#MAGFAB: Taraji P. Henson, Oprah Winfrey, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R. and Fantasia Barrino for Essence Magazine - The Holiday Issue 2023!
Nice! The article Is HERE!
#RHOA: Cynthia Bailey in a Head-Turning Red Dress with Chain Detail….HOT or NOT?
Cynthia Bailey Stuns in a Head-Turning Red Dress with the Coolest Chain Detail
Cynthia Bailey knows her way around a showstopping look in any hue. The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum smoldered over Grammy weekend in a strapless black dress and also rocked the inky shade in a cutout corset dress that she wore on the red carpet. On the other end of the spectrum, she's given us Greek goddess vibes in a flowing white gown. But of course, the former model doesn't just stick to basic colors.
Cynthia has posed for photos in a tangerine ballgown from Jovani and a vibrant yellow maxidress with an off-the-shoulder neckline. She's also given violet a spin, rocking a one-shouldered ruched lavender midi dress that fit her like a glove.
It should be clear by now that the fashionista looks incredible no matter what she wears. But just in case you're wondering how Cynthia looks in red, her latest Instagram posts will provide an answer to that.
In an October 15 Instagram share, Cynthia showed off fiery, chili-pepper-red style in a slew of Instagram snaps,. The photos saw the former RHOA cast member posing in a head-turning red gown, which was accented with thick gold chains around its bodice and neckline.
In her caption, the lady in red played off her dress' bold embellishments, writing: "The weakest link in a chain is the strongest because it can break it.” Well, there was nothing weak about Cynthia's bold beauty look. The stunner wore a sleek high ponytail, a crimson pout, and inky lashes that popped.
In the comments, Cynthia earned some well-deserved style praise from The Real Housewives of Potomac's Ashley Darby. "Woooooo chile!!! You stay serving and delivering!" the Potomac mama wrote. The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Sanya Richards-Ross also made her appreciation known, popping into the comments with two fire emojis.
#MusicNews: Eric Roberson Releases New Song “Just Don’t Hold It In”
Indie Soul legend Eric Roberson continues his trend of releasing a new song each month for the rest of the year by giving us the new single “Just Don’t Hold It In”.
LISTEN HERE
Eric shares about the song:
This song is a true example of freely expressing yourself without worry of judgment, expectation, assumption or ego. What I heard in my head fulfilled me. As I played the instruments I felt rewarded. I felt purpose as the song poured out of me. What it does from here is left in the hands and hearts of the listener.
Eric has been giving us new music for the past few months and will continue through the end of 2023
#HipHopNews: Meek Mill And Rick Ross To Drop Joint Album Next Month
Rick Ross and Meek Mill are gearing up for their forthcoming album, Too Good To Be True, slated for release on Nov. 10. The announcement emerged on Tuesday (Oct. 17) when the latter shared a trailer on Instagram.
“[Too] good to be true, [DJ Khaled and Diddy]. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but s**t [is] about to change,” the Philadelphia native captioned the post.
The “Dreams and Nightmares” rapper declared, “N**gas ain’t seen me or Ross around each other for a long time. We got back to the business, straight back to the family, love, and jumped right back in the studio immediately. So, y’all about to get that live and direct. What happened? Tune in.”
Diddy also weighed in on the project in a separate clip. Referring to the album’s lead single, “SHAQ & KOBE,” the music mogul explained, “That’s when I heard you came and played me the joints. And when I saw the video, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!’ Even Meek, I was like, ‘Yeah, that n**ga’s bucket [hat] hittin’ just right.’ I’m like, ‘This is refreshing.'”
Last month, Ross and Meek sat with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden for an in-depth interview. The duo revealed the project took roughly 2 1/2 months to complete, characterizing their studio chemistry as “organic motivation.”
“When me and Rozay got in the studio, it was all about real energy, organic motivation. This Rozay, I’m rapping next to, too. This Rozay, Top 5 dead or alive right now. I don’t know who wants to argue with that,” Meek shared during their chat with Darden.
Opting for independence, the LP will be distributed via gamma., an avant-garde music company spearheaded by former Apple Music executive Larry Jackson.
Global Icon Janet Jackson To Electrify The Stage At World AIDS Day in Houston
Global superstar will perform at nation’s largest World AIDS Day commemoration
Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Janet Jackson will perform a full-length show for AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) World AIDS Day concert at NRG Arena in Houston, Texas on December 1, 2023!
