Openly Asian Gay actor Alex Landi poses for Attitude Magazine - February 2019
Grey’s Anatomy stud Alex Landi, who plays the long-running drama’s first ever openly gay male surgeon, is on the cover of the February issue of Attitude Magazine.
His character of Dr. Nico has embarked on a tentative relationship with closeted intern Dr. Levi Schmitt (played by the newly-out Jake Borelli).
The actor hopes his character is helping to challenge traditional LGBT and Asian TV stereotypes: “[Producers] wanted a very masculine ‘bro’ type, and they wanted him to be openly gay. That was disclosed to me before the audition. Another undertone is that he is also the first male surgeon of Asian descent. Obviously, Cristina Yang [played by Sandra Oh] was female Asian, but there has never been a male Asian surgeon, let alone openly gay. I’m trying to break stereotypes. Asian men are not seen as masculine in the media and that is something that I am striving to change.”
Landi also said: “I just love how diverse Grey’s is. Less than 3 per cent of Asians are represented on TV, and less than 1 per cent are LGBT+, so for them to combine both of those minorities in one role is great. Growing up, I’d watch tons of movies and the leading men were white, traditionally they’re always white. Why can’t there be an Asian James Bond? Why can’t there be an Asian Marvel superhero? There are plenty of Asian men who can pull it off. A dream of mine is to become a Marvel superhero.”
The February edition of Attitude will be on newsstands soon!
WILD CARD WEEKEND! Fly Eagles Fly! Philadelphia Eagles 16, Chicago Bears 15
CHICAGO – The Eagles continued their magical late-season run with a dramatic 16-15 win over the Chicago Bears in the opening round of the postseason. Nick Foles led the Eagles on a go-ahead scoring drive and finished then former Eagles kicker Cody Parkey bounced a potential game-winning field goal off the left upright.
Watching hopefully and helplessly from the sideline, the Eagles players and coaches erupted in the same joy that they exhibited when they won their first playoff game in the final minute one year ago. That ride finished with the Eagles hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. That might be tougher this season, but the Eagles will live to see another week – and there aren’t many hotter teams.
Foles’ storybook career in Philadelphia now has a new chapter, because he put the Eagles ahead in the final minute. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the two-yard with 61 seconds remaining, the Eagles had one last chance to take the lead. Foles rolled out to his right and fired a pass to Golden Tate in the front corner of the end zone to give the Eagles a lead with 56 seconds on the clock, stunning a Soldier Field crowd that had seen their defense turn into one of the NFL’s most formidable units and their home venue one of the most imposing.
But whatever Foles is channeling is stronger, because the Eagles stayed alive.
Even though the Bears quickly entered field-goal range, the Eagles hung on. Coach Doug Pederson iced Parkey with a timeout – Parkey made a practice kick – before Parkey was short on the kick that mattered.
The Eagles will go to New Orleans to play the top-seeded Saints on Sunday at 4:40 p.m. The Saints finished 13-3 this season, including a dominant 48-7 win over the Eagles on Nov. 18. It was the worst loss of the Eagles’ season, but the Eagles have turned their season around since then. They’ve now won six of seven games since that afternoon in New Orleans.
Foles finished 25 of 40 for 266 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Alshon Jeffery was the leading receiver with six catches for 82 yards. And Tate, who was acquired at midseason, scored the game-winning touchdown.
Mitchell Trubisky, who was the inferior quarterback throughout much of the game, came alive in the fourth quarter on a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that gave the Bears the lead. It started when Trubisky converted a third-and-11 with a 19-yard strike to Taylor Gabriel, continued with a 34-yard completion down the right sideline to Joshua Bellamy, and was punchated with 22-yard touchdown to Allen Robinson. Trubisky targeted Avonte Maddox on the last two plays, and the Bears were all-the-sudden dangerous: at home in the fourth quarter with a lead.
The Bears forced the Eagles off the field, but the Eagles defense was able to answer to give the ball back to Foles.
The Eagles went into the locker room at halftime with a 6-3 deficit despite mostly outplaying the Bears. They were undone by costly miscues, including two interceptions in Bears territory; two third-down penalties to extend scoring drives for the Bears; and two missed interceptions that could have changed the tide of the game.
It was an encouraging start for the Eagles when they opened the game with a 10-play, 50-yard scoring drive against the Bears defense. Foles found Wendell Smallwood for a 22-yard screen pass to move the ball into Bears territory, and the Eagles utilized the no-huddle offense to push the ball into field-goal range. On a third-and-8, Jeffery made his first catch in Soldier Field since he played for the Bears. When fans jeered Jeffery, he cupped his hand at his ear and wanted them louder, evidence of his insistence of how much he enjoys playing on the road. The Eagles settled for a 43-yard field goal, but it was enough for an early lead – and the only points in the quarter. In fact, it was the first home game this season that the Bears failed to score in the first quarter.
The Eagles reached Chicago territory with a 30-yard catch by Jeffery on the first play of the second quarter, and it looked like they could build to their lead. Instead, Foles’ short pass to Wendell Smallwood was wrestled away by Roquan Smith for an interception.
And just when the defense appeared to respond with a three-and-out, Michael Bennett was flagged for an unnecessary roughness because of a scuffle with Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long after the Eagles made a third-and-5 stop. The Bears were given new life, and they reached range for a 36-yard field to tie the game.
