'Prime Minister' wins two News & Doc Emmy Awards including Best Documentary for Throwback Thursday

Happy Throwback Thursday! I'm returning to the News & Doc Emmy Awards today, as I promised in 'Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller' wins 7 News & Doc Emmy Awards for World Oceans Day with the relevant paragraph from CNN Worldwide Honored with Six News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

CNN FILMS PRIME MINISTER WINS TWO EMMY® AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST DOCUMENTARY
...
CNN’s recognition extended to the Documentary Emmy® Awards on Thursday night, where CNN Films’ Prime Minister won Best Documentary and Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary. The acclaimed film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, earning the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary before being acquired by HBO and CNN Films. Released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures, Prime Minister is available to stream now at CNN.com/Watch, on the CNN app, and on HBO Max.

I declared Prime Minister as the favorite to win Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary early, but I thought 2000 Meters to Andriivka was the most likely to win Best Documentary. Surprise!

Dame Jacinda Ardern posted a thank you speech to her Instagram.

Tonight the incredible team who made the documentary simply titled “Prime Minister” won the Emmy for best documentary. From the sidelines I saw these talented directors, editors, and producers all come together to create a film (which I have still only watched it in its entirety once..) that feels like the most accurate portrayal of what it’s like to lead with your heart on your sleeve. My huge congratulations to them all, especially Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz who co-directed it. But here, I want to make a special mention of Clarke, the first person who picked up a camera. I wasn’t the easiest person to film, and nor through the years of being PM was I the easiest partner. But that never changed the amount of support he gave in return. Our loved ones don’t choose politics, but they are still on the front line alongside us every day, cheering us on, keeping life at home going, reminding us why we’re there. So thank you, Clarke. Now it’s my turn to cheer you on xx

Clarke spoke at the awards tonight, and he saved his final words, rightly so, to thank New Zealand. Our home. We will both forever be grateful for the privilege of a lifetime.

Congratulations to Dame Jacinda, the documentarians, CNN, and HBO!

Since it's Throwback Thursday and the subject is politics, follow over the jump for the top serious political posts written during the 15th year of Crazy Eddie's Motie News.

'The Mythology of the Backrooms Explained' by Storied plus 'Backrooms' box office

I'm pulling a video out of the archives for today's Sunday entertainment feature, The Mythology of the Backrooms Explained by Storied.

Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling? Welcome to The Backrooms, a digital folklore phenomenon that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, exploring the eerie and uncanny through playful, yet terrifying, community-driven digital storytelling.

I watched this video when it came out almost exactly two years ago, so I had heard that the concept would be made into a movie then. The movie was released two weeks ago, and was a huge hit. Watch as ABC News reports Horror film 'Backrooms' makes box office history.

Independent horror film "Backrooms" is a box-office stunner, taking in $82 million dollars in domestic ticket sales in its opening weekend.

What ABC News didn't mention was that Backrooms and Obsession knocked The Mandalorian and Grogu out of first place. Remember that Disney owns both ABC and Lucasfilm, which makes Star Wars. It's not just news value that drives the story, including what isn't reported. That wasn't CNN's problem, as their video on the subject described How YouTubers are beating Disney at its own game.

Youtubers-turned-directors are beating media giants like Disney at the box office. CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter breaks down how these directors have the edge, as the panel debates.

CNN, owned by Warner Brothers-Discovery — for now — has no such problem pointing out Backrooms and Obsession beat The Mandalorian and Grogu at the box office.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for World Oceans Day, which I haven't celebrated since 2024. Oops.

Boston Crusaders 'Animal Farm' for a drum corps May Day

A happy drum corps May Day on Flashback Friday. For today's drum corps holiday retrospective, I'm following up on a suggestion I included in my response to a comment on 1979 Santa Clara Vanguard's maypole in motion for a drum corps May Day to use Boston Crusaders "Animal Farm." I think its time has come. Watch The Controversy Series, Part 2... 2014 Boston Crusaders by Marching Arts Network TV.

In part 2 of this series exploring controversy in DCI, we take a close look at the Boston Crusaders, and specifically the time they decided to call out DCI to their faces... some would say at the cost of competitive success!

I am quite familiar with "Napoleon's" proposals. I wrote for Drum Corps World from 1996 to 2008 and wrote two articles about them. One led directly to the other and the outcome disgusted me. Both also led to the G7 proposal, so I wasn't surprised it elicited such a public backlash. CNN even reported on it! "Napoleon" wanted more mainstream media attention for the activity and he got it, twice. He should have been more careful what he wished for.

I was feeling like posting this show for today at least one month ago. Then I found out that a new Animal Farm movie is being released today. Watch Animal Farm | Official Final Trailer | Andy Serkis | In Theaters Now | Angel.

We're about to change the rules.
Animal Farm — A Cautionary Tail. Takes over theaters May 1, 2026.
...
Starring Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Andy Serkis, Kathleen Turner & Iman Vellani

Perfect timing!

Follow over the jump for last year's top posts featuring drum corps, nearly all of which were also top posts on Facebook.

Netflix buys Warner Brothers

The number one story for this week's Sunday entertainment feature is Netflix announces deal to buy Warner Bros. and HBO. Take it away, CNN!

Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. and HBO, which includes the legendary TV and movie studio and assets like the HBO Max streaming service, for $72 billion, plus debt. The deal could reshape Hollywood, but first faces a tough regulatory review process around the world. CNN’s Brian Stelter reports.

