2/20/2023: Balloon Animal Busted
PLUS: “Lenny’s” Closes Up; Adopt Pawl Ruff; and Heckling Charles & Mocking the Sussexes
Today is Monday, February 20, 2023.
It is the 51st day of the year.
314 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A woman accidentally breaks a valuable piece of art and Brooklyn says good-bye to an iconic pizza restaurant. More in HIT LIST.
Even KAMALA HARRIS must hate flying these days while RON DESANTIS hits the stump (but not really). More in THE SWAMP.
VINCE MCMAHON wants to sell the WWE for billions and RAY LIOTTA gets a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. More in SHOWBIZ.
TINA FEY reprises her “Mean Girls” role and two long-running court TV shows have been canceled. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
Artist Jeff Koons is well-known for his giant sculptures that look like balloon animals. But they’re not made out of balloons.
During an exhibition late last week, a woman apparently tapped the 16-by-19 inch sculpture that looked like a balloon-animal dog, sending it off its pedestal and shattering on the ground.
The art was worth about $42,000.
WORTH NOTING: The shards were kept so that an insurance company can review the remains and see what can be done to make either the artist or gallery whole. [via New York Times]
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Late last year, Meta-head MARK ZUCKERBERG told employees to prepare for a year of efficiency, and noted their management and staff structure had gotten pretty bloated.
Now, the social media company has reportedly issued thousands of performance evaluations that ranked employees work as “subpar.”
Some analysts predict the evaluations are precursor to more layoffs, on the heels of the 11,000 that happened late last year.
WORTH NOTING: Zuckerberg relaxed evaluation standards amid the pandemic, and these critiques appear to be a return to business-as-usual. [via ZeroHedge]
MEANWHILE: Meta is rolling out its own paid premium service, like ELON MUSK introduced at Twitter. “Meta Verified” will cost up to $15 a month and indicate that you are who you say you are on your profile. Customers will have to upload an official government photo ID to get the blue-check verification on Facebook or Instagram.
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You know Lenny’s Pizza as the restaurant in “Saturday Night Fever” – but after 70 years in business the iconic spot is shutting down.
Longtime owner Frank Giordano is retiring, and no one else in the family wants to take the project on, his daughter said on Facebook.
WORTH NOTING: While it’s the end of an era for the restaurant and Giordano, he took ownership of the spot just after the movie was filmed. [via New York Post]
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RICKY STENHOUSE JR. won this year’s Daytona 500 on Sunday. A crash triggered a caution during the final lap, causing NASCAR to decide the winner based on who was leading when the caution was called.
This was Stenhouse’s first Daytona win. The race kicked off the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series.
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The wreckage of World War II-era submarine USS Albacore has been found off the coast of northern Japan.
Japanese records suggest the ship hit a mine on November 7, 1944.
A press release sent by the US Navy notes, “the wreck represents the final resting place of Sailors that gave their life in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave.”
The Albacore sank at least ten enemy ships during the war.
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CHARTS
Weekend Box Office
10. A Man Called Otto: $1.6 million (down from 7)
9. Missing: $1.7 million (down from 8)
8. Marlowe: $1.9 million (new)
7. Titanic: $2.3 million (re-release)
6. 80 for Brady: $3.6 million (down from 4)
5. Knock at the Cabin: $3.9 million (up from 6)
4. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish: $5.3 million (up from 5)
3. Magic Mike’s Last Dance: $5.4 million (down from 1)
2. Avatar: The Way of Water: $6.1 million (stayed at 2)
1. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: $104 million (new)
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DEATHS
Actor RICHARD BELZER has died.
He passed away early Sunday at his home in France. No cause of death was reported.
Belzer is well known for his role as Detective John Munch on “Law & Order: SVU.”
He was 78.
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Songwriter KYLE JACOBS has died.
According to The Post, he passed away on Friday at his home of an apparent suicide.
Jacobs was married to country singer KELLIE PICKLER, 36.
He was 49.
