3/28/2022: Smith Smacks Rock
3/28/2022: Smith Smacks Rock
PLUS: Phil Collins Says Good-Bye, Meghan’s Podcast, and Coach K’s New Record
Today is Monday, March 28, 2022.
It is the 87th day of the year.
278 days remain.
TRENDING
Saturday was National Spinach Day. Someone alert Popeye!
Twitter users reacted to news of Taylor Hawkins passing over the weekend. More in Deaths.
#BoycottApplebees was trending after news broke that Applebee’s exec Wayne Pankratz told his staff to offer lower wages to applicants because of how “desperate” people are to get jobs.
#TheresJustNothingLike was trending Saturday. Tweets included, “fresh, hot coffee in the morning,” “listening to good music,” “a bubble bath,” “ice cream” and “fresh, hot pizza.”
Duke fans tweeted their excitement after Coach K reached another college basketball milestone. More in Sports.
Sunday was National Joe Day.
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HIT LIST
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday he’s open to a peace deal that would keep his country neutral — meaning it doesn’t join any international coalition organizations. But he said there would have to be third party guarantees and it would have to be approved through a referendum, Reuters reports.
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China is sticking to its stringent zero-Covid policy. The Associated Press reports that the CCP has ordered Shanghai on total lockdown, keeping some 26 million people mostly in their homes.
They’re going to begin a mass-testing campaign.
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Wildfires in Colorado have forced nearly 20,000 people from their homes outside the Boulder area.
The same area suffered more than $500 million in damage from wildfires last year that destroyed hundreds of homes.
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Elon Musk says on Twitter, of all places, that he’s considering the creation of an alternative social media site.
On Friday, he posted a poll that read, “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?”
More than 2 million people responded; 70.4% said No, while 29.6% said yes.
Later, when someone asked him on Twitter if he’d consider building his own platform, Musk replied, “Am giving serious thought to this.”
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The man who was busted last month smuggling dozens of reptiles into the United States from Mexico by hiding them on his body is facing serious charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles announced last week he’s facing charges for smuggling more than 1,700 such reptiles into the country over the last six years.
The charges include conspiracy, smuggling, and wildlife tracking.
His sister is also facing conspiracy charges.
MEANWHILE: After an animal sanctuary in Ukraine was obliterated by Russian artillery, a volunteer rushed in to save the kangaroos. A social media video shows a pack of the animals loaded in the back of his van, shuffling around on top of some hay that was scattered on the floor.
WATCH:
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Bloomberg reports that Apple is considering a subscription service that would automatically deliver the newest hardware to subscribers. The fee would be in addition to monthly finance payments for those who don’t buy the devices outright.
It could roll out later this year.
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CHARTS
Weekend Box Office:
10. Infinite Storm: $751k (new)
9. Sing 2: $1.2 million (up from 10)
8. Spider-Man: No Way Home: $2 million (down from 6)
7. Dog: $2.1 million (down from 5)
6. X: $2.2 million (down from 4)
5. Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie: $4.5 million (down from 2)
4. Uncharted: $5 million (down from 3)
3. RRR: $9.5 million (new)
2. The Batman: $20.5 million (down from 1)
1. The Lost City: $31 million (new)
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DEATHS
TAYLOR HAWKINS has died.
The Foo Fighters drummer passed away unexpectedly on Friday. A preliminary toxicology report shows that he had 10 different substances in his system at the time of his passing, including opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
The investigation into his death is ongoing.
He was 50.
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KEITH MARTIN has died.
The R&B singer was found dead at his apartment in the Philippines Friday. Authorities believe he could have passed away a week prior. An investigation into his death is underway.
He was 55.
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BABY NEWS
ASHLEY GREENE, 35, is expecting her first child with husband PAUL KHOURY, 33.
The “Twilight” actress announced the news by sharing a photo of her holding a sonogram.
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BREAKUPS
EVERLAST’s wife has called it quits on their marriage.
LISA SCHRODY filed divorce documents in California last week, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
Schrody and the House of Pain front man were married for almost 13 years. They have two children together.
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WEDDINGS
SELENA SAMUELA is married.
The Peloton instructor tied the knot with tech CEO MATT VIRTUE in Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday.
The pair got engaged in May 2021.
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THE SWAMP
White House staff had to aggressively walk back an ad-lib from President JOE BIDEN over the weekend while he met with world leaders in Europe. In a speech about the threat posed by Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN, Biden said, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power” — suggesting the United States’ official policy was regime change in Russia.
A statement issued shortly after clarified that Biden meant that Putin couldn’t continue to terrorize other countries in the region, and what he did in his own country is no one else’s business.
