The Grammys Announces All-Star Line-up of Presenters for 57th Annual Grammy Awards

The Biggest Stars Join Music's Biggest Night® as Presenters Line up for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®

Dierks Bentley, James Corden, Miley Cyrus, Josh Duhamel, Jamie Foxx, Barry Gibb, Dave Grohl, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Jonas, Anna Kendrick, Shia LaBeouf, Katharine McPhee, Nicki Minaj, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pentatonix, Smokey Robinson, Nile Rodgers, Gina Rodriguez, Ryan Seacrest, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Keith Urban, The Weeknd, And Stevie Wonder Are Set To Present On The 57th GRAMMY Awards

LL COOL J Returns To Host Music's Biggest Night® Airing Live On CBS, Feb. 8, 2015

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A diverse, all-star lineup of celebrities will take the stage as presenters for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. This year's presenters – which include GRAMMY® nominees, previous winners and stars from film and TV – are: GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley; actor and late night TV host James Corden; current nominee Miley Cyrus; actor Josh Duhamel; Academy Award® and GRAMMY winner Jamie Foxx; nine-time GRAMMY winner Barry Gibb; 15-time GRAMMY winner Dave Grohl; Academy Award and GRAMMY winner and current nominee Jennifer Hudson; four-time Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY winner Enrique Iglesias; singer Nick Jonas; actress Anna Kendrick; actor Shia LaBeouf; actress Katharine McPhee; current nominee Nicki Minaj; Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow; current nominees Pentatonix; GRAMMY winner Smokey Robinson; three-time GRAMMY winner Nile Rodgers; Golden Globe® winner Gina Rodriguez; Emmy®-winning TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Taylor Swift; current nominee Meghan Trainor; four-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Keith Urban; GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and 25-time GRAMMY winner Stevie Wonder; and singer The Weeknd. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Music's Biggest Night® will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Previously announced performers are GRAMMY-winning band AC/DC; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Beck; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Tony Bennett; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Mary J. Blige; nominee Eric Church; nominee Brandy Clark; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Common; nominee Ariana Grande; GRAMMY winner Herbie Hancock; nominee Hozier; nominee Jessie J; GRAMMY winner Tom Jones; 20-time Latin GRAMMY winner and current nominee Juanes; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Lady Gaga; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Miranda Lambert; internationally acclaimed pianist and GRAMMY Cultural Ambassador To China Lang Lang; GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Legend; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Annie Lennox; GRAMMY winner Adam Levine; the legendary Jeff Lynne's ELO; GRAMMY winner Madonna; GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Chris Martin; GRAMMY winner John Mayer; nominee Katy Perry; GRAMMY winner Questlove; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Rihanna; nominee Ed Sheeran; nominee Sia; nominee Sam Smith; GRAMMY winner Gwen Stefani; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Usher; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Kanye West; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Pharrell Williams; and GRAMMY winner Dwight Yoakam.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy® is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.

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"Selma," "black-ish" Dominate 2015 NAACP Image Awards - Complete Winners List

The NAACP Image Award is an award bestowed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  The award honors outstanding achievements by people of color in film, television, music, and literature.  The awards are voted on by members of the NAACP.

The nominations for the 46th NAACP Image Awards were announced with the categories divided into eight groups:  Television, Recording (Music), Literary (Books), Motion Picture, Documentary (film and television), Writing (for film and television), Directing (for film and television), and Animated/CGI (for film and television).

The 2015 NAACP Image Awards were presented Friday, February 6, 2015.