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Actress STELLA STEVENS has died.
She passed away Friday at a hospice center in Los Angeles after a battle with end-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Stevens is best known for roles in “The Nutty Professor” and “The Poseidon Adventure.”
She was 84.
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BREAKUPS
Actor PAUL WESLEY, 40, has filed for divorce from his estranged wife, jewelry dealer INES DE RAMON, 30.
According to Us Weekly, the “Vampire Diaries” star cited irreconcilable differences as the reason.
The couple were married for five years, but have been separated since 2022.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Actress REBEL WILSON, 42, is engaged to athleisure brand Lemon Ve Limon owner, RAMONA AGRUMA, 39.
Wilson announced the news with an Instagram post on Sunday, captioning a photo of the two with, “We said YES!”
The couple started dating in January 2022. In November 2022, Wilson welcomed her first child, daughter Royce, via surrogate.
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SICK BAY
Former president JIMMY CARTER will spend his final days at home receiving hospice care.
According to his foundation, the Carter Center, he has decided to remain at home with his family instead of receiving additional medical intervention.
At 98, Carter is the oldest living former American president, as well as the first American president born in a hospital.
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Actor TOM SIZEMORE is in critical condition after suffering a brain aneurysm.
The 61-year-old “Saving Private Ryan” star is in a “wait and see situation,” his manager told Page Six.
Sizemore was at his Los Angeles home when he suffered the aneurysm around 2am on Saturday and fell unconscious, his manager added.
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RICHARD GERE is on the mend after suffering from pneumonia while vacationing with his family in Mexico.
Sources told TMZ that the 73-year-old checked himself into the hospital last week after developing a bad cough that continued to get worse. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and spent one night undergoing treatment. He was given antibiotics the following morning and sent on his way.
Gere’s wife, ALEJANDRA, 40, posted on Instagram that the entire family had been feeling ill recently.
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THE SWAMP
Vice President KAMALA HARRIS had to slum it in a C-17 cargo plane to return from Europe over the weekend, after maintenance difficulties grounded Air Force Two in Germany.
No word yet what was behind the technical issues.
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Florida Governor RON DESANTIS – who still hasn’t announced his intentions in 2024 – is heading out on a three-city tour today, where he’ll speak at law enforcement union events.
He’ll begin in New York City before hitting up events in Philly and Chicago.
WORTH NOTING: For a guy who isn’t campaigning this looks an awful lot like a campaign.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 129 points (0.39%) to close at 33,826 on Friday. The S&P lost 11 points (0.28%) to close at 4,079 while the NASDAQ lost 68 points (0.58%) to close at 11,787.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $76; BRENT CRUDE at $83.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.41 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN slipped over the weekend, trading under $24,500.
🛩 There were more than 2,300 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 78 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $104 million jackpot or a $53.1 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $87 million jackpot or a $44.6 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
VINCE MCMAHON is looking to sell the WWE for $9 BILLION.
Bloomberg reports that potential buyers include Endeavor Group Holdings, which owns the UFC, and several Middle Eastern investors.
Company shares went up 30% in anticipation of a new owner, according to the outlet. [via Bloomberg]
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RAY LIOTTA is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
According to People, the actor will be honored with a star posthumously on February 24.
In a statement, Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said the decision to honor Liotta was easy as his characters “will always be etched in Hollywood’s film history.”
Remember, Liotta passed away unexpectedly nine months ago. He was 67. [via People]
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JUDI DENCH’s macular degeneration is making it hard for her to keep acting.
During her recent appearance on “The Graham Norton Show,” the actress explained that her eye condition is affecting her ability to remember lines.
“I have a photographic memory, I need to find a machine that not only teaches me my lines, but also tells me where they appear on the page.” Despite her struggles, Dench continues to take on roles; her latest being in “Allelujah,” a film set in a geriatric ward.
Dench, who is 88, has dealt with the issue for over a decade. [via Deadline]
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MEGAN FOX returned to Instagram over the weekend to shut down rumors surrounding her strained relationship with MACHINE GUN KELLY.
“There has been no third party interference in this relationship of any kind. That includes, but is not limited to…actual humans, DMs, AI bots or succubus demons,” the actress wrote. She did not offer any explanation as to what is going on with the rapper. [via TMZ]
REMEMBER: Last weekend, Fox deleted all signs of MGK from her social media and shared a cryptic post about “dishonesty.” She also removed her engagement ring.
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A fan threw up during LUANN DE LESSEPS’ cabaret show in NYC on Friday.
A rep for the former “Real Housewives of New York City” told Page Six that the fan “laughed so hard that she projectile vomited all over Lu’s costume and hair!!!”
Despite the incident, the show went on. [via Page Six]
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RIHANNA’s dad said he found out his daughter was pregnant with the rest of the world -- during the Super Bowl Halftime show.
RONALD FENTY, who was in Arizona to watch his daughter’s performance, told TMZ that he had no idea his daughter was expecting her second child with rapper A$AP ROCKY.
After getting over the shock, Fenty told the outlet that he hopes this baby is a girl, since Rihanna and Rocky already have a son. [via TMZ]
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An animal shelter in Tennessee wants actor PAUL RUDD to adopt his doggy doppelganger.
According to the Collierville Animal Shelter, the Australian Shepard mix, nicknamed Pawl Ruff, is a “gentle, easy-going fella, the kind of guy you want to be your neighbor, best friend or lifelong companion.” Just like Rudd! [via People]
Check out the pooch:
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CASTING CALL
TINA FEY will reprise her role as Ms. Norbury in the upcoming musical adaptation of “Mean Girls” – which is based on the musical stage version of “Mean Girls,” which is based on the movie version of “Mean Girls” that came out in 2004.
Joining her, and reprising his role as Principal Duval, is TIM MEADOWS.
Fey wrote the original film and years later penned the book for the stage musical version that made its Broadway debut in 2018.
Filming begins on March 6. [via Deadline]
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“Judge Mathis” and “The People’s Court” have been canceled after more than 20 seasons on air. They will end with seasons 24 and 26, respectively.
Judge GREG MATHIS hands down sentences on “Judge Mathis” and is the longest-running Black male host on TV and the second-longest judge to serve in courtroom television history after JUDY SHEINDLIN aka Judge Judy.
Former prosecutor, Judge MARILYN MILIAN handles real small-claims cases in “The People’s Court.” She is the first Latina judge to host a nationally syndicated TV court show. [via People]
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“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” will hit theaters on September 8.
The third installment will see the return of NIA VARDALOS, who also wrote and directed the film, and JOHN CORBETT.
TOM HANKS and RITA WILSON served as co-producers.
The first “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” was released in 2002, followed by a sequel in 2016. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN is the new face of Dolce & Gabbana.
The brand unveiled the reality star in a new ad campaign for their Spring/Summer 2023 line with black-and-white shots of her wearing items from the women’s collection.
The photos were taken in an Italian villa by photography duo MERT ALAS and MARCUS PIGGOTT.
According to a press release, the “new campaign is a journey through Dolce & Gabbana’s most authentic DNA, in which new meanings meet the unmistakable characters that have made the brand’s history -- a universal language that gives voice to everyone’s desires and aspirations.” [via People]
SPEAKING OF KIM: One of her stalkers can’t seem to stay away. JOMOINE VICTOR ZIGLER broke a temporary restraining order on Friday by entering Kim’s gated community. Before he was able to make it onto her property, the reality star called police and he was arrested. Kim was granted a temporary restraining order against Zigler in January after he showed up at her home, called her his wife and sent her a diamond ring. [via Daily Mail]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES was met with mixed reviews as he visited Buckinghamshire last week.
While the majority of those gathered were excited to see the monarch, a handful were reportedly shouting “Not My King” and “Not Fit For Purpose.”
