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NBC Trump Town Hall: Savannah Guthrie Debates and Wins, But NBC Celebrities Criticize Network

Roger Friedman
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NBC Trump Town Hall: Savannah Guthrie Debates and Wins, But NBC Celebrities Criticize Network

The infamous NBC Trump Town Hall is over. It lasted one hour, with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie basically debating Trump and correcting lies. She must be exhausted. It was like a prize fight. But she did get Trump to admit that he owes someone $412 million. He didn’t deny it.

He also didn’t disavow Qanon, the crazy conspiracy group. When asked about it he, Trump pretended he knew nothing about them, then said they were anti-pedophilia. He also wouldn’t disavow white supremacist groups. He skirted every question and refused to be pinned down.

At one point Guthrie– talking him retweeting crazy statements– said, “It’s not like you’re someone’s crazy uncle and can re-Tweet anything you want.”

If you listen to Trump’s blathering, he’s really saying that everyone should be given the choice to embrace misogyny. racism, white supremacy. and let the chips fall where they may. And he won’t take a side. We have not moved an inch from Charlottesville and “there are fine people on both sides.”

Guthrie really hung in there and did an excellent job. But it’s like wrestling with mercury. Trump slips and slides. He’s vile, and loves it.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden’s thoughtful, decisive, and measured Town Hall, in the real world, continues on ABC.

 

Tony Nominations So Weird Aaron Tveit Could Lose to No One, Only Best Score Nominations Went to Plays, Not Musicals

Roger Friedman
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Tony Nominations So Weird Aaron Tveit Could Lose to No One, Only Best Score Nominations Went to Plays, Not Musicals

Really, it’s another world. The Tony nominations came from 16 eligible shows, a very slight field. The result is that Aaron Tveit is the only nominee for Best Actor in a Musical. He can only lose to himself! Bully for him, but even Tveit knows he would have had a bunch of competitors had the season actually happened. So, it’s an odd victory.

Even weirder: the nominees for Best Score of a Musical came all from plays. Not one was from musical!

The Best Play was not “Slave Play.” If that wins, the voters are suffering from psych-fan-tism. It was pornographic and offensive. You could make thick sweaters from all the sheep who fell for that thing. I can’t wait til “Slave Play” hits tour and summer stock circuit. That should be pretty interesting.

The best play from this group was “The Sound Inside.” I’m sad that “Lucy Barton” wasn’t nominated. Best Musical, I don’t care. I didn’t like “Moulin Rouge” and didn’t see “Jagged Little Edge.” The best musical was the just about to open “Girl from the North Country.” They were robbed!


Best Play
Grand Horizons
The Inheritance
Sea Wall/ A Life
Slave Play
The Sound Inside


Best Revival Of A Play
Betrayal
A Soldier’s Play
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

Best Musical
Moulin Rouge!
Jagged Little Pill
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Best Book Of A Musical
Moulin Rouge!
Jagged Little Pill
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Play
Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play
Laura Linney, My Name Is Lucy Barton
Audra McDonald, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Mary-Louise Parker, The Sound Inside

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Ian Barford, Linda Vista
Andrew Burnap, The Inheritance
Jake Gyllenhaal, Sea Wall/A Life
Tom Hiddleston, Betrayal
Tom Sturridge, Sea Wall/A Life
Blair Underwood, A Soldier’s Play

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Karen Olivo, Moulin Rouge!
Elizabeth Stanley, Jagged Little Pill
Adrienne Warren, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Aaron Tviet, Moulin Rouge!

**From The Tony Awards Rules: If the Tony Awards Nominating Committee has determined that if there is only one nominee in a category listed, such category shall be submitted to the Tony Voters which may, by the affirmative vote of sixty (60%) percent of the total ballots cast, grant an Award in that category

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Ato Blankson-Wood, Slave Play
James Cusati-Moyer, Slave Play
David Alan Grier, A Soldier’s Play
John Benjamin Hickey, The Inheritance
Paul Hilton, The Inheritance

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Jane Alexander, Grand Horizons
Chalia La Tour, Slave Play
Annie McNamara, Slave Play
Lois Smith, The Inheritance
Cora Vander Broek, Linda Vista

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danny Burstein, Moulin Rouge!
Derek Klena, Jagged Little Pill
Sean Allan Krill, Jagged Little Pill
Sahr Ngaujah, Moulin Rouge!
Daniel J. Watts, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kathryn Gallagher, Jagged Little Pill
Celia Rose Gooding, Jagged Little Pill
Robyn Hurder, Moulin Rouge!
Lauren Patten, Jagged Little Pill
Myra Lucretia Taylor, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
A Christmas Carole
The Inheritance
The Rose Tattoo
Slave Play
The Sound Inside

