Note: The following article contains discussion of sexual misconduct allegations that some readers may find upsetting.
Netflix has dropped the first trailer for season two of its smash-hit series Cheer.
The documentary series follows the Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team as they train for the National Cheerleading Championships and will return to the streaming service on January 12 for nine new episodes.
The trailer for the new season catches up with the Navarro College team, including coach Monica Aldama and cheerleader Gabi Butler who have seen their lives change forever since the first season aired.
Jim SpellmanGetty Images
Last September, one of the series' most popular stars, cheerleader Jerry Harris, was charged with producing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty to seven charges regarding five minor boys that December.
The 21-year-old was alleged to have solicited nude photos of a 13-year-old boy, with 14-year-old twin brothers alleging that Harris harassed them online for sexual images when he was 19 and they were 13.
At the time, Harris's spokesperson told the media: "We categorically dispute the claims made against Jerry Harris, which are alleged to have occurred when he was a teenager.
"We are confident that when the investigation is completed the true facts will be revealed."
In the trailer, Aldama tells the camera: "I can't even process it right now," as audio regarding Harris' arrest is played.
Netflix
According to Variety, an episode in season two will feature an interview with the brothers who first came forward with the allegations regarding Harris.
Cheer season two reportedly began filming in secret in January 2020, with production being shut down because of COVID-19 in March. Filming then resumed in September 2020.
The synopsis for season 2 is as follows: "The Emmy-winning breakout sensation is back, and the stakes have never been higher. As Navarro defends its championship crown against a slew of challenges, including their fiercest rivals at Trinity Valley Community College, unexpected events threaten the camaraderie of the team and the season itself."
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, who work towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, ontheir websiteor by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999.Rape Crisis Scotland’shelpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contactRAINN,or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
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Tupac Shakur wrote a love poem to one of his old girlfriends back in the day ... it appears to have inspired one of his big hits ... and now it can be yours if the price is right!
The folks over at Moments in Time are hawking a handwritten poem Tupac penned to a former flame named Simi ... the story goes this piece of Tupac history inspired his famous "All Eyez on Me."
The poem is titled "All Eye Was Lookin 4" ... and it's going up for sale for $95,000 ... so this is no cheap holiday present ... if you're still doing your holiday shopping.
The auction house says the poem, dated Aug. 26, 1995, ended up in a private collection ... and 26 years later it's hitting the market.
BTW ... Tupac's "All Eyez On Me" came out in 1996 ... so it all tracks.
As you see ... Tupac put his rhyming skills to good use in the poem ... telling a story of how he fell in love with Simi and the direction he hoped their relationship would go.
It's not the first time Tupac's opened his heart on paper ... as we reported, he wrote some steamy love letters as a teen, and once confessed why he dumpedMadonna.
Hugh Jackman’s Broadway production “The Music Man” has been postponed until Jan. 1 after he announced he contracted the coronavirus. The actor won’t return until at least Jan. 6.
The 53-year-old tweeted his diagnosis on Tuesday alongside a short clip of himself wearing a mask.
“Just wanted you to hear it from me,” he wrote. “I tested positive for COVID. Mild symptoms and as soon as I’m cleared … looking forward to getting back to The Winter Garden! @MusicManBway.”
In the video, he reiterated his tweet, saying: “I just wanted you to hear it from me that I tested positive this morning for COVID,” Jackman said in a video posted to Twitter and Instagram. “My symptoms are like a cold. I have a scratchy throat and a bit of a runny nose, but I’m fine. And I’m just gonna do everything I can to get better ASAP. And as soon as I’m cleared, I’ll be back on stage, heading to River City.”
“Please stay safe,” the “X-Men” star continued. “Be healthy, be kind.”
Hugh Jackman said he has COVID-19 and is now unable to perform on his Broadway show “The Music Man.”Twitter/@RealHughJackman
Representatives for the show told EW that performances have been canceled through Jan. 1 and tickets can be refunded or exchanged.
Despite many Broadway shows being closed due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, Jackman couldn’t help but hype up his show earlier this month.
“I’ve just arrived at the theater, and it is our first preview tonight,” he shared in a video on Instagram on Dec. 20. “I don’t know how many months — years this date has been in my head, but it feels like a long time. I am just so grateful and so … ah … blessed to be here in this position and I am so excited to share this show with you all.”
“As soon as I’m cleared … looking forward to getting back to The Winter Garden,” he added.Bruce Glikas/Getty Images
On Dec. 24, his co-star Sutton Foster became unavailable for the show’s fourth preview. Swing actor and understudy Kathy Voytko stepped in for the 46-year-old within an eight-hour notice.
“It’s not only happening here … but all over Broadway,” Jackman explained shortly after the preview, in footage captured by actress Katherine Winter. “This is a time we’ve never known. We’re in our fourth preview, we’re all just sort of learning so swings and understudies have not had a chance to learn.”
