Bloomberg:

“Hollywood’s Most Exclusive Club Is Password-Protected on Zoom – Agent Richard Weitz produces Quarantunes-combination concerts and house parties for the glamorous and homebound.”

“Los Angeles Times”:

“Inside Zoom’s exclusive A-list, invite-only, money-raising-juggernaut quarantine party”

“Rolling Stone”:

“Hollywood’s Exclusive Zoom Parties: Creators Share Top Moments – From Kermit the Frog singing with Josh Groban to Alex Rodriguez attempting to buy the Mets mid-stream, Richard Weitz’s Quarantunes has brought celebrity flare to the quarantine”

If it’s so damn good, make it available to all.

This is what’s wrong with America. The elite telling the punters that they’re inconsequential, not good enough, not smart enough, not connected enough, not rich enough to get into the club.

In case you’re out of the loop, and if you’re in the entertainment business I doubt you are, an agent at WME has been holding private Zoom parties with his daughter and they’ve become the in-club of in-clubs in this Covid-19 era. Household names galore, from Gavin Newsom to Alex Rodriguez to every performer you’ve ever heard of, from Luke Bryan, to Jackson Browne to Gal Gadot to…

Supposedly they’re fundraisers. Fine, the public doesn’t have any money? Last time I checked, there are a lot more members of the hoi polloi than there are richies. And, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren proved that they can raise just as much money from the public as the fat cats and corporations if the cause is right.

Once upon a time, musicians railed against corporations.

Now they are corporations. They go on about their fans, but then they can’t turn down a private, have no backbone, will do anything for money and opportunity…meanwhile, their fans, who truly keep them alive, get nothing more than lip service.

Welcome to celebrity culture in the twenty first century.

It’s not only D.C. that is whacked, but Hollywood too.

WME/Endeavor…a house of cards that even Wall Street wouldn’t buy. Meanwhile, Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell get $160 million each. That’s right, the company can’t go public, but they still got their dough. And if you’re following the Writers Guild fracas…the scribes are complaining that you can’t be both buyer and seller. Every client is entitled to his own attorney, you’ve got to sign off on conflicts if you want to use the same lawyer, but those rules are irrelevant in the talent agency world, because Endeavor needs to make that money, never mind that Silver Lake Partners is a major shareholder. And private equity is never a charitable operation. It’s based on outsized returns to its investors, the goal is to hit a home run, no, forget that, a grand slam, outpacing the stock market and other investment vehicles at large. Do you think the writers are gonna get a piece of that upside? Ari and Patrick did, but even the agents did not. As a matter of fact, they agreed to forgo income for lucrative payments when the company went public, which it was unable to do, which it’ll probably never be able to do, not in this incarnation.

Talent representation doesn’t scale. So, assets like the UFC are purchased. So, talent becomes second class, the agents who represent talent become second class, but it’s just too bad, you shouldn’t complain, you should be thrilled that you get to work with these titans of the universe!

Which leads us to this week’s biggest rumor. That Marc Geiger is negotiating to jump to Spotify. Who knows what will happen, but it’s demonstrative of turmoil in the ranks. After all, how much money can you make agenting anyway? Better off to jump to Spotify which is eager to invest in any music avenue that will throw off profits, that scales, as opposed to its main streaming service.

Now in a world of billions, the rich and famous cannot interact with each and every person. But they don’t need to lord it over us peons that they have access and we do not. That’s so 1990s, so velvet rope.

In other words, if you’re just an average citizen you’re screwed. You’ve got to go to work at the grocery store while the rich get delivery. The Aspen Institute gets relief money, despite its gargantuan endowment, meanwhile your employer gets none. Not only is the system rigged, they’re rubbing your nose in it!

I’m not saying every party has to be open to the public.

But I am saying during a pandemic, you don’t employ your PR people to publicize your behavior. Furthermore, if reporters get wind, you can refuse to participate, just say no. But Richard Weitz can’t say no, he’s enjoying being the talent, getting the fame, as opposed to those he represents. Now he too can be a star! What a bunch of hogwash.

It’s a floating club and you’re not in it.

And the truth is if you’re anyone in Hollywood, you can get an invite. If you make the call, if you promise you’ll deliver in return… It’s a world of favors, you scratch my back and I scratch yours…but is this really a club you want to belong to?

I’ve been to private events that have gotten no publicity. Because those who’ve held them insisted upon it. So, everybody involved in Quarantunes could keep quiet, but no! That’s not the goal, the goal isn’t even the fundraising, the goal is to show how cool they are!

As for being invited myself…

I haven’t been.

But I’m savvy enough to know if I was I would not brag about it. The blowback would be insane. That’s another problem with the people in Hollywood and D.C., they’re completely out of touch with the public. I interact with people all day long. You don’t want to boast that you’re rich and privileged, they despise you for it.

Our entire nation is upside down.

Let’s look at the corporate titans, paid their double-digit millions. In order to maintain those paychecks, they used profits to buy back shares, so their stock would go up. So when a crisis occurred, there was no money in the coffers, they had to go begging to the government for relief, for OUR money! After all, most of these corporations are international outfits that pay little or no taxes, and we’re supposed to be fine with this because they’re our employers…huh?

