Judd Apatow calls on fans to help create Norm Macdonald documentary
Director Judd Apatow is creating a Netflix documentary about the late comedian Norm Macdonald. He’s asking fans to submit interviews, favorite moments and rare videos to help tell Macdonald’s story.
Macdonald, best known for his time on “Saturday Night Live,” passed away in 2021 after a private nine-year battle with cancer.
Apatow has a history of making documentaries about comedians, including “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling” and “George Carlin’s American Dream,” both of which won Primetime Emmy Awards.
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Director Judd Apatow is working on a new film about the late comedian Norm Macdonald. He’s asking fans to help bring the story to life.
In a recent Instagram post, Apatow shared a photo of Macdonald and announced that he’s creating a Netflix documentary. The caption includes an email address where fans can submit anything that might help tell Macdonald’s story. Apatow is looking for interviews, favorite moments and rare videos that may not have been widely seen.
Macdonald passed away in 2021 after privately battling cancer for nine years. He was best known for his time on “Saturday Night Live.”
In 2022, Macdonald received a Primetime Emmy nomination and won a Critics Choice Award for his Netflix special, “Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special.” With venues closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Macdonald recorded the special in his living room, capturing his signature deadpan humor in one take.
Apatow’s focus on comedians
Apatow has a history of creating documentaries that spotlight comedians. This film will be his third in the genre.
In 2018, he directed “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling,” a two-part HBO series exploring the life of comedian Garry Shandling. The series, which included personal diaries and interviews, won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special.
More recently, Apatow directed “George Carlin’s American Dream” in 2022. The two-part documentary explored Carlin’s evolution from a clean-cut comic to a counterculture legend and also won a Primetime Emmy.
‘Saturday Night Live’ tribute
During the “Saturday Night Live” 50th-anniversary special on Sunday, Feb. 16, the show honored Macdonald’s five years as a cast member. The tribute featured clips of his infamous O.J. Simpson jokes, which contributed to his firing.
Netflix reviewing talent vetting process after ‘Emilia Perez’ star controversy
Netflix is reviewing its talent-vetting process after resurfaced social media posts from “Emilia Perez” star Karla Sofía Gascón caused controversy. The backlash has overshadowed the film’s awards season momentum.
Past tweets from Gascón, including offensive statements about Islam and George Floyd, have drawn significant backlash and calls for accountability.
Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, addressed the situation, acknowledging the industry is reconsidering vetting practices for social media posts.
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Netflix is reviewing its talent-vetting process after resurfaced social media posts from “Emilia Perez” star Karla Sofía Gascón caused controversy. The backlash has quickly overshadowed the film’s awards season momentum.
Award season success turns to controversy
Last month, Gascón celebrated a historic milestone. She became the first transgender woman nominated in a film category at the Golden Globes and was also up for Best Actress at the Oscars.
However, that success was quickly derailed. Social media users resurfaced past tweets from Gascón, exposing offensive language and controversial statements.
One post from 2016 read, “Islam is becoming a hotbed of infection for humanity that urgently needs to be cured.”
Another tweet referenced George Floyd, saying, “I really think that very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict swindler, but his death has served to once again demonstrate that there are people who still consider Black people to be monkeys without rights and consider policemen to be assassins.”
Many other tweets drew outrage. Critics demanded accountability as the controversy spread online.
Netflix responds to the backlash
Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, addressed the situation on “The Town” podcast.
“I think it’s really a bummer for the 100 incredibly talented people who made an amazing movie,” Bajaria said. “And if you look at the nominations and all of this awards’ love that it’s received, I think it’s such a bummer that it distracted from that.”
When asked whether Netflix would change its approach to vetting talent, Bajaria admitted that the industry is reconsidering the practice.
“It’s not really common practice for people to vet social tweets that way,” she said. “I think, which I’ve heard a lot, is that a lot of people are reevaluating that.”
She also praised the “Emilia Perez” team for their work on the film’s campaign.
A pattern of resurfaced social media posts
Old social media posts have led to scandals for many public figures.
In 2021, “The Bachelor” finalist Rachael Kirkconnell faced backlash after photos emerged of her attending an antebellum-themed party. These events celebrate the pre-Civil War South and have been widely criticized for romanticizing slavery.
Former “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison defended Kirkconnell in an interview, leading to his departure from the franchise. Kirkconnell later apologized and reconciled with Bachelor Matt James, though the couple announced their split last month.
