In the wake of mass shootings in Buffalo and Texas, many people are crying out for someone to “do something.” Yet some of the loudest voices in that chorus are among the biggest hypocrites when it comes to creating an atmosphere that promulgates violence among the feeble minded.
Bill Maher gave Hollywood a shot across the bow in his Friday Real Time on HBO, calling on the entertainment industry to look at its own culture of violence as a stimulant that creates justification for violent actions in some minds.
Maher noted how the average American kid sees an estimated 200,000 acts of violence before age 18. “Hollywood is the wokest place on earth,” Maher said, pointing out the good done under those principles. “But when it comes to romanticizing gun violence, crickets.”
Hollywood loves extolling vengeance, as noted by the dozens of films with that word in the title. “Because no impressionable...
Bill Maher gave Hollywood a shot across the bow in his Friday Real Time on HBO, calling on the entertainment industry to look at its own culture of violence as a stimulant that creates justification for violent actions in some minds.
Maher noted how the average American kid sees an estimated 200,000 acts of violence before age 18. “Hollywood is the wokest place on earth,” Maher said, pointing out the good done under those principles. “But when it comes to romanticizing gun violence, crickets.”
Hollywood loves extolling vengeance, as noted by the dozens of films with that word in the title. “Because no impressionable...
- 6/11/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
In a bit of fortuitous timing, Bill Maher invited ex-Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway as a guest on this week’s “Real Time” — apparently having locked down her appearance weeks ago.
But the episode came just a day after the first night of the Jan. 6 commission’s congressional hearings, making Conway’s appearance extremely timely. She was, after all, one of Trump’s biggest advisers and supporters. So understandably, that topic was front and center as Maher, Conway and other panelist Josh Barro started chatting.
Throughout their discussion, Maher repeatedly tried to get Conway to stop defending Trump and say that maybe he shouldn’t be president again.
Thing is though, Conway has spent the last 6 years defending Trump. She’s good at that job. So obviously, Maher’s attempts to get her to turn on her old boss failed repeatedly. But at least the whole spectacle illustrated the folly of...
But the episode came just a day after the first night of the Jan. 6 commission’s congressional hearings, making Conway’s appearance extremely timely. She was, after all, one of Trump’s biggest advisers and supporters. So understandably, that topic was front and center as Maher, Conway and other panelist Josh Barro started chatting.
Throughout their discussion, Maher repeatedly tried to get Conway to stop defending Trump and say that maybe he shouldn’t be president again.
Thing is though, Conway has spent the last 6 years defending Trump. She’s good at that job. So obviously, Maher’s attempts to get her to turn on her old boss failed repeatedly. But at least the whole spectacle illustrated the folly of...
- 6/11/2022
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Quibi CEO Meg Whitman will be speaking at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night — but the DNC Committee isn’t showing much love to the new short-form streaming service.
Whitman’s inclusion, announced Monday, stood out for two reasons. First off, she’s one of four current or former Republicans who will be speaking at the convention this week, joining Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari. It also stood out because Quibi was conspicuously missing from the DNC Committee’s announcement; instead, as New York Magazine’s Josh Barro pointed out on Twitter, the announcement lists Whitman as the “former CEO of Hewlett Packard” — rather than giving a shoutout to her current employer.
Why is Meg Whitman identified as former CEO of Hewlett-Packard rather than as current CEO of Quibi? https://t.co/pMdm9tw3WU...
Whitman’s inclusion, announced Monday, stood out for two reasons. First off, she’s one of four current or former Republicans who will be speaking at the convention this week, joining Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari. It also stood out because Quibi was conspicuously missing from the DNC Committee’s announcement; instead, as New York Magazine’s Josh Barro pointed out on Twitter, the announcement lists Whitman as the “former CEO of Hewlett Packard” — rather than giving a shoutout to her current employer.
Why is Meg Whitman identified as former CEO of Hewlett-Packard rather than as current CEO of Quibi? https://t.co/pMdm9tw3WU...
- 8/17/2020
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
On Monday, LeBron James spoke publicly for the first time about an NBA executive who tweeted in support of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters and caused a spike in tensions between China and the NBA, saying that Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey “wasn’t educated on the situation.”
But after an intense social media backlash, James said his comments were misunderstood and that he was “not discussing the substance” of Morey’s tweet.
