Live in Crenshaw. Photo: HBO Comedy specials can have a frictionless blankness to them. Sure, the material may be highly topical — jokes about presidents, jokes about recent cultural references, jokes about contemporary political flash points. But so often, the look of them is deliberately unremarkable. There’s a theater and a stage, a curtain, a stool, a wide shot, a close-up, maybe some audience reaction images. You can locate yourself roughly in time based on fashion choices, but the crowd could still be from anywhere. The potential upside is universality. This could be happening in your town! But universality is rarely the result of generality. Live in Crenshaw , Lil Rel Howery’s 2019 HBO special directed by Jerrod Carmichael , is the opposite. The guiding principle behind every choice is to allow the special to reflect and showcase a particular place at a precise moment in time. The direction of the special not only lingers and focuses on specificity, it insists … [Read more...] about The Standard-Setting Beauty of
Place setting
Grammys 2022: Elle King is set to paint the town red as she arrives at Las Vegas ceremony in bright suit and hat
The Country music crooner Elle King stood out from the crowd wearing a vibrant, crimson colored suit with a matching hat as she flashed peace signs while walking the carpet. The 32-year-old singing sensation is a four-time Grammy nominee, and broke on to the US top 10 charts with her smash 2017 hit Ex's & Oh's. She's nominated tonight for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Miranda Lambert for their song Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home). Suits you! Country music crooner Elle King stood out from the crowd wearing a vibrant, crimson colored suit with a matching hat as she flashed peace signs while walking the carpet Elle appeared to be in great spirits wearing a double breasted suit with long bell sleeves and a plunging neckline which showed off peeks of her chest tattoo. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Camila Coelho is pregnant and expecting first child with her... Kim Kardashian rocks two braids and a long … [Read more...] about Grammys 2022: Elle King is set to paint the town red as she arrives at Las Vegas ceremony in bright suit and hat
Sue Gray report seemed stale as a week-old sponge, leaving Boris Johnson to fight another day
The final version of Sue Gray’s long-awaited report felt a bit like being presented with a birthday cake only to find some of it had already been eaten. Six months on from reports of partygate first surfacing – and coming after the senior civil servant had already published her interim findings in January – it seemed as stale as a week-old sponge. A leak ensured that we had already seen the best photograph, showing Boris Johnson toasting staff at Lee Cain’s leaving do, while the key finding that there were “failures of leadership” at the heart of Number 10 and that those who broke the rules they’d set should have known better rang as familiar as the tune to Happy Birthday. Some of the events should never have taken place; staff should never have been so drunk at “ Wine Time Friday ” that they vomited; “There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government”. It was nothing that we didn’t know already. Just as … [Read more...] about Sue Gray report seemed stale as a week-old sponge, leaving Boris Johnson to fight another day
The incriminating new images of Boris Johnson that could put the fizz back into partygate
Boris Johnson raises a glass of wine and toasts the departure of his director of communications. The glass of fizz (possibly champagne) is gripped in his right hand, a smile on the Prime Minister’s face as he and at least seven members of his Downing Street press team say their farewells to Lee Cain, his departing official spokesman who had fallen out with Mr Johnson’s young fiancee Carrie Symonds (now his wife). Yet eight days before this incriminating photograph was taken on November 13 2020, the Prime Minister had plunged England into a second national lockdown. Pubs were shut, travel banned and socialising indoors or even in back gardens prohibited. On the table in the photograph’s foreground appears prima facie evidence of what could only best be described as a party. There are two bottles of bubbly, four bottles of wine (two red and two white) and half a bottle of gin. Most of the booze has been drunk bar one bottle of unopened fizz, visible at the very edge of the picture. … [Read more...] about The incriminating new images of Boris Johnson that could put the fizz back into partygate
Platinum Jubilee concert: Diana Ross and Sam Ryder among the full line-up of performers
To celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, the Platinum Jubilee will encompass a wide-ranging itinerary of events scheduled across the long weekend. The central celebration is the Platinum Party at the Palace concert, which will see some of the world’s biggest entertainers come together for a performance at Buckingham Palace. The event is set to feature an impressive line-up, including global music stars with a live orchestra, as well as actors from many a well-known film and TV show. A number of pop-cultural figures will take to the stage to tell stories that will celebrate some of the most culturally significant moments across the Queen’s seven-decade reign. Tickets to the show were balloted and that ballot, unfortunately, closed on March 23 2022. For viewers keen to watch this special concert, here are full details of how to incorporate it into the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations . When is the Platinum Party at the Palace? The Platinum Party at the Palace … [Read more...] about Platinum Jubilee concert: Diana Ross and Sam Ryder among the full line-up of performers
