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OpenAI unleashes o3-mini reasoning model – Computerworld

Computerworld
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OpenAI unleashes o3-mini reasoning model – Computerworld



The model also offers new features for developers who incorporate OpenAI models in their software, including function calling, developer messages, and structured outputs. They can also choose one of three reasoning effort options — low, medium, and high — to adjust power and latency to suit the use case. However, unlike OpenAI o1, it does not support vision capabilities. The company said that o3-mini is available in the Chat Completions API, Assistants API, and Batch API now, to select developers in API usage tiers 3-5⁠.

In addition to its performance, OpenAI touted the model’s safety. “Similar to OpenAI o1, we find that o3-mini significantly surpasses GPT-4o on challenging safety and jailbreak evaluations. Before deployment, we carefully assessed the safety risks of o3-mini using the same approach to preparedness, external red-teaming, and safety evaluations as o1.”



This story originally appeared on Computerworld

What will happen to TikTok? A look at the potential buyers.

Engadget
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What will happen to TikTok? A look at the potential buyers.


TikTok may be back online, but the app’s future in the United States is still far from certain. President Donald Trump’s executive order of the ban was only a temporary reprieve for the company.

While ByteDance was once resistant to the idea of selling TikTok’s US business, that seems to have changed since Trump took office. A ByteDance investor that striking a deal to keep TikTok in the US is “in everybody’s interest.” Officials in China have also suggested they are “open” to a deal, The Wall Street Journal.

A number of people and companies have signaled some interest in TikTok. Trump himself he would like to see a “bidding war” for the app and that the US government should own in the company. What an eventual deal may look like, though, is unclear. These are the offers we currently know about. Trump’s executive order gave the company 75 days to come to an agreement.

NPR that Oracle was working with Trump Administration officials on “a plan to save TikTok that involves tapping software company Oracle and a group of outside investors to effectively take control of the app’s global operations.” Under this arrangement, ByteDance “would retain a minority stake in the company” but Oracle would oversee “the app’s algorithm, data collection and software updates.”

Headed up by Trump pal Larry Ellison, TikTok has an existing partnership with Oracle. The cloud company TikTok’s US user data and the company was of TikTok’s original negotiations to remain operational in the US under a plan called Project Texas. (Those negotiations abruptly in 2022.)

Trump also previously for Oracle and Walmart to acquire a 20 percent stake in TikTok in 2020, when the president tried to ban the app during his first term. That deal never materialized. Now, Trump’s position on Oracle is unclear. He that Oracle was not among the “many people” with whom he had discussed a deal for TikTok. (Ellison, notably, has been at the White House in recent days. He joined Trump and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for the announcement of the .)

Microsoft is reportedly also interested in playing a role in TikTok’s future, according to the same NPR story, which said Microsoft was among the “other potential investors” involved in the talks with Oracle. Trump seemingly confirmed this. When asked directly if Microsoft was interested in buying TikTok this week, Trump “I would say yes.”

As with Oracle, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has attempted to acquire the social media company. Microsoft was in talks to buy TikTok and take over its US business, but the deal . Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella later it as “the strangest thing I’ve ever sort of worked on.”

Just before TikTok briefly went offline, Perplexity AI threw its hat into the ring, offering to ByteDance that “would “create a new entity combining Perplexity, TikTok US and New Capital Partners.”

Since then, Perplexity has reportedly tweaked its proposal. According to the , the AI company is now floating a plan that calls for the “U.S. government to own up to half of that new structure once it makes an initial public offering of at least $300 billion.” Under this plan, ByteDance would keep a minority stake in the company and “would contribute TikTok’s U.S. business without the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app.”

YouTuber MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, joked about buying TikTok ahead of the initial ban. He later that “so many billionaires” had reached out to him about making an offer that he was going to try to actually pull it off.

At least one group has already his involvement, along with other “high-net-worth individuals” looking to make an “all-cash offer.” That group, led by employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley also reportedly includes Roblox CEO David Baszucki. According to Bloomberg, together they have put together “significantly” more than for a bid, though it’s not clear how seriously their offer is being considered. Bloomberg notes that there’s also a possibility that MrBeast may attach himself to other bids.

Another set of investors that’s proposed a bid to buy TikTok is a group known as . Led by investor Frank McCourt, it includes of Shark Tank fame. The group initially came forward before the ban took effect. However, it’s not clear where they stand at the moment.

O’Leary previously that deals involving a government stake may not comply with the law. “That 50/50 deal, I would love to work with Trump on, so would every other potential buyer … But the problem with some of these ideas is they are inconsistent with the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he said. “I would love to do a deal, if the law provided for it, but I don’t have the luxury of breaching the order of Congress.”

