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Family of slain ‘Rust’ cinematographer Halyna Hutchins files wrongful death suit against Alec Baldwin

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The family of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has filed a wrongful death suit against Alec Baldwin in New Mexico on Tuesday.

“There are many people culpable, but Mr. Baldwin was the person holding the weapon,” Hutchins family attorney Brian Panish said at a press conference. “That but for him shooting it, she would not have died,” the attorney explained. “So clearly, he has a significant portion of liability.”

Using a computer animated simulation, the attorneys for Halyna Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, re-created how they say the October 21, 2021 incident transpired, during which Rust star and producer Baldwin fired a live round from a vintage-style Colt revolver, fatally striking Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

Baldwin insists the gun just “went off,” and that he was told the weapon was safe to handle.

The Hutchins family attorneys disagree with Baldwin’s repeated claims of innocence, asserting that the production violated or ignored 15 industry-standard safety practices, and that Baldwin himself was personally at fault.

Among the safety violations allegedly violated were that Baldwin didn’t first rehearse the scene with a rubber prop gun, and that he allegedly failed to keep his finger off the trigger of the gun he fired.

“Mr. Baldwin refused weapons training on how to perform a cross draw, the type of gun draw he was about to perform…,” the attorneys further alleged. “The first rule for safety with firearms and a production set required Mr. Baldwin to treat all firearms as if they were loaded.”

Further, the suit claims 23-year-old armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was “an inexperienced weapons master” who was “unqualified for the degree of skill required on the Rust set.” Rust was only second film on which she worked.

“No one should ever die with a real gun on a make-believe movie set that should never happen,” added attorney Randi McGinn.

The legal team representing Hutchins’ family is seeing “substantial” damages from Baldwin.

A criminal investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Jury reaches verdict after judge tosses Sarah Palin’s libel suit against New York Times

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A federal jury in New York on Tuesday has rejected former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s libel suit against the New York Times a day after a judge said he will dismiss the case no matter what verdict was reached.

The jury informed Judge Jed Rakoff that after a little over two days of deliberations it found The New York Times was not liable for defaming Palin.

The jury’s decision follows Rakoff’s announcement on Monday to attorneys in the case that he will set aside the verdict and dismiss the lawsuit because Palin had not met the high standard of showing The Times had acted with “actual malice” when it published an editorial that erroneously linked Palin’s political action committee to a mass shooting.

In explaining his decision, Rakoff said he believed it is inevitable that the case will be appealed and that such an action would benefit from knowing how the jury’s deliberations turned out.

As she left the courthouse on Monday, Palin said she was puzzled by the judge’s decision.

“This is a jury trial and we always appreciate the system,” Palin told news reporters. “So whatever happened in there usurps the system.”

In a statement published in The Times, the newspaper’s spokeswoman, Danielle Rhoades Ha, called Rakoff’s decision “a reaffirmation of a fundamental tenet of American law” protecting freedom of the press.

“Public figures should not be permitted to use libel suits to punish or intimidate news organizations that make, acknowledge and swiftly correct unintentional errors,” Ha said.

Palin’s legal team said it is considering whether file an appeal.

“We will evaluate our positions,” Palin’s attorney, Ken Turkel, said.

As she entered a car outside the lower Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, Palin was asked by reporters if she will appeal. She replied, “I hope so.”

Palin, 58, sued The Times in 2017, roughly nine years after she was tapped to be Sen. John McCain’s GOP vice presidential nominee, claiming the newspaper deliberately ruined her burgeoning career as a political commentator and consultant by publishing an erroneous editorial she said defamed her.

The editorial that prompted the lawsuit was published on the same day a gunman opened fire on GOP politicians practicing for a congressional charity baseball game in a Washington, D.C., suburb, injuring six, including Republican Rep. Steve Scalise.

Under the headline “America’s Lethal Politics,” The Times’ editorial board wrote on June 14, 2017, that prior to the 2011 Arizona mass shooting that killed six people and left then-Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords with a traumatic brain injury, Palin’s political action committee had fueled a violent atmosphere by circulating a map that put the electoral districts of Giffords and 19 other Democrats under stylized crosshairs.

