6/13/2022: 75th Annual Tony Awards

PLUS: Tampon Shortage, Funding Gun Reform, and Kim Loves Pete

Jun 13, 2022

Today is Monday, June 13, 2022.

It is the 164th day of the year.

201 days remain.

HIT LIST

Nicaragua is cozying up with the Russian military.

The country’s president, Daniel Ortega, issued a decree this week that permits Russian troops to enter Nicaragua to assist with policing efforts and humanitarian aid to its people. They’ll also have an “exchange of experiences and training” with Nicaraguan soldiers.

While larger foreign powers, including the United States, routinely aide small countries like Nicaragua in such efforts, Ortega was notoriously chummy with the Soviets before the USSR collapsed and has been a vocal Putin ally since he returned to power in 2007.

SPEAKING OF RUSSIA: McDonald’s sold off its Russian locations earlier this year. Now, the oligarch who bought them is slowly reopening the spots under a new name: Vkusno i Tochka. That doesn’t translate easily into English, but it’s close to “Tasty - Full Stop” or “Tasty, period” – as in, the tastiest thing you’ll have, and that’s all there is to it.

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A pack of robbers tried to knock off a liquor store in Houston, but fell for a decoy of an expensive bottle of booze instead of the real thing.

The gang of three men asked the clerk to unlock a display case featuring a bottle listed for $4,200. As soon as it was open, one man grabbed it and split while his accomplice tried to make off with another box, only to realize it was empty.

But the first bottle was a worthless decoy.

The men remain at large.

WORTH NOTING: The Houston Police Department didn’t say what kind of sauce it was.

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Want to make a quick $2,000?

A pest control company in North Carolina is offering homeowners the cash – if they release 100 cockroaches into the premises.

They’re testing out an experimental treatment to kill the bugs. And say that if the experiment doesn’t work, they’ll use a traditional approach to get rid of whatever’s left.

But they’re requiring you wait a solid 30 days to find out.

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A new crisis is facing the menstruators of the world: multiple outlets are reporting there’s a growing tampon shortage rolling across the country.

CBS News reports that tampon manufacturer P&G is aware of the situation. A rep for the company says they’re working “24/7 to meet the increased demand.”

WORTH ASKING: Has anyone looked for extras in the men’s rooms these days?

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The Dow spent the day Friday in the gutter, ultimately closing down 880 points (2.73%). The S&P lost 116 points (2.91%) while the NASDAQ fell 414 points (3.52%).

IN CONTEXT: Since President JOE BIDEN took office, the Nasdaq has lost 10% of its value. At the relative same point in former President DONALD TRUMP’s first term, the Nasdaq was up more than 42%.

West Texas Intermediate and Brent Crude are both over $120 a barrel.

Over the weekend, the national average gas price exceeded $5 for the first time ever. Just a year ago, the average cost of a tank of gas was $3.07. Four years ago, a gallon of gas cost $2.88.

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CHARTS

Weekend Box Office

10. Ante Sundharaniki: $620k (new)

9. Sonic the Hedgehog 2: $710k (down from 8)

8. Firestarter: $819k (up from 21)

7. Everything Everywhere All at Once: $1.2 million (down from 6)

6. Downton Abbey: A New Era: $1.6 million (down from 5)

5. The Bad Guys: $2.2 million (down from 4)

4. The Bob’s Burgers Movie: $2.3 million (down from 3)

3. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: $4.8 million (down from 2)

2. Top Gun: Maverick: $50 million (down from 1)

1. Jurassic World Dominion: $143.3 million (new)

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DEATHS

DON PERKINS has died.

The six-time Pro Bowl Dallas Cowboys running back passed away Thursday. No cause of death was shared.

He was 84.

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BILLY KAMETZ has died.

The voice actor, known for his roles within the anime and video game industry, passed away on June 9 after a battle with colon cancer.

He was 35.

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COOPER NORIEGA has died.

The popular TikTok creator and model passed away Thursday. He was found dead on a street in Burbank, California. His death is currently under investigation.

He was 19.

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JULEE CRUISE has died.

The singer, known for her songs featured on shows such as “Blue Velvet,” passed away Thursday. No other details were shared.

She was 65.

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DONALD PIPPIN has died.

The Broadway musical director, and last living recipient of the discontinued Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director, passed away June 9. No cause of death was shared.

He was 95.