The Eagles’ next drive ended the same way: with a Foles interception. After a key third-down catch by Tate in which the veteran receiver secured the ball and traffic and withstood a big hit, the Eagles were at the Bears’ 22-yard line. It seemed like they could at least take the lead with a field goal, and perhaps even find the end zone. Instead, Foles made a poor pass into traffic in the end zone, taking an unnecessary risk on second down. Adrian Amos made the interception, taking potential points off the board for the Eagles. It was Foles’ first multi-interception since coming back to Philadelphia in 2017.
Maddox almost made up for it with an interception of his own when he stepped in front of a Trubisky’s pass to Allen Robinson, except an official review determined that Maddox did not have control of the interception inbounds. The Eagles still forced the Bears to punt, although they could have had possession in scoring range. The Eagles went three-and-out to give the ball back to the Bears before halftime, and then they helped them score.
It seemed the Eagles forced the Bears offense off the field when they made a stop on third-and-3 at midfield, except Nigel Bradham was flagged for illegal use of hands to keep the Bears on the field. It was the second Bears scoring driving extended by a third-down penalty.
The Eagles could have entered halftime with a tied score, except Tre Sullivan couldn’t secure an interception in the end zone on a pass that seemed targeted to him. The Bears settled for a field goal as the clock expired, and they had a 6-3 lead even though the Eagles outplayed them in the first half.
The Eagles’ best drive of the game came in the third quarter – and they were helped by penalty flags. Foles led the Eagles on seven-play, 83-yard march that included three 53 yards of penalty. Amos was charged with unnecessary roughness when he hit Ertz after a pass attempt, giving the Eagles 15 yards despite a third-down incompletion. The big penalty came when Foles tried going deep to Jordan Matthews, but Prince Amukamara pulled at Matthews for a 33-yard pass interference. One play later, Foles hit Dallas Goedert in the end zone for a 10-yard score – the first touchdown of the game. That gave the Eagles a 10-6 lead.
The lead bounced between the two teams in the fourth quarter, but it finished with the Eagles on top. They’ll still be underdogs, but who cares? It’s worked for them before, and it worked for them again on Sunday.
#RHoA: Cynthia Bailey and Mike Hill to get MARRIED?
Cynthia Bailey from #RHOA gets asked a quickfire round of questions about her boyfriend Mike Hill including the Hollywood way they met and if Mike watched #RHOA before they were together.
Once upon a time, Cynthia Bailey met Mike Hill on The Steve Harvey Show, and the rest is history. The two quickly fell in love, and entered into an adventurous relationship that has taken then from Los Angeles to Ghana. But, it's the place they're headed next — at least we think — that has us truly stoked. Here's a hint: That place begins with A, rhymes with halter, and you might found a pastor there.
Here's what we know: On December 30, The Real Housewives of Atlanta supermodel posted a photo that showed her and her beau all dolled up for New Year's Eve. The two stood in front of a golden microphone, hamming it up for the cameras and posing as though in mid-song. In her caption, Cynthia wrote something that was innocent enough: "Bringing in 2019 on a high note with my love."
But, it's in the comments section that things get really interesting. Mike casually chimed in with this: "I'd share any stage with you baby!! #[Altar]Next?" See what we mean? Swoon!
This isn't the first time the sportscaster has talked marriage, of course. Back in November, he even gave his lady a "pre proposal" of sorts. Well, it looks like Cynthia just got another one. Should we expect a save the date soon?
Catch these lovebirds every Sunday on RHOA at 8/7c.
#Empire: Terrence Howard Defends Kevin Hart's Use Of Homophobia: "It's All Part Of The Job"
Terrence Howard collided with TMZ a few hours, and the conservation veered towards Kevin Hart's presumed homophobia right from the get-go. This is par for course conversationalism for your standard TMZ field rep, as they often cast their "paparazzi victims" in an unfamiliar pundit role. And more often than not, the tactic produces quite the hair-raising headline.
For his part, Terrence Howard sided with Kevin Hart, days after the comedian had received a pardon from Ellen Degeneres, on behalf of a leaderless group discussion in the LGBTQ community. Howard explains his defense of Hart in the simplest of terms. His opinion: Kevin Hart was "hired (to host the Oscars) because he is the funniest person in the World right now." He agrees with Nick Cannon's inference that White comedians get away scot-free with the same "homophobic" material that Kevin Hart was guilty of postulating.
Furthermore, Howard believes offensive gestures, like those administered by Hart on Twitter, are all part of a comedian's job, albeit with some discretion in passing. When TMZ pressed for the racial double-standard, Terrence Howard did not oblige the discourse, deciding instead to reference Nick Cannon for a second time. With all that said, where do you stand on the Kevin Hart debacle, and where/how should comedians draw the line when it comes to offensive material? - comment below.
#NewMusic from Chris Brown ‘Undecided’
Chris Brown is back. The R&B superstar has released his new single “Undecided,” which was produced by Avedon and Scott Storch.
Taking a sample from Shanice’s 1991 hit “I Love Your Smile,” “Undecided” finds Brown conflicted about pursuing a serious relationship with a woman. “Look at all these sparks flying / But I’m still indecisive (‘Cause you want me) / And she want me to wife it / But I’m undecided,” Brown croons.
