Kamis, 31 Oktober 2019

Lori Loughlin fears she may go to prison, source tells CNN - CNN

The most recent blow came when Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli, along with nine other accused parents in the college admissions scandal were hit last week with an additional bribery charge.
"She's at rock bottom, devastated," the source tells CNN. "She knows she could go away for a long time and it's terrifying for her."
The new charge accuses Loughlin and Giannulli of bribing University of Southern California employees to get their daughters admitted to the school. In exchange for the bribes, USC coaches and athletics officials allegedly designated the children as recruited athletes, easing their admission, regardless of their athletic ability, prosecutors said.
The charge of federal programs bribery is defined as a bribe of anything valued of at least $5,000 at an organization that receives more than $10,000 from the federal government, which would include USC and other universities implicated in the alleged scam.
Loughlin and her husband previously pleaded not guilty in April to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors say she and Giannulli paid $500,000 to a fake charity to get their two daughters accepted into the University of Southern California, falsely designating them as crew recruits. They face a maximum of up to 45 years in prison for the charges.
When asked by CNN how her marriage has been affected by this scandal the source said it's "beyond strained."
"All she wanted was the best for her daughters and she wishes people would see that," the source added. "She definitely regrets the way she's handled herself since all this came out."
The source noted that Loughlin and her daughters are "closer than ever."
CNN has contacted a representative for Loughlin for comment.
Loughlin awaits trial for the charges for which she has already pleaded not guilty. The next court date in the case is scheduled for Nov. 20.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/entertainment/lori-loughlin-more-charges/index.html

2019-10-31 12:33:20Z
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Lori Loughlin fears she may go to prison, source tells CNN - CNN

The most recent blow came when Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli, along with nine other accused parents in the college admissions scandal were hit last week with an additional bribery charge.
"She's at rock bottom, devastated," the source tells CNN. "She knows she could go away for a long time and it's terrifying for her."
The new charge accuses Loughlin and Giannulli of bribing University of Southern California employees to get their daughters admitted to the school. In exchange for the bribes, USC coaches and athletics officials allegedly designated the children as recruited athletes, easing their admission, regardless of their athletic ability, prosecutors said.
The charge of federal programs bribery is defined as a bribe of anything valued of at least $5,000 at an organization that receives more than $10,000 from the federal government, which would include USC and other universities implicated in the alleged scam.
Loughlin and her husband previously pleaded not guilty in April to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors say she and Giannulli paid $500,000 to a fake charity to get their two daughters accepted into the University of Southern California, falsely designating them as crew recruits. They face a maximum of up to 45 years in prison for the charges.
When asked by CNN how her marriage has been affected by this scandal the source said it's "beyond strained."
"All she wanted was the best for her daughters and she wishes people would see that," the source added. "She definitely regrets the way she's handled herself since all this came out."
The source noted that Loughlin and her daughters are "closer than ever."
CNN has contacted a representative for Loughlin for comment.
Loughlin awaits trial for the charges for which she has already pleaded not guilty. The next court date in the case is scheduled for Nov. 20.

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2019-10-31 11:33:01Z
CAIiEB1PGh43AQ8yvdS8m_HbNE8qGQgEKhAIACoHCAowocv1CjCSptoCMPrTpgU

Cuba Gooding Jr. Touches Accuser's Butt on Security Vid, But No Clear 'Pinch' - TMZ

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2019-10-31 08:34:58Z
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Rabu, 30 Oktober 2019

Kevin Hart posts an emotional video about his car crash. 'I see things differently,' the comedian says - CNN