Surprise! The attempted Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger didn't and probably will not happen. That means that John Oliver, who did not want to work for Paramount and the Ellisons, avoided that possibility, at least for now. CNN also escaped that fate so far, because they're not part of the deal. Netflix does not want to get into the cable TV business, so CNN and the rest of the Warner Brothers-Discovery channels, other than HBO, which Netflix is buying, remain together to be spun off as a separate entity, Discovery Global. That at least postpones what I was worried about in September: "CBS News and CNN merging would likely result in a more conservative news outlet, which would make Donald 'Hoover Cleveland' Trump get out of the deal's way." He and Pam Bondi's Department of Justice might not be so accommodating with a Netflix-Warner Brothers merger.

There are others who are opposing the deal, as PBS NewsHour explains in What Netflix's deal to buy Warner Bros. means for one of Hollywood's oldest studios.

Netflix has struck a nearly $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max, beating out Paramount and Comcast after a bidding war. If finalized, it would unite the world’s largest streamer with one of Hollywood’s oldest studios. The move raises questions about the future of theatrical releases and concerns about market concentration. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Matthew Belloni of Puck.

While this deal is good for Netflix and Warner Brothers-Discovery's management and shareholders, it may not be good for theater owners, actors, and writers, who stand to lose money or at least have smaller paychecks. It may not be great for directors, either, although more artistically than financially; they want their movies shown on the big screen and think streaming them at home diminishes them, literally.

Netflix is playing this deal up as good for consumers. In terms of variety of content and convenience, it probably will be. However, it will probably make subscriptions go up, although viewers like my wife and me, who subscribe to multiple streaming services, might ultimately save money as we will subscribe to one service instead of two. Just the same, the commenters on CNN's video are already grousing about their Netflix subscriptions going up to pay for this deal.

I'm sure I'll have more to write about this deal and the legal hoops it will have to jump through over the next year and more. In the meantime, stay tuned for another evergreen educational entry tomorrow.

NBC and CNBC report on likely Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger

I'm taking a break from Emmy Awards coverage for this week's Sunday entertainment feature to examine a business of entertainment story, a reported offer for Paramount to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. I begin with NBC News explaining What a Paramount merger with Warner Bros. Discovery could mean for television.

Paramount Skydance is preparing to make a bid for Warner Brothers Discovery. NBC News' Tom Llamas talks to media and sports reporter Alex Sherman about what this potential merger could mean for film and television.

This could have major effects on entertainment production and consumption, although the resulting company would still not be as big as Amazon and Apple, which are primarily technology companies, or Disney, which definitely is still a media company. CNBC Television was thinking of a different media company when it uploaded Combining Paramount and Warner Bros. could create real competition to Netflix: Puck's Matt Belloni.

Matt Belloni, Puck founding partner, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss reports of Paramount Skydance preparing an all-cash takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, impact on the media industry, and more.

I was wondering if/when Joe Kernan would say something that would annoy me and he lived down to my expectations by speculating on what this merger would do to CNN's personnel. CBS News and CNN merging would likely result in a more conservative news outlet, which would make Donald "Hoover Cleveland" Trump get out of the deal's way. It's a legitimate topic that I'm concerned about, but Kernan's attitude rubbed me the wrong way. Good thing Andrew Ross Sorkin stepped in to change the tone.

Speaking of Sorkin, he kicked off the questioning in David Ellison is trying to do something no one's ever done, says LightShed's Rich Greenfield.

Rich Greenfield, LightShed Partners co-founder, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss reports of Paramount Skydance preparing an all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, impact on the rest of the media industry, prospect of Comcast making a competing bid, and more.

When I first heard about a potential buyer for Warner Bros., it was NBCUniversal, which would make sense for Universal Studios theme parks; Harry Potter's movie and theme park IP would under the same umbrella instead of being split. That was under the Biden Administration. As Greenfield pointed out, this won't happen with Hoover Cleveland in charge. Besides, the Ellisons can outbid NBCUniversal, so it won't happen from a business perspective, either.

There was a lot of talk about a potential purchase of TikTok, but I'm going to save that for a future post. Speaking of which, stay tuned for a post about tonight's Emmy winners tomorrow.

Company Man wonders 'Cracker Barrel - The Rise and Fall?' A tale of the Retail Apocalypse and consumer pressure

I promised another tale of the Retail Apocalypse, so watch as Company Man wonders Cracker Barrel - The Rise and Fall?

The national chain of restaurants has been having trouble over the past few years. This video explores what has been happening with Cracker Barrel.

Company Man Mike held off on compiling one of his trademark lists until the end. Here it is.


 Looks like things were going great for Cracker Barrel until the pandemic, which exposed the weaknesses in its business model, reliance on older customers. That doomed Stein Mart, whose customers "weren't going out or working because they are the ones most vulnerable to the pandemic." The same turned out to be true for Cracker Barrel. Trying to attract younger patrons didn't work well, either. They liked the nostalgia factor as well.

This is the most political I've seen Company Man get in his videos, but I don't think he went far enough. Watch CNN report Cracker Barrel quietly removes DEI, Pride pages from its website after logo upheaval.

