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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Mar 14, 2014
March 14, 2014
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He's dead, Jim:
We now live in a worldwithout voiceover legend HAL DOUGLAS, whose distinctive baritone added drama to the movie trailers for everything from "Forrest Gump" to "Con Air." Douglas passed away Friday at age 89, due to complications from pancreatic cancer.
"In a world where..." was his signature phrase; when you heard a movie commercial with that line in it, it was more than likely one of Hal's. Douglas never thought he had a great voice. In a 2013 film about his career, he called it "throaty, chesty, a voice in need of clearing."
But that throaty voice earned him a place as one of the most sought-after narrators in the business, along with "voice of God" DON LaFONTAINE, who died in 2008.
Douglas's career spanned decades, and he continued to work until about two years ago.
And, as he proved in the trailer for JERRY SEINFELD's film "Comedian," Douglas never took the movie trailer clichés he helped popularize too seriously. (Maiman)Equal time:
Is Congress holy enough?
On the one-year anniversary of his ascension, POPE FRANCIS has been invited by House Speaker JOHN BOEHNER to address a joint session of Congress.
Normally, joint sessions are reserved for the president or visiting leaders, and this would probably be the first address by a religious leader. Francis is reportedly considering a trip to the U-S next year.
Boehner wants Francis to share his message of --quote-- "protection of the most vulnerable among us: the ailing, the disadvantaged, the unemployed, the impoverished, [and] the unborn."
Editor's note: In other words, all the people the Republican Party couldn't care less about.
--What is the difference between Republicans and Jesus? Jesus loves prostitutes AND tax collectors. (Maiman)On, off and way-off Broadway:
The Broadway musical, "Rocky," officially opened last night at the Winter Garden Theatre. The musical, which is produced by SYLVESTER STALLONE, had its premiere in Hamburg, Germany, where it's still playing.
ANDY KARL stars as Rocky Balboa in the Broadway version with MARGO SIEBERT as Adrian. TERENCE ARCHIE plays Apollo Creed, DAKIN MATTHEWS as Rocky's trainer, Mickey, and DANNY MASTROGIORGIO as Adrian's brother, Paulie.
This morning's review by the NY Times' critic, BEN BRANTLEY, says "while the official curtain time is 8 pm on most nights... the show doesn't really get started until 10:10 or so," referring to the climactic fight scene. As part of the staging, people sitting in the first couple of rows at the Winter Garden are escorted up into bleacher seats on stage to play the fight crowd.Stars and their movies:
That SETH MacFARLANE movie, "Ted," is now a video game.
ZYNGA, the folks who make online games for Facebook, including "Farmville" and poker, have just picked up a license to do a video game based on the movie. It's already available as part of its "Hit It Rich Slots" game, and is being developed as an app for iPhone and iPad.Grace notes:
LIL WAYNE has taken forever to release his new album, and now the rapper says "Tha Carter Five" will be his final offering. That's what he told MTV News. But, Weezy promised that he'll still do collaborations with other artists. "Tha Carter Five" is now scheduled to come out on May 5th. (Marino)
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