4/4/2023: (Don't) Pour One Out
PLUS: Trump Does NYC; Lamar Odom Opens Treatment Centers; and Meg for Prez
Today is Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
It is the 94th day of the year.
271 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Even APPLE is facing a round of layoffs — but not for the same reasons as everyone else in this tightening economy. More in HIT LIST.
All will be revealed today in the case against former President DONALD TRUMP, and former Senator AL FRANKEN pulls back the curtain on who was his funniest colleague in the Senate. More in SWAMP.
SUNI LEE announces the end of her college gymnastics career and RON HOWARD once considered directing porn. More in SHOWBIZ.
A live-action version of “Moana” is in the works at Disney and AUSTIN BUTLER has landed his next big role. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
APPLE, a company with one of the world’s biggest market capitalizations, is reportedly beginning layoffs — though it sounds like there won’t be too many heads on the chopping block.
Bloomberg says the number of pink slips will be “very small.” Internal discussions see the cuts as efficiency increases, not desperate cost-cutting measures.
Those getting cut are limited to managing retail stores; they’ll even have the opportunity to apply for other positions in the company. Those who do depart will get four months severance. [via Bloomberg]
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NASA has announced the crew for the Artemis II mission — the project that will send astronauts around, but not set foot on, the Moon in November 2024.
Commander G. Reid Wiseman will Command the flight, with Victor Glover in the Pilot’s seat. Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen will join as mission specialists.
The mission will be the first time humans leave low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
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The Northern Maine Ice Busters have claimed an obscure world record: They’ve cut the biggest ice disc ever recorded.
The 1,776-foot-across circle weighs in at an estimated 146,000 TONS, the Associated Press reports. The group brought in survey crews to create a perfect circle, then cut through inch 30 inches thick.
A hodgepodge of motorized vehicles were then brought in to tug the disc and get it to spin — which it eventually did.
WHO KNEW: There’s a “World Ice Carousel Association” that’s really into this sort of thing. [via Associated Press]
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A 2-year-old Missouri boy is safe after going missing on Friday — thanks to the efforts of 100 volunteers and multiple law enforcement outfits joining the search.
The toddler apparently took off into the woods near his home after he spotted a dog. Law enforcement says his parents even had child door locks engaged, and no one is sure how the little boy got out in the first place.
The community came together to scour the woods for any trace of the boy, and he was mercifully found before sundown. [via KY3]
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A study out of the University of Victoria (the one in Canada) says that glass of red wine at dinner probably isn’t doing you any favors after all.
The researchers looked at the results of 107 studies that investigated this very question — and it turns out there’s no statistical difference in mortality between teetotalers and moderate drinkers.
SO ON THE OTHER HAND: That tasty Lambrusco ain’t hurting, either. [via NBC News]
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on Apple Music:
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
Rod Wave, “Fight The Feeling”
Toosii, “Favorite Song”
Morgan Wallen, “Thinkin’ Bout Me”
SZA, “Snooze”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
ROSALIA & Rauw Alejandro, “BESO”
PinkPantheress & Ice Spice, “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2”
Coi Leray, “Players”
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DEATHS
Record executive SEYMOUR STEIN has died.
He passed away Sunday in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer, according to a statement from his family. Stein, who founded Sire Records, signed MADONNA, THE CURE and TALKING HEADS.
He was 80.
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THE SWAMP
TODAY: Former President DONALD TRUMP will be arrested and the formal charges against him will be read in court.
Trump flew his jet to New York on Monday evening and apparently spent the night at Trump Tower.
Taking bets: Will he smile or be somber in the mugshot?
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Former Senator AL FRANKEN dished to The Daily Show last week about which of his former colleagues was the funniest.
He said some Senators were “completely humorless” and a few were funny. But the funniest of The Hundred, according to Franken, is none other than LINDSEY GRAHAM.
Franken gave an example. When Graham was trailing former President DONALD TRUMP in the 2016 primaries, Franken, a Democrat, told him, “If I were a Republican, I’d vote for you in the primaries.”
Graham replied, “That’s my problem.”
So there’s that. [via CinemaBlend]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 327 points (0.98%) to close at 33,601 on Monday. The S&P added 15 points (0.37%) to close at 4,125 and the NASDAQ lost 32 points (0.27%) to close at 12,189.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $80; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.51 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN lost more than 1% on Monday, trading just over $27,800.