The comedic superstar posted the nearly 2-minute video overnight Tuesday on his official Instagram account.
"Basically, what you realize is that you're not in control," Hart says in a voice-over as the video begins. "No matter how much you think you're in control, you're not in control. At the end of the day, it can all be over, man."
Hart, 40, was one of three people involved in a one-car crash on September 1 in Calabasas, California. Hart and the driver, Jared Black, sustained back injuries. Black's reckless driving caused the crash in Hart's 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, the California Highway Patrol determined.
"My world forever changed" as a result of the crash, Hart notes in his video, which includes footage of him in the hospital, struggling with rehabilitation and at home.
"You know when God talks, you gotta listen," Hart says. "I swear, life is funny. Because some of the craziest things that happen to you end up being the things that you needed most. And in this case, I honestly feel like God basically told me to sit down."
Hart goes on to talk about how people sometimes miss what they're supposed to prioritize when they move through life too quickly.
"After my accident, I see things differently," he says over video that includes footage of him at home with his three children. "I see life from a whole new perspective. My appreciation for life is through the roof."
Hart expresses his gratitude for his fans and God and includes footage of his doctor discussing with him how his recovery will take a year.
The actor ends his video by looking ahead.
"I'm thankful for simply still being here, on the road to being a bigger and better version of me," Hart says. "I'm looking forward to an amazing 2020."

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2019-10-30 12:11:49Z
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'House of the Dragon': HBO confirms 10 episodes of 'Game of Thrones' prequel - CNBC

Daenerys from Game of Thrones.

Source: HBO

HBO has confirmed details of a new "Game of Thrones" prequel called "House of the Dragon."

The cable network announced Tuesday that it has ordered 10 episodes of the spinoff series based on George R. R. Martin's companion book "Fire & Blood."

Taking place 300 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," the series will depict the stories of the Targaryen kings who had long ruled Westeros.

Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal will partner as showrunners, according to the premium cable channel, with both also poised to work as executive producers alongside Martin and Vince Gerardis.

"The 'Game of Thrones' universe is so rich with stories," Casey Bloys, president of HBO programming, said in a statement.

"We look forward to exploring the origins of House Targaryen and the earlier days of Westeros along with Miguel, Ryan and George."

Sapochnik, who directed six episodes of the flagship show — including "Battle of the Bastards," which is IMDB's highest-rated episode — will direct the "House of the Dragon" pilot.

The announcement comes shortly after reports emerged on Tuesday that the cable network had scrapped another spinoff series of "Game of Thrones."

A much-anticipated prequel starring Naomi Watts was reportedly axed after HBO opted not to commission a full series.

HBO has always been known for its heavily curated content. Shows like "Vinyl" and "Hung" were canceled because they were not as strongly received by viewers as other shows, despite millions of dollars' worth of investment and critical acclaim.

The premium cable service has put much of its production power behind new shows like "Watchmen," which debuted earlier this month to favorable reviews, as well as new seasons of "Westworld," "Barry" and "Last Week Tonight."

— CNBC's Sarah Whitten contributed to this report.

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2019-10-30 11:35:58Z
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John Witherspoon, comedian and actor in 'Friday' films, dies at 77 - Fox News

Actor and comedian John Witherspoon, who is best known for his role as Ice Cube’s father in the “Friday” films, has died at age 77, his family said in a statement Tuesday.

His manager Alex Goodman told The Associated Press that Witherspoon died in his Los Angeles home late Tuesday. No cause of death was released. The family said in a statement to Deadline that Witherspoon, who was born Jan. 27, 1942, is survived by his wife, Angela, and sons JD and Alexander and a large extended family.

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“We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say ‘I’m no big deal’, but he was huge deal to us,” the statement said. The family also announced Witherspoon's death in a tweet from his official Twitter account early Wednesday.

“He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you “POPS” always & forever,” they said.

Witherspoon began his career appearing in 1970s TV shows, such as "Barnaby Jones" and "The Richard Pryor Show," NPR reported. He also performed on "The Wayans Bros." television series and voiced the grandfather in "The Boondocks" animated series.

His most recognizable role was "Pops," Ice Cube's father in the stoner comedy "Friday" and its two sequels. He played a crude but affectionate father trying to guide his son to be better. Witherspoon’s film roles also included "Vampire in Brooklyn" and "Boomerang," and he was a frequent guest on "Late Show with David Letterman."

“I’m devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon. Life won’t be as funny without him,” Ice Cube said on Twitter late Tuesday.

Regina King, who appeared as Witherspoon's daughter in "Friday" and also voiced both of his grandsons in "The Boondocks," called him her "comedic inspiration" on Twitter.

“My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King,” she wrote early Wednesday.

