1/13/20

The Daily Buzz For Jan 13 ☕📰☕

Zendaya for Elle Portugal - February 2020!
STUNNING!


#RHOA! The Battle Royale is HERE Kenya VS NeNe..WATCH!
NeNe Leakes had to be restrained by producers on Sunday’s Real Housewives of Atlanta after she appeared to attempt to get physical during a heated argument with longtime rival Kenya Moore.
Months after she ripped a male cameraman’s T-shirt and allegedly choked a producer during her infamous closet freakout, the O.G. Atlanta Housewife was once again on the attack, this time lunging towards the new mom and telling her to “shut the f— up, bitch.”

“You shut the f— up! You shut the f— up! You got the wrong motherf—ing bitch,” yelled Leakes, 52, swinging at Moore, 48, as producers cornered her. “I will f— you up.”
“Let me tell you something. You better not ever point your motherf—ing finger at me, bitch,” Leakes shouted at Moore, who calmly left the room. “I ain’t going nowhere!”

She didn’t stop there. Leakes later ran out of the room herself, following Moore to the elevator — producers tailing close behind.
“Bitch, hell no. Let me tell you something,” Leakes told Moore as she got into the elevator.
“This motherf—er, she’s trying to come for me,” Leakes said. “She’s got the wrong bitch. She’s got the wrong motherf—er.”
At the time, Leakes and Moore were on a cast trip to Toronto alongside costars Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams and Eva Marcille, as well as Friends of the Housewives Marlo Hampton, Tanya Sam and frequent RHOA guest Gail “Yovanna” Momplaisir.

All except for Sam were together when the fight broke out, convening in Hampton’s hotel room after a night out. They were attempting to find out the identity of the “snake,” a nickname coined earlier this season for the person who allegedly secretly recorded Bailey slamming Leakes in a private conversation.
For weeks, signs had been pointing to Momplaisir, especially since Momplaisir previously told Leakes she had “receipts” of Bailey “going in on NeNe.”
Momplaisir has adamantly denied she was the one behind the recording, insisting on last week’s episode that it wasn’t her but instead someone else within the group. But Leakes said on Sunday’s episode that Momplaisir was the one at fault!

“Snake is just not a nice word. So I wouldn’t call her a snake,” Leakes said in confessional. “[But] is Yovanna the one with the information? Yes.”
Still, Leakes never named Momplaisir as the “snake” to Bailey or any of her other cast mates.
“You know what, I’m not a snitch,” she said when asked about it point-blank. Bailey begged, asking Leakes, “just tell me who did it.” But Leakes wouldn’t give in.

“I can’t do that,” she told Bailey, explaining in confessional that she was withholding the information to get back at Bailey for not telling her about Moore’s invitation to the season 11 finale last year. “I don’t owe her that. She didn’t tell me anything when I needed to know. She didn’t give me any warning signs. She didn’t give me a heads up. So I’m not giving her a heads up. No.”

That only made Leakes’ cast mates skeptical of her, especially Moore.
“I’m tired of these games,” Moore said. “NeNe, you know there is no recording. So however you want to call it — a recording, audio — she made the entire thing up in an effort to make everyone believe that Cynthia is such a bad person. Bitch, you are lying.”
Leakes herself was concerned that she would come off as a liar. At one point, as the room turned on Momplaisir during the hectic argument, she pulled Momplaisir aside and begged her to tell the truth.
“Yovanna, listen. I don’t understand why…I’m trying to have your back,” she said. “I’m just like, girl. All of this time, you know and I know that there’s audio. So why don’t you just say it? … I can’t fight all these girls I’ve known for years.”
“What I know is that Yovanna has some sort of audio of Cynthia,” Leakes added, to audiences. “It’s really important for Cynthia to hear what this girl had to say. I don’t want the girls to think that I just made up some bulls—.”

