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Britney Spears’ attorney files petition to end conservatorship, demands investigation into alleged wiretapping

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It’s official: Britney Spears‘ attorney has formally asked for her 13-year conservatorship to end in a court filing obtained by ABC News.

“After more than a decade, the time has come for Ms. Spears’ freedom,” writes attorney Mathew Rosengart in the filing. But in addition to calling for the termination of the convervatorship, Rosengart’s filing also asks for material related to recent reports that Britney’s former conservator, her dad, Jamie Spears, illegally bugged her home and recorded her conversations.

Rosengart wants “all documents and communications relating to the electronic surveillance, monitoring, cloning, or recording of the activity of Britney Jean Spears’ personal telephone, including…the surveillance, monitoring…or recording of calls, e-mails, text messages, internet browser use or history, and social media use or direct messages on social media.”

He also wants documents and communications “relating to any recording or listening device in the home or bedroom of Britney Jean Spears.”

In fact, Rosengart is requesting all documents and communications between Jamie Spears and all entities and people related to the conservatorship, as well as an accounting of how much Mr. Spears himself received in his role as conservator, and how much of an allowance Britney was permitted.

Rosengart has also cheekily requested that Mr. Spears produce any documents or communications “relating to any training, schooling or education you received relating to how to be a fiduciary or manage the financial affairs of a third party.” Rosengart has long maintained that Mr. Spears controlled Britney’s vast wealth despite not having any financial background whatsoever.

The next court hearing is set for November 12; at that time, Judge Brenda J. Penny will consider terminating the conservatorship.

Paul McCartney discusses songwriting process in new Q&A celebrating release of ‘The Lyrics’ book

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Paul McCartney‘s new book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, was released today.

As previously reported, the two-volume book profiles 154 songs McCartney wrote throughout his career, and features his commentary about each tune, as well as handwritten lyric sheets, rare personal photos, drawings and rough drafts of songs.

To celebrate The Lyrics‘ publication, Sir Paul has answered several fan-submitted questions about his songwriting as part of a new installment of his website’s “You Gave Me the Answer” feature.

One fan asked if, while putting the book together, “lyrics or memories…came back to you and reminded you of a time you’d forgotten,” to which McCartney responded that reviewing some of his tunes wound up being like visiting a psychiatrist for him.

“[R]evisiting the first song I ever wrote ‘I Lost My Little Girl’…kind of turned into a therapy session, because I thought I was happily writing a little pop song when I was fourteen,” he noted, “but if you look at the timing of it I had just lost my mother.” Paul added that it made him realize he may have subliminally written the tune about his mom.

He also pointed out that “Yesterday” may have been partly inspired by losing his mother. McCartney said thinking about the writing of other songs brought back “surprising memories,” such as hitchhiking trips he took with John Lennon and George Harrison.

Asked if he had rules or a formula for writing a song, McCartney said definitely not. “[I]t’s not like building a car or fixing a television, it’s something that is very different each time you do it,” he noted. “In fact, you don’t want to learn a set of rules because that’s what keeps it interesting!”

Check out the full Q&A at PaulMcCartney.com.

Tyler Perry says he’s ready to “relinquish” some of his creative control over his series

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Tyler Perry is ready to take a step back from the writers room. Following the backlash he received after revealing that he’s the sole writer for his scripted series, Perry now says he’s looking to enlist some directors and writers to handle his projects in the next few years.

“I’m the volume guy for about three or four more years,” Perry tells The Hollywood Reporter of his time left in handling multiple jobs on his projects. “My plan is to relinquish to a lot more directors and writers to take over a lot of these shows that I’ve started.”

Perry says his new role will now be a lot “more of… overseeing, rather than doing the hands-on work.”

“For the past six weeks, I was in the mountains. I wrote 72 episodes of television — just me in a room by myself, sitting out there, looking at the moose and the mountains,” he shares, describing his daily practice while away. “I love it. And I love directing for 12- or 15-hour days.”

However, Perry admits that while he’s definitely a workaholic, he also knows the importance of some quality downtime.

“But I realize there’s so much more that I could be doing if I were to hand some of the other stuff off — rather than doing it all myself,” he adds.

