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In Brief: ‘Jackass: Forever’ getting spin-off, ‘Dead to Me’ returning, and more

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Paramount+ announced that the Bryan Cranston/Annette Bening comedy Jerry & Marge Go Large will be coming to the streaming service on June 17. The film, which will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, has the pair starring in the real-life story of a couple who hit it big gaming the Massachusetts lottery. They then use their windfall to help their Michigan town. The film also stars Michael McKean, Larry Wilmore, Rainn Wilson, and Anna Camp…

A spin-off to the hit Jackass: Forever is coming to Paramount+. The Hollywood Reporter says Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish revealed the news after an earnings call on Tuesday. “…[W]e’re working with the creators to continue the partnership with a new series, bringing even more ridiculous antics straight to Paramount+,” the exec said. To date, the modestly-budgeted Jackass: Forever has made more than $80 million in theaters, making it one of the highest grossing films of 2022…

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Dead to Me, Netflix’s dark comedy starring Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini and James Marsden, will return for its third and final season in the fall. “And… that’s a wrap on @deadtome Season 3!” series creator Liz Feldman tweeted next to a photo of a director’s chair sitting alone on a beach. “Filming is complete. Editing is underway. The final season is coming. And holy. f******. s***. @1capplegate & @lindacardellini knocked it out of the park. Can’t to share it with you.” Netflix also announced Feldman’s next project for the streamer, the dark comedy titled, No Good Deed…

David Birney, the actor best known for playing Dr. Ben Samuels on season one of the 1982 NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere, as well as CBS’ short-lived, controversial 1972 sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie, has died of Alzheimer’s disease at his home in Santa Monica, His life partner Michele Roberge tells The New York Times. He was 83. Birney appeared on St. Elsewhere for just one season, before leaving due to a Broadway commitment. Bridget Loves Bernie, an interfaith sitcom that met with criticism from Jewish groups due to accusations of stereotypes, lasted just one season, but also introduced him to his co-star Meredith Baxter, to whom was married from 1974-1989. They shared three children. Birney also had guest spots and recurring roles on many classic TV shows, including Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat and Hawaii Five-0…

Mom alum Allison Janney has been tapped to star alongside Kristen Wiig in Apple TV+ comedy series Mrs. American Pie, according to Deadline. Mrs. American Pie revolves around Palm Beach high society in the 1970s. Wiig plays Maxine Simmons, “an outsider” trying to “cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots,” according to the streaming service. “Mrs. American Pie asks the same questions that still baffle us today: ‘Who gets a seat at the table?” Janney will play Evelyn, a full-time Palm Beach resident and member of the high society. Executive producer Laura Dern is also “eyeing a key role” in the comedy…

The Kid LAROI scores three prestigious awards in his native Australia

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

He’s now based in LA, but The Kid LAROI‘s home country honored him Tuesday night at a ceremony in Melbourne, Australia.

LAROI took home three awards from APRA, the Australasian Performing Right Association, at its annual ceremony honoring songwriters. His trophies included the APRA Song of the Year for “Stay,” Most Performed Hip-Hop/Rap Work for “Without You,” and the overall Songwriter of the Year award.

According to Billboard, LAROI accepted via a live Zoom from LA.

LAROI just released his long-awaited new single “Thousand Miles,” which he says he wrote when he met his current girlfriend, and realized that he “couldn’t give her the relationship she deserved due to the direction my life was heading.” In the song, he warns her to stay away from him because he’s going to hurt her but, obviously, she didn’t listen, because they’re still together.

Dave Chappelle attacked on stage; Chris Rock jokes, “Was that Will Smith?”

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s no joke: Dave Chappelle was tackled on stage while playing the Netflix Is A Joke festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles Tuesday night.

According to KABC-TV, the unidentified man rushed the stage when Chappelle was performing, and shoved Dave to stage floor, where the comic tussled with the unknown assailant. The suspect then ran away behind a screen on stage, where he was tackled by security.

The 48-year-old comedian and Mark Twain Award winner was apparently uninjured in the altercation, and actually ran towards the scrum with security, where it appeared the suspect was getting “stomped.” Chappelle repeatedly demanded he be ejected from the historic venue, according to the ABC News affiliate.

Authorities say the suspect, who was wheeled out of the venue in a hospital gurney, was reportedly armed with a gun and a knife.

The show continued, with Chris Rock joining Dave after the attack, joking, “Was that Will Smith?” — of course a callback to the slap he suffered at the hands of the star during this year’s Oscars telecast.