Media bootlickers were quick to applaud the speech anyway. In many cases, they compared it to former President RONALD REAGAN’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech.
WORTH NOTING: Reagan’s press secretary James Brady didn’t have to issue a statement clarifying his boss’ remarks moments after he gave them. So let’s have a cream soda and calm down.
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Socialist Senator BERNIE SANDERS, who owns three homes, has an idea to ease economic pressures: A 95% corporate tax rate!
In a new bill, Sanders proposes three years of the egregious tax rate for the nation’s biggest companies. The tax would apply to profits beyond what they earned before the pandemic, and would be capped at 75% of the company’s income for a calendar year. Companies would need to generate half a billion in revenue a year to pay the tax.
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Nebraska Rep. JEFF FORTENBERRY announced his resignation from Congress Saturday, following his conviction for lying to the FBI about illegal campaign donations.
He’s been in Congress since 2005. He’ll be sentenced in June.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tuesday night’s drawing will be for a $60 million jackpot or a $37.9 million cash payout.
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No winner for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $195 million jackpot or a $123.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
During a pretty wild moment at the Oscars last night, WILL SMITH walked up to CHRIS ROCK and hit him after the comedian made a joke about JADA PINKETT-SMITH’s buzz cut (she suffers from alopecia).
As Smith walked back to his seat, the audio cut out on the American broadcast. But international feeds revealed that Rock said, “Will Smith just slapped the [s—] out of me.” Smith then yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your [effing] mouth,” twice.
Rock was visibly rattled but moved on to the nominees he was presenting.
BUT WAIT: When Rock first makes the crack, Jada rolls her eyes but Will is seen laughing. WATCH:
*** PROFANITY ALERT. DO NOT BROADCAST THE BELOW VIDEO ***
Here’s the un-censored version, where Rock awkwardly says it was just a joke and Smith looks genuinely furious.
Smith later won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in “King Richard.” In his acceptance speech, Smith emotionally apologized to the Academy and to his fellow nominees — but not to Rock.
“Love will make you do crazy things,” he said.
THE PLOT THICKENS: When Rock hosted in 2016, he specifically made fun of Jada for boycotting the awards show during his opening monologue.
WORTH ASKING: Isn’t this assault? Shouldn’t Woke Hollywood be demanding an investigation?
OTHERWISE: BEYONCE kicked off the show with a remote live performance of her nominated song “Be Alive” from the movie “King Richard.” WANDA SYKES, REGINA HALL, and AMY SCHUMER hosted the show. (Beyonce was later spotted in the audience).
Breaking from tradition, producers swapped out the first few rows of seats for armchair-style seats and booths around circular tables, where the biggest names and nominees sat. It appeared to be more stylistic than anything to do with covid distancing. There was barely a mask to be seen, except for the shots of production crew and handlers behind the scenes.
YIKES: Keyboard warriors took issue with some of the music choices used for the walkout music for some presenters. In particular, “Africa” by Toto played for DANIEL KALUUYA and H.E.R., who are both Black. Later, “La Isla Bonita” by Madonna played underneath STEPHANIE BEATRIZ’s entrance. Do with this information what you will.
BY THE WAY: While there had been buzz about VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY making a surprise virtual appearance on the show, that didn’t pan out. Instead, producers added a moment of silence with text on the screen acknowledging the conflict.
And the Oscars went to…
Picture: “CODA” — produced by Apple, marking the first Best Picture win for a streaming service original
Actor: WILL SMITH, “King Richard”
Actress: JESSICA CHASTAIN, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Supporting Actor: TROY KOTSUR, “CODA” (second deaf actor to win an Oscar)
Supporting Actress: ARIANA DEBOSE, “West Side Story”
Director: JANE CAMPION, “The Power of the Dog”
Original Song: “No Time To Die” by BILLIE EILISH and FINNEAS
Original Screenplay: KENNETH BRANAGH, “Belfast”
Adapted Screenplay: SIAN HEDER (sounds like “Shawn,” but she’s a woman), “CODA”
Cinematography: “Dune”
Sound: “Dune”
Visual Effects: “Dune”
Live Action Short: “The Long Goodbye”
Score: “Dune”
Editing: “Dune”
Production Design: “Dune”
Costume Design: “Cruella”
Makeup and Hairstyling: “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Documentary Short: “The Queen of Basketball”
Documentary Feature: “Summer of Soul”
Animated Short: “The Windshield Wiper”
Animated Feature: “Encanto”
International Feature: “Drive My Car” from Japan
JUST FOR FUN: Here’s a supercut of Hollywood dorks thanking sexual predator HARVEY WEINSTEIN at the Oscars over the years.
