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Here's everything that's been happening in the world of Pop Culture this past week... in case you missed it! Feel free to comment on any of the stories and info shared here, add any news bits that you caught going on that may have been missed, or at least show us some love if you read the post but have nothing to comment on by clicking on that little heart icon at the bottom of the post...
GENERAL POP CULTURE NEWS:
- The three adult children of late actor/comedian ROBIN WILLIAMS have revived his Instagram account to both honor their father’s legacy and to combat the “rampant AI abuse” of his likeness. ZAK, ZELDA, and CODY WILLIAMS released a joint statement on their late father’s Instagram page, saying, “We’re grateful to see new generations discovering his work while longtime fans continue to celebrate the joy he brought into their lives… As technology evolves, we want this to be a safe, trusted place where the stories, photos, videos, and memories shared reflect his legacy with authenticity, warmth, and care. This is our way of sharing his unique talent and humor with the world, including the moments that made us and so many of you laugh, as we remember our Dad’s extraordinary life and work. He continues to inspire us and delight people all over the world.” The Williams’ family’s decision comes as the rampant, unauthorized production of AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities both alive and deceased has forced those figures and their estates to figure out how to make sure verified images break through. Robin Williams’ Instagram account has been dormant since his 2014 death. Zelda Williams later offered an additional statement on her own account, sharing, “Believe me, I know it’s a little strange… Making that space into one where people can find authentic clips and photos of him is one of the best ways we’ve now found to fight back against rampant AI abuse of his voice and likeness on here.”
- NAMES, HASHTAGS, MEMES, AND TRENDS FROM THIS PAST WEEK –
TUPAC murder trial begins; fake celebrity podcast scams; NATALIE HARP
THIS PAST WEEK IN SPORTS -
- NBA: Former Disney CEO BOB IGER and businessman JOSH KUSHNER, brother of US President DONALD TRUMP’s son-in-law JARED KUSHNER, joined forces to purchase a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for a staggering $12.5 billion. The news came as a shock to the sports world and fans alike particularly because the team was purchased from the Buss family by its now previous majority owner MARK WALTER (who also owns the LA Dodgers and is currently the focus of a federal probe into how he has handled some of his sports investments) just last year for $10 billion and it was not known to be for sale prior to the announcement. Meanwhile, JEANIE BUSS - one of the owners of the Lakers who has been the face of the team since the death of her father, former Lakers owner JERRY BUSS, in 2013 - is reportedly contesting a separate plan approved by her siblings to sell the family’s remaining 18% stake in the franchise to Iger and Kushner. Buss, who was designated the controlling owner of the team through 2030 following a litigation process with her five siblings in 2017, indicate she asserts she has the right to approve any sale of the team but did not do so in this case so it remains to be seen whether Iger and Kushner will also be able to purchase the Buss family’s minority stake.
GOVERNMENT 101 -
- US: The US national debt hit a record $40 trillion this week. Interest payments alone are expected to top $1 trillion this year. The news has affected the bond market which sets interest rates across the economy. Despite this news, President DONALD TRUMP has publicly stated he is not worried about the economy, which he insists is strong due to the strength of the stock market.
- US: ABC has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the FCC, claiming that the agency’s regulatory actions and investigations were part of a Trump administration effort to punish the broadcast network for its speech.
THE ROYAL REPORT -
- UK: Prince HARRY and his wife, Duchess MEGHAN, are reportedly moving back to the UK six years after stepping back from royal duties and opting to move to the US allegedly due to tabloid intrusion, racism, and online abuse. The couple are reportedly returning to Harry’s home country for their two children, Prince ARCHIE and Princess LILIBET, can go to a British school. They will not return to being working royals, per representatives for his father, King CHARLES III and Prime Minister ANDY BURNHAM assured taxpayers that the couple would not receive any taxpayer-funded security, a main issue as to why Harry claimed his wife and children could not return to the country with him when he has travelled there for court cases, sporting events, and the rare meeting with his father.