Best Direction Of A Play
The Sound Inside
The Inheritance
A Soldier’s Play
Betrayal
Slave Play

Best Direction Of A Musical
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Jagged Little Pill
Moulin Rouge

Best Choreography of a Musical
Jagged Little Pill
Moulin Rouge
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Best Orchestrations
Jagged Little Pill
Moulin Rouge
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Mariah Carey’s Very Good, Very Bad 2 Weeks with Book, CD Shows How Short the News Cycle Is

Roger Friedman
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Mariah Carey’s Very Good, Very Bad 2 Weeks with Book, CD Shows How Short the News Cycle Is

Wasn’t it just yesterday that Mariah Carey was everywhere? Yes, it was.

The singer released her memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” on September 29th. That was two weeks ago. It was followed by her “Rarities” album. There was a flurry of activity. Last Thursday, “The Meaning” debuted on the New York Times best seller list for non fiction (when some argued it should be fiction) at number 1.

And today? The book is at number 8 on the New York Times list. On Amazon, it’s dropped to number 91, having never gotten to number 1. “The Meaning” is almost out of the top 100.

The good news is, you can get 3 copies for the price of 2 on amazon. (I’ve never seen that before for a book, just Lysol.) It’s a perfect stocking stuffer.

The album? Sold 15,000 copies on CD and download. Streaming of all the tracks, etc gives it a total of 25,000. But 15,000 people plunked down money to hear it. Which is too bad, because it has some nice stuff on it.

Anyway. It’s frustrating. This is how short the news cycle is. Also, this was the fan base for all this stuff. I get so much hate mail about Mariah. But then these fans don’t show up to support their idol. Perplexing.

At least Andy Cohen Books can trumpet “Number 1 New York Times Best Seller,” so that’s some consolation.

 

Watch the 2020 Tony Awards Nominations Here at 12 Noon Including “Tina!” “Moulin Rouge” “Jagged Little Pill,” “The Sound Inside”

Roger Friedman
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Watch the 2020 Tony Awards Nominations Here at 12 Noon Including “Tina!” “Moulin Rouge” “Jagged Little Pill,” “The Sound Inside”

There are only 16 shows eligible for the 2020 Tony Awards. The nominees come from these shows, and it’s a mediocre list at best. The shows that would have really been in the Tony mix didn’t get to open. Hence, these Tony Awards will only be given online. That’s a shame for the people here who really did deserve acclaim, like Adrienne Warren as Tina Turner.

The sadder part of this is that after this business is concluded, we won’t have a Tony Awards again until June 2022. Broadway is officially dark through May 2021, with some shows announcing theoretical openings at the end of 2021. The pandemic has caused an economic and cultural catastrophe for New York’s theater world. So VOTE on November 3rd and let’s bring in people who can fix this fast.

Watch the video live below at 12 noon:

Demi Lovato, Bob Dylan of the Trump Resistance: Pop Star Releases Searing Anti-Trump “Commander in Chief”

Roger Friedman
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Demi Lovato, Bob Dylan of the Trump Resistance: Pop Star Releases Searing Anti-Trump “Commander in Chief”

Who would have guessed that pop star Demi Lovato would turn out to be the Bob Dylan of the Trump resistance? Demi debuted a searing anti-Donald Trump anthem on the Billboard Awards last night, broadcast on the same NBC that tonight will host a Trump Town Hall against everyone’s wishes. Maybe Demi can sing “Commander in Chief” during the Town Hall! TMZ reports that NBC edited out the graphics around Demi during the performance that read VOTE because the network thought that implied VOTE for Biden. They’re geniuses!

Here’s the song, followed by the lyrics. Demi Lovato, you’ve got my vote!

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

If you mess with things selfishly, they’re bound to come undone?
I’m not the only one
That’s been affected and resented every story you’ve spun
And I’m a lucky one
‘Cause there are people worse off that have suffered enough
Haven’t they suffered enough?
But you can’t get enough of
Shuttin’ down systеms for personal gain
Fightin’ fires with flyers and prayin’ for rain
Do you gеt off on pain?
We’re not pawns in your game

[Chorus]
Commander in Chief, honestly
If I did the things you do
I couldn’t sleep, seriously
Do you even know the truth?
We’re in a state of crisis, people are dyin’
While you line your pockets deep
Commander in Chief, how does it feel to still
Be able to breathe?