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AMY SCHUMER revealed last week that she suffers from trichotillomania, a compulsive hair pulling disorder.
The comedian opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about her struggles, revealing she had to wear a wig when she was younger to cover up bald spots.
Schumer’s syndrome is addressed in her new scripted Hulu show, “Life & Beth.”
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KORN’s tour bus was shot at as it sat parked outside a hotel in Davenport, Iowa on Friday.
A source familiar with the situation told TMZ the bullet pierced the exterior wall of the bus and was found inside the cabin.
No one was on board at the time of the shooting.
It is unknown if the bus was the target.
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TRIPLE H will never step into the wrestling ring again, at least not as a wrestler.
The WWE champ recently told STEPHEN A. SMITH that he has a defibrillator in his chest due to a heart condition that nearly killed him.
Triple H’s last televised match was in 2019, when he was defeated by RANDY ORTON. That’s the same year he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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We now know what landed TERESA GIUDICE in the hospital -- her appendix.
News broke last week that the reality star was rushed to the hospital and underwent an emergency procedure. While no further details were shared at the time, Giudice revealed over the weekend that she had her appendix removed.
She is now out of the hospital and recovering at home.
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TRAVIS SCOTT took the stage for the first time since the Astroworld tragedy over the weekend.
The rapper hit up a private Oscars party Saturday night at a home in Bel-Air, where he performed a short set.
In attendance at the shindig were LEONARDO DICAPRIO, TOBEY MAGUIRE, VENUS and SERENA WILLIAMS, TYGA and KAIA GERBER.
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PHIL COLLINS played his last concert ever on Saturday evening in London.
The 71-year-old was joined by his Genesis bandmates as he bid farewell to fans amid his ongoing health issues.
“Now I will have to get a real job,” he quipped.
The British musician had an on-off career for 50 years.
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CASTING CALL
“SNL” star MICHAEL CHE told a crowd attending his standup set in Minneapolis that he’s leaving the show’s “Weekend Update” segment at the end of the season.
It is unclear if he will stay on as a writer behind the scenes or leave the show entirely.
Che made history when he became the first black co-head writer on “SNL” in 2017.
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A BOB SAGET tribute special is heading to Netflix.
Earlier this year, the comedian’s best friends got together to memorialize him. The event was filmed and will debut on the platform later this year.
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DONALD GLOVER has teamed up with MALIA OBAMA, 23, for his new Amazon series, tentatively titled “Hive,” where she’s part of the writing staff.
The 38-year-old praised Malia’s writing skills and work ethic during an interview with Vanity Fair.
Malia previously had internships on HBO show “Girls” and at the Weinstein Company before working as an assistant on HALLE BERRY’s CBS drama series “Extant.”
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AEROSMITH drummer JOEY KRAMER will not appear with the band for their Las Vegas residency.
In a statement to USA Today, the band said that Kramer made the decision to sit out the band’s concerts in 2022 so he can “focus his full attention on his family.”
JOHN DOUGLAS will replace Kramer on the drums in the meantime.
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“Halo” is a hit at Parmount+.
The adaptation of the popular video game set a new record as the platform’s most-watched series premiere globally in its first 24 hours of release.
The premiere knocked “Yellowstone” prequel “1883” from the top spot, though exact numbers were not provided.
The series, which already has been renewed for a second season, takes place in the universe that first debuted in 2001 with the launch of Xbox’s first “Halo” game.
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After two years on air Black News Channel is shutting down.
CEO PRINCELL HAIR cited “challenging market conditions” and “global financial pressures” as the reason for winding down operations.
BNC was co-founded by former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. WATTS and longtime TV executive BOB BRILLANTE. It initially launched in 33 million households and topped out at around 50 million households.
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CRIB NOTES
CARLOS SANTANA sold one of his Hawaiian properties for $11.9 million.
The four-bedroom home, located on Kauai, sits on three acres of land and features breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding landscape.
Santana, who primarily lives in Vegas, listed the home last year for $12.9 million. Around that same time, he purchased a larger home in the area for $20.5 million.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
SCOTT DISICK will reportedly attend KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN and TRAVIS BARKER’s wedding if it is filmed — and he gets invited.
A source close to the Kardashian family told Us Weekly that “if cameras are not rolling, he will not be there.”
WORTH NOTING: Other insiders have stated that Disick is still trying to “process” the idea of Kourtney and Travis getting married.
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KIM KARDASHIAN posted a photo of boyfriend PETE DAVIDSON’s “MY GIRL IS A LAWYER” tattoo on her Instagram Saturday.
Kim revealed Davidson had the tattoo -- along with others in her honor -- during a recent appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
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KHLOE KARDASHIAN is dating.
