5/10/2023: Sir, Have You Been Drinking?
PLUS: Working Hard or Hardly Working?; Tucker is Back; and Royal Ribaldry
Today is Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
It is the 130th day of the year.
235 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
SAM BANKMAN-FRIED’s lawyers want some of the charges against him dropped and one health agency says women need to get screened for breast cancer earlier than 50. More in HIT LIST.
KIM ZOLCIAK-BIERMANN and KROY BIERMANN’s divorce could be a messy one and MORGAN WALLEN is taking some more time off. More in SHOWBIZ.
“S.W.A.T.” has been saved and TMZ takes a deep dive into BRITNEY SPEARS’ life since she was let out of her conservatorship. More in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN likes nerds. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE GEORGE avoids becoming a subject of ribaldry. More in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
Lawyers for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED filed a motion this week to dismiss 10 of the 13 charges filed against him, arguing prosecutors moved too quickly in their charges. They say prosecutors should have waited for a regulatory review process to analyze the causes of FTX’s implosion, and that they’re turning civil and regulatory infractions into federal crimes.
WORTH NOTING: While it’s true multiple crypto companies failed last year, the others weren’t brazenly running apparent ponzi schemes through a network of shell companies for the enrichment of the owners.
A hearing for the motion to dismiss is set for June 15. [via Reuters]
###
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has lowered the age for women to begin screening for breast cancer.
According to the task force, “science now shows all women -- including those at average risk -- should start getting screened every other year at age 40,” instead of waiting until 50. By doing this, the report shows that 19% more lives could be saved.
Breast cancer affects one in eight women in the United States, per the American Cancer Society. [via People]
###
A study conducted by Microsoft shows that the 25% most active users of its software spend 8.8 hours a week reading and writing emails and nearly another 8 attending meetings, both virtual and in person.
This amounts to an astonishing two whole working days slinging emails and yacking it up with colleagues.
It’s no wonder nothing gets done – especially when you consider that doesn’t include phone calls or chats on platforms like Slack. [via WSJ]
###
A possible meteorite crashed into a home in Hopewell Township, New Jersey on Monday.
The metallic object, which measures 4 inches by 6 inches, fell through the roof, hit the floor and ricocheted up to the ceiling before ultimately landing on the floor, according to the homeowners, who were not home when it happened. Authorities believe it could be related to a meteor shower over the area called Eta Aquarids.
An astronomer from the Franklin Institute says the meteorite could be from the beginning of the solar system, making it four to five billion years old.
The object is currently being investigated further. [via CBS News]
###
A man dressed up as a can of beer was arrested for DUI over the weekend in Kansas.
According to a Facebook post from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, an officer pulled over the suspected drunk driver, and when he got out of the car for a field sobriety test he was wearing a Bud Light costume.
“A career in law enforcement is exciting, and you get to experience something new every day. Sometimes you see things you can’t believe!” the post reads. [via WBAY]
###
DEATHS
Former football player JOE KAPP has died.
He passed away Monday after a 15-year battle with dementia, his son told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Kapp played QB for the Minnesota Vikings and helped lead them to Super Bowl IV.
He was 85.
###
Former basketball coach DENNY CRUM has died.
He passed away Tuesday, according to a statement from his wife. No cause of death was shared.
Crum won two NCAA men’s basketball championships during his 30 seasons coaching at the University of Louisville.
He was 86.
###
BABY NEWS
Multiple outlets confirmed Tuesday that 79-year-old ROBERT DE NIRO has welcomed his seventh child.
The confirmation comes one day after the actor himself spilled the beans, telling ET Canada that he now has seven kids, not six, saying “I just had a baby.”
The mother of De Niro’s seventh child is not known, though his rumored girlfriend, Tai Chi instructor TIFFANY CHEN was spotted last month with a potential baby bump.
As for the other six, there is Drena De Niro, who De Niro adopted while married to her mother, his first wife DIAHNNE ABBOTT. The couple also had a son, Raphael De Niro. After that he had twin sons Julian and Aaron De Niro with girlfriend TOUKIE SMITH. With his second wife, GRACE HIGHTOWER, De Niro welcomed a son, Elliot De Niro and a daughter born via surrogate.
###
RELATIONSHIPS
Country singer COLE SWINDELL is engaged to his longtime girlfriend COURTNEY LITTLE.
The 39-year-old announced the news on Instagram, captioning photos of the proposal with, “All I know is she said ‘YES’.”
Little starred in the music video for Swindell’s song “Some Habits.”
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 56 points (0.17%) to close at 33,561 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 18 points (0.46%) to close at 4,119 and the NASDAQ lost 77 points (0.63%) to close at 12,179.