This week, he said that the deal “changes by the hour,” writing on X that iIt’s clear to me now that we’re going to have to do a dance between the original owners, the founders of ByteDance itself, and interpreting the law of what Congress and Supreme Court has upheld.”

So where does all this leave TikTok? For now, the company is in the same limbo it’s been in since it was briefly . The app is still not available in Apple or Google’s app stores and it could go down again if the company is unable to reach a deal.

For now, though, it seems both the government and ByteDance are much more willing to negotiate than they have been in the past. While these are all the semi-credible plans we know about now, the situation is likely to change over the next few weeks as the various sides attempt to hammer out a viable deal. We’ll keep this post updated as new details emerge.

If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.




This story originally appeared on Engadget

Did Tulsi Gabbard Get Confirmed? Update on Her Nomination – Hollywood Life

Hollywood Life
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Did Tulsi Gabbard Get Confirmed? Update on Her Nomination – Hollywood Life


Image Credit: Getty Images

Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the Director of National Intelligence, is currently going through the approval process to officially assume the role.

If confirmed, Gabbard would assume the role of the nation’s top intelligence official, overseeing the preparation of President Trump’s daily intelligence briefing.

In 2022, the now-Trump loyalist announced her departure from the Democratic Party in a video message posted to X on October 11. She described the party as being “under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers, who are driven by cowardly woke-ness,” and added that they “weaponize the national security state to go after their political opponents.”

Find out more about the Director of National Intelligence position and the latest updates on the confirmation hearing below.

What Does the Director of National Intelligence Do?

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) oversees and coordinates the activities of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), which includes agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI. The DNI ensures that intelligence is shared across agencies, supports national security decision-making, and provides the President and senior officials with timely intelligence assessments. The role also involves managing the budget for intelligence agencies and acting as the principal advisor to the President on intelligence matters.

The President appoints the DNI with the advice and consent of the Senate.

When Was Tulsi Gabbard’s Confirmation Hearing?

Gabbard appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Jan. 30.

Was Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed?

At the time of publication, Gabbard has not been confirmed.

During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, many concerns were raised, and Gabbard’s responses failed to ease them. As one of President Trump’s more controversial nominees, it’s uncertain whether she will be approved for the position.

One concern raised by many Republicans was Gabbard’s stance on former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information exposing the U.S. government’s extensive global surveillance programs. Senators from the party pressed Gabbard to label Snowden a “traitor” and admit that he “harmed” U.S. national security, but Gabbard refused to comply.



This story originally appeared on Hollywoodlife

I visited one of the UK’s most haunted pubs | UK | Travel

Express.co.uk
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I visited one of the UK’s most haunted pubs | UK | Travel


There are plenty of pubs up and down the UK that claim to be haunted, and whether or not you believe in ghosts, this certainly makes it slightly more interesting to visit.

And after hearing stories of ghostly happenings at a pub near me, I just knew I had to pay a visit.

Known as one of Manchester‘s most haunted pubs and one that is said to have once been a brothel at that, the Peveril of the Peak is located on a triangular tract of land between Chepstow Street and Great Bridgewater Street.

Before heading to the pub on Saturday night, I met some friends at the cinema to watch Presence, Steven Soderbergh’s latest ghostly offering. 

After the film finished, and we were sufficiently traumatised by it, it was time to continue on with the spooky events of the evening and head to the Peveril of the Peak.

People who have visited the Peveril of the Peak have reported seeing pint glasses levitate off the bar and fall into the glass wash, broken glass seemingly disappearing on its own, and chairs moving when no one’s near them.

Visitors who have had a bit too much to drink have also claimed that they’ve felt something kick them in the back – whether a ghost or just drunkenness, we may never know.

Arriving at the pub on a Saturday night was perhaps not the best plan of action, as it was completely packed, meaning it was rather difficult to spot any ghostly activity.

One of the reasons for this busyness became clear when we ordered a large glass of wine and two pints of beer, with the prices, while not super low, were definitely among the cheaper you could get in the city centre.

After finishing our drinks, we decided to head out of the pub, planning to return in the week to see if we could spot any spooky happenings when it was less busy.

When we returned on Wednesday, the pub was a lot quieter, but sadly, we still didn’t spot anything suggesting the presence of ghosts – maybe the spirits could tell we were looking and decided to hide.

The Peveril is certainly old enough to have a few ghosts within its walls, having first been registered as a public house in the 1830s, after which it had a rather varied history, and is rumoured to have been a brother for GIs (soldiers) during the Second World War.

Before heading out of the pub, I asked the bartender if she’d had any ghostly experiences, to which she said that while she’d heard rumours of the pub’s haunting, she hadn’t experienced anything herself.

However, she did when working at another pub in the city centre; she had some spooky experiences with glasses seeming to move themselves down the bar.



