Rupert Grint With Daniel Radcliffe And Emma WatsonPOTTER POINTS --- Here are the most impressive facts: Part 2 flew to $92.1M in the U.S. And Canada Friday (including the record-setting #43.5M from midnight showings) and $44.2M Saturday and an estimated $33.6 Sunday; aided by higher-3D ticket prices. Friday crushed the record for the best single-day box office and best Friday box office. HP's franchise finale definitely shattered the biggest 3-day weekend ever with $168.5M to beat the other gold standard, Dark Night's $158.4M. The reviews were 98% overall; again something of a record. I've seen it; it's brilliant. A film certainly for ALL to be proud of. Worldwide total right now: $475.5M. Wow!
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Ray Romano
MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE --- Last Friday,TNT abruptly canceled their celebratory show Men Of Age Certain Age (Ray Romano, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula), sparking an immediate outcry and debate from the fans of the shows. On the outside, their just-ended second season didn't bring the ratings numbered so needed and hoped for at the cablenet, however, the shows tried and true fans quickly got to the bottom of it ... maybe. Out of almost 112-responses to the cancellation in Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood, here's the best one: "This demonstrates such small thinking on TNT's part to the creative community. It also tells me as a showrunner I shouldn't bring my ideas there for fear they might get nominated and win awards and get critical praise and then get canceled. Michael Wright, Brett Weitz (TNT execs) and whoever, didn't think this through. They're stuck in their bubble reading ratings charts. These are not visionary or inspiring execs. What this really says is that TNT is not ready for success, critical or otherwise. It's all about ratings and being a cop show for the masses. They have no higher aspirations to be AMC or HBO certainly. It tells me that TNT doesn't want to broaden their brand or bring in new viewers with money or education. TNT is the red state of the Time/Warner group. I have no doubt that they would have canceled Nurse Jackie too." Andre Braugher (Homicide) and one of the three-main characters, just got nominated for a prime-time Emmy and the show itself just won a Peabody award for its outstanding writing. At least the final episode ended on an upbeat note with each of the three principals getting what they wanted ... more or less. Me, I loved the and will miss it .. and, especially Bakula ... amazing actor! A true gem.****
David Beckham
PASHA RUPERT --- So, what goes around comes around? Tensions at the heart of Murdoch's empire seemingly are about to explode, as rumors abound that Rupe's children are literally bursting at the familial-seams. Murdoch biographer Michael Wolff, claim that the tycoon's daughter, Elisabeth, had said that her brother James had "fucked the company." News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has resigned and was promptly apparently arrested yesterday by Scotland Yard; while another chief-Murdoch exec Les Hinton has resigned his post at the Wall Street Journal, which Murdoch also owns. Sunday, the London Police Chief resigned among allegations from Jude Law, David Beckham, and Paul McCartney that their phones were hacked. These names join previous celebs George Michael and Hugh Grant in citing the same allegations. Just an amazing story that builds and build. There are those that believe that Murdoch and his empire are OVER and that his son James will be the next to be arrested. Says Wolff, "What we are seeing is an enormous amount of frustration. James cannot survive. Whether he is legally culpable, he certainly mishandled this entire situation and has done so far a long period of time." Stay tuned ... as there will be more!****
DAYME SPIKED – We caught new-on-the-scene Dayme last week at Spike Hill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and was just blown away. Since we were first tipped to her, we've seen a brilliant developing artist, who not only performs to perfection, but writes most of her own material; surely a oddity in today's work-for-hire times. With a superb five-piece band (Julian Blackmore was simply outstanding on keyboards; and her two guitarists, Elliot Klien and Kute were spot-on terrific) she delivered a scintillating set. Highlighted by her own striking interpretation of the White Stripes/Dolly Parton song “Jolene.” I had forgotten what a powerful song this is and her version continued that in fine fashion. We also loved her own songs “Sunshine” and “Let Me Introduce Myself” which were just sensationally delivered. Her first CD Fusion Sundae is about completed and I know she and her manager (David Salidor) are shopping it around. She deserves a major-label effort for this and I predict it will happen very quickly. Check her out at her web site www.imperfectrecords.com ...she's going to be a star for sure.