Britney Spears explained in a Monday Instagram post that her extended music hiatus is a “f—k you” to her estranged family.
“Not doing music anymore is my way of saying ‘F–k You’ in a sense when it only actually benefits my family by ignoring my real work,” she wrote in a post that also touted the power of prayer in times of distress.
“It’s like I’ve subconsciously let them win.”
Elsewhere, the “Toxic” singer, 40, reiterated her aggravation at seeing her younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, perform a remix to her 2011 single “Till the World Ends” at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards. (Britney was presented with the Icon award that year, followed by a medley performance by Jamie Lynn, 30, Hailee Steinfeld, Sofia Carson and Kelsea Ballerini.)
“It didn’t make sense how network television shows are showcasing my music with remixes of all of my music … yet the person who owns the music is told no!!!!” Britney wrote. “They even gave remixes to my sister but I was always told no?”
The entertainer — who broke free in November from a restrictive 13-year conservatorship established by her father, Jamie Spears — elaborated, “I asked for 13 years to perform new songs and remixes of my old songs … I had two months off in between each show setting for four years in Vegas … and every time I asked I was told, ‘No…’ !!!!”
Britney also shared her belief that she was “set up to fail” by her family, who tested her faith in a higher power.
“I had an experience three years ago where I stopped believing in God!!!! From every angle I was being hurt for no reason and my family was hurting me,” she wrote. “I went into a state of shock and the way I coped was being [in] fake denial … It was too much for me to really face.”
Britney asserted that “people have no idea the awful things that have been done to me personally” and admitted that she is “scared of people and the business!!!!”
The Grammy winner also explained why she felt compelled to share a clip of herself singing last week, along with a list of milestones she has hit throughout her decades-long career.
“I obviously have serious insecurities,” she wrote. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have acted like an obnoxious 8 year old last week defending myself with my accomplishments!!!!”
Britney — whose immediate family also includes mother Lynne Spears and older brother Bryan Spears — added, “Honestly my family embarrassed me and hurt me deeply … so tooting my own horn and seeing my past accomplishments reflecting back at me actually helped!!!!!”
The pop superstar’s last concert tour took place in 2018.Getty Images for BCU
The superstar said people would “COMPLETELY understand” her insecurities if they knew the gravity of what she’s experienced behind closed doors.
“It’s a shame that people don’t like the truth!!!!” she wrote before quipping, “I’d get more respect for doing a spread for Playboy than I would writing a book!!!!”
Britney last studio album, “Glory,” dropped in 2016. In 2020, her team released a deluxe version of the LP with new artwork and a new slate of bonus tracks, including “Mood Ring (By Demand).”
She wrapped her four-year “Piece of Me” Las Vegas residency in 2017 before taking the show out on the road for a second and final time in 2018.
Britney has repeatedly criticized her family for being complicit in the conservatorship, even claiming they deserve to be in jail for their respective roles in the legal arrangement that controlled her personal, medical and financial affairs.
The “Mickey Mouse Club” alum also vowed through her lawyer in November 2020 that she would “not perform” as long as Jamie, 69, was in charge of her career. She has previously expressed a desire to sue her father for “conservatorship abuse.”
Jean-Marc Vallée, the Quebecois director of films including “Dallas Buyers Club” and TV projects such as “Big Little Lies,” died at his cabin outside Quebec City, Canada. He was 58.
The cause of death was not immediately known.
His producing partner, Nathan Ross, said in a statement, “Jean-Marc stood for creativity, authenticity and trying things differently. He was a true artist and a generous, loving guy. Everyone who worked with him couldn’t help but see the talent and vision he possessed. He was a friend, creative partner and an older brother to me. The maestro will sorely be missed but it comforts knowing his beautiful style and impactful work he shared with the world will live on.”
Vallée earned an Oscar nomination for best editing for 2013’s “Dallas Buyers Club,” which won Oscars for Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey. The film was based on the true story of Ron Woodroof, an AIDS patient who smuggled pharmaceutical drugs into Texas and distributed them to fellow AIDS patients through the “Dallas Buyers Club.”
The next year, he directed “Wild,” starring Reese Witherspoon and based on the bestselling memoir about a former heroin addict who hikes the Pacific Crest Trail to help find herself.
He continued to work with Witherspoon on the HBO series “Big Little Lies,” for which he won the Emmy for directing a limited series, movie or special. Adapted from the bestselling Liane Moriarty novel, the limited series also starred Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley, and it drew acclaim for its lushly photographed look at the lives of wealthy coastal families who must confront a sudden death in their midst.
Vallée’s next HBO project was another suspenseful HBO mini-series based on a popular book, “Sharp Objects.”