Entertainer of the Year: Taraji P. Henson

NAACP President’s Award: Spike Lee

2015 / 46TH NAACP Image Awards winners:

TELEVISION

Outstanding Comedy Series
• "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
• Anthony Anderson - "'black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
• Tracee Ellis Ross - "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• Laurence Fishburne - "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Yara Shahidi - "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Drama Series
• "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
• Shemar Moore - "Criminal Minds" (CBS)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• Viola Davis - "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Joe Morton - "Scandal" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Khandi Alexander - "Scandal" (ABC)

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Blair Underwood - "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Cicely Tyson - "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)

Outstanding News/ Information - (Series or Special)
• "Unsung" (TV One)

Outstanding Talk Series
• "Steve Harvey" (Syndicated)

Outstanding Reality Series
• "Iyanla: Fix My Life" (OWN)

Outstanding Variety Series or Special
• "Oprah's Master Class" (OWN)

Outstanding Children’s Program
• "Doc McStuffins" (Disney Junior)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Youth/ Children’s Program - (Series or Special)
• Fatima Ptacek - "Dora and Friends: Into The City!" (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety
• Steve Harvey - "Steve Harvey" (Syndicated)


RECORDING

Outstanding New Artist
• 3 Winans Brothers (BMG)

Outstanding Male Artist
• Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Female Artist
• Beyoncé (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
• "Stay with Me" - Sam Smith feat. Mary J Blige (Capitol)

Outstanding Jazz Album
• "My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke" - Al Jarreau (Concord)

Outstanding Gospel Album - (Traditional or Contemporary)
• "Where My Heart Belongs" - Gladys Knight (Shadow Mountain Records)

Outstanding Music Video
• "You & I (Nobody in the World)" - John Legend (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Song
• "We Are Here" - Alicia Keys (RCA Records)

Outstanding Album
• "Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics" - Aretha Franklin (RCA Records)

LITERATURE

Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction
• "A Wanted Woman" - Eric Jerome Dickey (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work - Non-Fiction
• "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" - Bryan Stevenson (Spiegel & Grau)

Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author
• "Forty Acres" - Dwayne Alexander Smith (Atria Books)

Outstanding Literary Work - Biography/ Auto-Biography
• "Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine" - Louis Sullivan with David Chanoff (University of Georgia Press)

Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional
• "Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life" - Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson, Hilary Beard (Spiegel & Grau)

Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry
• "Citizen: An American Lyric" - Claudia Rankine (Graywolf Press)

Outstanding Literary Work - Children
• "Dork Diaries 8: Tales From A Note-So-Happily Ever After" - Rachel Renee Russell with Nikki Russell and Erin Russell (Simon & Schuster)

Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens
• "Brown Girl Dreaming" - Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books)


MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Motion Picture
• "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
• David Oyelowo - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
• Taraji P. Henson - "No Good Deed" (Screen Gems)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
• Common - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Carmen Ejogo - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
• "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)


DOCUMENTARY

Outstanding Documentary - (Film)
• "Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People" (Chimpanzee Productions, Inc.)

Outstanding Documentary - (Television)
• "Bad Boys" (ESPN)

WRITING

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
• Sara Hess - "Orange is the New Black" - It Was the Change (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
• Erika Green Swafford - "How to Get Away with Murder" - Let's Get To Scooping (ABC)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie
• Shernold Edwards - "A Day Late and a Dollar Short" (Lifetime Networks)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
• Misan Sagay - "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)


DIRECTING

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
• Ken Whittingham - "Parks and Recreation" - Prom (NBC)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
• Carl Franklin - "House of Cards" - Chapter 14 (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie
• Reggie Bythewood - "Gun Hill" (BET)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
• Antoine Fuqua - "The Equalizer" (Columbia Pictures)


ANIMATED/CGI

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - (Television or Film)
• Loretta Devine - "Doc McStuffins" (Disney Junior)

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Review: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Reboot is Actually Good

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 8 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
Running time:  101 minutes (1 hour, 41 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
DIRECTOR:  Jonathan Liebesman
WRITERS:  Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Evan Daugherty (based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird)
PRODUCERS:  Michael Bay, Ian Bryce, Andrew Form , Bradley Fuller, Scott Mednick, and Galen Walker
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Luis Carvalho (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Joel Negron and Glen Scantlebury
COMPOSER:  Brian Tyler

MARTIAL ARTS/FANTASY/ACTION with elements of comedy

Starring:  Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Tohoru Masamune, Whoopi Goldberg, Minae Noji, Abby Elliot, Pete Ploszek, Danny Woodburn, and the voices of Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Johnny Knoxville, and Tony Shalhoub

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 2014 martial arts fantasy and action film from director Jonathan Liebesman.  The film is based on the media franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as the “Ninja Turtles” or by the abbreviation, “TMNT”), which began with a black and white comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and first published in 1984.