“Saturday Night Live” hired Shane Gillis in 2019 but he lost his job days later after old podcast clips surfaced. The recordings showed him using racial slurs and making offensive jokes about Asian communities.
Despite losing his SNL role, Gillis rebuilt his career through stand-up and eventually landed a Netflix special.
What’s next for Netflix?
Bajaria acknowledged that Netflix produces a high volume of original content, making large-scale vetting a challenge.
With thousands of actors, writers, and creators involved in its projects, the company must determine whether a new vetting process is feasible.
‘SNL’ 50th anniversary star-studded lineup announced
“Saturday Night Live” is turning 50, and the celebration is bigger than ever. NBC and Peacock will air a three-hour live special on Feb. 16, featuring appearances from past and present cast members, celebrity hosts and musical guests.
The star-studded guest list includes Kim Kardashian, Ayo Edebiri, Paul McCartney, Peyton Manning, Adam Sandler, Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey and Eddie Murphy.
Special projects leading up to the anniversary include the “SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night” documentary series and the “SNL Immersive Experience” at Rockefeller Center.
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“Saturday Night Live” is turning 50, and the celebration is bigger than ever. The iconic comedy show is pulling out all the stops with a live anniversary special, exclusive events and a star-studded guest list.
On Sunday, Feb. 16, NBC and Peacock will air a three-hour live special honoring 50 years of “Saturday Night Live.”
The show will feature appearances from some of the biggest names in entertainment, including past and present cast members, celebrity hosts and musical guests.
Star-studded guest list
The lineup includes Kim Kardashian, Ayo Edebiri, Paul McCartney and Peyton Manning. Many of these stars have hosted “Saturday Night Live” before, with some making multiple appearances over the years.
Former cast members like Adam Sandler, Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey and Eddie Murphy will also return to celebrate the milestone.
50 years of ‘Saturday Night Live’
NBC has been marking the occasion with special projects leading up to the anniversary.
In January, the network launched the “SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night” documentary series on Peacock. The four-part series explores different aspects of the show, including original audition tapes from well-known cast members.
Last month, the “SNL Immersive Experience” opened at Rockefeller Center. Fans can step behind the scenes, experience the control room and recreate famous sketches. The interactive exhibit runs through Feb. 16.
‘SNL’ homecoming concert
The celebration doesn’t stop there. On Friday, Feb. 14, Jimmy Fallon will host “The SNL Homecoming Concert” at Radio City Music Hall.
Musical guests include the Backstreet Boys, Lady Gaga and more. Fans who can’t attend in person can stream the concert on Peacock starting Feb. 16.
Complaints of media bias against CBS, ABC and NBC have been revived under President Trump’s new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr. These complaints, which allege bias in election coverage, were dismissed last week by former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who served under the Biden administration.
However, with Carr taking over leadership of the agency this week, the FCC will now continue investigating these complaints.
The allegations claim that affiliates of these major networks “distorted” their broadcasts to favor former Vice President Kamala Harris over then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during the height of the 2024 election cycle.
In a move that reversed his predecessor’s decision, Carr stated that the dismissal of the complaints was “premature” and based on an “insufficient investigation,” warranting “further consideration.”
Under Carr’s leadership, the FCC will now take a second look at three complaints filed by the law firm Center for American Rights.
The three complaints in question are as follows:
WPVI-TV, an ABC affiliate in Philadelphia, is accused of bias for favoring Kamala Harris over Donald Trump during the September presidential debate.
New York’s WCBS-TV, a CBS affiliate, is accused of “news distortion” due to the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris.
New York’s WNBC-TV, an NBC affiliate, is accused of violating the FCC’s “equal-time rule” when Kamala Harris appeared in a cameo on “Saturday Night Live” the weekend before the presidential election.
The equal-time rule mandates that broadcast stations provide equal coverage to competing political candidates. Rosenworcel, who dismissed the complaints in question, argued that Trump had been given equal airtime the following day during a NASCAR race and an NFL “Sunday Night Football” game. She also stated that the FCC should not be used as “the president’s speech police.”
During the election cycle, President Trump had called for ABC, CBS and NBC to lose their broadcasting rights over the issues outlined in the complaints. While national networks are not licensed by the FCC, the agency is responsible for licensing local network affiliates. This is why the complaints target the individual local affiliates.
The agency has the authority to impose a range of penalties on broadcast stations, including hefty fines and even revoking licenses. However, the FCC has stated that it rarely intervenes, due to the delicate balance between “news distortion” and the First Amendment rights to a free press.