An insider told InsideNova that the 37-year-old is “back in the dating game” and has had “very little contact” with her ex, TRISTAN THOMPSON since his paternity drama unfolded last year.
The source added that the new year is bringing Khloe “more happiness” and she is “doing great.”
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
MEGHAN MARKLE has announced her new podcast series for Spotify, titled “Archetypes.”
The podcast will examine the history behind the stereotypes that hold women back, per the streamer.
The series will launch later this summer and be hosted by Meghan herself.
WORTH NOTING: This is the first podcast released as part of Meghan and PRINCE HARRY’s exclusive multiyear deal with Spotify, which was first announced in late 2020.
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PRINCE CHARLES, 73, may step in for his mom, QUEEN ELIZABETH, to open the British Parliament in May.
The 95-year-old monarch has only missed two parliamentary openings since taking the throne in 1952.
An unnamed royal source told the Sunday Times of London that Her Majesty will decide on that day — May 10 — if she will be up for the task.
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SPORTS
Coach MIKE KRZYZEWSKI and his Duke Blue Devils are heading to the Final Four.
After beating Arkansas 78-69 on Saturday night, Coach K will get another run for the NCAA championship before he officially retires.
This Final Four appearance marks Coach K’s 13th, making him the new record holder for NCAA Final Four appearances.
He took the title from the late JOHN WOODEN, who held strong with 12.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Black Forest Cake Day
National Something on a Stick Day
National Triglycerides Day
National Weed Appreciation Day
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ON THIS DATE
1774 - The British Parliament enacts the Coercive Acts against Massachusetts.
The four acts were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and other blatant acts of destruction of British property by American colonists.
The Coercive acts included:
The Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until damages from the Boston Tea Party were paid.
The Massachusetts Government Act, which restricted democratic town meetings and turned the governor’s council into an appointed body.
The Administration of Justice Act, which made British officials immune to criminal prosecution in Massachusetts.
The Quartering Act, which required colonists to house and quarter British troops on demand.
The plan backfired, and instead of the other colonies cutting off Boston, they rushed to their defense.
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1797 - The first US patent titled “Clothes Washing” is granted to Nathaniel Briggs in New Hampshire.
It was known as the Box Mangler and consisted of a heavy frame containing a large box filled with rocks, resting on a series of long wooden rollers.
Washing was laid flat on a sheet and wound round one of the rollers. Two people then pulled on levers to move the heavy box back and forth over the rollers.
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1799 - New York State abolishes slavery.
As part of the new law, any child born to a slave after July 4, 1799 was legally free. Children born before July 4 were considered indentured servants.
Prior to this, 43% of all households in NY owned slaves.
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1881 - “Greatest Show On Earth” is formed by P. T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey.
It was described by the men as “a show that was truly immense, and combined all the elements of museum, menagerie, variety performance, concert hall and circus.”
The name would eventually turn into Barnum and Bailey’s Circus.
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1885 - US Salvation Army is formed.
It began in England by William Booth in 1865 and was originally named the Christian Mission. The goal was to help the poor, drunk, outcast and wretched of London’s East End slums.
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1930 - Turkish cities Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara.
The names were changed to reflect the Islamic nature of Turkey.
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1971 - The last original edition of “The Ed Sullivan Show” broadcasts on CBS-TV.
It would be replaced by the CBS Sunday Night Movie.
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1990 - President George H.W. Bush posthumously awards Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal.
Owens was a track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games.
He passed away in 1980 from lung cancer. He was 66.
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2009 - The first cases of H1N1 swine flu are reported in the US.
The WHO would classify the outbreak as a pandemic.
Over 284,000 people would die from the virus.
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2020 - President Trump makes a grim prediction that over 240,000 Americans could die from COVID-19, even with restrictions in place.
The first case of the virus in the US was documented two months prior.
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BIRTHDAYS
Derek Carr - football player - 31
Laura Harrier - actress, “BlacKkKlansman” - 32
Lacey Turner - actress, “EastEnders” - 34
Johnathan van Ness - reality star, “Queer Eye” - 35
Lady Gaga - pop singer - 36
Julia Stiles - actress, “Save The Last Dance” & “10 Things I Hate About You” - 41
Kate Gosselin - reality star, “Jon & Kate Plus 8” - 47
Shanna Moakler - model - 47
Vince Vaughn - actor, “Wedding Crashers” & “Break Up” - 52
Reba McEntire - country singer - 67
Rodrigo Détente - Philippines President - 77
Born On This Date
Umaga - wrestler - 1973 (d. 2009)
Conchata Ferrell - actress, “LA Law” & “Two and a Half Men” - 1943 (d. 2020)
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