Toto Wolff plays down Mercedes’ Monaco Grand Prix hopes
Toto Wolff has set expectations low for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix as he admits the track isn’t Mercedes ’ “happy place”. The team have not been up to their usual standard this season but are still in the mix. Their latest outing at the Spanish Grand Prix was a boost for Mercedes with George Russell finishing third and Lewis Hamilton claiming fifth. But the team prinicpal isn’t predicting a similar points haul in the upcoming race. “We’ve seen another big step, probably we’ve halved the advantage to the front-runners,” Wolff told Sky . “But still there’s lots of way to go in order to be in the fight.” Mercedes have only won one Monaco race in the last four seasons and so Wolff has evidence in his predictions. But he has conceded while he isn’t expecting much, he is “curious” about how they will do. Recommended Toto Wolff excited after Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes take ‘another step’ ‘You bet we can’: Toto Wolff talks up … [Read more...] about Toto Wolff plays down Mercedes’ Monaco Grand Prix hopes
Max Verstappen vs Charles Leclerc ‘could go all the way’, admits Christian Horner
Team principal for Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, feels the race for the Formula One championship will be another year-long struggle between the early top two - though had hoped for a pressure-free year of Max Verstappen retaining his title. After the scintillating and controversial nature of his win over Lewis Hamilton last year, Verstappen and Red Bull would have been confident of another strong campaign, while also hoping the likes of Mercedes fell away while getting to grips with the new car designs and regulations. That has certainly happened - but in their place, Ferrari have emerged as credible challengers and Charles Leclerc has claimed two victories already this season. Combined with Verstappen failing to finish in Bahrain and Australia, it means the reigning champion trails Leclerc in the standings after five races by 19 points, with Horner expecting that battle to go on all year long. “Look, there is a long, long way to go and it is so tight with Ferrari. … [Read more...] about Max Verstappen vs Charles Leclerc ‘could go all the way’, admits Christian Horner
Ukraine War: Pentagon details Phoenix Ghost drones sent to Ukraine
Live Updates As Russia's invasion continues for a 57th day, President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine and established a new program to streamline Ukrainians seeking to enter the U.S. Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to achieve his "grand ambitions" as Ukraine continues to fight. Putin reportedly canceled an assault on the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where hundreds of civilians were sheltering, over concerns of Russian casualties. Ukraine is calling for "urgent" humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians who remain in the besieged Mariupol, describing the situation as "desperate." While 79 people were able to evacuate Mariupol to Zaporizhia Thursday, Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister said "everything is going very slowly." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked foreign allies for more weapons as Ukrainian forces continue to defend their cities against Russian bombardment. … [Read more...] about Ukraine War: Pentagon details Phoenix Ghost drones sent to Ukraine
Woman ‘broke down’ after £10,000 scam left her with ‘no money and no food’
Scammer pretending to be soldier takes £10k from woman Get pensions news and advice plus latest money alerts for FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info After going through a divorce and then brain surgery in 2016, Elspet Wilson decided she wanted to start dating again and joined a dating site. She was contacted by a man who used a fake identity and alias ‘Brian Walsh’. They started a relationship with the promise of marriage and she sent him almost £10,000. Related articles 10 tried and tested ways to cut your inheritance tax bill State pension payments set to change next month On the BBC programme For Love or Money today, Kym Marsh and Ashley John-Baptiste spoke to Elspet about her situation … [Read more...] about Woman ‘broke down’ after £10,000 scam left her with ‘no money and no food’
Angry lorry drivers trapped in post-Brexit lines beg for help as disaster charity steps in
Dover: Heavy traffic as Easter weekend begins Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The line of lorries waiting to get to Dover has reached such disastrous proportions that a charity used to working to provide relief to earthquake victims has been forced to intervene. RE:ACT Disaster Response has agreed a £180,000 six-month contract with Kent County Council (KCC) to ease stuck truckers’ nightmare waits to board ferries and Eurotunnel shuttles. Related articles Fury over plan to build huge Berlin Wall-style fence next to main road British car production plummets AGAIN: drops 11 percent KCC warned that lockdowns imposed due to the … [Read more...] about Angry lorry drivers trapped in post-Brexit lines beg for help as disaster charity steps in