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Elton John testifies before Senate about AIDS relief: “We need to keep our foot on the accelerator”

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Elton John testified remotely before the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday morning, urging the committee to continue to fund the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The plan, known as PEPFAR, was founded in 2003 by President George W. Bush. The Hill reports that in his testimony, Elton credited it with saving some 25 million lives and urged Congress to extend and fund the program for the next five years.

“I am boundlessly grateful for the bipartisan cooperation that has been the hallmark of PEPFAR for two decades now,” he told lawmakers, noting that the plan has been “enthusiastically supported by four presidents and 10 Congresses, and consistently championed by the generosity of the American people.”

“The PEPFAR platform has not only transformed HIV into a chronic disease for tens of millions, it has been leveraged to fight [COVID-19] and made countries far better prepared for whatever viral nightmare comes next,” Elton noted. “But we are not done yet.”

He continued, “We need to keep our foot on the accelerator,” adding, “By extending PEPFAR for another five years and fully funding it, together, we can continue the march toward ending AIDS for everyone everywhere and leave no one behind.”

The committee’s chairman, Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.) praised Elton as someone who “use[s] their fame in a way that saves the lives of others.”

Scorcese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ reportedly clocking in at nearly 3 and a half hours

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

When you have Oscar winners Robert De Niro, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Brendan Fraser in your movie, you arguably might want them on screen for as long as possible — and that’s what Martin Scorsese apparently got with his newest picture.

Based on a bestselling book, the Academy Award-winning directing legend’s latest film is reportedly clocking in at 3 hours and 26 minutes long.

The Apple Studios production is actually three minutes shorter than Scorsese’s The Irishman, which also starred De Niro, but that film was made primarily to stream on Netflix.

Quoting Comscore data, The Hollywood Reporter notes that Flower Moon, the runtime of which includes credits, is one of the longest theatrical movies on record in modern times.

Theater chains may gripe at longer runtimes, because they can screen a long movie fewer times a day compared to a 90-minute rom-com, which means fewer tickets and fewer buckets of popcorn. But some of the highest grossing movies of all time were long ones: Avengers: Endgame, #2 of all time, was three hours and two minutes; #3, James Cameron‘s Avatar: The Way of Water ran three hours and 12 minutes; and #4, also a Cameron film, Titanic, clocked in at 3:14.

By comparison, Cameron’s original Avatar, the highest grossing movie of all time, ran a relatively sprightly 2 hours and 41 minutes long.

Based on David Grann‘s bestselling book of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moon is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a murder spree known locally as the Reign of Terror.

The movie debuts in limited release from Paramount Pictures on October 6; wide release comes October 20. It comes to Apple TV+ after it goes wide.

Lainey Wilson’s sending “Smell Like Smoke” to the Emmys

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lainey Wilson‘s sending her boot-stomping song, “Smell Like Smoke,” to the Emmys for consideration in the outstanding music and lyrics category.

The track, which Lainey penned with Derek George, Lynn Hutton and Monty Criswell, was featured in the season five premiere of Paramount+’s Yellowstone, where Lainey made her acting debut as a local musician named Abby.

“Derek came up with the signature guitar lick at the beginning of the song and tracked the original demo, while Monty and I fiddled around with lyrics and Lynn steered the melodies,” Lainey tells Variety. “It was a little rough around the edges, but with good energy, which we thought was perfect for Yellowstone.”

“We thought a song about owning tough times in a proud, matter-of-fact, light-hearted way would tie in well with the way the show makes the down-and-dirty look sexy and fun,” she adds.

“Smell Like Smoke” is featured on Lainey’s third studio album, Bell Bottom Country. The 16-song collection also includes her latest chart-topper, “Heart Like a Truck.”

Gorillaz shares live video for “Feel Good Inc.” Coachella performance with De La Soul

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Gorillaz has premiered the live video capturing the band’s rendition of “Feel Good Inc.” at Coachella last Friday.

The performance featured a surprise appearance by the hip hop group De La Soul, who guests on the original studio version. Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer and Vincent “Maseo” Mason took the stage alongside Damon Albarn and company to pay tribute to late De La Soul member David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, who passed away earlier this year.

Trugoy’s memorable verse on “Feel Good Inc.” was performed by Posdnuos during the Coachella rendition.

You can watch the live “Feel Good Inc.” video streaming now on YouTube.

Gorillaz will perform at Coachella again this Friday.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

‘Mrs. Davis’ stars Betty Gilpin and Jake McDorman debate the benefits of AI

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The new series Mrs. Davis stars Betty Gilpin as Sister Simone, a nun on a mission to destroy an AI, the aforementioned Mrs. Davis, who seems to have control over most people on Earth. The series mixes drama, comedy and even some absurdity, as it explores the role AI and technology play in our lives today, which Gilpin realizes is a very timely subject.

Gilpin tells ABC Audio, “I think the show and Simone are asking the same question we are right now which is, is this thing our savior or our downfall? Is this gonna fix everything or is it going to be the end of humanity?”