🛢 The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.52 on Tuesday.
⛽ WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $73; BRENT CRUDE at $77.
₿ BITCOIN was down again, trading around $27,600.
🛩 There were more than 3,125 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 134 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $109 million jackpot or a $58.6 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
KROY BIERMANN has filed his own divorce papers in response to estranged wife KIM ZOLCIAK-BIERMANN’s filing.
Per his filing, obtained by TMZ, Kroy is seeking sole and legal custody of their four minor children. That is also what Kim asked for, though she was willing to allow Kroy visitation. For what it’s worth, parents who try to keep things amicable typically seek joint legal and physical custody.
Kroy also wants Kim out of their Atlanta home asap. Insiders say the two are still living with the four kids in the home.
Still no word on what caused the split. [via TMZ]
###
A photo of JASON ALEXANDER posing in his underwear as “Seinfeld” character George Costanza has been immortalized on bathroom stalls at Second Rodeo Brewing in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Fans of the show, which ran from 1989 to 1998, will remember the photo from the fourth season, when Kramer (MICHAEL RICHARDS) convinces Costanza to seduce “photo store Sheila” with the suggestive photos.
Alexander retweeted a photo of the bathroom stall, with the words, “Dear God.”
On the adjacent stall is a blown up photo of MATT LEBLANC from his time playing Joey Tribbiani in “Friends.” [via NY Post]
###
MORGAN WALLEN is postponing his current tour after doctors advised him to take “extended vocal rest.”
The 29-year-old country singer posted a video on social media, telling fans that after re-injuring his vocal cords he will be on vocal rest for six weeks. He also explained that without rest he could “permanently damage [his] voice.”
The time off comes after Wallen canceled a concert in Mississippi last month just minutes before taking the stage, leading to angry responses from fans. [via NY Post]
###
CASTING CALL
Ousted Fox News host TUCKER CARLSON posted a video to Twitter announcing he will produce a show specifically for the social media platform. Carlson said he and his team will bring “a new version of the show that we have been doing for the past six and half years.”
He added that Twitter is the only platform left in the world that’s committed to free speech.
Rumors swirled in recent days that Carlson and ELON MUSK had discussed the concept of bringing his show to Twitter. The two sat down for an interview just days before Carlson was axed from Fox.
There is a sign-up feature on Carlson’s website so fans can get more details. [via Hollywood Reporter]
MEANWHILE: Carlson’s move is ballsy, in that it would likely violate his contract with Fox News. Insiders tell Axios his lawyers sent a letter to the network accusing them of breach of contract before the video was posted.
His current contract runs through the end of next year, and technically Fox could pay him up to $20 million a year to do nothing.
###
KEN JENNINGS will be hosting, rather than competing in this year’s “Jeopardy! Masters” tournament.
Speaking to TMZ, Jennings said that he won’t be giving in to fellow “Jeopardy” champion JAMES HOLZHAUER’s trash talk as he is plenty satisfied to be behind the podium for the show. Plus, he has already beat Holzhauer once before.
Holzhauer meanwhile, will be taking on five other champions who are all vying for a $500,000 prize and the Trebek Trophy. [via TMZ]
###
ED SHEERAN will perform at Thursday’s Academy of Country Music Awards.
The performance comes after his huge win in court in which he was accused of plagiarizing MARVIN GAYE’s hit “Let’s Get It On” for his 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud.”
The ACM’s will be hosted by DOLLY PARTON and GARTH BROOKS. [via Deadline]
###
Just three days after “S.W.A.T.” was canceled by CBS, a decision has been made to renew the show for a seventh season.
Insiders told Variety that after continued talks between the network and series co-producer Sony Pictures Television -- and a deeper dive into financials -- it was decided that the show would get one more run.
Star of the series SHERMAR MOORE, who fought for the renewal, will serve as executive producer on the seventh and final season. [via Variety]
###
PETE DAVIDSON has a secret cameo appearance in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”
Director JAMES GUNN confirmed his role in the film after fans started questioning why Davidson’s name was in the credits.
He voiced the character of Phlektik.
In addition to Davidson, SYLVESTER STALLONE, LINDA CARDELLINI and MARIA BAKALOVA also made cameos in the film. [via ET]
###
After a four-year hiatus the “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” is set to return as a reimagined feature film called “Victoria’s Secret World Tour.”
The film will focus on 20 innovative global creatives who will “conceive four fashion curations from the vibrant cities of Bogota, Lagos, London and Tokyo.” The artists will create in different “houses” based on location and the project will follow their journey and showcase the final result, according to a statement from the brand.
