Tag Archives: decision

‘Today’ Declares Itself a Gay ‘Ally,’ Will Permit Same-Sex Couples in Wedding Contest

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

NBC proved that it will respond quickly to charges of bias – at least if the charges come from a left-wing activist group. When NBC announced the “Today” show’s annual summer wedding contest, the network made it clear homosexual couples would not be eligible since New York does not license same-sex marriages. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued a press release condemning the decision and urged its members to complain to the network. After a meeting between GLAAD and NBC officials Thursday, the network announced it was reversing its decision . The “Today” show said its intention was neither “discriminatory” nor “exclusive.” NBC reminded viewers of its inclusion of same-sex couples in 2005, noting that “Today” is a “longtime supporter” and “ally” of the LGBT community. Appeased, GLAAD praised NBC for “living up to its own high standard of fairness.” To further accommodate its allies in the gay community, NBC extended the contest application deadline to Monday, July 12, and promised that future wedding contests “will be inclusive of all couples.” The contest, which has aired for 11 years on “Today,” gives viewers the chance to vote for one couple to have a wedding celebration professionally planned for them and broadcast live on “Today.” This is not the first time NBC has proven itself biased in covering the gay lifestyle. In August 2008, NBC Universal took out a full page ad in the program for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention declaring, ” Your Victories are Our Victories .” When the California Supreme Court rules laws banning same-sex marriage were unconstitutional, NBC’s Pete Williams declared on the May 15, 2008, “Nightly News” that it was a “huge victory for advocates of gay rights.” Most recently, in April 2010, NBC announced a partnership with gay magazine The Advocate. 

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LeBron James Heads To Miami Heat

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The NBA Superstar announces long-awaited decision, saying decision to leave hometown Cleveland motivated by desire ‘to win.’ By Kelley L. Carter LeBron James announces that he will play for the Miami Heat on ESPN July 8 Photo: ESPN It was a move that will surely go down in sports history. But after a protracted wait, King James finally announced, at 9:27 p.m. ET, he’d be joining the Miami Heat. LeBron James’ decision to televise his decision became an event that seemed as if it could have been ripped from the pages of a screenplay. Sitting before ESPN cameras, the former Cleveland Cavaliers forward had millions of viewers anticipating his final choice with baited breath. “I feel like this is going to give me the best opportunity to win — and to win for multiple years. I want to be able to win championships,” he said, explaining what motivated him to venture to Miami. “This process has been everything I thought and more. I put myself in the position to have this process, where I could hear teams’ pitches and figure out what was the best possibility for me to win … and be happy,” James said during an interview before his big announcement. The 25-year-old revealed that it was a really humbling experience to be in the position he’d found himself in, as multiple teams vied for his attention. James thanked all of those teams, saying he’d made the decision earlier Thursday morning (July 8) and adding that in the preceding weeks, he often changed his mind on a day-to-day basis. “I woke up, had a great conversation with my mom, once I had that conversation with her, I was set,” he said. James is considered to be the most prized free agent in league history, and he was the last of the top free agents to announce where he’d land. The major factor in his decision, he said, was the best opportunity for him to win, both now and in the future. “Every since I was a rookie or in high school … that was the number one thing for me,” he said. “I’ve done some great things in my seven years and I want to continue to do that,” he continued about his tenure in Cleveland. The announcement comes after what felt like an eternity of a waiting period, with the two-time NBA MVP finally ending months of speculation about where he would play basketball next season. (James is only one of two players to earn the MVP accolade twice by the age of 25; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the other.) Diehard NBA fans and casual watchers alike had been guessing about where James would go in 2010, many since the NBA superstar signed his last contract back in 2007. Before his announcement, speculation was heavy: Would he break his hometown, Cleveland’s, heart? Would he go to Miami and join his former U.S. Olympic teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh? Or would he go to New York or Chicago? Hours before the announcement on Thursday, James made an appearance at his basketball camp, arriving mid-afternoon with former teammate Damon Jones. Others in attendance included top college coaches, including Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, West Virginia’s Bob Huggins and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim. James gave his decision during an hourlong broadcast that aired live ESPN from a Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. The aim of the special program, James’ said, was also to raise at least $1 million to aid James’ foundation. What do you think of LeBron’s decision to go to Miami? Did he make the right choice? Sound off in the comments! Related Artists Lebron James

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Steve Carell Says His Exit Could Be A ‘Good Thing’ For ‘The Office’

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I have no doubt that it will continue to be as strong if not stronger,’ he tells MTV News. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Steve Carell Photo: MTV News In addition to managing a very busy movie career, Steve Carell has spent the past seven years making audiences cringe and laugh — often at the same time — with the zany and awkward antics of “The Office” boss Michael Scott. When MTV News caught up with the “Despicable Me” voice actor recently, we had to ask why he chose to make this seventh season of the NBC hit comedy his last . “I was always contracted for seven seasons, and I’m going to fulfill my contract,” he said. “I just thought it was time. I’m ready to go.” Carell said his decision to leave is not at all based on being tired of his beloved castmates. “No, that’s not it at all, believe me. It’s really like a family,” he said. “I know that sounds like a clich

