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Jenna Ortega begrudgingly does the Wednesday dance in ‘SNL’ promo

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

This weekend, Jenna Ortega will be seen in theaters stalked by Ghostface in Scream VI, but in a promo for her upcoming stint hosting Saturday Night Live, she’s being haunted by something else: her viral dance from Wednesday.

In the spot, Ortega says to people off-camera, “This is really well written, I just, I don’t feel like I wanna want to do the Wednesday dance for promo, because we’ve seen so much of that already, and I think it’s time to do something new, you know?”

At that point, the camera pulls back to reveal writers Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy — the guys behind the show’s Do Not Destroy videos — all wearing black dresses identical to her character’s in the dance scene.

“Yes,” they all agree, with Herlihy offering, “We didn’t want to do the dance, either.”

She replies, “I just didn’t know, because you’re all dressed exactly like Wednesday.”

“Are we?” he responds.

Marshall adds, unconvincingly, “Is this from your television program?”

Ortega replies, “Yeah, down to the frill.”

Marshall says, “It wouldn’t be a dream come true to do the dance with you, so let’s just not do it then.”

Higgins then replies, “I barely know it,” before meekly miming all the moves.

“OK, fine,” she relents, and the guys cheer, before the four of them perform the dance, with Ortega considerably less thrilled than the dudes are.

Ortega takes the SNL stage again on Saturday night, with The 1975 as musical guest.

Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized after fall at DC hotel

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell remained in the hospital Thursday following a fall at a Washington, D.C., hotel Wednesday night.

“This evening, Leader McConnell tripped at a local hotel during a private dinner. He has been admitted to the hospital where he is receiving treatment,” McConnell’s spokesperson Doug Andres told ABC News Wednesday night.

As of Thursday morning, his team was not providing any further information on the extent of McConnell’s injuries or how long he is expected to remain hospitalized.

The hotel where the fall occurred, sources said, was the Waldorf Astoria, formerly the Trump International Hotel.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he spoke with McConnell’s staff after reaching out to his colleague.

“First, my thoughts this morning are with my good friend, Leader Mitch McConnell, who’s recovering from in the hospital after an accident last night,” Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor. “This morning I offer a prayer of strength and healing for the leader and his family. I called the leader this morning and spoke briefly with his staff to extend my prayers and well wishes. My thoughts are also with Leader McConnell’s family and his team. I join every single one of my colleagues in wishing Leader McConnell a speedy and full recovery.”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he hadn’t spoken with McConnell either but hopes to do so later.

“We are just checking, tying to get an update on the senator. I know he tripped last night, but I don’t have any new information,” McCarthy told reporters. “I haven’t been able to talk to him. Because I was in meetings. Hopefully, I’ll be able to talk to him today.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wished McConnell a speedy recovery at the top of his weekly press conference.

“Let me begin by extending on behalf of House Democrats with thoughts and prayers and best wishes to Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell. We are praying for a swift and a full and a speedy recovery and we stand with him and his family in that regard,” Jeffries said.

President Joe Biden tweeted Thursday afternoon that he and the first lady “are wishing Senator McConnell a speedy recovery” and “look forward to seeing him back on the Senate floor.”

McConnell, who’s 81, has walked with a limp after overcoming polio at a young age and suffered a fall in early August 2019, fracturing his shoulder.

He has served as Senate Republican leader since 2007 and became the longest-serving party leader in the history of the Senate earlier this year.

August Alsina announces new album, set to drop Friday

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

This Friday will see the release of a new album from August Alsina. Taking to Instagram Wednesday, the singer shared the artwork for the project, which is titled Myself.

“I’ve gone from a young boy to a man,” he says in a voice-over on the announcement video. “A man who’s wiser, smarter, stronger because of my experiences and adversities I’ve faced, and a man who is more resilient.”

News of August’s forthcoming album comes days after he was alluded to in Chris Rock‘s Netflix special Selective Outrage.

“Will Smith practices ‘selective outrage,’” Rock said when discussing the infamous Oscars slap. “Everybody who really knows, knows I had nothing to do with that sh**. I didn’t have any ‘entanglements.’ His wife was f***ing her son’s friend. I normally would not talk about this sh**.”

