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Fans of the hit CBS action drama The Equalizer were stunned as the network announced that they were cancelling the Queen Latifah-fronted show last Friday (May 2)after five seasons on air. The Grammy Award winning star issued a statement to her fans through a post on Instagram, which featured a photo of her as the lead character Robyn McCall with a key phrase from the show: “I’m the one you call when you can’t call 911.”
“Stepping into a kick-ass role like Robyn was everything I hoped it would be,” Queen Latifah began. “Shakim and I at Flavor Unit are always excited to bring these kinds of roles and projects to life—and then we just hope you love them as much as we do. The Equalizer blew past every dream we had for it, and having the opportunity to do this for five seasons honestly feels surreal.”She concluded, “Thank you to our amazing cast, crew, and producers and writers! And I can’t say enough about the FANS!Y’all have been so loyal, so loud, and so ride-or-die—and that’s exactly why we keep doing this. We can’t thank you enough. It means the world to us. And don’t worry—I’ll be back kicking ass in something new real soon. Can’t wait to share it with you.” The Equalizer was a fan favorite for CBS since its premiere in 2020, with talks of a sixth season as late as last fall. But according to the Hollywood Reporter, a ratings drop from 7.89 million last year to under 6 million after the Super Bowl nudged the network towards pulling the plug.The Equalizer stood out on the short list of canceled projects by CBS entering the summer season (including Damon Wayans and his son Damon Wayan Jr’s Poppa’s House), and the finale for the fifth season which is now the ending for the show was entitled, “Decisions”. The ending also meant the end for a potential spinoff featuring veteran actor Titus Welliver, who played a former CIA agent who Robyn helps rescue along with his daughter in the next to last episode, played by Juani Feliz. The proposed series wasn’t ordered prior to the cancellation.
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If you’re familiar with Spike Lee’s illustrious career in the film industry then you know that whenever he collaborates on a project with the likes of Denzel Washington it’s going to be something to behold, and more than a decade after working together on Inside Man, the two are back at it in a new crime drama, Highest 2 Lowest.
Yesterday (May 5), we got our first trailer for their upcoming film and though details are scarce, according to Vulture, the film is loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime film High and Low. Starring Denzel Washington alongside the likes of Jeffery Wright, A$AP Rocky, and Ice Spice (word?!), the teaser trailer seems to indicate that the plot will revolve around some shady business dealings and includes some elements of the music industry as we see Rocky recording in the studio.
We’ll have to wait to see how things will ultimately play out, but if it involves Spike Lee, Denzel and Jeffery Wright, it’s going to be some wild ish and we’re all for it.
Check out the trailer to Highest 2 Lowest below, and let us know if you’ll be checking it out when it drops in the comments section.
Fiona Apple spent two years as a “court watcher,” taking notes and observing thousands of bond hearings. Those countless hours have inspired the singer’s first new song in five years, “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home),” an intense, percussion-heavy broadside against the U.S.’s cash-bail system.
In a statement at the top of the video for the song that dropped on Tuesday (May 6), Apple wrote, “I saw so many people get caged away simply because they could not afford bail. Before they even got a trial… while still presumed innocent.” As her unaccompanied voice swells up, she sings, “They wouldn’t let her/ They wouldn’t let her/ They wouldn’t let her, wouldn’t let her go home,” and the words “Jail didn’t just hurt them. It hurt their families. It hurt all of our communities” scroll across the screen along with a montage of women impacted by a system that keeps people in jail if they can’t afford to post bail.
Apple said the personal images were shared with her by women who have been trapped in pretrial detention, jailed despite the court system’s presumption of innocence because they could not post bond. Over a second montage, hand drums and a flute bubble up as Apple sings, “They wouldn’t let her go home/ And now there’s no more home.” The singer said in an accompanying statement that for the past five years she’s been volunteering with the Free Black Mamas DMV bailout while witnessing “the stories of women who fought for and won their freedom with the tireless and loving support of the leadership.”