ON BROADWAY/ THE WEST END -
- Reality star turned actress ARIANA MADIX is set to join Broadway musical “Just in Time” for a limited run. Madix will play singer CONNIE FRANCIS in the production from September 12th through November 22nd.
TECH TALK -
- NBCUniversal-owned streaming service Peacock raised its prices this week, raising the Select plan’s monthly subscription price a dollar to $8.99, the Premium plan up two dollars to $12.99 a month, and the Premium Plus plan up three dollars to $19.99 a month. Select includes current and past seasons of NBC and Bravo shows and other library content but no movies, sports, or Peacock originals. Premium includes movies, sports, and Peacock originals but also has ads; Premium Plus does not have ads. The price changes went into effect August 18th; for anyone who subscribed before the 18th the new pricing will go into effect the next billing date or after September 17th. Annual subscribers or users on active promotional offers will continue at their current prices until those plans or offers expire; those subscriptions would then renew at the new price.
MOVIE NEWS:
- After just three weeks in theaters, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has become the eighth movie to earn $2 billion worldwide (and is the first non-Disney IP to do so); the film’s director, DESTIN DANIEL CRETTON, has also become only the fifth director to direct a $2 billion movie (joining directors JAMES CAMERON, JOE and ANTHONY RUSSO, and JJ ABRAMS).
- Marvel Studios officially announced it will reboot “The X-Men” franchise; this will be the first official “X-Men” movie since Disney acquired Fox and its library of mutant characters (though there have been cameos from Fox’s “X-Men” stars in MCU movies in recent years). The cast for the new film will include SADIE SINK reprising the role of Jean Grey (who she can currently be seen playing in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”), KIT CONNOR as Cyclops, SAMARA WEAVING as Emma Frost, INDE NAVARRETTE as Rogue, MAYA BOYD as Storm, CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT as Professor X, and ADAM DRIVER as the evil Mr. Sinister. The film is set for a May 5, 2028 release. Additionally, Disney and Marvel Studios announced the RYAN GOSLING-starring “Ghost Rider” reboot will hit theaters July 28, 2028 and “Black Panther 3” will roll out December 15, 2028.
- Disney has officially greenlit a third installment to the animated “Zootopia” franchise. The third film will see the return of the franchise’s fan-favorite characters and will also feature the introduction of a bird-centered storyline.
- MOVIE CASTING UPDATE -
- Actors JODIE FOSTER and WALTON GOGGINS have been added to the voice cast of Disney animated film “Hexed”. Foster will voice a devious witch queen while Goggins will voice a three-eyed cat named Beef Roger Crummchuk.
- Actress CAITRIONA BALFE has been added to the cast of Disney’s live-action “Tangled”. Balfe will play Queen Arianna, Rapunzel’s long-lost mother.
TV NEWS:
- “Yellowstone” creator TAYLOR SHERIDAN officially declared the previously announced “Yellowstone” spinoff “6666”, based on the real Four Sixes Ranch in Texas, will no longer go forward. Sheridan, who (along with investors) purchased the real ranch in 2020 after depicting “Yellowstone” character Jimmy Hurdstrom (played by actor JEFFERSON WHITE) being sent to the ranch to learn how to be a proper cowboy, now says he would not want to “trivialize” the working ranch by “making up lives” and “invent drama”. Paramount had announced the spinoff was in development back in 2022.
- CBS announced it will air “Daughters of 9/11”, featuring ELIZABETH MILLER and JESSICA TRANT, whose fathers died in the horrific World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. The two-hour special will see the two women and FBI special agent FRANK PELLEGRINO confront whether the man accused of masterminding the attacks, KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED, will ever face justice. The special will air On CBS on September 11th from 9-11pm; it will also stream on Paramount+.
- TV CASTING UPDATE –
- New Yorker staff writer ARIEL LEVY will join CBS newsmagazine series “60 Minutes” this fall as a contributor.
- Actor JEFF HILLER has been upped to series regular for season 2 of Apple TV comedy series “Widow’s Bay”. Hiller guested in season 1 as Dale, a Town Hall staffer.
