Month: June 2022

Netflix will host a late-night virtual watch party with cast members to celebrate the last two episodes of Stranger Things 4, Volume 2.  Fans can tune in at 2:15 a.m. EDT Friday to talk live with the cast before Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 premieres 45 minutes later at 3 a.m. The event is free to all Netflix subscribers with the watch party hosted on Scener, an online co-viewing platform that allows viewers to watch titles on different streaming services at the same time.

The official Stranger Things page tweeted – “Are You Ready?” join David Harbour, Brett Gelman, Jamie Campbell Bower and Joseph Quinn for a Q&A followed by a virtual watch party of STRANGER THINGS 4 Vol. 2 this Thursday powered by @scener RSVP now at http://strangerthings4.scener.com.

Stranger Things follows a group of young friends in the 1980s as they experience supernatural events. Season 4, Volume 1 premiered in May; Volume 2 premiers Friday, July 1st and will consist of two episodes, including a supersized episode with a runtime of almost two-and-a-half hours.

Fans can sign-up for the virtual watch party at strangerthings4.scener.com.

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A federal judge sentenced R. Kelly to 30 years in prison on Wednesday. Kelly was convicted last September of racketeering and violating the Mann Act, a sex trafficking law, including having sex with underage girls.

Kelly was also convicted in a bribery scheme involving a public official to get a fake ID for the late singer Aaliyah, so the two could marry when she was 15 and he was 27. Kelly believed Aaliyah was pregnant at the time, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. Kelly produced Aaliyah’s debut album, titled “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number.” She died in a plane crash in 2001 at 22 years old.

During Kelly’s trial, nearly four dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, alleging that he preyed upon children and women for his sexual gratification. The singer declined to testify at the six-week trial but could speak during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing. His defense team is asking for less than 14 years in prison, citing Kelly’s traumatic childhood.

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Travis Barker’s emergency trip to the hospital Tuesday is reported to be due to pancreatitis, which doctors believe to be triggered by a colonoscopy. According to TMZ, sources connected to Barker have confirmed the hospitalization was a result of pancreas inflammation which includes symptoms like nausea, intense stomach pain and vomiting.

The Blink-182 drummer was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife Kourtney Kardashian at his side, after first checking into West Hills Hospital and Medical Center on Tuesday.  Barker’s daughter, Alabama Barker, shared a message through her Instagram story that same day, asking fans to “Please send your prayers.”

The 46-year-old Barker’s medical history involves illnesses like staph infection and cellulitis, which is a bacterial infection that can cause swelling, inflammation and pain. In 2018, he suffered blood clots in his arms, forcing a string of shows from Blink-182’s Las Vegas residency to be canceled. And in 2008, Barker survived a plane crash that claimed the lives of six people; the accident left him with third-degree burns all over his body.

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On Tuesday, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for aiding the late financier Jeffrey Epstein in his sexual abuse of underage girls for at least a decade between the 1990s and 2000s. Following a criminal trial, Maxwell was found guilty last December of conspiring with Epstein – an associate and romantic partner for a period of time — to groom, recruit and sexually abuse minors as part of Epstein’s now-infamous trafficking ring. Maxwell was convicted of multiple charges related to sex trafficking and conspiracy.

Maxwell’s defense team had asked to postpone her sentencing hearing because she was suddenly moved to solitary confinement, arguing that Maxwell’s hearing should be rescheduled since solitary confinement meant she was unable to prepare for it.  Despite reports about her mental state, attorneys said that Maxwell was not at risk of suicide prior to the transfer.

The 60-year-old Maxwell was indicted in July of 2020 and taken into federal custody where she was held without bail for 16 months leading up to her trial. Her arrest came about a year after Epstein died by apparent suicide in his New York City jail cell while facing federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. Maxwell pleaded not guilty to all charges originally brought against her, and was acquitted of one count of enticing a minor to travel across state lines to engage in an illegal sex act. She never took the stand to testify during the trial, saying she felt there was “no reason” to formally defend herself before the court because “the government [had] not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

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The Sanderson Sisters are back in the first teaser trailer for Hocus Pocus 2, the sequel to the classic Halloween movie which reunites Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson, respectively, taking place 29 years after the original Hocus Pocus film.

The teaser trailer opens on a scene of three high school students played by Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo and Lilia Buckingham, who are discussing their plans for that night. Becca (Peak) tells Cassie (Buckingham) “Birthday ritual: scary movie marathon, same as every year,” as clips play of Becca and Izzy (Escobedo) visiting a magic shop and reciting a ritualistic prayer — only to realize the chanting works, and the Black Flame Candle is officially lit. A red crack opens up in the ground beneath the girls as they try to run away. “Lock up your children,” says Winifred (Midler). “Yes, Salem. We’re back!”

Hocus Pocus 2 also stars Sam Richardson, Doug Jones, Hannah Waddingham, Froyan Gutierrez and Tony Hale, among others. The sequel film premieres on Disney+ Sept. 30.  Check out the teaser trailer – here.

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HBO announced the start of production of Season 4 of Succession, taking place in New York City with creator Jesse Armstrong returning as showrunner.

Season 4 will pick up as Logan Roy (Brian Cox) attempts to sell Waystar Royco to tech billionaire Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard). Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun, J. Smith-Cameron, Peter Friedman, David Rasche, Fisher Stevens, Hiam Abbass, Justine Lupe, Scott Nicholson, Zoë Winters, and Jeannie Berlin are all set to return.

The Season 3 finale aired Dec. 13 on HBO, and was only nine episodes long. HBO did not announce an episode count or premiere date for Season 4.

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