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(NEW YORK) — Paramount Pictures was hit with a lawsuit Monday over the blockbuster hit, Top Gun: Maverick.
The widow and son of Ehud Yonay, who wrote a 1983 article in California Magazine titled, “Top Guns,” about fighter pilots and the Navy’s elite Top Gun program, is suing the studio in California federal court and claiming copyright infringement. The lawsuit claims the original film credited the story but that the studio did not have the right to make this year’s blockbuster, which they say is a derivative work of the original article.
“The iconic 1986 film all started with Paramount securing exclusive motion picture rights to Ehud Yonay’s copyrighted story immediately after its publication,” according to the lawsuit filed by Shosh Yonay, his widow, and Yuval Yonay, his son. “In fact, the author’s story was duly credited on the derivative 1986 film, which is widely known to have been based on the story.”
The family also alleges that Paramount “deliberately” ignored their letter sent to recover copyright of the story through a copyright termination notice for Ehud’s initial article, “thumbing its nose at the statute.”
According to the lawsuit, Paramount acquired the copyright to Yonay’s story after it was published in 1983. In 2018, the Yonays allege they sent Paramount a notice that the copyright was terminated with an effective date of Jan. 24, 2020. They claim Paramount did not get a license to make the sequel.
The Yonays claim the film was completed after the effective termination date of Jan. 24, 2020.
“Despite the 2022 sequel clearly having derived from the story, Paramount consciously failed to secure a new license of film and ancillary rights in the copyrighted story following the Yonays’ recovery of their U.S. copyright on January 24, 2020,” the lawsuit states.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Paramount has insisted the sequel was sufficiently completed before that date.
“These claims are without merit, and we will defend ourselves vigorously,” Paramount said in a statement, which was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Top Gun: Maverick, which stars Tom Cruise and Miles Teller, has grossed more than $500 million since it was released over Memorial Day. The Yonays are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief and unspecified damages.
(NEW YORK) — Prince Harry and Meghan, duchess of Sussex, have released a new photo of their daughter, Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
The photo shows a smiling, red-headed Lili sitting in the grass at her first birthday party, which took place on Saturday at Frogmore Cottage, the Sussexes’ home in the United Kingdom.
The toddler’s birthday party, described as a casual, backyard picnic, was attended by close friends and family, according to a spokesperson for the Sussexes.
Party guests enjoyed a birthday cake by London baker Claire Ptak, who created Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake in 2018.
The photo of Lili was taken by U.K.-based photographer Misan Harriman, who also took the photo Harry and Meghan shared with their pregnancy announcement last year.
Harriman shared a few photos on Twitter from the party, writing, “It was such a privilege to celebrate the 1st birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around.”
One of the photos shows Meghan holding Lili, who has her hand in her mouth and is wearing polka-dot socks.
It was such a privilege to celebrate the 1st birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around ❤️🎂🎉 pic.twitter.com/bg3RY6MOEu
Lili celebrated her first birthday on her first trip to the U.K., where her father and older brother, 3-year-old Archie, were born.
The Sussexes now live in California, where Meghan was raised. The family traveled to the U.K. to attend Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Lili’s great-grandmother and namesake, Queen Elizabeth II.
Lili and Archie did not appear publicly while in the U.K. Harry and Meghan attended just one public engagement, joining royal family members at a National Service of Thanksgiving for Elizabeth at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
The church service was the couple’s first royal event since they stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020 and moved out of the U.K.
Prior to Lili’s birthday photo, the only public photo that had been released of her was the Sussexes’ 2021 Christmas card.
In the photo, the family is all smiling as Meghan lifts up Lili and Archie sits on Harry’s lap.
Harry revealed in April that Lili, 10 months old at the time, was learning how to walk.
“Her current priorities are trying to keep up with her brother; she took her first step just a few days ago!” Harry told People magazine. “Proud papa, here.”
(WASHINGTON) — Voters in seven states head to the polls on Tuesday to pick party nominees for some of the nation’s most competitive House seats — and their choices will be shaped by key forces, like redistricting, that will help decide who controls Congress next year.
California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey and South Dakota are next to vote in the ongoing primaries.
One of the marquee developments will be the outcome in brand new congressional districts, which were based on the last census and each state’s rules about who drew the new maps. In most cases, the state legislatures were responsible, with observers tracking how the new lines across the country favor one party over another — and with some new maps enduring rounds of controversy and judicial review.
