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Academy Awards – “Moonlight” Wins Best Picture

OMG – my pick for “Best Picture” at the Oscars tonight won in a surprise upset.

Initially, Academy Award winners Warren Beaty and Faye Dunaway announced La La Land as the winner, but it appears they were handed the “Best Actress” envelope that named Emma Stone as “Best Actress.”

Warren Beatty was confused looking at the envelope. Showing it to Faye Dunaway she saw La La Land, and so read that title.

But in the middle of acceptance speeches, it became clear the true winner of the “Best Picture” title was Moonlight.

I’m over the moon. This small, indie pic chronicling a young gay African-American boy’s coming-of-age story was clearly an underdog in the Oscar race. I never in my dreams this gorgeous film would win “Best Picture.”

In the end, Moonlight won a total of three Oscars – Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali. Watch Team Moonlight in the press room moments after the win, and the trailer for the film, below.

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NY Times Exec Editor: “We’re Not Failing At All”

Dean Baquet, Executive Editor of the New York Times, spoke with CNN host Brian Stelter about Donald Trump’s assertions that the venerable newspaper is “failing.”

Via Mediaite:

After host Brian Stelter noted that Trump has tried to get the nickname to stick by using the term “failing” 53 times on Twitter to describe the Times, he asked Baquet what the facts were. “We’re not failing at all,” the editor responded. “Our digital subscriptions are going through the roof. Even print subscriptions are up. We’re a profitable company.”

He then added that this was an “effort by this administration to minimize the press.” Baquet further explained that the president’s tweets are also designed to minimize other institutions that are there to hold him accountable. “I think that’s dangerous,” he said.

Regarding the use of anonymous sources, Baquet said, “I always know who the sources are for these stories. That’s why I’m so confident pushing back at the Trump administration when they criticize the stories.”

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Bill Paxton (Titanic, Big Love) Passes Away At 61

Bill Paxton in Titanic

Bill Paxton, whose major feature films include Aliens, Titanic and Twister,  plus the HBO hit series “Big Love,” has died from complications following a surgical procedure. He was 61.

From Variety:

With a Texas twang and grizzled visage, Paxton often found himself playing military men and cowboys. He was closely associated with James Cameron, playing an ill-fated technician in “Aliens” for the filmmakers, as well as a venal car deal in “True Lives” and a treasure hunter in “Titanic.”

Paxton anchored a few films, portraying a tornado-chasing scientist in the box office smash “Twister” (1996), and a wildlife refuge director in the flop, “Might Joe Young” (1998). In most movies, Paxton cut a morally upright figure, the character actor equivalent of a Kevin Costner or Gary Cooper. But he earned the best reviews of his career for roles that upended his persona. He was gripping as a family man trying to hide stolen money in Sam Raimi’s “A Simple Plan” (1998), and similarly effective playing against type as an ethically compromised lawman in Carl Franklin’s “One False Move” (1992).

A representative for his family released a statement asking for privacy and saying, “A loving husband and father, Bill began his career in Hollywood working on films in the art department and went on to have an illustrious career spanning four decades as a beloved and prolific actor and filmmaker. Bill’s passion for the arts was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth and tireless energy were undeniable. ”

Paxton was currently working on the CBS series Training Day.

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Moonlight Wins 6 Independent Spirit Awards

The Barry Jenkins  drama Moonlight, up for Best Picture and a number of other categories at tonight’s Oscars, took home six Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday.

The coming-of-age flick picked up 6 awards: Best Film, Director (Barry Jenkins), Screenplay (Barry Jenkins, Story By Tarell Alvin McCraney), Cinematograpy (James Paxton), Editing (Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders), and the Robert Altman award (for best cast/casting).

Moonlight was my choice for Best Film of 2016. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can rent it on iTunes here.

Full list of this year’s winners here.

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The Randy Report Podcast – Ed Dixon “Georgie: My Adventures With George Rose”

Hit play below to listen this weekend’s The Randy Report podcast, complete with snazzy new theme music :).

You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes for free. Great for listening during commutes.

This week’s stories:

• Broadway veteran Ed Dixon’s latest play, Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose, recently opened in New York City to rave reviews (The Huffington Post – “Georgie is a masterpiece!”). Ed joins me to talk about the background of the show and it’s genesis to becoming the toast of the town.

• The Utah state legislature has advanced a bill that would make life more difficult for HIV+ people.

• The Trump administration says bathroom rights for transgender students is a “state’s rights issue.”

• British race car driver Danny Watts becomes the highest-profile European driver to come out so far.

• Professional provocateur and former “alt-right” darling, Milo Yiannopolous, had a very bad week.

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Former Secretary Of Labor Tom Perez Becomes New Democratic National Committee Chairman

Former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee this afternoon in Atlanta, by a vote of 235-200 narrowly beat Rep. Keith Ellison.

Ellison was the overwhelming favorite of Bernie Sanders supporters, who promised to leave the Democratic party if their guy didn’t prevail.

In a class-act move, Perez’s first act as DNC chair was to nominate Ellison as Deputy Chair of DNC.

So, our chair is Latino, and our Deputy Chair is Muslim. #Diversity

Past Dem presidents Obama and Clinton issued their support:

And then there was this exchange:

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Trump Chickens Out On This Year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Wow. Talk about thin skin.

Clearly the Trumpster, in a big departure from past presidents, decided he couldn’t take the good-natured ribbing from the press.

OR – he wouldn’t be able to stand up and deliver his own humorous remarks without failing.

The last time a sitting president did not attend was in 1981, when Reagan was a no-show. Of course, it was shortly after he had been shot, so he certainly had a good reason.

Before that, Richard Nixon was the last to just “no-show” and that was in 1972. And, like Trump, he had a very tumultuous relationship with the press.

From The Hill:

The dinner honors journalists who cover the White House and awards scholarships to aspiring reporters.

The White House Correspondents’ Association, which organizes the annual dinner, typically invites the president and members of his staff. A comedian is brought in to roast the commander in chief, who then delivers lighthearted remarks.

Trump attended the dinner in 2011, where he was repeatedly mocked and teased by then-President Obama. Trump chose to skip the dinner during the 2016 presidential campaign, despite receiving a number of invites from the media.

Past dinners have attracted celebrities and athletes from outside of Washington. The association hosted the first dinner in 1921.

Bloomberg L.P., who hosts a high-profile after-party, pulled the plug on the event. Vanity Fair, who usually partners with Bloomberg in throwing the party, announced earlier this month that it would not participate.

And the New Yorker, the magazine that hosts the dinner’s kickoff party beforehand, cancelled its event earlier this month.

CNN and MSNBC were also reportedly deliberating whether it would pull out of the annual dinner.

While most presidents have issues with the media, they rise above. President Obama was particularly funny delivering prepared jokes at the annual event during his 8 years in the White House.

The White House Correspondents’ Association issued this statement: