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UPDATE AMC Theaters Stock Drops 16% After Warner Bros. Announces They Will Debut All 2021 Movies on HBO Max Simultaneous to Screens

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE AMC Theaters Stock Drops 16% After Warner Bros. Announces They Will Debut All 2021 Movies on HBO Max Simultaneous to Screens

UPDATE AMC THEATERS  stock dropped 16% at close of bell today after WB’s announcement.

Warner Bros. has dealt to a potential death blow to movie theaters today. They’ve announced that all their 2021 releases will go not only to theaters but to HBO Max at the same time. HBO Max is the Warners streaming equivalent of Disney Plus or Netflix. This means that audiences will have the option of staying home, not paying for babysitters, sodas, candy, etc. And they will avoid potential exposure to COVID.

Will some want to go to theaters? Maybe. But by and large, this could kill the theater business.

At 2:14pm, AMC Theaters stock had dropped 12% in two hours.

The movies on this list for 2021 include:

Denzel Washington’s “The Little Things,” upcoming Oscar-buzzed  “Judas and the Black Messiah,” plus Tom & Jerry, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In The Heights,” Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Reminiscence, Malignant, “Dune,” David Chase’s “The Many Saints of Newark,” King Richard, Cry Macho and Matrix 4.

The studio had already announced the simultaneous release of “Wonder Woman 1984” in theaters and on HBO Max.

The studio says: “The hybrid model was created as a strategic response to the impact of the ongoing global pandemic.”

Ratings UPDATE: “The Conners” Drops Another 200,000 Viewers as Fans Abandon Show, Criticize Lack of Laughs

Roger Friedman
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Ratings UPDATE: “The Conners” Drops Another 200,000 Viewers as Fans Abandon Show, Criticize Lack of Laughs

“The Conners” dropped another 200,000 viewers last night in another desultory Wednesday outing.

The “Roseanne” spin off hit 3.5 million, down from 3.7 million. They key demo dropped below to 0.6, and 0.9 in the older demo, first time below 1.0.

What’s happening? Moving the show to Wednesdays at 9pm didn’t help. But fans have been writing to me in droves saying the show is not funny, they can’t relate to it, and there doesn’t seem to be a central theme to bring everyone back week to week.

I watched “The Conners” last night and I have to say, the fans are right. The show seemed kind of grim to me. Darlene is married to a guy, or living with one who looks like a werewolf and is sitting in Dan’s (John Goodman’s) chair. Goodman seems out of sorts, and Katy Sagal, who I thought was going to pop as Louise, Dan’s girlfriend, also seemed out of focus.

But it was Laurie Metcalf who concerned me. While she had air time last night, everything about Jackie seemed off. She also has let Jackie age in a way that’s not inviting. “The Conners” certainly isn’t supposed to be glamorous, but attractive in some way. Clearly the fans are not finding any of it attractive.

I can’t say I watch the ABC Wednesday comedy slate with any regularity. But I did notice that “The Goldbergs” at 8pm did better last night, which is unusual. Usually “The Conners” beats them. “The Goldbergs” is no “Seinfeld,” but the writing last night was warmer than “The Conners” and more focused. “The Conners” needs a sharpening, and fast.

Review: Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen are Tarnished Golden Girls in Steven Soderbergh’s Surprise Hit “Let Them All Talk”

Roger Friedman
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Review: Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen are Tarnished Golden Girls in Steven Soderbergh’s Surprise Hit “Let Them All Talk”

The first time I heard the premise of “Let Them All Talk,” I thought– Love Boat, Golden Girls. what is this? Why are Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, and Candice Bergen getting involved in this kind of shmaltzy nonsense? And why is two time Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh directing it?

But then there’s the screenwriter, Deborah Eisenberg, famous from the New Yorker, married a long time to actor Wally Shawn, who’s been in projects with all three of these powerhouse actresses. And Lucas Hedges and Gemma Chan are the “young people.” It’s not like they’re Donnie and Marie.

Upfront I’ll tell you “Let Them All Talk” was sold to HBO Max, but because of this year’s Oscar rules, it’s eligible for everything. I didn’t know that when I saw it. Last week, everyone was focused on Meryl in “The Prom.” But I knew better. Soderbergh, very slyly, has pulled off a quite triumph.

The premise is that Streep is literary award winning writer Alice Hughes. She’s wanted in London to accept a prestigious prize so she asks if she can take her two college pals– Bergen and Wiest– and nephew Hedges. She will only go by boat, so they all board the Queen Mary for Southampton after her book agent (Gemma Chan) gets her a lecture gig.

It’s not exactly The Love Boat. Well, maybe if Robert Altman had filmed it. “LTAT” has that feeling of being intimate and on the fly, almost cinema verite, when it’s quite constructed. That’s its magic. Each of the women has secrets and issues, many of them are unexplained for a long time, none are obvious. Meryl’s Alice believes her own publicity, Wiest’s Susan has hidden wisdom, Bergen’s Roberta is garrulous and direct.

Streep and Wiest are wonderful, of course. Streep has the showier part, a kind of Lear unraveling before our eyes, charming and dangerous. It’s one of her best performances, apples and oranges to “The Prom.”