But Momplaisir refused. “I refuse to be attacked,” she lamented. “I said it 10 times. I’m not going to keep defending myself. That’s not my character and that’s not who I am. Period. It’s like eight against one right now!”
“I said what I wanted to say, NeNe,” Momplaisir continued.
What Momplaisir did do was hurl a series of insults at the group, especially attacking Williams’ fiancé Dennis McKinley.

“Why everyone is concerned about a recording and who said what?” she demanded when confronted about the recording. “What we need to be talking about is everybody in this group being fake.”
“The snake is your man!” she told Williams, 38. “You need to be worried about your man. That’s what you need to be worried about.”
Her tactics didn’t help prove her innocence. In the end, Bailey, Burruss, Moore, Williams and Marcille all seemed convinced of Momplaisir’s guilt.
“What bothers me is that someone was going around recording [Cynthia] unknowingly. It’s a problem,” said Burruss, 43.
“That is some narc fed stuff. I don’t get down with none of that,” said Marcille, 35.

“We’re just disappointed in the fact that it would be somebody who knows all of us who would do something like that,” said Williams, before demanding Momplaisir be removed from the room. “That’s the snake right there. If you don’t get this girl out the room. Security! She gotta go, she gotta go, she gotta go. … I don’t want this ho in this room.”
Momplaisir ended up leaving the trip the next morning. As for Leakes and Moore, their near-brawl left everyone scattered. But as serious as it was, Moore seemed unbothered.
“Ain’t nobody thinking about NeNe’s stupid a–,” Moore said. “Crazy a– bitch. It’s all NeNe’s fault. Sitting up here trying to make Cynthia look bad.”
Leakes wasn’t backing down, though, and had fighting words for Moore. “What I’m mad about… is that you would continue to provoke someone and then you want to act like you’re a victim,” she said of Moore. “You’re not a victim.”

WATCH HERE

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.


#NewMusic from John Legend – Conversations in the Dark!
Singer John Legend returns with the brand new single called “Conversations in the Dark”. The song is no available in advance of its feature on the NBC show This Is Us.
The song was written by Legend, Gregg Wattenberg, Jesse Fink, Kellen Pomeranz and Chance Peña and was Produced by Gregg Wattenberg and Pom Pom.

“Conversations in the Dark” portrays that feeling of falling in love like Legend has done so many times before. The song itself is a stripped down love letter that emulates pillow talk late at night.

LISTEN
Stay tuned for the upcoming project from John Legend which is expected later this year.


#HipHopNews: Kodak Black Wants To Make An Album’ With Drake!
Despite being locked up, the “Tunnel Vision” rapper was able to use social media to profess his love for Drake. On Friday, Kodak left a comment on one of Drizzy’s recent Instagram photos.
“I Am Your Biggest Fan Sir,” Kodak commented on the Jan. 5 post. “I Love Your Music Sir.”
He also proposed a collaboration. But instead of just one song, he wants to make an entire album with the 6 God. “If We Can’t Do A Whole Album Together, I Never Want To Do A Song With You Sir,” added Kodak.
Back in December 2018, Drake shared his love for Black’s album Dying to Live. “Bro your album really one of my favorites in the last five years,” the OVO rapper said in a DM conversation. “The bars you are rapping about friends and your purpose is so pure.”

A grateful Kodak showed his appreciation in return. “@champagnepapi Down To Earth Thank You,” he responded.
Kodak remains in federal custody after being sentenced to 46 months on weapons charges. In November, he was hit with two additional gun charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces up to 30 years in prison on each count.


The Oscars 2020: Here’s The Full List Of Nominees!
The nominations for the 2020 Oscars have arrived, with just under a month to go before the 92nd installment of Hollywood’s most prestigious annual awards show, which will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2020.

There are nine nominees for Best Picture this year: Ford v Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Parasite.

Across all categories, Joker leads the pack with 11 nominations. Close behind are 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Irishman, with 10 nominations each. Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, and Marriage Story each nabbed six nominations, while Ford v Ferrari earned four.
Just like last year, no women were nominated for Best Director. In the acting categories, only one nonwhite actor earned a nod — Cynthia Erivo for playing Harriet Tubman in Harriet.

