Skin Deep – Playing For Change and Buddy Guy; the song includes over 50 musicians from coast to coast featuring Tom Morello, Billy Branch, Chicago Children’s Choir, and Roots Gospel Voices of Mississippi
I was in a doctor’s office back in October 2015 which played surprisingly good, and eclectic, music.
Back in 1989, I picked up this album produced by Quincy Jones, called Back on the Block. “The album features legendary musicians and singers from across three generations, including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Barry White, Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, and El DeBarge.”
The album went to #9 on the Billboard album charts and was so eclectic that it hit #1 on both the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.
The first single of the collection was I’ll Be Good To You, featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan. It was a hit, #18 on the US pop charts, and #1 for two weeks on the rhythm and blues charts in 1990.
I was in a doctor’s office back in October 2015 which played surprisingly good, and eclectic music. I hear I’ll be Good To You, but it’s surely not the Quincy version. It turns out that it was by The Brothers Johnson, who I’ve mentioned on this blog before.
How did I miss this version, written by the Brothers Johnson (George and Louis) and Sonora Sam, and produced by Quincy? It got up to #3 for three weeks in 1976, as well as #1 on the r&b charts.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Civil Forfeiture. “Oliver references a September report from The Washington Post, which states that, since 9/11, police have seized $2.5 billion in 61,998 cash seizures from people ‘who were not charged with a crime.’ ‘Under civil forfeiture laws, your property is guilty until you prove it innocent.'” Read more. And here’s another example
My computer screen went sideways this month, for some reason. I found how I turn it back: Try pressing Ctrl + Alt + UP Arrow Key, or try Ctrl + Alt + and a different Arrow Key.
This is just not a subgenre I inherently trust. These films get made because of their familiarity…
The A-Team picture is opening this weekend. I hardly ever watched the TV show, so the only reason that I’d even consider seeing the film is that it features Liam Neeson in the George Peppard role. On the other hand, it was not made available to critics, which is usually a sign that it will suck, though the early Rotten Tomatoes score was 53, not great, but not awful. The “Consensus: For better and for worse, Joe Carnahan’s big-screen version of The A-Team captures the superficial, noisy spirit of the TV series.”
It got me to wondering: how have movies made from TV shows fared? I’m not thinking of movies such as the X-Files or Sex in the City, which are essentially continuations of the TV series, generally with the same actors. I was thinking more of the reimaginings, with new actors and directors. I limited the list to the 21st Century, because, my goodness, there are a LOT of them! BTW, I ignored animation to live action (George of the Jungle) or things that went back and forth from movies to TV to movies (Robin Hood) or anything I never heard of, but if you think I’ve missed something, by all means, let me know.
Bewitched (2005) RT score-24 Production Budget: $85 million Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $63,313,159 48.2% + Foreign: $68,113,010 51.8% = Worldwide: $131,426,169 The foreign box office salvaged this one. Will Ferrell starred in this; he had a cameo in Starsky & Hutch. Steve Carrell, star of Get Smart, has a cameo here.
The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) RT score-14 Production Budget: $50 million Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $80,270,227 72.3% + Foreign: $30,799,288 27.7% = Worldwide: $111,069,515 Despite scathing reviews, made money. I have to think it was, in large part, because of Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke.
The Honeymooners (2005) RT score-14 Production Budget: $25 million Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $12,843,849 97.4% + Foreign: $339,577 2.6% = Worldwide: $13,183,426 On the title track of Quincy Jones’ eclectic 1989 album Back on the Block, there’s a couplet offered up by Big Daddy Kane: We shoulda got our freedom much sooner
You never seen a blackman on The Honeymooners I have no knowledge of this, but I have to wonder if that sentiment was the inspiration for this quite unsuccessful remake with a predominantly black cast.
I Spy (2002) RT score-15 Production Budget: $70 million Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $33,561,137 66.2% + Foreign: $17,171,808 33.8% = Worldwide: $50,732,945 This Eddie Murphy bomb also featured Owen Wilson, who would fare better a couple years later in Starky & Hutch.
Miami Vice (2006) RT score-47 Production Budget: $135 million Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $63,450,470 38.7% + Foreign: $100,344,039 61.3% = Worldwide: $163,794,509 Colin Ferrell was in this and the earlier, and equally middling cop-based film, S.W.A.T., though S.W.A.T. had the better domestic gross.
Mission: Impossible III (2006) RT score 70 (1996-57,2000-57) Production Budget: $150 million Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $134,029,801 33.7% + Foreign: $263,820,211 66.3% = Worldwide: $397,850,012 Interesting that the third film rated better than the predecessors in 1996 and 2000 (both 57), but the original and the first sequel were more profitable. this begs the question about the potential success of the fourth film, scheduled for release in 2011.
Star Trek (2009) RT score-94 Production Budget: $150 million Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $257,730,019 66.9% + Foreign: $127,764,536 33.1% = Worldwide: $385,494,555 Don’t know if I should count this one, given all of its cinematic antecedents, but it seemed to meet the criteria. Definitely need to see this film.
