We agree, Claudia!

A fan asked her if she was being pressured to appear on “Idol.” Claudia replied:” i’m not at all :) this was a really amazing opportunity and i took it! it’s starting the next chapter of my life: coming into my own and creating a name for MYSELF. i’m claudia; i’m not someone’s daughter or that girl in family “drama”. i’m just claudia”

She added: “hi also a lot of people think that my being on american idol is a publicity stunt but i can promise you it is not. i have been vocally trained and in music for most of my life and did this on my own merit :)”

Claudia is 16. She thinks she’s in control. She doesn’t realize “American Idol” is using her for publicity, not the other way around.


 

 

Report: Broadway On Hold Until Summer or Fall, Six to Nine Months Says League President

Roger Friedman
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Report: Broadway On Hold Until Summer or Fall, Six to Nine Months Says League President

Broadway will not be back before this summer or fall.

That’s what Broadway League president Charlotte St Martin said in an interview with Yahoo Finance this week.

“It’s probably six to nine months before we’re actually open,” St, Martin told reporter Alexis Christophorous. “And who knows what we’ll be doing then?”

So much for that brief feeling of elation when we heard stadiums and some venues could re-open at 10% capacity.

St. Martin says socially distanced seating on Broadway is not financially feasible, which we surmised. Big Broadway houses can’t function unless every seat is filled, not every other seat with a blank row in between.

The reporter did not ask St. Martin about the Tony Awards, which are in limbo. The only certain winner of last year’s Tonys is Aaron Tveit, the only nominee for Best Actor in a Musical. The others have been waiting for months to know who won, and then there’s no date for a ceremony.

All this means that Broadway will mostly be closed this summer, and we won’t see any new shows or previews of any value until after Labor Day. What a mess!

 

 

Bachelor Nation Implodes: Host Chris Harrison Stepping Away from Show After Invoking “Historical Racism”

Roger Friedman
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Bachelor Nation Implodes: Host Chris Harrison Stepping Away from Show After Invoking “Historical Racism”

Chris Harrison is stepping away from The Bachelor on ABC. Now.

He announced it an hour ago on Instagram, admitting that he invoked “historical racism” when his interview on Extra with Rachel Lindsay went sideways.

Late yesterday Lindsay said when her contract was up with The Bachelor she was leaving.

Remember, “The Bachelor” that we’re seeing on the air was taped six weeks ago. So in real time, Harrison is not proceeding with live shows like “After the Rose,” coming up next week.To get the back story here, click on my story from yesterday. I would say Harrison’s goose is cooked, but look, Nick Cannon is back doing his thing. And Morgan Wallen’s fans haven’t cared about his scandal. So maybe Harrison will ride and come back in the next season. Anything is possible. I used to say “The Bachelor” and its ancillaries was just junk, the people weren’t very bright, and thought the undoing of it would be the contestants. But look how it’s opened this dialogue. If Harrison, the host, thought that plantation sorority parties were alright in 2018, imagine what the general public thinks. We haven’t made a lot of progress.

 

What Year Is It? Oldies from the 60s and 70s Swarm iTunes As Impeachment (Very 1974) Rolls On

Roger Friedman
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What Year Is It? Oldies from the 60s and 70s Swarm iTunes As Impeachment (Very 1974) Rolls On

What year is it again? 1974? That was the year of the Nixon impeachment, the classic Impeachment you might call it.

And on the iTunes chart today: many singles from the 60s and 70s today, more than usual, likely a result of low pricing but also because we need comfort music during this stressful time.

Number 14 is “My Girl” by the Temptations, 15 is Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay.”

Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” is 22. Kool and the Gang’s “Get Down on It” is 32.

“Respect” by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is number 36. “Super Freak” by Rick James is 45.

Number 50 is the remixed version of The Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go?” The Supremes’ “Baby Love” is at 74.

“The Supremes Number 1s” greatest hits is at number 16 on the album chart. These sales are in memory of Mary Wilson, who died much too young this week at age 76.

We need this music now. Lap it up, kids. Add the Beatles, the Stones, Sam & Dave, bring it on.

 

TV News: Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge Team Up for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” Amazon Series

Roger Friedman
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TV News: Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge Team Up for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” Amazon Series

Here’s a combo you don’t think of right away: Donald Glover, of “Atlanta” fame and many other successes, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge of “Fleabag.”

This twosome are going to play Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from the great 2005 movie, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” Donald and Phoebe will be married hit men-woman whatever. They’re teamed with Francesca Sloane, whose credits include “Atlanta,” and some kind of adaptation of Anais Nin’s erotic works,= to make this a reality for Amazon Studios.

How clever of Amazon to find a way to continue their relationship with Phoebe. And to bring in Glover, sometimes known as Childish Gambino, and a hot commodity in all regards, is brilliant. It’s got to be comedy, right? With these two it can’t be too dark.

We’ll see what’s next.

 

Scandal? What Scandal? Punished? Country Singer Morgan Wallen Sold Over 200,000 Records This Week

Roger Friedman
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Scandal? What Scandal? Punished? Country Singer Morgan Wallen Sold Over 200,000 Records This Week

Scandal? What scandal?

Country singer Morgan Wallen said the N word on a tape made by TMZ and a small part of the world went crazy. His agent dropped him, his record company suspended him. The Country Music Awards banned him.

And Wallen’s fans didn’t care. This week he sold more than 200,000 records and finished at number 1 with his “Dangerous: The Double Album.”

An older album, called “If I Know Me,” is included in that count.

Until last night when new records were released, Wallen commanded the charts all week. At one point he had 20 of the top 100 iTunes singles. He still has half a dozen. And the albums are still selling.

Country music fans just didn’t care. Nevertheless, Wallen offered a perfunctory apology that no one paid any attention to.

 

So what now? I’m sure all is forgiven and Wallen’s “suspension” from his all white record and management company called Big Loud will welcome him back with ooen arms. It’s not the money, you know, it’s the money.

Paramount Plans New Version of Famed “The King and I” for Film, But the King Will Have to Be Thai Or Else

Roger Friedman
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Paramount Plans New Version of Famed “The King and I” for Film, But the King Will Have to Be Thai Or Else

In his signature role, Yul Brynner played the King of Siam, now Thailand, in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I.”

Brynner was not Siamese or Thai. He was Russian, born in Vladivostok. If he took the role now, there would be PC protests from here to Singapore.

So the new Paramount Studios version of the movie will have to find a Thai actor play the King. Otherwise, we will never hear the end of it. Cries of cultural appropriation will sound day and night.

Brynner was acting the role. He won a Tony Award for it, and then was one of 9 Oscar nominees when the original film was made.

But acting isn’t important anymore.

In the most recent Broadway edition Japanese star Ken Watanabe played the King. It was reportedly hard to understand him. But he had the look.

My favorite production starred Donna Murphy as Anna, the English teacher who melts the King’s heart, and Lou Diamond Phillips. Murphy was sensational.

There’s been one non musical version of the story of Anna and the King of Siam. Jodie Foster was Anna. Chow Yun-Fat was the King. Andy Tennant was the uninspired choice of director.

So we’ll wait and see how this all turns out.  Choice of director and choreographer will be important since the producers– a company called Temple Hill — are known for TV productions like “Orange is the New Black.” Concord Music is helping but the Temple Hill gang would be smart to hire someone from Broadway ASAP as consultant. There are plenty of people available, unfortunately.

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