Had Rosenworcel dismissed the complaints a few weeks earlier, it would have prevented Trump’s newly appointed FCC chair from reviving the cases. As it stands, under Carr’s leadership, the complaints will now undergo further review.
Step into the immersive ‘Saturday Night Live’ experience at Rockefeller Center
The iconic sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” is celebrating its 50th season in a big way. Fans will soon get to step into the world of “SNL” with a brand-new immersive experience in Manhattan.
The SNL Immersive Experience will take place at New York City’s Rockefeller Center. The event allows fans to explore a Studio 8H-inspired set, sit at the famous “Weekend Update” desk, and enjoy exclusive content and giveaways. According to a press release, visitors can expect to experience the on- and off-camera magic of “SNL” during a 20- to 30-minute walking tour.
The experience is open to guests 16 and older. However, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The SNL Immersive Experience runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. Although the exact address has not been revealed yet, the event will be held in the heart of Rockefeller Center.
How to secure your spot
Reservations for the SNL Immersive Experience are free but required for entry. Fans can begin reserving their spots on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
With North Korea entering the war, the Biden administration is now allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. And President-elect Donald Trump returned to New York for a UFC showdown this weekend while also making more presidential picks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
It’s been nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while the U.S. has supported Ukraine since the start, President Joe Biden is now easing limitations on how U.S.-supplied weapons can be used.
The policy shift comes as President Biden’s time in office winds down and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has also promised to quickly put an end to the war with Russia but has yet to say how.
Biden’s decision comes as Russia unleashed a barrage of its own missiles in Ukraine Sunday, Nov. 17. Ukrainian authorities said 10 people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured in a Russian strike on a residential building in Sumy, near the Russian border.
Earlier in the day, Russia launched its largest attack against Ukraine since August, once again targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities said at least five people were killed in those strikes.
On the social site Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 120 missiles and 90 drones were fired into the country, with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah’s top spokesman
An Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top spokesman, according to the militant group.
Mohammed Afif was an adviser to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an attack on Beirut in September. Afif had been responsible for Hezbollah’s media relations since 2014.
Lebanon’s health ministry said no evacuation warning was issued before the strike, which happened in the middle of the day, and four people were killed.
🔴ELIMINATED: Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah, Mohammed Afif
Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “precise, intelligence-based strike” that “eliminated the terrorist Mohammed Afif, the chief propagandist and spokesperson of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
Trump attends UFC event in New York City, makes more picks for 2nd term
Over the weekend, President-elect Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s pay-per-view event. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd Saturday night, Nov. 16, including chants of “USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Saturday Night Live violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon rainforest
President Biden made history Sunday, Nov. 17, becoming the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
While there, Biden met indigenous leaders and visited a museum at the gateway to the amazon. He also toured the drought-shrunken waters of the Amazon River’s greatest tributary and signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 International Conservation Day, highlighting his commitment to the preservation of the region.
He also touched on concerns the incoming Trump administration might change U.S. climate policy.
“It’s no secret that I’m leaving office in January,” Biden said. “I will leave my successor and my country in a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so.”
Today I issued an official proclamation to support the conservation of nature around the world.
That was the most that Biden publicly referenced President-elect Trump during his South American tour.
The transition was briefly mentioned during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s remarks on Saturday, Nov. 16 during his final meeting with Biden. While he also did not mention Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal his concern over what the new administration could mean for China’s relationship with the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Reports: WBD, NBA settle with 11-year deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to air on ABC
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.
Netflix says 60 million households tuned in live for Tyson vs. Paul
Netflix also said 50 million households watched the co-main event that saw Katie Taylor retain her championship against Amanda Serrano. The streaming giant said that would make it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in United States history.
Netflix said more information, like total viewers, will be released later this week.
Netflix’s future live sporting events will include NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE weekly programming starting next year.
NBC complies with ‘equal time’ rule for Trump following Harris ‘SNL’ cameo
NBC has filed a notice with the Federal Communications Commission after Vice President Kamala Harris’ brief appearance on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend of Nov. 2. The network provided former President Donald Trump with airtime to ensure compliance with the FCC’s equal time rule, which requires broadcasters to offer equal access to competing political candidates.
The rule dates back to the Communications Act of 1934, originally designed to ensure fairness and balanced coverage on broadcast airwaves. It requires that if a candidate is given airtime on a broadcast station, other qualified candidates must also be given equivalent opportunities.
Although there are exceptions to the rule, like appearances in news programs, interviews, or documentaries, entertainment programs can still trigger the rule.