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Tammy Lynn Michaels Fires Back at Melissa Etheridge Following Official Split

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

It’s not a happy Fourth of July for Tammy Lynn Michaels. The day after singer Melissa Etheridge filed papers to official end their partnership, Michaels took to her blog and said she was “blindsided” by the decision. She wrote: gentle waves / no noise for awhile / or maybe gentle voices and / SMACK!!!!!!!!!!!! / FILE FOR DIVORCE!!!!!! / even though we both promised / agreed / handshook / pinkyswore / no filing until after the tour / in the fall. Her broken promises / told to me by/headlines / i’m raising the kids / doing what i can / second set of yours. Etheridge cited “irreconcileable differences” as the reason for their break-up. She asked that the court not to award Michaels, who gave birth to the couple’s kids in 2006, any financial support. Michaels may needs to hit up Elin Woods for a loan .

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Russian mathematician rejects $1 million prize

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

He said nyet to $1 million. Grigory Perelman, a reclusive Russian mathematics genius who made headlines earlier this year for not immediately embracing a lucrative math prize, has decided to decline the cash. Perelman's decision was announced Thursday by the Clay Mathematics Institute in Cambridge, Mass., which had awarded Perelman its Millennium Prize. The award honors his solving of the Poincare (pwan-kah-RAY) conjecture, which deals with shapes that exist in four or more dimensions. Jim Carlson, institute president, said Perelman's decision was not a complete surprise, since he had declined some previous math prizes. Carlson said Perelman had told him by telephone last week of his decision and gave no reason. But the Interfax news agency quoted Perelman as saying he believed the prize was unfair. Perelman told Interfax he considered his contribution to solving the Poincare conjecture no greater than that of Columbia University mathematician Richard Hamilton. “To put it short, the main reason is my disagreement with the organized mathematical community,” Perelman, 43, told Interfax. “I don't like their decisions, I consider them unjust.” Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Perelman, a resident of St. Petersburg, were unsuccessful. Carlson said institute officials will meet this fall to decide what to do with the prize money. “We have some ideas in mind,” he said. “We want to consider that carefully and make the best use possible of the money for the benefit of mathematics.” added by: Stoneyroad

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Ali Fedotowsky: Engaged (According to Tabloid)!

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The Bachelorette star Ali Fedotowsky may have hinted that she ends up alone after this season, but could she just be playing it coy? That’s Us Weekly ‘s theory. The celebrity gossip publication “confirms” (term used very loosely) there’s a proposal on the season finale – and the gorgeous Massachusetts native accepts! For all we know, it’s a proposal by Chris Harrison to join him for a glass of water during a five-minute break from filming – but congratulations in any case! “She’s already thinking about the details,” a source says – and she’s SO excited! “She did the show because she was ready to settle down and get married.” Us claims the former Facebook ad rep is planning a West Coast wedding in early 2011. Who’s the lucky guy? The anonymous sources aren’t saying, natch. Is Ali Fedotowsky really engaged – and to whom? Unlike that stiff Jake Pavelka, who gushed about being engaged throughout the season, Ali’s remarks have been of the “I’m happy with my decision” variety. Some believe that’s code for “I’m still single.” Reports that Ali Fedotowsky is already dating some other guy ( Patrick Hammon ) also cast doubt on any Bachelorette engagement stories, don’t you think? We’re obviously not in the know as far as the specifics, but our gut reaction is to call BS on this story. There are only vague details and no sourced quotes. For more on who Ali chooses, check out The Bachelorette spoilers … but don’t say we didn’t warn you, these are serious giveaways, read at your own risk.

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Larry King Ending His CNN Show After 25 Years

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Larry King Live’ will conclude later in 2010, the TV personality announces on his blog. By Josh Wigler Larry King Photo: Getty Images It’s the end of an era for Larry King. The 76-year-old host of “Larry King Live” has announced his decision to step aside from his longstanding CNN TV series, the network reports . He’ll hang up his suspenders and close shop on the 25-year-old-show later this year. King announced the decision to end “Larry King Live” earlier Tuesday (June 29) on his blog . “I want to share some personal news with you,” he wrote. “Twenty-five years ago, I sat across this table from New York Governor Mario Cuomo for the first broadcast of ‘Larry King Live.’ Now, decades later, I talked to the guys here at CNN and I told them I would like to end ‘Larry King Live,’ the nightly show, this fall and CNN has graciously accepted, giving me more time for my wife and I to get to the kids’ little league games. “I’ll still be a part of the CNN family, hosting several Larry King specials on major national and international subjects,” he added. Jon Klein, president of CNN/US, said of King’s departure: “He will end his run with ‘Larry King Live’ on his own terms, sometime this fall. Larry is a beloved member of the CNN family and will continue to contribute to our air with periodic specials.” “I’m incredibly proud that we recently made the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ for having the longest-running show with the same host in the same time slot,” King said of his decision to conclude “Larry King Live.” “With this chapter closing I’m looking forward to the future and what my next chapter will bring, but for now it’s time to hang up my nightly suspenders.” What do you think about King’s decision to end his show? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Larry King