This recent film is also a reboot of the TMNT film franchise, which began with a 1990 film and its two sequels (released by New Line Cinema).  Warner Bros. Pictures released a computer-animated TMNT film, also entitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2007.  The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie focuses on a group of mutated turtle warriors that emerge from the shadows to protect their home, New York City, and the TV reporter who helps them.

The film introduces April O'Neil (Megan Fox), a television news reporter at station Channel 6.  She has been researching a gang called the “Foot Clan,” but few people take her or her investigation seriously.  April's cameraman, Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), humors her, but would rather date April than believe in her as a serious reporter.  April's boss, Bernadette Thompson (Whoopi Goldberg), tolerates the young reporter's ambitions, but is deliberately oblivious of April's findings.

April tracks members the Foot Clan and witnesses their attack on a subway station.  There, April meets a group of vigilantes determined to foil the clan.  Much to her shock, however, they are four teenage mutant ninja turtles:  Raphael (Alan Ritchson), Michelangelo (Noel Fisher), Donatello (Jeremy Howard), and Leonardo (Pete Ploszek and Johnny Knoxville).  They introduce April to their mentor and surrogate father, Splinter (Tony Shalhoub), a mutated, anthropomorphic rat who is a master of the ninja arts.  April also gets caught up in Splinter and the turtles' war against the Foot Clan's leader, The Shredder (Tohoru Masamune), who has a connection to April's past.

Michael Bay and his production company, Platinum Dunes, are two of the entities behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014.  Bay, who has dedicated his efforts as a film director to the Transformers movie franchise for the last decade, has also restarted many movie franchises through remakes and reboots.  Thankfully, this new Ninja Turtles movie is not like Bay's Transformers films or like some of his horror movie reboots.

Many of the sound effects in this movie sound like sound effects in Transformers movies.  However, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 director, Jonathan Liebesman, keeps the Michael Bay touches to a minimum.  Using the work of writers Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Evan Daugherty, Liebesman makes a straight-forward movie.  It manages to be cute (as when the Turtles bang out a hip hop beat with nunchucks and beat-boxing).  The film also manages to offer well-staged martial arts fights and the kind of explosive action sequences that the original film could not.  The film also hits some nice notes about the bonds of family and friendship.  This movie has the kind of story and action that makes it serious-minded enough to appeal to older audiences while entertaining younger viewers.

I know that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 got a lot of bad, poor, and mixed reviews, but these critics and reviewers probably take either themselves or this movie too seriously (or both).  For a good time, however, invite these Turtles over, and, of course, enjoy this movie with pizza.

6 of 10
B

Wednesday, January 21, 2015


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: Original Teenage Mutanta Ninja Turtles Film is Still Fun

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 7 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Running time:  93 minutes (1 hour, 33 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR:  Steve Barron
WRITERS:  Todd W. Langen and  Bobby Herbeck; from a story by Bobby Herbeck (based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird)
PRODUCERS:  David Chan, Kim Dawson, and Simon Fields
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  John Fenner (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  William D. Gordean, Sally Menke, and James R. Symons
COMPOSER:  John Du Prez

MARTIAL ARTS/FANTASY/ACTION/COMEDY

Starring:  Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Jay Patterson, Michael Turney, Raymond Serra, Sam Rockwell, James Saito, Toshishiro Obata, David Forman, Leif Tilden, Michelan Sisti, and the voices of Corey Feldman, Josh Pais, Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, David McCharen, Michael McConnohie, and Kevin Clash