Ticket sales from the concert will benefit HIV/AIDS awareness and are available online through Ticketmaster now.
World AIDS Day is an annual commemorative event to honor those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS, to show support for those currently living with HIV/AIDS, and to emphasize the fight against HIV/AIDS is not over. Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe winning choreographer, director, and producer Debbie Allen will speak at the event, and AHF will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to Emmy Award winning actor and activist Blair Underwood.
Jackson’s December 1st performance comes on the heels of her North American Together Again tour, the highest grossing tour ever in her career, which derives its name from Jackson’s 1997 hit song “Together Again” – the artist’s personal tribute to a friend lost to AIDS as well as AIDS victims and their families worldwide.
AHF Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Blair Underwood has been a powerful voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS for more than three decades. The award-winning television, film, and stage actor cofounded Artists for a New South Africa, an organization addressing the devastating impact HIV/AIDS has on families and children throughout the continent. In 2003, Underwood joined Ashley Judd as a spokesperson for YouthAIDS, and he since has expanded his advocacy in partnership with AHF, particularly in Washington, D.C., which has the most HIV cases per capita and nearly three times the national rate.
Past performers at AHF’s World AIDS Day include Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and Mariah Carey. The global HIV/AIDS organization has presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to a diverse array of advocates including Harry Belafonte, Debbie Allen, and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and posthumously to Princess Diana.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.8 million individuals across 45 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and subscribe to our AHFter Hours podcast.
Kanye West claims he's autistic after car crash in text to Elon Musk
Kanye West is back in the headlines after claiming he's autistic.
The rapper made the claims in texts to Elon Musk, and asked that friend Ian Connor share the screenshots on Instagram.
"When are we going to speak You owe me nothing," the texts began.
"You never have to speak to me again But if we do speak The nature of the relationship has to change I'm not bipolar I have signs of autism from my [2002] car accident."
The accident West is referring to was his famous car crash which resulted in "Through the Wire", which saw him rap with his jaw wired shut.
West revealed he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder back in 2018, but has since claimed that he was "mentally misdiagnosed."
"So I will say this again I was mentally misdiagnosed and nearly drugged out of my mind to make me a manageable well behaved celebrity," he tweeted back in 2022.
#RHOA: Cynthia Bailey in a Head-Turning Red Dress with Chain Detail….HOT or NOT?
Cynthia Bailey knows her way around a showstopping look in any hue. The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum smoldered over Grammy weekend in a strapless black dress and also rocked the inky shade in a cutout corset dress that she wore on the red carpet. On the other end of the spectrum, she's given us Greek goddess vibes in a flowing white gown. But of course, the former model doesn't just stick to basic colors.
Cynthia has posed for photos in a tangerine ballgown from Jovani and a vibrant yellow maxidress with an off-the-shoulder neckline. She's also given violet a spin, rocking a one-shouldered ruched lavender midi dress that fit her like a glove.
It should be clear by now that the fashionista looks incredible no matter what she wears. But just in case you're wondering how Cynthia looks in red, her latest Instagram posts will provide an answer to that.
In an October 15 Instagram share, Cynthia showed off fiery, chili-pepper-red style in a slew of Instagram snaps,. The photos saw the former RHOA cast member posing in a head-turning red gown, which was accented with thick gold chains around its bodice and neckline.
In her caption, the lady in red played off her dress' bold embellishments, writing: "The weakest link in a chain is the strongest because it can break it.” Well, there was nothing weak about Cynthia's bold beauty look. The stunner wore a sleek high ponytail, a crimson pout, and inky lashes that popped.
In the comments, Cynthia earned some well-deserved style praise from The Real Housewives of Potomac's Ashley Darby. "Woooooo chile!!! You stay serving and delivering!" the Potomac mama wrote. The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Sanya Richards-Ross also made her appreciation known, popping into the comments with two fire emojis.
#MusicNews: Eric Roberson Releases New Song “Just Don’t Hold It In”
LISTEN HERE
Eric shares about the song:
This song is a true example of freely expressing yourself without worry of judgment, expectation, assumption or ego. What I heard in my head fulfilled me. As I played the instruments I felt rewarded. I felt purpose as the song poured out of me. What it does from here is left in the hands and hearts of the listener.
