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Bruce Springsteen DWI: Much Ado About Nothing, Driving Around Gateway National Park, Which Is Closed Anyway

Roger Friedman
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Bruce Springsteen DWI: Much Ado About Nothing, Driving Around Gateway National Park, Which Is Closed Anyway

Stop the presses!

Bruce Springsteen was ticketed for a DWI back in November. What was he doing? He was driving around Gateway National Park in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The park is closed.

TMZ is delighting in this scoop. But it’s much ado about nothing. Bruce is human, he probably had cabin fever like everyone else. A closed parking lot is the perfect place to let off steam.

Did Jeep know about it? I’ve no doubt that Springsteen and management told the car marker and ad agency what happened before they taped their Super Bowl commercial. I doubt Jeep cares. What Bruce got caught for sounds like a Jeep thing to do, really.

More importantly, Bruce will be appearing virtually this weekend on Facebook Live for the Light of Day Foundation. He’s joining Joe Grushecky and special guests Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. The date is Saturday. Here’s the link.

Mary Wilson Gets the Last Laugh: Version of Supremes Greatest Hits Soaring Up Charts Features Her Voice Remixed Equal to Diana Ross

Roger Friedman
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Mary Wilson Gets the Last Laugh: Version of Supremes Greatest Hits Soaring Up Charts Features Her Voice Remixed Equal to Diana Ross

UPDATE 2/9: LOL. This is the Supremes album now at number 7 on iTunes as a consequence of Mary’s passing. So Mary has gotten the last laugh. Her voice is heard more clearly than ever on this remix, the way it was supposed to be.

I first published this in 2004. If you’re interested, “Diana Ross and the Supremes Number Ones” is still available 16 years later on Amazon as a CD, download or on streaming. The Spotify stream follows below. As Universal engineer Suha Gur told me then, this was the real mix of the Supremes where you could actually hear Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. Over the year, Diana Ross’s voice had wiped out her comrades. This is such a pleasure. Before it’s lost to history, take a listen. I wish oldies stations used these tracks.

One note: in the streaming version, it’s just the first 13 tracks. From then on, starting with “Someday We’ll Be Together,” Mary and Florence are not on the recordings. For that song, Diana recorded her final Supremes song with other singers behind the backs of her friends. “Stoned Love” is with Mary, but not Diana. The other songs pinned to this collection were Diana Ross solo hits.

On a new Supremes greatest-hits CD issued by Universal Music, Diana Ross’s
lead vocals have been mixed in with those of Mary Wilson and
Florence Ballard, the two other Supremes, giving the latter two
women their first due in 40 years.

Universal, which owns Motown’s catalog, makes no mention of the
substantial change in the liner notes for “Supremes Number Ones.”
But the new edition, released in time for the Motown 45th
anniversary in May, is supposed to replace all previous versions of
Supremes greatest-hits packages for new generations of buyers.

On previous editions, and in all the “classic” versions, Ross’ voice
was always mixed much farther forward than Wilson’s and Ballard’s.
The result was that the other women’s voices were sometimes not
heard clearly. But now, on songs like “Reflections” and “Where Did
Our Love Go?” the other two original Supremes sound, well, Supreme.

Universal engineer Suha Gur, in taking direction from the catalog’s
producers, told me he wanted to improve the sound of previous
releases.

“I kept saying, ‘Why didn’t they do this in the first place?'” Gur
said yesterday. “When we put them up and heard what the tracks
sounded like.”

Gur used the master tapes from Motown, which were multi-tracks with
Ross’ voice often on different tapes than Wilson’s and Ballard’s.
The vocals were all separated from the instrumentals, which gave him
a lot of latitude in moving things around.

“Some people can’t stand it because they weren’t the original
versions,” Gur said. “A small percentage of hardcore fans have
complained.”

Gur, by the way, reports to two producers, who instructed him to
improve the old records’ sound.

