In A 'Barbie' World, Living On The 'Planet Of The Bass'
What 2023's movie of the summer and song of the summer have in common
Forget it Jake. It’s crazy times. DJ Crazy Times.
I’ve been embedded in Edinburgh this month. More to come on that soon enough. But for now, let’s talk novelty pop songs!
As Barbie closes in on officially becoming the biggest box-office smash of 2023 ($567 million domestic, $1.227 billion global through Sunday), the film not only brought back nostalgic memories, but also resurrected the seemingly one-hit wonder from Scandinavia, Aqua’s “Barbie Girl.” That song and music video from the summer of 1997 itself has clocked 1.3 BILLION views since resurfacing on YouTube.
Of course, the Barbie soundtrack provided an update and a remix with verses from Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice.
TikTok and IG kids, however, have made this their Song of the Summer…
It’s all the creation and handiwork of NYC-based comedian Kyle Gordon, alongside singer Chrissi Poland. It’s co-produced by Jamie Siegel, and produced by Tonight Show writer Brooks Allison.
His original video on TikTok posted July 28 has 9.4 million views and counting:
The version he posted as an Instagram Reel a day later on July 29 had 5.8 million views.
But somehow on Twitter, it’s racked up 111.2 million views?
As
noted on : “When Gordon dropped “Planet Of The Bass” on Twitter last week, the song took on another life. The song is, of course, good, but my hunch as to why it has done so well on Twitter and, subsequently, earned a bunch of write ups from digital media publications still coasting on the evaporating fumes of Twitter’s relevance is because the app is a lot smaller than it once was. It has effectively lost all of its breaking news content and its highest-value users and, on top of that, the most viral posts on the app are now usually just different versions of the same video or meme.”How does comedian Kyle Gordon feel about all of this? Gordon told Vulture: “The best was when Aqua commented on my TikTok. I actually was an idiot, because they said, “Wait, is this play about us???” a meme that I didn’t understand. It’s from Euphoria. I’m an idiot. I am genuinely a massive Aqua fan. Not to sound like such a snobby nerd, but even beyond “Barbie Girl” they have so many incredible songs in the genre. I saw them live in New York a month and a half ago. So when they commented that, I was like, Oh yes, this is the best.”
In Memoriam
R.I.P. Johnny Hardwick, beloved voice of King of the Hill’s Dale Gribble, who died Aug. 8 at his home in Austin. He was 64. Hardwick was supposed to reprise his work in the upcoming series revival.
Also R.I.P. to Simon Carlyle, co-creator of Glasgow-based BBC sitcom Two Doors Down, a series preparing to air its seventh season. Carlyle also helped create Terri McIntyre, and co-wrote Alan Carr’s sitcom based on Carr’s life, Changing Ends. Carlyle was 48.
Industry News and Notes
The WGA strike passed day 100, and also the length of the 2007-2008 strike, and only in the past week or so has the AMPTP even come to the table to offer counterproposals — cynics might think they purposely took the summer off, to write down losses and avoid paying out on deals (hmmm, where would anyone get that idea).
The TCA (TV Critics Association) announced their annual awards this month and expressed solidarity with the strikers.
What else is new so far this month?
Who’s still in the running this season on America’s Got Talent? The 55 acts performing live include these comedic acts: Ahren Belisle, Barry Brewer Jr., Brynn Cummings, Erica Coffelt, Mandy Muden, Maureen Langan, Orlando Leyba, and Puppet Simon & the Cowbelles.
Jo Koy has inked a deal for two more Netflix specials, which would be his fifth and sixth with the streaming giant. Koy will film the first of those this November in Brooklyn (during the New York Comedy Festival), to premiere in 2024.
Deon Cole’s My New Normal Tour kicks off Sept. 15 in Munhall, Penn., at Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead, and wrapping up in Charlotte at Ovens Auditorium on New Year’s Eve. Tickets available via LiveNation.com.
Chris Tucker’s first major tour in North America since 2011, produced by Live Nation — The Legend Tour 2023 — kicks off Sept. 8 at North Charleston Performing Arts Center in Charleston, S.C., wrapping up in Detroit at Fox Theatre on Jan. 12. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com.
Tommy Tiernan, has announced a West Coast extension of his U.S. theater tour for Tommy Tiernan: Tomfoolery. The new dates kick off Oct. 16 in Seattle before traveling to Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Produced by WestBeth Entertainment, tickets are available on Tommy’s website.
Variety reported that Sacha Baron Cohen plans to revive Ali G….for a stand-up tour? That’s one way not to cross the picket lines.
HBO has ordered The Franchise to series, starring Himesh Patel and Aya Cash as the crew of an unloved franchise movie fighting for their place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe. With Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Lolly Adefope, Darren Goldstein, Isaac Powell, Richard E. Grant, and Daniel Brühl. From Sam Mendes, Armando Iannucci, and Jon Brown.
The BBC announced the rest of the cast for Dinosaur, a new sitcom co-created by and starring Ashley Storrie. She plays an autistic woman in her 30s whose life is turned upside-down when her sister and best-friend Evie rushes into an engagement after only six weeks. Also in it: Kat Ronney as Evie, plus David Carlyle, Greg Hemphill, Sanjeev Kohli, Lorn Macdonald, Danny Ashok, Sabrina Sandhu, Ben Rufus Green, Jim Kitson, Sally Howitt, and Kate Dickie.
