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i wanna give a shout out to my #highfidelity family. thank you for all the love and heart you put into this show. i’m in awe of all of you. and thank you to everyone who watched, loved and supported us. ?? #breakupssuck

A post shared by Zoe? Kravitz (@zoeisabellakravitz) on Aug 5, 2020 at 7:25pm PDT

For months, Zoe Kravitz has been doing press in support of the first season of High Fidelity, the TV series based on the Nick Hornby book of the same name, which was already adapted into a film back in the ‘90s. Producers flipped races and genders on the lead character so that Zoe would play the commitment-phobic, music-obsessed proto-hipster “Rob” (Robyn in the show). I still haven’t watched it, but I enjoyed Zoe’s interviews in support of the show and you can tell that she really cared about the project and she was happy to promote it. Well, Hulu cancelled the series after the first season. The cancellation just happened a few days ago. Zoe posted the Instagram above, and she ended up getting into in the comments:

One day after Hulu canceled her series “High Fidelity” after one season, star Zoë Kravitz called out the streaming service for not having shows with much diversity. Kravitz took to her Instagram on Thursday to post some behind-the-scenes photos with her “High Fidelity” cast members after news broke that the show was canceled.

“I wanna give a shout out to my #highfidelity family. Thank you for all the love and heart you put into this show. I’m in awe of all of you. And thank you to everyone who watched, loved and supported us. #breakupssuck,” she wrote.

Several actors, including Tessa Thompson, Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry and others, commented on the photos, offering condolences that the show will not continue.

“I will miss you alllllllllllll so much,” Thompson commented.

Kravitz replied to her, “It’s cool. At least Hulu has a ton of other shows starring women of color we can watch. Oh wait.”

[From Variety]

She’s right. There are not many shows with a Black woman as the lead. In this particular case, I think Zoe feels especially stung because she loved the character so much and because she thought this particular representation was important, the Black music nerd, the Black woman who sucked at relationships, etc. There was so much to mine there. But nope, no more.

Photos courtesy of WENN, IG.

Only a 35 minute wait for Flight Of Passage, but it does come with some crowd building. pic.twitter.com/TxLcP6XupT

— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) August 8, 2020

We’re seeing people make terrible decisions that have an enormous effect on public health, often under the guise of “freedom” and “patriotism.” (This is real freedom and patriotism.) So I want to celebrate the fact that enough people are either smart, or more likely limited by travel options and the economy, to stay away from Disneyworld this summer. Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida (the epicenter of the pandemic) opened again a few weeks ago. Although they took safety precautions and required mask-wearing there were some disturbing photos and reports coming out about crowding, empty hand sanitizers and lack of cleaning on rides. Luckily attendance has been so low that they’re cutting hours across all parks, with Magic Kingdom closing at 6pm and Epcot and Hollywood Studios closing at 7.

Disney World will be reducing their operating hours in September amid lower-than-expected attendance due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Disney World’s new hours set to begin on Sept. 8 are:

Magic Kingdom: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Epcot: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hollywood Studios: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Animal Kingdom: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to USA Today, the Walt Disney Co. lost nearly $5 billion throughout April, May and June due to the closures. It also cost them a total of $4.5 billion just to close the parks.

The company was hopeful for its reopening, but the parks have experienced low attendance as the coronavirus continues to impact long-distance travel which has significantly affected the number of out-of-state visitors.

[From People]

The Miami Herald reported on a poll by THR that showed that 78% of parents say it’s too early to go back to theme parks. Hopefully this prevailing opinion is driving low attendance at Disneyworld and not inability to travel. However it only takes a few people behaving like a-holes to spread this virus. I’ve never been more ashamed and frustrated to live in the US. I should end on a positive note, the majority of people would do the right thing, we just have evil leadership encouraging their followers to sabotage the rest of us.

Also, one of the log rides at Splash Mountain sunk last week. People who were on it got out, but were told by employees they should have stayed on, which seems fitting.