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“I hope that this song and these shared images will help to show what is at stake when someone is touched by a system that won’t let them go,” Apple wrote. The accompanying track produced by Zealous and Special Operation Studios is a tribal-beat homage to mothers who “took on extra shifts/ Still couldn’t pay the bail/ No danger, no flight risk/ But she will stay in jail,” she sings over images of smiling mothers dancing with and hugging their children.
“She was not convicted of anything/ Won’t you let her go home/ Won’t you let her go home,” Apple sings. “At home she’s got two kids/ And grandma needs her care/ Who’ll pack the lunch and give meds/ If she’s in jail not there?” The track also illuminates the cascading effects of mother’s jailed without bail, including falling behind on rent and kids missing school to see their grandma in the hospital after a fall, triggering teachers calling child protective services to report their absence and authorities then taking the children into custody.
“Can’t afford a new phone card, because nobody’s home/ Shame and isolation, economic deprivation/ And there’s no more home” Apple sings. By the fifth verse, Apple’s measured tone turns red as she recounts, “Preliminary hearing’s short, only witness is the cop/ He doesn’t even show up in court and all the charges get dropped/ What the f–k’s the point of all the f–king hell he put her through?/ Took her whole world away and set her up to start ’round two.”
Apple has set up an accompanying “Let Her Go Home” website where fans can find a local bail fund to contribute to on which she notes that “on any given day, 190,600 women and girls are incarcerated in the United States. Over 60,000 women are detained pretrial, presumed innocent, caged in U.S. jails simply because they cannot afford to pay bail. Their average yearly income is just $11,000. Over 66% are mother with minor children.”
The site also features images of some of the women Apple observed with their names and home cities as well as some descriptions, such as: “genuine, generous & creative genius,” “resilient, visionary & determined” and “assertive, authentic & unapologetic.” Apple has long advocated for court watching, including narrating and writing the score for a PSA for the National Courtwatch Network in 2023.
“Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)” is Apple’s fist new original song since the release of her fifth album, 2020’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters.
Watch Fiona Apple’s video for “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)” below.
By now you’ve surely heard that Rihanna debuted her baby bump at Monday night’s 2025 Met Gala. The singer and partner A$AP Rocky are expecting their third child together and while the most burning question on the Navy’s mind is whether No. 3 will further delay RihRih’s endlessly anticipated ninth album, Ciara said when she […]
Rag’n’Bone Man is entering a new era, but not without reflecting on the ride so far.
The British singer-songwriter, born Rory Charles Graham, recently wrapped a five-date Australian tour, his first here since the Human campaign nearly a decade ago. Fans at those shows were treated to a preview of his new Danger Mouse-produced track “Time to Love.”
“It’s a real banger. I would say it’s slightly underground. It’s not necessarily a big pop song but it really has heads nodding in the audience,” he told Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “Australia is the first place we’ve played it live.”
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“Time to Love” follows Rag’n’Bone Man’s third studio album What Do You Believe In?, released in October 2024. The album debuted at No. 3 on the U.K. Albums Chart and reached No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
“It really helped me through trauma,” he said. “It’s not easy to lose people, family. At first, performing those songs live, I thought, ‘There’s no way. I’d just be a mess.’ But I got over that as well. It was definitely a remedy.”
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For Rag’n’Bone Man, the journey began with 2016’s breakthrough single “Human,” which became a global hit. The track spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 74 in May 2017. Its music video has since amassed over two billion YouTube views and continues to draw over 380,000 views daily.
“Human” also became the theme for several TV shows, including Jack Ryan, God Friended Me, and even featured in the video game Mass Effect: Andromeda.
“That couple of years was f—ing wild,” he recalled. “My friend who had moved to Melbourne called me and said, ‘You’re on the f—ing radio every single day over here, mate.’ Something was really happening. Europe, U.S., everywhere. It became this monster of a song.”