So this is just not a subgenre I inherently trust. These films get made because of their familiarity, but often, the film is schlock, the box office is disappointing, or both. This is not to say that these movies are always a bust – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106977/ The Fugitive (1994) was a big hit commercially and critically, though the TV show based on the movie, which had been based on the TV show, was not. I’m also wary of TV-to-TV remakes. I have oddly fond memories of Hawaii 5-0, and the remake this fall doesn’t excite me, not because it will necessarily be bad, but because it won’t be what I want from that brand. Still, I’ll check out the new version – maybe.
The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a star-studded red carpet, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and culminating with a grand tented after-party, the Apollo Supper Club.
I’ve never been to the legendary Apollo Theater in New York City, although it’s only about 160 miles from where I live. “Legendary” gets thrown around too often, but the Harlem venue with a somewhat muddled history prior to 1934, when it became “Where Stars are Born and Legends are Made” from Ella Fitzgerald to Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.
So somehow I get this printed invitation in the mail to go to this event honoring The Queen of Soul, and the late King of Pop. Seems like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. And I haven’t been to Manhattan in quite a while.
Wait: what’s that? $1000 a head! Guess I WON’T be going after all. But what would I have gotten for my money?
Marc Anthony and JLo getting some award named for the great acting couple? Chase bank getting an award? Jamie Foxx hosting? Meh.
The invitation was a great piece of information for me.
The Chairman of the Board for the Apollo is Richard Parsons, former head of Time Warner, since mid-2009 head of Citigroup. The board includes familiar names such as music producer Quincy Jones and historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the latter probably better known by most of America for getting arrested at his own home last year. Then there’s business tycoon Ron Perelman, honorary co-chair with Quincy of the benefit committee, who seems to court controversy wherever he goes; I know him best as the guy who almost destroyed Marvel Comics.
Some acting couples on the benefit committee, such as Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance and Kyra Sedgwick & Kevin Bacon; Baconologists, please note. Also, Bill Cosby and his wife Camille; director Spike Lee, and his wife Tonya Lewis; Denzel Washington, and his wife Pauletta; Marcia Gay Harden; and a musician who’s played at the Apollo, Smokey Robinson. But what if I had MORE money to spend? What would be my options?
$15,000 Tier
2010 Spring Event Benefits
4 tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit Recognition on the Apollo marquee during June Recognition on the Concert Program Year-round Benefits
10 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night Recognition in Apollo institutional media 10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour 10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees
$25,000 Tier
2010 Spring Event Benefits
8 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit Recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June Recognition during the Concert and in the Supper Club Recognition on the Concert Program Recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens Year-round Benefits
Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply) 10 tickets to host one company night at the Apollo 20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience Recognition in Apollo institutional media Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature 10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour 10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees
$50,000 Tier
Annual Spring Benefits
12 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit Preferred recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June Preferred recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program Preferred recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens Year-round Benefits
Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply) 20 tickets to host two company nights at the Apollo 20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night Recognition in Apollo institutional media Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature 10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour 10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees
$75,000 Tier – Diamond Salute Partner
2010 Spring Event Benefits
16 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit Preferred recognition on the Apollo marquee during June Preferred recognition on the Red Carpet and at the event Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program Preferred recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens Diamond Salute Partner Benefits
Opportunity for senior executive to join the Apollo National Committee Concierge purchasing service for 2010 Spring Benefit Events Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply) 20 tickets to host two company nights at the Apollo 20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night Recognition in Apollo institutional media Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience Use of the Apollo Theater brand in corporate literature 10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour 10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees
$100,000 Tier
2010 Spring Event Benefits
20 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit Industry-exclusive title sponsorship Prime recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June Prime recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event Branding opportunities during the Concert and Supper Club Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program Dedicated content on lobby and outdoor plasma screens Year-round Benefits
Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply) 40 tickets to host four company nights at the Apollo 30 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night Complimentary curator-led Apollo historic tour Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience Recognition in Apollo institutional media Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature 10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees
$150,000 Tier
2010 Spring Event Benefits
28 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit Industry-exclusive title sponsorship Prime recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June Prime recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event Branding opportunities during the Concert and Supper Club Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program Dedicated content on lobby and outdoor plasma screens Year-round Benefits
Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply) 40 tickets to host four company nights at the Apollo 30 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night Complimentary curator-led Apollo historic tour Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience Recognition in Apollo institutional media Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature 10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees
APOLLO THEATER TO REMEMBER A KING AND CELEBRATE A QUEEN 2010 Annual Spring Benefit Concert and Awards Ceremony Monday, June 14, 2010
Hosted by comedian, multi-platinum recording artist and Oscar-award winning actor Jamie Foxx, this year’s Concert & Awards Ceremony will feature the induction of two royal new honorees into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame: the undisputed King of Pop Michael Jackson, and the one and only Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.
The awards ceremony will continue with the Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts and Humanitarian Award presented to superstar couple Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. The Theater’s annual corporate award will be presented to JP Morgan Chase for its ongoing commitment to the Apollo and the Harlem community.
The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a star-studded red carpet, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and culminating with a grand tented after-party, the Apollo Supper Club.
For more details, please click here to view the press release for the Apollo’s 2010 Gala.
To purchase tickets, please click here or call Nicole Judd at 212.531.5330.