Missing corrections officer ‘willingly’ participated in inmate’s escape, sheriff says

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Authorities now believe that an Alabama corrections officer “willingly” participated in the escape of a capital murder suspect, according to the local sheriff in charge of the investigation.

“The pieces of the puzzle just came together,” Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton told ABC News in an interview Wednesday on Good Morning America.

“I think all of our employees and myself included were really hoping that she did not participate in this willingly. But all indications are that she absolutely did,” he added. “We’re very disappointed in that because we had the utmost trust in her as an employee and as an assistant director of corrections.”

Wednesday marked the sixth day of an intense search for Lauderdale County Assistant Director of Corrections Vicki White, 56, and inmate Casey White, 38. The pair — who authorities said are not related — went missing from Florence, Alabama, on Friday. That morning at the Lauderdale County Detention Center, Vicki White allegedly told her colleagues she was taking Casey White to the local courthouse for a “mental health evaluation,” though he didn’t have a court appearance scheduled. She violated policy by escorting the inmate alone, according to the sheriff.

“This particular guy and someone like that, no, that should have never happened, even if we had to delay getting him to court,” Singleton told ABC News on Wednesday.

Casey White, who is 6 feet, 9 inches tall, was charged with two counts of capital murder in September 2020 for the stabbing of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway. He could face the death penalty if convicted, according to the sheriff.

The inmate previously planned an escape from the Lauderdale County Detention Center in the fall of 2020, but authorities thwarted the plot before he could attempt it, the sheriff said. When authorities got word of the scheme, they found a homemade knife in his possession and learned that he was planning to take a hostage, according to the sheriff. Casey White was subsequently transferred to a state prison, where he remained until February 2022, when he returned to the Lauderdale County facility for court appearances related to the murder charge, the sheriff said.

Investigators have since learned that Casey White and Vicki White had a “special relationship” and were communicating after he was transferred from the county jail to state custody, according to the sheriff. The nature of that communication was not immediately clear.

“We know that they maintained contact while he was in the department of corrections up to and including until he was returned here Feb. 25 of this year,” Singleton told ABC News on Wednesday.

The pair “should be considered dangerous and may be armed with an AR-15 rifle, handguns and a shotgun,” and may be driving a 2007 orange or copper Ford Edge with minor damage to the left back bumper, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $10,000 reward for information leading to Casey White’s capture and a $5,000 reward for information leading to Vicky White. A warrant was issued for Vicki White charging her with permitting or facilitating escape.

As of Wednesday morning, investigators “don’t have any idea where they might be,” the sheriff told ABC News.

“We were making some good progress on that. We may be hindered now that some of that information has gotten out,” he added. “But, you know, we’re still working around the clock to locate them and try to get them back in custody.”

Singleton has described Vicki White, a 17-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, as “an exemplary employee.” He said she had been talking about retiring for the last few months and turned in her paperwork last Thursday. The day she and Casey White went missing was set to be her last day on the job, according to the sheriff.

“My message would be: Vicki, you’ve been in this business for 17 years, you’ve seen this scenario play out more than once and you know how it always ends,” Singleton told ABC News on Wednesday. “Now go ahead and end it now, get to a phone and call 911, turn yourself in and help us get Casey White back behind bars because you know that’s where he’s going to eventually end up.”

2022 Rock Hall inductees include Pat Benatar, Judas Priest, Duran Duran, Eurythmics and, yes, Dolly Parton

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees have been announced, and among this year’s honorees are Pat Benatar, Judas Priest, Duran Duran and Eurythmics.

Benatar, Duran Duran and Eurythmics are among seven artists being inducted in the Performer category, along with country icon Dolly Parton, rapper Eminem, singer/songwriter Carly Simon, and pop/R&B legend Lionel Richie.

Judas Priest will be inducted in conjunction with receiving the Musical Excellence Award, as will acclaimed R&B production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

Regarding Benatar’s induction, Rock Hall president and CEO Greg Harris tells ABC Audio that she “really set a path for lots of…female artists,” noting that with her “unbelievable vocal range…she could bring it both [on] ballads and rockers.”

Benatar will be inducted alongside her husband and longtime guitarist, co-producer and songwriting collaborator Neil Giraldo.

Heavy metal fans are sure to be happy about Judas Priest finally being inducted, but perhaps a bit baffled that the dynamic band isn’t part of the Performer category.

Since 2000, the Musical Excellence Award has been presented to 25 musicians, songwriters and producers in recognition of their “originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.” Previous recipients include ex-Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, rapper LL Cool J, and late Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads.

Harris tells ABC Audio, “Judas Priest are going in through this category because they had such a massive influence on the [metal] genre…and being the godfathers.”