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

‘Twin Peaks’ Had a Sister Show ‘Northern Exposure’ Is Streaming

MovieWeb
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‘Twin Peaks’ Had a Sister Show ‘Northern Exposure’ Is Streaming


With the passing of David Lynch and the re-release (or re-re-re-re-release) of Twin Peaks in a new box set, now is a perfect time to revisit its ‘sister show’ of sorts. Twin Peaks aired on ABC in 1990 and 1991, while Northern Exposure aired its first two (of six) seasons on CBS during that time. The two shows weren’t treated well by executives, and they hopped around, sometimes airing Monday nights, sometimes Thursdays, and eventually they were both in primetime on Saturday night. They share thematic similarities, settings, actors, dream logic, and surrealism, and one show even directly merged with the other.

Northern Exposure uses the traditional fish-out-of-water story to paint a novelistic, existentialist portrait of community, the collective unconscious, the nature of identity, and more. It’s also often hilarious, and the characters are wonderfully specific and lovable. The show attracted more than 20 million viewers an episode starting with its third season and maintained that for three seasons. It won Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, consecutive Peabody Awards, and Television Critics Association Awards. And yet, it never came to streaming! Its home media history hasn’t been great, either. But that all changed in 2024.

It’s been one year since Northern Exposure began streaming on Prime Video, and it was surprising that there wasn’t much marketing for it. The show certainly has a devoted fanbase which would’ve eaten it up, with a thriving community on Reddit and a litany of fan sites, such as the meticulously detailed Moosechick and the brilliant Alaskan Riviera.

Music Prevented ‘Northern Exposure’ from Streaming but Connected it to ‘Twin Peaks’

Fans have also compiled a detailed list of the 371 songs in the show’s soundtrack (via tunefind). This is interesting not only because there is some incredible music on the list, but also because the music is said to be why Northern Exposure has been unavailable digitally for so long. Securing the rights for all these songs made the show a pricey package; it seems that the majority of the original songs are now intact, though several episodes still have substitute tunes. Music is a big part of Northern Exposure, with one of the show’s best characters, Chris Stevens, operating a radio station in town and playing records each episode.

One great musical moment in Northern Exposure is actually a famous song from Twin Peaks (accompanied by that show’s imagery), with the much more wholesome Northern Exposure suddenly become, well, Lynchian. You can see that scene below:



This story originally appeared on Movieweb

Every Song On Hurry Up Tomorrow Ranked

ScreenRant
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Every Song On Hurry Up Tomorrow Ranked


Hurry Up Tomorrow is The Weeknd’s sixth studio album released on January 31, 2025. It marks the apparent end of his modern trilogy that began with 2020’s groundbreaking After Hours and continued with 2022’s high-concept Dawn FM. Born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, the Weeknd has emerged as one of the preeminent R&B pop singers of the 21st century, with massive hit singles such as “Starboy”, “The Hills”, “Wicked Games”, and “Call Out My Name”.

Tesfaye is also a notable actor, playing himself in the critically acclaimed Safdie Brothers instant classic Uncut Gems (2019) before starring in the divisive HBO series The Idol alongside Nosferatu’s Lily-Rose Depp. He also contributed to the Grammy-winning Black Panther soundtrack produced by Kendrick Lamar and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith. The Weeknd currently has 4 Grammy wins, his most recent for his feature on Kanye West’s “Hurricane” for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2022. He’s currently nominated in the same category for his iconic “We Still Don’t Trust You” collab with Future and Metro Boomin.

Related


“Really Needed To Sit The F—k Down”: The Weeknd Emotionally Reflects On Backlash To Euphoria Creator’s Drama With 19% RT Score

The Weeknd emotionally reflects on the backlash to his collaboration with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, which became critically panned.

The Weeknd has teased that Hurry Up Tomorrow isn’t just the end of a trilogy but is the final farewell of the artist and alter-ego entirely. Given that he just headlined the Super Bowl in 2021, a well-deserved acknowledgment of After Hours getting robbed at that year’s Grammys, it’s hard to believe Tesfaye will hang it up for good. His latest carries elements of the signature heartbreak and soul-bearing anthems wrapped around a story of a self-loathing celebrity in despair. The Weeknd’s persona is trapped inside his spotlight like a prison and tortured by the perils of fame.

22

I Can’t F*****g Sing

Track 3 – 0:12

This 12-second non-song is a quick snippet of Abel complaining that he can’t sing in between “Cry For Me” and “São Paulo”. This is likely an allusion to when The Weeknd couldn’t perform at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA on the last leg of his tour in 2022 because he lost his voice. It’s an important piece of Hurry Up Tomorrow but as a brief skit, it can’t stand on its own.

