MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORT FOR FRIDAY JULY 25 2008
New Movies
Two major challengers are going to step up and take on The Dark Knight this weekend. Step Brothers is the latest comedy from the team that brought you Anchorman and Talladega Nights—though unlike those first two comedies—this one is a hard “R” for language mostly. It is running at a 56% on Rotten Tomatoes—with some snot nosed critics saying it is too juvenile, while other critics were able to put down the pen and just have a good time. The reviews are not good for The X Files: I Want to Believe. It is running at a 27% with most critics saying it would have only made a better than average episode of the television show. Menace and I were really disappointed in this one.
Former Pumpkins are Suing
Two founding members of the Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records, saying they haven't been paid for the band's digitally delivered music. Guitarist James Iha and bassist D'Arcy Wretzky-Brown claim Virgin shut them out of the band's profits after signing a deal with Billy Corgan. The suit says that five years after the band first broke up in 2000 Virgin cut a deal with Corgan to begin licensing Smashing Pumpkins music via various electronic outlets, but the pact made no provisions for James and D’Arcy. This is the second Pumpkins suit against Virgin, In March, the band sued Virgin Records over a promotional campaign with Pepsi and Amazon, claiming it damaged its image and reputation.
Happy Anniversary Metallica
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Metallica's debut album, Kill 'Em All. Originally issued on July 25th, 1983 through the independent label Megaforce Records, Kill 'Em All was recorded in two weeks on a miniscule budget in upstate New York. Although only 1,500 copies were initially pressed, the album was reissued by Elektra Records after the band signed to that label in 1984 and has since been certified triple platinum. Lead guitarist Dave Mustaine was replaced by Kirk Hammett shortly before recording started, although Mustaine still has several writing credits on the disc and went on to form Megadeth.
Hairspray Sequel
New Line cinema is hoping to develop a sequel to last summer’s hit musical Hairspray. Screenwriter John Waters, director-choreographer Adam Shankman and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are already on board for the sequel, which would pick-up where the first musical left off. No one has been cast yet, but the studio hopes to bring back all the original players, including John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfeiffer.
This Weekend on TV--- Lifetime is running 5 hours of The Golden Girls today in tribute to the late, great, Estelle Getty—so no one call me this afternoon—because I won’t pick up. Swingtown is on CBS tonight—having moved from its normal Thursday slot. On Sunday—the most excellent AMC drama Mad Men comes back for a second season—with the action picking up two years after last season’s finale.
The Final Word--- The final word comes from Christian Bale, who was asked by the Spanish Press about the assault incident involving his mother and sister in which he was questioned by police for several hours on Tuesday. “It's a deeply personal matter. I would ask you to respect my privacy in the matter."