While inductees in the Performer category often get the most attention, Harris says Musical Excellence Award recipients, like Judas Priest, are “equal” to the Performer honorees.

“They’re all Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees,” Harris insists.

Meanwhile, reflecting on Duran Duran’s credentials for induction, Harris cites the British New Wave bands “infectious melodies” and “complex musical arrangements,” as well as their mixture of guitar and synths, as influential.

And speaking of guitars and synths, Harris says U.K. duo Eurythmics took those and made them “really funky,” adding that frontwoman Annie Lennox‘s “unbelievable voice” really brought “’60s soul into the ’80s.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be held November 5 at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater, and will air later on HBO and stream on HBO Max.

This year’s other inductees include Early Influence Award recipients Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotton; and Ahmet Ertegun Award honorees Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine and Sylvia Robinson.

’80s pop dominates Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022, but “it’s all rock ‘n roll in our book,” says CEO

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

This year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is more like the MTV Hall of Fame: The newly-minted inductees are ’80s pop icons Pat Benatar, Lionel Richie, Duran Duran and Eurythmics, plus Carly Simon and country icon Dolly Parton, who also had ‘80s pop hits. The one outlier: rap superstar Eminem. But according to the Hall of Fame’s head honcho, it’s all rock ‘n roll.

“Rock and roll has never been one thing,” says Rock Hall President and CEO Greg Harris. “It’s always been changing. It’s heavily influenced by the youth culture of the era and drives people to think differently, to act differently, to dress differently, to really believe in things.”

“We are seeing that in a big way with this class for the 1980s, but we’ll see it for subsequent decades as time marches on and and we continue to evolve,” he adds. “We’re not stuck in any one sound, but it’s all rock and roll in our book.”

According to the Rock Hall, those honored with induction have created music with “originality, impact and influence [that] has changed the course of rock ‘n roll.” So how do these ’80s pop stars fit in?

Harris says Pat Benatar “really set a path for lots of female artists to come after her, because she was “in control, uncompromising” and has an “unbelievable vocal range.” He feels Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus, among others, show her influence.

As for Duran Duran, Harris cites as influential their “infectious melodies” and “complex musical arrangements,” as well as their mixture of guitar and synths, naming The Killers as just one band who followed in their footsteps.

And speaking of guitars and synths, Harris says Eurythmics took those and made it “really funky,” adding that Annie Lennox‘s “unbelievable voice,” really brought “sixties soul into the eighties.” Regarding soul, Harris says, “Lionel Richie is hitting just as hard as Marvin Gaye, in a different era,” noting that acts ranging from Babyface to country superstar Tim McGraw have cited Lionel as an influence.

As for Carly Simon, Harris names Taylor Swift and Alanis Morissette as a few of the women who’ve been impacted by “the honesty of her music and her delivery.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be held November 5 at LA’s Microsoft Theater, and will air later on HBO and stream on HBO Max.

“Baby I’m Burnin'”: Even Dolly Parton’s original wishes can’t keep her out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s no longer up for debate: Dolly Parton‘s officially being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In early February, the Cleveland, Ohio-based institution announced the country superstar was on this year’s ballot. A little more than a month later, Dolly announced she wanted to “respectfully bow out,” because she didn’t “feel that [she had] earned that right.”

It only took a matter of days for the Hall to say they declined to remove her from the running, adding that rock is “not defined by any one genre, rather a sound that moves youth culture,” and they were “proud to have nominated her.” Just last week, Dolly acquiesced, telling NPR she would “accept gracefully” should she be voted in.

Now, she’ll do just that, alongside eighties greats like Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, and rapper Eminem.

“It was an interesting evolution…” the Hall’s President and CEO Greg Harris tells ABC Audio. “I think early on she just wasn’t aware that Jimmie Rodgers and Bill Monroe and Hank Williams and Bob Wills are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and that we look at artists from multiple genres that have all contributed to music.”

When the induction takes place November 5 at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater, plan on a spectacle worthy of the beloved legend.

“It’s a long list of artists that would love to pay tribute to Dolly Parton, and they cut across all genres — perhaps it’s more than one artist paying tribute,” Harris speculates. “Think of some of the other amazing tributes for, say, Linda Ronstadt, when we had Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks and Carrie Underwood.”

You’ll be able to watch the ceremony later via HBO and HBO Max.

Judas Priest inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Musical Excellence Award

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Judas Priest will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year with the Musical Excellence Award.

Since 2000, the Musical Excellence Award has been given out to 25 musicians, songwriters and producers in recognition of their “originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.” Previous recipients include Beatles icon Ringo Starr, rapper LL Cool J, and late Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads.