Overseen by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Academy Awards — a.k.a. the Oscars — are some of cinema’s top prizes, and the event is the crown jewel of awards season (which encompasses the Golden Globes, several guild awards like the SAGs, and the BAFTAs, among others).

The full list of 2020 Oscar nominees is below.

Best Picture
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite

Director
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Todd Phillips, Joker
Sam Mendes, 1917
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

Actress in a Supporting Role
Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Margot Robbie, Bombshell

Actor in a Supporting Role
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Actor in a Leading Role
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

Actress in a Leading Role
Cynthia Erivo, Harriet
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Renée Zellweger, Judy

Adapted Screenplay
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
The Two Popes

Original Screenplay
Knives Out
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite

Costume Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Sound Mixing
Ad Astra
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Sound Editing
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Original Score
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Original Song
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” Toy Story 4
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” Rocketman
“I’m Standing With You,” Breakthrough
“Into the Unknown,” Frozen 2
“Stand Up,” Harriet

The Frozen 2 soundtrack: a guide to the best songs
Documentary Feature
American Factory
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland

16 great documentaries from this year and how to watch them
Documentary Short Subject
In the Absence
Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone if You’re a Girl
Life Overtakes Me
St. Louis Superman
Walk, Run, Chacha

International Feature Film (previously Foreign Language Film)
Corpus Christi (Poland)
Honeyland (North Macedonia)
Les Misérables (France)
Pain & Glory (Spain)
Parasite (South Korea)

Production Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite

Editing
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite

Cinematography
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Visual Effects
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Makeup and Hairstyling
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917

Animated Feature Film
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4

Animated Short
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister

Live Action Short
Brotherhood
Nefta Football Club
The Neighbors’ Window
Saria
A Sister


Abby Huntsman to Exit ‘The View’ to Help Run Her Father’s Utah Gubernatorial Campaign!
Abby Huntsman is leaving “The View” after a year and a half as co-host at the ABC daytime talk show. She will be exiting the show to help her father, Jon Huntsman Jr., in his political campaign for governor of Utah, a spokesperson for ABC News told TheWrap Monday.

Huntsman is set to announce her departure from “The View” on today’s show, which airs at 8 a.m. ET on ABC.
“The View” executive producers Hilary Estey McLoughlin, Candi Carter and Brian Teta revealed Huntsman’s departure internally with this note to staff on Monday.

Team,
We have some bittersweet news to share. Abby Huntsman is leaving The View to help run her father’s campaign for Governor of Utah and to spend more time with her young family. As you will see in her note below, she made the tough decision to move on over the holiday break.

From the moment Abby joined us a year and a half ago, we knew how important her big family is to her. Isabel charmed us each time she came to the show and we shared Abby’s journey as she welcomed her twins, William and Ruby. Her dedication to family is what is launching Abby’s next exciting chapter. When your father asks you to help run your campaign, it’s a hard one to say no to.

We thank Abby for her unique, intelligent, insightful and relatable voice that she brought to the show both in front of and behind the camera. We will truly miss her and her great spirit professionally and personally.
We will cheer her on as she embraces her family’s long history in public service and we’ll welcome her back to hear about her future projects.

Hilary, Candi and Brian

And here’s Huntsman’s own message to her colleagues at ABC News:

To the Best Team in TV,

ABC has been my family for a long time and I am so thankful to have had a seat at the table on an iconic show like The View. After much deliberation over the holidays, I have decided to leave the show to dedicate myself full-time in support of my dad and his campaign for Governor of Utah.

You know I think the world of all of you. You’re some of the most talented, hard-working and genuine people I’ve ever worked with. The staff is the engine of the show and you never get enough credit for what you do. I applaud you and thank you for welcoming me to the family on day-one. You always made me look much better than I ever could have on my own. Thank you for believing in me and for all the laughs along the way.

