Month: August 2021

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Entertainment Daypop

‘Game of Thrones’ star Jacob Anderson cast as lead in ‘Interview with the Vampire’

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Game of Thrones actor Jacob Anderson — who played Grey Worm — has been cast in a leading role in AMC’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s Gothic vampire novel Interview With the Vampire. Anderson will play Louis, a young man who is seduced into the world of the undead by the amoral vampire Lestat (played by Sam Reid). The casting will reunite Anderson with GoT director Alan Taylor, who is helming the show’s first two episodes.

Anderson has previously appeared in Showtime’s Episodes, The Mimic and Broadchurch, plus was recently announced for a recurring role in the upcoming season of Doctor Who.

Interview With the Vampire is expected to air on AMC in 2022, and will launch a franchise universe based on Rice’s novels.

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Entertainment Daypop

‘Downton Abbey’ sequel film gets official title and March 2022 release date

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Focus Features announced on Twitter that the second ‘Downton Abbey’ movie will be called ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era.’  The film, set for theatrical release on March 18, 2022, will continue the saga of the wealthy Crawley family and those who serve them at their English country estate. Downton creator Julian Fellowes wrote the screenplay and My Week with Marilyn director Simon Curtis is helmed it.

The Downton Abbey franchise began as an ITV/PBS drama series in 2010, and ended its six-season run in 2015. The show’s original stars Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle and Joanne Froggatt returned for a big-screen follow-up in 2019, and will return for the sequel. In addition, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West have been added to the cast.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Man photographed as baby for cover of Nirvana’s album ‘Nevermind’ sues the band for child sexual exploitation

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The man who was photographed as a baby for the album cover of Nirvana’s 1991 album, “Nevermind” is suing the band over allegations of child sexual exploitation. 30-year-old Spencer Elden is claiming that the nude image of him as a four-month-old in swimming pool constitutes child pornography. Legal papers filed in California state that “The images exposed Spencer’s intimate body part and lasciviously displayed Spencer’s genitals from the time he was an infant to the present day,” and claim that Elden “has suffered and will continue to suffer lifelong damages” as a result of the artwork, including “extreme and permanent emotional distress.” Elden alleges his “true identity and legal name are forever tied to the commercial sexual exploitation he experienced as a minor which has been distributed and sold worldwide from the time he was a baby to the present day.”

The lawsuit also claims that the family was not compensated for the photo shoot; that his parents never signed a release authorizing the use of his image on the album; and that the band failed to deliver on a promise to cover Elden’s genitals with a sticker. Elden’s suit seeks damages of at least $150,000 from each of the 15 named defendants, who include surviving band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic; the managers of Kurt Cobain’s estate; Cobain’s former wife Courtney Love; and Weddle. Non-sexualized photos of infants are generally not considered child pornography under U.S. law.

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Rock Daypop

Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell announces Spring 2022 solo tour dates in North America

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Alice in Chains rocker Jerry Cantrell has announced his North American spring 2022 solo tour in support his upcoming solo album Brighten, which comes out on Oct. 29.  Brighten, Cantrell’s third solo album, will be his first full-length solo effort since 2002’s ‘Degradation Trip’, his second solo LP issued in two parts, which followied his debut, 1996’s ‘Boggy Depot.’

Cantrell posted on Twitter: “I’m pleased to announce that I will be taking my new album, #Brighten, on the road in Spring 2022. Artist pre-sales begin tomorrow at 10AM local. General on-sale is this Friday at 10AM local. Looking forward to Rawking out with you all”

A preview video for the tour is accompanied by Cantrell’s first single off Brighten, titled “Atone.”  Cantrell’s run of solo shows is set to kick-off March 24, 2022 at Minneapolis’ First Avenue before wrapping up at San Diego’s House of Blues on May 8.  For concert ticket info and to pre-order ‘Brighten,’ head over to jerrycantrell.com.

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Pop Daypop

BTS and Megan Thee Stallion to release ‘Butter’ remix

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BTS announced via their official Twitter accounts that a remix of “Butter” featuring Megan Thee Stallion is slated to arrive Friday, August 27.  Megan also shared the news on social media tweeting, “Y’all don’t even understand how excited I am,” with several butter emojis.  On Instagram, Megan posted:  “LOVE YOU ALLL 💖😭 @bts.bighitofficial BUTTER REMIX 8.27”   The “Butter” remix will mark the first time BTS and Megan have worked together.

BTS scored their third No. 1 debut on the Hot 100 earlier this summer when “Butter” went to the top of the charts, holding the spot for seven consecutive weeks. The K-pop superstars replaced themselves at top of the Hot 100 with their latest single “Permission to Dance” earning them their fifth No. 1.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Demi Lovato drops video for “Melon Cake” on their 29th birthday

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Demi Lovato celebrated their 29th birthday by dropping the music video for her song “Melon Cake” exclusively on Facebook. In the visual, Demi celebrates their big day decked out in a cowboy hat, gold eyebrows, and a matching ensemble, and references an annual watermelon “cake” their old management team presented each year in place of an actual cake, in order to control their eating disorder. Along with the video, Demi shared the message: “No more melon cakes on birthdays…29, I’m here today and I’m happy you are too.”

