Month: November 2024

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Halle Bailey, Smokey Robinson to host NBC’s Motown Christmas special

Halle Bailey at the Nickelodeon 2023 Kids Choice Awards at Microsoft Theater. LOS ANGELES^ CA - MAR 4^ 2023

Halle Bailey and Smokey Robinson have signed on to host NBC’s 2-hour holiday special, “A Motown Christmas.” The show will premiere on the broadcast network Dec. 11, and will be available to stream on Peacock Dec. 12.

The network announced on social media: “we’re bringing the magic of motown to your holiday season! 🎄🎶 celebrate with motown legends and today’s hottest stars in #AMotownChristmas December 11 on nbc and streaming next day on @peacock”

NBC said in a press release that “the special will include performances featuring more than 25 Motown hits, performed by Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations.”

Bailey will perform a medley of Diana Ross’ hits, while Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx will celebrate the music of Stevie Wonder alongside Bebe Winans, Jordin Sparks and Andra Day. The lineup of performers also includes Ashanti, JoJo, mgk, October London, Pentatonix, and the Broadway company of MJ the Musical, with an 11-piece live band led by Emmy-winning musical director Rickey Minor.

Jen Neal, executive vice president of live events and specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement: “Motown’s timeless hits have played as a soundtrack for American families for the last eight decades. NBC is honored to spotlight the iconic legacy of Motown with a festive celebration for the holiday season.”

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Beyoncé to perform at halftime show for Netfix’s NFL Christmas Day game

BEYONCE in concert. Rio de Janeiro-Brazil. 10/2011

Beyoncé and the NFL announced that she will be performing the halftime show for the Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens game taking place on Christmas Day in her hometown of Houston, and set to stream on Netflix.    Beyoncé previously performed at the Super Bowls in 2013 and 2016.

The streaming service released a teaser video which shows the Grammy-winning performer catching a football while standing on top of a red vintage car and singing “American Requiem” – the opening song of her latest album, Cowboy Carter.   They added in a press release: “Your early Christmas wish has been granted as Beyoncé will perform during Netflix’s first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday.”  Netflix added that details of the superstar’s performance are “under wraps” but she is “expected to feature some special guests” who are featured on her recent “COWBOY CARTER” album.

Beyoncé was just nominated for 11 Grammy awards on Nov. 8, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year — making her the most-nominated artist in Grammy history.

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Trump defense sec’y pick Pete Hegseth confirms paying settlement to sexual assault accuser

Farnborough International Airshow Monday United States Department of Defense July 22nd 2024:

The attorney for former Fox News host Pete Hegseth — President-elect Donald Trump’s candidate for defense secretary — confirmed to NBC News on Sunday that Hegseth paid a woman an undisclosed amount after she accused him of sexual assault in 2017, as part of a settlement agreement.

Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, said in a statement: “In 2023, Hegseth paid the complainant as part of a civil confidential settlement agreement and maintains his innocence. This is a situation where a consensual encounter occurred and, unfortunately, the woman had to come up with a lie to explain why the woman had not come back to her husband’s room that night. It wasn’t reported until days later until there was pressure from her husband. It was fully investigated by police and video surveillance as well as multiple eyewitness statements show that she was the aggressor.”

Parlatore’s statement comes after The Washington Post reported that a friend of Hegseth’s accuser sent a memo to the Trump transition team detailing the allegations.  Parlatore confirmed that the memo was related to an encounter Hegseth and the unnamed woman had in Monterey, California, during a conference of the California Federation of Republican Women.

Parlatore said that that Hegseth settled the matter because he feared his career would suffer if her allegations were made public, and that Hegseth was the victim of “blackmail and false claims of sexual assault … knowing that it was the height of the MeToo movement and any public accusation would result in his immediate termination from Fox, Mr. Hegseth ultimately decided to enter into a settlement for a significantly reduced amount.”

In a post on X, Stephen Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said that the president-elect is standing by Hegseth:  “Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed. We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense.”

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Biden authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplies by U.S. in Russia

President Joe Biden and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attend a joint news briefing^ amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. Kyiv^ Ukraine February 20^ 2023.

Officials confirmed that President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to lift restrictions to allow the use of U.S.-provided long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. The easing of restrictions would allow Kyiv to use the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to hit targets inside Russia. The move also comes as some 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed to the Kursk region of Russia to support Russian troops fighting Ukrainian forces.