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BABY NEWS

Actor STEPHEN AMELL and his wife CASSANDRA JEAN have welcomed their second child.

Sources told TMZ that Bowen Amell arrived last month. No further details about the birth were shared.

The newborn joins big sister Maverick Alexandra Jean Amell, 7.

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BREAKUPS

“DWTS” pro JULIANNE HOUGH, 33, and hockey player BROOKS LAICH, 38, are officially divorced.

The former couple finalized their split on Friday, nearly two years after officially separating.

Details of the divorce were not shared.

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RELATIONSHIPS

SEAN “Diddy” COMBS, 52, is dating City Girls rapper YUNG MIAMI, 28.

The news came out during the premiere of Yung’s new series “Caresha Please,” which featured Diddy as the first guest star.

“We date. We’re dating. We go have dates, and we’re friends,” he replied when asked about their relationship status.

Diddy’s last serious relationship was with model KIM PORTER, who tragically died in 2018. She is the mother of three of his six children.

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SICK BAY

TOBY KEITH, 60, is battling stomach cancer.

The country crooner revealed his diagnosis on Twitter Sunday, telling fans that he has spent the last six months undergoing “chemo, radiation and surgery.”

He was diagnosed last year, according to his post.

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JUSTIN BIEBER has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which has left the right side of his face paralyzed.

He shared a video over the weekend explaining to fans why he has had to cancel several shows, while showing the lack of movement in half his face.

Bieber said he is taking time off to heal and get healthy before resuming his tour.

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THE SWAMP

Politico reports that a bipartisan group of Senators have arranged a framework for expanded federal gun laws. There’s no legislation written yet, but it would add “extra scrutiny for gun buyers under the age of 21, grants to states to enact so-called red flag laws and new spending on mental health and school security.”

Congress is in session until June 24, when they’ll take a two-week break. Don’t expect any major movement until after the recess. Ten Republican senators have indicated they’ll support the law that comes out of the framework, suggesting enough votes to break any filibuster.

WORTH NOTING: The federal government allocated $4.6 trillion in covid relief funds. To date, only $3.7 trillion has been spent – leaving $900 BILLION of borrowed federal money, already sitting there, that could be allocated for these efforts.

IT GETS WORSE: Of that remaining money, the feds still haven’t figured out how to spend $400 BILLION of it, waiting to be allocated.

WORTH ASKING: Instead of borrowing more new money, why can’t the federal government repurpose what’s already been allocated for a problem that’s already been solved, instead of borrowing and spending more?

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The New York Times calls President JOE BIDEN “an anchor that should be cut loose in 2024,” in a report that details the sentiments of “nearly 50 Democrat officials, from county leaders to members of Congress.”

The Democrat Party’s Paper of Record was very careful to note, however, “no one interviewed expressed any ill will toward Mr. Biden, to whom they are universally grateful for ousting Mr. Trump from office.”

One of the Democrat Party Faithful’s gripes is that Biden’s “reputation for gaffes has repeatedly rattled global diplomacy with unexpected remarks.”

WORTH REMEMBERING: Former President DONALD TRUMP on the daily issued unexpected remarks, and the media lit its hair on fire every time. Biden’s promise as a candidate was consistency and normalcy, neither of which has materialized since he took office. Instead, Russia has invaded Ukraine and China is licking its chops over Taiwan, and Biden is (likely) headed to the Middle East on bended knee begging for more oil because he kneecapped domestic supply.

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Remember when former President BARACK OBAMA mocked then-candidate Trump’s promise to boost American jobs and manufacturing by asking, “How exactly are you going to negotiate that? What magic wand do you have?”

And remember when as President, DONALD TRUMP boosted American jobs and manufacturing by enacting policies that first-year economics students learn about supply and demand?

Well now, President JOE BIDEN says we just have to get used to inflation. “It’s gonna come down gradually, but we’re going to live with it for a while,” he told a crowd of sycophants gathered in Beverly Hills to write checks to the Democrat Party.

WORTH NOTING: Inflation coming down doesn’t mean prices come down. It means the rate at which prices go up slows down.

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LOTTERY

No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tuesday night’s drawing will be for a $247 million jackpot or a $140.6 million cash payout.

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No winner for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing. Tonight's drawing will be for a $243 million jackpot or a $138.9 million cash payout.

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SHOWBIZ NEWS

The 75th Annual Tony Awards were Sunday night.

