Month: April 2023

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Sports Daypop

Pitcher Hunter Greene signs 6-year, $53 million contract with Cincinnati Reds

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Pitcher Hunter Greene has signed a $53 million contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds.  The Reds announced Greene’s six-year deal, which runs through 2028, and includes a $21 million team option for 2029. The deal includes a $2 million buyout.

Greene joined the Reds as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, and made his MLB debut on April 10, 2022. He went 5-12 with a 4.44 ERA last season. The right-handed pitcher is 0-0 with a 4.24 ERA through four starts this season, and allowed just three hits in three shutout innings in the Reds’ 8-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday in Cincinnati.

The Reds (7-10) went 62-100 in 2022, and have made the playoffs just once since 2013, nor have they won a playoff series since 1995. They are 5-13 in the postseason since they won the World Series in 1990. Greene told reporters at his news conference Wednesday in Cincinnati: “I’m fired up. I want to be at the forefront of bringing winning back to Cincinnati.”

Reds owner Bob Castellini said in a statement: “The commitment we made to Hunter reflects his commitment to this organization and to our community  He is part of the foundation of young players who will continue to help us build a successful Major League team.”

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Entertainment Daypop

Pete Davidson returning to “Saturday Night Live” as host

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A year after leaving the cast of Saturday Night Live, actor-comedian Pete Davidson will return to Studio 8H on May 6th to host the show for the first time. The long-running NBC sketch series tweeted the news, alongside the announcement that Lil Uzi Vert will be the night’s musical guest.

Davidson first joined SNL in 2014 as a featured co-star, eventually becoming a full-time regular on the show.  At 20 years old, he was also the youngest cast member ever to be on the show since its premiere in 1975.  Davidson appeared on SNL for eight seasons until his departure in 2022, when he shared a lengthy goodbye message on Instagram saying “I owe Lorne Michaels and everyone at ‘SNL’ my life. I’m so grateful and I wouldn’t be here without them. I appreciate you guys always having my back and sticking up for me even when that wasn’t the popular opinion. Thank you for always believing in me and sticking by my side even when it seemed comical. Thank you for teaching me life values, how to grow up and for giving me memories that will last a lifetime.”

In addition to his return to SNL, Davidson’s semi-autobiographical comedy series ‘Bupkis’ is set to debut on Peacock on May 4. Davidson co-wrote and executive produces the show, which also stars Edie Falco and Joe Pesci.

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Rock Daypop

Billy Idol to perform five-night Las Vegas residency this fall

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Billy Idol will appear in Las Vegas for a five-night residency, returning to The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan this coming October. The rock legend’s limited engagement ‘Billy Idol: Live in Las Vegas’ residency will take place October 20, 21, 25, 27, and 28.

Following a series of fall 2022 appearances, the rocker recently launched a spring North American tour, and was also honored earlier this year with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a January 6 ceremony. Idol’s most recent studio music releases were the EP’s “The Roadside” (2021) and “The Cage” (2022).

Tickets are on sale now via ticketmaster.com For more information, head to cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

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Rock Daypop

Foo Fighters announce 11th album, share new single “Rescued”

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More than a year after the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022, Foo Fighters revealed the release date of their 11th album, ‘But Here We Are,’ due out on June 2. The band also shared the lead single from ‘But Here We Are,’ titled “Rescued,” which you can stream – here.

‘But Here We Are,’ is produced by Foo Fighters and Greg Kurstin (who helmed the Foos’ two prior albums, 2017’s Concrete and Gold and 2021’s Medicine at Midnight). A press release describes the album as “the sound of brothers finding refuge in the music that brought them together in the first place 28 years ago, a process that was as therapeutic as it was about a continuation of life.”

The band has yet to publicly name who will play drums on its 2023 tour dates, which begin May 24 in Gilford, N.H., traveling across North America before wrapping up on October 5 in El Paso, Texas.

‘But Here We Are’ will drop on June 2; you can pre-order the LP through the Foos’ website.
Take a look at the lyric video for ‘Rescued‘ – here.

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Pop Daypop

BTS’ J-Hope shares buzzcut, farewell message before mandatory military service

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BTS’ J-Hope will be the second member of the K-pop band to start his mandatory military service in South Korea. J-Hope shared a photo of his newly buzzed hair as well as a handwritten farewell message to his dedicated fans.  When translated into English, the note read: “I will return healthy and well!!  I’ll have a good trip!!” 

According to a South Korean news agency called Yonhap, J-Hope is enlisting in the South Korean military and starting five weeks of basic training at an Army boot camp in Gangwon Province. BTS’ agency, BigHit Music, has not shared the official date and location of his enlistment. BigHit took to Weverse last month to inform fans that J-Hope had started the process of enlisting, sharing: “We would like to inform our fans that j-hope has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement. We will inform you of further updates in due course. We ask you for your continued love and support for j-hope until he completes his military service and safely returns. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist.”

BTS is currently on hiatus as the individual members start their mandatory South Korean military service. The eldest member of the group, Jin, documented his newly buzzed head just before leaving for a boot camp to begin his service back in December. Other members are still performing and making appearances before starting their own service. BTS plans to reunite as a full group in 2025.

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Entertainment Daypop

‘The Idol’ starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp to premiere on HBO in June

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HBO has shared a new teaser for the drama series ‘The Idol’, and announced it’s premiere date – June 4th.

The Idol, from Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Reza Fahim and ‘Euphoria’ creator Sam Levinson, follows Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), an aspiring pop star who meets and falls for Tedros (The Weeknd), a self-help guru and the leader of a modern-day cult. An official series synopsis reads: “After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn’s (Depp) last tour, she’s determined to claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America. Her passions are reignited by Tedros (The Weeknd), a nightclub impresario with a sordid past. Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?”