Eric has been giving us new music for the past few months and will continue through the end of 2023
#HipHopNews: Meek Mill And Rick Ross To Drop Joint Album Next Month
Rick Ross and Meek Mill are gearing up for their forthcoming album, Too Good To Be True, slated for release on Nov. 10. The announcement emerged on Tuesday (Oct. 17) when the latter shared a trailer on Instagram.
“[Too] good to be true, [DJ Khaled and Diddy]. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but s**t [is] about to change,” the Philadelphia native captioned the post.
The “Dreams and Nightmares” rapper declared, “N**gas ain’t seen me or Ross around each other for a long time. We got back to the business, straight back to the family, love, and jumped right back in the studio immediately. So, y’all about to get that live and direct. What happened? Tune in.”
Diddy also weighed in on the project in a separate clip. Referring to the album’s lead single, “SHAQ & KOBE,” the music mogul explained, “That’s when I heard you came and played me the joints. And when I saw the video, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!’ Even Meek, I was like, ‘Yeah, that n**ga’s bucket [hat] hittin’ just right.’ I’m like, ‘This is refreshing.'”
Last month, Ross and Meek sat with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden for an in-depth interview. The duo revealed the project took roughly 2 1/2 months to complete, characterizing their studio chemistry as “organic motivation.”
“When me and Rozay got in the studio, it was all about real energy, organic motivation. This Rozay, I’m rapping next to, too. This Rozay, Top 5 dead or alive right now. I don’t know who wants to argue with that,” Meek shared during their chat with Darden.
Opting for independence, the LP will be distributed via gamma., an avant-garde music company spearheaded by former Apple Music executive Larry Jackson.
Global Icon Janet Jackson To Electrify The Stage At World AIDS Day in Houston
Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Janet Jackson will perform a full-length show for AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) World AIDS Day concert at NRG Arena in Houston, Texas on December 1, 2023!
Ticket sales from the concert will benefit HIV/AIDS awareness and are available online through Ticketmaster now.
World AIDS Day is an annual commemorative event to honor those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS, to show support for those currently living with HIV/AIDS, and to emphasize the fight against HIV/AIDS is not over. Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe winning choreographer, director, and producer Debbie Allen will speak at the event, and AHF will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to Emmy Award winning actor and activist Blair Underwood.
Jackson’s December 1st performance comes on the heels of her North American Together Again tour, the highest grossing tour ever in her career, which derives its name from Jackson’s 1997 hit song “Together Again” – the artist’s personal tribute to a friend lost to AIDS as well as AIDS victims and their families worldwide.
AHF Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Blair Underwood has been a powerful voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS for more than three decades. The award-winning television, film, and stage actor cofounded Artists for a New South Africa, an organization addressing the devastating impact HIV/AIDS has on families and children throughout the continent. In 2003, Underwood joined Ashley Judd as a spokesperson for YouthAIDS, and he since has expanded his advocacy in partnership with AHF, particularly in Washington, D.C., which has the most HIV cases per capita and nearly three times the national rate.
Past performers at AHF’s World AIDS Day include Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and Mariah Carey. The global HIV/AIDS organization has presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to a diverse array of advocates including Harry Belafonte, Debbie Allen, and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and posthumously to Princess Diana.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.8 million individuals across 45 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and subscribe to our AHFter Hours podcast.
Kanye West claims he's autistic after car crash in text to Elon Musk
Kanye West is back in the headlines after claiming he's autistic.
The rapper made the claims in texts to Elon Musk, and asked that friend Ian Connor share the screenshots on Instagram.
"When are we going to speak You owe me nothing," the texts began.
"You never have to speak to me again But if we do speak The nature of the relationship has to change I'm not bipolar I have signs of autism from my [2002] car accident."
The accident West is referring to was his famous car crash which resulted in "Through the Wire", which saw him rap with his jaw wired shut.
West revealed he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder back in 2018, but has since claimed that he was "mentally misdiagnosed."
"So I will say this again I was mentally misdiagnosed and nearly drugged out of my mind to make me a manageable well behaved celebrity," he tweeted back in 2022.