ARIANA DEBOSE hosted the show live from Radio City Music Hall in New York.

And the winners are…

Play -- “The Lehman Trilogy”
Musical -- “A Strange Loop”
Revival of a Play -- “Take Me Out”
Revival of a Musical -- “Company”
Book of a Musical -- Michael R. Jackson, “A Strange Loop”
Original Score Written for the Theatre -- “SIX: The Musical” (Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss)
Leading Actor in a Play -- Simon Russell Beale, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Leading Actress in a Play -- Deirdre O’Connell, “Dana H.”
Leading Actor in a Musical -- Myles Frost, “MJ”
Leading Actress in a Musical -- Joaquina Kalukango, “Paradise Square”
Actor in a Featured Role in a Play -- Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Take Me Out”
Actress in a Featured Role in a Play -- Phylicia Rashad, “Skeleton Crew”
Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical -- Matt Doyle, “Company”
Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical -- Patti LuPone, “Company”
Direction of a Play -- Sam Mendes, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Direction of a Musical -- Marianne Elliott, “Company”
Choreography -- Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ”
Orchestrations -- Simon Hale, “Girl From The North Country”
Scenic Design of a Play --Es Devlin, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Scenic Design of a Musical -- Bunny Christie, “Company”
Costume Design of a Play -- Montana Levi Blanco, “The Skin of Our Teeth”
Costume Design of a Musical -- Gabrielle Slade, “SIX: The Musical”
Lighting Design of a Play -- Jon Clark, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Lighting Design of a Musical -- Natasha Katz, “MJ”
Sound Design of a Play -- Mikhail Fiksel, “Dana H”
Sound Design of a Musical -- Gareth Owen, “MJ”

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OZZY OSBOURNE will reportedly undergo surgery today that will “determine the rest of his life,” according to his wife SHARON OSBOURNE.

Sharon told a British talk show last week that she was returning to Los Angeles to be by her husband’s side as he undergoes a “major operation.”

No further details were shared.

WORTH NOTING: Ozzy has complained about neck problems for years, after injuring it in an ATV accident in 2003. Perhaps it's related to that?

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PARIS HILTON passed up an opportunity to DJ for President JOE BIDEN in order to attend the wedding of BRITNEY SPEARS and SAM ASGHARI on Thursday.

She discussed the conflicting events on her “This Is Paris” podcast Friday, and refused to share any details from Spears’ big day.

SPEAKING OF THE WEDDING: Brit’s mom, LYNNE SPEARS -- who was not invited to the nuptials -- congratulated her daughter and Sam on social media. “You look radiant and so happy!” she wrote, before adding “I am sooooo happy for you! I love you!”

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AMBER HEARD was spotted out and about on Friday -- her first public appearance since the verdict in the defamation trial with her ex, JOHNNY DEPP.

The actress, and her sister WHITNEY HENRIQUEZ, were spotted at New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport after deboarding from a private jet. She was then driven to NYC, before heading back to the airport and flying home to Virginia, TMZ reports.

The actress has not spoken about the verdict, since the day it was revealed. At the time, she said she was “heartbroken” over the jury’s findings.

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BILLIE EILISH paused her London concert on Saturday due to rising temperatures inside the venue.

When fans inside London’s O2 arena started fainting due to the extreme heat, the singer stopped her show to tell concert goers to spread out and give everyone some space to cool down.

Eilish was able to resume the show after a few minutes.

WORTH NOTING: Performers have become more conscious of their fans after the horrible tragedy at TRAVIS SCOTT’s Astroworld festival.

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The Grammys are adding a new category to next year’s awards show.

The Songwriter of the Year award will be given to a single songwriter or songwriting team for a given body of work, according to the Recording Academy. To be eligible, the artist has to be credited as a songwriter or co-writer only on at least five tracks. The award is meant to honor those who write music, but don’t perform it or produce it.

This year’s awards show will also feature a new merit award for best song for social change, as chosen by a special committee.

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CASTING CALL

LEAH REMINI will replace MATTHEW MORRISON at the judges panel of “So You Think You Can Dance.”

She will sit alongside fellow judges STEPHEN “tWitch” BOSS and JOJO SIWA.

WORTH REMEMBERING: Morrison was axed from the show after “failing to adhere to competition production protocols,” aka he was caught texting with a contestant, which is a major no-no.

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Several big names have joined the cast of BEN AFFLECK’s untitled Nike drama for Amazon Studios.