ABC will always hold a special place in my heart, and so will all of you.
I hope you will be in my life for years to come.

Abby


NJ Senator Cory Booker Drops Out of The 2020 Presidential Race!
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey dropped out of the Democratic presidential race on Monday, ending a nearly yearlong quest built around a message of peace and unity that failed to resonate with voters eager for a more aggressive posture against President Trump.
The departure of Mr. Booker from the crowded Democratic field, heralded at the outset as the most diverse in history, leaves just one African-American candidate, Deval Patrick, vying for the Democratic nomination in a party where black voters are an essential bloc of the Democratic base.

The decision came after Mr. Booker, who never cracked the top tier of Democratic contenders and consistently polled in the low single digits, fell short of qualifying for a second consecutive debate stage, a setback the Booker campaign conceded in the past few weeks would likely doom his underdog candidacy at a time when the Democratic race for president is being overshadowed by an impeachment trial in Washington and a growing conflict in Iran.
“I got in this race to win, and I’ve always said I wouldn’t continue if there was no longer a path to victory,” Mr. Booker said in a statement to supporters. “Our campaign has reached the point where we need more money to scale up and continue building a campaign that can win — money we don’t have, and money that is harder to raise because I won’t be on the next debate stage and because the urgent business of impeachment will rightly be keeping me in Washington.”

Mr. Booker, who is also up for re-election to the Senate this year, still enjoys favorable ratings in the Garden State, which leans decidedly Democratic and hasn’t elected a Republican senator in more than 40 years. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey won re-election by nearly 10 percentage points in 2018 after weathering a federal corruption trial.
Mr. Booker opened his campaign last Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month, with a clarion call for unity in a deeply polarized time. Throughout his campaign, he was unrelenting in his optimism and his calls for love and healing, a message that apparently fell flat in an electorate energized by a fervent dislike of Mr. Trump.

Though the core of his campaign was built on emotional ideals, Mr. Booker focused heavily on policies that deeply affected cities like his home of Newark. He pledged to offer sweeping clemency to thousands of nonviolent drug offenders, and he pushed some of the other Democratic candidates to embrace more aggressive stances on gun control, becoming the first candidate in the field to propose a national gun-licensing program.
And he focused constantly on addressing the racial wealth gap, including an economic proposal known as baby bonds that would create a government-run savings account for every child born in the United States.

Cory Booker, who built his campaign around a message of unity, dropped out of the presidential race after failing to catch on with voters.He cast himself as the candidate best suited to rebuild the “Obama coalition,” and his campaigning took him beyond the rotation of the four early states to key swing-state cities like Detroit, Philadelphia and Miami. His argument was based in a general election narrative, that in order to defeat Mr. Trump, Democrats needed to revive the massive turnout in cities to offset Mr. Trump’s rural appeal.
But Mr. Booker never was able to attract the support of black voters in both national polling and key early states like South Carolina, who were either supporting former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. or looking at more progressive candidates. As Mr. Booker held up his lived identity as a rationale for his candidacy, he proved unable to bridge a party split more along ideological lines between the moderate and progressive wings.

Nonetheless, Mr. Booker seemed to confound supporters, pundits and political observers who remained mystified why he never had his “moment” during the primary. He started his campaign with a limited base of online donors and a heavy reliance on traditional big-dollar fund-raisers. Without ever experiencing a surge in support, which may have led to a surge in online fund-raising, the candidate was forced to run a shoestring campaign, unable to finance the frequent television advertising that has helped candidates like Tom Steyer become mainstays on the debate stage.

Indeed, Mr. Booker’s campaign raised just $6.6 million in the final three months of 2019, $28 million less than Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the top fundraiser at the end of the year, raised during the same period.
In a final push to inch up in Iowa polling and make the January debate stage, Mr. Booker’s campaign ran roughly $300,000 in television ads in Iowa in the past two weeks, a modest sum in a race dominated by the millions spent on the airwaves by Mr. Steyer and former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York. The ads pushed Mr. Booker’s advertising budget to its limit.