Justin Timberlake And Jessica Biel 'Want Everyone To Grow' Amid Britney Spears' Abortion Claim
Instead of digging into the past, Justin is reportedly looking ahead and trying to focus on his own family. A source tells ET about how the "Cry Me a River" singer braces for Britney's upcoming memoir, "Justin has been focusing on his own family and trying not to concern himself with Britney's memoir."
Though their relationship ended years ago, Justin reportedly has nothing but "respect" for Britney as the source notes, "In recent years, Justin has tried to be supportive of Britney from a distance. They dated so long ago, but he still has respect for her." The source goes on revealing Justin and Jessica's wish to move past the exes' relationship as dishing, "Justin and Jessica just want everyone to grow and evolve instead of continuing to bring up the past."
In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir published by PEOPLE, Britney claimed that Justin got her pregnant in 2000, but they decided to let go of the baby because he "wasn't ready" to be a father. "It was a surprise, but for me, it wasn't a tragedy," she wrote. "I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than I'd anticipated."
She added of her then-boyfriend's alleged reaction, "But Justin definitely wasn't happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren't ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young."
Following her claim, many have speculated that Britney may have a dropped a hint about her abortion in her "Everytime" music video. The 2004 clip features a woman giving birth in the hospital as Britney walks through the room.
"And every time I see you in my dreams I see your face, you're haunting me. I guess I need you, baby," the now-41-year-old star sings in the chorus, which many social media users claim to be about Justin's baby instead of the "SexyBack" crooner.
Missy Elliott donates $50K to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority for families in need
Portsmouth native and Grammy-winning rapper Missy Elliott was in her hometown Tuesday to make a special announcement on Missy Elliott Day.
Elliott donated $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority for families facing eviction.
During the event Elliott’s mother, Patricia Elliott, gave a heartwarming account of their family’s financial struggles before the R&B and hip hop sensation skyrocketed into superstardom.
Elliott’s mother recalled Portsmouth fans running in pouring rain and yelling “we love you.” The Grammy award winner took to the podium and said the donation is a reciprocation of that love.
“On behalf of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, our board of commissioners, our staff and most importantly our residents, we want to thank you for your generous donation,” said Alisa Winston, executive director of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority. “This will help 26 of our families who are past due on their rent remain in their homes.”
One of those families is Kayla Hale and her children.
“I had an eviction,” she said. “I go to court on Oct. 26. I didn’t have a plan.”
She was almost forced to move herself and her kids in with her mom to stay afloat. The surprise changed everything.
“I am just grateful. It will help me out a whole lot,” Hale said.
Elliott told 10 On Your Side’s Lauryn Moss the donation meant a lot because she’s been in these family’s shoes.
“For me, who has been in a situation like that with my mother, a single mother, that’s what made it important,” Elliott said. “I felt like I could relate to being in a place where you don’t know where you are going next.”
The cherry on top was being able to do it in her hometown.
“I wanted to give back and that be the celebration of Missy Elliott Day just to show I love everyone here. I love my city,” Elliott said.
City leaders said this was a big deal.
“It was an opportunity for someone who has been through a lot in life and give something back to the community that gave her so much,” Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover said. “What it meant to the families here in the city of Portsmouth is hope.”
Usher Gets Key To Las Vegas, City Declares 10/17 Usher Raymond Day:
On Tuesday (Oct. 17), the 45-year-old crooner was honored by the Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman with the key to Sin City at Las Vegas City Hall, just days after his birthday. They also declared Oct. 17 Usher Raymond Day for his work in the community, his incomparable three-year residency, and upcoming Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show performance at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
“Councilman, thank you so much for this momentous moment. I know the efforts that go into doing something like this and I don’t take it for granted,” the “Good Good” singer began. “I wanna thank you for your belief in the future and your ability to be able to recognize those things that actually do grow your city. I am someone who is now just contributing by way of entertainment, but also to the heartbeat of the city.”
Ursher spoke on his journey coming from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Atlanta and “finding passion there,” which led to “something that has become part of my DNA and that is belief.” He expressed how his residency, which first launched in July 2021, was one of the first that reopened the world of live entertainment following the pandemic.
“This was the groundswell for the belief that we would get back to the norm that we know we needed,” continued the father of four. He thanked Mayor Goodman for welcoming his Lovers & Friends Festival with open arms and teased that “there’s so many other things” he plans to host in Vegas to help “those in underserved communities” and “to do things and create a groundswell that represents the incredible city that it is.”