But it’s Bergen who really knocked me out. She just keeps transcending herself in all these post- Murphy Brown movies. Roberta is broke, she hates Alice for ruining her life, she is bluntly on a gold digging mission for a husband. Maybe it’s a silver mining expedition. Her standards aren’t that high. She just wants to find a dignified third act. I really liked her so much. I want to be snookered by her myself.

And then, after the movie makes a sharp turn, it’s Roberta who brings dignity to the proceedings. She’s the unexpected heroine. Bergen deserves a Supporting Actress nomination. I put her in with my favorite supporting performances of this season including Valerie Mahaffey from “French Exit,” Marisa Tomei from “King of Staten Island,” Cherry Jones from “Rainy Day in New York,” Swankie from “Nomadland,” and Amanda Seyfried from “Mank.”

Soderbergh shot this for nothing, basically, did his own editing and cinematography. “LTAT” will stand high on his already impressive resume.

Will Amanda Kloots’ Roots Affect Her New Job on “The Talk”? Read Her Right Wing Mother’s Anti-Hollywood, Obama, Clinton, Freddie Gray Tweets

Roger Friedman
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Will Amanda Kloots’ Roots Affect Her New Job on “The Talk”? Read Her Right Wing Mother’s Anti-Hollywood, Obama, Clinton, Freddie Gray Tweets

EXCLUSIVE Amanda Kloots Cordero, using her maiden name, has joined “The Talk” as a co-host on CBS. (Elaine Welteroth also joined the ratings-anemic show.) Kloots is the widow of Broadway star Nick Cordero, who died tragically from COVID this year after a prolonged battle. During that time, Kloots rose from unknown video fitness instructor to social media star. Her trajectory was meteoric despite the grief.

Kloots’ fans have pointed out that the devout Christian comes from a fairly conservative-to-right wing Ohio family. It’s not clear yet if Amanda is as outspoken as her mother, Maureen, who was an active Tweeter back in 2013-15, with some pretty severe observations.

At the top of her Twitter account, still active, Maureen Kloots describes herself as “Wife, Mother and Grandmother. Dog Lover. Christian. Patriot. Devoted watcher of FOX News. And most importantly, REPUBLICAN!”

Maureen really hated President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She wasn’t shy about it either.

She wrote, for example: “Where is Obama. Oh I bet he might be too busy at a basketball game. Help.” A year earlier she wrote: “As for me and my house we now call the president. KING OBAMA”

She had some other observations about Obama, like: “After his term is over I think the PRES has an excellent chance of getting the lead on the TV show SCANDAL”

Mrs. Kloots had no sympathy for Freddie Gray, the 25 year old Black man who was killed by Baltimore police in April 2015 during an arrest. She wrote “FREDDIE GRAY. BIG HEROIN DEALER and. USER. I support the police”

But what should really be of interest to the bookers of “The Talk,” who depend on celebrities to Zoom in, is Mrs. Kloots’ 2015 declaration: “I Hate Hollywood!” She doubled down two days later with “Good night do I ever hate Hollywood.”

She’s also a Xenophobe Extraordinaire: “I think I am I in the USA, but not a lot of people are speaking English.”

It’s hard to imagine what Nick Cordero thought of all this.  Meantime, Kloots picked up around $1 million after running a GoFundMe campaign following Cordero’s death.


Oscar Winner Emma Stone, Possibly Pregnant, Bows out of Damien Chazelle-Brad Pitt Film, Margot Robbie In

Roger Friedman
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Oscar Winner Emma Stone, Possibly Pregnant, Bows out of Damien Chazelle-Brad Pitt Film, Margot Robbie In

Emma Stone may be pregnant.  The Oscar winning star of Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” has dropped out of his next film, “Babylon,” co-starring Brad Pitt. Stone would have played silent film star Clara Bow at the moment when Hollywood was turning from silent pictures to talkies.

Stone had such success with Chazelle it’s doubtful she’d drop out for “scheduling reasons” unless the schedule included a baby. Tabloids have been buzzing for weeks that she and husband Dave McCary, a director on “Saturday Night Live,” were expecting. It would be a blessed event.

“Babylon” reportedly has a 180 page script, suggested a three hour movie. So Stone knows this wouldn’t be a walk in the park. Better to bow out now. She already has her Oscar with Chazelle, so she can take her time. As for Chazelle, he really wants to make epics, I guess. I wish he’d try another film like “Whiplash” that is more economical in many ways. But he’s a major filmmaker now, so we’ll cross our fingers for great results.

For Emma, mazel tov, I hope.

Taylor Swift Unveils Her First Re-record, of “Love Story,” for Ryan Reynolds Written Dating Commercial

Roger Friedman
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Taylor Swift Unveils Her First Re-record, of “Love Story,” for Ryan Reynolds Written Dating Commercial

Taylor Swift has revealed her first re-recorded hit. She let it debut on a commercial for Match.com written by actor Ryan Reynolds. Did we know that RR was writing commercials in his spare time? Anyway, Taylor let him use “Love Story.” She says she’s not finished re-recording her whole early catalog to thwart its owners– now an investment fund, previously Scooter Braun. But she’s doing it, and it’s going to make that $300 million investment from the Disney family’s former advisers wish they hadn’t gotten involved!

