State Champ Radio TV/Film
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Jamie Foxx made his first public appearance on Monday night (Dec. 4) since a mysterious “medical complication” sent him to the hospital in April, telling the audience at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements that the incident was harrowing. “I couldn’t do that six months ago, […]
To some people, living elegantly just comes naturally. For those who have to work a little harder for it, Countess Luann de Lesseps is here to make it easier. The original Real Housewives of New York City star and cabaret entertainer is the latest Bravolebrity to team up with Uber to remix one of her own hits, reworking “Money Can’t Buy You Class” just in time for the holiday gifting season.
The “Money Can Buy You Class” remix and its music video arrived Tuesday (Dec. 5). While the original insisted that no, all the cash in the world wouldn’t buy you any elegance, 13 years later, the countess’ new take points out that you can purchase a little bit of it after all.
“Showing up to a holiday party with nothing much to offer?/ You think you’re enough, but honey, you’re not,” sings the star, who’s in a stunning silver Jovani jumpsuit worthy of Beyonce’s Renaissance show. “Running late? Busy month?/ That’s no excuse/ Keep it classy with a last-minute gift from Uber Eats.”
Need some ideas? The star has some suggestions of what you can get via Uber Eats. “Scented candle? That’s cool!/ Empty-handed? Uncool!/ Place an order that makes them say ‘Oh la la,’” she continues before jumping into the reworked chorus. “Money can buy you class/ It can now!”
Her remix of “Money Can’t Buy You Class” is the second Bravo collab with Uber. Vanderpump Rules‘ Scheana Shay updated her song “Good As Gold” for the ride and delivery service in May. That commercial also featured fellow Sur-vers Ariana Madix and Lala Kent, but Shay’s video isn’t the only one with star power. De Lesseps’ “Money Can Buy You Class” features not only fellow RHONY star and good friend Sonja Morgan (who pops up with a well-timed shrug to throw a little shade at a Brooklyn housewife), but a few Easter eggs for fans as well. (Peep the “Be Cool” license plate on the black Rolls Royce!)
“Sonja and I always have a GREAT time!” de Lesseps tells Billboard, noting that she “jumped” on the chance to work with Uber on remixing her song. “When I started discussing the remake and music video with Uber, we knew we wanted her to make a cameo. And I’m so glad she was able to join us. We had a blast on set, as we always do when she pops into my [touring show] Countess Cabaret!”
As for those Easter eggs? The countess credits the ride-share company. “The Uber team had a few really creative ideas and we worked together to sort of sprinkle them throughout — within the song lyrics as well as on set!” de Lesseps shares. “I of course had to wear Jovani, and my favorite Easter egg is the ‘Chateau C’est La Vie’ sign within the decor, an ode to one of my favorite songs.”
The star — whose Countess Cabaret show hits Alberta, Canada, on Dec. 15-16 — also wants to help make shopping easier and more fun during this busy time of year by sharing some classy, countess-approved ideas. “We pulled together lists of some of my favorite holiday gifts that you can find directly in the Uber Eats app,” she says, “including ‘Gifts for Real Housewives,’ ‘Gifts for Cabaret Queens,’ ‘Gifts for Ultimate Girls Trips’ and more.”
But what would she give someone who has everything, such as Andy Cohen, who helped develop the wildly successful Housewives franchise and hosts all the juicy tell-alls? “I’d send him a bottle of champagne that he can enjoy with Anderson Cooper during New Year’s Eve,” says de Lesseps, who competed as Hibiscus on the most recent season of The Masked Singer. (Cohen and Cooper — who host CNN’s popular new year’s countdown program — did not drink during the most recent special due to the network’s new ban on on-air drinking.)
As for what she’d have Uber deliver to former RHONY castmate Bethenny Frankel? “A bag of coal,” de Lesseps quips. “She’s already got the gift of gab.”
With this second remix of “Money Can’t Buy You Class” (she previously worked with VPR‘s James Kennedy on a dance-club-ready version), the star is aiming high for potential new collaborators in the future. “I’d kill to work with Stevie Nicks. I’m a big fan and love all of her music” de Lesseps tells Billboard. “Manifesting that for 2024!”