Alsina revealed in 2020 that he’d been in a relationship with Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, between 2018 and 2019.

“I have no idea why two talented people would do something that … lowdown,” Rock said. “We’ve all been cheated on. Everybody in here been cheated on. None of us has ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us … on television. She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”

August’s rep denied rumors that he laughed at Rock’s joke. “This is a lie,” the rep told Entertainment Tonight. “Mr. Alsina has not seen Chris Rock’s special at all, as he’s been busy on tour.”

Myself will mark August’s first full-length effort since 2020’s The Product III: State of Emergency.

Report: The Weeknd considering premiering ’The Idol’ at Cannes

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The Weeknd has been pretty secretive about his upcoming HBO show, The Idol, but we might finally learn more about it in May. The singer is reportedly looking to premiere the show at the Cannes Film Festival.

Variety spoke to a source reportedly close to the singer about the potential debut. The Weeknd has previously attended Cannes and is reportedly hopeful the show will be ready in time to be shown there in the spring.

While Cannes is more of a movie premiere destination, several television shows have also made their mark there, such as Twin Peaks: The Return.

The Idol, starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, is about a self-help guru named Tedros and his cult, and their involvement with a rising pop star named Jocelyn.

Fans have previously been treated to three teasers of the upcoming series, but no premiere date has been announced at this time.

The B-52s & Cyndi Lauper speak out against anti-LGBTQ bills

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The B-52s and Cyndi Lauper are making their voices heard. The artists are speaking out against all the new laws targeting the LGBTQ community, specifically the trans community and drag artists.

“We, The B-52’s, are deeply concerned about the numerous new bills that promote transphobia and discrimination against transgender individuals and drag artists, which have been introduced in the United States,” The B-52s share on social media, regarding bills banning gender affirming care, as well as drag shows. “We strongly denounce these bills and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community.”

They add, “It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, we are witnessing such blatant attempts to undermine the rights of individuals based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. These bills not only violate the fundamental human rights of the affected individuals but also perpetuate a toxic culture of hate and intolerance that has no place in our society.”

Lauper also talked about the bills being passed by Republicans, comparing them to the actions of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany.

“I believe you don’t stop the fight,” she told The Hill. “Equality for everybody, or nobody’s really equal. This is how Hitler started just weeding everybody out.”

She also noted, “I don’t think it’s a good idea what they’re doing but, you know, you just have to keep fighting for civil rights.” She added, “I guess that’s the way it is in this country. Started out like that, didn’t it?”

On This Day – March 9, 1987: U2 releases their fifth studio album, ‘The Joshua Tree’

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

On This Day, March 9, 1987…

U2 released their fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree, which went on to be one of the world’s best-selling albums. It was the Irish rockers’ first number-one album in the U.S. and spent nine weeks in the top spot on the Billboard 200, the longest reign at number one for the band.

The record included future U2 classics “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” which remain U2’s only number-one singles in the U.S., as well as “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

The Joshua Tree sold over 25 million copies and won two Grammys, including Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. In 2014, it was selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the U.S. National Recording Registry, a distinction that body reserves for sound recordings that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

In 2017, U2 celebrated The Joshua Tree‘s 30th anniversary with a tour of North America, Europe and Latin America, playing the album in order, in its entirety. The tour grossed more than $316 million, making it the highest-grossing tour of the year worldwide. They then added more dates through 2019, bringing in another $390.8 million.

Three dead after fears of gunshots prompt trampling at Rochester, NY, concert, police say

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) — A third person has died in the days after a trampling at a concert over the weekend, police announced Thursday.

Nine people were trampled Sunday at the Rochester, New York, concert, leaving three dead and six others with injuries, according to the Rochester Police Department.

Lt. Nicholas Adams said officers responded at 11:05 p.m. based on initial reports of gunshots fired inside Rochester’s Main Street Armory during a concert.

Officers responding to the incident found multiple injured individuals; however, an investigation later found none of the injuries were consistent with gunshot wounds.