But I can tell you, this is one of the few times you should go out
and re-buy an album. Hearing Wilson and Ballard clearly shows they
were not just Ross’ backup singers, and that the Supremes were very
much a group dependent on three voices.

And no, so far no one at Universal Mastering has heard from Miss
Ross on this subject. But give her time.

Carole King Nominated to Rock Hall On 50th Anniversary of “Tapestry,” Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick Also Considered

Roger Friedman
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Carole King Nominated to Rock Hall On 50th Anniversary of “Tapestry,” Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick Also Considered

It only took 50 freakin’ years: Carole King was finally nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today. It’s the actual 50th anniversary of “Tapestry,” her groundbreaking mega selling album that ushered in the era of singer-songwriters.

The Rock Hall will also also consider Tina Turner, and Dionne Warwick, each of whom has careers going back 60 years. Like Carole, they were all eligible the year the Rock Hall began in 1988. If they don’t all get in now, this whole thing is really more of a joke than we thought.

Other nominees for induction include Todd Rundgren, whose landmark album “Something/Anything” came out in 1972, the New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden (haha), The Go Go’s, Devo, and Kate Bush.

Just to make things interesting, they’ve also thrown in Chaka Khan, who’s been on the nominees list many times and should be be in, and Mary J. Blige. The group is rounded out by Fela Kuti, why I do not know.

Both Carole and Tina are already in, technically. Carole’s in as a songwriter with ex husband Gerry Goffin. Tina’s in with ex husband Ike Turner. Neither is in as a solo artist even though that’s their biggest success.

Jay Z is also nominated even though he has nothing to do with rock, or even R&B, except that he’s sampled a lot of the songs.

Public voting will be strong for Jay Z, Foo Fighters, and Rage Against the Machine. The Rock Hall only has itself to blame for years of neglecting all those groundbreaking women– Carole, Tina, Dionne, and Chaka.

Still ignored is Carly Simon, whose first album was released 50 years ago yesterday and is just as important as Carole and Joni Mitchell as a trailblazer and influence.

Final inductees will be announced in May, and there will be a ceremony somewhere at some time later this year.

Lucy and Ricky Find Their Fred and Ethel as J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda Join “Being the Ricardos”

Roger Friedman
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Lucy and Ricky Find Their Fred and Ethel as J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda Join “Being the Ricardos”

Aaron Sorkin has a lot of ‘splainin’ to do. And he’s going to do it soon.

Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardo’s” has found its Fred and Ethel Mertz. They are J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda. He’s an Oscar winner, she’s a Tony winner. I have to say, they sound perfect.

Simmons and Arianda will play actors William Frawley and Vivian Vance, the famed second bananas to Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as they shoot an episode of “I Love Lucy” over the course of a week. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem will play the Ricardos.

This is either going to work or not, big time. But I have high hopes for it. Now Sorkin has three Oscar winners. If this goes right, Nina Arianda will finally be in the big leagues and have her own Oscar. She’s enormously talented. I can’t wait to see if they’re casting Little Ricky, Mrs. Trumbull, and Lucy’s mother.

Escape Artists will produce the film for Amazon Studios, with Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch as producers and Jenna Block and David Bloomfield as executive producers. Ball and Arnaz’s children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., will also serve as executive producers with Stuart Besser and Lauren Lohman.

When does it shoot? Whenever we’re all vaccinated. In the meantime, Baba-loo!

Here: Motion Picture Academy Shortlists Include Two Best Song Entries for Diane Warren, Plus Best Score, Doc, Make Up & Hair, Short Films

Roger Friedman
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Here: Motion Picture Academy Shortlists Include Two Best Song Entries for Diane Warren, Plus Best Score, Doc, Make Up & Hair, Short Films

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced shortlists in nine categories for the 93rd Academy Awards®: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film and Visual Effects.

