Open Thread

CNBC reports: Apple delivered its largest quarter by revenue of all time on Wednesday at $111.4 billion in its first-quarter earnings report for fiscal 2021. It’s the first time Apple crossed the symbolic $100 billion mark in a single quarter, and sales were up 21% year-over-year. Apple’s results for the quarter ending in December weren’t just driven by 5G iPhone …

Via press release: GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced that the nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards will be announced in a livestream on GLAAD’s TikTok page on Thursday, January 28 at 12pm ET. This marks the first time TikTok has ever live-streamed a nominations announcement for an …

Deadline Hollywood reports: The Jungle Cruise, a fixture of Disney’s theme parks since the 1950s, is getting an overhaul designed to address years of complaints that it presents a racist view of indigenous people. The changes will be made both at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida, with the aim of completing them this year. Disneyland remains closed …

The Washingtonian reports: A few days into the job, and President Joe Biden has already made his first restaurant visit. After attending mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Sunday, his motorcade made a bagel pitstop at Call Your Mother in Georgetown, according to pool reports. The President didn’t actually get out of the vehicle—a Secret Service agent ducked in …

Variety reports: Kenneth Branagh will play U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a new Sky TV series detailing Britain’s muddled response to the COVID-19 crisis. The five-part drama will be directed and written by “The Trip” helmer Michael Winterbottom. Entitled “This Sceptred Isle,” the show will be produced by Fremantle, Richard Brown’s Passenger and Winterbottom’s Revolution Films. The project — …

Billboard Magazine reports: Phil Spector’s estate is poised to oversee music assets likely worth tens of millions of dollars following his death on Jan. 16, according to Billboard calculations. Those assets include his songwriting credits on 186 songs, per the BMI song database; ownership of the Philles Records catalog of 12 albums including releases by The Ronettes and The Crystals; …

Variety reports: Michelle Pfeiffer has signed on to star as Betty Ford in the upcoming Showtime series “The First Lady,” Variety has learned. In addition, Susanne Bier has signed on to direct and executive produce the anthology series. Pfeiffer joins previously announced cast member Viola Davis, who will star as Michelle Obama. The first season of the series will also …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Hollywood has taken to Twitter to voice its support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as they were sworn in as the 46th president and 49th vice president of the United States. Also capturing much attention and praise is Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet ever to speak at a presidential inauguration, and her poem …

Variety reports: Alec Baldwin has flown the Twitter coop, announcing on Monday that he will leave the social media platform “for now.” “Twitter is like a party where everyone is screaming. Not much of a party,” he Tweeted. “Goodbye for now.” Baldwin’s departure from Twitter comes weeks after wife Hilaria Baldwin’s came under fire after the internet began questioning the …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Donald Trump is facing possible expulsion from SAG-AFTRA. Deadline has learned that the union’s national board of directors will meet Tuesday morning in a special session regarding disciplinary action against him, which could lead to his expulsion. The former star of The Apprentice – and soon-to-be former president – has been a member of the union and …

Entertainment Tonight reports: Happy birthday, Betty White! The iconic actress turned 99 on Sunday, and was flooded with messages of love and appreciation from her famous friends and fans on social media. The celebrated star — whose entertainment career began in 1939, near the dawn of television itself — has been a part of many beloved TV shows and movies …

Variety reports: Apple hasn’t revealed how many customers have signed up for Apple TV Plus — but it clearly wants to hold on to them as it continues to bulk up the streaming service’s content lineup. The tech giant is extending the free-access period for Apple TV Plus customers who have signed up through its 12-month free subscription offer through …

New from our pal Matt Baume: What happens when powerful bigots don’t get their way, and don’t think they’ll ever have to face consequences for their actions? As someone who spends a lot of time reading about the past, lately I’ve been feeling some uncomfortable déjà vu. So I think it might be a good time to look back at …

Variety reports: Armie Hammer has stepped away from his role opposite Jennifer Lopez in the upcoming “Shotgun Wedding,” decrying “vicious and spurious online attacks” against him as the cause. Hammer was set to begin production on the romantic adventure immediately, but will now be recast. The news comes after the “Call Me by Your Name” star began trending on social …

Futurism reports: In perhaps the most wince-inducing example of why your household items probably don’t need to be connected to the internet, we bring you the news that a hacker took control of internet-connected chastity cages and demanded a Bitcoin ransom before releasing their hostages. A chastity cage is, put simply, a cage for penises that’s a popular accessory within …

Variety reports: Jordan Klepper’s segment on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” depicted rioters storming the Capitol at any cost — including attacking the segment’s cameraman, as well as elected officials and police. The video showcases swaths of far-right and white supremacist groups, supporters of President Donald Trump and other affiliated organizations brandishing MAGA merchandise, confederate flags and weaponry, such …

NBC News reports: You might want to reach for a bag of chips and some tissues after watching a Doritos Mexico ad that is lighting up the Internet with its sweet message of acceptance. The two-minute commercial was released over the holidays in Mexico and is called “El mejor regalo,” which means “the best gift” in Spanish. Based on a …

Variety reports: “Sex and the City” is getting the revival treatment at HBO Max, Variety has confirmed. The new chapter is titled “And Just Like That…” and will star Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis. Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones in the original series, is not returning. Parker, Nixon and Davis will also executive produce, along with …

Billboard Magazine reports: Taylor Swift’s Folklore finishes 2020 as the top-selling album of the year in the U.S., and the only album to sell at least a million copies during the year, according to MRC Data. Plus, the superstar has now claimed the top-selling album of the year five times — becoming the first act to earn the honor. Folklore …

Deadline Hollywood reports: The final show featuring longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek airs Friday, and a special tribute at the end of it captures everything that audiences loved about the man. In a video montage, Trebek jokes, banters with contestants, and generally delivers the same warm, naturally smooth, humble and reassuring presence that guided his performances through 36 years. Trebek …