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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jun 27, 2016
June 27, 2016
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These days, BILLY JOEL is the ultimate Billy Joel tribute band, but on Friday night, he actually sat in with one. New York Newsday says Billy and his wife, ALEXIS RODERICK, went to see BIG SHOT at the Paramount Theater in Huntington on Long Island and Billy was invited up on the stage. He did three songs with the band including the JOE COCKER arrangement of THE BEATLES' "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Honky Tonk Women" by THE ROLLING STONES and his own, "You May Be Right." Actually, Billy had a reason to be at the show. Big Shot frontman and piano player MICHAEL DELGUIDICE is a guitarist in Billy's touring band.
FYI: Billy is getting up early this morning to hop on his Harley and join New York Governor ANDREW CUOMO on a breast cancer awarness motorcyle ride across the state, ending tonight in New Paltz. The governor will also sign legislatipn that will demand 210 hospitals expand the hours when mamograms are given and make sure insurance companies help pay for the exams. (Marino)Trendspotting:
The hottest emerging trend in footwear: dad shoes. You can blame (or thank) STEPH CURRY for kicking off the trend. His sneaker collaboration with Under Armour earlier this month took a beating because so many people thought they were styled so that only dads could be caught dead in them... Yeah! If your dad is awesome! The new RAF SIMONS-designed kicks for Adidas are in that same spirit. Mashable.com says the Ozweego 2 running sneakers have a 1990s throwback feel and come in off-white and navy-black. (Bartha)
Going Geek-dot-com /Caught in the Web:
When it comes to virtual reality, consumers aren't just interested in the gaming aspects. New Greenlight VR data indicates Americans are interested in a spectrum of virtual reality options including home design, education and even live events.
Findings from the 2016 Virtual Reality Consumer Adoption Report include:
--61 percent are interested/very interested in virtual gaming
--73 percent are interested in virtual tourism/travel
--63 percent are interested in virtual movies/videos
As to who is interested in virtual reality options, most (76 percent) 'high tech spenders' are interested in virtual travel/adventure, and 68 percent are interested in gaming options. (Kaye)Broadcast, cable and video news:
Ain't gonna happen: plans to auction off WHITNEY HOUSTON's Emmy statuette by Heritage Auctions have been tabled after the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences filed a lawsuit against the sale last week.
The Academy says if an artist dies, the heirs or successors are permitted to keep the statuette, but can't sell it. They claim that selling the Emmy --which Whitney won in 1986 for her performance in "Saving All My Love for You"-- would "undermine the prestige of the Emmy Award and tarnish the Television Academy's reputation."
So far, the judge in the case has issued a temporary restraining order which would block the sale until the suit is decided.Top-10 Funeral songs in England, ranked by English undertakers:
Ed's note: Might as well highlight this for your "death dedication" category...
10. "Seasons in the Sun," Terry Jacks
9. "Tears in Heaven," Eric Clapton
8. "Always on the Mind," Elvis Presley
7. "Stairway to Heaven," Led Zeppelin
6. "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," Monty Python
5. "Every Step You Take," Police
4. "Knocking on Heaven's Door," Bob Dylan
3. "My Way," Frank Sinatra
2. "Simply the Best," Tina Turner
1. "Candle in the Wind," Elton John -
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