ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 16-17, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

This image released by Apple TV+ shows the cast of ‘Schmigadoon!,’ premiering Friday. (AP)

People Television

Remove dad: Spears ‘Schmigadoon!,’ a light and charming musical Meghan, Harry produce Old Broadway pizazz collides with 2021 a new animated series NEW YORK, July 15, (AP): behind during a group dance producer, says the show’s genius LOS ANGELES, July 15, (AP): Meghan and Prince A pair of modern-day hikers number. “No, no, that’s not OK! lies in reexamining strict post- Harry’s second Netfl ix project will focus on a 12-year- step out of the woods and into a Unless it’s consensual,” says World War II gender, sexual and old girl’s adventures in an animated series. town where they are greeted by Strong’s character. racial roles without the show be- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell something strange: Suspiciously Cinco Paul, who co-created Productions announced Wednesday that the working ing overtly political, not to men- title “Pearl” will be developed for the streaming ser- friendly residents who burst into and co-wrote the series with Ken tion offering plenty of songs and vice. Meghan created the idea of the family-focused a high-kicking, knee-slapping Daurio, said he adores old musi- dancing. animated series, which was inspired by a variety of group welcome song. cals but also knows that they’re “It’s a very light touch,” he women from history. “What is this and why is music often highly problematic in parts said. “We’re in a very heavy- Meghan will serve as an executive producer with coming from everywhere?” says and wanted to explore the ten- handed time right now, where fi lmmaker David Furnish, who worked as a producer one of the hikers in disbelief. sion. on “Rocketman” and “Sherlock Gnomes.” Sharon Stone poses for photogra- people feel making a point about “Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on phers upon arrival at the premiere “It’s like if ‘The Walking Dead’ “I would be thrilled to be stuck justice is kind of enough. And a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome of the fi lm ‘The Story of My Wife’ at was also ‘Glee.’” in a musical town,” he says. you go ‘Well, no. You also have life’s daily challenges,” Meghan said in a statement. the 74th international fi lm festival, So starts the charming, genre- “But I also am hyper-aware of to entertain.’” “I’m thrilled that Archewell Cannes, southern France, Wednes- bending Apple TV+ comedy the things that are just not great The show’s writers also in- Productions, partnered with day, July 14. (AP) “Schmigadoon!,” which com- about them. And so I wanted the the powerhouse platform of clude Allison Silverman, Julie Netfl ix, and these incredible bines with Keegan- show to point those things out Klausner, Kate Gersten and producers, will together bring Michael Key and fi nds hilarity in and have fun with them.” Bowen Yang. Paul jokes he you this new animated series, the clash between modern sen- The creators managed to con- picked people who “maybe which celebrates extraordinary sibilities and classic Broadway vince a bushel of Broadway have a bit more of a poison pen women throughout history.” musical theater norms. A-listers to fly to Vancouver The couple recently signed than I would.” But “ultimately, “This is not a show that is only and quarantine for two weeks all of us in the room loved mu- a deal to create content for for musical audiences. I love Netfl ix and are creating con- before joining the show, in- sicals so much and that came tent podcasts for Spotify. The that it is for musical audiences cluding Alan Cumming, Kristin so much, but I think it’s special through.” fi rst project with Netfl ix will Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Jane The songs are also by Paul, Meghan center on the Invictus Games, and I think it’s genuinely very Krakowski, Ann Harada and who re-immersed himself in which gives sick and injured military personnel and funny and I think it’s genuinely Ariana DeBose. veterans the opportunity to compete in sports. the songwriting of composers Cohen Joe Exotic very sweet,” says Strong. “In that The couple have been detangling their lives from way, I think it’s kind of can be Relationship like Frank Loesser and Richard the British royal family and are living in California. Rodgers. But he initially didn’t ❑ ❑ ❑ for everybody.” Cumming plays the top-hatted Variety The town of Schmigadoon is mayor, Chenoweth is a sour Bi- like what came out, calling the A judge allowed Britney Spears to hire an attor- stuck in the overly cheery Tech- ble-thumper, Trevit is a rapscal- fi rst batch lazy. ney of her choosing at a hearing Wednesday in which lion carnival worker and Martin “I needed to be harder on my- she broke down in tears after describing the “cruelty” nicolor age, where two hotel BOSTON: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen has rooms cost $1 — unmarried cou- Short has a cameo as a lepre- self and to try to really embody of her conservatorship. sued a Massachusetts cannabis dispensary these songs, emulate them in a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny he says used an image of his character Bo- ples should never sleep in one chaun. The backpacking couple approved Spears hiring former federal prosecutor rat on a billboard without his permission, bed, of course — and residents learn they can’t leave the magi- real and a really authentic way,” Mathew Rosengart, who called on Spears’ father to according to documents fi led in US District suddenly sing about corn pud- cal town until they fi nd true love, he said. The goal was to “sound immediately resign as her conservator. Court in Boston. ding to the astonishment of the putting a strain on their already like they were from an undis- “The question remains, why is he involved,” Rosen- The billboard for Somerset-based Solar covered Rodgers and Hammer- gart said outside the courthouse. Therapeutics Inc showed Baron Cohen strangers. “Oh no. It’s a song. crumbling relationship. Britney Spears, taking part in the hearing by phone, posing as Borat with two thumbs up and You just started another song,” The title is a joke on another stein musical that fi nally came to told the judge she approved of Rosengart after several the words “It’s nice!” — one of Borat’s Key’s character exclaims to his village unaffected by time from light.” conversations with him. She then asked to address the catchphrases. partner at one point. the splashy Broadway musical Strong is still laughing about court, but asked that the courtroom be cleared. “By use of the billboard, the defendants them. “I think singing