Just as this column predicted — Michael Jackson’s “This Is It’s” two-week run has been extended through Thanksgiving. I told you back on October 23 that it could get a one or two-week extension.
So far, worldwide, Sony puts the boxoffice take at $101 million. The non-U.S. take is $68.5 million. The domestic take is $32. 5 million. As I reported last night, “This Is It” has knocked off every competitor in the documentary and concert categories for all-time boxoffice.
The hilarious part reading elsewhere is that it’s either a hit or a flop or both. Some people can’t make up their minds. It’s easy to see by these numbers that “This Is It” is a hit. Sony and AEG Live got this exactly right.
Now, of course, the next step is for AEG to open the show in Las Vegas, with Kenny Ortega and the cast. There’s been some talk of a Cirque du Soleil rendering. But I think this is a mistake. Fans will want to see the live version of the movie. And Cirque du Soleil is way over saturated right now. Plus, they have the Beatles’ “Love” show. I think if Paul McCartney catches wind of it, he’ll convince the Cirque folks to stay away from Michael Jackson. There’s still a lot of soreness on that subject. Whether Michael is dead or alive, the Beatles songs are not owned by McCartney because of him.
November 1st, 2009 at 10:34 am
The Vegas show would be AMAZING, and I think McCartney will not be such a coward not let TII be a part of Cirque du Soleil rendering…
I saw TII a few hours ago…, and I am stunned!!!
November 1st, 2009 at 10:35 am
Please….McCartney does not own the Beatles songs because he was too cheap to pay the 25M$ bidding price in ‘85. He did not even bother putting a bid.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am
Please Mr. Roger Friedman!! Samantha is absolutely correct. Don’t blame MJ for Paul not owning the Beatle’s cataloog publishing. Michael was being a businessman, a damn good one. Nobody claims that Paul McCartney is a bad person for gobbling up all the considerable publishing rights of other artists he owns, which has made him a billionaire. Nor should they. Paul was being cheap. Paul had a sense of entitlement regarding his own compositions. Paul took his eye off the ball. Paul introduced MJ to the lucrative possibilities of music publishing. MJ listened to his mentor and learned. MJ was willing to put up a consideral chunk of change to acquire the Beatles publishing rights. Billionaire Paul could have outflanked MJ but was too reluctant (read, cheap) to spend the money!
It boggles my mind that the press (Roger is not the only one) somehow takes an accusatory stance towards MJ on this issue. I think it’s racial, if not racist!
November 1st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Samantha – totally agree. In all the years before Michael Jackson bought the ATV catalog, I don’t recall one word of complaint from McCartney. At the time the catalog came up for auction, there was no question that McCartney had even more resources than Michael Jackson. He just didn’t want to pay the price. The day after MJ died, McCartney was on David Letterman kvetching about the deal. Evidently Heather Mills was telling the truth when she said he was a cheap-ass bastard.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I am assuming that your last paragraph is a joke. Why would they do something like that? Michael was the show. I know Elvis has impersonators but if AEG does something like this now it would be pretty crass.
November 1st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
What a shock!! I can’t believe that they are extending the run of this freak show, after having claimed it would for two weeks ONLY! Imagine dishonesty involving Michael Jackson and his sick family. What is this world coming to?
As to the Jacko-tards who think it was some great stroke of genius on Jacko’s part when he bought McCartney’s own work right right out from under him — I hope you experience that sort of diloyalty and greed from your supposed friends and loved ones many times through the rest of your miserable lives. Would you be laughing if McCartney had bought Jacko’s music out from under him after being told by Jacko himself that he was very intent on buying it back himself? Of course not. That would have been wrong….even if half of Jacko’s songs were stolen from other people by that lying, thieving perv.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
to paul
do you have a life. you are a bonafide loser. mj is dead and he is still a threat to you. may ur low self esteem and self worthless ness
kill you cos once you die no one will remember you. you are a terrible for a human being
November 1st, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Hi, Paul. Have a nice day, OK?
November 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm
LOL @ Paul. Okay, understand this: When the catologue was put up for auction it was Paul McCartney’s CHOICE not to continue after the 20 million mark was reached. McCartney had several chances to buy the music catalogue prior, and he turned down offers of LESS than 17 million because he thought that was too expensive. Michael Jackson’s bid was that of 47 million. I highly doubt he would have been willing to pay 47 million for something he believed wasn’t even worth 20. If the catalogue didn’t end up in the hands of Michael Jackson, it would have ended up in the hands of some other publishing company. Now ask yourself, would Paul have been happier if that happened? Would you rather your songs be managed by a multimillion dollar publishing company, or by someone you knew would be responsible and who wouldn’t milk it for everything it’s worth? Who actually respected artists’ rights because he was an artist himself.