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Joan JettJOAN JETT --- Back in the 80's I actually had a brief stint working for the publicity firm that handled Joan Jett, fresh from her days with The Runaways. For some odd reason, I never had the chance to see her live, yet I had consistently heard just terrific notices from each and every one of her performances, but, still never got the chance to see her live. I ventured out to Brooklyn’s Seaside Concerts debut last week … featuring Jett in their first show of the season. She was simply outstanding, delivering a brilliant, hi-energy set that had the SRO crowd literally on their feet the entire time. I saw last year the rather brilliant movie The Runaways last year; where Jett was flawlessly portrayed by Twilight's Kristen Stewart. Although the movie received mixed reviews across the boards, but I must admit, from my inside perspective of Jett, I felt it was pretty much on the money. It certainly didn't sugarcoat anything and all-in-all, I felt it was a honest and outstanding portrayal. I met Jett and her hound-dog manager Kenny Laguna backstage and I must admit it was a thrill; as they both exemplified a true rock 'n roll spirit. We also spotted Dayme backstage and snapped the accompanying photo. Also, adding to the fact that hard-rock radio station WRXP had just shuttered this same day at 5:00PM only added to the palpable tension that night. The station, really the last hard-rock outlet in the tri-state area, leaves a wide-open area; it's called 101.9 now and oddly, seems very similar to what WPLJ is doing. If you were a true head--banger … this station was for you.; it's a big loss. The gal-pal-group Girl In A Coma opened the show and sounded just terrific. They share a label affiliation with Jett, on Blackheart Records, and they more than prepped the crowd for the headliner. Jett and her wonderful band rocked out to her classic signature songs like “My Reputation,” "I Hate Myself For Loving You," The Runaways' “Cherry Bomb,” and the classic hit “I Love Rock 'N' Roll.” She also delivered a sizzling version of the Tommy James' hit “Crimson And Clover” which took the crowd to the nether regions of frenzy. The 52-year-old rocker, attired in a tight-leather head-to-toe outfit, looked better than ever and when she asked the crowd to bark for her, they couldn't help but comply! Jett's been huge on the scene for years, so it was a distinct honor to finally catch her. It was, a tremendous show! The Monkees are there next Thursday!
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Ben Stiller
THE TRIP IS A TRIP --- Caught the trippy The Trip with comics Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon over the weekend. Coogan you may recall, played the somewhat upstart director in Ben Stiller's brilliant movie Tropic Thunder, who met a rather unceremonious end in the film. Here, he plays himself and embarks on a seven-day journey (for The Observer curiously enough) to some of the rather stellar restaurants and inns in Northern England ... joined by Brydon. Brydon being a last-minute fill in for his girlfriend who bowed out. Somewhat akin in tone to the terrific movie Sideways, the two are just hilarious together; whether trying to one-up each other in Michael Caine-impersonations or trying to unravel the mysteries of the world ... they almost at times seem like they're about to deliver some fisticuffs, it's good clean fun and wonderful dialogue. Coogan here tries to bed almost every woman he encounters; and, usually succeeds ...but, not without some massive guilt. When he sleeps he dreams and most of it is most relevant to the story ... they're actually quite hilarious and sometimes, at first, you don't even know if they're real or not, which only adds to the hijinks's. The direction from Michael Winterbottom is more than serviceable and rather quite stunning. The movie ends on a rather somber note; Brydon back at home with his wife and newborn daughter; and, Coogan ensconced at his rather palatial London-apartment, drink in hand and staring out the window. Not a big summer blockbuster for sure; but,a classic nonetheless; I loved it!Photos By: Sara De Boer/RD/Dziekan/Retna
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