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Winston Duke to voice Batman in new podcast series ‘Batman Unburied’

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Winston Duke is leaving Wakanda behind — at least for a little while — to start a brand-new gig in Gotham City.

Duke, who became a breakout star in Black Panther with his portrayal of M’Baku, has been tapped to lead Spotify’s podcast series Batman Unburied, where he’ll voice the Dark Knight himself. Duke will be joined by Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs, who has signed on as Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler and right-hand man, Alfred.

The forthcoming series is described as a psychological thriller that “takes listeners deep into the mind of Bruce Wayne introducing a slew of dark twists and turns with a number of classic Batman Super-Villains.” In this narrative, Bruce is a forensic pathologist working at Gotham Hospital where he is “tasked with examining the victims of The Harvester, a gruesome serial killer preying on Gotham’s citizens.” The series follows Batman’s personal struggles with his own mental demons as he works to save the citizens of Gotham.

Additional casting for Batman Unburied has yet to be announced.

Ariana Grande sings around the campfire in new ‘The Voice’ promo

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

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As previously teased by Ariana Grande, the new promo for season 21 of The Voice has arrived.

The clip introduces Ari as the newest The Voice coach as she floats down on a crescent moon to join Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend around a campfire.

The coaches tell Ariana about their camping tradition, which requires the new coach to sing a song. She obliges, launching into a magical rendition of “Hopelessly Devoted.” The other coaches can’t help but sing backup — even the forest animals are mesmerized. Host Carson Daly even makes an appearance as a park ranger with a singing grizzly bear behind him.

“This is gonna be an amazing season,” Blake says, as Ariana winks at the camera.

Season 21 of The Voice debuts September 20 on NBC.

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Maren Morris, Jimmie Allen & more featured on Diane Warren’s debut album

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Diane Warren has called on a vast array of talent for her upcoming debut album, The Cave Sessions Vol. 1.

On Tuesday, the legendary songwriter unveiled the track list for the cross-genre album that includes a series of collaborations with country artists.

Maren Morris is featured on “I Save Me,” while Jimmie Allen appears on “You Kind of Beautiful.” Darius Rucker teamed up with the hit songwriter for the previously released “Times Like This.”

Other artists on the project include John Legend, Celine Dion, Carlos Santana, Jon Batiste, Sofia Reyes, Pentatonix and many others.

“Putting out an album with so many of my favorite artists is truly a dream come true!” Diane remarks on Twitter.

The Cave Sessions Vol. 1 is set for release on August 27.

Sony Pictures conjures up long-awaited, long-delayed ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ trailer

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It’s been a long time coming for Ghostbusters fans, but the pandemic-delayed Ghostbusters: Afterlife has a brand-new trailer.

Just shy of four months after Paul Rudd was seen running afoul of mini Sta-Puft Marshmallow men in a teaser comes a full-length trailer for THE follow-up to 1989’s Ghostbusters II.

Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace play Trevor and Phoebe, grandkids to legendary Ghosbuster Egon Spengler, who was played by the late series co-star and co-creator Harold Ramis. The original team, including Bill Murray‘s Dr. Peter Venkman, co-creator Dan Aykroyd‘s Dr. Raymond Stanz, and Ernie Hudson‘s Winston Zeddemore, are shown in an old photo with Spenger.

Inheriting a “creepy old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere,” the kids adapt to their new life. “So you’re saying he left us nothing?” their mom, played by Carrie Coon, asks returning player Annie Potts, reprising as Janine Melnitz.

“I wouldn’t say nothing,” Janine teases.

Sure enough, the kids find their grandfather left them the tools of his paranormal investigations and eliminations trade. At first, “nerdy” Phoebe unlocks a puzzle in the floor to reveal one of his signature ghost traps. Later, Trevor gets under the hood of a mothballed ECTO-1, and gets the original “Ghostbusters mobile” roaring back to life.

It’s just in time, too: spirits start emerging from a fissure in the earth. Soon enough, the teens are back at work busting ghosts — complete with some modern modifications to the team’s original gear.

The also teens look up the original Ghostbusters on — where else? — YouTube, and call the number on the old TV spot.

The trailer ends with a phone being answered, and Aykroyd heard saying, “We’re closed.”

Murray, Aykroyd, and Hudson are all returning as their original characters, as is Sigourney Weaver. Ghostbusters: Afterlife opens November 11.

Atlanta spa gunman Robert Long pleads guilty to 4 counts of murder

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(ATLANTA) — The 22-year-old man who killed eight people during a shooting rampage in March targeting Atlanta-area spas pleaded guilty Tuesday to four of the murders and accepted a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Robert Aaron Long entered his plea in Cherokee County Superior Court after answering a series of questions from Judge Ellen McElyea. He loathed his sexual addiction, he said, and it drove him to transfer blame from himself to sex workers at the spas he frequented for sex.

Long pleaded guilty to the killings he committed on March 16 at Young’s Asian Massage near the Atlanta suburb of Woodstock in Cherokee County.

Killed in the Cherokee County massacre were Xiaojie “Emily” Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; Delaina Yaun, 33; and Paul Michels, 54.

Long still faces multiple murder charges in Fulton County, where he allegedly continued his shooting rampage at two different spas in Atlanta.

He was indicted in Fulton County for the deaths of Suncha Kim, 69; Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; and Yong Ae Yue, 63.

Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace told McElyea that while most of the victims were Asian, a thorough investigation involving the FBI found no evidence to warrant bringing hate crimes against Long. Wallace said investigators interviewed more than 40 people, including Asian friends of Long, and found “this was not any kind of hate crime.”

