samhexum

I don't know how long Yvette Nicole Brown's run is going to be on MOM, but her character has potential. And Gus has absolutely STOLEN both episodes he's been in. I hope he appears more often than Violet & Roscoe in the future. Andrea Bordeaux as Special Agent Harley Hidoko and Nia Long as Executive Assistant Director Shay Mosley have been positive additions to NCIS: LA.

http://boysintheband.com/app/themes/serino/dist/images/hero-desktop.jpg

OPINIONS? I'm just happy that when you watch it on demand, you can fast-forward through it. So few networks allow that anymore. John Gidding is one of the new designers. He looked great on the reunion show with short hair.

The new Donna Summer musical is not hot stuff By Johnny Oleksinski NY POST April 23, 2018 | 9:45pm | Ariana DeBose, who gives the most impressive performance of the 3 women playing Donna Summer, can't save this hot mess of a bio-musical. "SUMMER" Running time: 100 minutes, no intermission. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St.; 212-575-9200 “When I’m bad, I’m so, so bad,” Donna Summer sang in “Last Dance,” and that perfectly describes the new Broadway musical about her life. “Summer,” which opened Monday, is borderline incoherent. It turns a complex woman’s life into a hagiography, a slide show of events — Boston childhood, stint in Europe, fame, motherhood, illness — minus context or emotion. Three women play her at different points in her life, which they narrate like Bible passages. Storm Lever’s Duckling Donna, Ariana DeBose’s Disco Donna and LaChanze’s Diva Donna are excellent, especially DeBose (late of “Hamilton”), and they sing the heck out of “MacArthur Park,” “I Feel Love,” “On the Radio” and more. Trouble is, they also play the woman’s mother, friends and sisters. Keeping track of the double casting is a struggle. You’d think the songs would redeem this show. Summer sang some of the best dance music of all time, and 23 classic numbers are jammed into less than two hours. But some of the tunes here — including a rendition of “No More Tears” Summer belts out while being beaten by her German ex — are hard to enjoy. Des McAnuff, who gives us more ups and downs than a heart monitor, directed this mess. Remarkably, he’s the same man who made a hit out of “Jersey Boys.” This time he seems to have Scotch-taped together some wonky ideas, such as having women play producers David Geffen and Giorgio Moroder. That might have been fine if McAnuff actually committed to it, but Casablanca Records president Neil Bogart is played by a dude, as are Summer’s lovers, so whatever point McAnuff was trying to make is lost. For a show that openly encourages theatergoers to stand up and dance, their only real opportunity to do so comes at the end and lasts all of three minutes. Before then, we get some awkward business about the anti-gay remarks Summer reportedly made at a 1983 concert. Although she denied she’d said them at the time, many of her most devoted followers were upset. In “Summer,” the singer, who died of lung cancer in 2012, offers an explanation, an apology and a declaration of how much she loves her gay fans. True or not, it’s a cheap moment. Enough is enough!

You would cry too, if it happened to you.

Avo, a lonely avocado roaming parts of Astoria, is looking for something to fill its pit. That’s the premise of a three-minute short film, “The Pits,” which uses puppets to tell a story. David Bizzaro, a New York City-based puppeteer, wrote, edited and created the puppets for the film. “Puppetry is an art form that can connect with adults and children without feeling muted or dulled for the younger audience,” Bizzaro said. “‘The Pits’ was created for everyone in the world to enjoy no matter how young, old, or what language they speak.” The short film was shot live, and Avo can be seen walking down 39th Avenue in Astoria trying to fill its pit with everything from a bottle cap to a leaf. It does not include any dialogue but uses music from Emmy Award-winning composer Brian Aumueller to narrate Avo’s journey. “The Pits” will be available to screen on Vimeo on April 23. Director Mike Hayhurst, who also founded Evening Squire Productions and co-produced the film, said that the theme in “The Pits” was universal. “The great thing about ‘The Pits’ is the universality of such a small story,” he said. “We’ve all known those moments in life where you search in all the wrong places to find fulfillment, to find what it is you’re missing.” The film was accepted into more than 30 film festivals and premiered at the New York International Children’s Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying event. Bizzaro, who also owns The Bizzaro Company, has built puppets for The Jim Henson Company and currently works as a puppet wrangler on “Sesame Street.” He has also created music videos for The Flaming Lips and recently received a Made in NY fellowship, which has allowed him to begin developing another short film, “Sheep Cake.”