Taylor Swift to perform on ‘Saturday Night Live’ next week

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Leave it to Taylor Swift to line up an appearance on Saturday Night Live on the 13th of the month.

The singer, whose lucky number is 13, is releasing Red (Taylor’s Version) on Friday, November 12, and she’ll perform on the NBC show the next day. She’s only serving as the musical guest this time around, although she did pull double duty — hosting and performing — in 2009.

Overall, it’ll be Taylor’s fifth appearance on SNL, and she’ll appear just a week after one of her BFF’s, Ed Sheeran, who is featured on Red (Taylor’s Version).

The host for the November 13 episode is Jonathan Majors, known for his work on HBO’s Lovecraft Country and the Disney+ series Loki. He’s also one of the stars of the new Netflix Western film The Harder They Fall, along with Idris Elba, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz. It’s directed by Jeymes Samuel, who happens to be Seal‘s brother.

‘Eternals’ star Gemma Chan opens up about the importance of embracing her heritage after feeling she had to “blend in”

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Eternals star Gemma Chan said in a new interview that she once felt she had to hide her Asian roots in order to “blend in.”

Speaking to Porter magazine, the 38-year-old actress, who was born to Chinese immigrants, recalled growing up in a mostly-white neighborhood in Kent, England. Chan said she felt “like I was kind of between two cultures” when she was younger because she was regularly complimented on her “good English.”

In addition, she also grappled with wanting to “blend into the background,”especially when her grandmother started to haggle loudly during family shopping trips. “No one could out-haggle her, though,” Chan remarked.

The actress admitted her desire to fit into a particular mold lessened over the years and said, “One of the nicest things about getting older has been reconnecting and feeling like I can embrace and celebrate the Asian side of my heritage.”

“I’ve met so many incredible people, so many more Asians than I knew when I was growing up, in my line of work,” she continued, adding how proud she is to share her culture through movies that “define our own narratives”

“[It]ensures that we have our stories told and ensures that we have a place in popular culture and consciousnesses,” the Crazy Rich Asians star explained. “With the absence of that, stereotypes and prejudices grow.”

Chan also revealed how her family reacted to her global fame, saying, “I do know they’re incredibly proud. And more than anything, they’re relieved that both my sister [Helen] and I are okay.”

The actress then shared her Chinese name, saying her parents named her Chén Jìng and her sister Chén Ning.

“[The combination of Níngjìng] means tranquility, or quiet,” Chan said with a laugh. “So my parents called us ‘peace and quiet!'”

‘Simpsons’ stars pal around with Disney icons in upcoming short for Disney+ Day

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

While The Simpsons has poked fun at Disney over the years before ABC News’ parent company bought 20th Century Fox, Bart, Homer and company will soon be appearing with their synergistic siblings in a new short.

As part of Disney+ Day celebrations on November 12, the streaming service will debut The Simpsons in Plusaversary, the third in a series of Simpsons shorts that can be found on Disney+.

This time around, the residents of Springfield will be attending a Disney+ party, and everyone from across the streaming service are invited…except Homer.

A promotional image posted at Disney+’s social media pages shows Homer and Goofy gabbing at Moe’s Tavern.

This is the third crossover short featuring “Our Favorite Family” and Disney properties, including the previously released Maggie Simpson in the Star Wars-centered The Force Awakens from Its Nap and the Marvel-themed The Good, The Bart, and The Loki, which featured the voice of Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston.

Damon Dash wants to squash 17 year feud with Jay-Z after Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shout-out

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Damon Dash founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 with Jay-Z, and they’ve feuded since the label was sold in 2004. Now, after being praised by Hova during his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech on Saturday, Dash wants to finally squash their beef.

“Shout out to Dame,” the Roc Nation owner said during the ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland, “I know we don’t see eye to eye, but I can never erase your accomplishments. And I appreciate you and I thank you for that.”

“It was beautiful,” Dash told Page Six. “I’m glad he said it for the culture. We need to squash everything. So hopefully if that was an extended [olive branch], I’ll spin one back.”

“Congratulations to him and thank you [to him] for keep working so hard to where he got to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Dash continued. “Anything he can do to make me great, so thank you for even continuing to strive. He keeps my name alive.”