“Judas Priest are going in through this category because they had such a massive influence on the genre [of metal]…and being the godfathers,” Rock Hall president and CEO Greg Harris tells ABC Audio.

In the Performers category, the inductees are Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie and Carly Simon, as well as Dolly Parton, who’d originally announced that she was withdrawing her name from consideration before ultimately deciding that she’d accept the honor should she be chosen.

The Performers inductees are described as “artists who have created music whose originality, impact, and influence has changed the course of rock & roll.” While the Performers category often gets the most attention of the Rock Hall inductees, Harris says that the recipients of the Musical Excellence Award, like Judas Priest, are “equal” to the Performer inductees.

“They’re all Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees,” Harris says.

The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place November 5 in Los Angeles. The show will air on HBO and HBO Max at a later date.

Beck, Rage Against the Machine, MC5 and Kate Bush were also among the 2022 Rock Hall nominees, but were not chosen for induction.

Lionel Richie, Eminem, Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis among Rock and Rock Hall of Fame’s 2022 inductees

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees include stars who have made an indelible impact on American and Black music and culture, over the course of the last 10 decades or more.

Just as there’s room for all of the many rock and pop artist that receive the honor, legendary musician Lionel Richie has also earned his spot. Referencing the soul singer as the “Marvin Gaye in a different era,” Rock Hall President and CEO Greg Harris says Richie is more than deserving of the recognition.

“You have to look at his body of work, both with the Commodores and as a solo artist and how impactful and influential [he’s been],” Harris tells ABC Audio.

To help illustrate Richie’s impact, Harris says to just take a look at the many artists both of the ’80s and ’90s, who have looked to Richie as influence, like Babyface and country singer Tim McGraw.

The same can be said for that of hip hop icon, Eminem, who will be inducted the earliest chance possible: his first year of eligibility.

“I think the goal is to honor the hip hop artists that have had the most impact on music, right? And it doesn’t matter what era they’re from,” Harris said.

Receiving this year’s Musical Excellence Award is legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who collectively, have produced hits for superstars such as Janet Jackson, New Edition and Mariah Carey.

Harry Belafonte will receive the Early Influence Award in addition to blues singer Elizabeth Cotten who will be recognized posthumously. Also receiving a posthumous award is R&B singer Sylvia Robinson, who will be honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award– a special accolade presented to those whose music has made an impact on the creative development and growth of rock and roll music.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held November 5 at LA’s Microsoft Theater, and will air later on HBO and stream on HBO Max.

2022 Rock Hall inductees include Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon

May 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

This year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is more like the MTV Hall of Fame: The newly minted inductees in the Performer category include ’80s pop icons Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eurythmics and Lionel Richie, plus Carly Simon and country legend Dolly Parton, who also had ’80s pop hits. The one outlier: rap superstar Eminem. But according to the Hall of Fame’s head honcho, “it’s all rock ‘n’ roll.”

“Rock ‘n’ roll has never been one thing,” says Rock Hall president and CEO Greg Harris. “It’s always been changing. It’s heavily influenced by the youth culture of the era and drives people to think differently, to act differently, to dress differently, to really believe in things.”

He adds, “We are seeing that in a big way with this class for the 1980s, but we’ll see it for subsequent decades as time marches on and and we continue to evolve. We’re not stuck in any one sound, but it’s all rock ‘n’ roll in our book.”

According to the Rock Hall, those honored with induction have created music with “originality, impact and influence [that] has changed the course of rock ‘n’ roll.” So how do these ’80s pop stars fit in?

Harris says Benatar “really set a path” for lots of female artists who came after her, because she was “in control [and] uncompromising” and has an “unbelievable vocal range.”

As for Duran Duran, Harris cites their “infectious melodies” and “complex musical arrangements,” as well as their mixture of guitar and synths, as influential.

And speaking of guitars and synths, Harris says Eurythmics took those and made them “really funky,” adding that Annie Lennox‘s “unbelievable voice” really brought “’60s soul into the ’80s.”

And talking about soul, Harris says, “Richie [was] hitting just as hard as Marvin Gaye, in a different era.”

As for Simon, Harris names Taylor Swift and Alanis Morissette as examples of women who’ve been impacted by “the honesty of her music and her delivery.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held November 5 at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, and will air later on HBO and stream on HBO Max.

This year’s other inductees include Musical Excellence Award honorees Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis; Early Influence Award recipients Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotton; and music-industry figures Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine and Sylvia Robinson, who’ll be recognized with the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

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