WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
PHILIPPINES DEATH TOLL LIKELY CLOSER TO 2,000
Philippines President Benigno Aquino said yesterday that the death toll from the devastating Typhoon Haiyan is likely closer to 2,000, much lower than the previous estimate of 10,000. He did say that number might get higher, as authorities had yet to reach almost 30 cities and towns. The official death toll stood at 1,798 as of yesterday. While aid was on its way to the hard-hit city of Tacloban, the scale of the devastation meant there would be challenges delivering it to those in need. The United States has sent the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which carries 5,000 sailors and 80 aircraft, and three U.S. Navy warships, to the islands. The government also said it would provide $20 million to help in relief efforts.
BILL CLINTON SAYS OBAMA SHOULD HONOR HEALTHCARE PROMISE/MEDICAID SIGN-UPS ON THE RISE
Former President Bill Clinton said in a recent interview that he believes President Obama should keep his promise regarding the healthcare law. Obama assured the American people that if they liked their health insurance coverage before the Affordable Care Act became law, they’d be able to keep that coverage. "I personally believe, even if it takes a change to the law, the president should honor the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they got,” Clinton said in an interview with online magazine Ozy. The White House said yesterday that it agrees with Clinton. "The president has tasked his team with looking at a range of options… to make sure nobody is put in a position where their plans are canceled,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Meanwhile, it seems like Medicaid is emerging as an early success story of Obama’s problem-plagued healthcare overhaul. According to Avalere Health, Medicaid has signed up 444,000 people in 10 states in the six weeks since open enrollment began.
ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER IS COUNTRY’S TALLEST BUILDING
One World Trade Center is now officially the tallest building in America. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ruled Tuesday that the 408-foot spire atop Manhattan’s 1 WTC counts toward the building’s full height – making it taller than Chicago’s Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. Without the needle, the building stands at 1,368 feet, while the Willis Tower measures in at 1,451 feet. One World Trade Center is expected to open next year.
GOV’T TO ALLOW US AIRWAYS, AMERICAN AIRLINES TO MERGE
The Justice Department has reached an agreement that will allow US Airways and American Airlines to merge. In order for the $11 billion merger to move forward, the airlines must scale back the size of the merger at airports in Chicago, New York, Washington, Los Angeles and several other big cities. "This agreement has the potential to shift the landscape of the airline industry," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. "By guaranteeing a bigger foothold for low-cost carriers at key U.S. airports, this settlement ensures airline passengers will see more competition on nonstop and connecting routes throughout the country." In August, the government sued to block the merger, saying it would restrict competition and increase costs for consumers. But the airlines said their deal would increase competition by creating another big competitor for United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
BRIDE MAY HAVE BLINDFOLDED HUSBAND BEFORE PUSHING HIM OFF CLIFF
A Montana bride accused of pushing her husband off a cliff just days after their wedding may have blindfolded him first, court documents say. Prosecutors are preparing to introduce a new theory that 22-year-old Jordan Graham had planned Cody Johnson’s death ahead of time by placing a blindfold on him before shoving him to his death in July. Defense attorneys for Graham appealed to a federal judge to block this new theory from being entered in court. Graham has claimed that she pushed Johnson out of anger, but she never meant to kill him. A trial date is set for Dec. 9.
SHOWBIZ NEWS:
KIM PULLED OVER BY COPS WHILE BEING CHASED BY PAPARAZZI
Kim Kardashian had quite a run-in with the paparazzi yesterday. According to TMZ, Kim was pulled over for speeding on the LA freeway as she was trying to flee a bunch of paparazzi-carrying cars. Shockingly, when the cops pulled over Kim, the photographers jumped out of their vehicles in the middle of the freeway causing major traffic. Officers were reportedly furious the paps endangered so many lives but most of them got away before cops could do anything about it. In the end, only Kim and one paparazzo received a citation for speeding, but sources tell TMZ California Highway Patrol are looking into the incident.
ZAC EFRON BREAKS JAW
Zac Efron broke his jaw Sunday after slipping in a puddle outside his Los Angeles home. According to E!, Efron, who went to rehab earlier this year for cocaine abuse, had to have his jaw wired shut. He also suffered a gash that had to be closed with stitches. He is expected to make a full recovery.