JASON BATEMAN, VIOLA DAVIS, CHRIS TUCKER, MARLON WAYANS and CHRIS MESSINA have all signed on to star in the project.

The movie will tell the story of how sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro, played by MATT DAMON, led a running shoe company called Nike in its pursuit of landing one of the biggest athletes at the time, MICHAEL JORDAN.

Affleck will play Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Other casting details were not shared.

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ANGELINA JOLIE will direct and write the upcoming film “Without Blood.”

Starring in the flick are SALMA HAYEK and DEMIAN BICHIR.

According to Variety, the project will touch on “universal truths about war, trauma, memory and healing.” It is based on the Italian novel of the same name from author Alessandro Baricco.

“Without Blood” is the first film in Jolie’s three-year international filmmaking agreement with Fremantle.

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LINDSEY BEER is set to take on a reboot of “Sleepy Hollow” for Paramount.

The tale about the headless horseman who terrorizes a small town, including resident Ichabod Crane, has received several iterations over the years, with the most popular being Paramount’s 1999 remake starring JOHNNY DEPP as Crane.

It is unknown how true to the original Beer and Paramount will stay for the latest remake.

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COURT CASES

HARVEY WEINSTEIN’s trial for rape and other multiple sex crimes charges will begin this fall.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench marked October 10 as the start of the jury trial. Once jurors have been selected, the trial is expected to take about two months.

The disgraced movie maker is facing 140 years behind bars if found guilty. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison just over two years ago in NYC.

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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK

DAVID KOECHNER was caught drinking and driving (again!).

The actor was picked up in Southern Ohio in the early morning hours of June 4 for operating a vehicle under the influence. He only received a ticket for the offense and a court appearance set for next month.

Koechner is currently on his “The Office” trivia tour.

WORTH REMEMBERING: Koechner was hit with DUI and a hit-and-run charge in April from his arrest on New Year’s Eve.

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Rapper RODDY RICCH was arrested Saturday night and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, and possession of unlawful feeding device.

The incident went down ahead of the Governor’s Ball concert at Citi Field in NYC -- at which Roddy was scheduled to perform. Upon arriving at the field, Roddy and two friends were stopped at a security checkpoint, which is when the weapon and other devices were spotted. All three were arrested on the spot.

He was released Sunday afternoon. No word on his bond amount.

WORTH NOTING: These are serious charges in NYC, carrying penalties of up to 7 years in prison for each count. Those sentences can be extended if the person is a felon.

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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS

KIM is “in love” with PETE DAVIDSON -- so says her sister KHLOE.

A Twitter user recently wrote, “Kimberly is in LOVE lmao it’s so cute,” to which Khloe replied, “Isn’t it??” She then added “She is in LOOOOOVVVEEE.”

Kim meanwhile remains coy about just how big her feelings are about the “SNL” alum. In a recent interview she was asked whether she is in love, to which she said “I don’t know if it’s any of your business.”

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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS

PRINCE WILLIAM shocked many on the streets of London last week when he was spotted handing out copies of British magazine “The Big Issue.”

The 39-year-old wore a red vest and matching hat as he sold the publication to confused passersby.

One tourist told Page Six that she didn’t even realize it was the prince, especially as he was not flanked by security.

“I didn't realize it was that easy to meet the prince in London,” she joked.

Proceeds from the sale of the magazines went toward supporting the homeless and those struggling financially.

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SPORTS

MO DONEGAL won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

The race ended the competition for the Triple Crown.

It was the fourth consecutive year without a winner, as three different horses won each of the three races. RICH STRIKE won the Kentucky Derby and EARLY VOTING won the Preakness Stakes.

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A rare STEPH CURRY SC rookie card has hit the auction block.

TMZ Sports reports that the 2009 National Treasures autographed patch piece is for sale at PWCC Marketplace, with bidding already over $400,000.

The front features Curry in his Warriors gear and a cutout of the jersey. It also boasts the NBA all-star’s autograph. On the back are Curry’s stats.

Bidding ends on Thursday.

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DAY OF THE YEAR

National Call Your Doctor Day

National Kitchen Klutzes Of America Day

National Sewing Machine Day

National Weed Your Garden Day

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ON THIS DATE

1373 - Great Britain and Portugal agree to the Treaty of Windsor.

The most important element of the pact forms the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance.