He also teased that he may incorporate some of his collaborators into his Halftime Show set because it will “not only represent his legacy and the things that I’ve been apart of in collaboration.”
During the ceremony, Councilman Crear spoke highly about the other residencies happening right now, but called Usher’s show “the hottest ticket in [town].”
“Usher has been an absolutely incredible brand ambassador for Las Vegas with his extremely popular residency as you know called My Way,” Councilman Crear continued. “And we all know he is going to be headlining something for the first time — I don’t know if you really comprehend this, but for the first time in the history of the NFL, the Super Bowl is going to be here in Las Vegas… How fitting is it that the entertainment for the Halftime Show is gonna be — and we already claimed you, my man — is our own Usher Raymond. And we know you’re gonna do us proud.”
Mayor Goodman chimed in, moments later, calling Usher “a miracle.”
She explained, “Because he’s selfless. This is a man that cares about everybody and he knows the future of our country and around this world, which is a mess. That if you help others and you help our children have another chance, a better chance, what better marriage than the city of Las Vegas and the genius, benevolent, compassionate, talented Usher Raymond?”
Mayor Goodman, then, handed over the “bejeweled key” to the city of Las Vegas. Longtime friend and collaborator, Johntá Austin, and Usher’s partner, Jennifer Goicoechea, were among those in attendance at the ceremony.
Halle Bailey honored with 'Glamour' Woman of the Year Award
Halle Bailey was honored with the 2023 Gen-Z Game-Changer Award at the Glamour Women of the Year ceremony. The event, which took place at London’s famous One Marylebone, saluted this year’s top “feminist heroes and game-changers in their respective fields.”
The Grammy-nominated singer accepted her award with a touching speech. “I guess the best way to describe how I’m feeling is to simply say I am humbled to be here,” she told the star-studded audience. “I know that my personal journey, although filled with my own struggles, and challenges, and wins, and losses, pale in comparison to many more deserving women out there. But I also know that with the spotlight comes a responsibility to speak about my experience in hopes that it can provide some guidance and inspiration to those girls and women who look to me standing under that spotlight.”
Halle continued, “It’s been an adjustment to live my life under the scrutiny of that spotlight. But, in the age of social media, in some way, we all live under that same scrutiny. From what we wear to who we love to the things we care about – it’s all open to scrutiny. So, here’s my honest advice. Turn it off when you need to find inner peace. But also, live your life for you. Don’t waste time living it for social media. Everyone has an opinion, but the only opinion that matters is your own – you already know deep down what’s right for you. For me, it works because I keep it simple. I put God first and then I try to make decisions that are best for me in that moment.”
The Little Mermaid star added, “Another thing I am super grateful for and that has helped me tremendously is to find a good life mentor – one that will inspire you and motivate you. For me, I’ve always had my sister and, looking backward and connecting the important tentpole moments that shaped me, my older sister [Chlöe Bailey] was always there at those times.” After the event, she took to her Instagram page to express her gratitude.
Adele Reveals She's Stopped Drinking, Explains When She Stopped
“I stopped drinking maybe like three and a half months ago,” Adele said at her Weekends with Adele show, via Daily Mail.
She added that it’s “it’s boring” to quit drinking, but she drank too much when she was younger
“I mean, I was literally borderline alcoholic for quite a lot of my 20s,” Adele revealed. “But I miss it so much.”
She also shared during her concert that she “cut out caffeine.”
“So enjoy your whiskey sour. I’m very, very jealous,” Adele told a fan at the show who said that they had been drinking all day before going to the show.
She previously revealed that she stopped drinking at one point following her divorce from ex-husband Simon Konecki and death of her father Mark Evans from bowel cancer in 2021, during her CBS special interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“That’s one great way of really sort of getting to know yourself, is just drinking water and being sober as anything,” she had said at the time.
Roy Wood Jr. Speaks Out After ‘Daily Show’ Exit, Defends Hasan Minhaj and Questions the Future of Late-Night TV
During the recently ended writers strike, many people who worked on the staffs of TV’s late-night shows wished things would get back to normal. Roy Wood Jr. was surprised to find that he was not one of them.
