Adam Schlesinger, member of the group Fountains Of Wayne and an Emmy-winning songwriter for the television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, died Wednesday morning after being hospitalized for testing positive for the coronavirus, Varietyreports. The esteemed musician was 52.
News of Schlesinger’s condition first broke Tuesday, saying he had been hospitalized for more than a week in upstate New York and was on a ventilator, though reportedly not in a coma. His longtime attorney, Josh Grier told Variety, “He’s very sick and is heavily sedated, as are all people on ventilators, but no one has used the word ‘coma’ to me.” In another update, Schlesinger’s girlfriend spoke to TMZ and said that he “has been sedated to facilitate his recovery. He is in critical condition, but his condition is improving slightly and we are cautiously optimistic.”
Schlesinger was one of a rising number of music industry figures who had recently been diagnosed with the virus. Legendary songwriter John Prine, producer, songwriter, and musician Andrew Watt, and Universal Music CEO and chairman Lucian Grainge have all been diagnosed with the virus in recent weeks.
Schlesinger’s life and career include Oscar, Tony, Grammy, and Emmy nominations, with wins for the latter two. His most recent award came at the 2018 Emmy Awards, where he picked up a win for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the Crazy Ex Girlfriend song “Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal.”
Welcome to this week’s Wednesday Night Wars open discussion thread. This week we’ve got the first TakeOver Tampa Bay make-up episode ofNXT featuring a triple threat match for the North American Championship and a women’s division gauntlet, against an AEW Dynamite featuring the AEW debut of Lance Archer, another side of the bracket for the TNT Championship tournament announced, and more.
On tonight’s cards:
AEW Dynamite
Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara and Shawn Spears
Lance Archer’s AEW debut
The Natural Nightmares’ AEW Dynamite debut
Kenny Omega vs. Trent
Four remaining names in the TNT Championship tournament will be announced
NXT
Triple Threat Match for the North American Championship: Keith Lee (c) vs. Dominik Dijakovic vs. Damian Priest
Velveteen Dream vs. Bobby Fish
Second Chance Gauntlet Match for a spot in the NXT Women’s Title Number One Contender’s Ladder Match: Kayden Carter vs. Dakota Kai vs. Xia Li vs. Shotzi Blackheart vs. Aliyah vs. Deonna Purrazzo
As always, +1 your favorite comments from tonight’s open thread and if we get enough comments, we’ll include 10 of the best in tomorrow’s Best and Worst of NXT and AEW reports. Make sure you flip the comments by selecting “newest” in the drop down menu under discussion, and enjoy the show!
Among the most people most in jeopardy from the COVID-19 outbreak are prisoners serving sentences in our nation’s crowded jails. Harvey Weinstein, newly incarcerated, tested positive, likely due to a large number of cases at Rikers Island, where he was initially interred. And while Joseph Maldonado-Passage — aka Joe Exotic, star of the break-out Netflix doc-series Tiger King, and another famous inmate — hasn’t tested positive, his husband did reveal that he’s currently in coronavirus isolation.
The news was picked up by The Hollywood Reporter, who caught that Dillon Passage, Maldonado-Passage’s husband, broke the news to Andy Cohen on his SiriusXM show Radio Andy. Again, Joe Exotic is not known to have caught the virus — which continues to rampage across the globe, with the United States now the site of the world’s highest cases — but did recently transfer from a prison that reported multiple cases. They’re simply being safe.
Maldonado-Passage is serving a 22-year sentence for his role in a murder-for-hire plot detailed in Tiger King, whose wild, twisty tale has captivated viewers who are perhaps looking for distraction from the relentlessly grim news, as well as some entertainment while quarantining. There’s already a limited series adaptation in the works, spearheaded by Kate McKinnon, so it doesn’t look like we’ll be rid of the zookeeper-turned-con any time soon. Be well.
Bill Gates may not be a doctor but he has increasingly become an expert on world health issues over the past several decades as his public footprint has transitioned from Microsoft co-founder to one of the greatest philanthropists alive today.
Now, Gates is using his public platform to be a voice of reason as America, and the world, grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. Though Gates isn’t shy about pointing out that America absolutely failed in our federal government’s initial response to the virus, he says there is still a clear window of hope and opportunity — but only if our leaders act now. Here are the three main strategic moves Gates says must happen in order to curb the spread of disease and to get our economy back in gear as soon as possible.
In a new Washington Post column, Gates outlines a simple but vital strategy in three clear steps.
“First, we need a consistent nationwide approach to shutting down. Despite urging from public health experts, some states and counties haven’t shut down completely,” Gates writes. “In some states, beaches are still open; in others, restaurants still serve sit-down meals.”
Gates doesn’t mince words: failing to socially distance shut down all non-essential businesses will cost lives and lead to exponential more economic pain.