The temperature check line coming from buses and Skyliner is crazy long pic.twitter.com/uGqgVTh3wC

— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) August 8, 2020

The Zanzibar Trading Co. seating area is once again open for those looking for shaded seating while enjoying a Dole Whip pic.twitter.com/zoe5WWN40T

— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) August 9, 2020

Depending where you look, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is currently a 70-75 minute wait at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. pic.twitter.com/59HzxHoVcQ

— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) August 9, 2020

Zendaya covers the September issue of InStyle, interviewed by Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter. As we all know by now, the September issues of magazines have traditionally been most important for advertising and sponsorships. September books usually have the most pages and is meant…

Zendaya covers the September issue of InStyle, interviewed by Patrice Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter. As we all know by now, the September issues of magazines have traditionally been most important for advertising and sponsorships. September books usually have the most pages and is meant …

I’ve just gotten used to the fact that someone (guess who) is providing us with daily updates on the state of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s marriage. Two weekends ago, Kanye and Kim took their kids to the Dominican Republic for a “make or break” family trip. It was said that the trip was Kanye’s idea, and that Kim wanted to (once again) get him away from so many of the influences around him which were not in fact helping him. Their trip to the Dominican “fortress” only lasted a week? Hm…

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West have returned to the United States after their family vacation in the Dominican Republic. On Sunday, the 43-year-old rapper and the KKW beauty mogul were spotted arriving in Miami with their four children: North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and 15-month-old Psalm.

“They had a good family week in the Dominican Republic. They are continuing the family vacation in Colorado,” a source tells PEOPLE. “Kim and Kanye are getting along. They both seem much happier.”

A separate source tells PEOPLE that West is “really enjoying his family time right now,” adding, “Honestly he’s in a great place and feeling creatively inspired.”

An insider recently told PEOPLE that the couple had traveled to the Dominican Republic to “focus is on their marriage.”

“They decided to travel together so they can be away in private,” the insider said. “Between the kids, work, and dealing with Kanye’s bipolar episodes, it’s been hard for her to think clearly.”

[From People]

TMZ says the trip to Colorado will likely involve “glamping,” which is just elite camping, probably in some kind of “cabin” with WiFi and plush white sofas. It’s funny to me to think that Kanye might think that Kim wants to go “glamping.” He doesn’t know her at all. I also think it’s suspicious that the “fortress” part of the trip only lasted a week. Am I the only one who thinks that, despite all of the Kardashian leaks to People, Kim is actually still considering divorce?

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Arrive in Miami, Next Stop Colorado Glamping https://t.co/kc7AUIAqPh

— TMZ (@TMZ) August 9, 2020

Photos courtesy of Instagram, Backgrid.

NOOOO!! Just a second before I saw this news, I saw something about how today is Antonio Banderas’ 60th birthday, and the news about his birthday gave me such warmth and happiness, and now this. Antonio Banderas tested positive for Covid-19. He tweeted out the news in Spanish, but here’s a translation:

“Pain and Glory” star Antonio Banderas revealed he has tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, his 60th birthday.

“I want to make it public that today, Aug. 10, I am forced to celebrate my 60th birthday in quarantine, having tested positive for the COVID-19 disease, caused by the coronavirus,” the star tweeted in Spanish. “I would like to add that I feel relatively good, just a little more tired than usual, and am confident that I will recover as soon as possible following medical instructions that I hope will allow me to overcome the infectious period that I am suffering, and that is affecting so many people around the planet,” the actor wrote.

“I will take advantage of this isolation to read, write, rest and continue making plans to begin to give meaning to my 60 years, to which I arrive full of enthusiasm. A big hug to everyone,” Banderas concluded.

[From Variety]

I’m worried, I’m not going to lie. Antonio is in a dangerous age bracket AND he has a history of health problems – he had a heart attack a few years ago, and he changed his diet and his fitness routine after that, but I still worry. I don’t know if Antonio is in Spain or LA right now? He has homes in both countries, I’m pretty sure.

Have you guys seen Pedro Almodovar’s Pain and Glory yet? Because Antonio 100% deserved an Oscar for that, and now would be a great time to see it.

Quiero contaros lo siguiente… pic.twitter.com/u579iBVLM0

— Antonio Banderas (@antoniobanderas) August 10, 2020

Also, the numbers just keep getting worse and worse.

Nearly 10,000 Americans have died in the last 9 days

Coronavirus Deaths in the U.S.

