Republicans want NBC, CNN to pull Clinton programs Associated Press

Republicans want NBC, CNN to pull Clinton programs 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican National Committee charged Monday that NBC and CNN are promoting a potential presidential candidacy by Hillary Rodham Clinton, threatening to blackball them from future GOP primary debates if they air upcoming programs on the former secretary of state.

RNC chairman Reince Priebus called a planned NBC miniseries on Clinton and a CNN documentary on the first lady an "extended commercial" for a future Clinton presidential campaign. In separate letters to the networks, he urged them to cancel "this political ad masquerading as an unbiased production."

Clinton has not yet said whether she'll run for president again in 2016 but her future remains the subject of wide speculation in political circles and beyond. The primary debates typically provide a ratings boost for the networks and are highly-coveted as the presidential campaign unfolds.

In making the charge, the RNC was raising a common complaint among Republican activists that news and entertainment industries favor Democratic candidates. Republicans have also used a potential Clinton campaign as a fundraising tool in recent months as both parties begin to assess the crop of candidates to succeed President Barack Obama.
CNN Films is planning a feature-length documentary film on the former first lady, looking at her professional and personal life. It will be led by Oscar-winning director and producer Charles Ferguson and is expected to air in 2014.
NBC has announced a miniseries called "Hillary," starring actress Diane Lane. No air date has been announced but it is timed to be released before the 2016 presidential election. NBC has said the four-hour miniseries will follow Clinton's life and career from 1998 to the present.
Richard Licata, an NBC Entertainment spokesman, declined comment on the request and referred calls to NBC News, which said in a statement that it "is completely independent of NBC Entertainment and has no involvement in this project."
CNN said in a statement that "instead of making premature decisions about a project that is in the very early stages of development and months from completion, we would encourage the members of the Republican National Committee to reserve judgment until they know more."
"Should they decide not to participate in debates on CNN, we would find it curious, as limiting their debate participation seems to be the ultimate disservice to voters," CNN said.
In the letters, Priebus said the RNC would refuse to partner with the two networks on future Republican primary debates or sanction any debates which CNN or NBC may sponsor if they continued with their Clinton programs. Unless the networks comply, he plans to push for the sanctions at an RNC meeting in Boston beginning on Aug. 14.
GOP leaders in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina said they supported the request.
Since Mitt Romney's loss to Obama in last year's elections, Republicans have pushed to limit the number of primary debates. A large field of Republicans participated in about 20 debates in 2011 and 2012 and some party leaders argued that it hurt their ability to stay unified against Obama. An audit by the RNC released earlier this year called for about 10 to 12 primary debates during the 2016 campaign, with the first occurring no earlier than Sept. 1, 2015.
If NBC and CNN were excluded from sponsoring debates, it could help the RNC meet its recommendation.
The GOP request also shines a spotlight on the tricky nature of television news and how the entertainment wing of a network can cause headaches for its separate news division. CNN Films is a unit of CNN that was started last year to develop feature-length documentaries to be aired both on television and in movie theaters. CNN, part of Time Warner Inc., has said it also will air the Clinton documentary in theaters.

NBC Entertainment is separate from NBC News but both are part of NBCUniversal, which Comcast purchased from General Electric in 2011. In the letter, Priebus noted that executives and employees of Philadelphia-based Comcast have made large financial contributions to the campaigns of Obama and Clinton in the past.

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AP Television Writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report.

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Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Ken_Thomas

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MTN Project Fame’s unbeatable milestone in UK, US, Canada and Africa

One would be right to affirm that consistency, creativity and professionalism have been the hallmark of the ongoing MTN Project Fame 7.0. Little wonder why the TV broadcast and online channels of the show have gathered a huge global followership in such a short span.  About a week ago, the cumulative views on YouTube hit a stunning figure of 4.7 million. A breakdown of the statistics shows that 1.7 million was recorded this season, with a large chunk of the traffic coming from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

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Lagos Comic Con 2014, ‘Integrating cultures through creativity and arts’

The Lagos Comic Con, Africa’s first and only comic convention is set to host the crème de la crème of the creative and entertainment industry at this year’s edition. The event has grown from just an industry event to one that accommodates all things creative in Visual arts, animation, gaming, technology, music and film.

The event in its third edition promises to grow bigger every year with greater participation of brands and enthusiasts from home and abroad. With the support of corporate organisation’s like Nigeria’s number one instant noodle, Indomie Instant Noodle who are our Major Sponsor for 2014, WACOM NIGERIA, EASY TAXI, Cytech, Iread Africa and many more, this year’s event will offer more excitement and lots of prizes for competitions within the event.