Now 40, Rag’n’Bone Man said he wouldn’t change a thing about his rise to fame. “No way. I think I did alright,” he told the publication. “I don’t regret anything. Maybe drink a little less, but that’s about it. It hurts a little bit more when you’re 40.”
The Blues Brothers are back — this time, in graphic novel form.
Dan Aykroyd’s family and the estate of the late Judy Belushi-Pisano have announced The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake, the first official Blues Brothers graphic novel. The project marks the first step in a broader plan to expand the Blues Brothers universe through new TV shows, films, live events and music.
The book is being written by Stella Aykroyd, Luke Pisano and James Werner, with illustrations by Brazilian artist Felipe Sobreiro. It is described as a “love letter and a sequel to the original Blues Brothers film.” Z2, the graphic novel publisher known for musical collaborations, will publish the title.
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Dan Aykroyd, who created the Blues Brothers alongside the late John Belushi, has editorial oversight and will provide a foreword.
“Elwood and Jake are precious to me. In fact, one of them is actually my dad,” said Stella Aykroyd, as told to Deadline. “I’ve helped him sharpie ‘ELWOOD’ onto his knuckles before Blues Brothers shows with ‘Brother Zee,’ I’ve walked behind him as he’s made his way through a sea of fans dressed as Elwood and Jake all over the world and I’ve been his co-pilot on the road, where he’s explained to me the proper way to T-bone a car.”
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The novel will also honor Judy Belushi-Pisano, who passed away in July 2024. She was instrumental in preserving and expanding the Blues Brothers legacy for more than 40 years. Luke Pisano and the creative team said the project draws on real-life experiences and stories from Judy, John and Dan.
Josh Bernstein, president of Z2, called the Blues Brothers “comedy, pop culture and musical royalty,” adding that fans can expect “the epic return of Jake and Elwood Blues.”
The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake will be available for pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores, comic shops and record stores.
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Anadolu / Newark Liberty International Airport
If you’re thinking about flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport, you should definitely reconsider and fly out of LaGuardia or JFK.
Air traffic controllers in Philadelphia had to guide planes to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after communications crashed.
CNN reports that controllers couldn’t see planes on radar scopes and couldn’t communicate with pilots for at least 90 seconds, a source close to the matter told the news outlet. According to the website, faulty copper wiring is blamed for the outage.
The outage forced many air traffic controllers to take leave for trauma as a direct result of the incident, and on top of that shortage of air traffic controllers only made matters worse.
Current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claims it was only 30 seconds and blamed New York Senator Chuck Schumer for what happened at Newark Liberty.
Yeah, that makes sense.
Per CNN:
The April 28 outage impacted information coming from radars located at a Federal Aviation Administration facility in Westbury, New York, where the air traffic controllers used to manage flights heading to Newark. Control over the airspace was transferred to Philadelphia in July. The radars are now operated using a remote line the source described as “a long extension cord.”
The outage was the result of a failure of that copper wiring that transmits information to Newark approach control, a separate source tells CNN. “There was some infrastructure breakdown related to how the information is relayed right now.”
Similar outages happened twice before, the first source notes.
Those earlier incidents were reported to the FAA safety reporting system and “adjustments were made,” which kept the systems stable until the most recent loss, they say.
Newark Liberty Is Not Safe
Travelers have endured a weeklong meltdown at the airport, resulting in hundreds of delays and cancellations.
According to one air traffic controller speaking with MSNBC correspondent Tom Costello, “it is not safe” to fly out of Newark Liberty International.
“He said, ‘It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,” Costello said, referring to his conversation with the air traffic controller, which he described as “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited. He just said that to me, and separately: ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.’”
As of right now, United Airlines is offering customers free ticket changes to “passengers with travel plans to or from Newark between May 6 to 17, 2025.”
But if you’re in the New York/New Jersey area, your best bet is to fly out of JFK or LaGuardia.
Two decades since it took over the global charts, Shakira and Wyclef Jean have reunited up for a special anniversary performance of “Hips Don’t Lie” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Appearing on the Tuesday (May 6) episode with guests […]
Almost two years on from their last tour of the country, Big Thief will be hitting the road for a newly-announced run of North American dates.