“Melon Cake” is featured on Lovato’s latest album, Dancing with the Devil… the Art of Starting Over, which contains the singles “Anyone,” their Sam Fischer collab “What Other People Say,” the track “Dancing with the Devil,” and their. duet with Ariana Grande “Met Him Last Night.”

Stream the music video for “Melon Cake” – here.

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News Daypop

House committee investigating Jan. 6 attack seeks records from Trump White House, other federal agencies

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On Wednesday, the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol requested documents from Trump administration officials and other federal agencies. Wednesday’s request is the panel’s “first round of demands” as part of its task to determine the cause of the attack and prevent such an event from happening again. The committee issued letters to the National Archives and Records Administration and other executive branch agencies for information related to the riots.

In addition to the records administration, the Jan. 6 committee sought records from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Interior and Justice, the FBI, the National Counterterrorism Center and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The panel said it’s looking for records that include remarks made during the rally at the Ellipse, calendars, schedules, communications and call logs for Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, and photographs and other media from the rally, march to the Capitol or violence at the Capitol.

The letters also requested documents from Jan. 6 related to a number of people close to Trump, including first lady Melania Trump; his children Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and their spouses,Jared Kushner, Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle; and current and former advisers including Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Hope Hicks, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone.

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News Daypop

President Biden calls cybersecurity a ‘core national security challenge’ as he meets with tech leaders to discuss forming national strategies to improve security

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President Joe Biden described cybersecurity as a “core national security challenge” as he met with leaders on Wednesday from the private sector to discuss national cyber defenses and form a strategy for how to improve security. The White House summit included chief executives from various industries including technology, financial services, insurance, energy and education and addressed critical infrastructure resilience, building enduring cybersecurity and the cybersecurity workforce.

Biden met with Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, IBM and ADP, and CEOs from JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, TIAA and U.S. Bancorp.  The White House said that Coalition, Vantage Group, Resilience and Travelers insurance companies also attended the summit, along with creative education leaders from Code.org, the University of Texas system, Tougaloo College, Girls Who Code and Whatcom Community College.

Following the meeting, the White House announced the National Institute of Standards and Technology will work with members of the industry to develop a framework to improve the security and integrity of the technology supply chain. The Biden administration also said it will expand the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative to include natural gas pipelines.

Categories
Sports Daypop

Serena and Venus Williams withdraw from 2021 U.S. Open

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Serena and Venus Williams have both withdrawn from the 2021 U.S. Open, becoming the latest high-profile tennis stars to drop out of the tournament. The sisters made their announcements on social media Wednesday, marking the first time since 2003 that neither will play in the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and defending men’s champion Dominic Thiem will also miss the tournament, which begins Monday, marking the first Grand Slam event without the Williams sisters, Federer, or Nadal in the main singles draw since the 1997 U.S. Open.

Serena, who turns 40 next month, withdrew from the U.S. Open as she rehabs a torn hamstring. The 23-time major singles champion wrote on Instagram: “After careful consideration and following the advice of my doctors and medical team, I have decided to withdraw from the US Open to allow my body to heal completely from a torn hamstring.  New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favorite places to play—I’ll miss seeing the fans but will be cheering everyone on from afar. Thank you for your continued support and love. I’ll see you soon.” 

Venus, 41, withdrew from the event due to a leg injury, posting on Twitter: “Not the best news from Serena and I today. I, too, am unable to play the U.S. Open. It’s super super super disappointing. Having some issues with my leg all this summer and just couldn’t work through it.”  Venus has won seven Grand Slam titles, including at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001.

Serena hasn’t competed since injuring her hamstring at Wimbledon in late June, and skipped last week’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati to allow herself more time to recover. Serena holds Grand Slam singles titles, just one shy of Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles. She last won a Grand Slam event in January 2017 at the Australian Open.

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Categories
Sports Daypop

Denver Broncos name Teddy Bridgewater their starting quarterback

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Denver Broncos Head Coach Vic Fangio told his team on Wednesday that Teddy Bridgewater will be the Broncos starting quarterback. As recently as Tuesday afternoon, Fangio said the competition was “pretty damn close” between Bridgewater, whom the Broncos acquired for a sixth-round pick ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, and incumbent starter and 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock.

Bridgewater performed nearly flawless during his preseason campaign, completing 16-of-19 passes for 179 yards, two touchdowns and a 141.0 quarterback rating. Bridgewater led Denver’s offense to three touchdowns and one field goal, and completed 9-of-11 passes for 105 yards, one touchdown and a 136.7 rating in two series. Lock was nearly as impressive, finishing the preseason 14-of-21 for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and he impressed in a game vs. the Viking, completing 5-of-7 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns

Bridgewater will enter his fourth season as a starter; he started 12 games as a rookie in Minnesota before leading the Vikings to an 11-5 record and a playoff spot. Bridgewater threw for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns that season, earning a Pro Bowl nod. Bridgewater was then off the field for all of 2016 and most of the 2017 season with a potentially career-ending knee injury, joining the Saints as a reserve player in 2018 and 2019, then returning to the starting lineup last season.

Broncos name Teddy Bridgewater starting quarterback

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