After backing away from a controversial logo rebrand loudly opposed by many right-wing influencers, Cracker Barrel also quietly made changes to its website this week. The Tennessee-based roadside restaurant chain deleted a dedicated “Pride page” and scrubbed references to employee resource groups, including its LGBTQ+ and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging groups, from another part of its website.

“On behalf of Cracker Barrel’s LGBTQ+ Alliance & DEIB Team, we want to celebrate YOU for being YOU. It is our greatest Mission to ensure that Pleasing People means ‘all people,’” Cracker Barrel’s now-deleted Pride page read, according to a CNN review of the Wayback Machine.

CNN business and tech writer Claire Duffy reports.

That's depressing. As I wrote in 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' and 'Dune: Part Two' win Hugo Awards, "The Hugo Awards successfully fought off the Rabid Puppies, but they have infected the rest of society. File that under winning the battle, but (so far) losing the war. Sigh." Cracker Barrel knuckling under to their pressure shows how far that infection has gone.

Time for some comic relief from Jimmy Kimmel, who returned from vacation this week. He mentioned the controversy in last night's monologue, Trump Stops ALL the Wars, MAGA Mouth-Breathers Mad About Cracker Barrel & Ted Cruz Shows Off Accent.

The NFL season kicked off tonight between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, Donald Trump went after Rosie O’Donnell and threatened to take away her American citizenship, the MAGA mouth-breathers were all up in arms about Cracker Barrel changing their logo, Kim Jong Un reportedly brought his own personal toilet with him on his trip to Beijing, Trump is constantly blabbing about all of the wars he stopped, Ted Cruz popped on Newsmax yesterday to show off his authentic and not-at-all unconvincing accent, the surgeon general of Florida announced that they are doing away with vaccine mandates, and even though Robert F Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Oz claim to be against big pharma, they never miss an opportunity to cash in.

Welcome back, Jimmy, your fans, including me, missed you.

That's a wrap. Stay tuned to see if I write this year's version of Star Trek vs. Star Wars at the 2024 Emmy Awards for Star Trek Day so I can cover Andor's Creative Arts Emmy nominations or post the video from Weathered on PBS Terra that I was originally planning on posting today.

CBS canceling 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is enough to drive one to drink on National Daiquiri Day

I was planning on continuing my series on the Emmy nominees today with the nominees for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special today, but I'm just not feeling it.* Instead, I'm writing about what happened to another Emmy nominee this week, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On Tuesday, Stephen's show earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series. Thursday night, Stephen Colbert Announce[d] The Cancellation Of “The Late Show”.

Stephen Colbert tells his audience that the next season of “The Late Show” will be the last, and that the series will end in May 2026.

I'm reminded of what I wrote in 'You're Not Alone' and 'Now What?' Closer looks at Trump's re-election from Colbert, Meyers, 'The Daily Show,' and Kimmel.

Now I'm wondering if people will protect Jimmy, Stephen, Seth, and the rest of the late-night talk show hosts. If so, it would be another example of the surest way to get Americans to act is to mess with their entertainm­ent. As I first wrote in 2011, "America is quite clear about its screwed up priorities­."

Their audiences would likely protect them against direct government action, but not the parent companies of their networks. Other than boycotts, I don't know how their viewers can pressure the media corporations. Being number one in late night certainly didn't help.

Follow over the jump for reactions for CNN, PBS, and MSNBC, plus an observance of National Daiquiri Day.

Listening to people worry about lower birthrates on World Population Day is enough to drive me to drink on National Mojito Day

Happy World Population Day and National Mojito Day! I begin the holiday observances with Newsweek's Singles Pandemic: Why Global Birthrates Are Falling—and What It Means for Our Future.

Birthrates are falling fast—and the impact could reshape the future of economies, families, and entire nations.

In this episode of Blind Spots, we explore the global fertility crisis, from Japan and South Korea to the United States. Why are fewer people having children? How do economic pressure, changing cultural norms, and government policy play a role? And what happens when aging populations outnumber the young?

Singles Pandemic breaks down one of the most urgent demographic trends of our time.

It was time to put the world back in World Population Day after concentrating on U.S. trends since 2020. Japan and especially South Korea have it worse than the U.S., while the French seem to have it better.

Speaking of focusing on the U.S., I'm looking at the other side of American population equation before examining birth rates with TODAY reporting U.S. life expectancy rose to 78.4 years in 2023 early this year.

U.S. life expectancy rose to 78.4 years in 2023, hitting its highest level since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Well, that's good news, although U.S. life expectancy still hasn't risen to its 2014 value of 78.9 years. It sank most of the years since, which I started blogging about in 2016, before collapsing during the pandemic and recovering afterwards. If U.S. life expectancy reaches 80 years, I might post Professor Farnsworth. That might be awhile.

Follow over the jump for videos about the situation in the U.S., including what, if anything, can be done about it, plus a video about National Mojito Day.

Bolide over southeast U.S. and Asteroid 2024 YR4 update for Asteroid Day and Meteor Watch Day

Happy International Asteroid Day, the younger but paradoxically more established version of Apophis Day! It's also National Meteor Watch Day, so I'm beginning today's post with a spectacular meteor, which CNN reported as Fireball flies across the sky and causes sonic boom on Friday.

A ‘daytime fireball’ was caught on video in the sky over South Carolina – causing a sonic boom, according to the American Meteor Society. CNN has reached out to emergency management officials in North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as NASA for comment.