“Jean-Marc Vallée was a brilliant, fiercely dedicated filmmaker, a truly phenomenal talent who infused every scene with a deeply visceral, emotional truth,” said a statement released by HBO. “He was also a hugely caring man who invested his whole self alongside every actor he directed. We are shocked at the news of his sudden death, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to his sons, Alex and Émile, his extended family, and his longtime producing partner, Nathan Ross.”
Born in Montreal, Vallée studied film at the Université du Québec. After making music videos and short films, he made his first feature “Black List.”
After making 2005’s acclaimed Quebec film “C.R.A.Z.Y.,” based on the life of a close friend, he directed “The Young Victoria,” which garnered three Academy Award nominations. His other films included “Cafe de Flore,” “Los Locos,” a Western written by and starring Mario Van Peebles, “Loser Love” and “Demolition,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Vallée was set to direct another series for HBO, “Gorilla and the Bird,” based on a memoir by Zack McDermott about a public defender who suffers a sudden psychotic break.
He is survived by two children and three siblings.
It only took five seasons, but Insecure finally gave us an hour-long(ish) episode. The HBO comedy’s series finale saw Issa and her friends make big choices as they forged ahead with their lives.
Picking up with Nathan and Issa on the car ride home after his scuffle with Lawrence, Nathan called their situation toxic and decided to break things off. A defeated Issa returned to her apartment alone, only to receive a text from Lawrence apologizing for what happened at the party. After crying all night, she woke the next morning to Molly bringing her food and alcohol to make her feel better. As Issa gathered herself in the bathroom, Mirror Issa mocked her for ending up the mess she is now. You really hate to see it.
Then it was time to celebrate Molly’s birthday. Issa threw her girl a party at her apartment with all her friends and loved ones there, including Tiffany, who came in from Denver. Kelli met a new man named Desmond, making everyone booed up except for Issa. It was a little awkward, but Issa focused on Molly, who kept changing her clothes because she was so nervous about meeting Taurean’s family. When Issa vented about needing a vacation to get away from everything, Molly urged her friend to stop feeling like a mess and look at how far she’s come. But the night really was about Molly who, after changing her outfit one more time, rejoined everyone to celebrate.
Cut to Issa rushing to Crenshawn’s pop up, worried about a burst pipe, which would have ruined his upcoming fashion show. But this wasn’t so much an emergency as it was a surprise birthday party for Issa. In lieu of gifts, her friends made donations to the Blocc and raised over $5k thus far. As Issa chased some birthday d–k, Molly informed Kelli that she talked to her firm’s partners about adding an estate division. Kelli seemed open to the potential new job and said she’d think about it.
If you thought Nathan arriving would make things awkward, you’d be semi-right. The exes finally cleared the air, with Nathan apologizing for what he said during their breakup. Lamenting their relationship, Issa told him she didn’t want him to have any regrets, and Nathan made it clear he doesn’t. After wishing her a happy birthday, the pair parted on good terms, and Issa went on to meet someone.
The girls made it out to Denver to visit Tiffany, who was now a homeowner. Unfortunately, Tiffany hated her new setting because she wasn’t working, and she didn’t sign up to be a “Real Housewife of Denver.” Her friends assured her that she’ll figure things out and the conversation moved to Issa’s new man, who has a good job and is good in bed, so she can’t complain.
Alone in the house with Molly, Issa tried not to think about Lawrence after seeing a photo of him with Elijah. This prompted Molly to ask what she would have said to Lawrence if Nathan hadn’t interrupted. Issa didn’t have an answer; after all, “It’s too late, anyway.” Molly reminded her that it’s not too late if that’s what she wants. Before they could get into it further, Molly received a call from her brother Curtis: Her mom died.
Jumping ahead, Issa called Lawrence on his birthday and offered to take him out to celebrate. However, Lawrence had a date with someone —whom he greeted with a kiss — but was open to grabbing dinner with Issa some other time.
In the meantime, Issa attended Kelli’s birthday dinner with her now-boyfriend Nasir. Kelli revealed that she’s pregnant, much to everyone’s surprise, including Issa, who reminded Kelli she didn’t want kids. But after “almost” dying, Kelli realized she wanted kids with Desmond.
Molly was still MIA after her mother’s death and hadn’t called Issa back yet. Issa brushed this off and focused on Nasir, who was waiting for her in the bedroom. Mirror Issa was hyped about all their friends making choices and going on their respective paths, but Issa wasn’t so convinced about hers. When Lawrence decided to call — this man’s timing is impeccable — Mirror Issa warned her not to pick up. After all, she’s got a good man on the other side of the door! Taking up Mirror Issa’s advice, Issa ignored her phone and resumed the night with Nasir.