And Gilpin isn’t so sure AI is the savior some people make it out to be, noting, “I do think that there is a connection to the inexplicable that we are kind of gambling with if we’re so addicted to having all the answers in our pocket.” She adds, “and I think that our show is pretty honest about the benefits and the possible curse.”

Co-star Jake McDorman, who plays Wyatt, Sister Simone’s ex-boyfriend and leader of The Resistance, understands a lot of people worry about AI taking over and replacing people in jobs, but notes the show also looks at bigger implications of too much technology.

“What would it do to faith? How many other things would kind of vanish and evaporate if it was demystified?” he asks, adding, “[It’s] an interesting conversation to have and our show kind of has those conversations.”

Mrs. Davis premieres Thursday, April 20 on Peacock.

After Kelly Clarkson reveals daughter was “bullied” due to dyslexia, Henry Winkler gives her a pep talk

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Beloved actor Henry Winkler is dyslexic, and when he appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday, he had a special message for Kelly’s daughter River, who has the same learning disorder.

Speaking with Winkler, who’s written many children’s books, Kelly mentioned that River, 8, is dyslexic. She said to Winkler, “You have told me that you’re dyslexic as well and I find that amazing to tell my daughter that you’ve written, like, 40 books, and you’re dyslexic, ’cause she was getting bullied at school for not being able to read like other kids.”

And Kelly added that when River learned how many other famous folks are also dyslexic — like Zachary Levi and Anthony Mackie, just to name a few — “It really empowered her that y’all are so open about it.”

Winkler then turned to the camera and addressed Kelly’s daughter directly: “River, how you learn has nothing to do with how brilliant you are!”

Kelly immediately teared up as the audience applauded.

Yet another Winkler book, his memoir, Henry Winkler: The Fonz and Beyond, will be out this fall.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has daddy issues in the new trailer to Netflix’s action-comedy series ‘FUBAR’

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in action in the full trailer to his upcoming Netflix action-comedy series FUBAR.

His character, a retired CIA agent, is dragged back into service to extract an important asset, only to find out it’s his daughter, played by Top Gun: Maverick‘s Monica Barbaro.

Safe to say, it’s a shock for the overprotective dad, who’d still like to think his little girl is still, well, a little girl. “Alcohol, cigarettes, and garish lipstick!” he frets, until he realizes the vibrating item he’s just picked up is only made to look like a tube of lipstick.

“Kill me now!” his daughter exclaims.

Comedienne and actress Fortune Feimster is also game as a wise-cracking sidekick, much like Tom Arnold was for Schwarzenegger in True Lies, and Ah-nuld’s Terminator: Dark Fate co-star Gabriel Luna also stars.

Netflix teases, “A CIA Operative on the verge of retirement discovers a family secret. Forced to go back into the field for one last job, the series tackles universal family dynamics set against a global backdrop of spies, action and humor.”

The show debuts May 25.

Metro Boomin teases joint album with Future

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

It’s only been a few months since the release of Metro Boomin‘s Heroes & Villains album, yet another album is on the way. The producer teased a new body of work while briefly reflecting on his experience at Coachella.

“After a 10+ year journey it was surreal to perform @coachella in front of 20k+ with my brother @future,” he wrote next to a photo of him and Hendrix onstage. “Metro Pluto album otw.”

Future was one of many people who joined Metro for his star-studded set at Coachella Friday. The producer also brought out John Legend, Don Toliver, The Weeknd, Diddy and 21 Savage, who called Metro “the greatest producer of our generation.”

So-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ rules expanded through 12th grade in Florida

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) — The Florida Board of Education has voted to expand restrictions on classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

“This amendment prohibits classroom instruction to students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 3 on sexual orientation or gender identity. For Grades 4 through 12, instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited unless such instruction is either expressly required by state academic standards … or is part of a reproductive health course or health lesson for which a student’s parent has the option to have his or her student not attend,” according to the amendment.

This rule would build on the Parental Rights in Education law Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in March 2022. The law bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade.

It also states that any instruction on those topics cannot occur “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” according to the legislation.

Critics of these restrictions argue that “everyone has a sexual orientation and a gender identity. It looks like this rule would make it impossible to do much instruction at all,” Laura McGinnis, of the LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG, previously told ABC News.

The law was dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics for aiming to restrict curriculum that includes history, literature and more that touch on LGBTQ identities.

Supporters of the rules argue that “there is no reason for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to be part of K-12 public education. Full stop,” according to a spokesperson for DeSantis, who has backed restrictions on education about race, gender identity and sexual orientation and more in his war on “woke.”

Woke is defined by the DeSantis administration as “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them,” according to DeSantis’ general counsel, as reported by The Washington Post.

Follow Spiritbox into “The Void” with new single

April 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Spiritbox has shared a new single called “The Void.”

The Canadian metallers previously premiered the track live on their ongoing North American headlining tour, which kicked off earlier in April. You can now listen to the official studio version via digital outlets.

“The Void” follows Spiritbox’s 2021 album Eternal Blue and their 2022 Rotoscope EP.

Spiritbox’s tour, which marks their first full North American headlining outing, concludes May 10 in Minneapolis. The group is also playing the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas.

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