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JD Witherspoon, the actor’s son, tweeted that he was happy for all the great times he and his dad had together.

"We'd roast each other like homies more than Father & Son, and I really liked that. He was my best friend & my idol," JD Witherspoon posted. "Love U Dad...I'll miss u."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-10-30 09:51:46Z
52780422724762

John Witherspoon, comedian and actor who starred in 'Friday,' has died at 77 - CNN

"It is with deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77," his family said in a statement.
Witherspoon is survived by his wife, two sons and "a large family," the statement said.
"We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say 'I'm no big deal,' but he was huge deal to us."
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Witherspoon kicked off his career as a stand-up comedian and made his television debut in the 1970s, appearing in shows including the detective series "Barnaby Jones."
He was, arguably, best known for playing Ice Cube's dad in the "Friday," film series. The 1995 comedy and its sequels, "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next," chronicle the trials of a man as he tries to make it through the day.
"I'm devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon," Ice Cube wrote on Twitter. "Life won't be as funny without him."
Witherspoon also played dad, John "Pops" Williams, to the title characters on the sitcom "The Wayans Bros." and he was "Spoon" on NBC's "The Tracy Morgan Show." The actor also had roles in the movies "Boomerang" and "Vampire in Brooklyn," both of which starred Eddie Murphy.
"I'm sad. Broken. Hurt... yet extremely grateful to God that I got to spend 5 years of my life working with one of the funniest sweetest wisest humblest loving men," Marlon Wayans wrote on Instagram, as a tribute to his TV dad. "Thank you God for the many many many laughs that we shared on and off the set."
"My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration," actress Regina King wrote on Twitter Tuesday night. "I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King."
The two worked together on "Friday" and the animated show "The Boondocks," which aired from 2005 through 2014 and offered a satirical take on African American culture and politics.
Witherspoon voiced "granddad," one of the foul-mouthed Freemans in the show.
He had recently hinted on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast that he might return to the role after Sony Pictures Animation announced plans to bring the series back.
Actress Marsha Warfield also paid tribute to the comic.
"I'm so sorry to hear this," she said. "To me, Spoon was a friend, a brother, a funny, talented comedian and a good man."

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/entertainment/john-witherspoon-dies/index.html

2019-10-30 09:51:00Z
52780422724762

John Witherspoon, comedian and actor who starred in 'Friday,' has died at 77 - CNN

"It is with deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77," his family said in a statement.
Witherspoon is survived by his wife, two sons and "a large family," the statement said.
"We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say 'I'm no big deal,' but he was huge deal to us."
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Witherspoon kicked off his career as a stand-up comedian and made his television debut in the 1970s, appearing in shows including the detective series "Barnaby Jones."
He was, arguably, best known for playing Ice Cube's dad in the "Friday," film series. The 1995 comedy and its sequels, "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next," chronicle the trials of a man as he tries to make it through the day.
"I'm devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon," Ice Cube wrote on Twitter. "Life won't be as funny without him."
Witherspoon also played dad, John "Pops" Williams, to the title characters on the sitcom "The Wayans Bros." and he was "Spoon" on NBC's "The Tracy Morgan Show." The actor also had roles in the movies "Boomerang" and "Vampire in Brooklyn," both of which starred Eddie Murphy.
"I'm sad. Broken. Hurt... yet extremely grateful to God that I got to spend 5 years of my life working with one of the funniest sweetest wisest humblest loving men," Marlon Wayans wrote on Instagram, as a tribute to his TV dad. "Thank you God for the many many many laughs that we shared on and off the set."
"My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration," actress Regina King wrote on Twitter Tuesday night. "I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King."
The two worked together on "Friday" and the animated show "The Boondocks," which aired from 2005 through 2014 and offered a satirical take on African American culture and politics.
Witherspoon voiced "granddad," one of the foul-mouthed Freemans in the show.
He had recently hinted on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast that he might return to the role after Sony Pictures Animation announced plans to bring the series back.
Actress Marsha Warfield also paid tribute to the comic.
"I'm so sorry to hear this," she said. "To me, Spoon was a friend, a brother, a funny, talented comedian and a good man."