Molly’s birthday came around again, and Issa checked in on her friend, who’s thinking about her mom and the fact that they were just celebrating together last year. Molly missed her mom, and both friends wondered when life got so real. They acknowledged that it had gotten harder to maintain their friendship, but Issa was determined to take her girl out to dinner on a different night since Taurean had her for that night. Kelli barged into Molly’s office — she took the job, after all — to chide her friend for staying at work when she needed to go home and get ready for her birthday dinner with her man.
Sometime later, Issa was examining color samples for the Blocc’s new office when Lawrence arrived. Opening up to him, she spoke of all the insecurities in her head that held her back, that she needed to believe it would work out for it to work. But they were no longer talking about her career, especially when Lawrence asked if she believed whether it would work out. “I’m OK with finding out,” Issa told him. They embraced and then kissed and then… Issa clumsily kicked over a coffee mug.
A year later, the gang came together to celebrate Molly and Taurean’s wedding. Molly danced with her father, tearfully remembering her mom. But she now had Taurean, who pulled her in for an upbeat dance to “Feels Good” by Tony! Toni! Toné! The party was also bittersweet for Issa, who expressed joy for her girl but knew things would be different now. Later than evening, as Issa helped Molly out of her dress, a teary-eyed Molly thanked a teary-eyed Issa for everything — for “loving me while I was me.” Cue the buckets of tears as both friends embraced and told each other, “I love you.”
And in case you were wondering if Issa got her happy ending, the final scene gave an update on the show’s main character. The Blocc was booming, and Issa hopped in her Lexus to make the drive home after another productive day. She passed the Dunes (where Thug Yoda was snapping pics of his daughter out front); her old job We Got Y’all, which moved into a bigger space; and a man in a Best Buy shirt walking to his car in front of a Rite Aid.
She arrived at her much nicer home to find Lawrence and a now-talking Elijah waiting for her. The excited boy even decorated her birthday cake. They decided to have some cake and ice cream before Lawrence took her out to dinner. Issa looked genuinely happy and content while getting ready in the mirror with an engagement ring on her finger. She received a call from Molly, who was vacationing with Taurean in Greece. The series ended as it should — with Molly and Issa chatting and living their best lives.
As for the final music cue? The beloved series went out with Kelis’ “Bossy” transitioning into the credits.
What did you think of Insecure’s ending? Grade the series finale below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Diddy is getting rid of some bad memories ... because he sold the mansion where his late soulmate, Kim Porter, died.
Diddy put the Toluca Lake mansion up for sale back in October, listing it for $7 mil, and now there's a buyer ... the deal is pending and will likely close this week, but the sale is not final.
The sprawling estate is 9,655 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms ... and it's got all the bells and whistles, including a family-sized pool and spa, plus a sports court.
The gated property sits on a half-acre on one of the most famous streets in the San Fernando Valley ... and the celeb neighbors include Steve Carell, Billy Ray Cyrus, Viola Davis and Sia.
As you know ... Kim, a model and actress, dated Diddy off and on for 13 years and they had 3 kids together, including 2 daughters and a son.
TMZ broke the story ... Kim was found dead in the home back in November 2018 at the age of 47, after losing her battle with pneumonia.
Diddy wasn't at the home much, he owns other properties in L.A. and Miami, and now he's letting it go.
Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch star as Peter Parker and Doctor Strange in "Spider-Man: No Way Home."
Sony
"Spider-Man: No Way Home" has done what few thought was possible during the pandemic era — top $1 billion at the global box office.
The co-production between Sony and Disney is now the first film to surpass this benchmark during the pandemic and has also claimed the title of highest-grossing movie of 2021. The last release to exceed $1 billion was 2019's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," according to data from Comscore.
The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film reached $1.05 billion at the global box office over the Christmas weekend, beating out "The Battle of Lake Changjin," a Chinese film released in November that has garnered $904.9 million worldwide.
"'Spider-Man: No Way Home's' sprint to $1 billion within the context of this still pandemically-challenged marketplace is nothing short of astonishing," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. "It demonstrates the power of a great movie to draw fans around the world to enjoy the shared and communal experience that only the movie theater can provide."
Audiences flocked to theaters last weekend to catch "No Way Home" before potential spoilers could be leaked online. Now, they are returning for repeat viewings, a common occurrence for MCU movies.
Domestically, "No Way Home" is expected to tally around $81.5 million during its second weekend, a projected 69% drop from its debut. Most MCU films drop between 50% and 70% between their first and second weekend.
"The partnership between these two Hollywood entities is clearly one of great benefit to both," BoxOffice.com chief analyst Shawn Robbins said of Sony and Disney.
The two companies brokered a deal that would allow the Sony-owned Spider-Man to appear in Marvel's cinematic universe. The agreement not only meant that Marvel would be involved in Spider-Man's solo projects, which were financed by Sony, but that the character could appear in other Marvel films.