That's quite the meteor! Good thing it mostly created a natural fireworks show, maybe some property damage, and no injuries.

Now for two updates on Asteroid 2024 YR4, beginning with Global News reporting Asteroid now poses real threat of hitting Moon, NASA warns.

An asteroid once considered a threat to Earth is now on a potential collision course to the Moon.

NASA says the object has just over a four per cent chance of impacting the Moon, seven years from now.

Though the odds may seem small, scientists warn that the damage could be significant.

Vincent McAviney reports on why the space agency says this risk is no longer trivial.

That sounds alarming, if still unlikely. The European Space Agency was a lot calmer in From threat to no sweat: Asteroid 2024 YR4.

How did asteroid 2024 YR4 go from being the riskiest asteroid ever detected to posing no real threat? First spotted in December 2024, its impact risk initially soared to 2.8%, surpassing previous record-holder Apophis. But thanks to refined observations from our Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre and other institutions, its risk quickly dropped to just 0.001% within days. This dramatic shift follows a well-known pattern—asteroid impact probabilities often rise before plummeting as more data becomes available. Now, nearly all possible impact scenarios have been ruled out, and 2024 YR4 has been safely removed from our risk list.

Nothing about a possible impact with the Moon, but NASA's planetary defense blog lists that probability as 4.3%, as Global News reported.

That's a wrap for June's blogging. Stay tuned for Canada Day to begin July.

'The Sixth' leads nominees for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards

As I promised twice, it's time for the next installment in my coverage of the News & Doc Emmy Awards by examining The Sixth and the rest of the nominees for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary. The Sixth on the sixth!*

Since it is the only nominee in this category with another nomination and that is for Best Documentary, I begin with THE SIXTH | Trailer from Change Content.

THE SIXTH (www.thesixthmovie.com) is a feature documentary produced in collaboration with A24. From Academy Award® winning filmmakers Andrea Nix Fine & Sean Fine, THE SIXTH takes you inside the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol through six personal accounts, including Rep. Jamie Raskin and MPD Chief Robert Contee. This harrowing yet hopeful film, is a powerful reminder that the fate of democracy is in all our hands.

This isn't the first time the News & Doc Emmy Awards recognized coverage of January 6th; for starters, CNN's 'Live from the Capitol: January 6th, One Year Later' won two News & Doc Emmy Awards in 2023. It is the first time I've covered a nominated documentary about the event, although it probably won't be the last. In the meantime, this is still my favorite to win this category, although it is facing worthy competition and isn't a guaranteed winner. After all, Good Night Oppy had six nominations and was my pick to win Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary two years ago, but lost to How to Survive a Pandemic. Something similar could happen here.

Follow over the jump to watch the trailers or the equivalent for the rest of the nominees in this category and another look at Best Documentary.

Atlantic Hurricane Season forecast to be above normal while FEMA weakened

The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season began yesterday, and CNN reported National Hurricane Center warns this is the chance of an above-normal season.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean starts June 1 with NOAA forecasting six to ten storms that will earn names on the list of hurricanes this year. CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar reports, and CNN’s Victor Blackwell speaks with former FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell about the state of hurricane preparedness.

First, the charts, beginning with the list of storm names.


The new storm name is Dexter, replacing Dorian. I expect to see Dexter memes when it develops, especially if becomes a threat to the mainland U.S. Serial killer vibes!

Now for the numbers.


Most of the forecast range is above average, which the next chart shows as a 60% chance of an above average season.


The good news? If this season's forecast is correct, then it won't be as bad as last year. The bad news? FEMA will have fewer resources, thanks to Trump's "shock and awful" and especially "Elon Musk's...Chainsaw Massacre of our federal workforce." As I wrote in Trump implementing Project 2025 for a Flashback Good Friday, "Russell Vought wouldn't have moved this fast." Yeah, but he'd have got here eventually.

Stay tuned to see if I resume my coverage of the News & Doc Emmy Awards, or if I post tonight's monologues instead. It depends on whether the comedians return tonight and if I feel up to a long awards nominations post.

Project 2025 and Trump on Social Security and Medicare

I posted Musical question for today exactly one year ago. The impulse that made me write that is motivating me to post about something personal related to the anniversary of the same event.* I begin with Verify claiming No, Project 2025 doesn’t propose eliminating Social Security benefits.

Contrary to online claims, Project 2025 doesn’t call for ending Social Security benefits. But the Heritage Foundation has advocated for changes to the program.

By fact-checking for "eliminating Social Security benefits," Verify minimizes the risk to the program and its beneficiaries. To their credit, they do point out that people behind Project 2025 have advocated raising the retirement age and privatizing Social Security. Both of those will weaken Social Security and harm its beneficiaries.

Via KREM 2 News, they do much the same for convicted criminal Donald Trump in VERIFY | Does former President Trump want to cut social security benefits?

The campaign is in full swing and many people have questions about statements Kamala Harris has been making at her rallies.

"Currently" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. He may not favor cutting Social Security now, but he talked out of both sides of his mouth about the issue in the past. Watch and listen to CNN Trump made promises to never touch Social Security. Hear what he thinks about it now to hear that history, including the quote first Joe Biden and now Kamala Harris and Tim Walz seized upon.

CNN's Abby Phillip breaks down what former President Donald Trump has said about federal entitlement programs in the past after Trump suggests he is open to making cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Then, she is joined by former Obama adviser Dan Pfieffer.

Pay attention to what Trump has done, not just what he said. As Phieffer noted, his administration proposed cutting Social Security and Medicare in every budget he proposed. Fortunately, Congress didn't go along then, although the current Speaker of the House favors them. Here's to hoping we don't have to find out if the next Congress would go along with that plan.

Follow over the jump for the latest on Trump's ideas on Social Security and Medicare.

James Earl Jones passes at 93

Change of plans. Instead of diversity among Creative Arts Emmy Awards winners on TV Dinner Day, which I promised in yesterday's 'Jim Henson Idea Man' and 'Girls State' win multiple Emmy Awards, I'm going to honor diversity in entertainment in a different way today by remembering the life of James Earl Jones.* Watch CNN report Actor James Earl Jones dies at 93.

James Earl Jones, an award-winning actor whose career spanned seven decades, died at the age of 93, according to his agent, Barry McPherson. CNN’s Richard Roth and Elizabeth Wagmeister report.

As my readers can see and hear, Jones's passing is personal for CNN. He was a member of their family, having been the voice of the cable channel's slogan. I can relate. I'm a Star Wars fan and I feel the loss of the voice of Darth Vader, too.

As CNN predicted, tributes poured in. I'm sharing three of them, beginning with Entertainment Tonight reporting James Earl Jones Dead at 93, which gave a more complete picture of Jones's life and career.

James Earl Jones has died. The EGOT-winner was best known for his iconic deep voice in films, provided the voice for Darth Vader in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise. Jones was also known for roles in 'The Lion King,' ‘Dr. Strangelove,’ ‘Claudine’ and ‘Field of Dreams.’ He was 93.

While it's a sad day, it's also a good day for me, as I learned new things about Jones's roles, especially his comedic ones. Any day I learn something new is a good day, even today.

Next, E! News shared James Earl Jones Dead at 93: 'Star Wars' Actor Mark Hamill and More Pay Tribute.

After James Earl Jones passed away at 93, many in Hollywood pay homage to the legendary actor including Mark Hamill, LeVar Burton, Octavia Spencer and more. Days prior to James Earl Jones' passing, 'Fight Night' star Terrence Howard recalled meeting the iconic star in an interview with E! News.

Access Hollywood shared many of these social media tributes and more in James Earl Jones Dead: Mark Hamill & Kevin Costner PAY TRIBUTE.

Stars across Hollywood are mourning the death of film and theater icon James Earl Jones, who has died at the age of 93. The legendary actor passed away on the morning of Sept. 9 at his home surrounded by family, his rep confirmed to Access Hollywood. James was known for his resonant voice and many iconic movie roles, famously voicing Mufasa in “The Lion King” and Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy. He also memorably appeared in “Field of Dreams,” “The Hunt for Red October,” “The Sandlot,” “Coming to America,” and “Dr. Strangelove,” among other films. Access takes a look at some of the many tributes that poured in following the sad news of Jones’ death.

His fellow actors and other Hollywood creators loved Jones. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

*The Emmy winners can wait until next week, after the main ceremony. Shogun alone will make for a diverse group of awardees.

Starliner, Starship, and Chang'e, a week of good space news

This has been a good week in space for the U.S. and China, which makes it a welcome change of pace from the news here on Earth. After all, I can't be all DOOM all the time! I begin the stories of success with CNN reporting Boeing spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts lifts off in historic launch.

A Boeing spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts is on its historic maiden voyage. The landmark launch kicked off the first crewed test flight of the capsule and marked the culmination of a long and trying development process.

It's been six years since I posted Commercial spaceflight crews announced and testing for return to Moon as NASA celebrates its 60th anniversary, so it's been quite a wait to get both vehicles off the ground. Yes, SpaceX launched the first crewed mission from U.S. soil since 2011 almost exactly four years ago, but Dragon wasn't supposed to be the only American crewed capsule operating. It's good to have an alternative.

Starliner also passed another important milestone, as CNN showed in Boeing Starliner docks with space station after encountering new issues.

Boeing’s Starliner mission has safely docked with the International Space Station after navigating new issues that cropped up overnight en route to the orbiting laboratory. CNN's Kristin Fisher reports.

Not only am I happy that Starliner successfully docked with the ISS, I'm glad for the astronauts and cosmonauts on the station that they'll be able to recycle their water. I often jokingly gross out my environmental science students by calling water recycling "toilet-to-tap," but in this case it's not only justified, but necessary.

Speaking of SpaceX, Kristin Fisher mentioned the Starship test flight in the first video. WSJ News covered that event as it told its viewers : SpaceX’s Starship Successfully Completes Re-entry and Splashdown.

SpaceX achieved a new milestone with its mega Starship rocket, after both the booster and the spacecraft made controlled returns to Earth.

I watched the re-entry live and was amazed that Starship successfully splashed down after one of its flight control surfaces burned through but remained attached. Like the proverbial honey badger, the spaceship didn't seem to care!

China also reported a success, which DW News shared in China's Chang'e 6 mission travels back to earth from the dark side of the moon.

China’s Chang’e lunar probe has taken off from the far side of the moon to return back to earth, according to China’s national space agency. If China successfully makes it back to earth, it will be the first country to have gathered samples from the far side of the moon. China’s previous lunar mission, Chang’e 5, gathered samples from the near side of the moon, but collecting samples from the far side has required additional technical know-how as well as operating on more challenging terrain. According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Chang’e 6 “withstood the test of high temperature on the far side of the moon."