For his part, Charles ignored the jeers and engaged with those who showed their support. [via Page Six]
SPEAKING OF BEING RIDICULED: PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE were mocked in the latest episode of “South Park,” titled “The Worldwide Privacy Tour.” In the episode, two characters, who are very obviously Harry and Meg, but are not identified as such, move to the US seeking privacy. They believe they can achieve this through TV interviews and writing a book called “Waaagh” -- clearly a play on Harry’s “Spare.” “We just want to be normal people -- all this attention is so hard,” the Harry-esque character says to reporters, while holding onto a “We Want Our Privacy” sign.
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A collection of PRINCESS DIANA’s letters to friends during her divorce from then-PRINCE CHARLES have sold at auction for more than $169,000.
The 32 letters were all written on Kensington Palace stationary and feature Diana’s royal cypher.
They were sold in a sale titled “Diana, The Private Correspondence of a Princess.” [via People]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Family Day
Presidents’ Day
National Comfy Day
National Love Your Pet Day
National Muffin Day
National Cherry Pie Day
National Handcuff Day
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ON THIS DATE
1792 - President George Washington authorizes the creation of the US Post Office.
The legislation called for a cabinet department, supervised by the postmaster general. Its primary purpose was to guarantee the delivery of newspapers to people across the states.
A postal service had been approved by the Continental Congress in 1774 and Benjamin Franklin served as the first postmaster general. But with the United States still in its infancy, it was decided the service needed to be more powerful and expansive.
In 1971, the USPS became a corporation run by a board of governors.
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1942 – Lieutenant Edward O'Hare becomes the first American flying ace of World War II.
O'Hare had shot down 5 Japanese bombers in under four minutes.
He was awarded with the Medal of Honor. In 1949, Chicago’s Orchard Depot Airport was renamed O’Hare International in his honor.
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1962 – The first American astronaut orbits the Earth.
John Glenn blasted off in the Friendship 7 spacecraft. Glenn had been a decorated pilot from World War II and the Korean War.
His first space mission was short, taking about 5 hours to make 3 orbits.
On re-entry, Glenn lost radio contact with mission control for an agonizing 4 minutes. But finally, he splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean.
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1976 – The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization holds its final military exercises.
It was an initiative of 8 nations, including the US, the Philippines, Thailand, and Pakistan, among others.
The organization was designed to formally combat the spread of communism. In 1954, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles oversaw its creation.
With the end of the Vietnam War, SEATO became less useful.
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1985 – Ireland legalizes the sale of contraceptives for the first time.
Despite the Catholic Church's influence and power in the country, pharmacies began carrying non-medical contraceptives on their shelves, for purchase without a prescription.
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1992 – Ross Perot appears on the Larry King show where he announces he will run for President.
He ran against Democrat Bill Clinton and incumbent Republican President George H.W. Bush.
His “folksy” message resonated with more than 19 million voters on Election Day, which was one of the best showings by a third party or independent candidate in a presidential election.
Perot and Bush lost to Clinton anyway.
Perot would run again in 1996 with more than 8 million people casting ballots for the Texan.
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BIRTHDAYS
Olivia Rodrigo - pop singer - 20
Lilla Crawford - actress, “Into the Woods” - 22
Rihanna - pop singer - 35
Tracy Spiridakos - actress, “Chicago PD” - 35
Miles Teller - actor, “Whiplash” & “Top Gun: Maverick” - 36
Chico Bean - comedian - 36
Trevor Noah - comedian - 39
Justin Verlander - baseball player - 40
Chelsea Peretti - comedian - 45
Jay Hernandez - actor, “Crazy/Beautiful” & “Bad Moms” - 45
Brian Littrell - pop singer, Backstreet Boys - 48
Cindy Crawford - model - 57
Charles Barkley - basketball player - 60
Born On This Date
Kurt Cobain - rock singer, Nirvana - 1967 (d. 1994)
Ivana Trump - model & former wife of The Donald - 1949 (d. 2022)
Sidney Poitier - actor, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” - 1927 (d. 2022)
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