August 1, 2020: 153,314

August 10, 2020: 162,938

— David P Gelles (@gelles) August 10, 2020

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand comes out tomorrow and more and more of the book’s revelations are being released as media outlets get access to the book. Page Six reports that according to the authors, a summit took place in 2019 to talk about the growing tensions between Prince W…

Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand comes out tomorrow and more and more of the book’s revelations are being released as media outlets get access to the book. Page Six reports that according to the authors, a summit took place in 2019 to talk about the growing tensions between Prince W…

I won’t pretend that I’ve been hit financially by the pandemic. I have my savings, and I still have my job, which I love. If anything, I’m spending less money because I’m barely going out and I’m not eating in restaurants (I get a lot of takeout from non-chain restaurants though). But I understand my privileged financial position and I can’t believe that the federal government isn’t doing more to support people this year. This is the year where the government just needs to send everyone a $1000 check every month at the bare f–king minimum. Unemployment benefits should be expanded not curtailed. And FFS, do not touch Social Security and Medicare. But instead of all of those common sense economic policies, we’re getting sh-t like this:

President Donald Trump tried to assert executive power by signing four actions on coronavirus relief Saturday, one of which will provide as much as $400 in enhanced unemployment benefits after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach an agreement on a stimulus bill this week. But that memorandum on enhanced unemployment benefits — 25% of which states are being asked to cover — has more strings attached than the White House acknowledged and is seen as a cumbersome effort that may not help a lot of the unemployed.

The other three actions he signed include a memorandum on a payroll tax holiday for Americans earning less than $100,000 a year, an executive order on “assistance to renters and homeowners” and a memorandum on deferring student loan payments.

“I’m taking action to provide an additional or extra $400 a week and expanded benefits, $400. That’s generous but we want to take care of our people,” Trump said about his memorandum on unemployment benefits at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. But it’s more complicated than that. A state must agree to enter into a financial arrangement with the federal government for any unemployed person living there to get any of the additional benefits. And the federal government is requiring states to pick up the tab for 25% (or $100) of the $400 additional benefit each person may able to receive weekly in additional aid.

Up to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief Fund would be made available for “lost wage assistance” to supplement state payments, according to the memorandum issued by the White House shortly after Trump’s news conference.

[From CNN]

Trump signed these EOs at his Bedminster golf club, because of course he did, and he also promised to make all of these EOs “permanent,” especially the payroll tax “relief.” Payroll taxes pay into Social Security and Medicare, so basically Trump is promising to defund two social programs for seniors. Trump’s people spent the past 24 hours trying to walk that back. Some think that Trump is trying to set a bigly trap for Biden on taxes. I hope Biden is like “Social Security and Medicare need to be protected at all costs, end of.”

I have a question for all of the CPA/tax-preparer gossips out there: 2020 tax filings are going to be crazy, right? I’m already dreading it.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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Gillian Jacobs was on Late Night with Seth Meyers promoting her movie I Used to Go Here, co-starring Jemaine Clement. It’s about a writer who returns to her college alma mater to teach 15 years after she graduated. Critics say it’s kind of charming and captures that mid-30s “what am I doing with my life?” experience well. You can see the trailer here. On Late Night, Gillian said that her college experience was different than most people’s because she went to Julliard (she didn’t give the name, Seth had to say the name for her) and because she doesn’t drink. She also said that more young people are discovering Community now that it’s on Netflix. We used to watch that show on repeat, my son has seen the entire series at least three times. Here’s some of what she said and you can see the interview below:

Her mom’s family owned a brewery when she was growing up
I have never had a drink of alcohol in my life. I am a real outsider in my family. At a very young age I announced to everyone that I was never going to drink. It probably felt like a betrayal of my family and their entire legacy, but I have stuck to it.

She had a different college experience
I went to a college that had no campus, no real social life. I went to college in Manhattan. I lived in Lincoln center. So even just having a lawn to sit on would have been a dream to us. [Seth says she went to Julliard] I voluntarily chose to go to different colleges during the summer and take academic classes. I wanted to get a taste of that, to be on a real campus and to be in a lecture hall.

Kids are discovering Community now that it’s on Netflix
It went on Netflix April 1st so there’s a whole new group of people discovering it. I now have the experience of my friends’ children discovering it.

[From Late Night with Seth Meyers via YouTube]

Gillian also has a scripted podcast with Josh Gadd called Blood Ties, the second season of which is coming soon. She said she loves doing voiceover work and that she’s asked to be on several cartoons like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Adventure Time.

I’ve only met one person who doesn’t drink after deciding at a young age like that. He just knew it wasn’t for him. I know his family too and they’re not alcoholics at all. Sometimes people just decide they’re not going to mess with it. I had to learn the hard way that drinking wasn’t for me and I still find it surprising when people can have one or two drinks and stop.

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Embed from Getty Images