We have a space race!

I expect to report more on the return to the Moon on Moon Day and recap these missions in this year's edition of 2023 in space. In the meantime, stay tuned for World Oceans Day.

Silly and serious reactions to Trump's conviction from Jimmy Kimmel and CNN

I told my readers to "stay tuned" after a programming note at the end of Jon Stewart devours the fast-food industry, parts 1 and 2.

I plan on returning with a more topical entry tomorrow, perhaps just in time for the verdict in Donald Trump's election interference/hush money trial. If so, perfect timing!

That happened, right at 5:00 P.M. EDT, just in time for it to be mentioned in the monologues of the late-night talk shows. Unfortunately, only Jimmy Kimmel Live!  among the shows I watch had a new episode last night, so I begin with Donald Trump Found GUILTY on ALL COUNTS & Superfan Jake Byrd is Outside the Courthouse.

It was a big afternoon in New York and for the United States of America as Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony accounts in his hush money trial, Jimmy and Guillermo re-enact what happened in the courtroom, Trump marched over to the reporters outside the courthouse to let his displeasure be known, the big question remains if he will do time, the only family member who was there with him when the verdict was read was Eric, all the bloodsucking jellyfish who feed off his essence are losing their minds, and our friend/legal correspondent Jake Byrd has been camped out in New York for a very special report on Donald’s trial.

I'm being a good environmentalist by recycling what I wrote fourteen months ago when Colbert's studio audience gave a standing ovation when told about Trump's indictment; Kimmel's was just as loud.

"[J]ail to the chief" is a great line, but it's going to be a while. I expect he'll be sentenced to house arrest in Trump Tower with the Secret Service as his guards, at least for this set of crimes.

I stand by that prediction with the possible addition of $170,000 in fines, $5,000 for each conviction, although Jimmy K's desire for community service to be part of the sentence would work for me, too.

Follow over the jump for more on the subject of Donald Trump's sentence from CNN.

Colbert and Kimmel comment with comedy on Trump's hush money trial

Happy Flashback Friday! I'll get to today's look back at the 13th year of this blog over the jump after continuing with the main topic of yesterday's Meyers, Colbert, and Kimmel take closer looks at Trump's trial and other news with last night's monologue by Stephen Colbert, Michael Cohen’s Mean Nickname For Trump | Noem Defends Killing Her Puppy | Boeing Sends A Message.

While Donald Trump snoozes in court, his former lawyer Michael Cohen is mocking him on TikTok. Elsewhere, Governor Kristi Noem tried to explain away her puppy murder story, and another Boeing aircraft lost a crucial part mid-flight.

Courtroom drama? In the hands of Colbert and his writers, it's more like courtroom comedy, which makes the news a lot easier to digest. This includes Kristi Noem, who acts like she thinks she's the latest version of Sarah Palin, right down to shooting canines (wolves in the case of Palin) and being the running mate on a Republican presidential ticket. I'll get back to that and Boeing's problems, but I'm moving on to Jimmy Kimmel Made it Into the Trump Trial, Donald "Can't Even Testify" & Crazy Abortion Law Repealed, which didn't bleep out what Michael Cohen called "Naptain America." I guess showing a cable news clip slipped it past the censors.

We are officially part of the record of the People vs Donald Trump, prosecutors entered into evidence a series of text messages between lawyers for Trump and Stormy Daniels about our show, Trump has been encouraging supporters to come to the courthouse and support him and was greeted by a single fan, he is very upset about reports that say he’s been sleeping during the trial, the courtroom sketch artist appears to hate him, today he tried to float the idea that because of the gag order he’s not allowed to testify, he played shows in Wisconsin and Michigan yesterday where he fired up the crowd telling them everything’s a disaster and America is dead, we have a new water pressure edition of Drunk Donald Trump, the state Senate in Arizona finally voted to repeal their antiquated and crazy abortion law from 1864, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem went on Hannity last night to do damage control after she revealed she shot her puppy, and This Week in Unnecessary Censorship.

Kimmel and his writers and editors made up for not bleeping CNN's Jake Tapper with "This Week in Unnecessary Censorship." They should do that to Marjorie Taylor Greene more often.

Speaking of CNN, I'm returning to Stephen's show with his interview of a CNN anchor telling him that “Both Sides Are Framing It Incorrectly” - Laura Coates On Trump’s Hush Money Trial.

CNN Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates breaks down the arguments on both sides of Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York City, and explains why it’s important for the public to know what really happened. Watch “Laura Coates Live” weeknights on CNN.

That's enough for me to pay attention to Coates. She sounds smart and knowledgeable.

I close this portion above the jump with two of The Late Show's cold opens about the trial, beginning with Trump’s Aggressive New Attorney.

Angry that his lawyer wasn’t tough enough, Donald Trump hired someone much more aggressive.

That's only a slight exaggeration. Trump is in the WWE Hall of Fame and a telegenic lawyer who used to be a wrestler would be right up his alley.

Now last night's cold open, which asked Do You Have Trouble Falling Asleep?



Reach for a Magatonin!
This trial is teaching me to appreciate a good fart joke.

Follow over the jump for the Flashback Friday retrospective of the most active shares from the blog on Instagram and Threads during its 13th year.