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/entertainment/john-witherspoon-dies/index.html

2019-10-30 09:09:17Z
52780422724762

John Witherspoon, comedian and actor who starred in 'Friday,' has died at 77 - CNN

"It is with deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77," his family said in a statement.
Witherspoon is survived by his wife, two sons and "a large family," the statement said.
"We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say 'I'm no big deal,' but he was huge deal to us."
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Witherspoon kicked off his career as a stand-up comedian and made his television debut in the 1970s, appearing in shows including the detective series "Barnaby Jones."
He was, arguably, best known for playing Ice Cube's dad in the "Friday," film series. The 1995 comedy and its sequels, "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next," chronicle the trials of a man as he tries to make it through the day.
"I'm devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon," Ice Cube wrote on Twitter. "Life won't be as funny without him."
Witherspoon also played dad, John "Pops" Williams, to the title characters on the sitcom "The Wayans Bros." and he was "Spoon" on NBC's "The Tracy Morgan Show." The actor also had roles in the movies "Boomerang" and "Vampire in Brooklyn," both of which starred Eddie Murphy.
"I'm sad. Broken. Hurt... yet extremely grateful to God that I got to spend 5 years of my life working with one of the funniest sweetest wisest humblest loving men," Marlon Wayans wrote on Instagram, as a tribute to his TV dad. "Thank you God for the many many many laughs that we shared on and off the set."
"My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration," actress Regina King wrote on Twitter Tuesday night. "I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King."
The two worked together on "Friday" and the animated show "The Boondocks," which aired from 2005 through 2014 and offered a satirical take on African American culture and politics.
Witherspoon voiced "granddad," one of the foul-mouthed Freemans in the show.
He had recently hinted on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast that he might return to the role after Sony Pictures Animation announced plans to bring the series back.
Actress Marsha Warfield also paid tribute to the comic.
"I'm so sorry to hear this," she said. "To me, Spoon was a friend, a brother, a funny, talented comedian and a good man."

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/entertainment/john-witherspoon-dies/index.html

2019-10-30 09:07:29Z
52780422724762

John Witherspoon, comedian and actor who starred in 'Friday,' has died at 77 - CNN

"It is with deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77," his family said in a statement.
Witherspoon is survived by his wife, two sons and "a large family," the statement said.
"We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say 'I'm no big deal,' but he was huge deal to us."
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Witherspoon kicked off his career as a stand-up comedian and made his television debut in the 1970s, appearing in shows including the detective series "Barnaby Jones."
He was, arguably, best known for playing Ice Cube's dad in the "Friday," film series. The 1995 comedy and its sequels, "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next," chronicle the trials of a man as he tries to make it through the day.
"I'm devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon," Ice Cube wrote on Twitter. "Life won't be as funny without him."
Witherspoon also played dad, John "Pops" Williams, to the title characters on the sitcom "The Wayans Bros." and he was "Spoon" on NBC's "The Tracy Morgan Show." The actor also had roles in the movies "Boomerang" and "Vampire in Brooklyn," both of which starred Eddie Murphy.
"I'm sad. Broken. Hurt... yet extremely grateful to God that I got to spend 5 years of my life working with one of the funniest sweetest wisest humblest loving men," Marlon Wayans wrote on Instagram, as a tribute to his TV dad. "Thank you God for the many many many laughs that we shared on and off the set."
"My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration," actress Regina King wrote on Twitter Tuesday night. "I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King."
The two worked together on "Friday" and the animated show "The Boondocks," which aired from 2005 through 2014 and offered a satirical take on African American culture and politics.
Witherspoon voiced "granddad," one of the foul-mouthed Freemans in the show.
He had recently hinted on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast that he might return to the role after Sony Pictures Animation announced plans to bring the series back.
Actress Marsha Warfield also paid tribute to the comic.
"I'm so sorry to hear this," she said. "To me, Spoon was a friend, a brother, a funny, talented comedian and a good man."