2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming" generated the second-highest box office run of any Spider-Man film released in theaters with its $880.4 million worldwide haul, according to Comscore data. Then 2019's "Spider-Man: Far From Home" became the highest-grossing Spidey film and first to top $1 billion, with $1.132 billion in global ticket sales.
"The symbiotic circle they form could reap rewards for a long time to come, and with characters beyond just Spider-Man, if it continues to flourish creatively," Robbins said. "The results of the past few years have shown it to be in the best interest of everyone for such a partnership to endure, and perhaps even inspire other tag-teams throughout the industry."
Three members of the K-pop superstar group BTS have been infected with the coronavirus, their Big Hit Entertainment agency said. Members of the group are seen here at a news conference to introduce their single "Butter," in May. They are, from left to right: V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope. Lee Jin-man/AP
Lee Jin-man/AP
SEOUL, South Korea — Three members of the K-pop superstar group BTS have been infected with the coronavirus after returning from abroad, their management agency said.
RM and Jin were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Saturday evening, the Big Hit Music agency said in a statement. It earlier said another member, Suga, tested positive for the virus on Friday.
All three took their second jabs in August, the agency said.
BTS is a seven-member boyband. The four other members are J-Hope, Jungkook, V and Jimin.
According to the agency, RM has exhibited no particular symptoms while Jin is showing mild symptoms including light fever and is undergoing self-treatment at home. The agency said Friday that Suga wasn't exhibiting symptoms and was administering self-care at home in accordance with the guidelines of the health authorities.
RM had tested negative after returning from the United States earlier this month following his personal schedule there. But he was later diagnosed with the virus ahead of his scheduled release from self-quarantine, the agency said.
After returning to South Korea this month, Jin underwent PCR tests twice — upon arrival and later before his release from self-quarantine — and tested negative both times. But he had flu-like symptoms on Saturday afternoon before he took another PCR test that came back positive, the agency said. Media reports said he also had traveled to the U.S.
Suga, who has had a number of personal engagements in the United States during the band's official time off, was diagnosed with COVID-19 during quarantine after returning from the U.S., the agency said.
The agency said it'll continue to provide support for the three members for their speedy recovery. It said it will cooperate with the requests and guidelines of the South Korean health authorities.
Since their debut in 2013, BTS has garnered global recognition for their self-produced music and activism, which includes giving a speech at the United Nations and publicly calling out anti-Asian racism.
BTS was named artist of the year and favorite pop duo or group, and also won the favorite pop song award for "Butter" at the American Music Awards in November.
In October, the group's collaboration with British rock band Coldplay, "My Universe," hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was BTS' sixth Hot 100 No. 1.
RM, Jin and Suga of the South Korean boy band BTS have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the band's management company Big Hit Music.
Big Hit said in a statement that both RM and Jin were diagnosed on Saturday night, while Suga previously registered a positive test on Friday.
All seven members of the band - which also consists of members J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook - received their second vaccination shots this past August, according to Big Hit.
The latest: (L-R) RM, Jin and Suga of the South Korean boy band BTS have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the band's management company Big Hit Music
Big Hit gave details about each member's health, noting that RM has shown no specific symptoms, while Jin is dealing with mild symptoms such as a light fever and was taking care of himself at home. Suga did not show any symptoms and was also at home quarantining after coming back from the U.S.
RM had previously tested negative after returning to South Korea after a trip to the U.S., Big Hit said, noting that the singer later tested positive for the virus ahead of the end of his quarantine period.
Jin had previously undergone two PCR tests and tested negative before the end of his quarantine period, Big Hit said. Jin subsequently took another PCR test in which he tested positive after showing flu-like symptoms.
Big Hit said they will comply with all guidelines set by South Korean health officials as the three recover from the virus.
All seven members of BTS - consisting of (L-R) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope - received their second vaccination shots this past August, according to management company Big Hit. The group was snapped in LA earlier this month
The K-pop sensation earlier this month finished its BTS Permission To Dance On Stage tour and the Jingle Ball Tour in Los Angeles
The K-pop sensation earlier this month finished its BTS Permission To Dance On Stage tour and the Jingle Ball Tour in Los Angeles.
BTS has had a successful year commercially and with critics, as their hit song Dynamite was the top song of the year on Apple Music and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, earning RIAA triple-platinum status.
The group racked up a 2022 Grammy nomination for pop duo/group performance for Butter. They are nominated against a field including Coldplay (Higher Power), Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (I Get a Kick Out of You), Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco (Lonely) and Doja Cat and SZA (Kiss Me More) in the category.
The pop ensemble is coming off an impressive showing at the American Music Awards last month, as it was named artist of the year against a field that included Drake, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.
'Seven boys from Korea, united by love for music, met the love and support from all the armies all over the world,' RM said. 'This whole thing is a miracle. Seriously, we would never take this for granted.'
