Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1(LOS ANGELES) — As it’s known today, 13 Going on 30 is a 2004 romantic fantasy that starred Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo but it almost didn’t end up that way.
During a recent interview with The Skimm, Garner revealed that her co-star considered dropping out of the project all because of that iconic “Thriller” dance scene he had to learn.
“We started to learn the dance. Our first rehearsal, I think it was Mark and Judy [Greer], and Judy and I were both dancers growing up and poor Mark didn’t know that,” the actress shared. “And he came in and he hated the rehearsal process so much he almost dropped out of the movie.”
Obviously, we know that Mark stuck with it and, as it turns out, the scene is Garner’s favorite memory from 13 Going on 30.
Six of the victims were Asian women, and although the alleged perpetrator said he wasn’t motivated by race, the incident comes on the heels of increasing violent incidents aimed at Asians across the country since the start of the pandemic last year.
Park captioned her video, “3 deadly shootings targeting Asian Women in Atlanta yesterday. I couldn’t sleep. …ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
Park, who is Korean-American, began the tearful video by saying she posted it because, “I’m so tired of people not knowing what’s going on.”
The actress said that violence aside, there is “societal programming” that degrades people in her community. “The amount of times in my life that I’ve been asked where I’m from before what my name is … you do understand…the undervaluing that does,” she said. “Starting with children, when every Asian kid should be able to be good at math and play a classical instrument…”
The Tony-nominated actress also declared, “This racism starts at a very small level. It starts with things that you say. It starts when someone calls a virus that shut down the whole world the ‘Kung Flu virus.’ It also starts when you roll your eyes or make fun of Asian waiters or Chinese food delivery people and the nail artist.”
“I’m guilty of that, too,” she admitted.
Park added, “I do hope that this younger generation lives in a world where they don’t have to deal with this, or they at least have the tools and allies to deal with it better than I am dealing with it now.”
ABC/Image Group LALast weekend’s Grammy Awards performance introduced a new group of viewers to Mickey Guyton, who performed her searing ballad, “Black Like Me,” during the telecast. Now, Mickey’s reaping the benefits.
According to MRC data collected by Billboard, Mickey’s single sold 1,6000 copies after the awards show. That makes her one of the artists with the biggest post-performance sales jumps, a whopping 13,225% increase from her numbers the day before the show.
“Black Like Me” received an overall tepid response from country radio stations after it was released last summer, at the height of Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd. Mickey’s single failed to chart, and she’s not alone: According to a newly-released study examining representation across the format, songs by women of color made up only 2.7% of country radio airplay between 2000 and 2020.
However, in the wake of her Grammys appearance, Billboard reports that her label, EMI Nashville, has partnered with Universal Music Group’s Republic Records to promote “Black Like Me” to adult contemporary stations. Mickey’s song is getting a new version for its new radio treatment, dubbed “Black Like Me (Our Voices).”
(NEW YORK) — The NCAA annual basketball tournament returns on Thursday night with its first four play-in games.
One year after being canceled due to coronavirus concerns in March 2020, March Madness 2021 will be played exclusively in Indiana. Players, coaches, staffers and other event participants will undergo regular testing in a bubble-like environment. Watch the ABC News report:
ABC News/Stephen Iervolino(LOS ANGELES) — While you may have had trouble doing anything but bingeing TV during the pandemic, 89-year-old William Shatner has been killing it.
“You know, I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve been really doing well,” the multi-tasking Star Trek icon admits to ABC Audio.
“I’ve been vaccinated. Nobody in my family has gotten the disease, my wife’s got her first shot. My kids are getting vaccinated. I mean, it’s just…been ‘OK,'” he says, seemingly embarrassed. “And, as so many people who have lost loved ones, I have been fortunate enough not to have.”
Aside from being healthy, Shatner has been very productive. “Let me tell you why,” he explains. “I’ve been able to focus on things so there’s no extraneous noise or people.”
The accomplished equestrian says, “One of the things that I made a giant leap is my ‘seat’ on riding a horse because I’m able to go frequently and focus on that horse. I’ve become a better rider, much better rider.”
He adds, “I’ve been able to create an album, actually two, with a friend of mine who’s a poet and with a guy who’s a musician….We’ve created…two albums [that were] picked up by Universal Records…”
Shatner adds, “I’m doing a podcast. In this time with the distancing, I’m doing a show called The Unexplained, which has become a hit on the History Channel. I got all kinds of things going…”
For good measure, he reveals, “I’m going to interview three authors and do this new idea for a book club. I mean, it’s just one thing after another. It’s fantastic.”
The Unexplained returns Friday night, April 2 on History.
Oh, and what’s more, Shatner can be seen On Demand on March 26 in the romantic comedy Senior Moment.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1(LOS ANGELES) — As it’s known today, 13 Going on 30 is a 2004 romantic fantasy that starred Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo but it almost didn’t end up that way.