“Undecided” marks the beginning of a new era of music from Brown. The song follows his massive 2017 LP, Heartbreak on a Full Moon, which contained 57 tracks.
LISTEN AND WATCH HERE
“Thank you all my fans for the endless support over the years, I’m humbled and grateful to be able to keep creating for you guys. LIVE LAUGH LOVE AND BRING THE ENERGY,” Brown tweeted.
#HipHopNews: Hip-Hop Sounds Off On ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Docuseries
The new Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, which debuted on Thursday (Jan. 3), has been the talk of the internet over the last couple of days, as more and more claims of abuse and relationships with underage girls are put forth against the embattled singer, R. Kelly.
The six-part series full of scandalous allegations premiered Thursday night (Jan. 3), with two episodes being released each night. The series comes to an end tonight (Jan. 5) with episodes 5 and 6. Episodes 1 and 2 include R. Kelly's upbringing, rise to fame, victims' claims and marriage to underage Aaliyah, who was 15 at the time. Episodes 3 and 4 have more claims from alleged victims and covers his infamous child pornography case.
Hip-hop artists have been sounding off on social media about the revealing show, most with disgust.
"How did we not see you was and are a wild sick child molester??" Cappadonna captioned a photo of Kelz on Twitter on Saturday (Jan. 5). "TF you got boxers on in a shoot with a 15 year old child bro???!! You can’t heal what happened to you but hurting others. Hell gonna rip you hard man🔥🔥🔥🔥."
Former Three 6 Mafia rapper Gangsta Boo didn't hold back on Twitter either. "R Kelly , I gotta trade you in for good bro," she wrote. "27 not a kid. He knew exactly what he was doing. Issues or not,molested or not. You know right from wrong and sleeping with underage girls or boys as a adult Male or Female is never ok."
People have apparently been giving Vince Staples props for calling out Kelly during an interview at Coachella last year. "Y’all weird as hell for crediting me for this K. Relly shit," he wrote on Twitter. "Leave me alone with your out of nowhere care but it’s still fuck cuh tho onna dead locs."
Joyner Lucas initially caught heat for supporting R. Kelly, but now sees the error of his ways.
BREAKING: Jazmine Barnes shooting: Texas police charge Eric Black Jr with murder!
Travis County Sherriffs have charged a man in connection with the drive-by shooting of a seven-year-old girl in Texas.
Jazmine Barnes was shot dead while in her family's car near Houston last month.
Eric Black Jr, 20, has admitted involvement in the shooting and been charged with murder, Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Investigators believe the attack on Jazmine's family could have been the result of mistaken identity.
Jazmine's mother, LaPorsha Washington, was also shot and injured. Three other children were in the car at the time.
A composite sketch of the suspect released last week showed a white male believed to be in his 30s or 40s. Eric Black is black, but police say other suspects could be involved.
Campaigners had feared the shooting, on an African-American family, may have been racially motivated.
What do police say?
The statement from Harris County Sheriff's Office said Eric Black had been arrested as the result of a tip-off.
Investigators were continuing to "pursue evidence that could possibly lead to other suspects being charged", the statement said.
"At this time, investigators do not believe Jazmine's family was the intended target of the shooting, and that they were possibly shot as a result of mistaken identity."
Jazmine's funeral is due to take place on Tuesday. R.I.P Angel!
Kevin Hart Won’t Host Academy Awards; Doesn’t Want To Be Oscar Night Distraction
Despite the efforts of former host Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Hart will not reemerge as host of the 91st Academy Awards, multiple sources are telling Deadline. While this situation is still fluid and he could possibly change his mind, this looks like his final answer, I’m told.
The Academy will continue on its course toward an Oscarcast without a single host, and instead will enlist some of the biggest names in the games to present awards. Hart’s appearance on Ellen to promote his upcoming film The Upside rekindled hope when DeGeneres — whom sources said turned down the job awhile ago — urged Hart to host and made calls to the Academy.
Hart was moved by DeGeneres’ gesture and indeed reconsidered, and he has apologized so often that the Academy would have been receptive to his return, I’m told. Ultimately, Hart felt his hosting would become a distraction, a continuing controversial narrative that would take the spotlight off the people and movies being honored. He also grew concerned at the limited amount of time he would have had to prepare. Both are legitimate concerns. After the ensuing parade of blowhard polemic articles following Hart’s Ellen appearance, who can blame him?
The Golden Globes: RECAP and See The Winners List HERE!
Green Book, Bohemian Rhapsody and The Americans took home some of the biggest prizes at the 2019 Golden Globes.
Green Book won the most awards out of any film, even though it accumulated just three in total: Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy; Best Screenplay; and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali. The awards could be a boon to the movie, which has received mixed reviews and struggled at the box office.
Bohemian Rhapsody, meanwhile, provided a pair of shocking upsets to close out the show. The Queen biopic scored the award for Best Motion Picture, Drama, just after star Rami Malek picked up the Best Actor trophy for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury.
Perhaps more notable than producing a big winner, the Golden Globes boasted a very prominent loser. Despite huge amounts of hype, A Star Is Born failed to win any major motion picture awards, though it did win the Best Original Song prize for “Shallow.”