21

Until We’re Skin & Bones

Track 5 – 0:22

Another short bridge track arrives in the first half of the album, transitioning the end of “São Paulo” into what sounds like an alternate reality before “Baptized In Fear” plays. The instrumental production is straight out of a sci-fi movie and the orchestration with a medley of synths is truly out of this world.

20

Big Sleep

Track 16 – 3:45

“Big Sleep” is one of the most sonically fascinating songs on the album. Its opening minute borders on psychedelic like something out of Mac Miller’s Balloonerism. It’s a slow, eerie song that sounds like the background music for walking through the gates of Hell. Production and vocals are some of the best on the album, creating an unsettling soundscape that feels like something undead has risen.

19

São Paulo (feat. Anitta)

Track 4 – 5:02

This track divided fans when it was released as a single and still feels somewhat out of place on Hurry Up Tomorrow despite being a “banger” featuring Brazillian superstar Anitta. The right mood and setting would make this one of the go-to tracks on the album, which is likely why it’s included. It offers a refuge from the mostly dark and nightmarish other songs.

18

Drive

Track 18 – 3:09

“Drive” is a simple, broken-down track that exemplifies a feeling of escape and longing as the world falls down around you. The Weeknd pleads for the thrilling peace that comes with hitting the road and having no destination, shedding all responsibility and finding bliss with a Bonnie in his passenger seat to match his Clyde.

17

Give Me Mercy

Track 17 – 3:36

While the general production of Hurry Up Tomorrow is unparalleled and completely immersive, “Give Me Mercy” has one of the more unique and experimental beats. Sounding like a hidden track on a 1980s Toto or Phill Collins album, “Give Me Mercy” showcases what The Weeknd does best, blending an upbeat tempo with heartfelt lyrics.

16

Enjoy The Show (feat. Future)

Track 10 – 5:01

One of many collaborations between The Weeknd and Future, “Enjoy the Show” is strong but doesn’t scratch the surface of the duo’s all-time best, like “Low Life” or even “Coming Out Strong”. Future courageously meets The Weeknd where he’s at, singing with little to no autotune before dropping some signature bars. “Enjoy the Show” is more atmospheric and reserved than what some would expect from a Future and The Weekend link-up.

15

Take Me Back To LA

Track 15 – 4:14

An apparent response to After Hours’ “Escape from LA”, The Weeknd revisits an old relationship on “Take Me Back To LA”, relaxing that it’s better when he’s by himself. A deeply nostalgic song, “Take Me Back To LA” is a self-assuring track in which Abel realizes what he does and doesn’t want. Most of all, he wants to be in touch with his soul again, a common theme in many of the Hurry Up Tomorrow songs.

14

Cry For Me

Track 2 – 3:44

The production on “Cry For Me” is beautifully strange, making a great early track on the album that will only become more volatile over its 85-minute runtime. One of the more replayable tracks on the album, the beat build on “Cry For Me” has a satisfying payoff. The song as a whole doesn’t take a breath, pulling the listener into the world of Hurry Up Tomorrow.

13

I Can’t Wait To Get There

Track 12 – 3:09

It sounds like The Weeknd is doing his best Bruno Mars impression over a Tyler, the Creator beat on “I Can’t Wait To Get There”, one of the easiest-listening tracks on the album. As the beginning track of Hurry Up Tomorrow’s second half, arriving just before “Timeless”, it’s a can’t-miss song that may have its highest replay value for those summertime cruises.

12

Red Terror

Track 20 – 3:52

Part of an epic 4-track run to close out the album, “Red Terror” sounds just like its title implies. Opening with an odd and dissonant arrangement of synths, The Weeknd sings to an unnamed child as if he is saying goodbye in a permanent sense. The outro instrumental is ominous and haunting as The Weeknd assures, “Deah is nothing at all, it does not count.”

11

Opening Night

Track 8 – 1:36

If “Opening Night” was just a bit longer it would be one of the top 5 tracks on Hurry Up Tomorrow, easily. The heavy reverb on The Weeknd’s vocals draws comparisons to Tame Impala, along with the tones of a telephone ringing that inspires flashbacks of the synth-heavy “Past Life” on Currents. It’s truly a shame “Opening Night” couldn’t hit at least 2 minutes but transitions well into “Refections Laughing”.

10

Given Up On Me

Track 11 – 5:55

The nearly 6-minute long “Given Up On Me” has the wildest beat change on the album. Its opening few minutes are some of the best on the album as Abel spirals in a bout of insecurity and self-doubt. Mike Dean and Metro Boomin both produced the track, making it an immediate standout even if its beat switch is somewhat abrupt and disjointed.

9

Reflections Laughing (feat. Florence + The Machine & Travis Scott)

Track 9 – 4:51

Travis Scott lends his vocals and production talents on the eerie “Reflections Laughing” which opens with a near Western-like acoustic guitar. The song is one of the most cinematic on Hurry Up Tomorrow, and Trav’s bars are dropped an octave or two to enhance a sense of trippy mysticism heard throughout.