[Verse 2]
We were taught when we were young
If we fight for what’s right, there won’t be justice for just some
Won’t give up, stand our ground
We’ll be in the streets while you’re bunkering down
Loud and proud, best believe
We’ll still take a knee while you’re

[Chorus]
Commander in Chief, honestly
If I did the things you do
I couldn’t sleep, seriously
Do you even know the truth?
We’re in a state of crisis, people are dyin’
While you line your pockets deep
Commander in Chief, how does it feel to still
Be able to breathe, breathe?
Be able to breathe

[Bridge]
Won’t give up, stand our ground
We’ll be in the streets while you’re bunkering down
Won’t give up, stand our ground
We’ll be in the streets while you’re
[Chorus]
Commander in Chief, honestly
If I did the things you do
I couldn’t sleep, seriously
Do you even know the truth?
We’re in a state of crisis, people are dyin’
While you line your pockets deep
Commander in Chief, how does it feel to still
Be able to breathe?
Able to breathe

Ariana Grande Says She Can’t Wait to “Give” Us Her New Album This Month, And Adele? It’s 5 Years Since “25”

Roger Friedman
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Ariana Grande Says She Can’t Wait to “Give” Us Her New Album This Month, And Adele? It’s 5 Years Since “25”

CORRECTED: The pop stars are aligning for a fall pre-Christmas release schedule.

Ariana Grande, who’s been unusually quiet the last few months, says on Twitter today that she can’t wait to “give” us her new album this month. By give I don’t think she means free distribution. Republic Records will brace for another hit collection in a series of successes, no doubt.

Ariana follows Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift who’ve all had 2020 releases. They’re all very different, too. But it’s definitely the era of these singers, not to forget Demi Lovato, Kesha, Pink, and a few others.

One diva has been MIA officially for five years. Adele released her “25” album in November 20, 2015. Five years is pretty much the maximum length anyone can wait, including the “Skyfall” single that came a little later. I’m told Adele will be dropping a single soon with an eye toward a similar mid-November album. Mid-to-late November is her best shot at real Christmas sales. Sony/Columbia could use it, and frankly, so could Adele. Stay tuned…

 

Oscars: Best Actress Really Heats Up with Glenn Close, Amy Adams in Ron Howard’s “Hillbilly Elegy”

Roger Friedman
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Oscars: Best Actress Really Heats Up with Glenn Close, Amy Adams in Ron Howard’s “Hillbilly Elegy”

Ironically, it really is the year of the woman in movies.

Now Glenn Close and Amy Adams are jumping into the Oscar race for best actress with Ron Howard’s “Hillbilly Elegy.” The first trailer looks pretty good. It’s unclear who will be lead or supporting, or both ladies will go in lead. With Frances McDormand currently the front runner, and Michelle Pfeiffer right behind her, and Jennifer Hudson looming over them, these two performances could round out the top 5. And you know Netflix will push this hard for other categories, too. Did someone suggest not having the Oscars this year? LOL. They are on!

(Listen) Legendary Stevie Wonder Drops Two Great New Songs, Starts His Own Label Called So What the Fuss Music

Roger Friedman
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(Listen) Legendary Stevie Wonder Drops Two Great New Songs, Starts His Own Label Called So What the Fuss Music

Stevie Wonder is back!

Our all time favorite performer (among a few others, but still…) has dropped two new songs today. One of them is called “Where is Our Love Song” and I am thrilled to tell you this was the song Stevie played for me at Tony Bennett’s 90th birthday party 4 years ago at the Rainbow Room. A couple of celebs eyed me very jealously as Stevie put headphones on me and flipped a switch on a little recorder-player he was holding under our table. It’s very exciting to hear it now in its finished form.

Stevie will donate 100% of proceeds of  “Where Is Our Love Song” to Feeding America. “To feed people,” he said, “it is my joy.” The song features Gary Clark Jr. on guitar and background vocals from five of Wonder’s children.

The second song is called “Can’t Put it in the Hands of Fate”  and was written about a relationship. He rewrote it a few months ago to address current political and social situations and includes a collection of conscious rappers—Rapsody, Cordae, Chika and Busta Rhymes.

The singles will either appear on a new album or EP. I hope it’s a full length album. We’ve gone too long without a new one from Mr. Stevland Morris.

Stevie’s also started his own label through Republic/Universal called So What the Fuss Records. He’s moving in the Universal Music Group family from Motown, where he’s been since 1963. (Motown isn’t the same place anymore.) And what the fuss indeed? Stevie has a new kidney, looks trim and ready to rock. There is no one better.

