Month: September 2022

Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish were hosted by President Joe Biden and the First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as part of A Night When Hope and History Rhyme event, organized in collaboration with The History Channel and A+E Networks. President Biden surprised John by presenting him with a National Humanities Medal following a performance at the White House.

John performed several of his hits including “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocketman,” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” on the White House South Lawn, before the President and First Lady surprised him by presenting him with the National Humanities Medal. John was given the medal for his singing and songwriting career, and also for his contributions to charities and humanitarian causes such as HIV/AIDS. The Elton John AIDS Foundation was launched in 1992 and has since raised over $450 million and funded programs across four continents.

John covered his face in disbelief when the medal was presented to him, saying: “I’m never flabbergasted, but I’m flabbergasted and humbled and honored by this incredible award from the United States of America  I will treasure this so much.” John was at the White House as part of an event to honor “everyday history-makers in the audience,” according to the White House. There were also teachers, military families and LBGT+ advocates in the audience. and among those in attendance were former first lady Laura Bush, tennis champion Billie Jean King, British Ambassador to the United States Karen Elizabeth Pierce, and John’s husband, David Furnish.

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The lawsuit filed against Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears that accused the comedians of sexual battery, sexual harassment and sexual abuse of a minor has been dismissed.  The lawsuit. which was filed in late August by a 22-year-old woman and her minor brother (identified as Jane and John Doe), was dismissed at the request of the plaintiff.

Spears took to Instagram to address the lawsuit’s dismissal, sharing a screenshot of the news with the caption “I hope y’all keep that same energy.”  Haddish’s representative Cesidia Carosa also provided a photo of the notice of dismissal, adding that it was filed “with prejudice,” meaning the plaintiffs will be unable to file the same claims against Haddish or Spears again.

Jane and John Doe alleged in the lawsuit that they were both assaulted by Haddish and Spears in Los Angeles several years ago when they were minors, claiming Haddish was a “longtime family friend” of their mother. The lawsuit described several instances of grooming and molestation by Haddish and Spears, such as when the comedians worked with the plaintiffs on a “Funny or Die” project about eight years ago that was sexually suggestive. In a statement posted to Instagram Sept. 5, Haddish said that while there was very little she could say on the legal matter, she deeply regretted taking part in the “Funny or Die” skit. writing, “Clearly, while this sketch was intended to be comedic, it wasn’t funny at all.”

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs’ mother previously attempted to work out a $15,000 settlement with Spears over the video of John Doe but was unsuccessful. The suit did not specify the monetary value the plaintiffs were seeking. Spears’ attorney Debra Opri called the lawsuit a “shakedown”, while Haddish’s lawyer Andrew Brettler called the plaintiff’s previous claims of abuse “bogus.” Brettler said: “Every attorney who has initially taken on her case – and there were several – ultimately dropped the matter once it became clear that the claims were meritless and Ms. Haddish would not be shaken down.” 

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Miles Teller, Brendan Gleeson and Megan Thee Stallion have all been announced as hosts for the 48th season of “Saturday Night Live” next month. The news was announced on show’s Twitter feed.

Teller will host the Oct. 1 show, with Kendrick Lamar serving as musical guest for the third time. Gleeson is set for Oct. 8 with Willow as musical guest, and Megan Thee Stallion will do double duty as guest host and musical guest on Oct. 15.

Cast members including Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Pete Davidson have departed the series ahead of its Season 48 premiere. Joining the cast this season are newbies Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker.

‘SNL’: Miles Teller, Brendan Gleeson & Megan Thee Stallion To Host Opening Three Episodes Of Season 48

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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (“HFPA”), dick clark productions and NBC announced that the 80th Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC and Peacock on Jan. 10, 2023. No host has been announced as of press time.

Frances Berwick, chairman of entertainment networks at NBCUniversal television and streaming, said in a statement: “We recognize the HFPA’s commitment to ongoing change and look forward to welcoming back the Golden Globes to NBC for its landmark 80th anniversary in January 2023.” 

Helen Hoehne, president of the HFPA, added: “We are thrilled to announce the return of the Golden Globe Awards on NBC and to hosting the ‘party of the year’ for audiences around the world who have been waiting for its return. It’s great to be back at the Beverly Hilton for the must-see celebration recognizing the best in film and television. The HFPA remains committed to important changes and supporting programs which prioritize diversity, inclusion, and transparency. See you on Jan. 10!”

The Golden Globes, honoring excellence in film and TV, were canceled last year as the HFPA worked to improve its business practices and increase the diversity in its membership. The Globes voting body is now 52% female, 51.5% racially and ethnically diverse, with 19.5% Latinx, 12% Asian, 10% Black and 10% Middle Eastern.

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Sarah Paulson is set to executive produce and star as the late Gwen Shamblin Lara in the HBO Max scripted adaptation of its docuseries, The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin.

Shamblin rose to fame with her ‘Weigh Down Workshop,’ a Christian-based diet program, and founded the the controversial, Tennessee-based Remnant Fellowship Church.  The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin explored the practices of the Remnant Fellowship Church and the legacy of Lara — a flamboyant and charismatic figure with a carefully curated image, who was accused of emotional, psychological and physical abuse and exploitation for the church’s alleged cult-like practices.

The Way Down docuseries launched in September 2021 with three episodes, becoming the streamer’s most-watched docuseries at the time. Just before finishing the series, Shamblin and her husband died in a plane crash; and the series aired two more episodes where they spoke to more people about the controversial Remnant Fellowship Church. The second part examined the mysterious circumstances surrounding the crash and investigation into the aftermath, including new stories from former survivors who share their experience following Shamblin’s death.

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Broadway’s longest-running show, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” is ending its run after 35 years. The final performance will take place on Saturday, February, 18, 2023, at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre. Prior to the Broadway show’s conclusion, “Phantom” will celebrate its 35th anniversary on January 26 with director Seth Sklar-Heyn at the helm.

‘Phantom’ is based on the horror novel Le Fantôme de L’Opéra by Gaston Leroux. Webber and Richard Stilgoe wrote the play with music by Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart. The play tells the story of the Phantom, who haunts the stage of the Paris Opera and subsequently falls in love with a beautiful young soprano. The show has played 13,733 performances since opening January 26, 1988 at New York City’s Majestic Theatre, and has won over 70 theater awards, including seven Tony Awards in 1988 for Best Musical, among others.

However, ‘Phantom’ has been losing between $800,000 and $1 million per month since reopening in October 2021, having failed to recover from the 18 month COVID-19 closure in March 2020. According to The Broadway League, ticket sales recently dropped from 255,000 weekly attendees in May to about 180,000 attendees in September.

The Phantom of the Opera is widely considered one of the most successful productions in history, playing to over 145 million people in 41 countries and 183 cities in 17 languages. The show will continue in London’s Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End, where it’s played since opening in October 1986.  A recently premiered Melbourne version will also continue, and a Mandarin-language version is slated to debut in China in 2023, along with a Spanish-language venture, starring Antonio Banderas.

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