On Oct. 4, Morey tweeted in support of the Hong Kong protests. In retaliation, the Chinese government canceled or postponed several NBA preseason events in China. The situation got worse after the NBA offered differing statements, tepidly defending Morey in English, and profusely apologizing in Chinese. Soon after, a bipartisan congressional group that included New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz harshly criticized the league in a statement, saying in part that it is “outrageous...
But after an intense social media backlash, James said his comments were misunderstood and that he was “not discussing the substance” of Morey’s tweet.
On Oct. 4, Morey tweeted in support of the Hong Kong protests. In retaliation, the Chinese government canceled or postponed several NBA preseason events in China. The situation got worse after the NBA offered differing statements, tepidly defending Morey in English, and profusely apologizing in Chinese. Soon after, a bipartisan congressional group that included New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz harshly criticized the league in a statement, saying in part that it is “outrageous...
- 10/15/2019
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
One day after Marianne Williamson’s bristled during a sharp exchange with Anderson Cooper on CNN, the Democratic presidential candidate who also got a feisty reception from the host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.
Maher had crowed about the booking early in the show (when he announced that “the candidate everyone wants to get” as a guest was waiting backstage) but then their interview got off to chippy start when Maher scoffed at the validity of spiritual psychotherapy just a heartbeat after Williamson had described it as the conceptual cornerstone of her 35-year writing and lecturing career.
“That sounds,” Maher said, “like Scientology.” Williamson was aghast: “How can you even say that?” Maher wobbled a bit but didn’t back off much. “It just sounds like it, I’m not saying it is. I’m just suspicious when something is based on one book. That always worries me.
Maher had crowed about the booking early in the show (when he announced that “the candidate everyone wants to get” as a guest was waiting backstage) but then their interview got off to chippy start when Maher scoffed at the validity of spiritual psychotherapy just a heartbeat after Williamson had described it as the conceptual cornerstone of her 35-year writing and lecturing career.
“That sounds,” Maher said, “like Scientology.” Williamson was aghast: “How can you even say that?” Maher wobbled a bit but didn’t back off much. “It just sounds like it, I’m not saying it is. I’m just suspicious when something is based on one book. That always worries me.
- 8/3/2019
- by Geoff Boucher
- Deadline Film + TV
Right wing provocateur Mike Cernovich is having a moment. Over the last week he has led a reign of terror on Twitter, exposing old tweets of Hollywood’s mighty and powerful and — to the surprise of some — has wrought real consequences. Here is a round up of some of his most infamous moments past and present.
Sam Seder:
Mike Cernovich targeted the MSNBC contributor over a years old “joke” about his daughter being raped. MSNBC dropped Seder before reinstating him after a public backlash
Perry Fein:
Los Angeles Times freelancer Perry Fein slipped into Cernovich’s DMs threatening violence. He was out from the iconic La paper just hours later
James Gunn:
Cernovich helped lead an online campaign highlighting hundreds of old tweets from Gunn “joking” about pedophilia. Gunn offered an apology, but was dropped by Disney from it’s popular “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. He remains...
Sam Seder:
Mike Cernovich targeted the MSNBC contributor over a years old “joke” about his daughter being raped. MSNBC dropped Seder before reinstating him after a public backlash
Perry Fein:
Los Angeles Times freelancer Perry Fein slipped into Cernovich’s DMs threatening violence. He was out from the iconic La paper just hours later
James Gunn:
Cernovich helped lead an online campaign highlighting hundreds of old tweets from Gunn “joking” about pedophilia. Gunn offered an apology, but was dropped by Disney from it’s popular “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. He remains...
- 7/24/2018
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
Refresh for updates Hollywood’s reaction to and Beltway reflection on the cancellation of Roseanne has been as swift as their earlier condemnation of the now ex-sitcom star’s racist tweet. Deadline will update as the flood continues…
Emma Kenney, who plays Barr’s granddaughter on the show, tweeted:
As I called my manager to quit working on Roseanne, I was told it was cancelled. I feel so empowered by @iamwandasykes , Channing Dungey and anyone at ABC standing up for morals and abuse of power. Bullies will Never win.
— Emma Kenney (@EmmaRoseKenney) May 29, 2018
I am hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed. The racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable.
— Emma Kenney (@EmmaRoseKenney) May 29, 2018
The NAACP issued the following statements:
“Roseanne Barr’s comments were appalling and reminiscent of horrific time in our history when racism was not only acceptable but promoted by Hollywood. We applaud ABC for taking a stand against racism by canceling Roseanne today.