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/entertainment/john-witherspoon-dies/index.html

2019-10-30 08:11:16Z
52780422724762

John Witherspoon, comedian and actor who starred in 'Friday,' has died at 77 - CNN

"It is with deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77," his family said in a statement.
Witherspoon is survived by his wife, two sons and "a large family," the statement said.
"We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say 'I'm no big deal,' but he was huge deal to us."
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Witherspoon kicked off his career as a stand-up comedian and made his television debut in the 1970s, appearing in shows including the detective series "Barnaby Jones."
He was, arguably, best known for playing Ice Cube's dad in the "Friday," film series. The 1995 comedy and its sequels, "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next," chronicle the trials of a man as he tries to make it through the day.
"I'm devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon," Ice Cube wrote on Twitter. "Life won't be as funny without him."
Witherspoon also played dad, John "Pops" Williams, to the title characters on the sitcom "The Wayans Bros." and he was "Spoon" on NBC's "The Tracy Morgan Show." The actor also had roles in the movies "Boomerang" and "Vampire in Brooklyn," both of which starred Eddie Murphy.
"I'm sad. Broken. Hurt... yet extremely grateful to God that I got to spend 5 years of my life working with one of the funniest sweetest wisest humblest loving men," Marlon Wayans wrote on Instagram, as a tribute to his TV dad. "Thank you God for the many many many laughs that we shared on and off the set."
"My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration," actress Regina King wrote on Twitter Tuesday night. "I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King."
The two worked together on "Friday" and the animated show "The Boondocks," which aired from 2005 through 2014 and offered a satirical take on African American culture and politics.
Witherspoon voiced "granddad," one of the foul-mouthed Freemans in the show.
He had recently hinted on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast that he might return to the role after Sony Pictures Animation announced plans to bring the series back.
Actress Marsha Warfield also paid tribute to the comic.
"I'm so sorry to hear this," she said. "To me, Spoon was a friend, a brother, a funny, talented comedian and a good man."

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/entertainment/john-witherspoon-dies/index.html

2019-10-30 07:56:30Z
52780422724762

Selasa, 29 Oktober 2019

'Star Wars' trilogy from 'Game of Thrones' writers no longer happening - Fox News

“Game of Thrones” screenwriters David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have reportedly walked away from a blockbuster deal with Disney’s Lucasfilm to launch a “Star Wars” film trilogy.

Benioff and Weiss, who made the wildly popular HBO franchise based on the novels by George R. R. Martin, told Deadline.com that they are too busy with their Netflix series to work on the legendary sci-fi series.

'GAME OF THRONES' STARS EMILIA CLARKE, JASON MOMOA AND KIT HARINGTON REUNITE

“We love Star Wars,” the statement read.

“When George Lucas built it, he built us too. Getting to talk about Star Wars with him and the current Star Wars team was the thrill of a lifetime, and we will always be indebted to the saga that changed everything.”

CAMILA CABELLO MET 'GAME OF THRONES' STAR EMILIA CLARKE — AND TOTALLY FANGIRLED

The duo were expected to usher in a new era of Star Wars with a 2022 release date following this December’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” But they reportedly signed a “nine figure deal” with Netflix in August.

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“There are only so many hours in the day, and we felt we could not do justice to both Star Wars and our Netflix projects,” the pair told Deadline. “So we are regretfully stepping away.”

This article originally appeared in Page Six.

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2019-10-29 11:19:15Z
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'Game of Thrones' pair won't make a new 'Star Wars' trilogy after all - Engadget

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That new trailer for The Mandalorian isn't the only Star Wars news to come out tonight, as Disney has announced that a planned feature film trilogy from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss is now off. The deal was announced with much fanfare about a year and a half ago with plans to release the first movie in 2022, but in the time since, Lucasfilm released Solo: A Star Wars Story to disappointing results, Benioff and Weiss signed a huge overall deal with Netflix worth a reported $200 million and the Game of Thrones finale happened -- some of us have different feelings about that.

According to the pair in statements released to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, the problem is just one of those things: "there are only so many hours in the day, and we felt we could not do justice to both Star Wars and our Netflix projects."

