NBC now vetting songs chosen by ’Fallon’ band
NBC is now checking the songs the Roots play on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” after the band performed an off-color song during Michele Bachmann’s appearance on the show last month, the Associated Press reports.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of the Roots says now he has to “clear a lot of the song choices” with the network.
“It’s still a comedy show, so they promise not to step on my toes or that type of thing, but they definitely want to know the title of the song, the subject matter of the song, can it be seen as an insult?” he said.
When the Republican presidential candidate appeared on the Nov. 22 show, house band the Roots played a snippet of a 1985 Fishbone song called “Lyin’ Ass Bitch.” A day later, the Minnesota congresswoman received a letter from NBC’s vice president for late-night programming, Doug Vaughan; Mr. Fallon also apologized.
“It was kind of wrong for me to throw [NBC] under the bus without telling them what it was, so I understand from a business standpoint,” Questlove said.
The drummer of the Roots said he heard from members of Fishbone after the incident. The veteran rock band is the subject of a recent documentary, “Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone,” so for them, the controversy likely helped.
“They have a movie out so I guess for them at least the stars were aligned,” he said. “They’re one of my favorite bands, like I tip my hat to those guys.”
Occupy Wall Street protest shuts down ’SVU’ episode
A protest by about 100 Occupy Wall Street members in New York City shut down production of an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” according to the Associated Press.
The Daily News reported Friday that the protesters arrived around midnight at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan. The show was making an episode with an Occupy theme.
About 100 police officers appeared as the protesters roamed around the park, inspecting tents and signs built by the production company.
A protester from Brooklyn Heights, Drew Hornbein, said the movement is “not part of corporate TV America.”
The newspaper said a police officer with a bullhorn announced that the city had rescinded the film permit, which drew cheers.
Arrests were threatened, but the crowd dispersed and the set was dismantled.
NBC declined to comment.
Zimmer, Pharrell Williams to provide Oscar music
An Oscar-winning composer and Grammy-winning rapper will handle the music at the 84th Academy Awards.
Producers said Thursday that Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams will serve as the show’s music consultants, the Associated Press reports. Neither musician has worked on the Oscars before.
Mr. Zimmer won an Oscar for the original score for 1994’s “The Lion King.” The 54-year-old composer has another eight nominations for scoring films such as “Inception,” “Gladiator” and “Rain Man.”
Mr. Williams is a rapper and producer who has recorded with Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. The 38-year-old has won three Grammy Awards.
Oscar telecast producers Don Mischer and Brian Grazer called the pairing of Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Williams an exciting and prestigious collaboration.
The Academy Awards will be presented Feb. 26.
Duggar family matriarch suffers miscarriage
An Arkansas woman who stars on the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting” has suffered a miscarriage after announcing she was expecting her 20th child.
According to the Associated Press, Jim Bob Duggar said in a statement that he and his wife, Michelle, were told at a doctor’s appointment Thursday morning that she had miscarried. He said she is resting comfortably at home and asked for privacy.
Mrs. Duggar announced last month she was expecting her 20th child in April and had said she wasn’t worried, despite the premature birth of their youngest child two years ago. She said last month that she had made it through the first trimester safely.
The reality show chronicles the family’s home life. The couple have said they don’t use birth control.
Andie MacDowell’s daughter to be Miss Golden Globe
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has named its newest Miss Golden Globe.
Rainey Qualley was introduced as the 2012 honoree at a news conference Thursday at Cecconi’s restaurant in West Hollywood, the Associated Press reports. She’s the daughter of Golden Globe-nominated actress Andie MacDowell.
Miss Golden Globe is traditionally the child of a celebrity who is invited to assist during the awards ceremony. Previous honorees include Rumer Willis, Laura Dern, Melanie Griffith and Joely Fisher.
The 21-year-old Miss Qualley is an aspiring actress and musician.
The announcement was to be followed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s starry Night of Firsts party, held to celebrate the start of Hollywood’s awards season.
Nominations for the 69th Golden Globe Awards will be announced next week. The ceremony is slated for Jan. 15.
• Compiled from Web and wire service reports.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.