Nikki Haley drops out after Super Tuesday

The big news from Super Tuesday is Nikki Haley dropping out. CNN has the story in Nikki Haley will exit GOP presidential race, clearing path for Donald Trump.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will announce that she is exiting the Republican presidential race, according to sources familiar with her plans, clearing the path for former President Donald Trump.

I'm slightly surprised that she dropped out now, as she finally won two primaries, in D.C. on Sunday and Vermont last night. On the other hand, I can't say I'm actually disappointed, as I had tweeted in late January that she might drop out after losing South Carolina and would be lucky to last until Super Tuesday. Despite her primary victories, her luck and, more importantly, her money ran out.

With that, I'm recycling my reaction from 'SNL' opens with a Trump victory party after the South Carolina Republican Primary, itself an upcycled response.

I'm recycling my comment from George Santos sues Jimmy Kimmel and Trump sells sneakers for the other hand.

Nikki Haley is staying in for the same reasons Liz Cheney is opposing Trump: "As I wrote in July 2022, 'In Liz Cheney's case, she'd like her pre-2015 Republican Party back. I doubt she'll get it any time soon, so she'll settle for damaging TFG instead. I wish her luck.' She's certainly doing her best." Too bad her best won't be good enough to win the nomination.

But it might be enough to damage Trump. I hope she's happy with that. I know I am.

I think Haley will most likely end up endorsing Donald Trump, but it will be late and lukewarm when it occurs. A less likely scenario is that she ends up on the No Labels ticket, should they actually decide to run a candidate in the general election. If that happens, I wouldn't be surprised if Kyrsten Sinema joins her on that ticket, now that she's announced her retirement from the Senate. I might get to that news later.

That brings me to Morning Joe on MSNBC looking ahead in Mika: With Haley set to drop out, the general election essentially starts today.

The Morning Joe panel discusses Trump's latest inflammatory rhetoric and news that Nikki Haley is set to suspend her presidential campaign.

I agree, although I still plan on continuing my marching music for primaries and caucuses series. Those will go on, even if the presidential nominating contests are essentially over.

I might add a report on Haley's remarks later today. Until then, I'm concluding by retiring the graph I made for Haley in Marianne Williamson and Nikki Haley, two women running for President on International Women's Day.

Now for Nikki Haley at On The Issues. She has an economic score of 88 and a social score of 25. On The Issues describes her as a Libertarian-Leaning Conservative. This makes her less conservative socially than either TFG or DeSantis, but to the right of both economically. TFG has an economic score of 83 and a social score of 20, while DeSantis has an economic score of 85 and a social Score of 13. On The Issues considers both of them to be Hard-Core Conservatives.

I'm also retiring, for now, the drink I suggested for her in FiveThirtyEight asks 'Who is Nikki Haley?'

I'm being a good environmentalist by recycling the South Carolina Swizzle Cocktail - The Proper Pour with Charlotte Voisey - Small Screen, which I used for Lindsey Graham.

Inspired by the delicious produce of South Carolina and Georgia, Charlotte created the South Carolina Swizzle Cocktail to celebrate one of her favorite regions of the United States. Served in a julep style, this refreshing libation is perfect as a summer sipper.

Remember, great cocktails start with measuring responsibly.
Recipe:
1 1/2 parts Hendrick's Gin - Watch The Unusual Times: http://bit.ly/hendricks_reservebar
1/2 part Bitter Truth Apricot Liqueur
3/4 part fresh lime juice
3/4 part simple syrup
1/4 part Yellow Chartreuse

Instructions:
Shake ingredients with ice.
Strain over crushed ice into hurricane or tall glass.
Garnish with a mint sprig.

Pour one out for Haley's campaign and possibly even for her future in the Republican Party.

CNBC explains 'Why The World Is Rushing Back To The Moon'

I wrote "I might post another entry today" at the end of The 2023-2024 Environmental Media Association Awards nominees. As my readers can see, I was able to compose one, a follow up to 'NASA 2024: Onward and Upward' and 'ESA’s future of space travel' early this month. I return to the topic of the future of space travel with CNBC explaining Why The World Is Rushing Back To The Moon.

During the Cold War, competition between the the United States and the former USSR was fierce, as the two countries rallied for the chance to make history by getting to the moon first. In 1959, the Soviet Union beat the U.S. to become the first nation to reach the surface of the moon with its Luna 2 spacecraft. But, the United States was the first country to put man on the moon in 1969, and to this day is still the only nation to have landed people on the moon. To date, only five nations, the U.S., Russia, China, Japan and India, have completed a successful soft landing on the moon. But bolstered by evidence of the presence of water and other natural resources, many more nations and private companies are now seeking to get to the moon. And whoever is able to establish a significant lunar presence first could have big implications on Earth as well as the cosmos.

I'll take a space race between the U.S. and China if it motivates the U.S. to return to the Moon and spurs us to go on to Mars. I'm also glad that CNBC mentioned that Artemis was one program the Biden Administration retained from the Trump Administration. I being a good environmentalist by recycling what I wrote in NASA and '60 Minutes' on women in NASA for International Women's Day and reused in The Artemis program and NASA's proposed 2022 budget for Yuri's Night 2021.