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Dale DaBone Blames Jennifer Capriati Overdose on Porn Return, Tennis Demise

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Following what her family has described as an accidental overdose of prescription pills, former tennis star Jennifer Capriati is recovering in a Florida hospital. That’s very good news. Meanwhile, Capriati’s ex-boyfriend has spoken out on what he believes are the two reasons her life has taken a turn for the worse these days: the fact that Jennifer misses tennis; and that he has returned to the adult film business. Indeed, Dale DaBone dated Capriati from 2003-2009. He told TMZ she often gets depressed during a Grand Slam tournament because she misses playing and blames injuries for her abbreviated career. (The opening week of Wimbledon wrapped up over the weekend.) DaBone also says Capriati called him Sunday night, presumably after her overdose, and was “hysterical” over his decision to star in Batman XXX: A Porn Parody . The flick would mark DaBone’s return to the world of adult entertainment, as he’s had intercourse with women in over 440 movies. There must be some joke about tennis and balls in there, but due to Capriati’s situation, it doesn’t feel appropriate to make.

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NBC’s David Gregory: White House Rhetoric ‘Anti-Business,’ ‘Could Really Discourage Businesses’ in U.S.

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Wow, just wow. Never would have seen this one coming, but is one of the standard-bearers of the media elite recognizing the Obama administration’s anti-business populist tone is inhibiting the U.S. economy? On the June 18 broadcast of CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” NBC “Meet the Press” moderator David Gregory was asked to respond to a June 18 New York Times article by David Sanger suggesting the Obama administration may be “overstepping” and discouraging business growth in the United States. Gregory told “Squawk Box” viewers that in his view they were and called it “a real problem.” “It is, certainly beyond Washington,” Gregory explained. “You all know it talking to business leaders every day and I do speak to business leaders quite often as well and I hear it time and time again that what you got at the administration are two problems. One, you’ve got nobody in the inner sanctum of the President’s advisers who has ever run a business – who have never run a business. And that’s a real problem. I think there’s a level of recognition about that being a problem in the West Wing as well. But the rhetoric and the policy substantively, a lot of people feel, is anti-business and getting to a point where it could really discourage businesses in the United States and certainly the multinationals working here as well. That’s a problem and I think that element of criticism from Joe Barton, while off the reservation substantively, got to that larger point, which is this populist string.” Gregory elaborated on the lack of business experience in the President’s inner circle and explained it has hurt the White House’s ability to get solid policy measures in place. “I think they would like to have more people advising the President who have that business acumen,” Gregory said. “But let’s call it what it is. They made a decision early on in this financial crisis they were going to demonize anybody from Wall Street. They wouldn’t take anybody who had the quote, unquote ‘taint of Wall Street’ and that’s a problem because you have the expertise that they could have leveraged, brought inside, to try to deal with financial regulation and all the rest. He’s going to get financial reforms. But nevertheless, they made the decision, going back to the AIG mess and the bonuses. And that has carried forward.” And Gregory said he thought the White House was second-guessing their decision to take this route. “I think there is [second-guessing] because I think they recognize that, look they’re at a point on stimulus alone, who’s going to create the jobs here? Forty-one thousand private sector jobs last month. The private sector has to start to feel like it’s got more confidence to lend more, to start more business investment, to stop hoarding cash. And a lot of that is going on – again, I realize you know this better than I do because of the question marks and- all of the uncertainty coming out of Washington and particularly this administration.”

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Danny Tickle signs new three-year contract with Hull

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

• 27-year-old had been linked with Huddersfield • Second-rower has scored 729 points in 99 appearances Hull’s goal-kicking forward Danny Tickle has ended speculation over his future by signing a new three-year contract. The 27-year-old former Halifax and Wigan second-rower was out of contract at the end of the season and, after stalling on his club’s offer, had been linked with a move to Huddersfield. “It is a decision I wanted to take some time over and it has been on my mind a lot recently,” said Tickle, who will make his 100th appearance for the club at Huddersfield on Sunday. “I had to consider what was best for me and my family. However, I made the decision easy for myself when I knew I wanted success because I feel that Hull is where I can achieve something. It is a club I love with some great people. The staff, the coaches and all the players are great and I have some really good friends here.” Tickle has scored 729 points in his 99 appearances so far and needs just 10 more to become the 14th highest scorer as well as the 12th highest goal scorer in the club’s history. Hull coach Richard Agar said: “I am delighted that we have secured the services of Danny on a longer-term deal. He plays a lot of games, a lot of minutes and is a top-line goalkicker for us and for those reasons he would be an integral part of any side.” Hull FC Super League Rugby league guardian.co.uk

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