Latest news with #Seinfeld
Black America Web
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Larry David And The Obamas Team Up For An HBO Sketch Comedy
Sometimes comedy makes strange bedfellows. The co-creator of Seinfeld and the star and creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm is teaming up with the most elegant first family to ever grace the White House for an HBO sketch show about the history of America. 'David will act as co-creator will act as executive producer, writer and star of the limited series consisting of six half-hour episodes, produced by the Obamas' company, Higher Ground,' HuffPost reports. This will be David's first return to HBO since ending Curb Your Enthusiasm a year ago, and the jokes are already coming. 'Once 'Curb' ended, I celebrated with a three-day foam party. After a violent allergic reaction to the suds, I yearned to return to my simple life as a beekeeper, harvesting organic honey from the wildflowers in my meadow,' David said. 'Alas, one day my bees mysteriously vanished. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I return to television, hoping to ease the loss of my beloved hive.' HuffPost notes that 'Curb' showrunner Jeff Schaffer will be back with David to co-write and direct episodes. 'President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America's 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. …But then Larry David called,' the logline of the yet-to-be-named project noted. Barack Obama's statement added: 'I've sat across the table from some of the world's most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of our most intractable problems. Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David.' Jokes aside, shortly after leaving the White House, the Obamas launched 'Higher Ground' production company that has already produced the 'Oscar-winning documentary American Factory , the kids series Waffles + Mochi , and the movies Rustin and Leave the World Behind . There is no set date for when the HBO series is set to premiere, but see how social media is reacting to the news below. Larry David And The Obamas Team Up For An HBO Sketch Comedy was originally published on
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana shouldn't get distracted by Zohran Mamdani's bad ideas
I have the very good fortune to be living amid a veritable golden age of economic columnists. There is such an informational cascade of policy debacles, silly ideas and mesmerizingly idiotic claims that the hard part of writing this column lies in picking the ripest fruit from the cornucopia of ridiculous. The newest of these comes to us from New York's mayoral primaries. The Democratic winner is 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who won by defeating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. There are many reasons why Mamdani might have won. Cuomo is a serial sexual harasser, who had to resign as governor in the wake of a criminal investigation. That sort of behavior seems more acceptable for a federal cabinet position these days, not the mayoral race of the world's greatest city. Mamdani has a compelling personal story. He is young, dynamic and optimistic about the future. This is a significant departure from the vitriolic anger of the GOP and likely resonated with lots of voters in New York and elsewhere. More: Trump's tax bill will crush the rural voters who chose him | Opinion Mamdani identifies common problems—housing costs are high in New York, as are food prices. However, he made the frequent error of mistaking the cause of these problems, leading to silly policy prescriptions. Some of his ideas blow right past the threshold of ridiculously bad. To fix high housing costs and food prices, Mamdani proposes rent controls and government-owned grocery stores. The folly of rent controls is something every economics professor teaches in college introductory economics. The key lesson to this is that price controls lead to long-term shortages. Ironically, the only place where the U.S. has had any long-term price controls is New York. The shortages that resulted from rental price controls dating to World War II continued to plague the city at least through the 1990s. Indeed, apartment shortages were a staple gag of nearly every other episode of 'Friends' and 'Seinfeld.' Much of the high costs of housing in New York can be explained by the city's popularity and productivity. For example, worker productivity in New York City is about 40% higher than in Indiana. But, a large part of the problem lies in government restrictions. Zoning, in particular, has restricted new housing expansion for decades. If Mamdani was serious about fixing the housing problems in New York, he'd unleash the free market, not hobble it with more regulation. As silly, counterproductive and misguided as a rent control policy might be, it is downright sensible and clever compared to the notion of a city-run grocery store providing an antidote to high food prices. A staple of Cold War reality was a photograph of Boris Yeltsin confronting an American grocery store for the first time—his face showing shock at the selection and price. New York is the world's greatest city, abuzz with entrepreneurs who, as Adam Smith noted, are possessed with the natural human 'propensity to truck, barter and exchange.' Food in New York is always going to be more expensive than in Peoria, Illinois, but the existence of food deserts and exorbitant prices is not the fault of free markets. It is the fault of government interference in free markets. If Mamdani was serious about bettering life for New Yorkers, it would be through unleashing the entrepreneurs among his constituents. Dear reader, if you imagine a city-operated grocery to be competitively priced, have a better array of choices or offer more compelling service, you are on par with those who imagine that tariffs are paid by foreign importers or will