I'm glad that Joe Biden's Administration publicly supports the continuation of the Trump Administration's plans for space exploration. As I wrote five years ago and repeated the next year, "space policy is the one area where Trump might actually be good for the country" and "Trump's plan is actually not a bad idea." I was worried that the Biden Administration would dump the one Trump policy I supported along with all the ones I couldn't stand. I'm relieved that they didn't.

File this under "even a stuck clock is right twice a day" and Donald Trump is definitely a stuck clock.

That was earlier this week. CNN examined the subject earlier today when it asked Could space be the next platform for war? Hear what NASA official thinks.

CNN's Christiane Amanpour speaks with NASA deputy administrator Pamela Melroy about the potential that space could be the next platform for war between nations.

Fortunately, Pamela Melroy thinks the answer is no. However, I wonder if she would get the same answer from a high-ranking officer of Space Force. Now I'm tempted to leave that as a suggestion in a comment to the video.

That's it for today's space update. Stay tuned for the highlights of tonight's Saturday Night Live tomorrow.

CNN on the third anniversary of January 6th plus 2 News & Doc Emmy Awards for CNN's 'Live from the Capitol: January 6th, One Year Later'

I wrote the following footnote to Gold Derby predicts a good night for 'Barbie,' 'Oppenheimer,' 'Succession,' 'The Bear,' and 'Beef' at the Golden Globes: "It's also the third anniversary of January 6th. Don't worry, I'll get to that maybe as soon as tomorrow." Without any further ado, I'm embedding three videos from CNN about the anniversary, beginning with Biden slams Trump ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary.

CNN's MJ Lee breaks down President Joe Biden's first major campaign speech of the 2024 race. CNN's Wolf Blitzer discusses with a panel of experts.

While this is the kickoff to Joe Biden's re-election campaign, it isn't the first time he has spoken on this subject in Pennsylvania, as Biden warned about threats to American democracy in Philadelphia during September 2022. I have the same reaction to his remarks last Friday that I had in September 2022: "I'm glad fighting Joe Biden is coming out..." I also have the same reaction to Trump's response that I did to Kari Lake saying that people who accepted the 2020 election results were the true conspiracy theorists in Meyers and Colbert take closer looks at Kari Lake and other election deniers running for office: "'I know you are but what am I?' was a lot funnier when Pee-wee Herman said it."

President Biden wasn't the only person to criticize Trump, as the next video from CNN on the anniversary was Convicted Jan. 6 participant calls out Trump.

Pam Hemphill, a convicted January 6th participant who served two months in federal prison, gives her reaction to former President Donald Trump firing back at President Joe Biden's campaign speech.

Another name for prison is penitentiary, derived from penitent, "feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses: repentant." Hemphill certainly exemplifies being penitent, so I commend her on using her time in confinement productively. I wish all the participants in January 6th felt the way she does.

The last video from CNN I'm embedding today shows some participants not feeling sorry for what they were doing at the time, New footage shows January 6 rioters yelling at GOP lawmakers.

Dramatic footage released by the Justice Department shows a tense exchange between two Republican congressman and Capitol rioters. The video was shot by Damon Beckley, who was found guilty of obstructing the electoral college certification and civil disorder by a federal judge.

The people I've found least able to be persuaded are the ones who are wrong but don't just think they're right, they know they're right. That's what I'm seeing and hearing here. They are willing to keep going while facing a gun pointed at them at point blank range. That's the dark side of the courage of their convictions. I hope a different kind of conviction has changed or will change their convictions, just like Hemphill.

Follow over the jump for the two News & Doc Emmy Awards won by CNN's Live from the Capitol: January 6th, One Year Later last September.

Seth Meyers takes closer looks at Kevin McCarthy ousted as Speaker and what happened during the WGA strike

I'm still covering the ouster of Kevin "Pickled Tongue" McCarthy as Speaker of the House through comedy with Republicans Float Trump for House Speaker After McCarthy Is Ousted in Chaos: A Closer Look.

Seth takes a closer look at House Republicans descending into chaos after ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and floating the possibility of Donald Trump replacing him.

The former guy as Speaker? Never say it can't get worse. It always can.

Speaking of which, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert opened with Wanted: New Speaker of the House.

Will Republicans find anyone willing to take the world’s worst job?

It must not be that bad a job if TFG is floating the idea of taking it.

Now to make good on my promise to share Seth Meyers' first closer look after returning from the writers strike, A Closer Look to the Max: Trump Fraud Trial, Biden Impeachment, House GOP Chaos.

Seth takes a closer look at Trump appearing in court for his civil fraud trial, the GOP's sham impeachment inquiry for Biden, Rudy Giuliani being sued by his ex-lawyer and more in an extended A Closer Look.

I begin my reaction by recycling from 'Stephen Colbert Recaps A Crazy Summer' as he returns from the writers strike.

Myself and others have suspected that Trump isn't worth as much as he says he is for years. After this trial, our suspicions will be confirmed, if for no other reason than he will lose a lot of his assets. Maybe he won't be a billionaire after all, if he even is one now or ever really had been!

I didn't have to wait long to see his loss of worth become public, as CNN uploaded Trump gets kicked off Forbes 400 list of richest Americans this morning. I'm outsourcing my reaction to Nelson Muntz.


Told you so.

Finally, look, Rudy Giuliani, his zipper, and Mike Lindell, a Razzie reunion, as if the past five months couldn't get any more absurd.

Stay tuned to see which of this week's guests I feature in the future.