Other things that have changed include the details around Disney+, and that Marvel boss Kevin Feige is working on a Star Wars project, in addition to the planned trilogy helmed by Rian Johnson. While this trilogy may be on ice, we'll see even more in that world over the next few years, even after The Mandalorian debuts on November 12th, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theater screens on December 20th.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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2019-10-29 05:16:54Z
52780420665085

Taylor Swift can't shake 'Shake It Off' copyright suit reinstated by federal court panel - msnNOW

A "Shake It Off" copyright lawsuit against music superstar Taylor Swift is proving not so easy to shake off.

2019 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals - Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S., August 26, 2019 - Taylor Swift. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly © Reuters 2019 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals - Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S., August 26, 2019 - Taylor Swift. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

A three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Monday reinstated a lawsuit filed by two songwriters alleging Swift, a celebrated songwriter, took lyrics from Sean Hall's 2001 song "Playas Gon’ Play" for her 2014 hit. A U.S. District Court judge dismissed that case last year.

The original lawsuit, filed by Hall, doing business as Gimme Some Hot Sauce Music, and Nathan Butler, doing business as Faith Force Music, claimed Swift's "Shake It Off" lyrics, "'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play/And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate," infringed on the earlier song. "Playas Gon' Play" includes the lines, "The playas gon' play/Them haters gonna hate" and "Playas, they gonna play/And haters, they gonna hate."

The district court judge cited a lack of originality in the pertinent lyrics from the 2001 song in dismissing the case, saying that “for such short phrases to be protected under the Copyright Act, they must be more creative than the lyrics at issues here.”

The appellate judges reversed that decision, citing a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes regarding judgments about artistic worth.

"It would be a dangerous undertaking for persons trained only to the law to constitute themselves final judges of the worth of pictorial illustrations, outside of the narrowest and most obvious limits," Holmes wrote in a 1903 decision. "At the one extreme, some works of genius would be sure to miss appreciation. … At the other end, copyright would be denied to pictures which appealed to a public less educated than the judge."

The reversal sends the case back to U.S. District Court for consideration.

Swift is no stranger to copyright claims related to "Shake It Off." In 2014, another U.S. District Court judge rejected a different "Shake It Off" lawsuit in which the writer of 2013's "Haters Gonna Hate" claimed Swift stole his lyrics and sought $42 million in damages.

USA TODAY has asked Swift's representative for comment.

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2019-10-29 08:30:00Z
52780421684860

Kanye West: Jesus Is King Album Review - Pitchfork

In 1964, in the small, rural community of Longdale, Mississippi, a group of black worshippers at the Mount Zion Methodist Church were ambushed by the Ku Klux Klan. The attackers, some of whom were allegedly dressed in police uniform, broke one man’s jaw, viciously beat others, and ultimately burned the building to the ground. In the midst of the chaos, a woman named Beatrice Cole launched into a spoken prayer of despair: “Father, I stretch my hand to Thee, no other help I know. If Thou withdraw Thyself from me, where shall I go?” Improbably, the Klansmen retreated. Such was the power of the gospel.

“Father I Stretch My Hands To Thee,” an unsmiling Methodist hymn written by Isaac Watts in the early 1700s and turned into a rousing standard by black gospel singers over the next century, has since transcended the church pew. It is ostensibly a favorite of Kanye West, who sampled Pastor T.L. Barrett’s version on 2016’s The Life of Pablo, in a song that opens with a non sequitur about a bleached butthole. Three years and a religious rebirth later, the motif returns on West’s ninth album, Jesus Is King. “Follow God,” whose title is as literal as gospel can get, is organized around a sample of a burning vocal: “Father I stretch, stretch my hands to you,” goes the singer of an obscure 1974 track, Whole Truth’s “Can You Lose By Following God.”

Recorded (and, apparently, re-recorded) in the months after he announced a recommitment to Christianity, the album is West’s first offering in the wake of Sunday Service, the performance series he’s turned into something of a global church brand. As West sells it, figuratively and literally, Jesus Is King is a repudiation of his past sin, an absolution, a blank slate from which to spread the word of a very specific God, one whose blessings rain down on a cul-de-sac in Calabasas and a ranch in Jackson Hole. He’s always presented as religious—“Jesus Walks” imagined the club as a holy temple back in 2004; the Kardashians’ labored, glamorous Easter photos have become something of an annual tradition; Pablo was explicitly an album about faith—and yet the timing is notable.