Emma Kenney, who plays Barr’s granddaughter on the show, tweeted:
As I called my manager to quit working on Roseanne, I was told it was cancelled. I feel so empowered by @iamwandasykes , Channing Dungey and anyone at ABC standing up for morals and abuse of power. Bullies will Never win.
— Emma Kenney (@EmmaRoseKenney) May 29, 2018
I am hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed. The racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable.
— Emma Kenney (@EmmaRoseKenney) May 29, 2018
The NAACP issued the following statements:
“Roseanne Barr’s comments were appalling and reminiscent of horrific time in our history when racism was not only acceptable but promoted by Hollywood. We applaud ABC for taking a stand against racism by canceling Roseanne today.
- 5/29/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
While conservative provocateur Mike Cernovich is very fond of making fun of triggered liberals, he took a page out of their book Monday, launching a fusillade of tweets and posts against Business Insider Senior Editor and MSNBC Contributor Josh Barro. The crime? A now deleted tweet from Barro mocking Cernovich’s lisp. Also Read: Watch Hannity Fans Smash Keurig Machines They've Already Bought to Really Send a Message Mike @Cernovich is raising hell over this now deleted tweet from @jbarro mocking his lisp pic.twitter.com/fvS47qnXtY — Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) November 13, 2017 “I’m not sensitive about my lisp, but a lot of people are,...
- 11/13/2017
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
Democrat Danica Roem of Virginia defeated longtime Republican incumbent Bob Marshall, making her the state’s first openly transgender politician.
Roem, 33, was a local journalist who began her transition four years ago, but who ran her campaign on local platforms that did not focus on her identity, according to the Washington Post.
Marshall, 73, served as Prince William County’s delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates for the last 26 years, and has been elected to office 13 times.
He introduced a controversial “bathroom bill” earlier this year that would have required people to use restrooms corresponding to their assigned gender at birth,...
Roem, 33, was a local journalist who began her transition four years ago, but who ran her campaign on local platforms that did not focus on her identity, according to the Washington Post.
Marshall, 73, served as Prince William County’s delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates for the last 26 years, and has been elected to office 13 times.
He introduced a controversial “bathroom bill” earlier this year that would have required people to use restrooms corresponding to their assigned gender at birth,...
- 11/8/2017
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
Business Insider senior editor Josh Barro tweeted, “F–K it, I’m out,” with a link to an article explaining why he left the Gop to join the Democratic Party on Sunday – and just like that, the Republicans had one less member. “The most important thing we have learned this year is that, when the Republican Party was hijacked by a dangerous fascist who threatens to destroy the institutions that make America great and free, most Republicans up and down the organizational chart stood behind him and insisted he out to be president,” Barro wrote in Business Insider. He explained that,...
- 10/17/2016
- by Brian Flood
- The Wrap
Bernie Sanders' campaign is taking a "step back" after the Democratic hopeful lost his native New York to rival Hillary Clinton on Tuesday. Pundits have all but declared the Democratic race over, and the fact that Sanders returned home to Vermont to take the day off on Wednesday - after his top strategist Tad Devine announced Tuesday night, "We'll take a step back and then decide publicly what his intentions are" - doesn't bode well for the Vermont senator's presidential bid. Nevertheless, Sanders supporters are still clinging to hope that he can defeat Clinton. So does the Democratic socialist...
- 4/20/2016
- by Tierney McAfee, @tierneymcafee
- PEOPLE.com
As younger audiences’ list of TV, desktop, tablet, mobile, and social content options grow by the day, legacy and new media executives are bending backward and forward to earn their eyeballs.
On TV news, the youngest audience is around 58, higher than the 18-49 and 25-54 age demo sweet spot advertisers desire. On the high end, a variety of news networks’ audiences skew even older, hovering close to 70.
With the knowledge that getting younger is now a matter of survival from extinction, some of the biggest news channels, print outlets, and digital news sites have developed their own networks and features...
On TV news, the youngest audience is around 58, higher than the 18-49 and 25-54 age demo sweet spot advertisers desire. On the high end, a variety of news networks’ audiences skew even older, hovering close to 70.
With the knowledge that getting younger is now a matter of survival from extinction, some of the biggest news channels, print outlets, and digital news sites have developed their own networks and features...
- 1/29/2015
- by Jordan Chariton
- The Wrap
TheWrap’s guide to television coverage of President Barack Obama’s speech, including who’s anchoring the broadcasts and providing analysis
President Barack Obama will give his seventh annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. Et, with expected topics including national security, immigration, health care and the environment. Sen. Jon Ernst (R-ia) is expected to provide the Republican response.