Of note: Diane Warren has only two songs on the short list this year. She’s had 11 nominations has has never won! This is ridiculous. Either of her songs, “lo si (Seen): from “The Life Ahead” and Free” from “The One and Only Ivan” could win and both could finish in the top 5.

Also, this very site featured “The Letter Room” from Elvira Lind last week exclusively. Now it’s made the short list. On to to the top 5 we go!

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Fifteen films will advance in the Documentary Feature category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  Two hundred thirty-eight films were eligible in the category.  Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

“All In: The Fight for Democracy”
“Boys State”
“Collective”
“Crip Camp”
“Dick Johnson Is Dead”
“Gunda”
“MLK/FBI”
“The Mole Agent”
“My Octopus Teacher”
“Notturno”
“The Painter and the Thief”
“76 Days”
“Time”
“The Truffle Hunters”
“Welcome to Chechnya”

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
Ten films will advance in the Documentary Short Subject category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  One hundred fourteen films qualified in the category.  Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

“Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa”
“Call Center Blues”
“Colette”
“A Concerto Is a Conversation”
“Do Not Split”
“Hunger Ward”
“Hysterical Girl”
“A Love Song for Latasha”
“The Speed Cubers”
“What Would Sophia Loren Do?”

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Fifteen films will advance to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  Films from 93 countries were eligible in the category.

Academy members from all branches were invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting and must have met a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category.

In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Quo Vadis, Aida?”
Chile, “The Mole Agent”
Czech Republic, “Charlatan”
Denmark, “Another Round”
France, “Two of Us”
Guatemala, “La Llorona”
Hong Kong, “Better Days”
Iran, “Sun Children”
Ivory Coast, “Night of the Kings”
Mexico, “I’m No Longer Here”
Norway, “Hope”
Romania, “Collective”
Russia, “Dear Comrades!”
Taiwan, “A Sun”
Tunisia, “The Man Who Sold His Skin”

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Ten films will advance in the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  All members of the Academy’s Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch will be invited virtually to view seven-minute excerpts from each of the 10 shortlisted films on Saturday, March 6, 2021.  Branch members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar® consideration.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

“Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn”
“Emma”
“The Glorias”
“Hillbilly Elegy”
“Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”
“The Little Things”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
“Mank”
“One Night in Miami…”
“Pinocchio”

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
Fifteen scores will advance in the Original Score category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  One hundred thirty-six scores were eligible in the category.  Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The scores, listed in alphabetical order by film title, are:

“Ammonite”
“Blizzard of Souls”
“Da 5 Bloods”
“The Invisible Man”
“Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”
“The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”
“The Little Things”
“Mank”
“The Midnight Sky”
“Minari”
“Mulan”
“News of the World”
“Soul”
“Tenet”
“The Trial of the Chicago 7”

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
Fifteen songs will advance in the Original Song category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  One hundred five songs were eligible in the category.  Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:

“Turntables” from “All In: The Fight for Democracy”
“See What You’ve Done” from “Belly of the Beast”
“Wuhan Flu” from “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
“Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
“Never Break” from “Giving Voice”
“Make It Work” from “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”
“Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”
“lo Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”
“Rain Song” from “Minari”
“Show Me Your Soul” from “Mr. Soul!”
“Loyal Brave True” from “Mulan”
“Free” from “The One and Only Ivan”
“Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami…”
“Green” from “Sound of Metal”
“Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7”

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Ten films will advance in the Animated Short Film category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  Ninety-six films qualified in the category.  Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

“Burrow”
“Genius Loci”
“If Anything Happens I Love You”
“Kapaemahu”
“Opera”
“Out”
“The Snail and the Whale”
“To Gerard”
“Traces”
“Yes-People”

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Ten films will advance in the Live Action Short Film category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  One hundred seventy-four films qualified in the category.  Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

“Bittu”
“Da Yie”
“Feeling Through”
“The Human Voice”
“The Kicksled Choir”
“The Letter Room”
“The Present”
“Two Distant Strangers”
“The Van”
“White Eye”

VISUAL EFFECTS
Ten films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 93rd Academy Awards.  The Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist.  All members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited virtually to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, March 6, 2021.  Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

“Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn”
“Bloodshot”
“Love and Monsters”
“Mank”
“The Midnight Sky”
“Mulan”
“The One and Only Ivan”
“Soul”
“Tenet”
“Welcome to Chechnya”

Nominations voting begins on Friday, March 5, 2021, and concludes on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

Nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, March 15, 2021.