McElyea responded, “Once hatred is given a gun, it doesn’t matter who gets in the way. We are all subject to being the victim of a hate crime, whether we belong to that group or not.”

In May, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed court documents saying her office intends to seek the death penalty and hate crime charges against Long.

Willis filed a motion last week requesting Long be transferred to the Fulton County jail following his court hearing in Cherokee County, and requested to schedule an arraignment for Long in Fulton County “on or before Aug. 6, 2021, or as soon as practical,” according to court documents.

All the small things: Mark Hoppus plays bass for first time following cancer diagnosis

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Mark Hoppus recently took a significant step in his battle with cancer: he played his bass for the first time since being diagnosed.

The Blink-182 vocalist brought out his trusty instrument during a recent Twitch stream, which was posted by a fan on YouTube.

“This is the first time I’ve felt well enough to play my bass since I was diagnosed,” Hoppus said before playing along to a recording of Blink’s 2005 single, “Not Now.” “So this is the first time I’ve picked up my bass in a few months.”

Hoppus revealed in June that he’d been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer for the past three months. In a post on July 19, he shared that a recent scan indicated that the chemo was working.

“I still have months of treatment ahead, but it’s the best possible news,” he wrote.

New Alessia Cara song soundtracks ‘Blade Runner: Black Lotus’ trailer

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Alessia Cara is contributing her music to the upcoming anime series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, on Adult Swim.

A new trailer for the series debuted during San Diego Comic-Con@Home experience, featuring the new original Alessia track “Feel You Now.” She’ll also have other music featured in the series, set to debut later this fall.

On July 15, Alessia released two new songs: “Sweet Dream” and “Shapeshifter.” The tracks were the first taste of new music from the singer’s upcoming third album.

University of Texas, University of Oklahoma formally asked for invitation to SEC

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

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(DALLAS) — The Presidents of the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma have sent a letter to SEC commissioner Greg Sankey requesting an invitation to join the conference, according to a joint statement.

“The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Oklahoma (the “Universities”) request invitations for membership to the Southeastern Conference (the “SEC”) starting on July 1, 2025. We believe that there would be mutual benefit to the Universities on the one hand, and the SEC on the other hand, for the Universities to become members of the SEC,” the letter said.

On Tuesday, Sankey released a statement confirming he received the letter.

“While the SEC has not proactively sought new members, we will pursue significant change when there is a clear consensus among our members that such actions will further enrich the experiences of our student-athletes and lead to greater academic and athletic achievement across our campuses,” Sankey said in a statement. “The Presidents and Chancellors of the SEC, in their capacity as the conference’s Chief Executive Officers, will consider these requests in the near future.”

Per SEC bylaws, 11 of the 14 schools would need to vote in the affirmative to extend invitations.

On Monday, the two schools issued a joint statement saying that they notified the Big 12 that the schools will not renew their grant of media rights in 2025.

“Providing notice to the Big 12 at this point is important in advance of the expiration of the conference’s current media rights agreement,” the statement said. “The universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements. However, both universities will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape as they consider how best to position their athletics programs for the future.”

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby responded to Texas and Oklahoma in a statement on Monday.

“Although our eight members are disappointed with the decisions of these two institutions, we recognize that intercollegiate athletics is experiencing rapid change and will most likely look much different in 2025 than it does currently,” the statement said. “The Big 12 Conference will continue to support our member institutions’ efforts to graduate student-athletes, and compete for Big 12 and NCAA championships. Like many others, we will use the next four years to fully assess what the landscape will look like in 2025 and beyond. The remaining eight institutions will work together in a collaborative manner to thoughtfully and strategically position the Big 12 Conference for continued success, both athletically and academically, long into the future.”

Who’s ready for new music from Lucky Daye?

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

New Orleans singer Lucky Daye took to Instagram Tuesday to reveal he just completed filming a music video in Mexico City, Mexico.

“Just wrapped my video. Thank you Mexico. Ready for new music,” Daye wrote in the caption, paired with two emojis of the Mexico flag and his signature four-leaf clover.

Most fans in the comments offered to teach Daye to sing in another language after he asked, “Who can teach me Spanish?” Others took notice of Daye’s toned-down haircut with faded sides, including one fan who wrote, “This new haircut is really giving what it’s supposed to give.”

Meanwhile, Daye’s record label, Keep Cool, added that fans are “ready” to hear what the Grammy-nominated singer has been working on since releasing his Table for Two EP two days before Valentine’s day.

“We are past ready sir,” replied one fan, while another said, “Yasss baby…in my New Orleans voice.”

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Jameson Rodgers to headline Cold Beer Calling My Name Tour

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Jameson Rodgers has a cold beer calling his name on the road.

Next month, Jameson will embark on his headlining Cold Beer Calling My Name Tour, a 27-date trek launching on August 6 in Ohio. The tour marks his first headlining show in New York City with a performance at Bowery Ballroom on October 13.

Along the way, he’ll make stops at the historic Georgia Theatre in Athens, The Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri, Mohegan Sun Wolf Den in Connecticut and more. The tour concludes just before Christmas with a two-night run at famed Nashville club, Exit/In, on December 16 and 17.

Brandon Lay, Jordan Rowe, Drew Parker, Drew Green, Hunter Phelps and singer-songwriter Sarah Allison Turner, who’s also Jameson’s fiancé, will serve as opening acts.

“I’ve waited 11 years to have a tour of my own like this one. Having my fiancé and some of my best friends opening the shows make it so much sweeter. This will be one to remember,” Jameson shares in a statement.

The Cold Beer Calling My Name tour is named after Jameson’s current top-15 single, featuring Luke Combs. Tickets go on sale Friday. Visit Jameson’s website for a full list of dates.

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