The rich get lower taxes, and we lose services. There’s not enough money for schools, never mind arts programs in those schools. Art is superfluous, it’s only for the privileged who can afford enrichment programs.

And there’s no national conscience. Complain about inequality and you’re labeled a socialist, you’re excoriated for class warfare. Don’t they get it, that there’s already class warfare?

If Richard Weitz were smart and insightful, and he’s neither, he would immediately post these Zoom parties on YouTube for the public to consume shortly thereafter, with a button to donate to boot. He’d take suggestions for performers from the regular people, the little folk. Hell, he could even turn it into a competition, with an ongoing chart. Hell, he could base the chart on donations. But NO! Quarantunes isn’t about money but exclusivity. Richard Weitz and his minions are part of the problem, not the solution. And they need to be called out.

That’s another problem, members of the club refuse to criticize, refuse to cry foul because they’re afraid they won’t be invited next time.

Who’d want to be a member of this club of tone-deaf wankers constantly telling us they’re better than we are?

Not me.

Prisoners of War – hulu

This starts out so slow and so violent that you may not make it over the hump.

But you should.

“Prisoners of War” is the Israeli series which inspired “Homeland.” But they’re not identical. Not that I would know, I’ve never watched “Homeland.” I don’t go for episodic TV, I control my appointments, I’m sick of Hollywood telling me how to consume my media. Kinda like Quibi, refusing to put its mediocre fare on television, refusing to allow it to be shared. And what did Jeffrey Katzenberg blame the failure of his platform on? Covid-19! Quibi was dead on arrival, but those with dollars who invested in this abortion are not savvy users of the internet, they did not know the paradigm had changed, they’re aware of money, but not human interaction.

“Prisoners of War” is about human interaction.

And so much more.

You see the three Israeli soldiers were gone for 17 years. They were just reservists, out on a weekend call. Kinda like “Gilligan’s Island,” but with much more intensity and much more meaning.

They’re fighting for their lives every day in Israel. The Arabs attack and they retaliate and…it’s endless.

The only thing we’re at risk of in these United States is Covid-19, unless of course you’re a minority, an African-American, Asian or Latino. Latinos are screwing our country by trying to cross the border illegally. The Asians? They’re to blame for Covid-19. As for African-Americans… You can’t even go out for a jog safely. You’ve got to be hyperaware at all times.

But the white people in the United States? They think they’re immune, that nothing can touch them, that they’re entitled to rule forever. To the point where nitwits strap on guns and mingle with their brethren demanding governors open up the nation so they can die. I kid you not. There’s a war going on in America, and it’s not against Covid-19. As a matter of fact, we already lost that one. What’s the first rule of warfare? Know thy enemy. Can you say those in charge knew the coronavirus? I think not. As for freedom…where does it end. Should you be able to shoot a black man because he peeked in on a construction site? Or if they’re just walking around and you’re scared? To fight Covid-19 we have to all be in it together. Actually, there was a story how in eastern Europe everybody locks down…because they’ve experienced so much hardship in their lives that they understand it. Hardship in America is not getting a trophy, or not getting into the college of your choice. Our perspective is way off.

Not that Israel has it all together. The religious right is oftentimes out of control. But what critics of the nation just can’t fathom is that Israel can only lose once, and then it’s over. The country’s sheer existence is on the line every damn day. And its citizens’ too.

Not that I want to make this an exploration of the Middle East at large. That’s a waste of time just like debating Trump. You see, the Israelis stole the Palestinians’ land and they’ve got to give it back. Forget the anti-Semitism lurking under all this, the truth is there’s been an ongoing campaign to sell this perspective, especially for the last two decades. To the point where Jews are threatened on college campuses here in the States. That’s right, we can’t get along here, never mind over there.

But all our causes here are external, it’s not us. We’re fighting for others. What if you’re fighting for yourself, what if your life is on the line?

“Prisoners of War” is not “Fauda,” certainly not the third season of the Lior Raz show. The first two seasons of “Fauda” ended with no winners. Illustrating the flaws of both the Israeli and Arab positions. The third was very much pro-Israel. But “Fauda” was all about action, whereas “Prisoners of War” has long stretches where there’s no action at all.

You see “Prisoners of War” is mostly about the internal, feelings, relationships… Kinda like those people who break up and say they’re over it instantly. They’re either lying, or sociopathic. That’s not how human beings work. We’re riddled with feelings. We have nightmares. But we rarely share them.

“Prisoners of War” covers so many issues of relationships. How you pine for someone for years, and then when you finally get back together…it doesn’t work. Timing is everything in relationships.

And humans are riddled with questions of loyalty. Did they do the right thing, do they have any friends, are friendships more important than..?