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Topic: Photos from imprisoned Ex-Gov James Ibori's 55th birthday party

Topic: Photos from imprisoned Ex-Gov James Ibori's 55th birthday party

He may be in a UK prison serving time for money laundering but that didn't stop his 55th birthday party from taking place yesterday Sunday July 4th. It was a gathering of the who is who in Delta state as family, friends, political associates, traditional rulers and captains of industries gathered to celebrate the 55th birthday ceremony of the former Delta State governor in his country home Oghara. Continue..

click click HERE  for more gist
check out more entertainment gist HERE

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'She degraded an icon!' Foam finger inventor Steve Chmelar's anger as Miley Cyrus 'misrepresents' his creation

'She degraded an icon!' Foam finger inventor Steve Chmelar's anger as Miley Cyrus 'misrepresents' his creation 
He is certainly the type of person who likes to point the finger.
So no wonder jumbo foam hand inventor Steve Chmelar has spoken out to slate the Miley Cyrus for 'degrading' his creation during her excruciating performance at the MTV VMAs on Sunday.
The visionary was shocked when he saw how the 20-year-old popstrel phallically used the sponge device during her embarrassing turn opposite Robin Thicke at the awards ceremony.

Foaming at the mouth: Angry foam hand inventor Steve Chmelar has accused Miley Cyrus of degrading his creation

The genius, who created the iconic object to support his school's basketball team, told Fox: 'For people that like that kind of entertainment, I'm sure that it met their needs.
'If I had a choice between Julie Andrews singing The Sound of Music and Miley Cyrus doing Can't Stop, I'd go the Julie Andrews route, but everyone has their choice and their decision.'
Steve was also disappointed her vulgar antics during the duo's performance of Blurred Lines subverted the original wholesome purpose of his invention.
He said: 'I would say that it certainly misrepresented its intent to encourage team support.
'She took an honorable icon that is seen in sporting venues everywhere and degraded it. 
'Fortunately, the foam finger has been around long enough that it will survive this incident. 

Pointing the finger: It is understandable a man of Steve's intelligence would not be pleased with Miley's antics

'As for Miley Cyrus, let's hope she can outlive this event and also survive.'
While fashion designer Lisa Katnic lays claim to the version Miley used, it was actually Steve who first created the created the original 'No. 1 hand' as a way to support his high school basketball team at the Iowa state championships in 1971 when he was just 16.
He made it his parent's garage in Ottumwa out of galvanized hardware cloth, paper mache, spray paint and a red marker over the course of a few days.
Several years after Steve created the original, Geral Fauss started selling the foam version of his design at the 1978 Cotton Bowl game.
The 59-year-old, who now works as a building supply salesman, said: 'I wish I could feel the responsibility weighing down my pockets. I've not gained a dime from any royalties or anything like that.
'But it's just a matter of satisfaction. It was fun to do it and create it, and it's certainly rewarding to see what it's become and the variations of it.'

Visionary: The world of sports spectating would not the be the same without Steve's genius invention

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Not AGAIN Miley! Try hard Cyrus flashes her breasts, grabs her crotch and shows off her rear in new raunchy promo photos for new album Bangerz

Not AGAIN Miley! Try hard Cyrus flashes her breasts, grabs her crotch and shows off her rear in new raunchy promo photos for new album Bangerz 
With her twerking dance moves, raunchy image and flesh flashing antics, Miley Cyrus is clearly determined to move away from her wholesome Disney Hannah Montana image.
So it's unsurprising that a new set of promotional photographs for the singer's new album Bangerz show the star yet again trying rather too hard to ramp up the sex factor. 
The 20-year-old, who has taken to copying Madonna and Rihanna's favoured crotch grabbing move, tries her hand at it again in one shot, where she makes the lewd gesture in a pair of  PVC black and white checked trousers and a white crop top, in front of a neon Bangerz sign.

Topless: Miley's modesty is only just protected by braces and a smattering of red embroidery in one picture which features her holding balloons

Another shot combines the child-like act of holding colourful party balloons with a risqué outfit of black trousers with braces and well positioned red embroidery over a clear PVC top which only just protects her modesty .
More images include Miley looking back at the camera sporting a black coat which only just covers her seemingly naked posterior and a black and white shot featuring the top of a lacy white thong.
The new album is set for release in the U.S. on October 8 and includes Miley's hit single We Can't Stop and her new song Wrecking Ball.