After the president’s address, while the Republicans are giving their response and the networks are starting to break down their analyses, Obama will be preparing for something altogether different. His administration has invited three YouTube...
President Barack Obama will give his seventh annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. Et, with expected topics including national security, immigration, health care and the environment. Sen. Jon Ernst (R-ia) is expected to provide the Republican response.
After the president’s address, while the Republicans are giving their response and the networks are starting to break down their analyses, Obama will be preparing for something altogether different. His administration has invited three YouTube...
- 1/20/2015
- by Jason Hughes
- The Wrap
Real Time with Bill Maher kicked off on Hb again last week with guest Salman Rushdie, who gave great insight to the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris, and the dilemmas of modern Arabic culture and fanatical followers of Islam who are at odds with the moderate and intellectual Muslims who reject radicalized, sexist leaders.This week he hosts Surgeon Atul Gawande as the top-of-show interview guest. Filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow is the mid-show interview guest. The roundtable guests are reporter Josh Barro, actor Josh Gad and author Wes Moore. Guest Jay Leno was asked about potential presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, saying “I […]...
- 1/13/2015
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
This is not change we can believe in.
This is not change we can believe in.
President Obama wore a tan suit and everybody pretty much lost their minds.
Who gave President Obama that old church suit from my dad's closet?
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 28, 2014
Did the president announce we're going to war while we were busy making fun of his terrible suit?
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) August 28, 2014
We're at Suitcon 1
— David Wyllie (@journodave) August 28, 2014
This might be the biggest executive fashion crisis since Mom Jeans-gate.
Listen: President Obama Puts His Spin on Iggy Azalea's 'Fancy'
Sorry, Mr. President, but as the man who can press the button, we need you to up your button-up game.
Especially since Michelle is always so on point.
Watch: Fox News' Keith Ablow Thinks Michelle Obama Should Lose Weight
Then again, being president is hard, and you really do have bigger things to worry about.
So many problems...
This is not change we can believe in.
President Obama wore a tan suit and everybody pretty much lost their minds.
Who gave President Obama that old church suit from my dad's closet?
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 28, 2014
Did the president announce we're going to war while we were busy making fun of his terrible suit?
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) August 28, 2014
We're at Suitcon 1
— David Wyllie (@journodave) August 28, 2014
This might be the biggest executive fashion crisis since Mom Jeans-gate.
Listen: President Obama Puts His Spin on Iggy Azalea's 'Fancy'
Sorry, Mr. President, but as the man who can press the button, we need you to up your button-up game.
Especially since Michelle is always so on point.
Watch: Fox News' Keith Ablow Thinks Michelle Obama Should Lose Weight
Then again, being president is hard, and you really do have bigger things to worry about.
So many problems...
- 8/29/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
Jonah Hill doesn’t like balls next to his face, MTV Movie Awards adds Best Shirtless Performance, The Ruth Institute officially anti-gay hate group
The web has been abuzz with the news of a new hookup app called 3Rinder, which is specifically designed for people looking for threeways. I find this interesting as any way you look at it, there has to be some support for guy on guy action, and bisexuality is certainly implicitly endorsed.
The New York Times reports that the rumor of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s gay relationship with playwright David Bar Katz is fully debunked. The National Enquirer has agreed to pay Katz a settlement which he will use to give out an annual prize of $45,000 for an unproduced play. The Enquirer says that it was misled by a Katz impersonator and has turned over his contact information to Katz as part of the settlement.
The Ruth Institute,...
The web has been abuzz with the news of a new hookup app called 3Rinder, which is specifically designed for people looking for threeways. I find this interesting as any way you look at it, there has to be some support for guy on guy action, and bisexuality is certainly implicitly endorsed.
The New York Times reports that the rumor of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s gay relationship with playwright David Bar Katz is fully debunked. The National Enquirer has agreed to pay Katz a settlement which he will use to give out an annual prize of $45,000 for an unproduced play. The Enquirer says that it was misled by a Katz impersonator and has turned over his contact information to Katz as part of the settlement.
The Ruth Institute,...