The Idol also stars Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, and Jennie from BLACKPINK. The show will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Take a look at the teaser trailer for The Idol – here.

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Categories
Pop Daypop

‘The Idol’ starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp to premiere on HBO in June

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HBO has shared a new teaser for the drama series ‘The Idol’, and announced it’s premiere date – June 4th.

The Idol, from Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Reza Fahim and ‘Euphoria’ creator Sam Levinson, follows Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), an aspiring pop star who meets and falls for Tedros (The Weeknd), a self-help guru and the leader of a modern-day cult. An official series synopsis reads: “After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn’s (Depp) last tour, she’s determined to claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America. Her passions are reignited by Tedros (The Weeknd), a nightclub impresario with a sordid past. Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?”

The Idol also stars Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, and Jennie from BLACKPINK. The show will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Take a look at the teaser trailer for The Idol – here.

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Categories
Sports Daypop

NHL Playoffs: Rangers, Lightning, Jets and Kraken all take Game 1

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In Tuesday’s NHL Eastern Conference playoff games, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3, while the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1.

* The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3 on the road Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round playoff matchup. Tampa Bay’s Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scoring just 1:18 into the game, with the Lightning taking a 2-0 lead minutes later on a goal from Anthony Cirelli. Tampa Bay earned the victory despite injuries to defensemen Victor Hedman, Erik Cernak and forward Michael Eyssimont in the second period. Game 2 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday in Toronto.

* The New York Rangers earned their 5-1 win over the Devils at the Prudential Center on Tuesday to take a 1-0 series lead in their first-round playoff series. Chris Kreider led New York with two goals, with Adam Fox adding a game-high 4 assists. Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves in the win, having a shutout snapped on a Jack Hughes penalty shot late in the third period. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET in New Jersey.

The NHL Western Conference matchups saw the Seattle Kraken defeat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1, while the Winnipeg Jets beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-1.

* The Seattle Kraken won their Stanley Cup Playoff debut, defeating the defending champion Colorado Avalanche 3-1 in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday. In their first playoff game in Kraken history, Alex Wennberg had a goal and an assist, Eeli Tolvanen scored, and Philipp Grubauer made 34 saves for Seattle, the first wild card in the West in its second NHL season. Game 2 will take place Thursday at 9:30 p.m. in Colorado.

* Blake Wheeler had a goal and two assists for the Winnipeg Jets, leading them to a 5-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday. Adam Lowry scored twice, Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and an assist, and Connor Hellebuyck made 16 saves for Winnipeg, which is the second wild card from the West. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday at 10:00 p.m. in Las Vegas.

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News Daypop

President Biden signs executive order expanding access to child care and long-term care

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On Tuesday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at increasing access to child care and to long-term care for older adults and those with disabilities.

The White House said in a statement that Biden’s orders will immediately take effect and will direct federal agencies to identify which of their grant programs are capable of supporting child care and long-term care including for individuals working on federal projects. Per The Associated Press, while the order contains more than 50 directives to improve access and better working conditions for caregivers, “the directives would be funded out of existing commitments. That likely means their impact would be limited and they’d carry more of a symbolic weight about what’s possible. The Democratic president was far more ambitious in 2021 by calling to provide more than $425 billion to expand child care, improve its affordability and boost wages for caregivers.”

The White House said the cost of child care has risen 26% in the past decade and more than doubled over 30 years. Cost of care for those who are elderly or who have disabilities has risen 40% in the past decade. They described the executive order as “the most comprehensive set of executive actions any president has ever taken to improve care for hardworking families while supporting care workers and family caregivers,” and noted that “many Americans — particularly women — stay out of the workforce to care for their families, making it hard for businesses to attract and retain a skilled workforce and for the economy to grow. A BCG brief forecasts losses of $290 billion each year in gross domestic product in 2030 and beyond if the U.S. fails to address the lack of affordable child care.”

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News Daypop

Fox News, Dominion Voting Systems settle for $787.5M in defamation lawsuit over election lies

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Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News have reached a deal to settle the $1.6 billion defamation case brought against Fox by the electronic voting company. Dominion sued Fox over unfounded accusations from the cable news giant, in which they accused Dominion on-air of helping to rig the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump.

Soon after Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis announced that the case has been resolved, attorneys for Dominion told reporters that Fox would pay $787.5 million to settle the lawsuit. Judge Davis had brought the jury and 12 alternates back into the courtroom following a lengthy break in proceedings. The settlement averted a weeks-long trial that could have seen top Fox TV hosts and network boss Rupert Murdoch testify

Fox said in a statement: “We are pleased to have reached a settlement of our dispute with Dominion Voting Systems. We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false. This settlement reflects FOX’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards. We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.”

Dominion CEO John Poulos told reporters that the settlement was historic, adding, “Fox has admitted to telling lies about Dominion that caused enormous damage to my company, our employees and the customers that we serve. Nothing can ever make up for that. Throughout this process we have sought accountability and believed the evidence brought to light through this case underscored the consequences of spreading lies. Truthful reporting in the media is essential to our democracy.”

The suit brought by Dominion argued that Fox News and its sister network Fox Business “intentionally and falsely” blamed Dominion for the 2020 loss of former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden by airing unsubstantiated claims about the company. Fox had said in court filings that statements by its hosts about Dominion were protected by the First Amendment; and also said Dominion had not shown that the statements were made with so-called actual malice, which is the threshold for civil defamation claims.

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