 

Social Distancing Killing Showbiz? Cirque du Soleil Co-Creator Opens First Ever Drive-Thru Dazzling Light Show Extravaganza Outside Montreal

Roger Friedman
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Social Distancing Killing Showbiz? Cirque du Soleil Co-Creator Opens First Ever Drive-Thru Dazzling Light Show Extravaganza Outside Montreal

Normand Latourelle was the co-creator of the Cirque du Soleil empire and took it to the top. He left to create Cavalia, a spectacular entertainment with horses, and a light show titled “Illumi” that was a huge hit last winter in Montreal. But that was before COVID.

When the pandemic hit last March, Latourelle– whose own mother dubbed him “The Merchant of Happiness” — wasn’t going to fold his tents. :Cavalia” on a hold. But “Illumi” is blazing. “Illumi” was a massive light show that people walked through — 500,000 of them, in fact. He tells me grossed $15 million. So he wasn’t going to let a virus get in his way. He says, “When I heard the restrictions last March, I said let’s be creative.”

On Wednesday night, an even bigger “Illumi” opens outside Montreal, with proper social distancing. The audience will come in cars. The show is already sold out. It plays from now through mid March with 17 different tableaux blazing millions of lights. Cars holding up to 4 or 5 people are coming every night, at $20 per person. You can order food that’s brought to the car. There are bathroom stops, of course. The whole ride through “Illumi” is supposed to take around an hour and 15 minutes.

“When someone tells me don’t do that, I use my imagination to push the limit,” Latourelle says.

Drive-thru entertainment may be the immediate solution to showbiz with social distance. Latourelle, as usual, is onto something. Instead of downsizing for the pandemic, he went big big bigger. Last year’s show covered 400,000 square feet. This year’s is on 1 million square feet of parking lots. He says there are 20 million lights and 30,000 installations. (If I lived up there, I’d rent a convertible for the evening.)

With movie theaters shut across the US, and Broadway dark in New York, Latourelle looks brilliant. I didn’t mention this to him in our conversation, but what about all the abandoned malls in America? They have huge empty parking lots just waiting for someone to lease them.

Meantime, how we do see “Illumi’? You can’t really fly into Montreal right now. But I guess we could all drive, at least from the Northeast. From the pictures and videos, “Illumi” looks like it has the production values of those amazing Cirque du Soleil shows. Of the 17 different tableaux, or light exhibits, by the way, three or four will keep changing through the winter to reflect the various holidays. So if you like it, you’ll have to go back again. Very clever, these Quebecois!

Drew Barrymore’s Talk Show Losing Steam Already, Drops Another 17%, While Ellen DeGeneres Holds Steady Despite Scandal

Roger Friedman
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Drew Barrymore’s Talk Show Losing Steam Already, Drops Another 17%, While Ellen DeGeneres Holds Steady Despite Scandal

The TV syndication ratings are in, and they show a tough world if you live by numbers.

Drew Barrymore’s talk show is certainly struggling in its third week. It dropped 17% from 600,000 to 500,000 viewers last week, down from a premiere week of 800,000. To make matters worse, while Drew is trying to keep her audience from drifting away, her main time frame competitor, “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” is booming. Their ratings are actually going up! “Live” went up 13% last week and jumped over “Dr. Phil” to be the number 1 talk show in syndication. “Drew” consequently fell to number 11.

Shoving Drew in at 9am against “Live” is not going to work, obviously. The best competition for “Live” was the counter programming of “Hot Bench.” That show is pulling in 1.6 million viewers each week.

“Drew,” by the way, featured “SNL” actor Chloe Fineman yesterday. Chloe is doing a parody of Drew on “SNL.” Of course, no one mentioned that Drew’s producer is Nancy Juvonen, talented wife of Jimmy Fallon, whose own late night talk show shares a an executive producer with “SNL”– uh, Lorne Michaels.

And what about Ellen DeGeneres? Well, she’s holding steady with 1.2 million viewers. There’s no big fall out from her scandal. We keep waiting. But it ain’t happening. If “The Ellen Show” lives through this season, number 17, she’ll probably make it to 20 seasons. Every week she gets into the season, the scandal recedes. Interesting, no?

Here’s the Drew interview with Chloe Fineman. Drew is all bubbly as usual. But if you notice, there’s not much of an “SNL” clip here. I’m not so sure she loved the parody that much after all.

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