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Published by BANG Showbiz English Jennifer Hudson would “love” to have her own talk show. The 40-year-old singer-and-actress – who shot to fame when she competed on ‘American Idol’ back in 2004 – was reportedly pitching a daytime chat show to television stations in 2021 and would jump at the chance to front one because she “loves talking.” She said: “I would love to do a talk show. That would be a whole new interesting world to walk into. I do love talking as you could probably already tell, and I love to Jennifer-ise people. So maybe I will make it into your living room, 2022 is definitely going to let us know for sure.” The ‘Cats’ star – who heads up her own company, Jhud Productions – claimed there is “always a plan” behind the scenes and told fans that they will always see her “try to grow” throughout her career. She added: “Here at Jhud Productions, we always got a plan. And we never stop working and, as I always say, you will always see me try and grow so there’s always a plan, I can tell you that much.” The ‘Dreamgirls’ actress had reportedly been negotiating a deal with Warner Bros television to launch her own show, the same company behind ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, which is due to come to an end after almost two decades and even shot a pilot on the same stage used by the 63-year-old comedienne. Upon quitting her flagship talk show, Ellen told The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s going to be really hard on the last day, but I also know it’s time. When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged – and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore. I need something new to challenge me.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Mj Rodriguez has become the first black transgender woman in history to win a Golden Globe. The 31-year-old actress was named Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista in the hit FX show ‘Pose’, which centres on the drag culture of the 1980s. Reacting on Instagram, Mj wrote: “OMG OMGGG!!!! @goldenglobes Wow! You talking about sickening birthday present! Thank you! This is the door that is going to Open the door for many more young talented individuals. They will see that it is more than possible. (sic)” The star – who had celebrated her 31st birthday just two days before her win – added how the “door is now open” for fellow LGBTQAI talent to “reach the stars.” She added: “They will see that a young Black Latina girl from Newark New Jersey who had a dream, to change the minds others would WITH LOVE. LOVE WINS. To my young LGBTQAI babies WE ARE HERE the door is now open now reach the stars!!!!! @goldenglobes.” Mj concluded her statement by speaking out about her fellow nominees, which included the likes of Uzo Adaubo for ‘In Treatment’ and Jennifer Aniston for her role in ‘The Morning Show’. She wrote: “To the nominees we are Queens. I’m so happy to share space with you! Each and every last one of you women are phenomenal.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Dark Western “The Power of the Dog” and a remake of “West Side Story” won the biggest awards on Sunday at a diminished Golden Globes ceremony held privately without the usual glitzy lineup of Hollywood’s top television and movie stars. Actors, directors and film studios largely ignored the Globes this year after criticism in 2021 that its organizers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), operated with questionable ethics policies and no Black members https://www.reuters.com/article/us-awards-goldenglobes-diversity-idUSKBN2AR01A. Longtime broadcaster NBC opted not to air this year’s awards. The HFPA, which has expanded and diversified its membership https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/golden-globes-group-adds-new-members-it-works-diversify-2021-10-01 and overhauled its practices, announced its picks at a Beverly Hills ceremony held behind closed doors. Recipients of HFPA philanthropic grants sat in the audience and announced winners. Honorees were revealed via social media and a live blog. Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” a tale of young love set among rival street gangs, was named best musical or comedy film. Released by Walt Disney Co, the film earned three trophies overall, including best actress for Rachel Zegler. Netflix’s “The Power of the Dog” also won three awards including best director for Jane Campion. Other acting honors went to Will Smith for playing the determined father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard” and Nicole Kidman for her role as Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos.” “Thank you for the acknowledgement!” Kidman, one of few winners to acknowledge their award, wrote on Instagram. “Lucille, this is for you and all the other incredible women nominated.” Andrew Garfield won a best actor award for his role as playwright Jonathan Larson in musical “Tick, Tick… Boom!” For television, cutthroat corporate family saga “Succession” received the best drama award and “Hacks,” about a fading female comedian, was crowned best comedy. Netflix led all studios with four film awards. HBO and HBO Max landed the most television honors, with six. ‘JOURNEY OF CHANGE’ Mj Rodriguez, was named best TV drama actress for “Pose”. It was the first Golden Globe given to a transgender actress. “Wow! … Thank you!” she wrote on Instagram. “This is the door that is going to open the door for many more young talented individuals.” “West Side Story” stars Zegler and Ariana DeBose, who won best supporting actress, also acknowledged their wins. “There is still work to be done, but when you’ve worked so hard on a project- infused with blood, sweat, tears and love- having the work seen and acknowledged is always going to be special. Thank you,” DeBose tweeted. The Globes normally draw millions of TV viewers to a celebrity-filled red carpet and champagne-fueled dinner that makes for a glamorous yet informal contrast to the Academy Awards, the industry’s highest film honors. In the past, winning a Globe provided a boost to movies making a run for the Oscars. This year, the significance is less clear. Awards watchers will follow closely other upcoming award ceremonies like the Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild of America ahead of the March 27 Oscars. Critics had objected to the HFPA not having any Black members and raised questions over whether close relationships with Hollywood studios influenced the selection of nominees and winners. In May, Tom Cruise returned the three Golden Globe statuettes he had won. The HFPA responded https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/golden-globes-group-adds-new-members-it-works-diversify-2021-10-01 by adding 21 new members, six of whom are Black, banning gifts and favors, and implementing diversity and sexual harassment training. The group now has 105 members and plans to expand this year. “We are on a journey of change and we’re not going to rest,” HFPA President Helen Hoehne said in a statement. At the ceremony, the HFPA played videos of support from actors Jamie Lee Curtis, who praised the group’s charitable work, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said winning a Golden Globe in 1977 helped launch his career. “They understand that to support the arts and creativity, one must cultivate new, original and diverse voices,” he said of the HFPA. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Additional reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Karishma Singh and Gerry Doyle) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA It seems that at least one celeb was involved with the Golden Globes this year. Not only was there no audience or nominees present at the award ceremony this year, but it was not broadcast either. Only “select members and grantees” were in attendance, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, People reported. After the Los Angeles Times reported that there were no Black members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) — who are a group of international journalists who determine the nominees and winners of the Golden Globe Awards, NBC revealed that it would not broadcast the 2022 show. Jamie Lee Curtis appeared virtually at the show. MEGA TOM CRUISE RETURNS GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS AS HFPA CONTROVERSY RAGES ON FOR LACK OF DIVERSE INCLUSION “We are honored to have @jamieleecurtis join us to share a message on the importance of the HFPA’s philanthropic efforts year round as a non-profit trade association as a 501(C)(3) Charitable organization,” the Golden Globe Awards tweeted on Sunday, January 9. The 63-year-old said in a video that she was “proud” to be associated with the HFPA, as they “use the funds generated by the Golden Globe Awards and the telecast to fund incredible programs throughout our community.” The Halloween star explained that they fund creators, educators, institutions of higher learning and film preservation organizations in a very “low-key off-the-record evening.” “I’ve been the lucky host of that evening a couple of times. And so I just wanted to honor and stand with them in this continued advocacy of great need and great support that the HFPA continue to serve and offer with their generosity,” she said. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez made history as the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe. She won Best Actress in a TV Drama for her role in Pose. Rodriguez gushed on Instagram that the feat will open the door for more talented young people. “They will see that it is more than possible. They will see that a young Black Latina girl from Newark New Jersey who had a dream, to change the minds others would WITH LOVE. LOVE WINS. To my young LGBTQAI babies WE ARE HERE the door is now open now reach the stars!!!!!” she wrote. Meanwhile, The Power Of The Dog had a big night. The film won Best Drama Motion Picture. Jane Campion was crowned Best Director Of A Motion Picture and Kodi Smit-McPhee won Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture for her role. Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for Best Actor In A Drama Motion Picture, and Kirsten Dunst was nominated for Best Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture. Succession also took home three awards, including Best Drama TV Series. Jeremy Strong won Best Actor In A Drama TV Series and Sarah Snook won Best Supporting Actress In A Series, Miniseries, Or Motion Picture Made For Television. HOODIES, PAJAMAS, HAWAIIAN SHIRTS: JASON SUDEIKIS, JODIE FOSTER, BILL MURRAY, MORE STARS WHO DIDN’T DRESS UP FOR THE 2021 GOLDEN GLOBES MEGA Billie Eilish‘s song, “No Time To Die” became the third song from a James Bond movie to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, Billboard reported. Eilish wrote the song with her brother, Finneas O’Connell. The organization announced in a press release in December that they have overhauled its bylaws and implemented changes to address “ethics and code of conduct, diversity, equity and inclusion, governance, membership and more.” View the full article

Published by Reuters LONDON (Reuters) – British republicans said on Monday they would launch a campaign to end the monarchy in the run-up to celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne. Elizabeth, 95, the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch, will mark her seventh decade as sovereign next month and on Monday Buckingham Palace detailed plans for four days of celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee in June. But anti-monarchy group Republic used the occasion to say it would begin a “Not Another 70” campaign to call for an end to the historic institution. “While a vocal minority will want to celebrate the queen’s seventy year reign, we must all start looking to the future. The prospect of King Charles is not a happy one, and there is a good, democratic alternative on offer,” Republic’s Graham Smith said. “It’s time to have a serious debate about our constitution, accept that Charles is not the best the country has to offer, and that as a nation we are quite capable of choosing our head of state.” Polls indicate the vast majority of people in Britain support the monarchy and the queen herself is hugely popular. But there is not as much support for her eldest son and heir Charles, and surveys suggest there is growing republican sentiment among younger Britons. