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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Ellen Pompeo will reduce role to star in upcoming Hulu series

Actress Ellen Pompeo will be reducing her starring role on the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy in order to star in an upcoming limited series for Hulu. Pompeo, who stars as Dr. Meredith Grey, will only appear in eight episodes of Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy, which recently began production. Pompeo will still provide the narration in every episode, and continue to serve as executive producer.

Pompeo will be taking on an undisclosed streaming role, joining an as-of-yet untitled limited series for Hulu. According to Variety, the eight-episode series will follow the true story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian scam artist with dwarfism who was adopted by an Indiana couple after pretending to be an eight-year-old girl. The battle between the girl and her adoptive parents will venture across tabloids and courtrooms, and eventually affect their entire marriage. Pompeo will star in the show in addition to executive producing.

Pompeo has portrayed Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy since the series’ premiere in 2005, making her one of the highest-earning television actresses – she earned an estimated $19 million in 2020.

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Entertainment Daypop

Anne Heche in coma in ‘extreme critical condition’ following car crash

Anne Heche is in a coma following her car crash in Los Angeles over the weekend. The actress’ rep said “At this time Anne is in extreme critical condition. She has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention. She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident.”

Heche crashed her blue Mini Cooper car into a home, with video footage showing the vehicle speeding down the street before crashing. According to the LAPD, the vehicle became engulfed in flames, and Heche was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment by an ambulance. The Los Angeles Fire Department said that the vehicle struck and came to rest within the 738-square foot two-story home, causing structural damage and igniting a massive fire.

The incident remains under investigation, and reports say that the Los Angeles Police Department had received a warrant to test Heche’ blood to determine whether she was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the accident. Officers believe Heche may have been intoxicated when she plowed her vehicle into the home: “The info we received this morning was a warrant that was obtained the same day as the traffic collision, which was August 5. The warrant was to draw blood, and an investigation is ongoing pending the blood test results. If found intoxicated, [Heche] could be charged with misdemeanor DUI hit and run. No arrests have been made so far.”

Heche’s ex James Tupper, who shares 12-year-old son Atlas with Heche, shared a throwback photo of his ex and their son on Instagram, which he captioned, “Thoughts and prayers for this lovely woman, actress and mother tonight anneheche 💔 we love you.”

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Pop Daypop

Nicki Minaj to receive Video Vanguard Award and perform at 2022 MTV VMAs

MTV announced that Nicki Minaj will make history this month as she is announced to be receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, which is set to take place on August 28. The Queen of Rap has been nominated for 17 VMAs and won five in her career. Minaj now joins the prestigious list of previous Vanguard Award artists, which includes Madonna, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, and Missy Elliott.

Minaj also announced that she will be performing at the 2022 MTV VMAs. She tweeted: “I’m receiving the Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 #VMAs! You don’t want to miss my performance – Sunday August 28 at 8p on @MTV Aaaahhhhh”.  She later tweeted:“Keep #VMAs and #VMA in your tweet & tell me what song I HAVE to perform on 8/28… (don’t include #SuperFreakyGirl) GO!!!!!!!”

Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+ said: “Nicki has broken barriers for women in hip-hop with her versatility and creative artistry. She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki’.”

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Rock Daypop

Anthrax pulls out for second show in Texas ‘due to a medical concern’

Anthrax has pulled out of another Texas show, this time in Austin, TX on Tuesday night at Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheatre “due to a medical concern.”  The thrash legends had also canceled Monday night’s show in Dallas for the same reason; supporting acts Hatebreed and Black Label Society took the stage to perform despite Anthrax’s absence.  The two shows are part of Anthrax’s ongoing 40th Anniversary Tour.

Said Anthrax in a statement: “Charlie, Scott, Frank, Joey and Jon are really sorry to let their fans in Austin know that due to a medical concern, Anthrax has to cancel its show tonight at Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheatre. Black Label Society and Hatebreed are still performing tonight, so the band hopes you’ll come out and rock with them. Refunds are available until the venue box office closes at 9 PM tonight, or at point of purchase. Everyone in the band looks forward to seeing their Austin fans soon!”

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Rock Daypop

Ozzy Osbourne makes surprise appearance at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games for Black Sabbath mini-reunion with Tony Iommi

Ozzy Osbourne surprised fans at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, teaming up with fellow Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi for a performance of “Paranoid” at the closing ceremony for the games.

It was the first time the metal icons played together onstage since Black Sabbath played their final show ever in February 2017, and marked Ozzy’s first live performance in nearly three years — and his first since undergoing a major neck operation earlier this summer. Ozzy’s last performance was at the American Music Awards in November 2019, joining Post Malone and Travis Scott onstage for “Take What You Want.” Before that he had put his “No More Tours 2” farewell outing on hold as he battled his various health issues.

After the intro to “Iron Man” played with Ozzy shouting “I am Iron Man” from backstage, Osbourne made his way to the stage joined by Iommi and the two musicians who performed on Black Sabbath’s final tour: bassist Adam Wakeman, and drummer Tommy Clufetos.  In addition to the surprise gig at the Commonwealth Games, Osbourne and Iommi recently reunited in the studio to record the track “Degradation Rules” for Ozzy’s upcoming album, Patient Number 9, which drops on September 9th.

Watch Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi perform “Paranoid” at the Commonwealth Games in the video – here.

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Pop Daypop

Blackpink set dates for ‘Born Pink’ World Tour

K-pop superstars Blackpink announced they will embark on the massive Born Pink world tour starting Oct. 15-16 in Seoul, with dates running through June 21, 2023, in Auckland. Venues have yet to be announced.