And just like the Israelis, the Arabs are people too, with their own complaints. But where is the baseline vis a vis the two countries. That’s another issue…do you have a future in Syria? Or…

This show is so well done that you cannot predict it. You think you know where it’s going, and then not only does it go a different way, but in a fashion you could not imagine. This is not American TV, all about the image with little about the soul. That’s right, if you want to know about the soul over here you’ve got to watch cartoons, literally. Like “The Simpsons” or “South Park” or a Pixar movie. They have more humanity than the blockbusters. Because human beings can’t speak their truth. And our high concept shoot-’em-up, comic book blockbusters are just what we want…mindless entertainment, so we can go back to advertising ourselves on social media and consuming.

If you’ve ever been to Israel, you know that they don’t dress up. That’s another thing that will stun you, no one’s wearing a suit at a bar mitzvah. It’s too damn hot and what you wear doesn’t represent who you are. In America, if you put on a fancy suit and drive an expensive car you’re immediately seen as a winner, even though you’re oftentimes not. And, even if you make all that money, you’re not immune to heartbreak. Come on, how many of the winners still have the same spouse? They keep trading up, as if there’s an ideal they can get to. They don’t have to put in the hard work to sustain a marriage, because there are endless opportunities. Oftentimes, their main characteristic is bravado. That’s right, they can brag, but they never cry. Unless they commit a faux pas and have to go to rehab. Ain’t that America, if you go to rehab all your sins are washed away.

So the people in “Prisoners of War” are riddled by memories. That’s one way I envy the youth, it’s all new to them. As you get older you get worn down, you’ve had too many losses, you’re not willing to take the risk.

And what do you do to keep yourself whole? What do you invest your time in so you don’t have to look inside, at your little life.

And do you have a constitution, and do what’s right, or do you do what’s expedient? Because your whole life could go by while you’re doing what’s right and…

You see there’s no map in life, no playbook, no guarantee. You work your whole life to retire and then you die of a heart attack mere weeks after you’ve stopped working. At this age, I don’t count on a single plan, I’m always prepared for something to go wrong. If you can’t pick yourself up and soldier on… You’re gonna get in a car accident, you’re gonna have health problems, there’s nothing you can do to avoid bad things happening to you. Stay at home, and you’ll slip in the bathroom.

Have you missed your life? Have you kept yourself in a straitjacket because you did not want to make the hard choices?

You dream of something for years, and then when it arrives…now what?

You think if just one thing happens you’ll be saved.

You think that the rest of the world doesn’t matter. If you don’t go there, it did not happen. But then the Saudis kill Khashoggi and then invest in Live Nation. You can’t escape it.

The scenes in captivity are brutal. You can barely watch them. Which is just the point. And we’re just that brutal in the U.S. We waterboard people. We’re two-faced. We abhor torture, cry foul and then we torture. Huh?

We’re all just people, trying to get along. Can we rely on others? Do they lie to us? How do you keep on going in a sea of duplicity?

The horrors they experience in this show are far beyond the ones we experience here. Oh, we have school shootings, but the answer for many is more guns! Don’t address the issue, look to its causation, just up the ante! But if a loved one dies in one of these senseless situations, you never ever get over it, you’re a member of the walking wounded, meanwhile there are people who deny the event ever happened! What next, you weren’t even born?

Now the reason HBO and streaming eclipsed network were because they employed a different model, Netflix most especially. When you try to reach the broadest number of people, you end up with something homogenized that most can’t even relate to. We have the same problem in music. Once the business people get involved, you’re screwed. If they could create the art, they would, but they can’t, so they lord it over you, the creator.

So, at this moment in time, if you want to feel human and connected, you’ve got to watch a TV show.

Hell, “Prisoners of War” nailed my divorce better than any other piece of art I’ve ever experienced. You see once you stop living together, your lives diverge. Sure, some people can get back to the garden, but most cannot. It’s just too hard, it doesn’t work anymore.

So the reason I even bothered to watch “Prisoners of War” is because it was rated the #1 international show of the last decade by “The New York Times.” Take a look, the vaunted “Killing Eve” is only #9. Fleabag is #13. “Money Heist” is #21. “Broadchurch” is #27! Wouldn’t you be interested in checking out #1? I mean what kind of show can top all of those?

One not like any of the above, even though some are great.

Yes, it’s subtitled. And as I said earlier, it can be unbelievably slow and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a television show with more violence. But you stick with it and it becomes part of your life. It’s no longer entertainment, you’re invested in the outcome. You can tell yourself it’s just a TV show when you get too scared or too anxious watching it, but it doesn’t work, because you care just that much!

So, “Prisoners of War” is a commitment. Don’t tell me you tried a few episodes and you think it’s crap. This is not hit and run, this is something more serious, you’ve got to dedicate yourself to the show, and when you do it’ll pay dividends.

Just like life.

“The 30 Best International TV Shows of the Decade – The 2010s saw a radical shift in the trade balance when it comes to television series. Our critic counts down the finest imports, from ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Strong Girl Bong-soon.'”

Musician/engineer/producer Bob Rock has been on every side of it, from a hit record with his band the Payola$ to engineering “Slippery When Wet” to producing the Black Album. Listen to hear stories of Bob seeing the Beatles at the airport in Winnipeg to being in the studio with everybody from Aerosmith to Michael Buble to Van Morrison.

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