Chris Gethard’s “Beautiful/Anonymous” podcast has gone to Libsyn since its contract has ended with Earwolf. In a statement from Gethard: “With pride in our 400-episode milestone and excitement for the next 400, Libsyn AdvertiseCast will be an invaluable partner as we forge new and meaningful relationships with advertisers and expand our reach to more listeners through our unfiltered, deeply personal, and powerful conversations about life, which have become the hallmark of our show.”
MTV Entertainment Studios announced Office Race, an all-new Comedy Central original movie, to premiere on Labor Day (Sept. 4) at 8PM ET/PT. Office Race stars unambitious office worker (Beck Bennett) who goes to great lengths - specifically 26.2 miles - to defeat his exercise-obsessed, micromanaging boss (Joel McHale). The cast also includes Kelsey Grammer, Kylie Bunbury, Erinn Hayes, Geoffrey Arend, Katlyn Carlson, Matt Richards, Karolena Theresa, with J.B. Smoove and Alyson Hannigan. Directed by Jared Lapidus and written by Lapidus and James Kilmoon.
Avoidance will premiere on BritBox in North America, Australia, and South Africa in Sept. 20. Created and written by Romesh Ranganathan and Benjamin Green it stars Ranganathan as an anti-hero and father struggling to get back on his feet after breaking up with partner Claire (Jessica Knappett, Ghosts). So he moves in with his sister and her wife.
Monty Python’s Spamalot returns to Broadway this fall. Previews Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the St. James Theatre, with an official opening night Nov. 16.
Just For Laughs announced winners of its annual Eat My Shorts contest. First Prize $1000: "The Breakthrough" by Director Daniel Sinclair. In "The Breakthrough," a couple having marital problems, played by Greta Lee (Past Lives) and Ben Sinclair (High Maintenance), come to a sticking point before having an unexpected breakthrough. Second Prize $500: "Linda" by Director Joe Lycett. "Linda" is about a woman who gets a job in a post office, but her tall tales soon raise suspicions. Third Prize $250: "Death & Ramen" by Director Tiger Ji. Starring Bobby Lee (MadTV) and Matt Jones (Breaking Bad), about a ramen chef who spends his final night alive hanging out with the Grim Reaper. Audience Prize $250: Canadian director Lauren Andrews’ “Bird Hostage." A seemingly harmless job to pet-sit a tropical bird goes awry when Lauren discovers the bird can speak, and says he is being held prisoner. The film stars Andrews along with the voice of Jay Baruchel.
JFL’s annual Stand Up & Pitch competition ended in a tie: Bogan Moths, presented on stage by Peter Ireland and Tony Radevski, an animated show about a diverse community of Australian moths tempted away from their annual migrations by the illumination from a suburb of low income humans, and Alannah Brittany’s Public Pooled, depicting the gritty and over chlorinated staff of a small town public pool as they fight to stay afloat when the next town over gets a new leisure center. Both will be awarded mentorship meetings from the experienced executives at Project 10 Productions, as well as comedian and showrunner Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved, The Office).
Werner Entertainment signed a global licensing deal with Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury to syndicate and stream The Conners.
Scotland Police arrested and released comedian/broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli after an investigation in the U.K.’s The Times alleged that Kohli had been accused of sexually inappropriate behavior by more than 20 women.
Last Week’s Specials**
**NOTE: Since I’ve been away, here’s an update covering the first two weeks of August (Aug. 1-14)
New on Amazon
Del Harrison: From the Mouth of a Black Woman via Comedy Dynamics
Gary Meikle: 2.5 SCOTLAND
New on YouTube
Aug 1 — Ollie Horn: Before/After
Aug 1 — Connor McSpadden: Live In Tucson
Aug 1 — Vidura B.R.: Monsoon Season (via 800 Pound Gorilla Media)
Aug 3 — Conrad Molden: Hygglicious DENMARK
Aug 4 — Dane Baptiste: The Chocolate Chip (via 800pgm)
Aug 9 — Nick Griffin: Absolutely Wonderful (via 800pgm)
Aug 10 — Joe Welkie: I Hate Joe Welkie
Aug 11 — Ben Roy: Hyena (via 800pgm)
Aug. 11 — Nathan Lund: Soup’s On (via Four by Three)
New on Dry Bar
Aug. 1 — Smiley Joe Wiley: I Luv Everyone
Aug. 3 — Cam Bertrand: Humble Brag
Aug. 10 — Shayne Smith: Banned From Karate
Also new this month: A documentary from Comedy Dynamics, Show Business Is My Life, But I Can't Prove It (A Film About Gary Mule Deer), plus somehow I missed a July 28 YouTube release from Canada, Kevin Banner: Heavy Favourite.
FIRST TWO WEEKS OF AUGUST: 16
LAST MONTH (JULY): 35+13=48 +1(missed per above) = 49
THIS MONTH: 16
RUNNING TOTAL for 2023: 397+13=410+1+16= 417
Fun Things To Do In NYC
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