A cowboy and a firefighter were among the heroes who pulled a New Mexico mom back into their airplane after an explosion tore a hole in the cabin and sucked the woman partway out, according to reports. The Boeing 737 carrying Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 suffered a catastrophic engine failure at about 32,000 feet an hour into its LaGuardia-to-Dallas trip, forcing an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Mother of two Jennifer Riordan was pulled partway out of the plane when shrapnel shattered her window and the cabin began to depressurize. That’s when a pair of Texans — Stetson hat-wearing farm real estate worker Tim McGinty and firefighter Andrew Needum — sprang into action. “When we saw the window was gone, somebody saw the lady out of the window, so just tried to get her back in and wasn’t strong enough,” McGinty told NBC. “A fireman, from Celina, Texas, jumped in there and helped and between the two of us, we were able to get her back in.” “Some heroes wear capes, but mine wears a cowboy hat,” McGinty’s wife, Kristen, told USA Today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWakhcidWPk

Bronx bully wanted for attacking 14-year-old girl with can of Chef Boyardee lasagna BY NICOLE HENSLEY NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 5:45 AM Cops are on the lookout for the Bronx bully who weaponized a can of Chef Boyardee lasagna last month to hurt a 14-year-old girl. Police on Wednesday shared footage of the brutal food fight inside an aisle at a Morrisania bodega on E. 163rd St. near Tinton Ave. The mustached suspect walked toward the young victim with what appeared to be a 15oz can of the pasta and sauce and smacked her upside the head during the March 2 assault inside F.M. Grocery. The suspect bolted, leaving behind the girl with a cut head. First responders rushed the girl to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where police said she was treated and released. Police said a dispute between the victim and her attacker prompted the attack but the nature of the argument was unclear. The attacker was described as a man believed to be in his mid-20s, about 5’9” and 180 pounds. He was seen in the video sporting a blue hooded sweater, gray sweatpants and black sneakers. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1(800) 577-TIPS.

DEAR ABBY: Six years ago, my husband of 20 years was in a serious accident. He was placed on disability because of it. Because of the accident, he can’t perform sexually because his “goods” don’t work. I am many years younger than he is and still in my prime. I need and want the cuddling and intimacy I’m not getting and haven’t gotten for years. I have thought about finding a friend with benefits, but that’s risky. I can’t talk to him because he flips out and says, “Then leave!” I feel our marriage has become just a living arrangement. Talking to a counselor or a doctor is out because he will refuse. Please help. —LOST AND LONELY DEAR LOST AND LONELY: Your marriage doesn’t have to be “just a living arrangement.” Although sex may no longer be possible with your husband, there’s no reason why there can’t be cuddling, intimacy and affection. Talking to a licensed marriage and family therapist will be helpful for you, whether or not your husband agrees to go with you. DEAR LOST AND LONELY: Why don't you write to Melania and ask how SHE deals with the problem. DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, “Troy,” takes it as a personal offense that I won’t share a hotel room with him and his younger son (age 15) when we go out of town to see his older son play college sports. Troy wants me to go to all of the games, but I have said I will only go when it’s the 15-year-old’s weekend to be at his mom’s (Troy’s two sons have different mothers). I am extremely uncomfortable sharing the same hotel room, and Troy refuses to get separate rooms. Do you agree that I’m unreasonable? — “BAD SPORT” IN OHIO DEAR “BAD SPORT”: No, I do not. You should not be talked into doing anything that makes you uncomfortable, so stick to your guns. DEAR “BAD SPORT”: That depends. What does Sonny Boy look like?

Are there any Boston-area posters here? Do you like my AnchorHoney Ben? I had a crush on him when he was the early morning anchor on Fox5-NYC. He's cute, has a great voice, & an even better personality. The morning news has never been the same since he left for Beantown. I always wondered how he'd get along there, since he always blasted Tom Brady & The Patriots as cheaters when he was in NY. I occasionally watch his (afternoon) newscast online: http://www.wcvb.com/nowcast

I'm curious if any of you realized the headline was a joke related to the cartoon that began this thread. Of course subtitles are necessary; I wouldn't have been able to understand the last episode of GREY'S ANATOMY without them. (I don't speak Italian.) In Rio, I saw The Jagged Edge, A Day At The Races, The Color Purple, Karate Kid Deux, and ET. I had taken a 2-week trip to spend some time alone. The movies were in English, with Portuguese subtitles. It was great, because I'd always get the jokes and laugh half a second before the rest of the audience. What really made me laugh were the two crying chickens with handkerchiefs.

Harry Anderson, the amiable actor who presided over the NBC comedy “Night Court” for nine seasons, has died at his home in Asheville, N.C., according to a local media report. He was 65. Anderson was found at his home by police officers early Monday morning, according to a report by WSPA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Greenville, N.C. No foul play was suspected, police told the station. Anderson was a magician turned actor who was known as a rabid fan of jazz singer Mel Torme. The affection for Torme was woven into his TV alter ego, Judge Harry Stone, a quirky character who ruled the bench at a Manhattan night court. The sitcom was a mainstay of NBC from 1984 to 1992. Anderson earned three consecutive Emmy nominations for his work on the show from 1985-1987.