- Actress JENNA DEWAN and “Bachelor” nation alum TYLER CAMERON have been added to the season 35 cast of ABC reality competition series “Dancing with the Stars”. They are the fifth and sixth stars announced as season 35 contestants. Additionally, it was revealed that pro dancer WITNEY CARSON will still be on this season despite recently announcing she is pregnant with her third child. It was already revealed that Carson will be paired with “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” sidekick GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ.
- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS/EXTENSIONS** -
* “Sterling Point”, Amazon Prime Video, renewed for season 2
* “IT: Welcome to Derry”, HBO, renewed for season 2
* “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, MTV, renewed for season 19
* “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked”, MTV, renewed for season 19
* “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders”, Netflix, renewed for season 4
* “Blue Eye Samurai”, Netflix, renewed for third and final season
* “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars”, Paramount+, renewed for season 12
* “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked”, Paramount+, renewed for season 12
- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 SINGLES AROUND THE WORLD –
Greece: “Paloma” by RACK
Sweden: “Tank Om” by VICTOR LEKSELL & MOLLY SANDEN
- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 ALBUMS AROUND THE WORLD –
Australia/ Ireland: “You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl so in Love” by OLIVIA RODRIGO
Italy/ US: “This and That” by STRAY KIDS
UK: “A Love Letter to a Broken Town” by REYTONS
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I watched a great video on YouTube this morning. I think the speaker's name is Tim Fletcher. It was about feeling unheard as a child. I distinctly remember sitting at the kitchen table with my family, everyone talking, no one listening. I just kept quiet and ate. I have had a feeling of being unheard for some parts of my life, with some people. I have had some fabulous friends over...
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Sunday is Find Your Inner Nerd Day. And that's all you need to know for this week's funnies... Happy Friday!
Hey remember when we were promised that when Trump took office again that his buddy Elon Musk who helped him get reelected was going to cut the "waste, fraud, and abuse" to cut our massive debt with his 'DOGE' group/program, whatever they were? Clearly they did a bang up job considering the national debt is now 40x Elon's net worth. Good thing we have all these great, billionaire businessmen running our country, because they clearly know how to balance a budget and make sure we're not wasting a lot of money on worthless crap (please, sense the sarcasm).
So is Britain suddenly safe again? I mean, either it's suddenly safe again or Prince Harry realized he's got all that Netflix money so he can afford to pay for his own security for his family or it was all a load of bull in the first place, right?!
I don't understand Marvel's need to reboot franchises so quickly... we've had three different versions of the Fantastic Four, for example, there's been three different takes on Spider-Man (granted, technically made by Sony, but he's a Marvel character) and now we're getting our third iteration of the X-Men. Why? What was wrong with the last two tries? Also, why is Professor X now going to be American?
Now that Taylor Sheridan has nixed the "6666" spinoff of "Yellowstone" doesn't it just make all those episodes about Jimmy being sent down there to learn to be a better cowboy just feel like a waste of time, or is it just me? Maybe they can salvage something though if they can get him to move to "Dutton Ranch"... At least make it make some sense to the greater scheme of things within the "Yellowstone" universe to have ever brought it up...
Well as of right now I guess we should presume Jenne Dewan will be the defacto winner of "Dancing with the Stars" given that we know she can dance already... and Tyler Cameron is coming into this having a little experience since he was on that show that tried to recreate "Dirty Dancing" scenes a couple of summers ago now; I recall he was decent for someone with no prior experience back then.... meanwhile, I hope there are still bigger names to come because I'm unimpressed by the names released thus far.
As a fan of "Drag Race" I can't help but feel like they maybe should slow down on how often they're rolling out new seasons because they've done so many at this point I feel like no one resonates anymore and it's easy to forget who won, especially with so many "All-Stars" versions as well. It's wearing the novelty off...
Weird how there's more turnover at the top of the albums charts than the singles charts these days across the board, not just talking about one country. So strange but I guess that's what happens when you have streaming services factored in.