She's at it again: Miley Cyrus grabs her crotch in a new promotional photograph for her forthcoming album Bangerz

Baring all: The 20-year-old wannabe shows off her pert posterior in a risque shot where she looks back at the camera wearing just a black coat

The release is getting a slew of publicity following Miley's much lambasted performance at Sunday night's MTV VMAs.
The former Hannah Montana star stripped down to a flesh-coloured latex bikini, simulated sex with a foam finger and grinded her behind into the crotch of 36-year-old Robin Thicke during his hit Blurred Lines at the awards ceremony.
On Monday, the Parents Television Council issued a statement in which executives called her performance 'sexually exploitative' and said it 'simply substituted talent with sex.'

One more brick in the wall: Miley pouts while showing off the top of her thong panties underneath a toned tummy

The performance drew criticism from media commentators, fellow celebrities and even the star's  friends.
Thicke's 66-year-old mother Gloria Loring, herself a veteran actress and singer, called Miley's moves 'misbegotten,' and certainly didn't enjoy watching her shake her rear in her son's face.
'I don't understand what Miley Cyrus is trying to do.I just don't understand. I think she's misbegotten in this attempt of hers. And I think it was not beneficial,' she told Yahoo OMG.
And Miley's friend Kelly Osbourne said on Monday's edition of E! show Fashion Police: 'Look, Miley's my friend and I love her, and I have her back no matter what, but as her friend I'm going to tell her - put your f***ing tongue in your mouth!'

Blooming shocking: Miley looks extremely wide eyed and young in another shot which features her holding a bunch of flowers in a dark jacket and trousers

All grown up: Miley sports bright red lipstick and heavy mascara in another sultry photograph

And Brooke Shields, who played Miley's mother in a few episodes of Hannah Montans called

She then expressed genuine concern, saying:  'I just want to know who's advising her, and why [the racy display] is necessary.... [Our children] can't watch that.

'I feel like it's a bit desperate,' she saidAnd Brooke Shields, who played Miley's mother in a few episodes of Hannah Montana, called the

Get ready to shock: Milley got fans talking with her lewd performance with a foam finger at the VMAs on Sunday

Brooke Shields, who played Miley's mother in a few episodes of Hannah Montana, called the display 'a bit desperate'.
She told The Today Show: 'I just want to know who's advising her, and why [the racy display] is necessary.... [Our children] can't watch that.'
Bill Mayer likened the performance to a specific type of evening entertainment, tweeting:  'Watching VMAs. Haven't been in a strip club in a while but good to see nothing has changed.'
And Melissa Rycroft suggested she was not of the right age to appreciate Miley's moves.
'I feel I'm too old to appreciate the (ahem) new Miley Cyrus... feeling slightly violated,' she wrote.
Nick Cannon weighed in to the fray, tweeting: 'Remind me to never let my kids into showbiz... thanks.'
Kelly Clarkson even earned a rebuke from one of Miley's friends after she wrote: '2  words... pitchystrippers,' on her Twitter account after the show, seemingly referring to Miley and Lady Gaga's performances.
Miley for her part, has been busy defending herself via Twitter, citing the huge number of tweets which occurred during her performance.
'Smilers! My VMA performance had 306.000 tweets per minute. That's more than the blackout or Superbowl! #fact,' she wrote in one post.
She also retweeted two quotes from a review by Rolling Stone magazine: 'Miley was the one star in the room who truly understood what the MTV Video Music Awards are all about!,' she quoted in one post.
'Miley stole the night, which is why the nation is still in recovery today. Thanks, Miley - Rolling Stone,' she posted in another.
Meanwhile, Miley's fiancé Liam Hemsworth has also been drawn into the furore.

According to website Radar Online, friends of the Australian actor are worried that Miley’s inappropriate actions will have a negative effect on his flourishing career. 

One unnamed friend told the website: 'Liam really does care about Miley, but her racy new look and sort of ghetto attitude isn’t exactly what he signed up for.'
The source also added: 'It’s not just Liam that Miley is pushing away…his entire team is urging him to part ways with her because she’s nothing but negative for his reputation and career.'

 

Celebrity blogger talks about Miley Cyrus and fatherhood

A simpler look: Miley shows off her natural beauty in a less made-up, soft focussed shot

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Get Ur bustiers &canes ready, a Burlesque Soiree is coming to town

The Amarelis Burlesque Soiree,is happening from 3-8pm on the 15th of December 2013 @ the Ember Creek, 32 Awolowo Rd Ikoyi, Lagos...

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Do you guys agree that D'banj & Don Jazzy built the ent. industry we have today?