The 93rd Oscars® will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

How Diana Ross Tried to Push Her Off the Stage at Motown 25: Mary Wilson Tells the Story in Her Own Words

Roger Friedman
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How Diana Ross Tried to Push Her Off the Stage at Motown 25: Mary Wilson Tells the Story in Her Own Words

Mary Wilson was always a stand-up girl, a team player in the Supremes. But in the mid 1980s she finally published a memoir, “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme” to set the record straight about what she had endured at the hands of Diana Ross and Berry Gordy.

In “Dreamgirl,” she describes what happened at the taping of “Motown 25,” the 1983 ABC special that was supposed to reunite all the stars from the fabled label. Mary hadn’t seen Diana Ross in many years after Diana left the group to become a solo act and movie star. Indeed, Mary hadn’t even sung on the last single recorded under the name DIana Ross and the Supremes. Diana made the record with other singers. Mary heard it on the radio for the first time.

Here’s Mary’s recollection of taping Motown 25, and how Diana — who was at her diva peak — carried on:

“We started singing “Someday We’ll Be Together.” Then something went wrong. Diane seemed genuinely confused. Attempting to distance herself from us, she took two steps closer to the audience. As agreed, Cindy and I stepped two paces forward too. Diane again moved forward; we followed.

“The third time it happened, Diane turned and forcefully shoved me aside. The audience gasped, appalled. Diane’s eyes widened in shock at the realization that I wasn’t about to back down, and that all these people had just witnessed her little tantrum. She got so flustered she lost her place in the song, so I sang a line, thinking Diane would compose herself and assume the lead again in a few seconds. I kept singing lead. The only thing that she could think of doing was to begin to talk while I sang.

“She proceeded to speak to Berry, out in the audience. “Berry, come on down,” I called while the music continued. With that comment, Diane grabbed my microphone and pushed it away from my face. “It’s been taken care of!” she snapped at me with fire in her eyes. The audience gasped again. I was told later that Suzanne dePasse panicked and sent out Smokey Robinson to defuse the crisis.

“In seconds the stage filled with other artists, and the Supremes “reunion” was over. Diane had given the media the cat fight they were praying for, and they licked their collective chops in delight. I have never been so mad at her in my entire career. Just when I thought that we were at a stage where she was going to bury the hatchet, she went and pulled something like that. I was hurt and stunned.”

 

Hollywood Plans a “Wizard of Oz” Remake And You Know It’s Already a Very, Very Bad Idea

Roger Friedman
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Hollywood Plans a “Wizard of Oz” Remake And You Know It’s Already a Very, Very Bad Idea

Uh oh.

New Line Cinema at Warner Bros. is planning a “Wizard of Oz” remake. The 1939 classic is just that, a classic, and there’s no way it can be improved. So why not ruin it?

Instead of booking a director with musicals in their background, they’ve given the job to the director of HBO’s Emmy winning “Watchmen.” Warner’s had “Wizard of Oz” in their library, so they can do anything they want to it– and they will.

The only bright side here is that Marc Platt is one of the producers, so maybe he’ll get new songs from Pasek and Paul, his “La La Land” and “Evan Hansen” composers.

But really, no remakes every work. They are all bad. One by one they come and go and are all horrid. Think of “Psycho” from Gus van Sant. Or the updated “Heartbreak Kid.” No one wants to see these things again.