The candidates for some of these new seats highlight fluctuating intraparty dynamics for both Democrats and Republicans. The latest batch of primaries also features some of the most endangered incumbents from either party.
California Republican Reps. Mike Garcia — who voted not to certify the 2020 election results — and David Valadao — one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump in the wake of Jan. 6 — are attempting to keep their seats in districts that absorbed a near 12-point edge in Democratic voter registration after the state’s latest decennial redraw.
Meanwhile, in Iowa, Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne is grasping at her swing district as her state has moved further and further right.
Fellow Democratic incumbent Tom Malinowski, of New Jersey, is in a long-shot fight to keep hold of his newly GOP-favorable 7th Congressional District, which was redrawn in order for the state’s Democrats to bolster a number of their other vulnerable lawmakers.
The contest for New Mexico’s second congressional seat highlights a newly formed district that shifted in 2020 from Trump to Joe Biden by 17 points. It’ll be a toss-up race between incumbent Republican Rep. Yvette Herrell and front-runner Gabe Vasquez, a Mexican-born former Las Cruces councilman and former aide to Sen. Martin Heinrich. In California, Democratic Rep. Mike Levin’s 49th District was recently made slightly more Republican.
Redistricting drew incumbent Republican Rep. Michelle Steel into the same district as Democratic fundraising powerhouse Rep. Katie Porter in Orange County, California, forcing the former to move over to the 45th District.
Concerns about crime and policing will also play out in some primaries. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin faces a recall, with his opponents arguing he has not done enough to combat criminals in the city while his supporters say he’s trying to fix and reimagine law enforcement. San Francisco is one of the most liberal cities in America and if voters do kick out Boudin, it could be a telling sign of how far progressive prosecutors can go in metro areas.
South of San Francisco, crime is also having an impact in the Los Angeles mayoral race, where billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso has seen his profile rise. Caruso, a former Republican and self-described “centrist,” has promised to invest more in L.A.’s police department and focus on public safety. The other leading contender in the race is Democratic Rep. Karen Bass, who has served six terms in Congress and was also on the long list to be Biden’s vice presidential running mate. Bass has touted her own extensive plans for crime in the city, reflecting how it remains top of mind for local voters.
California’s primary will shift light onto another race: GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is up for reelection in the 20th Congressional District. On Sunday, McCarthy received an endorsement from former President Trump, who called him a “tireless advocate” for his area and a chief opponent of Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But even though he endorsed McCarthy, Trump did not mention supporting McCarthy in his run for speaker should Republicans gain control of the House. McCarthy is widely expected to seek the speakership, should the GOP retake the majority, and Trump’s support would be critical.
Last, in Iowa, state Democrats’ push to unseat 88-year-old Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley is shaping up to be a major primary battle on Tuesday — and one that could illustrate disorganization in the party ahead of more fierce fighting for the historically purple state. Former Rep. Abby Finkenauer is in an ever-tightening race against retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Mike Franken. While that primary had been intended as an easy win for the well-connected Finkenauer, ballot accessibility hurdles involving the Iowa Supreme Court and some campaign management challenges instead put her into a much more competitive race with Franken. Both will also be up against rural physician Glenn Hurst.
It’s no secret that country stars love fishing almost as much as they love country music, and it appears that many of them have been casting a rod and reel as of late.
One of those people is Luke Bryan, who spent a few glorious days out on the water with his family. Clearly a good time was had by all, as the “Huntin’ Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” singer shares that his youngest son Tate caught his first fish.
“Tate’s first shoal bass. Hell of a fishing week for me,” the proud dad writes alongside a photo of 11-year-old Tate proudly holding up his fresh catch as Luke beams with excitement beside him.
But the crowning jewel is a video of the American Idol judge excitedly celebrating catching an 11 pound fish, revealing that it’s been a lifelong dream to catch a 10-pounder, sealing it with a gentle kiss atop the fish’s head.
Meanwhile, Luke Combs has also been enjoying the great outdoors, reeling in a six-pound largemouth bass that he proudly showed off on Instagram. “Sorry honey, but I got to click over… I got a 6 pound largemouth on the other line,” he pens in the clever caption as he flashes a bright smile while holding up the fish to the camera.