The 2019 Golden Globes also produced a definite sleeper hit: Roma. While the film was barred from the best picture category due to a Hollywood Foreign Press Association rule that makes foreign films ineligible for that award, Alfonso Cuarón’s lauded family drama about life in Mexico City during the Seventies won Best Foreign Language Film, while Cuarón won Best Director.
Meanwhile, the film acting categories produced a wide array of winners. Christian Bale won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his portrayal of former Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice, and Olivia Colman won Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her turn as Queen Anne in The Favourite. Glenn Close took home Best Actress in a Drama, for The Wife, and Regina King won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for If Beale Street Could Talk.
The television categories produced a handful of surprising victories as well. The Americans notably picked up a Best Drama win after years of being snubbed by both the Golden Globes and the Emmys. And the Comedy category unexpectedly leaned into The Kominsky Method, which won Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy, and Best Actor for star Michael Douglas. While The Kominsky Method bested last year’s Best Comedy winner, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the star of the hit Amazon show, Rachel Brosnahan, won her second straight Best Actress in a Comedy award.
Elsewhere, Golden Globes co-host Sandra Oh capped off her night with a win for Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama, for Killing Eve, and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story earned a pair of trophies as well: Best Television Limited Series and Best Actor in a Limited Series for Darren Criss.
Though it is famously Hollywood’s booziest awards show, the 2019 Golden Globes didn’t produce too many outrageous moments. Maya Rudolph faux-proposed to Amy Poehler before presenting an award, and Jeff Bridges went full Dude while accepting the Cecile B. DeMille Award. Carol Burnett delivered a poignant speech upon accepting the inaugural television lifetime award, named in her honor, and Christian Bale produced the night’s most surprising thank you, offering a nod to Satan for inspiring his turn as Dick Cheney.
The evening’s most powerful moment may have come from Regina King, who closed her Best Supporting Actress speech with a potent message about female representation that actually prompted the Golden Globes producers to cut off the wrap-it-up music. With Hollywood still under the pall of various sexual assault scandals and still struggling to increase diversity, King took her opportunity to target those systemic issues.
“I am going to use my platform to say right now that in the next two years, everything that I produce — and I am making a vow, and it’s going to be tough — to make sure that everything that I produce, that it’s fifty percent women,” King said. “I just challenge anyone out there who is in a position of power, not just in our industry, in all industries, I challenge you to challenge yourselves and stand with us in solidarity and do the same.”
The full list of film and television nominees follows with winners indicated in RED.
Movies
Best Motion Picture - Drama
"Black Panther"
"BlackKklansman"
"Bohemian Rhapsody" *WINNER
"If Beale Street Could Talk"
"A Star Is Born"
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
"Crazy Rich Asians"
"The Favourite"
"Green Book" *WINNER
"Mary Poppins Returns"
"Vice"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Glenn Close ("The Wife") *WINNER
Lady Gaga ("A Star Is Born")
Nicole Kidman ("Destroyer")
Melissa McCarthy ("Can You Ever Forgive Me?")
Rosamund Pike ("A Private War")
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Bradley Cooper ("A Star Is Born")
Willem Dafoe ("At Eternity's Gate")
Lucas Hedges ("Boy Erased")
Rami Malek ("Bohemian Rhapsody") *WINNER
John David Washington ("BlackKklansman")
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Emily Blunt ("Mary Poppins Returns")
Olivia Colman ("The Favourite") *WINNER
Elsie Fisher ("Eighth Grade")
Charlize Theron ("Tully")
Constance Wu ("Crazy Rich Asians")
Best Director
Bradley Cooper ("A Star Is Born")
Alfonso Cuaron ("Roma") *WINNER
Peter Farrelly ("Green Book")
Spike Lee ("BlackKklansman")
Adam McKay ("Vice")
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale ("Vice") *WINNER
Lin-Manuel Miranda ("Mary Poppins Returns")
Vigo Mortensen ("Green Book")
Robert Redford ("The Old Man and the Gun")
John C. Reilly ("Stan and Ollie")
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams ("Vice")
Claire Foy ("First Man")
Regina King ("If Beale Street Could Talk") *WINNER
Emma Stone ("The Favourite")
Rachel Weisz ("The Favourite")
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Mahershala Ali ("Green Book") *WINNER
Timothee Chalamet ("Beautiful Boy")
Adam Driver ("BlackKklansman")
Richard E. Grant ("Can You Ever Forgive Me?")