8

Niagara Falls

Track 14 – 4:37

“Niagara Falls” grows on listeners after the first listen and eventually becomes one of the easiest songs to revisit. Nearly sounding like a 2010s Drake instrumental, “Niagara Falls” is one of the more accessible tracks on the album that is a low-key love song at its core.

7

Without a Warning

Track 21 – 4:58

The build on “Without a Warning” is what The Weeknd is all about and feels like the true conclusion of the album, despite being the penultimate track. No other song on Hurry Up Tomorrow captures the “tragic celebrity” persona as well as “Without a Warning”, hitting on the overarching theme of the project in its final act as the curtains close.

6

Baptized In Fear

Track 6 – 3:52

“Baptized in Fear” has one of the most impactful lyrics on Hurry Up Tomorrow after its dark industrial intro that sounds right out of the Blade Runner universe. “Voices’ll tell me that I should carry on” echoes throughout “Baptized in Fear” over some of the most deeply confessional lyrics on the album.

5

Open Hearts

Track 7 – 3:55

It feels wrong to not put “Open Hearts” after “Baptized in Fear” considering the two songs have the most seamless and satisfying transition on Hurry Up Tomorrow. Listening to “Baptized in Fear” ​​​​​​ and not listening to “Open Hearts” immediately afterward feels like it should be a crime. One of the pop-leaning singles, “Open Hearts” is a safe bet for all party and club playlists.

4

Hurry Up Tomorrow

Track 22 – 4:51

The title track finds The Weeknd absolving himself, or rather being absolved, from past sins mentioned throughout the album and the entire After Hours trilogy. The song is a traditional ballad that allows Abel to show off his magnificent voice while closing the book on the album, the trilogy, and maybe with The Weeknd, as he embraces Heaven.

3

Timeless

Track 13 – 4:16

The Pharrell-produced “Timeless” is just as addictive as it was when it was released as a single months before the release of Hurry Up Tomorrow. As he usually does, Playboy Carti steals the show on a feature that debuts all sorts of new voices and cadences. The song is, as its title suggests, truly timeless.



This story originally appeared on Screenrant

Inside the Grammy Awards’ response to the L.A. wildfires

LATimes
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Inside the Grammy Awards’ response to the L.A. wildfires

As soon as Harvey Mason Jr. was convinced that firefighters had gotten a handle on this month’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires, the head of the Recording Academy turned his mind to a somewhat less dramatic matter.

Hotel rooms.

“I know that sounds weird,” said Mason, whose organization’s biggest event — the annual Grammy Awards ceremony recognizing the best in pop music — was just weeks away when local officials assured him that moving forward would be safe. “But if we’re having people fly into the city for our show, are we gonna be displacing people who need rooms because they lost their homes?”

To find out, Mason began working the phones, soliciting input from L.A.’s tourism department and from hotels including the JW Marriott next door to downtown’s Crypto.com Arena, where the 67th Grammys will be held Sunday night with nominees, presenters and performers including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Herbie Hancock, Shakira, Charli XCX, Doechii, John Legend, Chappell Roan and Kendrick Lamar.

“I also called the guy who manages the Beverly Hills Hotel, which I thought was probably a place where a lot of people from our industry go,” Mason recalled. “He said, ‘We’re at below 30% occupancy. Everyone on the outside feels like the city’s shut down and everything’s burning and we’re out of business. We need people to come.’ ”

For the Recording Academy, Sunday’s show — set to be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ — isn’t just an opportunity to reveal who won record of the year and who was named best new artist. It’s also a crucial gig for the 6,500 people the academy says the Grammys employ in Los Angeles: dancers and drivers and caterers and stagehands, many of whom have yet to recover from the economic stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Hollywood strikes.

Just as important, in Mason’s view, is the chance to use the telecast and its associated events to aid in fire relief. Already, the academy says it’s distributed north of $4 million to more than 2,000 music professionals affected by the wildfires; the TV show itself will feature appeals to donate to MusiCares, the academy’s philanthropic arm, as well as to groups providing relief throughout Southern California.

Mason said those considerations outweighed his concerns about “the optics” of essentially throwing a party at a moment when thousands of Angelenos have seen their homes or business destroyed.

“People in the business were concerned about: If we do this, are we gonna look bad?” he said. (Indeed, music companies like Spotify and Universal Music Group called off their annual Grammy-week parties.) “But to me, canceling does the opposite of what needs to happen,” Mason added. “We need to raise money, we need to raise awareness and we need to show a unity around our community and around the city of L.A. — that we’re going through a hardship but we’ll bounce back.”