“This is a recipe for disaster,” he writes. “Because people can travel freely across state lines, so can the virus. The country’s leaders need to be clear: Shutdown anywhere means shutdown everywhere. Until the case numbers start to go down across America — which could take 10 weeks or more — no one can continue business as usual or relax the shutdown.”
San Francisco was cited as a prime example of how a city that was hit hard by the virus is starting to see positive results by flattening the curve with an aggressive lockdown strategy. If it can work in a dense urban population like the Bay Area, it can work anywhere.
The Trump Administration claims that the federal and state governments have conducted more coronavirus tests than anywhere in the world. Even if that’s true, America still woefully lags behind a number of nations in terms of per capita testing. And let’s be real, this isn’t about being “number 1” compared to other nations. The only thing that really matters is conducting enough tests to meet America’s needs. And on that front, we are still far, far behind where we need to be.
“We should also aggregate the results so we can quickly identify potential volunteers for clinical trials and know with confidence when it’s time to return to normal,” Gates writes. “There are good examples to follow: New York state recently expanded its capacity to up to more than 20,000 tests per day. There’s also been some progress on more efficient testing methods, such as the self-swab developed by the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network, which allows patients to take a sample themselves without possibly exposing a health worker. I hope this and other innovations in testing are scaled up across the country soon.”
Gates also took aim at how available testing has so far greatly favored the rich and famous. Entire NBA teams are tested, using up a significant portion of a state’s available resources. It’s not just because these people have money and are paying private clinics. They are being prioritized because of economic and political privilege, denying access to those who need it most. As Gates writes:
“First on the list should be people in essential roles such as health-care workers and first responders, followed by highly symptomatic people who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill and those who are likely to have been exposed.”
No, a vaccine won’t happen overnight. And it’s not likely to happen before the end of the year. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a national priority get develop one as soon as possible. Each day we save by accelerating the development and deployment of a vaccine will literally save lives and reduce the time it takes for America to get back to business. After all, a vaccine will not only provide physical support but would be a massive psychological boost to Americans and people around the world living under the cloud of this disease.
“We should stick with the process that works: Run rapid trials involving various candidates and inform the public when the results are in. Once we have a safe and effective treatment, we’ll need to ensure that the first doses go to the people who need them most,” Gates writes. “To bring the disease to an end, we’ll need a safe and effective vaccine. If we do everything right, we could have one in less than 18 months — about the fastest a vaccine has ever been developed.”
Taken together, Gates’ recommendations are simple, straightforward and absolutely essential. We’re living through an era where basic competence is the new cutting edge. And we’re in desperate need of that, with a healthy side serving of common sense. Bill Gates has wowed us many times over the years with his incredible innovations. Today, he’s reminding us that taking care of the basics and giving them the seriousness they deserve can and will make all the difference.
The sports world is on hold right now aside from a few exceptions, mostly involving the expansion of eSports into the mainstream sports landscape. With many states invoking shelter-in-place policies and some cities extending cancellations of public events well into May and even June, the return of live sports as we are accustomed to likely won’t happen anytime soon.
The various sports leagues are exploring all of their various options, with the NBA looking into the possibility of a quarantine league with every team in a centralized location. In the world of golf, they’ve cancelled or postponed a number of events, with majors like the Masters hopeful to be played later this fall. In the meantime, two of the sports titans, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, are working out a way to put on a rematch of their one-on-one match play contest from 2018 that Phil won on the 22nd hole in Las Vegas.
Hearing Tiger v Phil II might indeed be happening as a PPV event but that the caveat is that each will have a partner. Two names being mentioned? Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
NFL icons Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will join superstars Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in a golf match organized by AT&T’s WarnerMedia and the PGA Tour, a person familiar with the negotiations confirmed to CNBC.
The match pitting Mickelson-Brady against Woods-Manning would be a rare sporting event in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has spurred game cancellations and suspensions across professional sports.
Young indicates the match would benefit charity and provide relief in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the match would not be on PPV but would be broadcast on TNT or one of WarnerMedia’s other TV properties — the first edition was on PPV via B/R Live. The match would not have fans present and those broadcasting the match would participate in appropriate social distancing, with Charles Barkley possibly involved on commentary from a remote location.
The biggest current holdup on an announcement of the event is PGA Tour approval, as ESPN’s Bob Harig notes they have to get the blessing of the Tour to move forward on any such event and, as of now, that has not come through. The Tour did confirm discussions are and have been ongoing, but as of now nothing is official. Where they can do it — given that we do not know where the coronavirus outbreak will be peaking and falling in May at this time — and other logistics also must be figured out, but it seems there’s some determination to make this happen and bring in a pair of legendary quarterbacks to spice things up further, this time to benefit charity.
Back in March, Swedish trio Peter Bjorn And John celebrated two decades of being a band with their ninth studio album, Endless Dream. It’s a record that’s billed as a return to form for the veteran band, a result of the trio getting together in the same room for the first time in several years to flesh out the songs together, instead of via digital channels.