Sam Rockwell ("Vice")
Best Original Score in a Motion Picture
Marco Beltrami ("A Quiet Place")
Alexandre Desplat ("Isle of Dogs")
Ludwig Göransson ("Black Panther")
Justin Hurwitz ("First Man") *WINNER
Marc Shaiman ("Mary Poppins Returns")
Best Original Song in a Motion Picture
"All the Stars" ("Black Panther")
"Girl in the Movies" ("Dumplin'")
"Requiem for a Private War" ("A Private War")
"Revelation" ("Boy Erased")
"Shallow" ("A Star Is Born") *WINNER
Best Screenplay in a Motion Picture
Barry Jenkins ("If Beale Street Could Talk")
Adam McKay ("Vice")
Alfonso Cuaron ("Roma")
Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara ("The Favourite")
Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie ("Green Book") *WINNER
Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language
"Capernaum"
"Girl"
"Never Look Away"
"Roma" *WINNER
"Shoplifters"
Best Animated Film
"Incredibles 2"
"Isle of Dogs"
"Mirai"
"Ralph Breaks the Internet"
"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" *WINNER
Best TV series - Drama
"The Americans" *WINNER
"Bodyguard"
"Homecoming"
"Killing Eve"
"Pose"
Best performance by Actress in a TV series - Drama
Caitriona Balfe ("Outlander")
Elisabeth Moss ("The Handmaid's Tale")
Sandra Oh ("Killing Eve") *WINNER
Julia Roberts ("Homecoming")
Keri Russell ("The Americans")
Best performance by an Actor in a TV Series - Drama
Jason Bateman ("Ozark")
Stephan James ("Homecoming")
Richard Madden ("Bodyguard") *WINNER
Billy Porter ("Pose")
Matthew Rhys ("The Americans")
Best TV series - Musical or Comedy
"Barry"
"The Good Place"
"Kidding"
"The Kominsky Method" *WINNER
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV series - Musical or Comedy
Sasha Baron Cohen ("Who Is America?")
Jim Carrey ("Kidding")
Michael Douglas ("The Kominsky Method") *WINNER
Donald Glover ("Atlanta")
Bill Hader ("Barry")
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV series - Musical or Comedy
Kristen Bell ("The Good Place")
Candice Bergen ("Murphy Brown")
Alison Brie ("GLOW")
Rachel Brosnahan ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel") *WINNER
Debra Messing ("Will & Grace")
Best Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
"The Alienist"
"The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" *WINNER
"Dirty John"
"Escape at Dannemora"
"Sharp Objects"
"A Very English Scandal"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Antonio Banderas ("Genius: Picasso")
Daniel Bruhl ("The Alienist")
Darren Criss ("The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story") *WINNER
Benedict Cumberbatch ("Patrick Melrose")
Hugh Grant ("A Very English Scandal")
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Amy Adams ("Sharp Objects")
Patricia Arquette ("Escape at Dannemora") *WINNER
Connie Britton ("Dirty John")
Laura Dern ("The Tale")
Regina King ("Seven Seconds")
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Alan Arkin ("The Kominsky Method")
Kieran Culkin ("Succession Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story")
Ben Whishaw ("A Very English Scandal") *WINNER
Henry Winkler ("Barry")
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Alex Borstein ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel')
Patricia Clarkson ("Sharp Objects") *WINNER
Penélope Cruz ("The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story")
Thandie Newton ("Westworld")
Yvonne Strahovski ("The Handmaid's Tale")
Congrats to all the winners!
#BoxOfficeNews: 'Aquaman' Still #1 at the Box Office with 30,700.000 With a $940 Million Worldwide take and Sony's 'Escape Room' Unlocks an $18M Debut!
It's a third straight weekend atop the weekend box office for Warner Bros Aquaman as the film pushed over $940 million worldwide, becoming the highest grossing worldwide release in the DC Extended Universe. However, Sony's release of Escape Room made sure this weekend wasn't all about holdovers. The PG-13 horror/thriller made some some noise of its own, delivering a surprise runner-up finish, helping prove once again that the beginning of the year is fertile ground for horror film debuts.
With an estimated $30.7 million, WB and DC Comics's Aquaman is the #1 film at the domestic weekend box office for the third straight weekend. The film's domestic cume now totals nearly $260 million and has now pulled even with Wonder Woman's performance after 16 days in release while still pacing behind Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, a film Wonder Woman quickly left behind after 23 days in release. Aquaman will most likely follow suit and, once again, finish #1 at the box office next weekend, becoming the first film in the DCEU to secure the top spot four weekends in a row.
Internationally, Aquaman added another $56.2 million this weekend from 79 markets for a running overseas cume totaling $681 million and a global tally surpassing $940 million. The film's international cume is the largest among DC Comic adaptations, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises ($636.8m) while the worldwide cume ranks third behind The Dark Knight Rises ($1.084 billion) and The Dark Knight ($1 billion). Aquaman's leading overseas market is China with $282.8 million, nearly $250 million more than South Korea with $35.3 million. The February 8 release in Japan serves as the film's last key market yet to see release.
Sony's Escape Room debuted in second place with an estimated $18 million, well ahead of industry expectations and doubling its reported, $9 million budget. Opening weekend audiences gave the film a "B" CinemaScore, which is a decent score given the genre, while demographics saw audiences split 50/50 male-to-female with 53% of the overall crowd coming in aged 25 years or older for the PG-13 thriller. Looking ahead, we expect the film to top $40-45 million for its domestic run with Universal's Breaking In starting to look like a solid comp after it debuted with $17.6 million back in May 2018 and went on to deliver $46.5 million domestically.
In third, Disney's Mary Poppins Returns delivered a bit below expectations, dipping -44% for an estimated $15.77 million and a domestic cume that now stands at $138.7 million. The drop is a bit higher than expected as the studio is hoping for some long legs out of this one. Internationally, the film added another $23 million this weekend helping push the overseas total just shy of $120 million for a worldwide cume that now totals $257.9 million with releases in Japan (2/1) and Korea (2/14) still on the horizon.