In 2004, Roc-A-Fella Records was sold to Def Jam Recordings, and Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, was named Def Jam President and CEO. Dash felt betrayed and formed his own label, Roc4Life. The feud intensified in 2005 when Jay bought out Dash’s share of their Rocawear fashion company.

When Dash recently attempted to sell Rock-A-Fella’s first release, Jay-Z’s 1997 debut solo album, Reasonable Doubt, as an NFT, Carter sued him.

“I have no beef with [him] if [he has] no beef with me,” Damon added. “Let’s get the lawyers out of it then. Let’s talk like men.”

Dash hopes that now the bitterness between him and Hova will end, declaring, “We should not be divided. We have accomplished too much to be beefing.”

Director of ‘Midas Man,’ upcoming biopic about Beatles manager Brian Epstein, expected to exit project

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Midas Man, an upcoming biopic about late Beatles manager Brian Epstein, will continue production although its director, Jonas Akerlund, apparently will be dropping off the project, Variety reports.

According to Variety, sources have revealed that Akerlund currently is “taking a break” from filming and likely will not return.

The movie began shooting two weeks ago in Liverpool, U.K., but the production was put on hold this week. A source close to the production confirmed to Variety that the shoot may start up again as soon as next week, and if Akerlund doesn’t return, a new director will be announced soon.

“The director of Midas Man Jonas Akerlund is taking a break from the film,” says StudioPOW co-founder Perry Trevers, whose company is co-producing the movie. “Until some matters become clearer we are not able to add any further comment to this statement. In the meantime we can confirm that filming of Midas Man will continue in London in November before breaking for Christmas. Filming will restart in early January in Los Angeles.”

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, whose credits include The Queen’s Gambit and Wolf Hall, has been cast as Epstein in the film, while Outlander actress Rosie Day is portraying pop star Cilla Black.

Akerlund’s credits include directing videos for Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne and many others. He won Grammys for McCartney’s Live Kisses film, as well as for Madonna’s The Confessions Tour concert video and “Ray of Light” music video.

Epstein discovered The Beatles in 1961 and officially became their manager the following year, helping to guide the group to superstardom. He also managed such other Liverpool acts as Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Brian died in 1967 of an apparent accidental sleeping-pill overdose. He was 32.

Christopher Nolan’s Manhattan Project movie ‘Oppenheimer’ recruits Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Director Christopher Nolan‘s movie Oppenheimer, about J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the creators of the atomic bomb, has just added some nuclear level star power.

The Hollywood Reporter notes that Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon will join Nolan repeat player Cillian Murphy in the project; he’s playing the titular scientist.

The trade notes Damon will play Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves, the military director of the secret Manhattan Project that was behind the atomic bomb’s creation.

For his part, Downey, will reportedly play Lewis Strauss, the Atomic Energy Commissioner who ended up getting Oppenheimer’s security clearance revoked after the scientist felt conflicted about unleashing the devastating power on the world.

Emily Blunt, who starred in this year’s hits A Quiet Place Part II and Jungle Cruise, will reportedly play Kitty Oppenheimer, the physicist’s wife, in the project that’s based on the Pulitzer-winning 2005 book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Dan + Shay cancel upcoming tour dates due to COVID-19, tease Christmas news

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Dan + Shay have cancelled a pair of upcoming dates on The (Arena) Tour due to a member of their team contracting COVID-19.

On Tuesday, the duo shared in a letter to their fans on socials sharing that they had “some good news + some bad news.”

The bad news is that a member of their touring crew has tested positive for the virus, and out of protection for fans and others members of the team they have to cancel shows in Orlando, Florida on November 4 and Atlanta on November 5.

Due to routing conflicts and their confirmed touring schedule in 2022, the duo’s unable to reschedule these shows, but offer hope in the fact that some of the tour stops on Kenny Chesney‘s 2022 Here and Now Tour, for which they’re opening acts, are near both cities.

On the upside, the twosome says they have some “Christmas surprises” in the works, teasing that the first surprise will be revealed on Wednesday morning, and they’re “VERY excited” about it.

“Thanks to the folks who were planning to attend the shows this week for understanding, we’ve been looking forward to them (for literally 2 years now lol), but promise we’ll make it up to you in a big way soon,” Dan + Shay conclude in the letter.

The Grammy-winning duo is currently scheduled to be on the road until December 7.

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