Don Jazzy was a year older yesterday and from D'banj's tweet, the two former Mo'Hits execs hung out. D'banj also made an interesting comment that I want to make a topic of discussion. D'banj tweeted that hanging out with Don Jazzy made him remember what they built, 'The Industry today'.

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Topic: Ebenezer Obey Battles Parkinson's disease...

Topic: Ebenezer Obey Battles Parkinson's disease...

Ebenezer Obe and Chocolate city rapper M.I perform together on stage at the launch of Ebony Live

Oh dear! There are reports that the legendary Ebenezer Obey might be suffering from Parkinson' disease -
– a nervous system disorder that causes tremors and difficulty with walking.
 It all began as insinuations but his performance at the Ebony Life TV launch, with rapper M.I, showed one shocking thing: that the musician is battling health issues.
Here's how NET reports it:
"It was conspicuous he had difficulty seeing and walking alone and, many mouths opened for two reasons as he and M.I spent their time on stage.
There had been rumours, since his joint concert with on Sunday May 27 that Obey was battling Parkinson’s  Although nothing was confirmed officially, and Obey vehemently denied reports he was battling ill health, many sources told NET ‘his condition is a well known fact and he’s been managing it well for years, with the help of family members and friends.
The reports went viral shortly after his wife died in 2011. But Obey insisted he was more than okay. He told The Punch ‘It has become a regular practice every month to spread sinister rumours about me. But, why me? One month, they will say this has happened to Obey; another month, they say that has happened to Obey. Yet, I am fine. The Lord I’m serving is a good God and He is good to me. I’m fine and well’.
‘I don’t mind people writing about me, but I get disturbed when people just sit down and write anything that comes to their imagination and publish. They said the death of my wife had taken a toll on my health which was all speculation.’
We gathered he’s also had to undergo an operation in his eye – and those who saw him at the Ebony Life launch wondered if he could use the eyes at all. When he was announced, M.I and one aide helped him on stage. He held a walking stick. He also needed help to climb the stairs as he exited the stage after their performance.
‘When I had eye surgery, it was as if I was the only person in the world who ever did it. People were saying that Obey had gone blind, why? Even if somebody is blind, when has it become a crime?  But I’m not blind. I can see that you are wearing a red shirt over a pair of light blue trousers, while my sister has a flowery blouse. A blind man cannot see all those things. And they continue to say their enemy is blind.  I’m not blind; I have an eye ailment, which anybody can have.  There are millions of people in the world with various eye ailments. Even at 70, a man that is 50 may not even look good as I do. I look at myself at the mirror and I know I’m good looking and I know my God is making me more beautiful’he told The Punch in an interview last year.
All through the interesting performance, it was clear he was not the man we used to know.
Ebenezer Obey has never been known to occupy a stage like KSA; but he was also not one to stand on a spot and sing. That night, it seemed he was under great discomfort, and many wondered why the organisers gave him such trouble.
Chocolate City rapper, M.I. who was excited to have mounted the stage with the legend told our reporter, ‘Performing with him was a humbling experience for me. It made me appreciate the quality of the music He has brought juju music into the mainstream, cutting across language and cultures. That’s the beauty of music, that’s what is legendary about him. His work is timeless’.
His post-Ebony Life appearances have also caused the concerns to grow. Those who saw him speak at the COSON events in May attest he needed aid walking; and in June, there were unconfirmed reports his children had requested he put a stop to performances. But the musician would have none of that – He told Nigerian Entertainment Today he’s off to the US this week for a scheduled gig in New York.
He told our reporter in a phone conversation ‘All l I can say is that God has made me well.  Thank you’.
Now 71 (he was born on April 3, 1942) Obey is one of the most remarkable Nigerian musicians ever, using Juju music to teach lessons, inspire a nation, create enjoyment and build talents for many years before he switched to Gospel music after he became an evangelist in 1992."
It is well...

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Uche Jombo tops Nollywood's Most Influential Women list. See full list

ICampus mag, owned by Samuel Olatunji, an entertainment and media entrepreneur just released its list of Nollywood's Most Influential Women and surprisingly Uche Jombo is at No.1. I would have expected Genevieve or Omotola but what do I know? See full list below and tell us if you agree...

Full list below..
1. Uche Jombo
2. Genevieve Nnaji
3. Rita Dominic
4. Ini Edo
5. Mercy Johnson. See the rest after the cut...