U.S. officials had previously resisted the use of the long-range weapons, citing concerns over limited stockpile and the repositioning of Russian assets outside of ATACMS range.  Biden secretly gave Ukraine permission to use American weapons to strike Russia just over the border back in May; at that time, Ukraine was prohibited from using longer-range weapons to strike deeper into the country.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he plans to limit U.S. support for Ukraine in the hopes of ending their war against Russia. As the U.S. has already provided $175 billion in aid to Ukraine – more than any other country – a withdrawal of support would become a major blow to Ukraine defense against Russian attacks.

In an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through “diplomatic means.”  He added that the war will end “sooner” than it otherwise would have, once Trump becomes president: “It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens.”

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See the trailer for Amazon’s ‘Cruel Intentions’ reboot series premiering Nov. 21st

Sarah Catherine Hook at the Platonic Apple+ Series Premiere at the Regal LA Live on May 10^ 2023 in Los Angeles^ CA

Prime Video‘s reboot of Cruel Intentions will premiere with all eight episodes on Thursday, Nov. 21, with the streaming service also releasing the first trailer for the series.

Cruel Intentions reimagines the 1999 film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair. Both are modern adaptations of the 18th-century novel ‘Dangerous Liaisons.’

The Amazon reboot “follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless stepsiblings, Caroline Merteuil (First Kill’s Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (One Night’s Zac Burgess), will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek Life system, they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover (the Gossip Girl reboot’s Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. Hearts will be broken, loyalties will be tested, and secrets will be revealed in this modern-day royal court that is Manchester College.”

The cast includes Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline, Zac Burgess as Lucien, Savannah Lee Smith as Annie, and Sara Silva as Cece Carroway, with John Harlan Kim, Khobe Clarke, Sean Patrick Thomas and Brooke Lena Johnson also starting.

The series will premiere Nov. 21 on Prime Video; see the Cruel Intentions trailer: HERE.

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Conan O’Brien to host the 2025 Oscars

Conan O'Brien at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium. September 17^ 2007

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Conan O’Brien will host the 2025 Academy Awards in March, marking his first time hosting the awards show.  O’Brien takes over hosting duties from Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the last two Oscar ceremonies.

The 61-year-old O’Brien jokingly said in a statement: “America demanded it, and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”  O’Brien is no stranger to hosting award shows; he previously hosted the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006, in addition to serving as host of the 2014 MTV Movie Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang shared: “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year. He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise. His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best—honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”

Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan added: “Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host — he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven himself to be a master of live event television. We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”

O’Brien is best known for hosting “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” from 1993-2009 after David Letterman’s departure, and served as host of “Conan” from 2010 to 2021. Most recently, he starred in the travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go” on Max, and he currently hosts the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.

The 97th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PT on ABC.

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Satire publication The Onion purchases Alex Jones’ Infowars at bankruptcy auction

Cover of the Onion parody news publisher. Calgary^ Alberta^ June 17^ 2022

Satrire publication The Onion purchased Infowars — the Alex Jones right-wing conspiracy theory website — in a bankruptcy auction on Thursday.  About an hour and a half after the announcement of the sale, Infowars’ website was shut down.

The Onion will take control over Jones’ media empire, most notably Infowars, the far-right, conspiracy-minded website that served as Jones’ primary online platform. Infowars was sold in a bankruptcy auction after Sandy Hook elementary school shooting families won a $1.5 billion judgment against Jones in defamation suits.  Proceeds from the sale will go to pay down a $1.5 billion against Jones for spreading false conspiracy theories that claimed the 2012 Sandy Hook mass elementary school shooting was faked.

Jones confirmed the purchase Thursday on X:  “I just got word 15 minutes ago that my lawyers and folks met with the U.S. trustee over our bankruptcy this morning and they said they are shutting us down even without a court order this morning. I don’t know what’s going to happen but I’m going to be here until they come and turn the lights off.”  Jones added that security had notified him he has to leave the Infowars premises on Thursday.

The Onion, which often satirized Jones, said they plan to rebuild the Infowars website to feature the work of well-known Internet humor writers and content creators. In a statement on the social media site BlueSky, The Onion CEO Ben Collins said his company has plans for Infowars: “We are planning on making it a very funny, very stupid website. We have retained the services of some Onion and Clickhole Hall of Famers to pull this off. I can’t wait to show you what we have cooked up.” The Onion added that its “exclusive launch advertiser” will be the gun violence prevention organization Everytown for Gun Safety.