🛩 There were more than 3,840 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 225 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $385 million jackpot or a $203.8 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
Olympian SUNISA “Suni” LEE announced she is ending her college gymnastics career due to a “non-gymnastics health related issue.”
In her announcement, which she shared on Instagram, Lee told her followers that her decision comes amid several discussions with her medical team, which have left her on the sidelines this season.
Despite ending her gymnastics days with Auburn college early, Lee is still hoping to compete in future Olympic Games. Many may recall that she took home a bronze medal for the uneven bars and a silver medal for the team all-around competition at the 2020 Olympics. [via E! News]
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TAYLOR SWIFT’s new song “All of the Girls You Loved Before” landed in the Billboard Hot 100 over the weekend, just two weeks after it was released.
The track is Swift’s 189th to land on the chart, according to Billboard.
“All of the Girls You Loved Before” was released with three other songs on March 17 in honor of the beginning of her “The Eras Tour.” [via Billboard]
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LEWIS CAPALDI is questioning the future of his singing career as his Tourette’s syndrome continues to worsen.
The 26-year-old recently revealed that his “tic is getting quite bad on stage now,” while adding that it is making him nervous for his tour, which kicked off this week.
In addition to the tour, a Netflix special called “How I’m Feeling Now,” about Capaldi’s rise to fame and his struggles with Tourette’s drops tomorrow. [via People]
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LAMAR ODOM is opening three drug treatment centers in San Diego, El Cajon and Lemon Grove, California.
According to TMZ, the former NBA star has teamed up with musician DONTAE RALSTON and former Hall of Fame skateboarder DENNIS MARTINEZ for the project, which includes a women’s residential treatment home and two men’s detox and residential treatment homes.
The buildings will be called “Odom Wellness Treatment Centers.” [via TMZ]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Odom overdosed at the Love Ranch brothel in Nevada in 2015. He suffered kidney failure, heart attacks and several strokes.
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During a recent Q&A at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema over the weekend, director ARI ASTER revealed that JOAQUIN PHOENIX fainted on the set of their film “Beau Is Afraid.”
According to Aster, Phoenix was off-camera when he collapsed, in response to a scene his co-star PATTI LUPONE was shooting.
“There was a scene that was very intense for Patti and it was a shot that was on Patti -- it was not on him -- and all of a sudden he fell out of frame,” Aster explained. “It’s very poetic that he collapsed in somebody else’s shot.”
“Beau Is Afraid” is about a paranoid man who embarks on an epic odyssey to get home to his mother, according to the official description. It is set to hit theaters on April 21. [via Deadline]
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Following his time on “Happy Days,” and before becoming a successful director, RON HOWARD said he considered filming porn.
The 69-year-old shared the shocking revelation in a recent interview with GRAHAM BENSINGER, after being asked about rumors that he considered getting into the adult film business.
“It [was] a serious idea for probably two and a half to three seconds,” Howard explained. [via Daily Mail]
WORTH NOTING: Howard made his feature film debut in 1977 with “Grand Theft Auto.”
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THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS are heading back on tour.
The rock band, best known for their hits “Gives You Hell” and “Move Along,” is kicking off a 27-date “Wet Hot All-American Tour” this August, according to Variety.
This will be the band’s first tour in over 10 years. [via Variety]
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CASTING CALL
Fresh off his role as Elvis Presley, AUSTIN BUTLER is set to star in “City on Fire.”
Based on the book by DON WINSLOW, the story follows two criminal empires that control all of New England. Butler will play Danny Ryan, who is forced to quickly evolve to protect his friends, family and the home he loves, according to Deadline.
“City on Fire” is the first novel in the trilogy. The second book, “City of Dreams” is due out this month. [via Deadline]
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A live-action version of “Moana” is in the works.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has joined forces with DWAYNE JOHNSON to create a remake of the 2016 animated film.
Johnson, who played Maui in the original, is set to return to the role for the remake, according to insiders. AULI’I CRAVALHO, who voiced the titular character in the original, will serve as co-executive producer on the new film.
No word on other casting. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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More than 5.4 million people tuned in to watch Sunday night’s CMT Music Awards -- a 5% increase from last year’s awards show.
Also, the show was the most-streamed program of the night on Paramount+ and social media, according to Variety.
IN OTHER COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS: The Country Music Hall of Fame announced Monday that TANYA TUCKER, PATTY LOVELESS and BOB MCDILL are this year’s inductees. Tucker will be inducted in the “Veterans Era Artist” category, while Loveless will be entered into the “Modern Era Artist” category. Finally, McDill is being inducted in the “Songwriter” category. The three honorees join 152 others who have been inducted into the hall since it opened in 1961.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
DRAKE may be starting more beef with YE.