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Jackson's children made ten morgue visits to see his body, reveals star's mother in first TV interview since his death

Jackson's children made ten morgue visits to see his body, reveals star's mother in first TV interview since his death

Emotional: Katherine Jackson said Paris was particular traumatised by her son's death in 2009

Michael Jackson’s three children went to visit their father’s body ten times in the morgue following his death, the singer’s mother revealed in her first TV interview yesterday.
The star’s daughter, Paris – who tried to commit suicide earlier this year – was particularly traumatised by the tragedy.
‘She was screaming and crying when Michael died saying ‘I want to go with you daddy, I don’t want to live without you,’ said Katherine Jackson.
Speaking days after what would have been the King of Pop’s 55th birthday on August 29, the 83-year-old Jackson family matriarch added: ‘I was feeling so bad for her.
'Paris suffered a lot after his death. She had to have pictures of Michael all over her room. Every picture that was hanging on the wall had to be of Michael.’ 
Mrs Jackson, who has 26 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, said all three children struggled to come to terms with their father’s sudden death in June 2009.
‘Michael’s kids went back to the morgue where Michael was about ten times. When I was in the room, I couldn’t go there,' she said, adding that she asked her daughter LaToya what the children were doing at the funeral home.
‘She said the children are all kissing and hugging Michael. Even though he is dead they are still doing that,’ she explained.
The grandmother said Paris is doing ‘much better’ after cutting her wrists and swallowing an overdose of pills in her failed suicide attempt.
The emotional interview was screened on the news show ’60 Minutes’ in Australia last night.
Mrs Jackson, who was appointed guardian for Prince Michael, 16, Paris, 15 and 11-year-old Blanket after their father died, is currently suing concert promoters AEG Live in a wrongful death civil suit in Los Angeles.

Grieving: (L - R) Prince Jackson, Blanket Jackson and Paris Jackson after ceremony honoring their father in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles

The Jackson’s claim the entertainment giant was negligent in hiring Conrad Murray, the private doctor now serving four years behind bars for causing Jackson’s death by giving him an overdose of the anaesthetic drug propofol.
Mrs Jackson said it was ‘the worst day of my life’ when her son died.
‘I’ve never had that feeling before and I never want to feel like that again,’ she said.

Mrs Jackson defended her son over claims that he abused drugs and tried to surgically change his appearance

Despite her advancing years, she rejects claims that she’s too old to care for her son’s children adequately, but admits to doing some things differently.
‘I didn’t like Michael’s children wearing masks in public so after his passing I never put any on them,’ she said.
She said the vultures began circling soon after Jackson’s overdose. ‘People have been so greedy and have been taking things that don’t belong to them, and stealing things. All that happens when someone dies, especially when people think they have a lot of money,’ she added.
And she insisted she always believed in her son’s innocence in the face of claims that he molested young boys.
‘I know that Michael didn’t do it,’ she said. ‘I have no doubt.
‘I didn’t ask him but we talked about it all the time. We talked about a lot of things.’ 
She said it made her ‘angry’ that Jackson made a multi-million pound pay-off to the family of Jordan Chandler, one of his accusers.
Mrs Jackson also defended Jackson over claims that he abused drugs and tried to surgically change his appearance.
‘Michael was in a lot of pain so he was taking a lot of painkillers. Michael’s life changed when he was seriously burned doing the Pepsi commercial.
'It burned him so badly that his hair wouldn’t grow back at the top of his head and he didn’t like that part of it. That’s why he started wearing wigs,’ sher added.
‘People might think that Michael would over-indulge in plastic surgery but they don’t know what went on before. Michael also had a disease so the colour of his skin was changing.
‘I don’t know why people said he had too much facial surgery. He got his nose done so that being in the centre of his face would change how he looked but I don’t think he got too much done.’ 
She reminisced about how the singer refined some of his famous dance moves when he was still a child.
‘When he was a baby he used to dance to the sound of a washing machine. He used to dance to the rhythm of our old rickety washing machine so he started doing those rickety moves and dancing to the sounds,’ she said.
‘There will always be questions hanging in the air that I would like the answer to but I probably won’t get them,’ she said of the circumstances surrounding her son’s death.

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Why Apple's 2014 won't be like 2013

Hundreds of people await the iPhone 5S and 5C launch at Apple's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

As 2013 draws to a close, Tim Cook is feeling good. The holiday quarter once again proved that Apple's products and stores can draw a crowd. Pent-up demand for new iPhones and iPads was satisfied once again, and Apple's reputation as a purveyor of objects of desire was reaffirmed. As a reward, Apple' stock price hit a 52-week high this month.
Apple's precision-engineered, meticulously designed, mass-produced objects of desire are not the most advanced or clever computing machines. Many Android devices are tricked out with more pixels and features. Nor is Apple the undisputed market share leader, which is not the company's first priority.

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