Paramount's Bumblebee and Sony's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse are neck-and-neck as expected and right now the edge goes to Spider-Man by just $235k. Spider-Verse delivered an estimated $13 million over the weekend, pushing the film's domestic cume to $133.8 million while Bumblebee delivered a $12.77 million weekend, resulting in a domestic cume that now stands at $97.1 million.
#governmentshutdown: Hundreds of TSA screeners, working without pay, calling out sick at major airports
Hundreds of Transportation Security Administration officers, who are required to work without paychecks through the partial government shutdown, have called out from work this week from at least four major airports, according to two senior agency officials and three TSA employee union officials.
According to reports, “This will definitely affect the flying public who we (are) sworn to protect,” Hydrick Thomas, president of the national TSA employee union, told CNN.
TSA spokesman Michael Bilello said the agency is “closely monitoring the situation” and that “screening wait times remain well within TSA standards,” although that could change if the number of call outs increases.
At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, as many as 170 TSA employees have called out each day this week, Thomas tells CNN. Officers from a morning shift were required to work extra hours to cover the gaps.
Call outs have increased by 200%-300% at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where typically 25 to 30 TSA employees call out from an average shift according to a local TSA official familiar with the situation.
Union officials stress that the absences are not part of an organized action, but believe the number of people calling out will likely increase.
Pop Icon Britney Spears announces indefinite work hiatus to be by father's side amid illness
Britney Spears announced on Friday she is taking an indefinite work hiatus to be by her father's side amid his illness.
The singer announced in a press release on Friday that she is going on an indefinite work hiatus, and will be putting her "Britney: Domination" show at Park Theater at the Park MGM resort in Las Vegas on hold until further notice.
Britney, 37, made the decision in order to devote all of her time to her family right now, and to care for her father, Jamie Spears. He was rushed to the hospital two months ago when his colon ruptured, and is currently undergoing recovery for a life-threatening illness. According to the release, Jamie spent the next 28 days in the hospital, and the family credits the doctors and nurses for saving his life. He is expected to make a full recovery.
"I am dedicating my focus and energy to care for my family," Britney said in a statement. "We have a very special relationship and I want to be with my family at this time just like they have always been there for me."
"Thank you to all my fans for your continued love and support during this time," she continued. "I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and I look forward to the time when I can be back on stage performing for all of you."
She also posted to Instagram, writing, "I don’t even know where to start with this, because this is so tough for me to say. I will not be performing my new show 'Domination.' I’ve been looking forward to this show and seeing all of you this year, so doing this breaks my heart."
"However, it’s important to always put your family first… and that’s the decision I had to make," she added. "A couple of months ago, my father was hospitalized and almost died. We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him. I had to make the difficult decision to put my full focus and energy on my family at this time. I hope you all can understand. More information on ticket refunds is available on britneyspears.com. I appreciate your prayers and support for my family during this time. Thank you, and love you all… always."
Bill Hornbuckle, President of MGM Resorts International, also released a statement regarding the news.
"All of us at MGM Resorts wish Mr. Spears a speedy recovery," the statement says. "We wholly understand and respect Britney’s commitment to her family and believe that her place is with them during this important time."
Mariah Carey Shows Off Her Figure while on Vacation in a Bikini!
Mariah Carey looks Good! The 48-year-old entertainer just showed off her fit figure in a bikini photo from her St. Barth’s vacation!
Mariah took to her Instagram to post two pictures posing by a pool in a tiny, hot pink bikini.
Although she didn’t caption the pics, she did recently tell fans that she’s “Festivating in St. Barth’s! 🎉🦋”
It looks like Mariah is having an amazing time on vacation and is feeling amazing too!
#V103SHAKEUP: Wanda Smith, Miss Sophia FIRED At V-103 + Meet Frank Ski’s New Co-Hosts
V-103 is shaking things up in the new year by handing pink slips to Wanda Smith and Miss Sophia of the “Frank & Wanda Morning Show.”
The news of Wanda’s departure comes three months after her major blow up with Katt Williams that received national attention after going viral.
Wanda has been a mainstay on Atlanta radio for two decades.
It appears V-103 is shifting direction in an effort to engage a younger audience.
General manager Rick Caffey said in a press release:
In addition to mornings on-air, the show will be an integral part of V-103’s digital content initiative.
We look forward to celebrating the city’s urban culture and to providing our listeners with fresh, engaging content on all the platforms we know they love.
Starting January 22, Frank Ski will be joined by his new co-hosts, Jade Novah and JR Jackson.
Jade Novah is a singer, songwriter and actress hailing from Los Angeles. She doesn’t appear to have prior radio experience, but no one cares about that these days.
She’s definitely excited about being in Atlanta.
Atlanta is where I started my career as a solo artist and content creator and I’m excited to come back to the city to represent the voice of a free-thinking generation.
JR Jackson is a sports radio personality hailing from the boogie down Bronx.
He’s most excited about immersing himself in the culture of the city.
I look forward to getting to know the city’s unique culture – from the arts to sports and everything in between.
Change is here.
Cardi B is doing Another Callabo with Bruno Mars
Cardi B, who announced at the beginning of the year that “there’s gonna be a new album in 2019,” will drop another song with Bruno Mars, Page Six has exclusively been told.
We hear the track — which we learned will feature another big artist as well — is slated to drop Jan. 25, but could be pushed back due to Cardi’s busy schedule.
It’s unclear whether the track will be part of the promised new album.
