50 bday ideas

A version of this story was originally published in November 2017 and has since been updated. One night in the late 1950s, the Flamingos ’ bus pulled up to a concert hall in Birmingham, Alabama, and a row of 30 to 50 police officers holding rifles and billy clubs was waiting for them. The cops escorted the six-member doo-wop group, famous for “I Only Have Eyes for You” and “The Ladder of Love,” to its dressing room and gave strict instructions: As black performers, they were to make eye contact with only the black fans, who were confined to the balcony, and not with whites on the floor. “It was ridiculous,” recalls Terry Johnson , a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame–inducted group. “The cops were up there making sure we did not look at any white person. It was a rule when we came in: ‘I don’t want to see any of you darkies looking at the white women out there. If you do, your ass is mine.’ Cruel things like that.” The Flamingos, like all African American performers … [Read more...] about The Rope: The Forgotten History of Segregated Rock & Roll Concerts

Billie Eilish teased her new album in an interview with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show Tuesday, February 23rd. The singer said the Covid-19 quarantine marked the first extended period of time off she’d had in four years, and she took that opportunity to make an album. “I don’t think I would’ve made the same album, or even the album at all, if it weren’t for Covid,” she said. “That doesn’t mean it’s about Covid at all, it’s just that, when things are different in your life, you’re different. That’s just how it is. So, I have to thank Covid for that, and that’s about it.” Later in the interview, Colbert asked if Eilish unleashed her voice and really belted on the new project, and the singer laughed and replied, “There’s a couple of moments on this album where I pull some tricks out. It’s really just about what I feel like sounds good.” Eilish also spoke about her upcoming documentary, The World’s a Little Blurry , and the strange experience of living with cameras on her … [Read more...] about Billie Eilish Teases New Album Made in Quarantine on ‘Colbert’

EXCLUSIVE : Nevision , the British producer behind shows including BBC drama Keeping Faith , has signed an exclusive development deal with writer Jeff Murphy to create high-end scripted projects for the global market. Murphy has written on Welsh series including Hinterland and Hidden , while his feature Denmark , starring Rafe Spall, was released in 2019. He will create his own ideas for Nevision, as well as helping develop the firm’s slate of feature films and series. Nevision detailed a number of projects already in the pipeline: The Furies, a supernatural police procedural with elements of horror, which is in the works with Hidden creator and showrunner Mark Andrew. Moifaa , a family movie about New Zealand’s first sporting hero, is also on the way. Both are being developed in association with Kiwi producer Pukeko Pictures. Also in development with Murphy is Saul (working title), a profound and emotional series that throws together a reluctant … [Read more...] about ‘Keeping Faith’ Co-Producer Nevision Signs Exclusive Deal With ‘Hinterland’ Writer Jeff Murphy

Hank Azaria says he’s “willing and happy” to step aside as the voice of Apu on The Simpsons , or to help transition the character into “something new,” calling it “the right thing to do, to me.” Appearing on Stephen Colbert ’s Late Show , Azaria threw out the possibility of killing off Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, one of 20-30 regular characters he says he’s voiced on the long-running animated Fox series. He’d like to see an Indian-American writer added to the show, “genuinely informing whatever new direction this character make take, including how it is voice – or not voiced,” he said. Comedian Hari Kondabolu , whose truTV documentary The Problem with Apu trigged a lot of talk on the topic when it debuted last November, tweeted thanks to Azaria, then re-tweeted thanks of others: Related Story 'The Simpsons' Creator Matt Groening Says He "Didn't Have A Problem" With White Actors Voicing Non-White Characters Thank you, @HankAzaria . I appreciate … [Read more...] about Hank Azaria Says He’s OK Scrapping ‘The Simpsons’ Apu; Critics Tweet Thanks

South by Southwest (aka SXSW ) has revealed its final round for its already robust lineup of keynotes and featured sessions. The online iteration of the SXSW conference and festival is set to take place March 16-20. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg , host New York Times podcast Together Apart Priya Parker, and Interior Chinatown author Charles Yu join the Keynote lineup that includes previously-announced sessions from political leader and game-changer Stacey Abrams as well as music icon Willie Nelson. “The three Keynote Speakers we’re announcing today are a perfect complement to our Conference lineup for SXSW Online 2021,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “Charles Yu’s amazing novel Interior Chinatown brings a completely unique perspective to the immigrant experience in the United States. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will emphasize SXSW’s continued focus on how technological innovations are transforming mobility. And no one … [Read more...] about SXSW Adds Pete Buttigieg As Keynote; Ava DuVernay, George W. Bush And More Set For Featured Sessions