Two days later, The Times published a correction saying the editorial had “incorrectly described” the map and “incorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting.”

During the trial in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Palin portrayed herself as the biblical David going up against the Philistine giant Goliath with just a slingshot. Palin, in her testimony, accused The Times of deliberately fabricating information to sully her reputation.

The Times’ former editorial page editor, James Bennet, testified that while he was responsible for the erroneous information in the editorial, it was an honest mistake and that he meant no harm.

“I don’t give a crap”: Chevy Chase doesn’t care that some people think he’s a jerk…or worse

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Chevy Chase has one thing to say regarding what his former Community co-stars — and pretty much anybody — may think about him: “I don’t give a crap.”

That’s the word from the 78-year-old former Saturday Night Live and Caddyshack star, who has a long-held reputation for being difficult at best, and, some say, a racist at worst.

Interviewed by CBS This Morning, well-traveled tales of those Chase has tangled with on set came up, starting with Saturday Night Live.

“I felt pretty strongly that I was the funniest,” Chase said with a laugh of his former SNL co-stars. A bold statement, considering that cast included John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris and Bill Murray, the latter of whom who replaced him on SNL and with whom he once came to blows behind the scenes.

Chevy’s former cast mates on NBC’s Community had complained about him as well. Although he started on the series when it launched in 2009, he was asked to leave before season five began, following an argument on set during which he reportedly used a racial slur. Community‘s Donald Glover complained about Chase in a 2018 New Yorker piece, accusing him of trying to throw the eventual Atlanta star off with racially insensitive language and jokes between takes.

Additionally, in a recent chat with Sirius XM’s The Howard Stern Show, SNL‘s Pete Davidson called Chase “a f***ing d*****bag,” noting “I hate that guy.” Pete also called Chase “a genuinely bad, racist person,” adding, “I don’t like him.”

For his part, Chase seems unbothered by the criticism. He told CBS’ Jim Axelrod, “I don’t give a crap. I’m who I am, and I like who I am. And it’s a part of who I am that I don’t care.”

Foo Fighters release new song “March of the Insane” under metal band moniker, Dream Widow

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Foo Fighters have gone metal. Well, sort of.

Dave Grohl and company have shared a new song called “March of the Insane,” released under the moniker Dream Widow for the band’s upcoming horror-comedy movie Studio 666.

The tune is credibly thrashy, and gives you a glimpse of what Foo Fighters might’ve sounded like if Grohl had grown up a Bay Area metalhead instead of in the Washington, D.C. punk scene.

You can listen to “March of the Insane” now via digital outlets.

Studio 666 premieres in theaters on February 25.

Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket announce US tour dates

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

If you read SPIN magazine in the mid-2000s, then we’ve got some tour announcements for you.

Modest Mouse has announced a U.S. run with support from The Cribs, kicking off May 19 in Eugene, Oregon, and running all the way into August. The new dates follow the “Float On” outfit’s previously announced April tour.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 18. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit ModestMouse.com.

Meanwhile, My Morning Jacket will hit the road on a headlining tour beginning April 19 in Memphis, Tennessee. That trek will run all the way into September.

You can also grab tickets for MMJ this Friday. Visit MyMorningJacket.com for the full list of dates and all ticket info.

Both Modest Mouse and My Morning Jacket will be touring in support of their 2021 albums, The Golden Casket and My Morning Jacket, respectively.

Bebe Rexha to serve as a guest mentor for ‘American Idol”s 20th season

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A couple of years ago, Bebe Rexha was one of the celebrities who contestants got to duet during one round of American Idol. Now, she’s returning to the show as a guest mentor.

The top 24 contestants are taping the show’s semi-final round at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii, and the “Meant to Be” singer is there with them, along with another guest mentor: country star Jimmie Allen, who actually auditioned for American Idol himself, earning golden tickets during seasons 10 and 11. He returned to help mentor two of the top 24 last season.

Ahead of season 20, American Idol producers said that former contestants would return to mentor this year’s hopefuls, but so far, none of them have been announced. At the time, host Ryan Seacrest said he’d like to see all the alums return, from Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard to Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson.

The 20th season of American Idol kicks off Sunday, February 27 on ABC with judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

Jimmie Allen to serve as guest mentor on new season of ’American Idol’

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jimmie Allen is returning to American Idol.

On Tuesday, the hit country singer revealed that he will be a guest mentor on season 20 of the ABC show. Jimmie made the announcement from one of his favorite places, Disney, broadcasting live from the Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii with Minnie Mouse posing in the background.

“I cannot wait for you guys to see the talent they have in store for you,” he shares.

Jimmie is no stranger to the American Idol stage. He auditioned in 2011 for season 10 of the hit show and made it to the Hollywood round, where he was eliminated. He also performed on American Idol last year with contestants Alanis Sophia and Cecil Ray.

Jimmie will share mentoring duties with Bebe Rexha, known for her hit “Meant to Be” featuring Florida Georgia Line, who’s also been tapped as a guest mentor this season.

Jimmie’s fellow country superstar Luke Bryan returns as a judge when American Idol season 20 premieres on February 27 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Lizzo announced as keynote speaker at South by Southwest Festival

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lizzo has been tapped to deliver one of the Keynote addresses at this year’s South By Southwest Conference and Festivals, which will run from March 11 to March 20 in Austin, Texas and online.

In the announcement, Lizzo is described as a “global superstar, three-time Grammy Award-winning artist and executive producer of Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrls, a new unscripted series premiering this spring on Prime Video.”

In August of 2020, Lizzo announced a deal with Amazon Prime Video that would see her creating TV series for the streaming service. Last year, she put out a casting call for a then-untitled reality show, saying she was looking for full-figured dancers and models to join her “dream team of beautifully talented big grrls.” Seems like we’ve now got a title for that show, as well as an idea of when we can expect it.

Other keynotes announced Tuesday include one from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee Beck, and one from noted author Neal Stephenson. There will be one keynote speaker each day of the conference. For the full, star-studded lineup of the entire event — the closing night of which will feature the premiere of Atlanta season three — visit SXSW.com.

Billie Eilish to return to the Hollywood Bowl for Peggy Lee tribute

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

In 2021, Billie Eilish starred in the Disney+ special Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles, which was filmed at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. Now she’ll be returning to the famed venue later this year to pay tribute to one of her biggest musical influences: Peggy Lee.

Billie will be one of the special guests at the Bowl’s Tribute to Peggy Lee & Frank Sinatra, where she’ll be performing alongside the likes of Blondie‘s Debbie Harry, actor and singer Brian Stokes Mitchell, jazz artist Dianne Reeves and more. The event takes place on July 27, and you can buy tickets now.

Last year, it was reported that Billie was in talks to executive-produce a biopic of Lee, who was one of the most popular jazz singers of the big band era. Best known for her song “Fever,” she was the first female artist to be nominated for an award Billie’s won twice: Grammy’s Record of the Year.

The Hollywood Bowl is celebrating its 100th Summer Season this year. Starting June 11, it’ll host concerts by Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Sheryl Crow, Boyz II Men and more, as well as a production of the Broadway musical Kinky Boots and a singalong presentation of The Sound of Music with yet-to-be-announced special guests.

Listen to Death Cab for Cutie’s cover of Yoko Ono’s “Waiting for the Sunrise”

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Death Cab for Cutie has released a cover of the Yoko Ono song “Waiting for the Sunrise.”

The cover was recorded for the upcoming Ono tribute album Ocean Child, which was curated by Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard.

You can listen to the DCFC version of “Waiting for the Sunrise” now via digital outlets. Ocean Child, which also features contributions by artists including David Byrne, The Flaming Lips, Sharon Van Etten and Japanese Breakfast, will be released February 18.

Death Cab’s most recent album is 2018’s Thank You for Today.

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