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1990 martial arts fantasy and action-comedy film from director Steve Barron.  The film is based on the media franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as the “Ninja Turtles” or by the abbreviation, “TMNT”), which began with a black and white comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and first published in 1984.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the film focuses on a quartet of anthropomorphic ninja turtles and a TV news reporter, as they battle a ninja criminal gang.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles opens in New York City (late 80s or early 90s).  The city is in the midst of a crime wave of pick-pockets, burglaries, and general thievery.  Rumors abound that the thieves are mostly young children and teenagers, perhaps connected to something called the “Foot Clan,” which apparently originated in Japan.  This is according to April O'Neil (Judith Hoag), a television news reporter at station WTRL – Channel 3.

In fact, O'Neil comes across some of these very same thieves ransacking a news van, and they promptly attack her.  A mysterious band of warrior rescues April, introducing her to a world under the streets and in the sewers of the city.  April's rescuers are four anthropomorphic turtles; these mutated, man-turtles walk and talk, and, like other teenagers, they love pizza.  They are also ninja warriors, according to their mentor and surrogate father, Splinter (Kevin Clash), a mutated, anthropomorphic rat who is also a master of the ninja arts.

Now, April and these four teenaged mutant ninja turtles:  Raphael (Josh Pais), Michelangelo (Robbie Rist), Donatello (Corey Feldman) and Leonardo (Brian Tochi) unite to unravel the secrets of the city's crime wave.  Street vigilante, Casey Jones (Elias Koteas), joins them, but will all of them be enough to stop The Foot and its leader, The Shredder.

1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the first movie in a franchise that would yield a total of three films.  Years later, Warner Bros. Pictures would release a computer-animated TMNT film, also entitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007), which I still have not seen.  In fact, I had not seen a TMNT movie since the second film, which was released in 1991.

With the release of Paramount Picture's reboot of the franchise, also entitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, earlier this past summer (2014), I decided to revisit the 1990 film.  I vaguely remember liking it then.  I was surprised to find that I actually liked it after recently watching it again.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 is quaint, but irresistibly cute and likeable.  Everything about is 1980s cheesy:  the sets, the clothes, the music, the attitude, and the Turtles' dialogue.  It's as if every teen movie, good or bad, was strained of its slang and lingo to create the dialogue for these teenage mutant ninja turtles.  The entire movie also looks like it was shot in the ghostly, abandoned sets of 1980s break-dancing movies.

Still, if you like the Ninja Turtles, it is hard not to like this movie.  Back in 1990, I did like the Ninja Turtles, so I liked their hit movie debut.  A quarter-century later, I find that I still like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990.  I might even find myself watching it again.

5 of 10
B-

Tuesday, December 30, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

2015 Grammys to Present Debut Performance of Rihanna's "FourFiveSeconds"

Rihanna, Paul McCartney, and Kanye West Set to Take the Stage in a World Debut Performance of Rihanna's New Single, "FourFiveSeconds," on the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®

Music's Biggest Night® — Hosted By LL Cool J — Airs Live On CBS, Feb. 8, 2015

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seven-time GRAMMY® winner and current nominee, Rihanna, will deliver a world debut performance of her newly released single, "FourFiveSeconds," with fellow GRAMMY-winning collaborators Kanye West and Paul McCartney on the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. Making his return to the GRAMMY stage after six years, 21-time GRAMMY winner, Kanye West, holds two current nominations. The legendary Paul McCartney is an 18-time GRAMMY winner and a two-time recipient of The Recording Academy®'s Lifetime Achievement Award, as a solo artist and as a member of the Beatles. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Music's Biggest Night® will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Seven-time GRAMMY winner Rihanna is up for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "The Monster" with Eminem.

Twenty-one-time GRAMMY winner Kanye West is up for two awards: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Charlie Wilson) and Best Rap Song for "Bound 2."