And he struggled to shine as a unique political figure in a crowded and diverse field. His résumé, which had drawn national attention for its breadth throughout his career, was matched at every point. A Rhodes Scholar and former mayor? That also applied to former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind. The first black person to be elected senator from his state? That also applied to Senator Kamala Harris of California.

Though his departure from the race is unlikely to have much of an impact on other candidates’ polling, the Booker campaign was a leader in endorsements in Iowa and New Hampshire and had a particularly notable staff of Iowa organizers, setting up a likely scramble by the remaining candidates to secure both endorsements and staffers in the early nominating states.

Mr. Booker also released a video of his announcement on Monday, backed by a gospel-like piano track and drumbeat, that featured a greatest-hits rundown of his message on the campaign trail.

“So now I recommit myself to the work,” Mr. Booker said in the video. “I can’t wait to get back on the campaign trail and campaign as hard as I can for whoever is the eventual nominee and for candidates up and down the ballot.”


Jharrel Jerome Wins Best Actor for 'When They See Us' at Critics' Choice Awards 2020!
Jharrel Jerome is a Critics’ Choice winner! The 22-year-old actor won the award for Best Actor in a Miniseries/Movie for his role in When They See Us at the 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards on Sunday (January 12) at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

Earlier in the awards, Jharrel joined his co-stars and creator Ava DuVernay on stage as When They See Us won the award for Best Limited Series.

Congrats Jharrel!


Meghan Markle Reportedly Signs Deal With Disney After Royal Split!
According to The Times, the Duchess of Sussex has reportedly inked a deal for a voice-over with the media company in exchange for a donation to a wildlife charity of her choice. The report indicates the charity could be Elephants Without Borders, an organization which supports wildlife conservation. It’s said the partnership is part of the pair’s plan to use their celebrity to support their favorite charities.
This all comes just days after she and husband Prince Harry announced their decision to step down as senior members of the British royal family.

"We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the married couple revealed in a joint statement via Instagram. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."

This adjustment indicates the 38-year-old actress and 35-year-old Duke of Sussex will continue to “honour [their] duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” and that by dividing their time between the United Kingdom and North America “will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”


Love it or Hate It? Billy Porter in a Two-Tone Teal Jumpsuit Gown!
Billy Porter has come to Make a Fasjion statement...again!
The Pose star stepped out onto the blue carpet at the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards on Sunday at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California. The fashion risk taker, nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series, caught all the attention as he rocked a two-tone teal Hogan McLaughlin pantsuit

Porter's regal raiment featured a gown-style top with a strapless, straight-across neckline, which he complimented with a bold, thick silver choker.
ET's Keltie Knight spoke with Porter on the carpet, and the stylish star gleefully touted his "voluminous" pantsuit.

"It's so fabulous, because I have embraced what Old Hollywood used to be," he explained. "I love dressing up, I've always loved dressing up. And the fact that I've created this space where I get to do whatever I want is fabulous. It's so much fun!"
The bold ensemble showcased the star's toned shoulders and arms, which he covered in temporary body art butterflies. As Porter explained, "The butterflies are a symbol of the transgender community."
"[They represent] how you come from the cocoon, you come as one thing, and then you transform into something else," Porter shared. "So I wanted to honor my peeps tonight."
Porter wowed in an angelic white Alex Vinash suit at the 2020 Golden Globes just last week. His ensemble featured a jacket with a six-foot-long feathered train, which was carried by his stylist as he glided on the red carpet.
Last year, Porter took home the Emmy for his performance as Pray Tell on the FX series. His win made history, as he was the first openly gay black man to receive the award in the lead actor category.

When asked about the significance of the series, which has been renewed for a third season, he said that "it’s a difficult story, and it has to be told honestly. And that’s the part I’m most proud of, is that we get to see people who choose life anyway, you know, through the darkest times and circumstances."