There's been a long, raging debate over whether the 1980s classic action flick "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie ... and Bruce Willis' mother is picking sides.
The debate has the potential to blow families apart this holiday season ... and even the TMZ office is split down the middle on "Die Hard" as an Xmas classic ... so to get to the bottom of this we went to Bruce's mom ... because mothers are never wrong, right?!?
Bruce's mom, Marlene, tells TMZ ... "Die Hard" is NOT a Christmas movie.
Her reasoning ... "Die Hard" is a movie set at Christmas time, but that's not an essential element of the flick. Seems the apple didn't fall far from the tree, because Bruce does not believe it's a Christmas movie either.
Still not convinced?!?
Well, one high-ranking TMZ staffer lays it out like this ... if you take "Die Hard" and move the setting to another time in the year, say Easter or Mother's Day or heck, even Halloween, the movie still works just the same.
It's an interesting point, but we still gotta ask ...
Three members of superstar K-pop group BTS have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past two days, their management company Big Hit Music has announced.
On Saturday, RM and Jin tested positive for COVID-19 one day after fellow member Suga was also diagnosed. The three members completed their second rounds of COVID vaccinations in late August, Big Hit Music said, and none of them had contact with each other or other BTS members. Their symptoms are either mild or non-existent.
All seven members of BTS were on an official break where they could rest, recharge and spend time with their families after their busy schedules, which included their “Permission to Dance on Stage” concerts in Los Angeles and the iHeartRadio Jingle Bell Tour earlier in December. The singers returned to South Korea after their personal travels and self-isolated separately.
Suga returned to South Korea on Thursday, December 23, and tested positive the next day, but did not show any symptoms, Big Hit Music said. RM came back on Friday, December 17, underwent self-quarantine in his home and tested positive on Saturday evening, thought he’s not exhibiting any symptoms. Jin returned to Korea on Monday, December 6, self-quarantined and was released after testing negative twice. However, he developed mild, flu-like symptoms on Saturday afternoon and tested positive in the evening.
The U.S. concerts were BTS’ first since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The group is nominated at the 2022 Grammy Awards for best pop duo/group performance for their hit song “Butter.” After their extended period of rest, the group’s first since 2019, they will work on a new album, which will mark a “new chapter,” and prepare for an upcoming March tour in Seoul.
Wanda Young -- one of the few remaining members of The Marvelettes -- has died.
The legendary singer's daughter, Meta Ventress, confirmed the news to the New York Times Saturday -- saying her mother had passed almost two weeks ago, on Dec. 15, in Garden City, MI as a result of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Young came aboard the Marvelettes just in time for them to sign their first record deal with Motown ... and actually went on to be the Marveletttes' lead singer in their later years, after the departure of some members. Long story short, she was there from the beginning.
Of course, she contributed to their 1961 hit, "Pleases Mr. Postman" -- which became a no. 1 chart-topper for Berry Gordy big picture ... not to mention the first smash hit recorded by an all female group. In other words, WY and co. helped put Motown on the map.
'Please Mr. Postman' went on to be covered by countless bands and acts, most famously by The Beatles ... who made it a hit anew during their heyday in the '60s. BTW, the B-side to that record by the Marvelettes was 'So Long, Baby,' with Young on lead vocals.
While singing co-lead through their peak, Young helped crank out famous tunes like "Locking Up My Heart" and "Too Many Fish in the Sea" ... and, eventually, she led the way with hits like "I'll Keep Holding On" "Don't Mess with Bill," "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game," "When You're Young and In Love" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" ... among others.
Young finally left the Marvelettes in 1969, and tried her hand at a solo career with varying success through the early '70s. Eventually, she left music altogether ... and lived a relatively private life.
She's survived by her three children, several grandchildren and a great-grandchild, plus brothers and sisters. She was 78.
BIGHIT Music recently released a statement revealing that BTS member Suga had tested positive for COVID-19 on December 24, during his self-quarantine post taking the PCR test immediately upon his return to Korea, from the US, on December 23. Their statement further read, "SUGA completed his second round of the COVID-19 vaccination in late August and is not presenting any symptoms as of today. He is currently administering self-care at home per the guidelines of the healthcare authorities." Since the news broke out, Min Yoongi has been receiving well wishes from BTS ARMY across the globe.
Today's heartwarming letter in our Dear Oppa series has been penned by Khushi Tripathi from India to Suga. Read her letter below:
Dear Yoongi Oppa,
Today I came across the news of you being tested positive for COVID-19. I hope you are fine Oppa. Please take plenty of rest for your speedy recovery. It's a hard time for you, for all of us Oppa, but we know that you are the strongest person, the one who has always overcome every single challenge of life.