AP Images
Harris’s appearance on “SNL” was brief, clocking in at just one minute and 30 seconds. She joined comedian Maya Rudolph in a skit where Rudolph portrayed Harris, a role she has played several times on “SNL” ahead of elections.
However, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed senior Republican, quickly raised concerns on social media, calling it “a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.”
Getty Images
NBC responded by airing Trump’s message to viewers during the NASCAR 2024 Cup playoffs on Sunday, granting him airtime to balance Harris’ cameo.
Carr later appeared on Fox News, urging the FCC to take “every single option” into account if violations are confirmed, emphasizing the need for impartiality across the board.
The equal time rule, while still enforced on broadcast stations, does not apply to cable networks, podcasts, social media or streaming services.
With more people turning to digital platforms for news and entertainment, the rule faces challenges in keeping pace with changing media consumption habits.
Critics argue this could limit its effectiveness and relevance, raising questions about its future in a digital-dominated world.
Biden, Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. And billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk speak to voters in battleground states. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces have killed the man they say was the chief architect of the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which started the ongoing war in Gaza. They had been trying to get Yahya Sinwar for a year, describing him as a “dead man walking” in the days after Hamas’ first attack.
However, it appears that while Israeli forces had been tipped off Sinwar was in the Rafah area, troops just happened to come across him unknowingly during battle. It was not until later they realized they had killed Israel’s most wanted man.
The IDF released drone video of what appears to be Sinwar’s final moments, showing a man with a wounded hand, who they say is Sinwar, sitting down in a destroyed building and throwing a piece of wood at the drone. They say Sinwar’s body was found with a bulletproof vest, grenades, and 40,000 Israeli shekels.
“Since the beginning of this war that Sinwar started on October 7 — we’ve said: Our war is with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. We mean it.”
IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari on the elimination of Yahya Sinwar and our operational goals in Gaza: pic.twitter.com/OgkgUc5Bhi
Israeli leaders celebrated his killing as a settling of scores and said it could be a turning point in the war.
“While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message: this war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages.”
U.S. officials are hoping with Sinwar out of the picture, a cease-fire can finally be reached between Israel and Hamas. President Joe Biden, who has already tried to broker cease-fire deals, seemed to have renewed hope when speaking to reporters Thursday, Oct. 17.
“Now’s the time to move on,” he said. “Move on, move toward a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re able to make things better for the whole world. It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home.”
President Biden said he’s sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to help figure out what’s next. Netanyahu has said Israel will keep fighting until all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 are free, and that it will keep control over Gaza long enough to ensure Hamas does not rearm.
While Sinwar’s death has sparked optimism the war in Gaza will soon end, it won’t be the end of fighting in the Middle East.
Just this month, Israel opened a new front against the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon after a year of trading cross-border fire. Hezbollah had been striking Israel as a show of solidarity with Hamas.
In the wake of Sinwar’s death, Hezbollah announced a “transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel.”
Musk, Cuban talk election as candidates take part in charity event
As the 2024 presidential campaign inches closer to its final two weeks, the candidates each garnered the support of two billionaire representatives to spread their message to voters on Thursday.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has appeared alongside Republican candidate former President Donald Trump at recent events, held a town hall at a Pennsylvania high school near Philadelphia. Musk called on Pennsylvanians to register to vote and described the importance of the battleground state to this election.
“You show what matters by your actions, not your words, and my actions are I’m here,” Musk said. “I’m in Pennsylvania, and I’m here for a very important reason, which, yeah, which is, I can’t emphasize, I can’t emphasize enough that Pennsylvania is, I think, the linchpin in this election. And this election, I think is going to decide the fate of America, and along with the fate of America, the fate of Western civilization.”
Meanwhile Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris called on NBA team owner and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban to reach voters during a rally at a college campus in Wisconsin. In his address to the crowd, Cuban took aim at Trump’s trade policies.
“I mean back in the 90s, in the early 2000s, he was a little bit coherent when he talked about trade policy, and he actually made a little bit of sense,” Cuban said, “but I don’t know what happened to him. The way he’s been thinking about tariffs and trade now, something’s a little bit lost. And now his trade policies, particularly with tariffs, are basically just gibberish.”
As for the candidates themselves, they both made an appearance at Thursday night’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York City, which raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and is a traditional stop for both parties toward the end of the election cycle. However, breaking from tradition, Vice President Harris did not appear in person.
Instead, she sent in a video in which she appeared alongside former Saturday Night Live star Molly Shannon, who reprised her famous character Mary Katherine Gallagher.