KRUPA DENIES SHE SLEPT WITH FOSTER’S EX
On Monday’s Watch What Happens Live, Brandi Glanville claimed Real Housewives of Miami’sJoanna Krupa had an affair with Mohamed Hadid, the ex-husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Foster. “Joanna had sex with Mohammed,” Brandi told Andy Cohen, who asked if that’s what ended Foster’s marriage, to which Glanville replied, “It’s one of many affairs.” But Krupa took to Twitter yesterday to deny the accusation, retweeting a post from Hadid which read, “That['s] a lie. I [have] never spoken to Brandy @BrandiGlanville in any way about joanna. Brandy [is] such a scum and a foul mouth.” Brandi of course couldn’t let it end there. “It was not my intention to hurt anyone last night, i spoke my truth when asked a question — fought back when attacked I love @YolandaHFoster,” she tweeted, adding, “My morning is ruined, im crying and going back to sleep bye.”
NEVES NOW SAYS SHE SLEPT WITH BIEBER
Guess Tati Neves’ 15 minutes of fame are not up just yet. The 27-year-old Brazilian, who shot video of a sleeping Justin Bieber, has confirmed to The Sun she slept with the 20-year-old and is now sharing details of their tryst. "Take it from me, he's well endowed — and very good in bed," Neves told the tab. "A man must know what to do to make me happy — Justin did all that and more." Neves said she and about ten other girls were partying with Justin at a rented home when he started flirting with her and eventually invited her into his bed. “It was one of the best moments in my life. It was marvelous and unforgettable,” she says. “He has quite a fit body and looked great naked.”
BALDWIN BREAKS DOWN ON THE STAND
Alec Baldwin took the stand in a New York courtroom yesterday testifying against Canadian actress Genevieve Sabourin, who is charged with harassing and stalking the actor. TMZ reports that the 30 Rock star broke down in tears talking about how he felt "extremely, extremely, extremely threatened" when Sabourin showed up at his Manhattan apartment last year. He also said she made calls and sent emails that were “disturbing” and “threatening.” He insisted he never had a sexual or romantic relationship with Sabourin, who made several outbursts during the testimony, at one point screaming “you’re lying!” Meanwhile, as Baldwin left the courtroom he encountered a New York Post reporter he’s had a history with and reportedly told him, “I hope you choke to death.”
LAWRENCE COMFORTS CRYING FAN
There’s good reason everyone likes Jennifer Lawrence. The 23-year-old was at The Hunger Games premiere in London earlier this week when she spotted a young fan crying behind a security barrier. Lawrence immediately stopped her interview, walked off the red carpet and comforted the girl. She spent time talking to her and even posed for a picture. And the whole thing was caught on video.
CRUISE LAWYER COMPARES JOURNALIST TO NAZIS
Emails submitted as evidence in Tom Cruise’s lawsuit against Bauer Publishing show the intimidation tactics the actor’s lawyer has used to try to stop negative reports about Cruise and Scientology. In one email, attorney Bert Fields wrote a journalist at the Hollywood Reporter after hearing they were going to write a story about how an anti-Scientology piece in Vanity Fair was going to affect Tom’s career. In it, Fields compared the HR journalist to a Nazi. “Your suggestion that Tom may have to quit the Church to save his career begins to sound like Germany in the 1930s, where a man’s professional career could be ended because of his religion,” he wrote. “You’re too good a reporter to let your feelings about Scientology…cause you to hurt Tom, who’s a very good guy and who doesn’t deserve it.” In another email, Fields threatened to “file an appropriate action” against a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer for The New Yorker who was going to publish a report about Scientology, which Fields claimed “contained false and defamatory assertions about Mr. Cruise.”
BRUCE COUNSELING LAMAR/FAMILY RAISES MONEY FOR CHARITY
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom may not be together anymore, but that doesn’t mean everyone in Khloe’s family has written off the NBA star. TMZ reports Lamar has been spending a lot of time with Bruce Jenner at his Malibu home. Bruce is telling close friends Lamar is clean and that he’s been counseling him on various life issues. Bruce believes he’s having a positive influence on Lamar, who he calls a “good soul.” Meanwhile, the Kardashian family held a yard sale Monday, selling their old clothing and household goods to benefit the No Kid Hungry Foundation and the Greater Los Angeles Fisher House, which provides housing for families of injured soldiers. The reality show clan made $6,000 on sales, and pledged to match the proceeds, so they will be donating $12,000.
THOMPSON FORGIVES CARTER FOR BREAKING UP HER MARRIAGE
Emma Thompson says she has forgiven actress Helena Bonham Carter for breaking up her marriage to actor/director Kenneth Branagh. The couple split in 1995 after Branagh and Carter began an affair during the filming of 1994’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (their relationship went on to last five years). “You can’t hold on to anything like that,” Thompson said. “I just think… pfft. It’s pointless. I haven’t got the energy for it. Helena and I made our peace years and years ago.” In fact, Thompson joked that she could see the similarities between herself and Carter, which may have appealed to Branagh. “Being slightly mad and a bit fashion challenged,” she said. “Perhaps that’s why Ken loved us both. She’s a wonderful woman, Helena.”
ABRAHAM TO APPEAR SOLO ON VH1’S COUPLES THERAPY
Farrah Abraham has found a new way to extend her 15 minutes of fame. The Teen Mom-turned-porn-star will appear on VH1’s Couples Therapy, even though she is currently single. According to Radaronline, the show will focus on what exactly the 22-year-old is doing wrong in her relationships. “Basically they are going to bring people from her past — family, friends, ex-boyfriends — to help her understand why she can’t make any of her relationships work and they fail,” said a source. Abraham tried to get on the show last season but was turned down because she couldn’t get anyone to go on it with her.
TIMBERLAKE FIGHTS BACK AGAINST CRITICS
Justin Timberlake is one of GQ’s Men of the Year and in an accompanying article he unloads on two magazines, Variety, which claimed he should stop acting, and Billboard, which questioned why he released two albums this year. “The movie (Runner Runner) didn't do well at the box office, so I should quit? Hold on a second. If I was somebody else, you wouldn't have said that. I have the number one album this week, and I shouldn't have released it? Come on, man. You sound like a dickhead,” he said. “It just shocked me because, like, you're trade magazines. None of your opinions count. And by the way, none of you can do it."
HUDSON CAN’T AFFORD PRICEY CLOTHES
Kate Hudson tells Harper’s Bazaar that the public has a really big misconception about celebrities when it comes to their fabulous wardrobes. "People think we own all these dresses, but we borrow them!" she says. "I can't afford to buy that stuff. There are certain things I splurge on, but it's very rare, especially when you have two kids and school tuition." In fact, Hudson claims she’s a bit thrifty. "I'm not a big high-end fashion shopper," she says. "I wish I could, but the truth is, things are just so expensive."
MUELLER SHOPPING FOR NEW PAD
Brooke Mueller was reportedly shopping for condos in Beverly Hills Monday. Sources tell TMZ Brooke believes she needs to move from her current home because her brother Scott is expected to move in to her place with her twins and the court won’t let her live under the same roof as them yet. Brooke’s home is in the same gated community as her ex Charlie Sheen’s pad. In fact, Sheen is actually the one who pays for Brooke’s house.
TV TIDBITS
● A&E announced that Mark and Donnie Wahlberg’s reality show, Wahlburgers, will premiere January 22nd. The series follows the two star siblings as they go back to Massachusetts and join forces with their brother Paul, who serves as executive chef at their hamburger restaurant, which is already looking to open another location in Toronto next year.
● Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks will make a guest appearance on the FX series American Horror Story: Coven. “Guess who's visiting the Coven?,” creator Ryan Murphy tweeted Tuesday. “The legendary Stevie Nicks.” Sources say Nicks will turn up to “meet her biggest fan” Misty Day, played by Lily Rabe.
● The CW has given full season orders to three freshman dramas – The Originals, The Tomorrow People and Reign.