result in increased factory production here at home. This abundance of poor policy ideas in today's economic universe is a great gift to this scribbler. I know Fox News will soon make much hay of Mamdani's bizarre policies, as well they should. But I have some advice for readers on how to deal with the economic folly of others. It is a military dictum from my youth. More: Braun's smart IEDC picks must now tackle Indiana's development spending mess | Opinion We Hoosiers should be glad for a Mamdani candidacy—somewhere far, far away. As Americans, we live in a large and glorious laboratory of ideas. We should watch thoughtfully as someone else sprints out and draws the proverbial fire of bad economic ideas—as is Mamdani. Be certain that the rest of the U.S. is doing the same with us, and getting plenty of lessons as well. In the meantime, we should be far more focused on policies that hamper our freedom and economic progress. We have plenty of those problems here at home and in our national policy environment. Let other folks, be they New Yorkers or Chicagoans, struggle with their own folly.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Seinfeld writer claims Hollywood exploited Kanye West, reveals his HBO acting debut was abruptly shelved
has been attempting to regain his prominence after being banned from the industry due to his antisemitic outbursts and social media tirades, which resulted in him being removed from ambassador positions by major brands. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite the fact that the rapper's reputation has suffered due to his ongoing legal troubles and controversies, comedy writer , who previously collaborated with him, recalls a very different Kanye. 'A sweetheart with no signs of the hate-fueled mess he later became.' Like many fans, the Seinfeld scribe said he was taken aback by the change, recalling 2008, when Kanye was still grounded and fully aware of his actions. 'A self-aware man' In a recent interview with Page Six, the author of Curb Your Enthusiasm recalled how he first met Kanye when he was working on Entourage. In reference to the rapper's controversial relationship and chaotic divorce from Kim Kardashian, Charles said, "Back then, Ye was sweet, funny, self-aware, and chill; this is pre-Kardashians." "I'm the Black Larry David," was the first thing Kanye said to him. Charles recalled that he would frequently tell stories about making a mistake and needing to apologize. A few hours later, the two were tasked with preparing an HBO half-hour improv comedy that was based on Kanye's life. "His life as a comical horror story," Charles said. With Curb's JB Smoove joining the cast, they were all set to go. Charles remarked, 'Everybody got along great, and Kanye—he was actually a dream to work with. I even considered him a friend at that point.' But after HBO rejected the project, it was shelved, and now Larry Charles is left wondering what might have happened to Kanye West if it had succeeded. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Regarding the rapper's current situation, he stated, "There are all these little things, these little changes in life that sort of have these gigantic consequences," before continuing, "And so, again, he's somebody who has veered off into this direction, and clearly there are mental health issues. " Kanye has been hopping from one project to another over the past few years. Former workers have filed numerous lawsuits against his Yeezy, claiming harassment, wrongful termination, and unfair treatment. He gained media attention for promoting hateful ideologies, having public outbursts, endorsing Hitler, and performing bizarre stunts with his wife, Bianca Censori. Larry Charles wants people to recall the Kanye he knew in spite of everything. 'He's a golden goose, and golden gooses in Hollywood are exploited. Nobody steps up to help them, pull them out of the limelight, and actually get them help. Instead, they just keep squeezing because he still makes money,' he stated.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kanye West Is A 'Golden Goose' Being 'Exploited' By Hollywood, 'Seinfeld' Writer Says
Kanye West seems to have changed drastically in the eyes of many who knew him prior to his marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian. Famous comedy writer, Larry Charles, described the rapper, whom he almost worked with many years ago, as a "sweetheart," nothing like the Nazi-endorsing artist he has recently become. Kanye West has now run into financial difficulties due to his unsettling social media rants and very public support for Hitler, as many venues have reportedly banned him from performing in their location. Long before the reality shows and the controversial headlines that have now defined him, West was, according to comedy creator Charles, a "sweet, funny, and self-aware" artist. The "Seinfeld" writer sat down for an interview with Page Six and recalled almost working with West around 2008 when he was working on "Entourage." "He was like a sweet, funny, self-aware guy. He was very loose — this is pre-Kardashians," Charles told the news outlet, referencing West's marriage to Kim Kardashian from 2014 to 2022. Charles went on to share that the first thing the "Vultures 1" rapper told him at the time was, "I'm the Black Larry David." "[West] was constantly telling me funny stories about putting his foot in his mouth and having to apologize," the "Borat" director continued. West and Charles worked on a half-hour comedy show based on the rapper's life that was set to air on HBO but didn't see the light of day after the network dropped it. "That show was kind of like him," Charles explained. "His life as a comical horror story." "Everybody got along great," Charles continued, "and [West] was wonderful to work with, actually. And I even considered him a friend at that point." The comedian also shared that he sometimes thinks about