Until that collab happens, check out Luann de Lesseps “Money Can Buy You Class” remix with Uber Eats below:
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The new Apple TV+ documentary series John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial includes new eyewitness interviews with those who had a front-row seat to an unspeakable tragedy back in December 1980: the fatal shooting of John Lennon in New York City. One of those people was Mark Snyder, a cab driver who happened to pick […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. It’s time to return to Barbleland as the official Barbie screenplay is coming to paperback. Now, film enthusiasts can dive further […]
Beyoncé ruled the box office this weekend.
Her concert picture, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, opened in first place with $21 million in North American ticket sales, according to estimates from AMC Theatres Sunday (Dec. 3).
The post-Thanksgiving, early December box office is notoriously slow, but Renaissance defied the odds. Not accounting for inflation, it’s the first time a film has opened over $20 million on this weekend in 20 years (since The Last Samurai).
Beyoncé wrote, directed and produced Renaissance, which is focused on the tour for her Grammy-winning album. It debuted in 2,539 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, as well as 94 international territories, where it earned $6.4 million from 2,621 theaters.
“On behalf of AMC Theatres Distribution and the entire theatrical industry, we thank Beyoncé for bringing this incredible film directly to her fans,” said Elizabeth Frank, AMC Theatres executive vice president of worldwide programming, in a statement. “To see it resonate with fans and with film critics on a weekend that many in the industry typically neglect is a testament to her immense talent, not just as a performer, but as a producer and director.”
Though Renaissance did not come close to matching the $92.8 million debut of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in October, it’s still a very good start for a concert film. No one expected Renaissance to match The Eras Tour, which is wrapping up its theatrical run soon with over $250 million globally. Prior to Swift, the biggest concert film debuts (titles held by Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber for their 2008 and 2011 films) had not surpassed the unadjusted sum of $32 million.
The 39-city, 56-show Renaissance tour, which kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden in May and ended in Kansas City, Missouri in the fall, made over $500 million and attracted over 2.7 million concertgoers. Swift’s ongoing Eras Tour, with 151 dates, is expected to gross some $1.4 billion.
Both Beyoncé and Swift chose to partner with AMC Theatres to distribute their films, as opposed to a traditional studio. Both superstars have been supportive of one another, making splashy appearances at the other’s premieres. Both had previously released films on Netflix (Miss Americana and Homecoming). And both are reported to be receiving at least 50% of ticket sales.
Movie tickets to the show were more expensive than average, around $23.32 versus Swift’s $20.78, according to data firm EntTelligence.
Critics and audiences gave Renaissance glowing reviews — it’s sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and got a coveted A+ CinemaScore from opening weekend audiences who were polled. EntTelligence also estimates that the audience, around 900,000 strong, skewed a little older than Swift’s.
Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes fell to second place in its third weekend with an estimated $14.5 million. The prequel has now earned over $121 million domestically.
Godzilla Minus One is expected to take third place on the North American charts. The well-reviewed Japanses blockbuster distributed by Toho International cost only $15 million to produce and has already earned $23 million in Japan. Toho’s 33rd Godzilla film is set in the aftermath of World War II, stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and was directed by Takashi Yamazaki.
Trolls Band Together landed in fourth place in its third weekend with $7.6 million, bringing its domestic total to $74.8 million.
Noah Kahan made his Saturday Night Live debut on Dec. 2, performing songs from his latest album, Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever). The Vermont-born singer-songwriter, who snagged a best new artist nominee at next year’s Grammys, opened with his Post Malone collaboration “Dial Drunk” and closed with his breakthrough song “Stick Season,” which […]
Mariska Hargitay recently introduced her new cat Karma to the world, and no one is more thrilled than Taylor Swift.
The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star shared a photo of her sweet pet on Instagram earlier this week. “Karma is a Cat @taylorswift Meet Karma. My Cat. #MeAndKarmaVibeLikeThat #AndIKeepMySideOfMyPawClean #KarmaIsACat,” Hargitay wrote, revealing the inspiration behind her cat’s name is, of course, a lyric from a song by Swift.
On the chorus of the Midnights track “Karma,” Swift sings, “Sweet like honey, karma is a cat purring in my lap ’cause it loves me.”