The date makes sense. The “Bodak Yellow” rapper and Mars are scheduled to perform together ahead of the Super Bowl as part of the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest in Atlanta on Feb. 2.
Aerosmith, Ludacris and Migos — the trio that includes Cardi’s estranged husband, Offset — are slated to co-headline the three-day event.
Cardi and Mars have previously worked together, releasing the hit remix of Mars’ “Finesse” in January 2018
Cardi was scheduled to make 12 appearances on the “Just the Way You Are” singer’s “24K Magic” tour, but she pulled out in July after giving birth to daughter Kulture.
She wrote at the time: “I thought that after giving birth . . . 6 weeks would be enough time for me to recover mentally and physically . . . but I think I underestimated this whole mommy thing.”
Mars responded with “A Message for Cardi” on Instagram: “Most important thing is you and your family’s health . . . I also know we’ll share the stage when the time is right.”
Mars is a big fan of the rapper. He’s said of meeting her for the first time, “She walked in the room and she was everything I’d hope she’d be. Never change, Cardi!”
Cardi announced on Instagram on Jan. 1 that she’s trying for a new album in April, but said, “I don’t know if that’s possible, because I feel like I’m gonna be extremely, extremely busy.”
The hit-maker is on tour in New Zealand
Toni Braxton Allegedly Owes More Than Half A Million Dollars In Back Taxes
The website The Blast has obtained court documents showing the IRS has filed its first lien against Braxton on December 4, stating she owes a total of $340,252.99 in back taxes for 2017. Just days later, the State of California Franchise Tax Board filed a lien of their own against her for the amount of $116,154.64. Altogether Braxton owes $456,407.63.
Both parties have let her know that if she doesn’t pay her dues, they will begin seizing her property. Braxton faced a similar issue last year as both the IRS and the State of California filed liens against the singer claiming she owed $780,808.29 in back taxes. Braxton has previously filed for bankruptcy, once in 1996, and a second time in 2010. At the time, she was more than $10 million in debt. The majority of her debt was wiped clean in 2014 by a federal judge.
Braxton says she filed for bankruptcy the second time because of her poor health, which caused her to step down from a series of Las Vegas concerts. Luckily, Braxton was able to finish her 17-show tour called “The Hits Tour,” as well as earn money from her popular television series “Braxton Family Values.”
LeToya Luckett Is A Mom! The Singer And Her Husband Tommicus Walker Welcome A Baby Girl
Aww! Congrats are in order for singer and actress LeToya Luckett-Walker and her husband, Dallas businessman Tommicus Walker.
The couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter they named Gianna Iman Walker, on Jan 4.
Luckett-Walker announced the news via Instagram, sharing a sweet photo of the couple’s hands embracing their newborn daughter’s fingers, which Luckett-Walker captioned: “Gianna Iman walker Born || 1/ 4/19 7 Lbs 15oz”.
“Our lives are forever changed,” the Greenleaf star wrote on Twitter when she shared the news.
After being introduced by a mutual friend, the couple began dating and announced their engagement in August 2017. Just four months later they were married in a lavish ceremony in Austin. The happy couple honeymooned in The Maldives and Dubai before coming home and settling into their new life together in Texas.
After the New Year, the newlyweds didn’t waste any time making their dreams of expanding their family come true: In June 2018, with a little help from her stepdaughter Madison Walker, 6, Luckett-Walker announced that she and her husband were expecting their first child together in an adorable Instagram video.
Luckett-Walker, who co-stars on the current season of T.I. and Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle with her husband, admitted early on that this was a love she’d always prayed for and the came to life.
Congrats to the Walkers on their new addition!
Beyonce’s Parkwood Entertainment Facing Lawsuit Over Beyonce.com Accessibility
The official Beyoncé website, home to exclusive images of the Queen’s personal life, family, career, and merch, is at the center of a class action lawsuit against Parkwood Entertainment over the site’s visually impaired accessibility.
In the suit, obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, a New York woman named Mary Conner filed a class action suit, accusing the superstar’s company of violating the Americans With Disabilities Act by “denying visually impaired users equal access to products and services offered” offered on Bey’s beyonce.com website.
“The one and only form of entertainment that truly presents an even playing field between the visually impaired and the sighted is the joy of music,” an attorney, representing Conner, who has “no vision whatsoever,” wrote in the complaint. “Plaintiff dreams of attending a Beyonce concert and listening to her music in a live setting. However, when she browsed the beyonce.com website, she encountered numerous barriers which limited her accessibility to the goods and services offered on the website.”
According to Conner, because beyonce.com is “an exclusively visual interface” she’s unable to work the site without sighted assistance.
“Web accessibility requires that alt-text be coded with each picture so that a screen-reader can speak the alternative text while sighted users see the picture,” the attorney, Dan Shaked, added. “There are many important pictures on beyonce.com that lack a text equivalent…As a result, Plaintiff and blind beyonce.com customers are unable to determine what is on the website, browse the website or investigate and/or make purchase.”
Elsewhere in the suit, Conner highlights a slew of issues that cause issues with accessibility, as she asks a court to grant her an injunction that would force Parkwood to make the site accessible to blind and visually impaired customers. In addition, Conner also wants compensatory damages for class members who have “been subjected to unlawful discrimination.”