You can almost imagine a new “Wizard,” with James Corden as the Cowardly Lion, Jim Carrey as the Scarecrow, Harry Styles as the Tin Man, and Ariana Grande as Dorothy. The Wizard will be played by Cedric the Entertainer.  The Flying Monkeys will be unicorns. The Munchkins will now be Little People. All the villains will claim to be misunderstood. The Wicked Witch of the West — Meryl Streep — will be in therapy.

No. no. no. Maybe Toto’s heirs can sue to stop this.

Watch the Trailer for “Genius: Aretha Franklin” Now a Four Night Mini-Series Coming in March to National Geographic

Roger Friedman
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Watch the Trailer for “Genius: Aretha Franklin” Now a Four Night Mini-Series Coming in March to National Geographic

Here is the trailer for the National Geographic mini series “Genius: Aretha Franklin.” What used to be an 8 part series is now a four night showing beginning on Sunday, March 21st. Cynthia Erivo stars as Aretha, and Courtney B. Vance plays her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin. Clive Davis and Atlantic Records’ Craig Kallman are Executive Producers. Brian Graer and Ron Howard of Imagine Entertainment produce the series.

I think we’re going to see a lot from Aretha’s Atlantic years on the first two nights, and more from her Arista years in the second two nights. “Genius” should be a forerunner in the Emmys race in this summer. Erivo is amazing, you can see it from the trailer. All of this precedes “Respect,” the Jennifer Hudson – Aretha bio due in August on the big screen. It’s an Aretha year! PS Aretha and Mary Wilson knew each other very well, they were almost the same age and from the same neighborhood in Detroit. I hope they are having a reunion today in heaven.

Here’s a breakdown of episodes:
RESPECT
Sunday, March 21, at 9/8c
Desperate for a hit, Aretha travels to Muscle Shoals in 1967 to record her first album with Atlantic Records. After suffering the loss of her surrogate mother, Little Re braves her first solo in 1953, in her father’s, C.L. Franklin, church.

UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG
Sunday, March 21, at 10/9c
Struggling to find her sound, Aretha catches the attention of Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records in 1966. Meanwhile, Little Re has her first touring experience on the Gospel Circuit in 1954 with C.L. Franklin and meets her idol, Clara Ward.

DO-RIGHT WOMAN
Monday, March 22, at 9/8c
Aretha juggles her music career and her commitment to the civil rights movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr., in 1967 and 1968. Meanwhile, Little Re leaves behind her newborn child to return to the Gospel Circuit in 1955, meeting with music legends James Cleveland and Little Sammie Bryant.

UNFORGETTABLE
Monday, March 22, at 10/9c
Aretha is featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1968, but she’s devastated when the article focuses on the scandalous details of her personal life. Barbara Franklin and Young C.L. Franklin struggle to establish themselves in Memphis in 1941, before Little Re is born.

YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK
Tuesday, March 23, at 9/8c
Aretha, inspired by Angela Davis and the Soledad Brothers, records her protest album “Young, Gifted and Black” in 1970. Despite Jerry Wexler’s uncertainty, the album is a success. Barbara Franklin makes a decision that has a devastating effect on Little Re in 1951.

AMAZING GRACE
Tuesday, March 23, at 10/9c
Aretha records her best-selling live Gospel album “Amazing Grace” in 1972 at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, ignoring her sibling’s pleas to record instead at New Bethel with their father, C.L. Franklin. Little Re discovers that she’s pregnant with her second child, forcing her to leave school. While pregnant, she records her first album at New Bethel in 1956.

CHAIN OF FOOLS
Wednesday, March 24, at 9/8c
As the Queen of Soul enters the age of disco, Aretha will do anything to remain relevant—including stealing an opportunity from her sister Carolyn. She receives a GRAMMY nomination but is ultimately snubbed from winning the award. While at the ceremony, she meets with Arista founder Clive Davis. Meanwhile, Jerry Wexler leaves Atlantic Records, and he and Aretha part ways.