By most accounts, fewer and fewer Americans identify as Christian, and a steadily growing number describe themselves as atheist or agnostic. The religious, meanwhile, identify as more devout. Consider the power of the evangelical right on the political landscape, into which West has inserted himself in recent years, causing some of the turmoil that presumably sent him seeking refuge in Christ this spring. (In a recent piece for Vibe, the writer Kiana Fitzgerald, who shares with West a bipolar diagnosis, put forth a moving theory connecting spiritual fervor with the experience of mania.)

Though Jesus Is King followed what is now a characteristically chaotic album rollout for West, the result is much more focused than his 2018 album ye. His mythical rap-camp format, popularized with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’s Hawaii origin story, unifies the contributions of producers as disparate as Timbaland, Pi’erre Bourne, Boogz, and Evan Mast of Ratatat into 27 minutes of pleasant, if not entirely transgressive, textures. Some of the hallmarks of 20th-century gospel are evident, and warmly applied: the rise and fall of a formidable choir; the velvety growl of a Hammond organ; an undulating piano; rhythms that stretch through history and geography, all the way back to West Africa. It is a markedly more cohesive and enjoyable album than I believed him capable of creating at this juncture.

Jesus Is King nods to a handful of moments from the past 15 years of West’s career. The gospel-soul sample deployed on “God Is” harkens to his early days as an in-house producer at Roc-A-Fella. The maximalism of his leather-skirt phase is all over the expansive soundscape of “Use This Gospel,” whose Kenny G sax solo might be the 2019 equivalent of throwing Elton John onto a hook, just because you can. Elsewhere, the stark, confrontational attitude of 2013’s Yeezus is echoed in the battle drums that propel “Selah.” His raspy pleading on “Water” recalls the era of loosies that produced “Only One” and “FourFiveSeconds.” Throughout, Auto-Tuned vocals draw a line from 2008’s 808s & Heartbreak all the way through to the anguish of Pablo.

Though Jesus Is King offers some resolution to the darkness hinted at on Pablo, it lacks the deeply human searching that made that album effective and moving. Life is not black and white, and neither is the experience of communing with any god. The most interesting moment, thematically, comes in the inherent tension between a reunited ClipsePusha-T and his older brother No Malice—on “Use This Gospel” for the first time in several years and at different stages of self-reflection. They connect the relatable universality of gospel as delivered on Jesus Is King by Fred Hammond, Ty Dolla $ign, and Ant Clemons, whose singing collectively comes closest to expressing the inspiring, sustaining gentleness of a warmly held faith. Think, for example, of the mountain to be traversed on “Climbing Higher Mountains” or the storm to be crossed on “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” Whereas much traditional and contemporary gospel invokes struggle, salvation, and transformation, Jesus Is King is largely focused on the ways in which religion has served Kanye himself. “How you got so much favor on your side?/‘Accept him as your lord and savior,’ I replied,” he raps on “On God.”

If West’s mission is, as he told Zane Lowe in an interview last week, to convert people to Christianity, he’ll likely have to search a little deeper. Beyond superficial gestures at biblical references and the capitalist leanings of American prosperity gospel, there is virtually no indication here as to what it means to follow Jesus. That is, other than to perhaps sit back and wait for Him to give you a Forbes cover and a billion-dollar sneaker brand. It’s hard to take West seriously when the obstacles he distresses over are Instagram likes and steep tax rates (the IRS, he complains, wants “half of the pie”). Rather than the grace, justice, and love that characterizes faith at its most transformative, West internalizes the religious entitlement that props up the wealthy and powerful, validating months of jokes about his ambitions as a megachurch pastor.

Revelations in recent weeks—that he admonished his wife for wearing tight clothes, asked collaborators to abstain from premarital sex, and began keeping a Christian scorecard that includes limiting himself to two curse words a day—suggest his interpretation of the gospel has been more dogmatic than faithful. Historically, it has been the vulnerability with which he expresses his own hypocrisies and moral failings that have made West a uniquely compelling artist; unfortunately, there is very little of that complexity on Jesus Is King. (An exception is “Follow God,” where an argument with his father prompts consideration, however shallow, of what it means to be “Christlike.”)