Previously announced performers are GRAMMY-winning band AC/DC; current nominees and GRAMMY winners Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga; nominee Eric Church; nominees and GRAMMY winners Common with John Legend; nominee Ariana Grande; nominee Hozier with nominee and GRAMMY winner Annie Lennox; nominee Jessie J with GRAMMY winner Tom Jones; nominee and GRAMMY winner Miranda Lambert; GRAMMY winners Adam Levine with Gwen Stefani; seven-time GRAMMY winner Madonna; nominee Ed Sheeran; nominee Sam Smith; nominee and eight-time GRAMMY winner Usher; and nominee and seven-time GRAMMY winner Pharrell Williams.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy® is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.

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Kanye West to Deliver Two Performance at 2015 Grammy Awards

Kanye West Returns to the GRAMMY® Stage to Deliver Two Performances on the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®

Music's Biggest Night® — Hosted By LL Cool J — Airs Live On CBS, Feb. 8, 2015

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The latest performer to be added to the incredible all-star lineup for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® telecast is one of today's most decorated artists, 56-time nominee and 21-time GRAMMY® winner Kanye West. Returning to the GRAMMY stage after six years, West is set to deliver a never-before-seen solo performance as well as a world debut collaborative performance with 18-time GRAMMY winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Paul McCartney and seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Rihanna. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Music's Biggest Night® will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Twenty-one-time GRAMMY winner Kanye West is up for two awards this year: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song for "Bound 2" with Charlie Wilson.

Previously announced performers include GRAMMY-winning band AC/DC; current nominees and GRAMMY winners Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga, nominee Eric Church; nominees and GRAMMY winners Common with John Legend; nominee Ariana Grande; nominees Hozier with GRAMMY winner Annie Lennox; nominee Jessie J with GRAMMY winner Tom Jones; nominee and GRAMMY winner Miranda Lambert; GRAMMY winners Adam Levine with Gwen Stefani; seven-time GRAMMY winner Madonna; nominee Ed Sheeran; nominee Sam Smith; nominee and eight-time GRAMMY winner Usher; and nominee and seven-time GRAMMY winner Pharrell Williams.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy® is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.

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Negromancer News Bit and Bites for the Week of February 1st to 7th, 2015 - Updated #13

NEWS:

From YahooCelebrity:  Chris Pratt fulfills his lost Super Bowl bet with Chris Pratt.

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From YahooNews:  Ophelia Dahl talks about her father Roald Dahl's tragic experience with measles.

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From EW:  FOX's "Empire" is seeing a steady ratings increase... as well as other shows featuring casts of black and brown people.  And that may change the... face of television.

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From Vulture:  A excellent long feature on friends Shailene Woodley and Brie Larson.

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From YahooMovies:  According to early estimates, American Sniper is the #1 film at the box office for the weekend of January 30th to February 1st, 2015 with an estimated take of $31.85 million.  The figure, if it holds, would be the highest gross at the weekend box office for a Super Bowl weekend.

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From Deadline:  At the 42nd annual Annie Awards, How to Train Your Dragon 2 wins the "Best Animated Feature" award.


COMIC BOOKS:

From Mashable:  The differences between the Quicksilvers in X-Men: Days of the Future Past and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

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From YahooGames:  DC Comics announces new series and their creative teams.

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From YahooGames:  Best writer in superhero comics, Brian Michael Bendis, is leaving X-Men, but re-ups on exclusive contract with Marvel Comics.

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From ION:  See Brandon Routh's Atom outfit for "Arrow."

From CinemaBlend:  Avengers: Age of Ultron may includes appearances from the TV series, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."


STAR WAR:

From YahooMovies:  There has been a death in the Star Wars family.  Expert swordsman and horseman, Richard Boneville, has died at the age of 67.  He played a stormtrooper, a snowtropper, a Rebel solider, various aliens (including Ree-Yees), and multiple other parts.

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From YahooTV:  Oh, and Lucasfilm confirms that Stormtroppers are not clones.

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From SSN:  Cool ideas for 5 Star Wars films.

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From YahooMovies:  Disney sues over Star Wars Episode 7 leak.