It is the longest-running modern alliance in history. Thanks to their agreement, Great Britain also fought against French and Spanish invaders into Portugal in 1807.

It also brought the UK into the Napoleonic Wars until 1815. In the First World War, the alliance impelled Portugal to assist Great Britain.

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1525 - Rebel monk Martin Luther weds escaped nun Katharina von Bora.

von Bora was one of the 12 nuns he broke out of a Cistercian convent two years earlier by hiding them in herring barrels.

This of course clashed with the Catholic rule of celibacy for clergy, a doctrine Luther had long condemned.

While organizing a new church, Luther and his wife had six kids. She made extra money by running the family farm and opening their home to boarders.

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1805 - The Lewis and Clark expedition is well underway.

Meriwether Lewis and a small scouting crew of 4 came upon the Great Falls of the Missouri River.

Lewis took note of the falls' heights - the tallest of which he accurately estimated to be 90 feet.

But before he could make further observations, a grizzly bear chased him into the river. He reportedly threatened the beast with a spear, which scared it away.

Ultimately it took a month to find a decent portage around the river. Their crew had to make 8 trips back and forth through 18 miles of bugs and grizzlies to get six canoes and all their baggage to the other side.

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1888 - Congress green-lights the creation of the Department of Labor.

15 years later it was made part of a new department: the Department of Commerce and Labor.

13 months later, it became the Bureau of Labor within the Commerce and Labor Department.

9 years after that, the Bureau of Labor in the Department of Commerce and Labor broke off as its own Department of Labor.

The bureaucracy today is nothing new.

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1948 - Babe Ruth says a public good goodbye at Yankee Stadium.

He was sick with throat cancer that was not going into remission. While veterans of the 1923 team played a two-inning exhibition against other former players, Babe could only watch.

But when the announcer finally called Babe to the plate, he shed the camel hair coat on his shoulder. Using a baseball bat for his cane, the great slugger hobbled to home plate.

The applause was thunderous.

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1966 - The Supreme Court decides in Miranda v. Arizona.

It establishes that all criminal suspects are entitled to know their rights before interrogation.

Have you seen enough “Law & Order” to recite it?

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you."

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1970 - The Beatles clean up on the music charts. Their album Let It Be hits #1 and would stay there for a month.

The single “Long & Winding Road” from the album also hits #1, where it stays for 2 weeks.

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1977 - Convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., James Earl Ray, is RE-captured after a jailbreak two days earlier.

It was his second time on the FBI Most Wanted Fugitives list. Only one year was tacked on to his 99-year sentence for the escape.

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1981 - Marcus Sarjeant tries to attack the Queen of England.

He fires six blank shots from a revolver at the monarch, who was on her horse in a parade. The shots startled the steed, but the queen regained control.

Once cops and onlookers subdued the attacker - who was just a teenager - the Queen continued along on the parade! The kid, when tackled, reportedly said, "I just wanted to be famous."

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1997 - A jury sends timothy McVeigh to his death for planning and executing the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing.

His execution would not occur for another four years.

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2005 - Michael Jackson is acquitted on charges of child molestation.

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2010 - The Japanese Hayabusa space probe lands back on Earth.

It returned from a mission to collect samples and dust from the 25143 Itokawa asteroid -- the first mission to successfully return dust and materials from an asteroid.

The data collected is still being studied today.

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2018 - The journal “Nature” reports that Antarctica is melting at an accelerating rate.

According to the report it is losing 200 billion metric tons a year.

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BIRTHDAYS

Amelia Gray Hamlin - model - 21

Kodi Smit-McPhee - actor, “The Power of the Dog” - 26

Aaron Tayor-Johnson - actor, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” & “Nocturnal” - 32

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen - actresses, “Full House” - 36

Kat Dennings - actress, “2 Broke Girls” - 36

Luke James - R&B singer - 38

Chris Evans - actor, “Captain America” - 41

Steve-O - reality star, “Jackass” - 48

Rivers Cuomo - rock singer, Weezer - 52

Tim Allen - actor, “The Santa Claus” & “Last Man Standing” - 69

Stellan Skarsgard - actor, “Thor” & “Chernobyl” - 71

Born On This Date

Harold “Red” Grange - “Galloping Ghost” of football (Chicago Bears) - 1903 (d. 1991)

James Clerk Maxwell - physicist (theory of light) - 1831 (d. 1879)

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