Lady Gaga Replaces Touring Money with “Chromatica” Oreo Deal, Other Name Actors Pitching on TV Commercials

Roger Friedman
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Lady Gaga Replaces Touring Money with “Chromatica” Oreo Deal, Other Name Actors Pitching on TV Commercials

I love Lady Gaga, but does she need more money? She’s now got a sponsorship deal with Oreo cookies, for a pink “Chromatica” cookie. This deal obviously fills in the revenue missing from not touring in 2020 and maybe 2021. I swear, an “Art Pop” had to be coming from a popsicle maker!

We’re seeing a lot of name brand actors suddenly doing commercials they’d never have considered. The great Cecily Strong from “SNL” is singing for a spaghetti sauce. Anna Kendrick is doing “My Favorite Things” for Frito Lay, one of the most disgusting snacks in the world. Ryan Reynolds is loaded up with products.

Well, those mansions have to be paid for!

These Chromatica Oreos don’t look very appetizing. That’s the color of any food you should be eating.

UPDATE “The Undoing” Posts a HUGE Finale Episode for Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant with 3 Million Viewers Across All HBO Platforms

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE “The Undoing” Posts a HUGE Finale Episode for Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant with 3 Million Viewers Across All HBO Platforms

UPDATE: HBO tells me “The Undoing” brought in 3 million viewers across all platforms including HBO Max. It was the most watched series episode on the cabler since the 2019 finale of “Big Little Lies.” Nicole Kidman is really the Queen of HBO now! All bow!

Nicole Kidman can certainly celebrate today. The finale episode of “The Undoing” on HBO scored a whopping 1.81 million viewers on Sunday night. It was the second highest cable show of the night behind a Hallmark Christmas movie.

The Kidman-Hugh Grant mystery grew wildly every week for six weeks as the tension mounted over who killed Elena, Grant’s mistress. But it was more about the “who” than the victim, who was a secondary issue at all times.

Unfortunately, many fans were disappointed that all the red herrings turned out to be pretty fishy. The actual mystery ended with a thump as Grant’s Jonathan– as he was in the original novel the series was based on — was revealed as the killer. The show jumped the shark with a crazy OJ Bronco like escape that came to a big nothing.

I see that David E. Kelley is saying now he was always going to stick to the book’s ending. But the mistake he made is that this wasn’t a book. It was a six week investment, and it gave viewers a chance to really think through all kinds of aspects of the whodunit. So it was a disappointment in the end that Kelley didn’t explore any of the other ideas. Sometimes you can adhere too closely to the source material.

But HBO doesn’t care. The show was a hit. Kidman and Grant will be up for Globes and Emmys, so will the show. Expect more of these quality limited series.

Good News: Oscar Race a ‘Go’ for HBO Max’s “Let Them All Talk” Directed by Steven Soderbergh with Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen

Roger Friedman
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Good News: Oscar Race a ‘Go’ for HBO Max’s “Let Them All Talk” Directed by Steven Soderbergh with Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen

Good news, indeed!

I’m told that Steven Soderbergh’s “Let Them All Talk,” is heading to the Oscars. It’s being put in competition as a motion picture in this odd year.

HBO Max, which never existed before, is the studio of record. Parent company HBO is not used to having a Best Picture possibility with all the other trimmings. But this is it. Meryl Streep– who will get Golden Globes musical category attention for “The Prom” — is a cinch for Best Actress nods from this film.

Soderbergh directed and edited this story from a script by short story writer Deborah Eisenberg. Soderbergh has 2 Oscars, Streep has 3. Co-star Dianne Wiest has 2. So of course this movie– and it’s a movie, no “Love Boat” — has to be high in the mix for the Academy Awards.

The big surprise may be Candice Bergen, who has a raft of Emmy Awards, and many fine performances on film. When reviews break on Thursday, watch for to be cited. It’s about time. I loved her a couple of years ago in Noah Baumach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories.” She never stops getting better.

For the young folks, “Let Them All Talk” has the hot star of his generation, Lucas Hedges. His contribution is major.

Will HBO hire an Oscar specialist for this film? Will anyone from HBO return my emails about this film? They should know when I queried a colleague about this movie recently, I got a shrug back. A profile boost may be needed.

 

“Juno” Star Ellen Page Comes Out as Transgender, Changes Name to Elliot Page: “My joy is real but it is also fragile”

Roger Friedman
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“Juno” Star Ellen Page Comes Out as Transgender, Changes Name to Elliot Page: “My joy is real but it is also fragile”

Bravo! Ellen Page was always the coolest kid, and now she’s done something really brave. She’s come out on social media as transgender, she’s now using different pronouns– he/they– and a new name, Elliot. From here on, so be it, Elliot is a terrific actor who’s going to blaze new trails. He says in his post below he’s afraid jokes and hate. There better not be any of that. Welcome, Elliot!

PS Ellen was nominated for an Oscar for “Juno.” I have no doubt Elliot will be nominated for one in the future and be a record-setter in the process.

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