Prince Is Getting an All-Star Grammy Tribute Concert!
Alicia Keys, John Legend and Usher will perform at a special Prince tribute concert set to take place after the 2020 Grammy Awards and air on television later this year, Rolling Stone has confirmed.

Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince will be held January 28th – two days after the Grammys – at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be broadcast in April. Former Prince drummer Sheila E. will serve as the night’s musical director alongside longtime Prince associates Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The lineup also includes Beck, Common, Foo Fighters, H.E.R., Earth, Wind & Fire, St. Vincent, Mavis Staples, Chris Martin, Gary Clark, Jr. and Juanes.

The show will also feature several Prince collaborators, including Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles (who sang the Prince-written hit “Manic Monday”), and Morris Day and the Time. The musician’s old band, the Revolution, have also signed on, with drummer Bobby Z. telling Rolling Stone the group “are involved and looking forward to honoring Prince.”

Speaking with Rolling Stone, Sheila E. says she and her band will be supporting most of the performers throughout the night while also getting her own set. The musician says they plan to perform the breakout, Prince-penned hit “The Glamorous Life” — “For obvious reasons,” she quips — and Prince’s 1985 song, “America.” “I was very honored to be able to do this for so many reasons, but to be able to help celebrate the life of a dear friend and be a part of this and be musical director is awesome,” Sheila E. says.

In a statement, Recording Academy President/CEO Deborah Dugan said, “Prince. The Purple One. His Royal Badness — regardless of how you identify him, he is indisputably one of the greatest musical virtuosos of all time. With his subversive attitude and commanding nature, he straddled musical genres and created electrifying music that was bursting with character. He continues to serve as an inspirational icon for artists and fans worldwide, and we are so honored to pay tribute to his legacy.”
The Prince tribute will follow past “Grammy Salute” concerts, which have honored the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Motown and Aretha Franklin. Longtime Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich says the idea for a Prince celebration had been kicking around for a while, particularly after the Time and Bruno Mars’ widely celebrated tribute at the 2017 Grammys. But Ehrlich acknowledged that there was some apprehension about doing a show for someone like Prince.

“Sometimes you worry about these things, because when an artist is so iconic, so individualistic and so unique, you get a little bit nervous about having people interpret their work,” he says. “But I think, if anything, based on what we’ve done with these past shows, either we’ve gotten a little foolhardy to think that we could do Prince, or we’ve gotten confident that there are artists out there who fit; who will be faithful to what he did and reverent enough not to fuck around with him.”
Ehrlich says the show will cover several different eras of Prince’s musical career, with biographical segments interspersed between the musical performances. As for the setlist, there will be plenty of hits, but also a handful of deep cuts. “There are times when we will try and suggest to an artist that their choice might not be the best choice, but ultimately we will go with what their instincts are,” Ehrlich says.

Like past “Grammy Salute” concerts, the Prince show will offer fans the opportunity to not just enjoy Prince’s music, but also hear familiar songs with fresh ears. Ehrlich says that, so far, he’s heard a handful of scratch tracks from artists set to play the show, and says, “I’m really happy, because everyone I’ve heard, there’s a little bit of Prince — sometimes there’s a lot more Prince there.”

For Sheila E., the show is a chance to celebrate an old friend and collaborator alongside the unifying power of his music. “Musically, there’s so much to choose from,” she says. “It’s almost unfair to do a two-hour tribute to him — we could do a full week. At the end of the day, it’s him bringing people together and having a good time.”


#BoxOfficeNews: ‘1917’ Defeats ‘Star Wars’ With $36.5 Million Weekend!
Sam Mendes’ “1917” marched to box office victory, earning a solid $36.5 million from 3,434 theaters in its first weekend of wide release.

Universal and DreamWorks’ World War I drama also defeated Disney’s “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker,” the final chapter in the sequel trilogy that has ruled box office charts since debuting in late December. The tentpole slid to second place, generating another $15 million for a domestic haul of $478 million.
Since opening in limited release on Christmas Day, “1917” has earned $39.22 million. The movie also kicked off overseas this weekend, pocketing $21.17 million from 28 international territories. That brings its global tally to $60 million.