NO ONE SLEEPS
Wednesday, March 24, at 10/9c
Despite significant emotional losses, including a second divorce and the death of her father in 1984, Aretha pushes herself artistically and triumphs. She begins a successful career at Arista, with the help of Clive Davis, and in an unforgettable GRAMMY performance in 1998, she solidifies her eternal reign as the Queen of Soul.

Super Bowl Ratings Disappoint with “Just 96.4 Million,” But Queen Latifah Starts “Equalizer” with Not Bad 20 Million

Roger Friedman
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Super Bowl Ratings Disappoint with “Just 96.4 Million,” But Queen Latifah Starts “Equalizer” with Not Bad 20 Million

The long knives are out for the NFL. Super Bowl ratings, delayed by a day, came in and were disappointing.

The total number of viewers on CBS was “just 96.4 million.” The highly touted showdown between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes didn’t materialize as the KC Chiefs slept through the game, the Tampa Bay Bucs ran roughshod over them.

The game didn’t hit 100 million, and was the worst showing since 2007.

Frankly, NINETY SIX MILLION sounds good to me considering the season, the pandemic, and the fact that Colin Kaepernick still doesn’t have a job on a team.

Queen Latifah debuted in “The Equalizer” at 10:30pm after the Bowl and brought in 20 million viewers. That’s a great start for a solid new series with a black female lead. I mean, CBS should be dancing and opening Champagne. “The Equalizer” is a formula show with a big twist– huge multicultural infusion. The cast is excellent, and the production quality is very high. It’s a hit, and I hope we see it run for five to seven seasons. Bravo!

As for the Super Bowl, there are so many distractions now. The numbers are in decline anyway. CBS can count its blessings.

 

 

Diana Ross’s Tweet Reaction to Mary Wilson’s Death is Classic and Cold, Devoid of Emotion or Feeling

Roger Friedman
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Diana Ross’s Tweet Reaction to Mary Wilson’s Death is Classic and Cold, Devoid of Emotion or Feeling

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEADLINES AND MARY WILSON’S OBIT

 

I’ll say this for Diana Ross: she’s consistent. In life she treated Mary Wilson, her singing partner in the Supremes, pretty badly. In death, Diana was not moved. She wrote on Twitter: “I just woke up to this news , my condolences to you Mary’s family ,I am reminded that each day is a gift ,I have so many wonderful memories of our time together “The Supremes ” will live on ,in our hearts”

Impersonal as that was, at least Diana remained true to herself. She treated Mary like an employee, someone who wasn’t equal to her in the Supremes or in life. She did the same thing to Florence Ballard, who was forced out of the group in the 60s and died in poverty. She was never kind to Florence’s replacement, Cindy Birdsong.

Back in 2004, Ross wanted Mary to go out on a Supremes 40th anniversary tour — as her backup singer! Diana would have been paid $10 million, Mary just $3 million. Diana would be the star. Mary turned it down. Diana went out anyway, with singers who’d been replacement Supremes long after Diana and Mary were out of the group. The tour was a flop.

Mary was vociferous about getting legislation so that random people couldn’t be called The Supremes. That’s why Diana is calling the group “The Supremes” with quotations. I’m sure once Mary is buried, Diana will try some kind of revival again, and reduce Mary to a footnote. We won’t let that happen.

Life isn’t fair, is it?

Meanwhile, R&B legend Sam Moore told us: “Mary will be missed on many levels. Mary was always someone I could count on to help fight to get the terrestrial radio bill passed through Congress so that when all of our music – every American recording artists music played on AM and FM radio – we could get paid and we could finally collect the thousands and thousands of dollars from around the world, which would be life-changing money for so many of us – our friends – our peers – all genres. I call every fan of Mary’s to write their senators and their congressmen and say ‘get the artist paid when their music is played on AM/FM radio’. In her memory pass a bill – stop cheating them while you’re making billions.”

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