Right now, each and every ARMY is praying for your health Oppa... You don't have to take stress at all... We all know very well that no COVID can ever do any harm to our strong and brave Yoongi Oppa...
We all are holding your back... You are never alone... Millions and Billions of ARMYs are there with you!
Please don't take stress and have proper rest Oppa.
KEEP FIGHTING! BORAHAE OPPA!
GET WELL VERY SOON &
WISH YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY
Want to let out in words, your undying fondness for your favourite K-drama and K-pop stars? Email your open letter to: editorial@pinkvilla.com, mentioning your full name and country. The opportunity is open to readers from across the globe. Your letters may also feature on our Instagram page Hallyutalk as well.
Disclaimer:This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed in this letter are those of the author.
Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets, Prospect) officially joins the Star Wars franchise as a mysterious new character in a new promo for the fast-approaching Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett.
The Book of Boba Fett's minute-long "Throne" promo continues to establish Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) as the new kingpin of Tatooine's criminal underworld in the absence of both Jabba the Hutt and Bib Fortuna. The promo also confirms Thatcher's long-rumored role in the series, with her character being seen riding a speeder bike seemingly modeled after a retro-style scooter.
Deadline first reported back in November of 2020 that Thatcher had boarded The Mandalorian franchise, a sub-franchise of Lucasfilm's Star Wars universe, in an undisclosed role. However, it was unclear at the time if Thatcher would be joining the cast of The Mandalorian proper, or perhaps that of an upcoming spinoff.
Later that same month, The Direct reported that Lucasfilm was eyeing Jordan Bolger to appear opposite Thatcher in a then-untitled Mandalorian spinoff series. The same day The Direct's report went live, The Illuminerdi claimed to have gotten ahold of some official descriptions for the characters Bolger and Thatcher were in negotiations to portray.
According to The Illuminerdi, Bolger and Thatcher were in talks to play the characters of Skad and Drash, respectively. Both characters are described as "faithful" members of a "street crew" who are "willing to question authority," with Bolger's Skad specifically being described as "edgy, fit and resilient." Thatcher's Drash, meanwhile, is described as being "cool, self-assured and in need of refinement."
Members of an apparent street gang riding the aforementioned style of speeder bike were spotted in The Book of Boba Fett's "Authority" teaser several days ago, leading to fan speculation that these were indeed Bolger and Thatcher's characters. These theories are all but vindicated by the new "Throne" promo, which sees Thatcher take center stage at the 45-second mark, clear as day.
The Book of Boba Fett spins out of The Mandalorian Season 2, which revealed legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett to have canonically survived the events of the 1983 film Return of the Jedi. Played by Morrison, who portrayed Jango Fett in 2002's Attack of the Clones, Boba Fett quickly found a new ally in the form of Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen).
The Book of Boba Fett premieres Wednesday, Dec. 29 on Disney+.
Noah E. Dominguez is a jr. news editor at Comic Book Resources who joined the site as a writer in the summer of 2018. He has also written for sites like WhatCulture and Gaming Access Weekly (formerly Gamer Assault Weekly), and holds a degree in mass communication. What will he do next? Stay tuned. You can follow him on Twitter at @NoahDominguez_
“My Golden Ox baby. Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney. Happy Holidays,” Munn, 41, wrote in an Instagram post along with a pic of the infant snoozing in a fluffy blanket while wearing a blue beanie.
Olivia Munn said that mommy blogs and social media were a “saving grace” for her as she became a new parent.Getty Images for Global Citizen
The actress gave birth in Los Angeles on Nov. 24. Malcolm is the first child for Munn and Mulaney, 39, who started dating earlier this year amid his divorce from artist Anna Marie Tendler.
Their son’s middle name, Hiệp, is Vietnamese. Munn’s mother is from Vietnam and of Chinese descent.
Prior to giving birth, the actress admitted that she and the stand-up comedian were “scared” to become new parents.
Olivia Munn confided that she and John Mulaney were “scared” to become parents at first.Getty Images
“We talk about the same stuff. Which rocker? What type of crib do you put the baby in? What does the baby wear?” she said on the “Today” show in November.
“Honestly, thank God for Instagram and Facebook and blogs because there’s a lot of moms who put out such great information, and that’s been a saving grace for me.”
"Don't Look Up," is a toothless satire directed and cowritten (with David Sirota) by Adam McKay. The film aims at targets that are as broad as the width of the comet that PhD student Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) discovers late one night in the laboratory. According to orbital dynamics, earth will be hit — and completely, utterly, and entirely decimated — in an estimated six months and 14 days. Kate and astronomer Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) tell NASA scientist Dr. Clayton "Teddy" Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), and together they go to tell Madame President Janie Orlean (Meryl Streep). But President Orlean keeps the anxious scientists waiting for more than a day. Once the President does meet with them, she suggests they, well, "sit tight and assess."