Striking the right tone for the show “is a high-wire act, there’s no question,” says Ben Winston, one of the Grammys’ executive producers along with Raj Kapoor and Jesse Collins. Winston has experience in that effort: In 2021 he and his team designed the telecast around COVID-19 restrictions that had pop stars in masks; in 2022 they mounted the show just a week after Will Smith shocked the world by slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.

Until 2023, Winston ran James Corden’s CBS late-night show, which he called “an hour of fun and silliness” that frequently ran up against the real world. “A natural disaster or a school shooting happens right before you go on, and you’ve got this superstar dancing in the street. We got very used to saying: ‘Is that appropriate? How do we get there?’ ”

Sunday’s show will honor firefighters and other first responders and showcase impacted small-business owners; it will also “celebrate the spirit of the city of Los Angeles,” according to Winston, including several performances “that didn’t exist before the fires,” he said. “There’s a couple of artists who called afterwards and said, ‘I was gonna sing this, but how would you guys feel if I now sang that?’ ”

There’s also a tribute planned to Quincy Jones, the hugely influential music figure who died at 91 in November. Said Kapoor of the segment: “It’s maybe a little bigger than what we would normally do. The entire Grammy show could actually be Quincy because of how many genres he touched and how much work he accomplished and the love of the industry for him.”

One element the show won’t include, Winston said, is a performance by Kendrick Lamar of “Not Like Us,” the Grammy-nominated diss track that capped Lamar’s epic feud last year with Drake. Lamar is scheduled to headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 9, “and the NFL always make their Super Bowl halftime performers sign a deal that says they’re not allowed to perform anywhere for a matter of weeks,” Winston said. “We’ve never had a Super Bowl performer on the Grammys. That’s the NFL’s call, it’s not the artist’s.” (Winston did promise that the show would contain “a couple of surprises.”)

Ratings of the previous two telecasts were both up significantly, but Winston expects numbers to be down this year, in part because the show’s marketing campaign was narrowed to just over a week in length, compared to the usual month.

“I was very passionate about the show happening,” Winston said, “but what we weren’t comfortable with while people were evacuating was: ‘Hey, watch the Grammys!’ ”

Mason didn’t seem worried by the prospect of a ratings dip, though he also knows that viewership matters — particularly this year.

“The reason we give these awards is so that we can have a broadcast, and the reason we have a broadcast is so we can have a licensing fee come in the door that goes back out to serve music people,” he said. “There’s no greater example of that than this fire and this show.

“Whoever wins a Grammy on this telecast is gonna be directly tied to the people who get help from the money that comes in from the show.”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

Trump White House Responds to Selena Gomez Crying Deportation Video

Billboard
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Trump White House Responds to Selena Gomez Crying Deportation Video


After Selena Gomez shared (and then deleted) a video weeping over the Trump administration’s immigration raids, the White House shared its own response video late Friday (Jan. 31) featuring mothers whose children were reportedly killed by undocumented immigrants.

The White House clip, posted to X, intersperses clips of Gomez crying over mass deportations in her since-deleted video with the mothers, who are critical of the singer/actress and tell her: “You don’t know who you’re crying for.”

In the original clip, Gomez — a Texas-born Mexican-American — says through tears, “All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”

In the White House response, Alexis Nungaray — whose 12-year-old daughter Jocelyn was killed in Houston in June 2024 — accuses Gomez of being insincere in her response. “Seeing that video, it’s hard to believe that it’s actually genuine and real because she’s an actress,” Nungaray says.

A September report funded by the National Institute of Justice using data from the Texas Department of Public Safety found that “undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes.”

Gomez’s original video was in response to Trump’s promise to begin major deportations as soon as he took office. Last week, Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X to announce that “deportation flights have begun. President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences.”

The two other mothers featured in the video are Tammy Nobles, whose 20-year-old daughter Kayla Hamilton was killed in 2022 in Aberdeen, Maryland, and Patty Morin, whose 37-year-old daughter Rachel was murdered in 2023 in Harford County, Maryland. Hamilton’s killer was an undocumented 16-year-old from El Salvador, while undocumented immigrants are facing charges for the murders of Morin and Nungaray.

Gomez’s video became a political lightning rod in the days after it was originally posted on Monday, with Republican Utah politician Sam Parker suggesting she should be deported as well because her grandparents originally entered the country illegally. “Thanks for the laugh and the threat,” Gomez responded on Instagram.



This story originally appeared on Billboard

Who Is Wihan Du Toit Below Deck Down Under Season 3 Bosun?

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Who Is Wihan Du Toit Below Deck Down Under Season 3 Bosun?


In Seasons 1-2 of Below Deck Down Under, the Bosuns within had tough showings. Season 3 is now quickly heading our way on Bravo, bringing along a third Bosun to try and fill this slot. But who is Wihan Du Toit? And will his hiring create a third-times-the-charm narrative for this series?

