newsmakers

newsmakers

Franklin cancels show, citing treatment

CLARKSTON, Mich.

Aretha Franklin has canceled a Detroit-area performance set for July 27, citing ongoing treatment.

The show at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston initially had been scheduled for June 22, but Franklin postponed it to later this month.

Then, in a letter written by the Grammy-winning singer and distributed by her publicist, Franklin says she was canceling the show “one last time” due to an unspecified ongoing treatment.

Spitzer offers life advice in new book

NEW YORK

Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is offering life advice in a new book, saying “self-importance” can lead to a “dangerous arrogance” that often ends badly.

Spitzer resigned in 2008 amid a prostitution scandal and recently entered the race for New York City comptroller.

His e-book, “Protecting Capitalism Case by Case,” was published last week and is selling online for $9.99.

The main subject is how he went after law-breaking Wall Street titans as state attorney general.

But one chapter offers his 10 “Rules of Life,” with loyalty as a top priority.

Spitzer told The Associated Press on Saturday that his political career has had “an unusual arch to it, but every day has been fascinating.”

He says he’s sure he has a decent shot at winning the comptroller race.

‘Sharknado’ doesn’t have same bite on TV

LOS ANGELES

Almost 1.4 million people tuned into Syfy Thursday night to watch “Sharknado,” the movie about what happens when you combine a tornado and sharks.

The disaster-film spoof, which stars Tara Reid and Ian Ziering, became a Twitter sensation. There were 350,000 tweets about the movie, a big number for a television program — no doubt because of its hilarious title.

Though the numbers for the movie are solid, it is another example that Twitter activity doesn’t always correlate with TV ratings.

However, all the tweets and free publicity from news outlets looking to generate traffic by writing about “Sharknado” likely will mean the movie will continue to get decent ratings when Syfy repeats it.

“Sharknado” wasn’t just for kids. The median age for “Sharknado” viewers was 46.8, according to Nielsen.

Associated Press