Dubbed the Somersault Slide 360 Tour, the 20-date run of shows will launch in Sacramento, CA on Sept. 17 and traverse the U.S. and Mexico over the next two months before wrapping up in Houston, TX on Nov. 7. These dates also include a previously-announced performance at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium in October.
The band have, however, made an effort to assuage the fears of fans who may worry about missing them on the upcoming trek. “Somersault Slide 360 Tour will continue into 2026, and these shows that have just been announced are the first of more to come,” they explained. “Keep those antennas at a clear diagonal.”
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The tour will be Big Thief’s first run of American shows since 2023 when they were supporting their fifth album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, released the year prior. The record was their biggest commercial success to date, peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard 200 and receiving a Grammy nomination for best alternative album, and best alternative music performance for second single, “Certainty.”
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Big Thief released a pair of singles in 2023, and in July 2024, the group announced the departure of bassist Max Oleartchik, citing “interpersonal reasons” for his exit. In February, Big Thief also unveiled a new L.A. wildfires benefit EP, with Passional Relations collecting some of their “favorite unreleased songs” to aid relief for those impacted by the fires in Los Angeles.
In the time between studio releases, vocalist and guitarist Adrianne Lenker would release her Bright Future album in 2024, with recordings from the accompanying tour appearing on the recently-released Live at Revolution Hall album. On Friday (May 2), drummer James Krivchenia released the album Performing Belief.
Big Thief – 2025 Somersault Slide 360 Tour Dates
Sept. 17 – Channel 24, Sacramento, CASept. 19 – Edgefield, Troutdale, ORSept. 21 – Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical, Boise, IDSept. 22 – Twilight Concert Series, Salt Lake City, UTSept. 25 – The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CASept. 27 – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CASept. 28 – Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego, CAOct. 1 – Teatro Metropolitan, Mexico City, MXOct. 20 – State Theatre, Portland, MEOct. 21 – MGM Music Hall, Boston, MAOct. 22 – The Met, Philadelphia, PAOct. 24 – The Anthem, Washington, DCOct. 25 – Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NYOct. 29 – Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NCOct. 30 – The Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GAOct. 31 – Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LANov. 3 – Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OKNov. 4 – The Bomb Factory, Dallas, TXNov. 5 – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, Austin, TXNov. 7 – White Oak Music Hall Lawn, Houston, TX
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Getty Images /Charlamagne Tha God / Jonathan Majors
Charlamagne Tha God continues to make significant moves outside of radio. The Breakfast Club host is teaming up with John Wick producer Basil Iwanyk to launch a new production company.
Variety exclusively reports that Charlamagne Tha God and Iwanyk are teaming up to launch Southland Stories, a production company that amplifies southern voices.
The first project on Southland Stories‘ slate is a revenge thriller called True Threat starring Jonathan Majors. It is the actor’s first role since his 2023 conviction.
Per Variety:
“True Threat” is scheduled to begin production this summer. It’s one of several films in the pipeline as Southland Stories starts to ramp up its output. Directed and written by Gerard McMurray and produced by Alexis Garcia of Cat5, “True Threat” follows a special forces operative out for vengeance after his teenage son is killed by gang members. The movie is among Majors’ first roles since he was convicted in 2023 of third degree assault and harassment.
The radio host also spoke about the film, adding, “Films like ‘True Threat’ are exactly why we created Southland Stories. It’s vital to show that Black creatives can thrive across all genres. Gerard McMurray and Jonathan Majors are extremely talented individuals.”
Southland Stories will deliver films that focus on “real-life tales” and scripted narratives like True Threat. In a press release, Charlamagne, Iwanyk, and producer Karen Kinney said the production company was founded to “spotlight bold, authentic stories often overlooked in mainstream cinema.”
We shall see if picking a Jonathan Majors film to kick things off with will work out for Southland Stories.
