The daily gossip: November 20, 2019
Lizzo tops this year's Grammy nominees, Marie Kondo opens an online store full of stuff that "sparks joy," and more
- 1. Lizzo tops this year's Grammy nominations list
- 2. Marie Kondo opens an online store full of stuff that 'sparks joy' for her
- 3. A Hollywood executive once suggested Julia Roberts could play Harriet Tubman
- 4. The guys making that CGI James Dean movie originally wanted CGI Elvis Presley
- 5. Al Pacino says he has a 'perverse' impulse to appear in bad movies
1. Lizzo tops this year's Grammy nominations list
Grammy nominations have dropped, and as expected, voters are 100 percent on board with Lizzo, who topped the list with eight nominations — just ahead of Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish, who scored six nominations apiece. The actual Grammy ceremony won't be held until January, which should give viewers plenty of time to catch up on the nominees from all 8,000 categories — so get hype to find out who will take home this year's trophy for Best Album Liner Notes!
2. Marie Kondo opens an online store full of stuff that 'sparks joy' for her
Have you followed Marie Kondo's advice and thrown out everything in your residence that doesn't spark joy? Great! Now it's time to fill your residence back up again — and as long as your shelves are bare, why not buy all that stuff directly from Marie Kondo's online store? And if you think it's a little hypocritical for the self-styled de-cluttering guru to sell you a bunch of overpriced junk, we're sure a sip from your $98 gem-infused water bottle will clear those bad vibes right up.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. A Hollywood executive once suggested Julia Roberts could play Harriet Tubman
Cynthia Erivo stars in Harriet, a based-on-a-true-story drama about the life of the legendary abolitionist Harriet Tubman — but 25 years ago, at least one Hollywood executive had a different star for a Tubman biopic in mind. Screenwriter and producer Gregory Allen Howard says that back in 1994, when he was pitching a Tubman-focused movie, one Hollywood executive proposed an unconventional choice for the lead role: Julia Roberts. When someone in that meeting raised, well, the most obvious objection to Julia Roberts playing Harriet Tubman, the executive replied, "It was so long ago. No one is going to know the difference" — a thesis that would surely have been put to the test by literally anyone who saw the movie.
4. The guys making that CGI James Dean movie originally wanted CGI Elvis Presley
What's worse than being the second choice for a starring role in a movie? Being the second choice for a starring role in a movie when the first choice is dead. The upcoming drama Finding Jack will feature a "new" James Dean performance via a CGI recreation and a voiceover soundalike — but originally, producers reportedly planned to fill the role with a CGI Elvis Presley. Unfortunately for the film's creative team, Presley's estate balked at the offer.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
5. Al Pacino says he has a 'perverse' impulse to appear in bad movies
Al Pacino is widely regarded as one of America's great living actors, but in recent years, that hasn't stopped him from appearing in movies like Gigli, Righteous Kill, and Jack and Jill, which offered audiences two Adam Sandler performances for the price of one. Why does Pacino sign up for such dreck? In a recent interview, Pacino admitted he has a "perverse" impulse to appear in bad films just to see if he can make them better. (Alas, they still don't give out an Oscar for Most Acceptable Part of a Piece of Garbage.)
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
-
Kamala Harris' 'pragmatic' plan for the economy
The Explainer Tax credits for manufacturing, small businesses, affordable housing
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
TV to watch in October, from 'Disclaimer' and 'The Franchise'
The Week Recommends An HBO comedy from the 'Veep' creator, a mystery from master filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón and a reboot of an '80s classic
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Is death a thing of the past?
Under The Radar Scientists discover multicellular life forms emerging from the cells of dead organisms, raising profound ethical questions
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The daily gossip: Chris Evans reportedly marries Alba Baptista, Drew Barrymore criticized for bringing show back amid writers strike, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Olivia Rodrigo's 'Guts' declared an 'instant classic,' Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis reportedly wrote letters of support for Danny Masterson, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Jimmy Fallon accused of erratic behavior at 'The Tonight Show,' Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Rolling Stones reveal first album of original material in 18 years, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas slam 'speculative narratives' about divorce, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Joe Jonas wears wedding ring after Sophie Turner divorce reports, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner spotted kissing at Beyoncé show, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is coming to movie theaters, Adam Driver calls out Netflix and Amazon amid actors strike, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Ana de Armas fans' lawsuit over misleading 'Yesterday' trailer dismissed, Selena Gomez deletes post that may have broken actors' strike rules, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: HBO cancels controversial show 'The Idol,' 'Bachelorette' contestant Josh Seiter is alive after statement announced his death, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published