This “lying, thieving perv” also owned the rights to Little Richard’s music. Little Richard had struggled for years to raise enough funds to get publishing rights over his own songs. So what did the “disloyal” and “greedy” man do? He brought that song catalogue straight from Robert Holmes a Court, and GAVE it to Little Richard… free of charge. The man cried tears of joy. Oh, Michael Jackson is SUCH a horrible, disloyal and greedy man.
November 1st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
YES!! YES!!! YES!!!!
McCartney did not bid on his own music. AND McCartney did not care that someone else owned his music until he found out that that someone was Michael Jackson.
Get off that horse, Roger. That horse can’t run with people who know the truth.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
The movie is awesome and so happy to hear it is being extended-no matter the PR machine behind it. Gives us more time to see it on the big screen before we watch it over and over on DVD.
I think Kenny Ortega and the original cast should take it on the road. Period. KO has said they have the sets and everything they need. Make it a world-wide road show. Seriously. Would MJ’s fans come to see what ‘would have been’?
You betchya!
@Paul– Be polite.
November 1st, 2009 at 8:25 pm
FBI Sued In The Madonna Case (mentions Roger Friedman)
http://www.judiciaryreport.com/fbi.htm
November 1st, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I just came back from seeing the film, and I only have one thing to say: It was SPECTACULAR!!!
I had read both glowing reviews, and reviews from people who thought that Michael was not at his best, and it should not have been shown. I have to say, if this was Michael during rehearsals, I cannot imagine how amazing the actual concert would have been!!!
It was all great, but to me it was worth the price of admission to see him perform “Billie Jean.” I could watch him forever.
Besides seeing him rehearsing, it was great to hear from the cast and crew, and to see how they loved being there, and how Michael interacted with everyone. He seemed happy, and he was doing what he loved most.
Even though we all know what was going on “behind the scenes” in his life, at least to see him in top form, doing what he loved, that is some consolation for us, the fans.
I think the people who put this film together did an excellent job.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:24 am
to PAUL – hey man…, you are on the Roger Friedman Blog, try to ask him about Michaels matters, he will tell you…, and … its waste of your time to write bullshits about MJ, you know… this is something that nobody is interested in…, because most of the people know the truth, your problem is that you cant stand that Michael was larger than life and you consciously try to believe hallucinations, without checking over the facts…
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 am
Paul is making the same mistake as the notorious Shmuley Boteach – he thinks MJ fans generally believe MJ was without fault and an angel in every respect. There probably are such fans, but the thing is, MJ fans actually know a lot about him, both good and bad. So it’s almost impossible to sway them. Not even worth trying.
If someone like you, Paul, actually wants to know why MJ fans are so persistant – don’t look into our psyches, just look at him and listen to his music. The answer is there. And if you don’t get it, he is just not for you and you need to concentrate on artists you do like.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:48 am
LOL @ Paul! You’re such a deluded, uneducated fool. Go and comment on something you understand and have knowledge of. It is a fact that Paul McCartney CHOSE not to buy those rights. It was his choice and it turned out to be a very bad one that he regrets to this day, so please don’t try to make Michael Jackson out to be the bad guy. He made a very smart business decision, which he built on over the years and eventually when he died he owned 50% of Sony/ATV – a catalogue of over 750,000 songs! The Beatles songs are only a small part of that catalogue.
Paul has stated himself that he did not intend to purchase the songs, so go and find something else to moan about.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
I for one never was a Beatles fan.But if Paul McCartney had a chance to buy the rights and didn’t then that is his own fault,he needs to stop whining about it!I also seem to recall the members of the group didn’t treat John Lennon very well after he married Yoko.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 am
mj was a very smart man. i know roger freidman sometimes try to belittle him, but mj was all about love for people, so get over it. we miss him so much. rip mj
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 am
I agree with Samantha. And can you answer me this Roger, is Paul McCartney as friend of Rupert Murdoch? But really, as I understand it he was asked twice if he wanted to buy this calalouge and said no, in 1980 and 85 and then he didn´t want to pay more than half of what it was worth but still blames MJ for buying it after 24 years and even after his death. If it had been MJ who said no to buying for example Motown songs twice and Paul bought it and Mj blamed him after more than 20 years I think the media would just have made fun of him.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
I am so sick and tried of the lie that MJ “stole” or duped Paul.Mike never outbid Paul, Paul did not bid on the catalog when Mike bought it…The media and Paul lied. In 1985 Mike’s lawyer called Paul lawyer and asked if he was going to bid. Paul said it was too pricey. Paul had tried to buy it, but was too cheap and asked Yoko to pay half…Yoko said no HE PULLED OUT IN a pervious attempt. The people who sold the catalog said they gave Paul the FIRST right of refusal and he refused!!! That’s when Mike bought it and Mike called him and said he was buying it and Paul laughed it off. Paul wasn’t even bidding.