This strategy, or lack thereof, infuriates Kate and Dr. Mindy, who talk with the media and go on the popular daytime talk show, "The Daily Rip," hosted by the vapid pair Jack Bremmer (Tyler Perry) and Brie Evantee (Cate Blanchett). But even as they deliver the bad news that, "We're all going to f**king die!," they are met with a shrug of indifference. Their appearance does however, generates a handful of memes and Dr. Mindy becomes "America's sexiest scientist."
Viewers of "Don't Look Up" (which begs to be called "Just Don't Watch!") will shrug if not yawn. It takes nearly 40 minutes of this bloated 140-minute comedy for this much to unfold, and there are far too few laughs. Streep visibly tries to milk her every moment on screen for humor playing a president who could possibly be dumber than Trump. (She's quoted as once having said that "Poor people should pick better lottery numbers," and transmits a photo of her genitalia.)
McKay eventually creates a political divide between those who believe in and support the astronomers' findings and fears, and the working-class supporters of President Orlean, who blindly disregard truth, facts, and science and wear "Don't Look Up" hats. But to what end? The film is obviously mocking the sheeple who deny climate change. Possibly the only funny potshot is when pop singer Riley Bina (Ariana Grande) performs a power ballad with the lyrics, "Get your head out of your ass/and listen to the goddamn qualified scientist."
"Don't Look Up" does have a smattering of amusing moments, but there are far more offensive ones that are meant to be funny. Colonel Ben Drask (Ron Perlman) is seen calling preteen kids "p*ssies" when he's teaching them to exercise on the White House lawn, and he often makes some very insensitive comments. An unfunny running joke excuses his misbehavior because, "he is from a different generation." Alas, no cancel culture humor here.
McKay and Sirota often repeat a joke in the hope that it will generate a laugh. One comic bit involves General Themes (Paul Guilfoyle) charging Kate, Dr. Mindy, and Teddy for snacks that are free. Kate can't seem to let this go, mentioning it several times to various people. It's meant to be deadpan humor, but it is just dead on arrival.
Early on in the film, Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance), a tech giant of Bash industries, is shown demonstrating a new product. He comes off like a new age Mr. Rogers, which is kind of clever, until his big tech corporation gets in bed with politics. Bash industries tries to break apart the comet so they can greedily mine the billions of dollars of rare minerals it contains, and his unholy alliance with President Orlean is used as a campaign stunt. It lacks inspiration, or as Kate puts it to her evangelical skater boyfriend Yule (Timothée Chalamet) and his pals, "They are not even smart enough to be as evil as you are giving them credit for."
McKay is not being smart enough here either. His film is poorly paced and sloppily edited. Thankfully, he only rarely lapses into the wink-winkiness he employed in "The Big Short" and "Vice" that gives his films a smug, condescending sensibility. The media and social media parodies here are tired, not wired. McKay also misses a real opportunity to emphasize the issue of BIPOC female scientists not being taken seriously. He could have made Kate a young woman of color.
The actors do what they can with the subpar material. Jennifer Lawrence makes a laudable effort as Kate, who is a voice of reason and delights in telling President Orlean that she didn't vote for her, but her childish spats with Orlean's chief of staff/son, Jason (Jonah Hill) are painful. That said, a scene where she screams, "You're going to die! You're going to die," as if she was Oprah giving out cars on TV is dryly funny.
Leonardo DiCaprio gets a Howard Beale in "Network" moment when Dr. Mindy has a meltdown on "The Daily Rip." DiCaprio tries to be comical playing up his characters' crippling anxiety and nerdiness, but he is best in manic mode.
In support, Rob Morgan seems underused, even in a pointed scene where Teddy is arrested, while Mark Rylance delivers a nicely droll turn in what is essentially a thankless role. As President Orlean, La Streep does her typical, mannered look-at-me acting schtick. She tries too hard to be crass — note her tramp stamp. Her nude scene is easily her best moment on screen. Her overplaying pales in comparison to Cate Blanchett's slinky television personality, a riff on one of her characters in "Manifesto." Blanchett is especially priceless giving a "get to know you" speech to Dr. Mindy, and in her reaction when he recounts his life story.
"Don't Look Up" makes a few decent points and gets a chuckle or two, but mostly, it is leaden when it could be farcical, sluggish when it could be screwball. This end of the world comedy should have just been more fun.
"Don't Look Up" makes impact on Netflix on Dec. 24. Watch a trailer for it below, via YouTube.
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In the meantime, Issa attended Kelli’s birthday dinner with her now-boyfriend Nasir. Kelli revealed that she’s pregnant, much to everyone’s surprise, including Issa, who reminded Kelli she didn’t want kids. But after “almost” dying, Kelli realized she wanted kids with Desmond.