Kevin Kiermaier needs thumb surgery, reportedly expected to miss 8-12 weeks Kevin Kiermaier is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays announced the injury Monday and placed Kiermaier on the 10-day disabled list but did not disclose a timeline for how long the two-time Gold Glove winner will be sidelined. Kiermaier suffered the injury on a headfirst slide into second base during Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the game that Kiermaier could “miss a chunk” of the season. The injury-plagued Kiermaier, who had been scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, also acknowledged after the game that “the odds are [not] in my favor.” Kiermaier, 27, has missed significant time each of the last three seasons because of injuries. He missed nearly two months in 2016 because of a broken hand and appeared in just 98 games last season because of a fractured hip. Make a wish… and blow! http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Boston+Red+Sox+v+Tampa+Bay+Rays+G6ak_YKZsQwx.jpg

Club Cumming’s love for live music is being investigated by the New York State Liquor Authority. The club founded by actor Alan Cumming is under the watchful eye of the SLA for “not complying” with the original license it was granted upon opening in the fall of 2017. “Club Cumming applied as a bar with no live music or DJs,” an SLA representative told Page Six on Wednesday. “The SLA opened an investigation after receiving complaints from the local Community Board that the licensee was not complying and charged the bar with failure to conform on February 23, 2018. Club Cumming can submit an application to change their method of operation to allow for live music/DJs.” When reached for comment, promoter and partner at the East Village venue Daniel Nardicio acknowledged the error. “Due to rookie mistakes Alan and I didn’t apply to have live music, but we feel this is just an oversight,” he told Page Six in a statement on Thursday. “When the Community Board sees just how much Club Cumming brings to the area culturally, we’re pretty confident they’ll ok the change of method of operation.” Referring to the club as a “forefront of an even larger movement to legitimize and honor NYC Nightlife, Music and Arts,” Nardicio touted appearances by Paul McCartney and Emma Stone at the hot spot, adding that “because of the fact that Club Cumming has no record of issues with the police, or calls to 311 about noise, and because of the overwhelming support we’ve been getting from our actual neighbors, we cannot foresee any problems with this slight bureaucratic change to our method of operations.” They will be meeting with the Community Board in the “near future,” he said. Club Cumming occupies what had been the space of Eastern Bloc for 12 years. On social media, Tony-winning Cumming has reached out to locals to sign a petition in an effort toward granting permission for live music acts — such as performer Amanda Lepore, who took the stage Tuesday night — and DJs in the club. “Do you live within a two block radius of @clubcumming? If so PLEASE come in and sign our petition to help us keep live music and DJs happening in the bar every night,” the “Instinct” star pleaded on Instagram on Tuesday. “We need to convince the State Liquor Authority to do so and we need the signature of as many local residents as possible. We hope we are an asset to the community and we are asking you to help us stay one.” So far, they’ve garnered over 100 signatures with over a month left to get the number required. “We feel good about this, and look forward to working with our local community board to resolve this so we can continue our work at Club Cumming,” Nardicio said.

As Dr. Callie Torres on “Grey’s Anatomy,” actress Sara Ramirez broke barriers for bisexual representation on television. Now, she’s set to push the needle a bit further, as her “Madam Secretary” character Kat Sandoval will open up about her bisexuality on Sunday’s episode of the CBS series. Entertainment Weekly broke the news Thursday with an exclusive clip that showed Kat engaged in an emotional discussion with Jay Whitman (played by Sebastian Arcelus) about co-parenting her child as a bisexual woman. In the scene, the character also describes herself as “pansexual, fluid, non-monosexual” as well as “queer.” Ramirez opened up about Kat’s character arc in an interview with Build Series earlier this week. “It is exciting to, again, just share another lived experience, another version, that is not often centered in mainstream media,” she explained, as seen in the video above. “I think the context in which we’re having these conversations right now is just really exciting.” The Mexican-American star spoke about identifying as queer and bisexual off-screen in an interview this month for “Coming Out Stories,” a new video series produced by People and Entertainment Weekly. At first, Ramirez was concerned about the impact coming out would have on her career in show business. Over time, she said she felt “an organic, incremental urgency to use my platform to empower those who are a part of these communities that I’m a part of” after witnessing incidents of anti-LGBTQ violence, such as the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida.

One brother was killed and another injured in Alabama when they tried to prevent their dad from committing suicide and a struggle ensued, officials said. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office said that the 21- and 23-year-old sons were shot Thursday night in Hayden as they attempted to grab a gun from their father, news station WBMA reported. The gunfire reportedly struck one man in the hand, with the bullet passing through and wounding his brother in the chest, according to AL.com. They were rushed to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where one of the victims died overnight. The other brother is recovering from non-life threatening injuries, officials said. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims. No charges have been filed but investigators are questioning the father.

The Houston Astros and reigning American League MVP Jose Altuve have agreed to a five-year, $151 million extension, according to multiple reports. The deal keeps one of baseball's most dynamic players with the reigning World Series champions long term. The All-Star second baseman had two years remaining on his deal before the agreement. It's the most money the Astros have committed to a player in franchise history. The previous most was a six-year, $100 million deal for Carlos Lee following the 2006 season. Altuve is the sixth player in major league history -- and second position player -- to get a contract averaging $30 million annually. The others areZack Greinke ($34.4 million), David Price ($31M), Miguel Cabrera($31M), Clayton Kershaw ($30.7M) and Max Scherzer ($30M). Earlier this year, Altuve said his desire was to remain with the only organization for which he has played. "I want to stay here," he said in February, according to the Houston Chronicle. "If we talk about the city in Houston, I love the city. If we talk about the fans, I love the fans." The 5-foot-6 Altuve has been one of baseball's biggest stars in recent seasons. He was the American League MVP in 2017.