Can Pete Davidson catch a break? While I understand he invited a world of backlash when he publicly discussed his relationship with superstar Ariana Grande, the time has come to let it go. He’s been honest about his mental health issues, and the man is trying to move on with his life. During a recent standup comedy gig, Davidson bailed because the comedy club owner was allegedly under strict instructions from camp Pete not to mention Pete’s famous exes — and he went ahead and mentioned them anyhow.
If I learned anything from Robert Kelly’s interview with Gayle King, it’s that the art of the interview has been lost. Gone are the Barbara Walters days of truncated, tricky questions that illicit admissions, no matter how prepared and media trained the subject. Many are complimenting King’s composure during Kelly’s volcanic eruption, as she gently and effectively interrupted his useless rant and encouraged him to take his seat. While I also think King’s composure deserves praise, I question whether an interview can be deemed effective when the phrasing of a question causes such a rant in the first place.
An interview is not about accountability, despite the desires of social media. It’s about information gathering. And if you aren’t gathering any information and are instead just witnessing his temperament, we’ve gotten nowhere. If it were me, I’d say, “How would you describe your relationship with Jocelyn Savage?”
Though many have also suggested that R. Kelly does not deserve a platform, I’m fine with it. We’ve interviewed serial killers, pedophiles, etc., and I think those interviews are important — as information gathering. I draw exception when there is a pending criminal case that could influence the potential jury pool. Let investigators do their job before you put this man on television. In fact, interview R. Kelly from behind bars instead.
It’s now widely known that Kylie Jenner’s best friend, Jordyn Woods, hooked up with Khloe Kardashian’s boyfriend/baby daddy, Tristan Thompson, at a house party. Woods has since been dragged on social media, and she will appear on Red Table Talk to share her side of the story. The truth-table series was launched by Jada Pinkett Smith, and it is the perfect platform for Woods. According to media sources, the Kardashians are livid with Woods — not only for the hookup, but for the decision to publicly discuss the story without their permission. More specifically, Woods signed a non-disclosure agreement, and this might violate it.
There are just some people who don’t get it, and Mo’Nique is one of them. Though I can’t speak to her personal life struggles, I can speak to the expectation that actors engage in a limited amount of publicity to promote their project, which is in their contract. When they choose to forgo that expectation, they risk being shunned by an industry who relies on it.
With Meredith and DeLuca trapped in an elevator, Teddy’s baby confession, and some complications with Maggie and Avery, season 15 of Grey’s Anatomy will likely be romance driven. This would be okay if any of those romances actually landed — and for me — they have not.
Giacomo Gianniotti (DeLuca) is a welcome addition the cast, but he simply has not had much to do. He had a somewhat interesting storyline with Dr. Jeanine Mason (Sam Bello), but it was too short to be fully explored. I also adore Chris Carmack (Atticus Lincoln), but much like Gianniotti, he has limited chemistry with Pompeo and a sub-par storyline. As for Kelly McCreary (Maggie) and Jesse Williams (Avery), these two need to cut their losses and find fresh blood. I loved the conflict between Sarah Drew (April) and Williams, and no such conflict has equally sparked my interest. And forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but the chemistry is ALSO lacking. I vote for the return of Scott Speedman, and judging by the twitter uproar, so does all the other Grey’s Anatomy fans. Chemistry is hard to come by and thus far, only Kim Raver (Teddy) and Kevin McKidd (Owen) seem to have it.
Forgive me for minimizing Kevin Hart’s Oscar debacle with a petty analogy, but the man reminds me of every guy I’ve ever dated who is allergic to apologizing. So allergic in fact that he says things like, “I’m sorry IF I offended you,” or “How many times are you going to mention the same thing. I’ve already apologized.” Lastly, “Can’t we just focus on the future, not the past?” When combined with fame, social media, and the a rightfully offended LGBTQ+ community, it gets even worse.
Jada Pinkett Smith launched the hugely popular Red Table Talk on Facebook as a vehicle for honest conversation. While many other talk shows present the same premise, this might be the most authentic of its kind. I knew it would take off while watching Jada reminisce with Will Smith’s first wife about the tumultuous start to their journey, followed by unconditional love for one another now. In fact, the power couple have long been pioneers of co-parenting, publicly insisting that it’s possible to get everyone in a room together for the holidays — on behalf of their children. So what could be negative about such a talk? Just ask the New York Post.
Jane Curtin is a badass. As an original cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ she’s a pioneer who paved the way for many of the women who came after her, and by all accounts, she’s normal. If you ever read ‘Live From New York’ written by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, you’d learn more about her legendary status, with one select quote from Rosie Shuster, a writer on the long-running series who later married Lorne Michaels.
As someone fascinated by the early exit of actors from successful series, I’ve long been curious about Christopher Abbott’s abrupt departure from HBO’s Girls in season 3. Though he returned for a cameo in the final season, the speculation has always pointed to a stark creative difference with Lena Dunham. On ‘Watch What Happens Live,’ Andy Cohen got to the bottom of it, and Dunham confirmed their cantankerous relationship, saying Abbott once said he felt “stuck on a sitcom.”
In a finite period of time on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Kenan Thompson made some very astute points about Kanye West’s political rant on SNL, and they’re worth noting. For starters, absent the insanity of West’s actual argument, Thompson points out that he made the cast uncomfortable and essentially “held them hostage.” He gathered them around for his rant without revealing his intentions, which awkwardly puts them beside him without their prior consent. Furthermore, though “we are all entitled to our opinion,” according to Thompson, that is “not the time” to voice it. And if you’re going to voice it, at least let people know before you comission their presence. Watch below.