Paul has been walking around acting like MJ “stole” it from under his nose….which is a damn lie.
Also the sellers said MJ did not care much for the Beatles music he wanted the black artists music ( Nat Cole, Sly Stone, Little Richard)
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
McCartney DID intend to buy back his OWN music. Jacko only knew it was for sale and got the idea to buy it because McCartney considered him enough of a friend to mention to Jacko that he was about to buy back his OWN music. That’s when the extremely dishonest Jacko decided he wanted to own it. Jacko outbid McCartney and then proceeded to further disrepect and abuse his friend by licensing Beatles songs out for cringeworthy commercials that cheapened the music beyond repair.
It wasn’t bad enough that Jacko disgraced himself and his own music through his crimes and perversions, he had to try to drag the Beatles down with him. Scum.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Paul
You really are an uneducated human. YOu are one of those people who like to just talk out his ass.
McCartney is a cry baby… and so are you. Must be the Paul thing!
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Paul, it wasn’t just Michael that outbid McCartney. Numerous organisations were outbidding him. Paul McCartney decided, on his own accord, the he didn’t want to continue because he didn’t believe the catalogue was worth the amount that they were bidding for. He didn’t feel he would make anything back from the investment, which is no big deal. He underestimated the value of the catalogue, what’s wrong with admitting that? All business men are going to make bad business decisions one time or another, that’s part of being human. Michael had made he’s fair share of poor business decisions as well. It doesn’t matter, there is no such thing as failure when in the business world, because you learn from your mistakes. Calling Michael Jackson out for outbidding him is ridiculous, for he would have been outbid anyway with the poor price tag he was putting on that catalogue. And frankly, Paul holding a grudge for 22 years over something like this says more about Paul then it does about Michael.
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
To all posters, save Paul. The best thing you can do for Paul is react to him, either positively, negatively, or neutrally. People like hime thrive on the attention we give him. Paul loves, LUVZ every reactive response post. Think about it, why would an obvious MJ hater hang around in this, of all forums. The MJ haters blogs are out there, but he be invisible on those sites and wouldn’t get the attention he craves. Iv’e encountered this phenomena at other web sites: One poster is always goading all the other blog visitors with a contrary position on the subject matter of the blog. If it’s fun for you to react to Paul, then fine. Just be aware of his motive.
So—let’s do what would make him the least satisfied, ignore the heck out out him.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Paul it’s obvious to ALL of us that you need medication and please lay off the The tabloids..they have seriously damaged you sounds like for life too. Your are delusional and the pure envy of MJ is sad! LONG LIVE THE KING!! Suck on it you uneducated ignorant waste of time!
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Roger, you are truly pathetic. You can’t even do some research before you write? McCartney doesn’t own the Beatles catalogue because he REFUSED to put in a bid for it because he didn’t think his songs were worth putting down that much money for. He was cheap AND stupid and he blames everyone but himself.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
“THIS IS IT” is a phenonmenal film.
As for Paul McCartney . . . he is dishonest Cockney trash, who bought an English title. McCartney did not want to pay for the Beatles library, and thought because he didn’t, no one else would. McCartney was wrong. Also, Paul McCartney’s way, as he did with Heather Mills and with John Lennon & Yoko Ono, is to smear people he can’t beat. Well, to “Sir” Paul, BEAT IT! Even in death, Michael Jackson beats you live any day.
As for the box office figure being on the low side, that’s called “litigation protection”. [As any good lawyer will tell you, you NEVER reveal the full value of an estate, or all that a deceased person has made after death, while the matter is in court.] So Jackson family, let people think that Michael’s film didn’t make much as expected, (”boo-hoo”), and laugh all the way to the bank.