Jason Aldean, who’s single “Trouble With a Heartbreak” has returned to #1 on country radio, was out on the open seas when he and his friend Rick Young hauled in a massive sailfish.
“Spent most of the day trying to run around the storms but finally hooked into this dude and got him in the boat with my tag team partner @rickyyoungmusic,” he writes with the photo of the impressive catch.
(NEW YORK) — Multiple climbers were airlifted off California’s Mount Shasta, some in critical condition, on Monday, with one dying as a result of their injuries, authorities said.
At least four climbers were rescued, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. Climbers had reported poor conditions after Sunday snowfall turned into ice overnight.
Mount Shasta is a potentially active volcano with an elevation of 14,179 feet — the second-highest peak in the Cascade Range.
The first incident was reported at 8:39 a.m. of a climber suffering severe injuries and in critical condition and one recovering from injuries that included a broken ankle, the sheriff’s office said, which said at the time that another climber had died as a result of their injuries.
Another climber was reported in critical condition at 12:31 p.m., and a third incident was later reported at 4 p.m., at which time the sheriff’s office said a helicopter crew was trying to locate a female climber who was said to be injured on the mountain.
The first two incidents were in the area of Avalanche Gulch, a snowy glacier climb on the mountain, the sheriff’s office said.
As of 6 p.m., the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office was coordinating rescue efforts for a fifth climber, it said. It was unclear exactly how many climbers were injured or what the nature of their climb was.
The identity of the deceased climber is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office was coordinating rescue operations with the Mount Shasta City Fire Department, the Siskiyou County Search and Rescue (SAR), USFS Climbing Rangers, the CHP – Air Operations H-14 crew and Mount Shasta Ambulance, as well as Reach 5 Air Ambulance.
Lauren Spencer-Smith plays her first major U.S. headlining show tonight at Los Angeles’ Troubadour club — and it’s sold out. So, what can fans expect from the live Lauren Spencer-Smith experience? The “Flowers” singer says she enjoys being an “emotional wreck” together with her fans.
Describing her live shows, Lauren tells ABC Audio, “I’m definitely very scatterbrained and I just, like, say random things and I’m, like, myself. It’s not, like, a robotic set where we’re just, like, going song after song. I’m, like, pausing and complimenting people in the audience, just like telling stories about random things.”
“Right now, it’s definitely intimate,” she adds. “We’re not doing like the whole full band crazy thing. We really just want to [have] like, people connect[ing] with the songs and hav[ing] an intimate experience at my show.”
But since all of Lauren’s songs are pretty intense, she says her shows will also be an emotional roller coaster.
“I’d say they’re definitely very fun. Even though we’re sad and cry, I think it’s funny, and we’re having a good time, we’re laughing,” she explains. “And we’re all, just, in an emotional wreck together!”
Lauren is also playing headline shows June 28 at New York’s Bowery Ballroom and June 30 in Toronto. In between, she’ll perform at the Capital FM Summertime Ball in London, along with Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, GAYLE, Mabel, Anne-Marie and fellow Canadian singer/songwriter Tate McRae.
Like many albums that come out nowadays, Judah & the Lion‘s upcoming Revival was very much influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, a lot of the record was born from an early period of the pandemic when frontman Judah Akers was living in Nashville, while mandolin player Brian Macdonald had relocated across the globe to accompany his wife, who was studying in Sweden.
“It was just wild that we were in different spots but going through similar things,” Akers tells ABC Audio. “That’s kind of what you’re hearing in the record.”
One common thing Akers and Macdonald were going through was the departure of banjo player Nate Zuercher. Revival, then, became Judah & the Lion’s first album as a duo.
“We were obviously a little nervous,” Akers shares. “Nate played a big part in our band, him coming up with these unique banjo sounds was obviously a foundation for our identity.”
“But it also came with this beautiful kind of innocence,” he adds. “I was learning how to play the mandolin and the banjo, Brian was relearning how to play the banjo.”
That sonic identity, which first put Judah on the map with songs such as “Take It All Back” and “Suit and Tie,” is still intact on Revival. Alongside that, though, the group’s lyrical content builds on the work of 2019’s Pep Talks as it continues to solidify around themes of optimism, resilience and the fight for a better tomorrow.