A live fashion event is set for this fall, following the release of the film. [via People]
###
TMZ is set to release a documentary about BRITNEY SPEARS’ life since being let out of her conservatorship over a year ago.
“TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom” will air on FOX on May 15. [via TMZ]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN fans think she gave a hint about what she is looking for in a new man with a T-shirt she wore to a recent Lakers game.
“I love nerds” her shirt read.
Fans quickly connected the clothing choice to her ex-boyfriend, comedian PETE DAVIDSON, who many considered “nerdy”; at least compared to her past significant others.
Kim attended the game, in which sister KHLOE KARDASHIAN’s ex TRISTAN THOMPSON played, alongside her mom KRIS JENNER. [via Harper’s Bazaar]
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
For centuries, the Pages of Honour who attend to the monarch during the coronation ceremony have worn white knee breeches – but this wasn’t the case for those attending to KING CHARLES last weekend.
Express reports that future king PRINCE GEORGE had a lot to do with that decision. George successfully lobbied his grandfather to allow a change to the uniform design so that he wouldn’t be bullied at school for looking so ridiculous.
One insider says in very British fashion that George “wasn’t keen on wearing tights and becoming a subject of ribaldry at school.”
WORTH NOTING: The King also bucked tradition by ditching breeches of his own for trousers, so maybe it’s a family thing. [via Express]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Shrimp Day
World Facilities Management Day
World Lupus Day
Mother Ocean Day
National Receptionists Day
Stay Up All Night Night
One Day Without Shoes Day
National Third Shift Workers Day
National Root Canal Appreciation Day
Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1775 - The Second Continental Congress convenes to form a coherent strategy in the first weeks of the Revolutionary War.
Fighting had broken out weeks earlier at Lexington and Concord, but no official army had been assembled. Battles were left to loosely organized militia.
By next July, Congress would draft and approve the Declaration of Independence.
###
1869 - The Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads are formally joined. The merger allowed mass transportation across the continent for the first time without having to resort to wagon trails.
It also marked the beginning of the end of the Wild West, which would be infused with the more cosmopolitan character of the American East.
The construction of the two railways was mired with death and tragedy. Most workers were Chinese immigrants who worked 12 hour days across mountain terrain. Entire work crews were sometimes lost to avalanches or explosions.
###
1877 - The White House gets its first telephone, during the Hayes administration.
It was installed in the telegraph room. Only the Treasury Department had a direct line into the White House, whose number was 1.
The Oval Office got a direct phone line 50 years later during the Hoover Administration.
###
1977 - Joan Crawford dies of a heart attack.
The infamous mother's treatment of her children was dramatized in the film "Mommie Dearest."
###
1990 - The Chinese government releases the Tiananmen Square protestors who had been rounded up the previous June for daring to speak against it.
It is estimated that more than one million protestors had marched by May of 1989. Beginning in June, the Chi-Coms started deploying troops to forcefully shut them down.
The official statement upon the release of the political prisoners: "Lawbreakers involved in the turmoil and counter-revolutionary rebellion last year have been given lenient treatment and released upon completion of investigations."
###
1994 - Nelson Mandela is sworn in as South Africa’s first black president.
###
2017 - Apple becomes the first company to be worth more than $800 billion.
The milestone comes just over two years after the company hit $700 billion.
###
2020 - Global cases of COVID-19 surpass 4 million with more than 270,000 deaths.
###
BIRTHDAYS
The Gosselin Sextuplets - 19
Richarlison - soccer player - 26
Missy Franklin - Olympic swimmer - 28
Halston Sage - actress, “How to Rock” & “Neighbors” - 30
Lauren Potter - actress, “Glee” - 33
Lindsey Shaw - actress, “Pretty Little Liars” - 34
Adebayo Akinfenwa - soccer player - 41
MC Ride - rapper - 45
Kenan Thompson - actor, “All That” & “SNL” - 45
Emma Ridley - actress, “Return to Oz” & “Boy Meets World” - 51
Bono - rock singer, U2 - 63
Danny Carey - drummer, Tool - 62
Victoria Rowell - actress, “The Young & The Restless” - 64
Ellen Ochoa - astronaut, first Hispanic woman in space - 65
Born On This Date
Sid Vicious - punk singer, Sex Pistols - 1957 (d. 1979)
Mary Trump - mom of The Donald - 1912 (d. 2000)
Maybelle Carter - country singer - 1909 (d. 1978)
Fred Astaire - actor, “Night And Day” & “Swingtime” - 1899 (d. 1987)
John Wilkes Booth - assassin of Lincoln - 1838 (d. 1865)
###