ROCK NEWS:
GHOST B.C.’S GROHL-PRODUCED EP IF YOU HAVE GHOST APPEARS ONLINE
Though just a bit tardy for a Halloween tie-in, Swedish metal gods Ghost B.C.’s forthcoming EP, If You Have Ghost (available this Tuesday), is currently streaming online atconsequencesofsound.net. The five-song set was recorded and produced by Foo Fightersfrontman Dave Grohl and features four creative covers and a live version of the group’s own “Secular Haze.”
IOMMI IN LINE TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE
Congratulations to Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi who will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Britain’s Coventry University this Tuesday, November 19. University officials said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician is being honored for his “contribution to the world of popular music; in particular being recognized as one of the founders of heavy metal music and one of the greatest and most influential musicians of all time.”
SEVENDUST EXITING “FROM DEATH TO DESTINY TOUR”
It seems Sevendust was not destined to complete its stint on the “From Death to Destiny” tour with Asking Alexandria, All That Remains, Emmure and For Today. Citing a “personal family matter,” Sevendust will drop off the bill following this Friday’s performance in Memphis. No further details were made available.
PAPA ROACH MAKES ONE FAN’S WISH COME TRUE
Kudos to the members of Papa Roach who went above and beyond the call of duty to grant one special fan’s Make-A-Wish request. Mark Guerra, currently suffering from a brain tumor, wished for an opportunity to have his band Breaking Boundaryz be able to record an EP with Papa Roach. His wish came true and the entire experience was caught on camera and will air November 26 on Fuse.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT PRODUCE NEW VIDEO FOR “COME A LITTLE CLOSER”
A new colorfully animated video for Cage the Elephant’s huge hit “Come a Little Closer” debuted yesterday which features original artwork illustrated by frontman Matt Schultz. The song is one of 10 found on the band’s recently released third studio album, Melophobia, the follow-up to 2011’sThank You Happy Birthday. The group has a slate of radio holiday festival appearances scheduled before kicking off 2014 with a European tour, starting February 4 in Dublin, Ireland.
PUBLIC MEMORIAL PLANNED FOR REED IN NYC
Fans of the late Lou Reed will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on his passing at a public memorial scheduled to take place tomorrow at Lincoln Center in New York City, the New York Times reports. The event will take place from 1-4p ET, and according to a message on Reed’s Facebook page will feature “No speeches. No live performances. Just Lou’s voice, guitar, music & songs – playing the recordings selected by his family and friends.”
AEROSMITH AXEMAN ADMITS HAVING “ISSUES WITH THE LAST RECORD”
Apparently, according to Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford, the group’s last studio album, Music From Another Dimension, wasn’t made for those of us living in this dimension. In a recent interview, Whitford candidly said, “We have a lot of issues with the last record now. We felt like…we missed the mark…we feel like we should’ve done something a little different…I don’t know if the material that we did really translated. Maybe we’re a little bit stuck in the way we do things… Maybe we need to…bring in some more contemporary people to work with…”
BEATLES BBC BANK BUSTED, PRODUCER CLAIMS
With yesterday’s release of The Beatles On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 still fresh on fans’ minds, few should expect more BBC performances to surface in the future. One of the compilation’s executive producers told Billboard, “There are no plans at the moment. I think these two albums are wonderful from the point of view of presenting the real highlights of the Beatles’ BBC sessions.” That said, another insider hinted, “There is something, but I don’t think we’re allowed to talk about it yet. If you’re involved in these Beatles projects, you have to be very discreet. It’s all top secret.”
CRACKER’S LOWERY LEADS CRACKDOWN ON LYRIC SITES
Singer/songwriter David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven fame and the National Music Publishers Association are taking a stand against 50 unlicensed lyric sites, leading an effort to take those sites offline for posting lyrics without paying the songwriters who penned them. Lowery said in a statement: “Unlicensed lyric sites are largely ignored as copyright infringers, but in fact these sites generate huge web traffic and involve more money than one might think.” Lowery cites Rap Genius, Lyrics Mania and Lyrics Translate as three of the main offenders.