Ahead of the the tour, Blackpink will release a new single, “Pink Venom,” on Aug. 19, with a new studio album to follow (date to be announced).  The album will be the follow-up to 2020’s The Album, which featured hits including “How You Like That,” “Ice Cream” (ft. Selena Gomez), and “Lovesick Girls.”  A press release from YG Entertainment confirmed that Blackpink were in the final stages of recording a new album, and will kick off “a continuous large-scale project which will extend through the second half of the year.”  The press release also revealed that their upcoming tour would be the “largest world tour in the history of a K-pop girl group.” 

Head to the group’s official world tour website for more info: https://blackpinkofficial.com/worldtourbornpink/

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News Daypop

Father and son sentenced to life in prison for federal hate crimes in killing of Ahmaud Arbery

The father and son convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery were both given an additional sentence of life in prison Monday on federal hate crime charges, while their neighbor was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Travis McMichael, 36, was given the additional life sentence plus 10 years; his father, 64-year-old Gregory McMichael, was also given an additional life sentence, while their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, 52, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Lisa Golbey Wood said during the elder McMichael’s sentencing: “A young man is dead. Ahmaud Arbery will forever be 25. And what happened, a jury found, happened because he’s Black.”  Prosecutors had sought life sentences for all three men but Golbey Wood said she believed it was necessary to distinguish Bryan from the McMichaels, because he did not bring a firearm to the scene, but said he was “still deserving of an awfully long sentence.” The McMichaels asked to be sent to a federal prison — citing concerns about rampant inmate violence in state-run prisons — however, the rejected the requests and ordered that all three men serve their sentences in state prison.
Travis McMichael was convicted of federal hate crimes in February along with his father and Bryan, all of whom are White. Each of the men were convicted in state court and sentenced to life in prison for killing Arbery on Feb. 23, 2020. Bryan and the McMichaels were sentenced to life in prison in state court in January for shooting the 25-year-old Black man to death as he jogged through a neighborhood near Brunswick, Ga. The jury in the federal case found the defendants guilty of violating Arbery’s civil rights by targeting and attempting to kidnap him because he was Black. The younger McMichael, who fired the bullets that killed Arbery, was also found guilty of using a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

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News Daypop

Sources say FBI raid at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home allegedly tied to classified material

Former President Donald Trump said that the FBI “raided” his Florida home at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, claiming in a written statement that the search — unprecedented in American history — was politically motivated, without providing specifics.

Trump said in a lengthy email statement issued by his Save America political committee: “These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate. They even broke into my safe!”

Sources say that the search was tied to classified information Trump allegedly took with him from the White House to his Palm Beach resort in January 2021. In mid-January, the National Archives “arranged for the transport from Mar-a-Lago to the National Archives of 15 boxes that contained Presidential records, following discussions with President Trump’s representatives in 2021,” the agency said in a statement. When the National Archives discovered the missing documents, it demanded them of the former president, who eventually turned over 15 boxes of the documents in February.  The National Archives and Records Administration asked the Justice Department to examine whether Trump’s handling of White House records violated federal law.

According to a Secret Service official, the FBI notified the Secret Service about the bureau’s plans to execute the warrant just hours before agents searched Trump’s residence on Monday. The Secret Service facilitated access to the property, the official said, but did not participate in any aspect of the search.

Trump is not at Mar-a-Lago, his winter residence. He often spends his summers at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.

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Sports Daypop

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker signs four-year extension through 2027 season, worth $24M

The Baltimore Ravens announced that kicker Justin Tucker has agreed to terms on a four-year extension worth $24 million with $17.5 million guaranteed. Tucker’s contract runs through the 2027 season.

Tucker owns a career field-goal conversion rate of 91.1 percent, is both a five-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, and he was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. The 32-year-old Tucker also  holds the NFL’s record for the longest converted field goal, crow-hopping into a 66-yard attempt inside Ford Field.

Tucker’s new deal earns him the title of the highest-paid kicker in the NFLk and comes just a week after Chris Boswell signed an extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers that had matched Tucker for being the league’s highest-paid kicker at $5 million per season.

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Sports Daypop

Chicago Cubs will release outfielder Jason Heyward at the end of 2022 season

Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer announced on Monday the organization will release veteran outfielder Jason Heyward from the final year of his deal at the end of the 2022 season. ,” Hoyer said, via CHGO Sports“I’ve talked to Jason about this, and he’s been such a great pro with us and a leader, and we want to have him around the team this year. But we’re not going to have him with the team next year. We’ve already talked to him about that. We want to give him the full offseason to be able to go out and find an opportunity.”

Heyward has been on the injured list since June 27 with a knee injury. Hoyer told reporters (per The Athletic) that while the outfielder will not suit up again this season, he will remain with the team as an inactive player due to his status as a leader in the clubhouse. The 32-year-old is owed $22 million in 2023, the final season of a massive eight-year, $184 million contract he signed in December ’15.

Heyward spent the 2015 season with the Cardinals after spending his first five years with the Braves. He earned his only career All-Star nod as a rookie in ’10. Over his seven seasons with the Cubs, Heyward logged a .245/.323/.377 batting line with 62 homers in 2,522 plate appearances. In addition to earning his first and only World Series ring, Heyward also earned his fourth and fifth career Golden Glove Awards with the team in 2016 and ’17, making him MLB’s first position player to win the award three straight times with three different teams.

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