“1917” is undoubtedly capitalizing on awards season attention, a promising sign on the eve of Oscar nominations. In a surprise Golden Globes victory last Sunday, the film beat odds-on favorites “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story” to take home the statue for best motion picture – drama. Mendes also nabbed the best director prize. Amblin Partners and New Republic backed the $90 million film, which has enjoyed critical raves.
To movie theater owners and studio executives, “1917” is emblematic of the kind of experience ticket buyers can only get on the big-screen. The slice-of-life war epic unspools to look like one unbroken shot, resulting in an edge-of-your-seat journey that makes audiences feel like they, too, are in the trenches. Moviegoers, most of whom were older males, appear enthusiastic about the film, awarding it with an A- CinemaScore.

“This is a film that’s best seen in its most immersive environment,” said Universal’s president of domestic distribution Jim Orr. “From the cinematography to everything involved in the film, it’s an epic achievement. When you tell a new story in an extraordinary way, audiences will come out.”
Another Oscar hopeful, Warner Bros.’ legal drama “Just Mercy,” also expanded nationwide this weekend, picking up $10 million from 2,375 venues. The film scored a rare A+ CinemaScore from audiences, signaling word of mouth could be strong moving in coming weeks, especially if it sees any Academy Award love come Monday morning. So far, the awards prospects of “Just Mercy” have been limited to a SAG nomination for Jamie Foxx for his portrayal of a wrongfully convicted man on death row. Michael B. Jordan and Brie Larson also star in the drama, which cost $25 million.

“Just Mercy” is in a close race with fellow new release, Paramount’s R-rated comedy “Like a Boss” for fourth place on box office charts. Rival studios are projecting “Just Mercy” falls short of that number and reaches $9.5 million to $9.8 million, which would allow “Like a Boss” to pull ahead when final numbers are tabulated Monday.
Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne star in “Like a Boss,” a film that’s been more embraced by audiences than critics. It pulled in $10 million from 3,078 locations, a modest result but one that could point to profitability given its $29 million price tag. Miguel Arteta directed the film about two best friends struggling to run their own cosmetics company.

Meanwhile, “Underwater,” a sci-fi thriller starring Kirsten Stewart, tanked after debuting at No. 7 with $6.9 million from 2,791 screens. That’s a catastrophic result given its $50 million budget. “Underwater” is the latest dud from Fox, which has saddled Disney with a series of disappointments since the companies merged last spring. However, Disney is only distributing “Underwater,” limiting its exposure. “Underwater” was produced by Chernin Entertainment and financed by TSG.


Tyler Perry Gives Job to Atlanta Man Whose Life Sentence Was Thrown Out Under New Conviction Integrity Program!
In 1991, Atlanta native Darrell Hall was sentenced to life in prison for having two grams of cocaine. But thanks to a newly formed unit of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, the 52-year-old isn’t only free but has a new job.
Hall was among many who attended a banquet on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to celebrate what’s being called the Conviction Integrity Unit.
The unit will look into some of Fulton County’s convictions to determine if any injustices were committed — in terms of wrongful convictions and unfair prison sentences.

Hall was released from prison on parole after he served 13 years. He was then locked up on two different occasions after that for the parole violation of not paying the necessary fines.
Paul Howard, the Fulton County district attorney, was one of the speakers at the banquet, which was held at Tyler Perry‘s film studio, and he presented Hall with some wonderful news: Perry had offered him a job and he could soon start working.
Howard earlier had intervened to have Hall released from prison and parole in December before he attended the event.

“Mr. Perry says you can start to work on Monday,” Howard told Hall, who was called to the stage.
The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office also released a statement about the new job and said, “In addition to his freedom, Tyler Perry Studios and Mr. Tyler Perry agreed to offer Hall a job so he can rebuild his life and move forward as a productive citizen of Fulton County.”
Reportedly, if Hall had been convicted today for that same 1991 crime of trying to distribute two grams of cocaine, the court would’ve put him in a drug program.