about corn falsely have conveyed to the public that Mr Behavior typical in apple- “” and it skewers such As Rosengart began to argue for a private hearing, cheeked musicals from the 1940s escapist and naïve shows like pudding is ridiculous,” she says. Spears interrupted him to say “I can talk with it open.” Baron Cohen has endorsed their products “My dad needs to be removed today,” she said, add- and is affi liated with their business,” ac- and ’50s is skewered, like when “Seven Brides for Seven Broth- “And then girls and the boys split cording to the complaint fi led Monday. “To one resident fl ips his mate over ers” and “Hello, Dolly!” up and dance. It’s just so ridicu- ing that she would like to see him charged with abus- the contrary, Mr Baron Cohen never has ing his position. used cannabis in his life. He never would and gives her a smack on her , an executive lous.” She spoke so rapidly she was at times diffi cult for participate in an advertising campaign for the court reporter and the dozens of media members in cannabis, for any amount of money.” the courtroom to understand. The billboard along a Massachusetts Denver found that the trial court wrongly The panel agreed with Maldonado- under 22 years and 27 years in prison. The She said she wanted the conservatorship to end interstate highway was taken down in treated those two convictions separately in Passage that the court should have treated court ordered the trial court to re-sentence immediately but not if it required going through any April, three days after Baron Cohen’s at- calculating his prison term under sentenc- them as one conviction at sentencing Maldonado-Passage. more “stupid” evaluations. She said she did not want torneys sent a cease-and-desist order to the ing guidelines. because they both involved the same It’s possible that Maldonado-Passage another opportunity for “people to question my intel- dispensary, according to the suit. The blond mullet-wearing zookeeper, goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue could receive an even lower sentence than ligence for the millionth time.” “Mr Baron Cohen is highly protective known for his expletive-laden rants on You- sanctuary for big cats in Florida. Accord- the range cited in the ruling because the She described being denied things as basic as cof- of his image and persona, and those of Tube and a failed 2018 Oklahoma guberna- ing to the ruling, the court should have court has to consider other factors too, his fee, her driver’s license and her “hair vitamins” by the his characters. Mr Baron Cohen is very torial campaign, was prominently featured calculated his advisory sentencing range appeals attorney, Brandon Sample, said. conservatorship. careful with the manner in which he uses in the popular Netfl ix documentary “Tiger to be between 17-1/2 years and just under Meanwhile, another attorney represent- “If this is not abuse, I don’t know what is,” Spears his persona and his characters to interact King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.” 22 years in prison, rather than between just ing Maldonado-Passage, John M. Phillips, with his fans and the general public,” the hinted at the possibility of seeking a new trial, said. saying in a statement he would be fi ling mo- She recalled that “I thought they were trying to kill complaint says. Baron Cohen and his California-based tions citing previously undisclosed and newly me” in the early years of the conservatorship as she discovered evidence in the case as well as was being overworked and constantly examined. Please You Can Touch LLC are seeking $9 million in damages. examples of government misconduct. She began to sob as she talked about taking com- An attorney for Solar Therapeutics said “People should know what they saw on fort in a therapy dog when she felt abandoned by her he was aware of the suit. television isn’t the full truth. It isn’t even family. “Upon receipt of the cease-and-desist the tip of the iceberg. It was snowfl akes on James Spears would not be stepping down as letter from Mr Cohen’s legal counsel Solar the tip of the iceberg, largely manufactured Rosengart challenged, his attorney Vivan Thoreen immediately requested that the sign com- by those who wanted to see Joe Exotic in said in court, adding that he has only ever had his pany remove the billboard in question,” jail for their own benefi t,” he said. daughter’s best interests in mind. Nicholas Hemond said in an emailed state- Maldonado-Passage, who has main- Thoreen said Britney Spears had many inaccurate ment. “As there is an active case before the tained his innocence, was also sentenced beliefs, among them that “her father is responsible for court, we have no further comment at this for killing fi ve tigers, selling tiger cubs and all the bad things that have happened to her.” time.” (AP) falsifying wildlife records. “Whether it’s misinformation, lack of correction, ❑ ❑ ❑ His supporters were disappointed that or being wrongly advised, I don’t know,” Thoreen former President Donald Trump failed to said. DENVER: A federal appeals court ruled issue him a pardon before leaving offi ce. Wednesday that “Tiger King” Joe Exotic They were so confi dent in his chances that Thoreen emphasized that for nearly two years should get a shorter prison sentence for his they had readied a celebratory limousine James Spears has had control only over his daughter’s role in a murder-for-hire plot and violating and a hair and wardrobe team to whisk him money, ceding power over her life choices to a court- federal wildlife laws. away from prison. appointed professional, Jodi Montgomery. Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph In his pardon application, Maldonado- Thoreen argued that an evidentiary hearing was Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced in Passage’s attorneys argued that he was necessary to look into the allegations that Britney January 2020 to 22 years in federal prison “railroaded and betrayed” by others and Spears made at the June 23 hearing, including that she after being convicted of trying to hire two said “he will likely die in prison” because was being forced to take medications and use an intra- different men to kill animal rights activist Mercedes Kilmer, (from left), Jack Kilmer, director Leo Scott and director Ting of health concerns. He is serving his sen- uterine device for birth control. Carole Baskin. A three-judge panel for the Poo pose for photographers at a photo call for the fi lm ‘Val’ during the 74th tence at a medical prison in Fort Worth, US Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in international fi lm festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, July 7. (AP) Texas. (AP)