Open Thread

Detroit’s ABC News affiliate reports: A photo posted to a listing for a home in Oak Park has hundreds of people commenting after a white powdery substance appeared in lines on a plate in the kitchen. The photo, which has since been removed, was apparently a joke. 7 Action News’ Anu Prakash called the number listed with the home, and …

Playbill reports: Several titles that will entice Broadway fans are now available to watch on Disney+, the new streaming service that launches November 12. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a metatheatrical revisit of the beloved title, is one of two original scripted shows debuting on Disney+ (the other being Star Wars: The Mandalorian). Dozens of Disney theatrical films …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Full Metal Jacket and Law & Order: Criminal Intent actor Vincent D’Onofrio will play American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and conservative activist Jerry Falwell in Fox Searchlight’s The Eyes of Tammy Faye about the rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Bakker. As production starts today in Charlotte, North Carolina, Searchlight also announced that D’Onofrio joining the …

Miami’s ABC News affiliate reports: “There’s something that you all need to understand,” Madonna said during her Las Vegas concert, while perched atop a piano, legs swinging. “And that is, that a queen is never late.” The megastar spoke those words to fans during the show this week, posting the video to Twitter on Saturday. And despite the cheers that …

The Island Packet reports: Parrish Brown thought it was strange when the Hilton Head Island McDonald’s worker paused as he ordered a sweet tea with light ice and extra lemon. “Extra lemon?” the drive-thru worker asked in an odd voice. Brown later figured out what the “extra lemon” was about when he discovered quite a bit of weed inside his …

Playbill reports: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical opened November 8 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where the show received a special visit from the icon herself. Tina Turner appeared during the show’s curtain call and joined the cast for an emotional speech. Watch the video below to see the speech and the star-studded opening night audience including Oprah, Bernadette Peters, Whoopi …

Billboard reports: Through his comedic and quite musical take on current events, Randy Rainbow makes our dismal political reality that much easier to contend with. In the same vein as Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart, Rainbow uses his platform to educate, illuminate, and help fight the good fight. Now, in anticipation of both the upcoming holidays and election 2020, Rainbow …

Playbill reports: ABC joined the televised live musical arena—to an extent—with the November 5 presentation of The Little Mermaid Live!. The screen-stage hybrid event showed the beloved animated Disney film while cutting away to an in-studio cast, including Moana and Rise alum Auli’i Cravalho and movie musical veteran Queen Latifah, during the musical numbers. For its foray into the recent …

Billboard Magazine reports: As Kanye West celebrates his ninth total and consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Nov. 9), as Jesus Is King launches at No. 1, all 11 songs from the set, his first religious release, debut on the Billboard Hot 100. “Follow God” leads the way at No. 7 on the Hot 100, earning …

Billboard reports: The winter holiday season is officially upon us, and Idina Menzel is here to offer up some exciting news. This year, CBS’ 21st annual A Home For The Holidays special will be hosted by Menzel herself on Sunday, Dec. 22. Menzel will be taking the reins not only to host the annual event, but will also be performing …

Playbill reports: Sorry, musical theatre stars: It just became harder to get that “E” notch in your EGOT belt. In a recent series of eligibility clarifications and rule changes, the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences revealed that the Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program category at the Daytime Emmy Awards would be eliminated. The award was first …

NBC News reports: A Florida man was arrested for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to kill a faculty member at his high school, authorities said Friday. Nicholas Robert Godfrey, an 18-year-old senior at Fivay High School, about 40 miles north of Tampa, was charged with first-degree attempt to solicit murder, Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies said. Detectives said they …

Playbill reports: Tony and Emmy winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots, Pose) and Tony winner Idina Menzel (Wicked) will perform during the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Also joining the festivities is Broadway alum and Glee star Lea Michele. The special will air at 9 AM ET on NBC on Thanksgiving Day, November 28. While no Broadway cast performances have been …

The Tampa Bay Times reports: A Florida man was arrested Tuesday after police said he “dry humped” multiple stuffed animals at the Park Place Target, including Olaf, the snowman from the wildly successful Disney film Frozen. The other victim was a large stuffed unicorn. Police said Cody Meader, 20, of St. Petersburg, entered the store around 2 p.m. Tuesday. He …

Rolling Stone reports: Dolly Parton joins Mr. Probz on Galantis’ uplifting new song “Faith.” This is Parton’s first foray into EDM; the song will be featured on Galantis’ upcoming third album Church. “Faith” is a reworking of John Hiatt’s 1987 single “Have A Little Faith in Me.” Parton appears as the driver on a bus that suddenly breaks down. The …

Playbill reports: In honor of the launch of the West End production of Dear Evan Hansen—the fourth staging of the Tony Award-winning musical—the four actors who lead or have led as Evan Hansen on Broadway, on tour, in Toronto, and in London gathered for a special quartet version of “For Forever.” Written by Tony-, Grammy-, and Oscar-winning songwriters Benj Pasek …

Playbill reports: The international hit musical Wicked plays its 6,681st Broadway performance October 28 at 7 PM at the Gershwin Theatre, surpassing Les Misérables to become the fifth longest-running production in Broadway history. This milestone takes place two nights before the musical celebrates its 16th anniversary on Broadway. The Broadway cast is currently headed by Hannah Corneau as Elphaba, Ginna …

UPI reports: A Hong Kong businessman set a new record for the city when he sold a coveted downtown parking space for a total $969,000. Johnny Cheung, who formerly owned four parking spaces in front of the 79-story office tower The Center, previously sold three spaces for sums in the high six digits, but the final spot ended up fetching …

UPI reports: Teams of hotel workers gathered in a Las Vegas resort to pit their skills against each other in the annual Las Vegas Housekeeping Olympics. The ninth annual competition Wednesday at the Mandalay Bay resort featured teams representing hotels and resorts around Las Vegas competing in events including bed-making contests, confetti vacuum races and a toilet paper toss. The …

Playbill reports: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ fall fundraiser has begun its six-week drive, leading up to the annual Red Bucket Follies presentation, with performances taking place at 4:30 PM on December 9 and 2 PM on December 10. Throughout the fundraising period, cast members will collect money after show performances in the signature red buckets at Broadway, Off-Broadway and national …