But the 1991 conviction was the second time he was convicted of a felony, which required a life sentence due to that era’s Georgia laws.
As a result of the lengthy time spent in prison, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk expunged Hall’s sentence and gave him time served.
Howard hasn’t mentioned what Hall’s new job will be, but Hall said it didn’t matter.

“It’s a blessing,” he stated.


Dina Lohan allegedly fell down drunk during arrest!
Lindsay Lohan‘s mom was allegedly falling-down drunk when she got busted in a hit-and-run collision on Long Island, court papers revealed Sunday.

Dina Lohan, 57, had booze on her breath, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech when a cop found her behind the wheel of a 2020 Mercedes-Benz and spoke to her outside her home in Merrick, according to a felony complaint.

Upon getting out of the vehicle, Dina was also “unsteady on her feet and fell to the ground on her face,” the complaint says.
The “Celebrity Big Brother” star then accused Nassau County cop Christopher Koehle of “pushing her” during the incident around 7:25 p.m. Saturday, the complaint says.
Dina allegedly claimed she “had one glass of wine” but refused to complete a preliminary breath test or field sobriety tests at the scene, then refused a breath test at the police departments’ Central Testing Section, the complaint says.
Dina was allegedly followed to her home by the driver of a 2011 Honda who called 911 while following her after being rear-ended at the Merrick Mall, about three miles away.

The crash took place outside an Outback Steakhouse, sources have said.
Dina was charged with felony DWI, based on a 2014 conviction for driving drunk on Long Island’s Northern State Parkway, and misdemeanor aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle because her license was suspended in July for failure to pay state taxes, the complaint says.

She was also charged with four violations for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident, and for driving without a license and in a vehicle without an inspection sticker and with an expired registration.
Dina spent the night in custody and pleaded not guilty during her arraignment Sunday morning in Hempstead Town Court.
She was released without bail pending another court appearance on Wednesday.
Defense lawyer Mark Jay Heller called her arrest “most unfortunate.”

“She has not been evaluated to have been drunk. And this simply is an allegation that remains to be proven by the district attorney’s office,” he added.


Mike Tyson Says His Kids Aren’t Attracted to Other Black People, Blames Himself!
Mike Tyson dropped by T.I.‘s podcast “ExpediTIously” this week and talked about several topics, including his children.

In one part of the discussion, the retired boxer said that his kids aren’t attracted to Black people, and it may be his fault. Tyson also said he’s completely baffled by the whole thing, but wanted to talk about it.
 “You know what bothers me too, man? And I gotta say this: Why my kids don’t like black kids?” he said at around the 38:16 mark. “They don’t date black kids. Why is that?”
“Sometimes I look at my daughter, and I see that she’s attracted to white guys, and I say to myself, ‘I didn’t set a good example as a black man then.’”
“I don’t think that’s it,” T.I. replied.
“That’s just the way my mind goes,” Tyson continued. “They must have seen sometimes when I was vulnerable and said, ‘Hey, I don’t wanna be with no one like that. … He’s scary.’ I think it’s the aggressiveness, I think it’s confrontational stuff, they think.”

Tyson explained that it’s a problem that his son has too when it comes to being attracted to black women.
“I’m like, ‘What the f–k is wrong with you? You don’t like her?’” Tyson said he’ll ask his son. “And I don’t understand the concept. … Their vision, what they see. … That’s what confuses me with my kids.”
The 53-year-old has been married three times and reportedly has seven children. He married his third wife, Lakiha Spicer, in June 2009, and they have a daughter and son together.

Tyson also had a daughter who passed away in 2009 at age 4 after a tragic accident on a treadmill.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘SHE’S COUNTRY’
I’m assuming it tastes like Copenhagen and stale beer.


EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Husky
Meet Husky! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!

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HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM

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