Endless Dream is comprised of ten uplifting, danceable indie-pop tracks with infectious melodies that remind us what made Peter Bjorn And John such a great band in the first place. To celebrate the new album, John Eriksson sat down to talk Frank Zappa, Mission Impossible, and a Swedish Elvis impersonator in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Sprawling. Spectral. Twisted. Indie.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Like Mona Lisa’s smile.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
Definitely not Manchester!!!
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
I asked the other two guys and Peter said: Macca (a.k.a. Paul McCartney from The Beatles) and Bjorn said Elvis Costello. That made me think. In the beginning, back in 2000 when the band was formed, Peter and Bjorn went on and on about Elvis Costello. It was all: “Costello said this” and “Costello would have done this” and they played me Costello-records all the time and I hated it. Or, it was not really hate, but I could not understand what was so fantastic about Costello’s music. My hidden agenda during the first five years was actually to faze out all the Costello-ness from our music. I fought for fever chords, dumber lyrics, and more pauses. I wanted us to sound more like the early Beatles, or, even better: Pavement!!!
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
Outside.
What album do you know every word to?
Unfortunately a lot of old Frank Zappa albums… I was into his music when I was a kid and as a Swedish little boy, I did not really understand how terrible his lyrics were.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?
Monks Casino with Alexander von Schlippenbach and his brilliant super-group at the Fashing Jazz Club in Stockholm. Totally unpredictable concert.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
You should always go on stage wearing a jacket, because you should always try to be better dressed than the audience. If that is impossible, you should wear more clothes than the audience.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
Hmm… I prefer following random people in the street, but, if Aki Kaurismäki (the Finnish movie maker) would be on Instagram or Twitter, I would follow him like a shadow. The tone in some of his movies are almost transcendental and the way he combines heart-breaking tragedy with quirky comedy is exactly the feeling I aim for when making music. The best films are Drifting Clouds, Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana, and Lights In The Dusk.
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
“In Kommer Gösta” by Philemon Arthur and the Dung. That song creates such a wonderful vibe.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
The English translation of the Swedish word “skrubbsår” (grazed knee).
What album makes for the perfect gift?
I’m sorry, but I’ll have to say, definitely our new album Endless Dream on vinyl. You’ll get 10 fizzy songs and a board game. Beat that if you can, Robyn!
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
In a tour bus.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
Peter hasn’t got one, neither does Bjorn. I was really close, though. It was supposed to be a giant, scary snake on my right arm and the tattoo-event was supposed to happen on a day off in some random, American small town in the middle of nowhere. But no matter how much I drank, I never dared to do it. Today, I am so grateful I didn’t.
What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?
Eilert Pilarm. A Swedish Elvis impersonator. He is much better than the original and I mean that.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
My seven-year-old son comforted me the other day when I sucked at Mario Kart.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Maybe something like this: – Hello John. It is me, John. Do not try to think about this, but I come from the future. Eh…I was going to tell you that you shouldn’t change anything, but now that you have had this strange encounter, I guess you will end up in a mental institution….well…my advice to you is to forget about this…I’m off.
What’s the last show you went to?
I went to a comedy show with a Swedish comedian who pretends he is a Danish psychic medium.
What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?
Mission Impossible 4. Love it!
What would you cook if Kanye were coming to your house for dinner?
Something with ginger. When we played together with Kanye on a Swedish festival back in 2007, his dressing room was filled with ginger, so I guess he eats that.
With a confirmed case count that grows distressingly higher by the day, the coronavirus pandemic will dictate our lives for months to come. There’s a reason movies that were supposed to come out in June have already been pushed back months, if not until 2021. But San Diego Comic-Con organizers remain optimistic (possibly irresponsibly so, in the same way that it took Disneyland too long to close) that pop culture fanatics will descend upon the San Diego Convention Center from July 23-26.
“To our amazing Comic-Con and WonderCon fans: We understand how difficult the current climate has been for all of us and appreciate your continued support through these trying times. No one is as hopeful as we are that we will be able to celebrate #SDCC2020 together come July,” the official SDCC account tweeted. “As we continue to monitor the situation with local authorities, we will post updates on our social channels! Until then, remember: ‘A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ — Christopher Reeve.”
To our amazing Comic-Con and WonderCon fans: We understand how difficult the current climate has been for all of us and appreciate your continued support through these trying times. No one is as hopeful as we are that we will be able to celebrate #SDCC2020 together come July. 1/2
As we continue to monitor the situation with local authorities, we will post updates on our social channels! Until then, remember: “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” — Christopher Reeve 2/2
San Diego Comic-Con was attended by 135,000 people in 2019. I’ve been to Hall H. It’s already a cramped nightmare before worrying about the deadly virus. As fun as the full-cast panels can be, the smart (and potentially life-saving) option would be to push SDCC to later in the year. Who knows? Maybe by then, The New Mutantswill be out.
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