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jarrett Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden has three years left in office, but some of his domestic agenda may have a much shorter clock. The White House has a small window of time to pass any meaningful laws in 2022, including the ‘Build Back Better’ plan, Biden allies tell Reuters, before Congress shifts its attention to the November midterm elections. If Democrats in swing districts get cold feet about passing sweeping legislation as voting gets closer, the $2 trillion landmark bill that funds universal preschool and climate initiatives could be derailed entirely. Democrats believe chances are slim they will retain a narrow majority in both houses of Congress, which allowed them to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in 2021. All 435 members of the House are up for reelection in 2022, and one-third of the U.S. Senate, including Democrats in competitive districts in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada. “History has shown that lawmakers are risk averse during the mid term,” says Phil Schiliro, who served as legislative affairs director under former president Barack Obama. “Some have felt they have taken enough difficult votes and they want to focus on reelection,” Schiliro says. What that means is “the first few months, from a legislative perspective, could be the last-best chance for this administration to get anything done,” said a Biden ally. Some congressional aides and White House allies are holding out faint hope that Biden can renew discussions with U.S. Senate Democrat Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat from West Virginia, and pass key aspects of the Build Back Better plan. White House officials say there has been no sign of progress with Manchin since he said he wouldn’t back https://www.reuters.com/world/us/manchin-says-white-house-staff-drove-him-reject-bidens-social-policy-plan-2021-12-20 the current bill in mid-December, even on a plan Manchin told Biden he could support just a month ago. “If it doesn’t happen in the first quarter, we are cooked,” said a Democratic legislative aide involved in the discussions, referring to the first three months of 2022. VOTING RIGHTS DILEMMA The White House is expected to detail its midterm strategy in the upcoming weeks, including more aggressive https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bidens-2022-pitch-target-trump-acolytes-woo-swing-voters-2022-01-09 attacks against acolytes of former President Donald Trump. The strategy includes heavy investment of time and money in competitive elections in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona – all states also considered crucial to retaining the White House in 2024, according to three sources familiar with the plan. With few potential legislative options, the White House is expected to continue to make fighting COVID and inflation a priority as Biden and other officials tour the country selling the benefits of a $1 trillion infrastructure law https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-needing-boost-sign-1-trillion-infrastructure-bill-2021-11-15 passed in November. That includes leaning into more grassroots liberal issues like voting and abortion rights and gun control. While the issues may energize Democratic voters, the path forward for new laws is unclear. Republicans blocked multiple attempts to pass voting-rights reform bills last year, leaving top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer threatening to make changes to the “filibuster” rule https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-is-us-senate-filibuster-why-is-everyone-talking-about-it-2021-10-06, which requires 60 of the 100 senators to agree on most legislation. Democrats Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema oppose changes, saying they would damage the way the Senate operates. While other Democrats lean on the duo to change their views, top Senate Republican suggested another approach – changing the 1887 Electoral Count Act https://www.reuters.com/world/us/top-senate-republican-signals-interest-narrow-approach-us-election-reform-2022-01-05, which allows members of Congress to dispute presidential election results when they certify them on January 6th. After the attack on Congress by Trump supporters on Jan. 6 of 2021, experts fear the process could be at the center of a constitutional crisis over future elections. “I think it’s worth discussing,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters, without providing specifics of what he would change. Democrats say his suggestion is insufficient because it doesn’t include plans to expand access to ballots or remove new barriers being erected by Republican-controlled states. Biden is expected to publicly demand changes to the filibuster rule to pass voting rights legislation as soon as Tuesday, when he and Vice President Kamala Harris visit Georgia to make a push for voting rights, and make the case that he exhausted options on an issue that his base cares deeply about. Civil rights groups are asking for more. “Many policy makers, including in the White House, did not prioritize this issue early enough,” Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP told Reuters, adding the group plans on “doubling down” on efforts to pressure Congress and the White House to act. However, he said it may be too late. Johnson said the lack of action has the left the country in a “precarious situation” that allowed Republicans to redraw congressional districts, particularly in southern states, without any federal protections against disparate impacts to black voters. “In addition to that, we’re looking at a midterm elections where many voices will be hampered from truly participating in the election,” Johnson said. (Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw, Trevor Hunnicutt and Richard Cowan in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons and Diane Craft) View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose by 6.2% from 2020 levels last year as the use of coal-fired electricity jumped 17% and drivers returned to the roads after the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report released on Monday. The projected emissions increase shows the U.S. is now further off the target set by the Biden administration under the Paris climate agreement to slash emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 17.4% below 2005 levels in 2021, up from 22.2% below 2005 levels in 2020, according to the Rhodium Group, a research organization. The group analyzed preliminary U.S. emissions data for 2021, a year that was supposed to be marked by recovery after the pandemic-related upheaval of the economy. It found that emissions growth outpaced the rate of economic recovery, using estimates that GDP grew by 5.7% year-on-year. Driving the emissions growth were the transportation and electric power sectors, whose greenhouse gas emissions rose 10% and 6.6%, respectively in 2021, both rebounding around 2/3 of the drop from 2019 levels. In the power sector, high natural gas prices led to a 17% rise in coal generation – the first increase since 2014 – which drove up emissions. The U.S. transportation sector, which accounts for nearly a third of net US emissions, saw the largest spike in emissions in 2021, a year after experiencing a 15% decline in 2020 from 2019 levels – the largest decline in greenhouse gas emissions led by a drastic drop in road travel due to the coronavirus. (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; editing by Philippa Fletcher) View the full article