- 2/26/2014
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
Keahu Kahuanui doesn’t understand hieroglyphics, Ag Eric Holder says state AGs don’t have to defend marriage bans, Michael Sam turns in average performance in NFL Combine
Interview Magazine is shooting some fairly famous models for their American Hustle spread, including Adam Kai, Brian Shimansky, Chad White, Jamie Wise, Jordan Elias, Kurt Collins, Landon Falgoust, Veit Couturier and Schuyler in some high fashion clothes that evoke street hustlers and leather bars in an erotically charged style that’s worth checking out.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is under intense pressure to veto the Right To Discriminate bill on her desk, with state senators changing their minds, both Senators urging a veto, the Chamber of Commerce coming out against the law. But possibly most visible is the fact that Arizona is set to host the next Super Bowl, and the NFL, the host committee and the Arizona Cardinals are all alarmed.
Interview Magazine is shooting some fairly famous models for their American Hustle spread, including Adam Kai, Brian Shimansky, Chad White, Jamie Wise, Jordan Elias, Kurt Collins, Landon Falgoust, Veit Couturier and Schuyler in some high fashion clothes that evoke street hustlers and leather bars in an erotically charged style that’s worth checking out.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is under intense pressure to veto the Right To Discriminate bill on her desk, with state senators changing their minds, both Senators urging a veto, the Chamber of Commerce coming out against the law. But possibly most visible is the fact that Arizona is set to host the next Super Bowl, and the NFL, the host committee and the Arizona Cardinals are all alarmed.
- 2/25/2014
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
News
Marvel made a big announcement about the future of Mike Peterson (J. August Richards) on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. It’s a big spoiler, so I’ll let you decide if you’ll click on the link. I love the concept, if not the specifics.
Access Hollywood talked with Finn Jones about the upcoming season of Game of Thrones. Sadly, he says, “There’s not enough hot gay sex for Loras this season.” I’m going to sit in a corner where I will think about Daenerys dispensing justice with her dragons and Lady Olenna dropping wit bombs until I’m excited about the new season.
Come on, HBO, who is going to fill Lafayette’s shoes once True Blood ends?
Adrianne Palicki will be appearing in a story arc on NBC’s upcoming dramedy About a Boy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Marvel made a big announcement about the future of Mike Peterson (J. August Richards) on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. It’s a big spoiler, so I’ll let you decide if you’ll click on the link. I love the concept, if not the specifics.
Access Hollywood talked with Finn Jones about the upcoming season of Game of Thrones. Sadly, he says, “There’s not enough hot gay sex for Loras this season.” I’m going to sit in a corner where I will think about Daenerys dispensing justice with her dragons and Lady Olenna dropping wit bombs until I’m excited about the new season.
Come on, HBO, who is going to fill Lafayette’s shoes once True Blood ends?
Adrianne Palicki will be appearing in a story arc on NBC’s upcoming dramedy About a Boy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
- 1/24/2014
- by Lyle Masaki
- The Backlot
MSNBC host Alex Wagner became frustrated on Wednesday when Business Insider’s Josh Barro insisted that some of the actions of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie which have been construed as “intimidation” are closer to standard transactional politics. Wagner insisted that the closure of two local outbound lanes of the George Washington Bridge in 2013 was anything but standard politics because it resulted in “casualties.”...
- 1/22/2014
- by Noah Rothman
- Mediaite - TV
News
The magnificent Trevor Donovan has been cast for a guest role on Drop Dead Diva, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Apparently his role involves dropping his pants in the courtroom, which is always a good idea for Donovan’s characters.
Fox president Kevin Reilly said that he sees Glee ending at the end of its sixth season saying, “there’s two very clear arcs to get to that end and conclude.” However, he added he could see the show lasting beyond that if a new breakout star is found.
Whew. Syfy has picked up the third season of Continuum. I don’t have to figure out how to follow it without a U.S. broadcaster.
Brace yourselves, Fox is planning on adapting Broadchurch. From what I’ve heard about the original, that could be a challenge. Besides, I’m having a hard time imagining Fox coming up with casting as exciting as David Tennant,...
The magnificent Trevor Donovan has been cast for a guest role on Drop Dead Diva, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Apparently his role involves dropping his pants in the courtroom, which is always a good idea for Donovan’s characters.
Fox president Kevin Reilly said that he sees Glee ending at the end of its sixth season saying, “there’s two very clear arcs to get to that end and conclude.” However, he added he could see the show lasting beyond that if a new breakout star is found.
Whew. Syfy has picked up the third season of Continuum. I don’t have to figure out how to follow it without a U.S. broadcaster.
Brace yourselves, Fox is planning on adapting Broadchurch. From what I’ve heard about the original, that could be a challenge. Besides, I’m having a hard time imagining Fox coming up with casting as exciting as David Tennant,...
- 8/2/2013
- by Lyle Masaki
- The Backlot
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