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On Saturday (Dec. 2), two days after Karma the cat made their debut on social media, Swift publicly shared her reaction to the kitty’s arrival.
“Are you serious?!!!! Nothing has ever come more full circle,” Swift wrote in the comments section of Hargitay’s post. “LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!”
Hargitay and Swift — who in 2014 named one of her own cats Olivia Benson after the actress’ starring role on SVU — have been connected for years.
After becoming friendly, Swift invited Hargitay to appear in 2015’s “Bad Blood” music video alongside Ellen Pompeo, whose Grey’s Anatomy character Meredith Grey inspired the name of Swift’s first cat in 2011. In June 2015, Hargitay walked the catwalk as one of Swift’s celebrity guests on the 1989 World Tour. More recently, Hargitay’s taken in more than one Eras Tour show and showed her support for the singer at the premiere of the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour film.
“She’s pure magic,” Hargitay told Entertainment Tonight in October. “There’s nothing she can’t do. It’s been so beautiful to reconnect to that innocence, you know? I think Taylor gives such a beautiful message to kids and unlocks these girls’ emotions.”
“I see how it affects my daughter, and she cries and just opens up like a flower,” Hargitay said of Swift’s impact. “And [I see] how meaningful it is, and I’m grateful to be part of it and watch that journey.”
“It’s been so beautiful [to see] how she gracefully walked through her journey and allowed herself to evolve and truly step into her power pose, her talent and all of her glory. And she’s got quite a bit of it … I think she is a magicmaker,” she added.
Swift released a remixed version of “Karma” featuring Ice Spice in May, giving the track a boost to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Beyoncé‘s new concert film is headed for a big opening weekend at the box office. The superstar singer’s Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé is likely to earn between between $22 and $24 million in its domestic debut, giving it the largest early December opening in two decades, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film’s distributor, […]
An appeals court upheld the disorderly conduct convictions Friday (Dec. 1) of actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lying about it to Chicago police.
Smollett, who appeared in the TV show Empire, challenged the role of a special prosecutor, jury selection, evidence and many other aspects of the case. But all were turned aside in a 2-1 opinion from the Illinois Appellate Court.
Smollett had reported to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two men wearing ski masks. The search for the attackers soon turned into an investigation of Smollett himself, leading to his arrest on charges he had orchestrated the whole thing.
Authorities said he paid two men whom he knew from work on Empire, which filmed in Chicago. Prosecutors said Smollett told the men what slurs to shout, and to yell that he was in “MAGA Country,” a reference to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign slogan.
A jury convicted Smollett in 2021 on five felony counts of disorderly conduct, a charge that can be filed in Illinois when a person lies to police.
He now will have to finish a 150-day stint in jail that was part of his sentence. Smollett spent just six days in jail while his appeal was pending.
Lawyers for Smollett, who is Black and gay, have publicly claimed that he was the target of a racist justice system and people playing politics.
“We are preparing to escalate this matter to the Supreme Court,” Smollett spokeswoman Holly Baird said, referring to Illinois’ highest court and also noting that the opinion at the appellate court wasn’t unanimous.
Appellate Justice Freddrenna Lyle would have thrown out the convictions. She said it was “fundamentally unfair” to appoint a special prosecutor and charge Smollett when he had already performed community service as part of a 2019 deal with Cook County prosecutors to close the case.
“It was common sense that Smollett was bargaining for a complete resolution of the matter, not simply a temporary one,” Lyle said.
Special prosecutor Dan Webb was appointed to look into why the case was dropped. A grand jury subsequently restored charges against Smollett in 2020, and Webb concluded there were “substantial abuses of discretion” in the state’s attorney office during the earlier round.
Smollett was not immune to a fresh round of charges, appellate Justices David Navarro and Mary Ellen Coghlan said in the majority opinion.
“The record does not contain any evidence that (prosecutors) agreed Smollett would not be further prosecuted in exchange for forfeiting his bond and performing community service,” they said.
Kelly Clarkson took the Eagles‘ classic “Desperado” to new heights on Friday’s (Dec. 1) episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. For her daily Kellyoke cover, Clarkson chose the title track from the band’s 1973 album, taking some creative liberties with the well-known melody and hitting some power notes much loftier than Don Henley’s original vocal. […]