There is not enough depth here to distract from his politics, or to complicate them. It’s an album of slogans, dashed-off and too short, and as he continues to test the edge between spontaneous and half-finished, it gets harder to ignore the facts hovering outside the frame. His call for the abolishment of the 13th Amendment, for example, is in direct opposition to his avowed support of a racist, punitive, incarceration-obsessed president. Yes, the bassline on “Water” is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time, but a moment like this feels like a consolation, not a highlight. Kanye albums used to stretch our perspectives and imaginations. Now they illuminate the contours of his increasingly shrunken world.

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https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kanye-west-jesus-is-king/

2019-10-29 05:00:00Z
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'Game of Thrones' pair won't make a new 'Star Wars' trilogy after all - Engadget

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That new trailer for The Mandalorian isn't the only Star Wars news to come out tonight, as Disney has announced that a planned feature film trilogy from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss is now off. The deal was announced with much fanfare about a year and a half ago with plans to release the first movie in 2022, but in the time since, Lucasfilm released Solo: A Star Wars Story to disappointing results, Benioff and Weiss signed a huge overall deal with Netflix worth a reported $200 million and the Game of Thrones finale happened -- some of us have different feelings about that.

According to the pair in statements released to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, the problem is just one of those things: "there are only so many hours in the day, and we felt we could not do justice to both Star Wars and our Netflix projects."

Other things that have changed include the details around Disney+, and that Marvel boss Kevin Feige is working on a Star Wars project, in addition to the planned trilogy helmed by Rian Johnson. While this trilogy may be on ice, we'll see even more in that world over the next few years, even after The Mandalorian debuts on November 12th, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theater screens on December 20th.

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https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/29/benioff-weiss-star-wars/

2019-10-29 05:16:47Z
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Senin, 28 Oktober 2019

Kylie Jenner Dressed Daughter Stormi as Kylie Jenner for Halloween - Yahoo Lifestyle

When you're Kylie Jenner's daughter, who do you dress up as for Halloween? Duh, Kylie Jenner, of course!

After Kylie introduced her own dazzling costume alongside BFF Anastasia "Stassie" Karanikolaou, where the pair dressed up as Britney Spears and Madonna from their 2003 MTV Video Music Awards performance, it was time for Stormi's turn in the spotlight.

You may remember Kylie's over-the-top 2019 Met Gala look, where the Kylie Cosmetics mogul debuted a curve-hugging lavender Versace dress with puffy purple feather sleeves and a flesh-toned bodysuit. Jenner paired the campy outfit with a lengthy lilac wig to tie it all together.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Kylie decided the dress was so nice, she'd show it to the world twice – albeit much smaller for her daughter. She dressed up little Stormi in a miniature version of her high-fashion Met Gala look, complete with a matching wig and a teensy-tiny glittery purse.

"My baby!!!!!!!! i cant handle this!!!!" Kylie captioned a few snaps of Stormi rocking her pint-sized dress. The photo was taken in one of Kylie's gorgeous Barbie-themed rooms, which really brings everything together. Stormi looked positively thrilled to be matching her mom in the sweet little outfit across the photos, complete with a quick video clip at the end of her rocking the dress.

RELATED: Kylie Jenner Was Giving Little Mermaid Vibes at the Met Gala

This is far from the first time Stormi has matched her mom when it comes to Halloween. Last year, Kylie opted for an ornate butterfly costume, making Stormi her "baby butterfly" to adorable effect.

That same Halloween, Kylie dressed up as a storm cloud with a lightning bolt, giving her daughter a matching metallic outfit to go with her own, calling it "Stormi Weather."

But this year's costume really took the cake, as we all can likely agree on. What were you planning on wearing for Halloween? Oh, not this totally high-fashion look? We'd all better pack it up and hope for less competition for next year, because Stormi just won it all for 2019.

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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/kylie-jenner-dressed-daughter-stormi-113000459.html

2019-10-28 11:30:00Z
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