Wood, one of the team of faux news correspondents on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” since 2015, says the strike got him thinking about his place at the venerable series — and about late-night TV in general. He decided to exit, even though he has been seen in some circles as a candidate to take over as host of the program, which has been without a steady on-air leader since Trevor Noah left in late 2022.
“I do not believe late-night as we know it will be the way we continue,” Wood tells Variety. “Budgets are changing, and we are going into the age of some people, demographically, who did not necessarily always grow up with late night. So how do you engage those people and bring those people to the art form?” It’s an idea Wood says he wants to consider, and could not tackle if he were to remain with the program — especially with the network in the midst of what has become a protracted selection extravaganza, one that has tapped guests ranging from Sarah Silverman to Marlon Wayans.
“What was clear to me with Comedy Central is just that choosing a host is going to take a lot longer than the time I need to get answers,” says Wood. Meanwhile, he wants to consider new ways of reaching fans of topical humor, particularly as the nation moves closer to the 2024 presidential election. Writing a book, trying out ideas for film or leading a sitcom are all avenues he’d like to explore, but so too are comedy opportunities that might involve digital extensions or stand-up concepts.
Comedy Central declined to respond to a query seeking comment. In a previous statement, the network called Wood “a comedic genius and beloved teammate.” The network is expected to rely on guest hosts and other ”Daily Show” correspondents through the rest of the year before anointing a new host in time for the start of 2024. Already, there is new speculation: Sarah Silverman and Leslie Jones have each agreed to guest host for a second stint, prompting guesses that the network may want to see more of them behind the “Daily” desk.
Wood is just the latest late-night mainstay to consider new territory as the venerable format continues to be undermined by new viewership patterns. Johnny Carson dominated TV’s wee-hours schedule because he had limited competition. Today’s late-night crop — Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, “Daily” and Seth Meyers – – have exponentially more. Some of it is themselves. Fans can watch clips of their shows on YouTube or X without having to watch the hosts’ programs after the late local news. That has undermined regular viewership and forced a culling of the time slot. NBC is no longer running a show at 1:30 in the morning, as it did for decades. CBS is expected to replace James Corden’s “Late Late Show” with a comedy-game show hybrid that appears less costly to produce.
Executives at Comedy Central and its parent, Paramount Global, had originally hoped to name a new host in time for this year’s recent “upfront” presentations, where TV networks unveil their new programming schedules to advertisers. The recent writers strike forced the show — and its contemporaries — to go dark. The network was believed to have identified comedian Hasan Minhaj as its lead candidate for the “Daily” job, only to cast a wider net after a New Yorker article that suggested Minhaj had embellished some of his autobiographical comedy material.
Wood says he has no insight into who has been identified as a potential Trevor Noah successor. “I have no clue,” he says. But he thinks Minhaj has the necessary qualities to succeed in the role. “I don’t believe Hasan could never host because of his situation. I don’t necessarily agree with that,” says Wood. “I definitely think there is a place for him to clarify his intentions, but nothing about what Hasan did, none of it has to do with the content he presented on ‘The Patriot Act,’” a show Minhaj did for Netflix. “Can he show up and do the job? I say ‘yes.’”
Wood has just as interesting a background. He is versed in both comedy and news, just like “Daily.” One of his first jobs was working as a news reporter for an Alabama radio station. But he also quickly immersed himself in stand up and comedy through a morning-drive radio program, eventually gaining more national exposure.
A job on “Daily” is not an easy gig. Wood tells some aspirants that “I guarantee you don’t want to do it, because it’s real work, and it’s twice as much work if you’re already rich.”
Most other late-night shows seek first to entertain, he says. “Daily” has to tackle the news, whether it’s light or, more often that not, dark. “No one wants to be the show that has to talk about the tough times,” Wood says, “Everybody wants to be the show that counterprograms tough times.” At “Daily, “he adds, “we are more like the Marines. We are running in head first into some of this shit.” With “Daily” back in production this week, Wood has sympathy for his former colleagues, who will likely have to address the conflict between Israel and Hamas as well as dysfunction among Republicans trying to elect a new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“These are not easy topics to dissect and they are really tough to make poignant and funny,” says Wood. “As a host, you have to carry way more than the correspondents, because you’re supposed to be the steady hand.”