During Season 1, Bosun Jamie Sayed clashed with Captain Jason Chambers. He also sparred with many of his fellow crew members. Nevertheless, Jamie made it through the entire season, but it is unlikely that he will ever return to this series.

Season 2, however, introduced us to a new Bosun, Luke Jones, who made Jamie look like a saint. Following a thwarted-by-production sexual assault attempt in a stews cabin, Luke got removed from the yacht. He returned to the vessel the following day, where Captain Jason sent him packing for good.

João Franco returned to this franchise to fill in as the new Bosun. João had many highs and lows in Season 2 of BDDU. Even still, João is not returning for Season 3.

Can Wihan break this curse? Let us investigate everything we can about Wihan to help predict how this Bosun might fare on the high seas of Bravo.

Wihan Du Toit carries a strong resume

Photo Credit: Bravo via YouTube

A Bosun must answer for all troubles on deck, even if they were asleep when these issues transpired. Therefore, this chosen leader must ensure their team is knowledgeable about every deck-related scenario that might arise. One wrong move can send a yachtie or their guests to the ER or even wreck their yacht, so this gig is serious. Is Wihan up to this task?

According to his Bravo bio, he is. Wihan has nine years of experience in this industry. But so does Johnny Arvanitis, one of his deckhands. What could go wrong?

In contrast, his other two deckhands have far fewer years listed on their resumes, so hopefully, Wihan knows how to rise above all daggers and dramatics to lead his lesser-experienced subordinates. Or not. Drama sells.

For his time spent swabbing decks over international waters, Wihan has established his favorite locale, the Bahamas. On Instagram, Wihan shares many yachting updates onboard exquisite-looking yachts. His work and life travels have led this South African to the Caribbean, Greece, the States, New Zealand, and many other exotic ports of call that I cannot list, as Wihan failed to tag every location, and I am not a well-traveled lady, sadly.

Here are some fun facts about Wihan Du Toit

Wihan Du Toit - BDDU Season 3
Photo Credit: Bravo via YouTube

When he is not working on a yacht, Wihan enjoys watching Summer House on Bravo. Bosuns. They are just like us.

When Wihan is working, he misses certain aspects of his land-based life. In his bio, Wihan lists his “family, friends, morning coffee[s] at [his] favorite cafes, and running in the mountains” as his top-missed activities.

Even though Wihan failed to mention the Below Deck series in his list of preferred shows, he did note that he knows two crew members from this franchise. Yet, his known mates had wildly different experiences in this franchise, to say the very least.

Lara Du Preez starred in Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8. She got promoted to the Lead Deckhand role, which she slayed. If anyone needs to walk the plank before the end of BDDU Season 3, Lara might get asked to join this series.

Wihan also noted that he knows Kyle Viljoen, who starred in BDM Seasons 7 and 8. Kyle, however, received a villain edit. In turn, his mental health took a hit, so Kyle is unlikely to return to filming.

Oh, this Scorpio also listed a special skill in his bio. Being himself is his talent. Only time will tell what this means on BDDU. 

What the sneak peek for BDDU Season 3 teases about Wihan Du Toit

The sneak peek for BDDU Season 3 looks promising. Yet, it also teases problems for Wihan. And by problems, we mean his potential firing.

This deck team consists of himself, Jonny, Harry Van Vliet, and Adair Werley. Everyone has experience in this industry, so Wihan is already starting this season of BDDU at a great place. However, no one can control the weather, which shows up at least once in full force during Season 3.

When the charter guests are far away, Wihan clashes with Harry. In the trailer, Wihan forcefully tells this returning deckhand to stop what he is doing. Wihan later asks a stressed-out Johnny to talk to him, but Johnny explodes, screaming, “DON’T F*CKING TALK TO ME!” before lashing out at the yacht like a toddler, throwing something harshly against the walls of their cabin.

In another scene, Wihan tells Lara Rigby, the newest Chief Stew, to “shut up a little bit then” in the galley. Lara is not pleased.

Finally, at the end of the trailer, Captain Jason swiftly calls Wihan, Lara, and Tzarina Mace-Ralph to his wheelhouse, revealing that he has to let one of them go. These three personalities are all department heads this season, and all three will clash on varying levels. With watery eyes, Wihan nods that he understands.

At this, the trailer for BDDU Season 3 ends. The fate of Wihan remains known. Bring it on or bust, Wihan. Either way, we will be watching.

Below Deck Down Under is streaming on Peacock.

TELL US – WILL YOU BE WATCHING BDDU SEASON 3? DO YOU SEE WIHAN MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT AS THE NEWEST BOSUN?