how West's life would have turned out differently if the show had been picked up. "There's all these little things, these little changes in life that sort of have these gigantic consequences," he said. "And so, again, he's somebody who has veered off into this direction, and clearly there are mental health issues." Ever since their meeting, West went on to marry the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" alum and also welcomed four children with her before their divorce, which was finalized in 2022. In that same year, West married his wife Bianca Censori, and together they've sparked controversy for her indecent public appearances, especially when she pulled a nude stunt on the 2025 Grammys red carpet. The "Carnival" rapper has also been embroiled in several lawsuits from his former employees who accused him of sexual harassment, unfair work treatment, and unpaid wages. He went on an anti-semitic rant in 2023 that saw him fall from his billionaire status as brands like Adidas and The Gap severed ties with him. Despite the dislike for West, Charles told the news outlet he feels sorry for him instead. "He's a golden goose and golden gooses in Hollywood are exploited," the comedy writer said. "Nobody steps up to help them and take them out of the limelight for a while and get them the help they need." "Instead, they continue to exploit them because they can make so much money," he added. Meanwhile, West is reportedly experiencing financial troubles and scrambling for shows to perform in as he's seemingly been blacklisted in and outside Hollywood. The rapper has come under fire for his controversial social media rants and vocal support for Hitler, making many venues refuse to host him for shows. West is scheduled to play a small music festival in Slovakia next week, but the location, which has a 26,000 capacity, appears to be something he's settling for as he has been told to "stay away" from Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, and Australia due to his anti-semitic comments. Reports suggest both Wembley Stadium and the London Stadium in the U.K. blacklisted him even before he released his scandalous "Heil Hitler" song in May, leaving him to scramble for bookings around the globe. According to a Daily Mail insider, several top venues have no intention of associating with West anymore after his multiple controversies. "He's getting his team to phone around desperately asking for gigs, and he is said to be asking for $7 million a night. No one will touch him with a barge-pole," the insider told the news outlet. "Wembley and London Stadium both said: 'No chance, we don't need the protests,' and that was before the single came out," they continued. The insider added, "It's the same story everywhere they have asked. He is banned pretty much everywhere in Europe – either the venues won't touch him or he isn't able to travel there as he cannot get a visa."
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Hollywood exploited Kanye West; his HBO acting debut was axed, says Seinfeld writer who worked with rapper pre-Kardashians
Kanye West has been trying to claw his way back into the spotlight after his antisemitic rants and social media tirades got him blacklisted across the industry, with major brands dropping him from ambassador roles. The rapper's been constantly neck-deep in lawsuits and controversies, and while his image has taken a hit, comedy writer Larry Charles, who once worked with him, remembers a very different Kanye. ' A sweetheart with no signs of the hate-fueled mess he later became.' The Seinfeld scribe said he, like many fans, was stunned by the transformation, thinking back to 2008, when Kanye was still grounded and knew exactly what he was doing. Also read: Kanye West blocked from entering Australia over Hitler song The Curb Your Enthusiasm writer recently spoke to Page Six and recalled meeting Kanye for the first time while he was working on Entourage. Back then, Ye was 'sweet, funny, self-aware,' and chill, this is pre-Kardashians,' Charles noted, referencing the rapper's headline-grabbing relationship and messy divorce with Kim Kardashian. The first thing Kanye told him was, 'I'm the Black Larry David.' Charles remembered him constantly cracking stories about putting his foot in his mouth and having to apologise. A few hours later, the two found themselves planning a half-hour improv comedy based on Kanye's life for HBO. Charles described it as 'his life as a comical horror story.' The cast was ready to roll, with Curb's JB Smoove also on board. 'Everybody got along great,' Charles said. 'And Kanye—he was actually a dream to work with. I even considered him a friend at that point.' Also read: Kanye West changes name for second time — It's bizarre, fans say: 'Ain't nobody calling him that' However, the project was shelved after HBO passed on it, and now Larry Charles can't help but wonder how different Kanye West's life could've looked if it had taken off. Speaking about where the rapper stands today, he said, 'There's all these little things, these little changes in life that sort of have these gigantic consequences,' before adding, 'And so, again, he's somebody who has veered off into this direction, and clearly there are mental health issues.' Over the last few years, Kanye has jumped from one project to another. His Yeezy is battling multiple lawsuits from former employees citing unfair treatment, wrongful dismissal, and even harassment. He's made headlines for pushing hateful ideologies, public meltdowns, praising Hitler, and parading his wife, Bianca Censori, around in bizarre stunts. Despite it all, Larry Charles wants people to remember the Kanye he once knew. 'He's a golden goose, and golden gooses in Hollywood are exploited. Nobody steps up to help them, pull them out of the limelight, and actually get them help. Instead, they just keep squeezing because he still makes money,' he said.