Madonna Is ‘Proud Of Her Body’ At 60 Years Old Amid Rumors She Got Botched Plastic Surgery!
Madonna is 60 and very proud of it, and that includes the way her body looks at her age! Lately, the diva has been mocked and criticized online for supposedly getting huge butt implants, but she doesn’t seem bothered by the negativity thrown her way.
One insider report by HollywoodLife revealed how she allegedly feels about the booty enhancement rumors.
As you may know, the whole thing started when pictures and footage of Madonna on stage at New York City’s Stonewall Inn on New Year’s Eve surfaced.
In them, the star’s curves looked shockingly unnatural, hence the rumors that she went under the knife.
The source told the outlet that ‘Madonna loves breaking down stereotypes. Hanging on to her sex appeal and proving she can still be a sex symbol in her 60’s is an act of feminism for her.’
Furthermore, the woman herself seemingly addressed the online uproar regarding her butt, saying in an Instagram post that she is ‘desperately seeking no one’s approval.’
As it turns out, it wasn’t just a front as the source says she feels the same way in her private day to day life as well.
‘She’s kicking down all the walls the way she’s always done her whole career. People can talk all they want, but she is very proud of herself and her hot body. She is in better shape than most of the women half her age, and she has no plans to slow down.
It sounds like the superstar is very happy in her skin and with her age and does not let anyone or anything ruin her confidence for her.
A.J. Calloway Faces Two More Allegations Of Sexual Assault as ‘Extra says they have received No Complaints Against the Host!
Extra host A.J. Calloway, who was accused of sexual assault in June by writer Sil Lai Abrams, is facing more allegations. Two women, who wish to remain anonymous, have told The Daily Beast that they were assaulted by Calloway — one of whom reported her claim to the police on Dec. 24. Abrams told The Daily Beast that she has spoken to nine other alleged victims who have shared similar stories of alleged sexual misconduct by the TV personality.
There are no current plans for Calloway to be investigated by Warner Bros., whose Telepictures division produces entertainment newsmagazine Extra.
“We take allegations made against our employees seriously and investigate appropriately. To date, we have not received a complaint about A.J. Calloway and his work on Extra,” as Extra spokesperson said in a statement to Media
In similar circumstances, Fox, Nat Geo and the producers of Cosmos recently launched an investigation after a second group of women accused host Neil deGrasse Tyson of past sexual misconduct not related to the show. Tyson’s other Nat Geo series, StarTalk, also has been benched while the investigation is going on.
Calloway has co-hosted Extra since 2008. After a long run on the NBC stations, the entertainment newsmagazine is moving to Fox stations in top markets.
According to The Daily Beast, the West Orange Police Department confirmed that a complaint of aggravated sexual assault was filed against Calloway on December 24. Due to the nature of the allegations, they were unable to release any further details on the complaint.
Another woman who reached out to Abrams agreed to talk to The Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity. “I’m terrified about coming forward,” the woman who identified herself as Talia explained. “I don’t want it to affect my future, everything that I’ve worked hard for—and A.J. is someone that would try to do that.”
Talia told The Daily Beast she began corresponding with Calloway on social media in 2011. After turning down several of his requests to go out with him, she said she eventually went to a party at his house after going out on a date with him, and when the guests left they began making out. She told the Daily Beast he became more and more aggressive. “I just remember him pulling his penis out and he began stroking himself and he kept trying to put my hand on his penis and eventually he ejaculated on my hands,” she told The Daily Beast. She said she wanted to “get out of there” but didn’t have a ride home. “After what happened he said, ‘I’ll take you home in the morning, I promise.’ After that, Talia said she disconnected from the mutual friends she shared with Calloway, because she didn’t “want to risk ever having to see him again.”
Trump Administration Employees Get $10,000 Raises while Federal Workers Receive No Pay!
While several federal workers are without pay due to the partial government shut down, Trump has awarded senior Trump political appointees with annual $10,000 raises.
Starting Jan. 5, Cabinet secretaries, deputy secretaries, top administrators, and # MikePence will be given their $10,000 pay increase, according to documents issued by Office of Personnel Management and experts in federal pay, legislation will not be able to stop the change. Reports show the pay raises are a result of the government shut down. The Washington Post reports after lawmakers failed to pass bills on Dec. 21 to fund multiple federal agencies, which allowed an existing pay freeze to lapse.
Back in 2013, Congress passed a law capping pay for top federal law executives and renewed it each year. Because of this, the raises will occur because that cap will expire without legislative action by Saturday; this will allow raises that have accumulated over the years to start that never went into effect. It will begin with paychecks that are set to be issued next week.
Cabinet secretaries will be entitled to a jump in annual salary from $199,700 to $210,700. Deputy secretaries would be entitled to a raise from $179,700 to $189,600. Others affected are undersecretaries, deputy directors, and other top administrators. Pence’s check is scheduled to rise from $230,700 to $243,500, reports the Washington Post.
A spokesperson for the White House has yet to comment.
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘THAT’S WHAT’S UP, DOC’
Back in my day we had to wait for funny t-shirt companies to put our cartoon characters in sex scenes. We didn’t have all this fancy new internet technology that let us watch random lovable cartoon characters perform heinous sexual acts on each other at the click of a button.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet El Rey
Meet El Rey. You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD
EFREM
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