Wood believes he could have stayed longer on the show, but he worried about his place in things in 2024. “You can’t answer the question of whether or not you’re going to be a correspondent until you get the host, and let’s be real — the host may not want me. I might not fit into the sensibility of the host,” he says. ”So that idea of waiting around for that question to be answered, that really was more the motivation for leaving than the idea of choosing me as host.”
He says he now has time to figure out ways to reach an audience that likes late-night humor, even if it won’t always watch in traditional late-night hours. He and “Daily” colleague Jordan Klepper will do a “town hall” type show in January for live audiences, “kind of debating issues with locals with two-man conversations about the state of America. It’s sort of an alternative to stand up but it still gets me out in the world and talking to people and interacting.”
Wood believes there must be a format that will resonate with younger audiences. But it has been hard to find. Netflix, Hulu and Apple have tested late-night-adjacent programs with everyone from Chelsea Handler to Jon Stewart, but few have made the mark of the traditional TV mainstays. With young viewers getting their news and information from outlets other than newspapers and cable TV, he says, the shows may need to reconfigure themselves to reflect modern behavior.
And if he has to look elsewhere? Well, says Wood, that’s OK. When it comes to using comedy to analyze the state of the world, he says, “late night is not the only way to do that.”
Boy George reveals Madonna snubbed him backstage as he reignites old feud
Boy George has no qualms claiming that Madonna totally blanked him when he was backstage at her recent O2 gig, saying: "Did Madonna say hi since I was backstage and the answer is no."
He wrote: "Everyone has asked, not unsurprisingly, did Madonna say hi since I was backstage and the answer is no. Like Adele she decided it was a step to far." (sic)
With a single tweet, it has the power to reignite the old feud between the singers. It comes amid reports Madonna faces £300,000 fine during the world tour.
His latest bombshell sent shockwaves on social media with many of his followers responding to the showbiz gossip beneath his post.
"It's their loss xx," one wrote, among the sea of comments.
"You really have to feel sorry for them. They probably don’t know what they’re missing."
"Too nervous to talk to an international star.” Others added. “Shame on her. That’s not right."
"They were too nervous to say hi to an icon!"
"She didn't want to be out shone!"
"She always was a material girl George."
We’ve reached out to Madonna and Adele’s representatives for further comment.
April Ryan Weds Retired Naval Officer at Historic Baltimore Mansion
As People reports, the veteran White House reporter, 56, tied the knot with her fiancé James Ewing on Oct. 14, calling the moment her “second chance love story.”
“I’m divorced and didn’t plan on getting married again. I even vowed never to do it again. I never thought someone would sweep me off of my feet and make me realize I shouldn’t put myself on a shelf. There is more to give and more to do,” Ryan told the publication ahead of her big day.
“I was content with being alone the rest of my life, but James changed my outlook. I’m excited for the entire thing because it is going to be a moment of covenant, a moment of music, a moment of friends and dancing – a moment of celebration. A bunch of moments wrapped into one,” she added.
Ryan and Ewing, a retired Naval officer, were already connected on social media when they met in the Baltimore Washington airport by chance.
On their third date, “he told me he loved me,” recalled Ryan, per People. “Shortly after, I returned the sentiment.”
The theme of their wedding was “romantic garden” and guests included Governor Wes Moore, Melba Wilson, Jawn Murray, Susan Rice Ronnie DeVoe, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Valerie Jarrett, and Jonathan Capehart.
“I wanted guests to be comfortable the entire time,” Ryan shared with People.
“There was a great emphasis on guest experience, and I, alongside my wedding planner (Cashmere Events,) wanted to be immersed in the planning process. I’ve been relaxed throughout most of the process and wanted the ceremony and weekend to be more intimate and smaller,” she added.
The newlyweds are honeymooning in Italy.
“I’m excited to experience Italy with all the senses, alongside my husband,” said Ryan.
“We’re writing the future – we want to make memories. He’s adventurous and creative with activities, restaurants and shops. We do fun things together, simple things and just living our lives. In the midst of everything, we want to live our lives together – laughing, moving, being together,” she continued.
“We found one another after giving up on love. Now, our story is a forever love story.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Just Woke Up
I normally have my pj’s on but couldn’t be bothered to wash them
I normally have my pj’s on but couldn’t be bothered to wash them
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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