by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:
SCANDAL - From Deadline: Today (Fri., July 12th) in New Mexico, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter trial against Alec Baldwin. Baldwin has been charged in the 2021 accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust." Judge Sommer accused the state of repeatedly failing to disclose key evidence to Baldwin's defense team. The trial was dismissed without prejudice meaning it cannot be refiled. The already-convicted armorer on the film, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed could also be released from prison.
From Deadline: Alec Baldwin racks up a win early in his trial on involuntary manslaughter charges. Baldwin is being tried for the shooting death of cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, in 2021 on the set of the Western film, "Rust."
POLITICS - From TheNewYorkTimes: George Clooney says that he loves President Joe Biden, but that Biden has got to go... with friends like this...
STREAMING - From Variety: Halle Berry and Glenn Close is joining Ryan Murphy's Hulu legal drama, "All's Fair," which will star Kim Kardashian. Berry and Close will join Kardashian as executive producers.
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 7/5 to 7/7/2024 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination's "Despicable Me 4" with an estimated take of 75 million dollars.
BUSINESS - From Variety: David Ellison meets the press in the way of his company, Skydance Media, gobbling up Paramount Global.
From Deadline: David Ellison's Skydance Media and its backers are taking over Paramount Global with an 8 billion dollar investment. Ellison will be chairman and CEO of the merged companies, and the deal is expected to be closed by mid-2025.
From Deadline: A special committee of Paramount Global board members has given a key approval vote to Skydance Media's bid to gain the controlling share of National Amusements Inc., the parent company of Paramount.
MOVIES - From Deadline: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinki talk about next summer's blockbuster film, "F1," starring Brad Pitt.
From WorldofReel: There is a first poster for director Joseph Kosinski's "F1," which stars Brad Pitt. The film is due Summer 2025. Kosinski directed the megahit, "Top Gun: Maverick."
OBITS:
From Variety: American television fitness guru and personality and author, Richard Simmons, has died at the age of 76, Saturday, July 13, 2024. Simmons was best known for his extensive line of self-help books and videos related to exercise and weight-loss. His best known series is probably the "Sweatin' to the Oldies," initially released on videocassette. He gained fame as a fitness guru after opening his exercise studio, "The Anatomy Asylum," in 1974. By the late 70s and into the early 1980s, he began consistently appearing on television. From 1980-84, he hosted "The Richard Simmons Show," which was nominated for seven Daytime Emmy Awards and won four. After the series ended, Simmons continued to make numerous TV and public appearances. Beginning in 2014, Simmons largely became a recluse.
From THR: American film and television actress and TV producer, Shelley Duvall, has died at the age of 75, Thursday, July 11, 2024. Early on in her career, Duvall was the protege of director, Robert Altman, who discovered her, and she appeared in several of his films, including "Brewster's McCloud" (1970) and "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971), and "Nashville" (1975). Known for playing eccentric roles, she starred in "Popeye" (1980), the adaptation of the famed newspaper comics strip and animated cartoon series. Duvall's most famous role may be that of the tormented wife, "Wendy Torrance," opposite Jack Nicholson's "Jack Torrance" in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" (1980). As a producer she earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work on children's programming.
From
Variety: The magazine's
Owen Gleiberman writes a remembrance of actress
Shelley Duvall, who died Thurs., July 11th.
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From
Deadline: American actor and voice artist and former child star,
Benji Gregory, has died at the age of 46, Thursday, June 13, 2024. Gregory is best known for the role of "Brian Tanner" on the former NBC sitcom, "Alf" (1986-90). Gregory also performed voice roles on such animated series as "Pound Puppies" and the "Back to the Future" animated series.
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From Deadline: American film producer, Jon Landau, has died at the age of 63, Friday, July 5, 2024. Landau was best known for his association with writer-director James Cameron and was the COO of Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment. Landau shared the "Best Picture" Oscar win with Cameron for the 1997 film, "Titanic." He also received "Best Picture" Oscar nominations for "Avatar" (2009) and "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022).
From Deadline: In mourning the death of his close friend and collaborator, Jon Landau, James Cameron says "a part of myself has been torn away."
From Deadline: Hollywood is shocked by the death of Oscar-winning producer Jon Landau ("Titanic), and they salute his vision, achievements, and kindness.