The Canadian rapper debuted a new song over the weekend that features a conversation between KIM KARDASHIAN and KRIS JENNER about her divorcing Ye. In the clip, Kim tells her mom that she “didn’t come this far just to come this far and not be happy.” Kris is then heard agreeing with her. It was taken from an episode of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” from 2021.
Many may recall that there was a rift between the rappers after Drake released his 2018 hit “In My Feelings,” in which he alludes to having an affair with Kim. The two appeared to settle the feud in 2021 when they performed together at a benefit concert. [via Daily Mail]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Rumors are swirling that MEGHAN MARKLE could be plotting a political run after her Archewell Foundation paid more than $100,000 to MICHELLE OBAMA’s former press chief.
According to tax records obtained by The Sun, the nonprofit paid $109,870 to a public relations firm run by Katie McComick Lelyveld in 2021. Lelyveld worked for Obama from 2007 to 2011. The payment was categorized as a “strategic support for social impact PR.” [via The Sun]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Meghan and PRINCE HARRY sparked rumors of a future in politics after meeting with California Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM in 2020.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
International Carrot Day
World Rat Day
National Walk Around Things Day
National Vitamin C Day
D.A.R.E. Day
National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day
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ON THIS DATE
1841 - William Henry Harrison dies. He had been president for a month.
He contracted pneumonia while giving his inauguration speech. He suffered throughout his short time in office, and never accomplished much legislatively.
Following his death, John Tyler took office -- he was the first VP to get the job because of the president's death.
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1865 - Following its capture by Union soldiers, Richmond, Virginia welcomes President Lincoln.
Lincoln was closely following general Ulysses S. Grant, and was camping out near the front lines of war.
With the war coming to an end, Lincoln was in a notably good mood, and enjoyed touring the liberated city. He even took to chopping lumber with the beleaguered troops.
The night before, according to his diaries, he had a dream about being assassinated.
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1949 - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is established.
Since then, NATO has been a worldwide peacekeeping force.
NATO nations collectively spend 70 percent of the world's national defense budgets.
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1964 - Beatles’ hit “Can’t Buy Me Love” reaches No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
It would stay at the top for five weeks.
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1968 - Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated on his hotel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.
All evidence pointed to James Earl Ray as the shooter, who was captured after an extensive manhunt. He was found in London, on his way to Zimbabwe.
After his trial, he pled guilty in order to avoid a death sentence. He was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
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1975 - Microsoft is founded.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen, who were friends at Harvard, joined forces to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for Altair 8800.
Allen came up with the name of Microsoft — a combination of microcomputer and software.
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1982 - Wayne Gretzky becomes the first and only NHL player to score 212 goals in a single season.
This was in only his 3rd year in the NHL.
He continued to play another 17 seasons. One year after he retired, the league retired his number -- 99.
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1996 - The “Howard Stern Radio Show” premieres in Austin, TX.
By the end of the year his show would play on 34 stations.
Stations were able to choose from a 24-hour menu or carry the network’s programming around the clock.
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2019 - Kathie Lee Gifford leaves NBC’s “Today” show.
In interviews leading up to her exit, Gifford said that her husband's passing in 2015 influenced her decision to exit the morning show.
She also wanted to take a crack at writing and directing movies.
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BIRTHDAYS
Elliott Brown - football player - 21
Austin Mahone - pop singer - 27
Jesse Jo Stark - rock singer - 32
Jamie Lynn Spears - actress, “Zoey 101” & “Sweet Magnolias” - 32
Todrick Hall - pop singer - 38
Eric Andre - actor, “The Internship” - 40
Natasha Lyonne - actress, “Orange Is the New Black” - 44
James Roday - actor, “Psych” & “A Million Little Things” - 47
David Blaine - magician - 50
Jill Scott - R&B singer - 51
Robert Downey Jr. - actor, “Iron Man” & “Tropic Thunder” - 58
David Cross - actress, “Arrested Development” & “Kill Your Darlings” - 59
Graham Norton - Tv show host, “The Graham Norton Show” - 60
Born On This Date
Heath Ledger - actor, “The Dark Knight” & “A Knight’s Tale” - 1979 (d. 2008)
Anthony Perkins - actor, “Psycho” - 1932 (d. 1992)
Maya Angelou - poet - 1928 (d. 2014)
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