Sandy Hook families from Newton, CT filed lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas claiming Jones defamed them on his show and inflicted emotional distress by repeatedly suggesting the shooting, in which a gunman killed 20 first grade children and six adults, was a hoax. Chris Mattei, an attorney for the families, said: “Our clients knew that true accountability meant an end to Infowars and an end to Jones’ ability to spread lies, pain and fear at scale.”  The plaintiffs agreed to forgo a portion of their recovery to boost The Onion’s bankruptcy auction bid, according to attorneys.

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14-year-old boy arrested for allegedly starting forest fire in New Jersey

Wildfire ^ Forest fire. Forest fire in progress. Large flames. 2024.

A 14-year-old has been charged with allegedly starting one of the several wildfires that spread across New Jersey over the last month amid severe drought conditions in the region.

Authorities investigating the cause and origin of the blaze “located evidence that identified this fire as an arson,” the Evesham Township Police said in a statement.

Officers responded to a forest fire in Evesham Township, in the area of Sycamore Avenue near the Berlin Township border in New Jersey on October 30 at approximately 1 p.m.; over the next several days, authorities say the blaze burned 52 acres of land. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Evesham Fire Department combatted the flames, with authorities stating that no structures were threatened and no injuries were reported.

Following an “extensive investigation,” the teen — who resides in Marlton, within Evesham Township — was identified as a suspect, police said. The teen was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with aggravated arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage, and was lodged in the Middlesex Juvenile Detention Center pending his first appearance.

Police added that a separate blaze — dubbed the “Bethany Run Wildfire” — began on November 7 in the area of Sycamore Drive, and is also under investigation for possibly being connected to the October 30 blaze. The Nov. 7 fire burned for several days with 375 acres consumed, though no structures were damaged. The investigation into both fires is ongoing.

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CBS to air ‘Making of Gladiator II’ special on Nov. 18

Paul Mescal arrives for the Independent Spirit Awards on March 04^ 2023 in Santa Monica^ CA. LOS ANGELES - MAR 04

CBS will present The Making of Gladiator II, a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of Paramount Pictures’ feature film, Gladiator II, from director Ridley Scott.

Gladiator II is the sequel to the iconic Oscar Best Picture-winning 2000 film Gladiator, with the sequel led by a cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen reprising her role from the original film, and Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington.

An official synopsis for the sequel film reads:  “Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.”

The special will give fans a never-before-seen look at the making of the film. This inside look offers unprecedented access encompassing all aspects of production, from the grand scope of the set – including reconstructing Ancient Rome – to characters, combat training, costumes, historical accuracy, scoring, and more.

The Making of Gladiator II will air on Monday, Nov. 18 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

Gladiator II will open in theaters on November 22.

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Craig Melvin to replace Hoda Kotb as co-anchor of NBC’s ‘Today’ show

Craig Melvin attends National Board of Review Gala 2022 at Cipriani 42nd street. New York^ NY - March 15^ 2022

NBC News anchor and broadcast journalist Craig Melvin will replace Hoda Kotb as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, taking over for Kotb following her departure on Jan. 10. Melvin, 45, will co-anchor the program alongside Savannah Guthrie.

Today’s senior vice president, Libby Leist, in a statement: “He’s been an integral and beloved part of our family. From breaking news coverage in the field, to presidential interviews, to multiple Olympics and Super Bowls, Craig’s shown he has the talent and the range to cover all that we do here at Today. And he does it without ever losing that Southern charm.”

The 14-year NBC veteran said after the on-air announcement: “I am beyond excited and grateful. I’ve had a lot of conversations yesterday with a lot of people who mean a lot to me. I want to thank NBC and the folks who deemed me worthy, but I’ve got to start by thanking the man upstairs, the Lord above and his son, Jesus. I’ve enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”

Melvin has co-anchored the weekend edition of Today and currently co-hosts the third hour of the Today show, in addition to news-anchoring earlier broadcasts of the show.  He will co-host the Today show with Guthrie for the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. hours (beginning Jan. 13) and will remain a co-host during the third hour. Today’s fourth hour, which is currently co-hosted by Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, will be rebranded as ‘Today with Jenna & Friends’ beginning Jan. 13.   The show will welcome a rotating cast of personalities to helm the show with Bush Hager until a permanent cohost is found.

Kotb announced she was leaving the Today Show in September, releasing a statement confirming that she’d step down from the show to spend more time with her family: “as I write this, my heart is all over the map,” she wrote in a letter to the show’s staff. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”

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