This story originally appeared on Realitytea

Chyler Leigh, Evan Williams on Kat and Elliot Romance, His Ex-Wife

TV Insider
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Chyler Leigh, Evan Williams on Kat and Elliot Romance, His Ex-Wife


[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for The Way Home Season 3 Episode 5 ” Reeling in the Years.”]

Susanna (Watson Rose) marries who?! That’s the reaction at the end of the latest Way Home episode, when Kat (Chyler Leigh) and Jacob (Spencer MacPherson) travel back to the 1800s and see the end of her wedding — to Cyrus (Tim Post)!

“Kat is horrified,” Leigh told TV Insider when she, Evan Williams, and Sadie Laflamme-Snow recently stopped by TV Insider. (Watch the full video interview above.) “Kat does not understand why. But Susanna’s heart is always to protect the people that she loves. So she kind of took one for the team in that sense, where she wanted to make sure that Cyrus’s attention was kept on her by giving him the thing that he wanted the most so that she could, in a sense, sacrifice herself for the safety of Jacob.”

But as we see, they’re not the only ones watching the wedding — Thomas (Kris Holden-Ried) is as well. And this comes just after Kat discovered that Thomas wrote a song about them … as she and boyfriend Elliot (Williams) are facing a complication in his ex-wife’s surprise visit.

“Kat is very conflicted with how she can feel two things in two different times, and one is impossible. It would never go anywhere. And with Kat and Elliot kind of a little bit up and down and questioning where things stand and where we are, it makes things a little bit confusing,” Leigh admitted.

Peter Stranks / Hallmark Media

This episode also sees Elliot overhear Kat tell her ex-husband and Alice’s father Brady (Al Mukadam) that moving in with him is temporary. (Ouch!)

Leigh points out that the Landry house is crowded with Jacob now home, which played into it making sense for Kat to move in with Elliot next door. It’s also about moving their relationship forward, though there are “some doubts … as far as what their relationship is, why she’s feeling the way that she’s feeling. It’s also a matter of trying to reassure Brady at the same time [about their daughter].”

Adds Williams, “Both Kat and Elliot are pretty destabilized at that point in the story. And a lot of assumptions that have been made in the past are being challenged. So when Elliot hears Kat say that, it calls into question the entire forward momentum of their relationship. And especially because ex-wife Emma is around who is so clearly bringing clarity and devotion in her relationship to Elliot. She sees him and at the same time, he’s getting this muddled lack of clarity from Kat. I think that it really sets up a kind of dangerous context that the whole relationship kind of hangs in the balance that moment and we have to see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Alice is traveling back to 1974 via the pond and seeing teen versions of her grandparents, Del (Julia Tomasone) and Colton (Jordan Doww), and getting to know teen Evelyn (Devin Cecchetto), whom people thought would be with Colton!

“Del [Andie MacDowell] has a lot of concerns about Alice seeing the beginnings of their relationship because it was more complicated than we all thought it was. But I think Alice has a lot of grace for the people in her life and she’s seen a lot more of their lives than they could have ever predicted that their teenage child would see, their granddaughter would see, their friend, neighbor, girlfriend’s child would see,” notes Laflamme-Snow.

“It’s complicated, but she manages to really let the people in her life be the versions that she’s known and the versions that she knows now, which I think is really special. And I think that that’s the part that Del is trying to protect Alice from that. But Alice is sort of going head-on into it and she wants to know more and she feels that the more she knows, the more she can help her family. And she’s always felt that way,” she continues.

Leigh points out that Alice is learning things Del didn’t see. That’s because, as Laflamme-Snow points out, Alice can’t have the same relationship with teen Del that she did with teen Kat (Alex Hook).

“In the first season, Alice could just be there for her mom in any way that she wanted to. When she sees that something is difficult for Del and Colton, she has to pull back and she has to kind of lean on that relationship with Evelyn and she has to find everything out through that relationship,” Laflamme-Snow explains. “She can’t go to Del and say, ‘Hi, I’m Alice. Do you want to be best friends?’ It would ruin everything. What happens has always happened, and that didn’t happen. So there’s a sort of new set of rules for this part of her time travel journey that she’s learning to work with.”

Leigh praises the writers and showrunners for keeping track of those. “I’m so confused. We got to the table read for Episodes 9 and 10 and I had to keep leaning over going, ‘What just happened? Who did what? Wait, they’re who?’ I was so confused. But then we read the final script and everybody was just sobbing. I can’t wait to make everybody cry. It’s going to be awesome,” she adds with a laugh.

Watch the full video interview above for more from Leigh, Williams, and Laflamme-Snow as they break down Season 3 Episode 5, talk Thomas’ song, theories about Casey (Vaughan Murrae), that Alice-Del fight, and more.

The Way Home, Fridays, 9/8c, Hallmark Channel




This story originally appeared on TV Insider

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