“For me, as the main lyrical steerer for our band, I do hope it’s a staple,” Akers says. “I hope writing about my life in some ways can connect to your story, and, in that way, we can kind of be humans together.”
Denise Truscello/Getty for Nellie’s Southern Kitchen
The Jonas Brothers will now be able to taste their family’s home cooking when they’re in Las Vegas: Their parents, Kevin Jonas Sr. and Denise, have opened Nellie’s Southern Kitchen in Sin City.
This marks the second location of the growing chain. The family patriarch says all the recipes are inspired by his grandmother Nellie, adding in a statement that his grandmother’s “greatest desire was for people to enjoy themselves around her table and on her front porch.”
Kevin Sr. opened the first location in Belmont, North Carolina, the city his grandmother called home. The restaurant features the experience of “live music, generous hospitality and timeless Southern comfort food,” per a release.
Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas also weighed in on their great-grandmother’s legacy, with the eldest brother declaring, “Nellie’s Southern Kitchen is a perfect reflection of our family’s passion for food and music. And the fact that we introduced Nellie’s the same weekend our Las Vegas residency kicked off couldn’t be better.”
Added Nick, “In many ways, Nellie’s is a celebration of what people love about Las Vegas – amazing food, great vibes and entertainment. We’re excited to officially open the doors to share all of this with our fans while commemorating our Great-Grandmother’s legacy.”
“Our family’s connection to Las Vegas has always been strong as we’ve performed here many times over the years, and it feels very special to now have a permanent piece of our family history in the city for everyone to enjoy,” Joe added.
Nellie’s Southern Kitchen is now open at MGM Grand Garden Arena, just in time for the JoBros’ Las Vegas residency. The trio is performing at the Dolby Live at Park MGM through June 11.
To commemorate its one-year anniversary, Gibson Garage is hosting a weeklong celebration, called Gibson Garage Fest Week, at its location in downtown Nashville. The fest features performances by Darius Rucker, Elvie Shane, Callista Clark and more June 6 through June 12.
Darius will help celebrate the official one-year anniversary with his set on June 9 at 9 a.m. CT, as well as assist with a donation presentation to the National Museum of African American Music on behalf of Gibson’s charitable foundation, Gibson Gives, to help fund music education.
“Flower Shops” singer Ernest and Elvie will also perform on June 9, followed by “It’s ‘Cause I Am” hitmaker Callista on June 10, with Parmalee taking the stage on the final day of the festival June 12.
Artist Q&As, guitar lessons and prizes will also be part of the experience. The event is open to the public.
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the Stray Cats‘ debut U.S. album, Built for Speed.
The 12-track collection, which remains the rockabilly trio’s most successful album to date, actually is a compilation featuring highlights from the Long Island, New York, group’s first two U.K. studio efforts — 1981’s Stray Cats and Gonna Ball — along with one previously unreleased tune, “Built for Speed.”
The Built for Speed album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and was kept out of the top spot by Michael Jackon‘s Thriller. The record yielded two of the Stray Cats’ signature tunes, “Stray Cat Strut” and “Rock This Town,” which reached #3 and #9, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Stray Cats — singer/guitarist Brian Setzer, double bassist Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom — formed in Massapequa, New York, in 1979. After the band relocated to the U.K. in 1980, their authentic retro-rockabilly sound and style quickly gained them a following there.
Rocker tells ABC Audio that The Rolling Stones were “really integral” to getting his band media attention “before we even had a record deal.”
As Lee recalls, “They were showing up at these little gigs we were doing in London, and, as you can imagine …right behind them was a cadre of photographers and press people. So they helped shine a light.”
The Stones even invited The Stray Cats to open for them during their 1981 tour. The trio soon headed back to the U.S. and, after Built for Speed‘s release, the band’s popularity soared, thanks in part to MTV putting videos for “Stray Cat Strut” and “Rock This Town” into heavy rotation.
Built for Speed went on to sell over 1 million copies in the U.S. Here’s the album’s full track list:
“Rock This Town”
“Built for Speed”
“Rev It Up & Go”
“Stray Cat Strut”
“Little Miss Prissy”
“Rumble in Brighton”
“Runaway Boys”
“Lonely Summer Nights”
“Double Talkin’ Baby”
“You Don’t Believe Me”
“Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie”
“Baby Blue Eyes”