“It is a very important dinner, and it’s an important tradition. And I’m so proud to be a part of,” Harris said.
In his speech, former President Trump criticized Harris for not showing up to the event in person. Harris is the first presidential candidate to do that since 1984.
“It’s been a long tradition for both Democrat and Republican candidates for President of the United States to attend this dinner,” Trump said. “You know, it is a rule; you got to go to the dinner. You got to do it. Otherwise bad things are going to happen to you from up there. You can’t do what I just saw on that screen. But my opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and, in particular, to our great Catholic community. Very disrespectful.”
In a statement regarding her absence, the Harris campaign said the vice president was campaigning Thursday and “the campaign wants to maximize her time in battlegrounds this close to the election.”
Texas execution of man in shaken baby case halted
The Texas Supreme Court halted the execution of a man sentenced to death for the 2002 murder of his 2-year-old daughter.
A jury convicted Robert Roberson of killing the toddler in a case of “shaken baby syndrome,” which his attorneys, as well as Texas lawmakers and medical experts, now say was based on faulty and outdated scientific evidence related to the diagnosis.
The last-minute stay came just over one-hour before Roberson’s death warrant was set to expire. However, a legal battle is still ongoing, and a new execution date could be set after Roberson’s potential testimony before Texas lawmakers next week. A House committee subpoenaed him on Wednesday, Oct. 16, as it reconsiders the lawfulness of his conviction.
Liam Payne’s preliminary autopsy report released; One Direction statement
A preliminary autopsy report from the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office said pop singer Liam Payne died of “multiple traumas” and “internal and external bleeding.” The 31-year-old died Wednesday after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
The autopsy found a total of 25 injuries on the singer’s body, suffered from the fall. The prosecutor’s office has requested additional studies to help in the investigation.
On social media, Payne’s One Direction bandmates paid tribute to their friend in a joint statement Thursday, saying, “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Phoenix ends 21-day streak of record hot temperatures
The city of Phoenix, Arizona is getting its first feel of fall, relatively speaking, after 21 straight days of record-breaking hot temperatures.
From Sept. 24 to this past Monday, Oct. 14, the Weather Service recorded 19 new all-time highs and two days tied previous records; all temperatures well into the triple digits.
Parts of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico have been gripped by the recent heat wave, with unseasonably warm temperatures 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal for this time of year.
A cold front is expected to move in this weekend and cool things down.
Rare copy of US Constitution sells for $9 million
You don’t have to be in a Nicholas Cage movie to get your hands on an important document from American history — but you do need millions of dollars. A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution sold at auction Thursday evening in North Carolina for $9 million.
The document was printed 237 years ago and is the only copy of its type believed to be privately owned. The copy of the Constitution was found two years ago when a property in North Carolina was being cleared out.
The property was once owned by Samuel Johnston, the state’s governor in the 1780s. The document also came with a letter from George Washington asking for the Constitution to be ratified.
Spirit Halloween fires back at ‘SNL’ in cheeky way
A spooky season staple took being the subject of a “Saturday Night Live” parody commercial in stride on Monday, Sept. 30. Spirit Halloween put out its own version of a popular meme to respond to the long-running sketch comedy show’s bit.
During its 50th season premiere the night of Saturday, Sept. 28, the NBC show aired a parody commercial which joked about the Halloween store “providing vulnerable communities with the things they need most: Wigs that give you a rash, single-use fog machines and costumes of famous characters tweaked just enough to avoid a lawsuit.”
The comedy bit also referenced the retailer’s habit of taking over abandoned stores in strip malls, something the company’s website even references.
But Spirit had a joke of its own up its sleeve. Its official X account did a quote post of the sketch with the caption, “We are great at raising things back from the dead.” In the accompanying image, a mocked up costume package reads “Irrelevant 50-year-old TV show,” which includes: “Dated references, Unknown Cast Members, and shrinking ratings.”
Halloween spending is expected to reach a total of $11.6 billion this year according to the National Retail Federation. Candy accounts for $3.5 billion of that while costumes and decorations, Spirit’s bread and butter, account for $3.8 billion each.
Spirit Halloween raked in $1.1 billion of that in revenue in 2023, according to employment recruiters Zippia. The store is owned and operated by Spencers, an equally puzzling mall staple that sells everything from lava lamps to lewd t-shirts, which brings in a reported $4.3 billion in revenue annually.
SNL just premiered it’s 50th season amid a contentious presidential election while this will be Spirit Halloween’s 41st season in operation.