“At this time, there is no evidence to support a shooting having occurred inside the event,” Adams wrote in a statement. “The injuries appear to be as a result of a large crowd pushing towards the exits following accounts of individuals hearing what they believed to be gunshots.”

Three people were transported via ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital after the incident, where a 33-year-old person, identified as Rhondesia Belton, died from her injuries, officials said.

A second person, identified as Brandy Miller, 35, died on Monday, according to the Rochester Police Department, and a third person, identified as Aisha Stephens, 35, died on Wednesday night, police announced Thursday.

An additional six people were transported by private vehicle to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Memphis rappers GloRilla and Finesse2tymes performed at Rochester’s Main Street Armory, which has a capacity of 5,000 attendees, on Sunday night.

At 12:11 a.m., GloRilla tweeted, “I’m just now hearing about what happened wtf 😢😢😢praying everybody is ok 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼.”

The incident follows a deadly 2021 crowd crush incident at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas. Ten concertgoers died following the Nov. 5, 2021, incident and hundreds were injured, which led to multiple lawsuits against Scott.

Emma Heming Willis takes on troll claiming she’s getting her “5 minutes” of fame by talking about Bruce Willis

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

“I didn’t come to play.”

That was the message on Instagram Wednesday from an admittedly angry Emma Heming Willis, in response to a troll who accused her of using husband Bruce Willis‘ frontotemporal dementia diagnosis for clout.

“I just saw something about me getting my ‘five minutes,’ which is great, which means that you’re listening,” she opened the video.

“So, I’m going to take my five minutes and I’m gonna turn it into 10 because I’m always going to advocate for my husband. And while I’m at it, I’m going to raise awareness about FTD and for the caregivers, who are unsung heroes out there.”

“And then, I’m going to turn my grief and my anger and my sadness into something good around something that feels less than,” she said, adding, “So, watch this space because I didn’t come to play.”

The mom of Willis’ daughters Mabel and Evelyn captioned the post, “Just over here turning my 5 mins into 10. I’ve sat around quietly for too long and I’m so ready to be embraced by this solid and loving community my family and I find ourselves in while trying to lift them up in return. Let’s go.”

Among the more than 37,000 likes on the video was a “HELL YES!” from Willis’ daughter Scout, who added to her stepmom, “I am so so proud of you!”

As reported last month, Heming Willis revealed that the Die Hard franchise star’s aphasia had progressed to the “cruel” brain disorder FTD, for which there is no cure.

Earlier this week, Heming Willis asked the paparazzi and others who might happen to see her husband to “give him his space.” She added, “The woo-hooing and the yippee-ki-yays — just don’t do it, OK?”

Ed Sheeran confirms new single “Eyes Closed” drops later this month

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Ed Sheeran is ready to embark on his next music era and fans won’t have to wait too much longer to hear what it sounds like.

Ed began teasing his new music on Wednesday by posting a melody to his TikTok and sharing some written song lyrics on his Instagram. He combined the two on Thursday morning to announce his next single, which is titled “Eyes Closed.”

The song arrives Friday, March 24.

Ed previewed a clip on his TikTok, which is spliced into three parts. Two videos are of Ed playing the guitar, while a third features him singing.

“I’m dancing with my eyes closed/ Everywhere I look I still see you/ Time is moving so slow/ And I don’t know what else I can do/ So I’ll keep dancing with my eyes closed,” he sings.

Ed also previewed the song on his Instagram, and while he sang the same lyrics, he played the piano instead of the guitar.

His new album, -, pronounced Subtract, is due out May 5.

The Cure announces dates for The Shows of a Lost World Tour

March 9, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The Cure is coming back to North America. The band just announced a new set of tour dates, which has them hitting 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada, including three-night stands at New York’s Madison Square Garden and at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

The Shows of a Lost World Tour, featuring special guests The Twilight Sad, kicks off May 10 in New Orleans, Louisiana, wrapping July 1 in Miami, Florida.

A Ticketmaster Verified Fan presale begins Wednesday, March 15. A complete list of tour dates, plus information on how to sign up for Verified Fan, can be found at thecure.com.

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