A legendary nostalgic broadcaster will be ‘shutting down five music channels in the UK’ amid the quick rise of streaming services
Legendary nostalgic broadcaster ‘shutting down five channels in the UK’(Image: GETTY)
Nostalgic broadcaster MTV will reportedly be closing all of its iconic music channels around the globe, minus the USA, following huge cuts amid a company merger. In the UK, MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and Live HD will no longer be available to watch after decades on air.
MTV has reportedly finalised a deal between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. Over the summer, it was revealed MTV UK, which started in the 90s and helped launch the careers of Emma Willis and Kelly Brook, became the latest casualty of social media and streaming.
At the time, bosses said it “will still have a presence” but accepted MTV UK wouldn’t continue making original music content.
And now, it was reported in The Sun that the music channels will be pulled from air on December 31. The main MTV channel will not be affected.
One insider said it was a ‘dark day for the music industry’ as they told the publication: “MTV was once an industry powerhouse but now is a total shell of its former self. All channels bar the main MTV station are being axed — but even that only airs reality TV shows like Geordie Shore.”
The source claimed the changes were due to the rise of streaming.
Earlier this summer, a spokesman said: “MTV UK is sunsetting local series Gonzo and Fresh Out UK, beginning this month. We are deeply grateful to our hosts, Jack Saunders and Becca Dudley, the talented artists who have been a part of these series, as well as the teams who brought them to life.
“Fans can continue to enjoy global music shows like the MTV VMAs, STANS and Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now on MTV and Paramount+, alongside digital music content on our MTV UK social channels.”
Earlier this year, Sky performed a shake up its channel offerings as POP Max was removed from all platforms.
The broadcaster previously carried POP Max and POP Max +1 on Sky Q and Sky+HD, as well as POP Max HD on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
The channel had already vanished from Freeview last year. Originally launched in 2008 as Kix, the channel underwent a rebranding to POP in 2017.
Sky broke the news on its website, noting that while other POP-branded channels will stay, some will change positions due to the closures.
REALITY TV stars Jack Fincham and Aaron Chalmers fought each other in a dramatic bare knuckle fight last night.
The pair – who both have a colourful roster of exes – went head to head in a huge reality super fight and it was was Aaron who came out on top, stopping Jack in round two.
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The former Geordie Shore star took on ex-Love Islander Jack FinchamCredit: Instagram / @finchamboxing
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Aaron stopped Jack in round twoCredit: Instagram / @finchamboxing
Jack, 34 – who hasn’t fought since a 2022 exhibition bout against Anthony Taylor – found fame in 2019 on ITV2dating show Love Island.
However, Aaron dismissed the claims, and told The Sun’s Bizarre column: “Apparently I spat food at Lauren. 1. I am not a tramp 2. If I spat food at her she would knock us out and 3. I wouldn’t waste food.”
NICOLE BASS
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Geordie Shore’s Aaron found brief love with Lewis Bloor’s ex Nicole BassCredit: Instagram
The man magnet has allegedly had sex with at least thirteen Premier League footballers thought to include Mario Balotelli.
Frisky pair Jenny and Aaron shot to the bedroom quickly after meeting – mainly to wind up their exes.
He told the camera: “I’ve got the keys to the penthouse. I wanna sh*g Jenny and I couldn’t give a f**k if that hurts Becca. Let’s get some f**king action going.”
Despite Jenny and Aaron’s on-air bonk on EOTB, they are just pals.
CHANTELLE CONNELLY
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Geordie Shore stars Chantelle and Aaron got matching tattoos after one dateCredit: Flynet Pictures
Geordie Shore star Chantelle and Aaron immediately struck up a connection when she joined the cast in 2016.
They first got together in 2019 and moved into their first home together back in May 2024.
The pair have repeatedly split and got back together during the course of their two-year relationship, but this time they were said to be at loggerheads.
The pair were locked in an ongoing feud overChloe’s decision to continue making money from OnlyFans.
The Essex-based beauty caught Aaron’s eye with her sexy Instagram pics and the pair’s relationship blossomed online and they were thought to be Maldives-bound.
However, by May, he was seen getting frisky with old flame Marnie, suggesting their romance was dead in the water/Indian Ocean.
Sarah, 53, is most famous for presenting the BBC children’s programme Live and Kicking during the 90s. Viewers will also remember her from hosting Top of the Pops and MTV’s Singled Out. She additionally appeared on Loose Women and Richard and Judy.
She stepped away from television work after becoming a mother, welcoming a son in 2012 and a daughter with her husband in 2013.
Sarah joined This Morning following a social media post where she confessed to feeling “lost” and had been battling emotions of “jealousy” upon witnessing others in the entertainment world thriving, reports Wales Online.
Sarah Cawood opened up about her TV career on This Morning(Image: ITV)
Ben questioned Sarah regarding the worry and “self-doubt” she faced whilst working as a television presenter, leading her to make a heartbreaking confession.
Sarah confessed, “I had the worst imposter syndrome, but I don’t think that’s unusual. Most people that I’ve spoken to, in fact, I bet you two felt the same, ‘Should I really be here? Am I good enough to be?’
“But, I think that was amplified when all the jobs sort of fell away in the mid-noughties. I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I was just rubbish all along. ‘ It was really hard to deal with.”
She continued by disclosing that her television career “fading away” left her devastated, though she has discovered reasons to feel thankful for its conclusion.
Sarah appeared on This Morning alongside Deidre Sanders(Image: ITV)
“I always say that the fading away of my TV career was worse than any heartbreak I ever had from any boy. Telly broke my heart worse,” Sarah added.
“But, I have had time with my children, and I am super grateful for that. And, you find other stuff to do! You just find a way through. I can’t lie, though, it is nice to be here.”
Sarah revealed how she’d been overwhelmed with messages of support following her candid Instagram post, where she’d confessed to feeling “left out” whilst watching her colleagues reach fresh career heights.
She shared with Ben and Cat how countless people had reached out to say they felt exactly the same, and she’d been kept busy chatting with social media followers going through identical emotions.
LADY GAGA dominated the MTV VMAs – winning four gongs out of 12 nominations and performing her new single The Dead Dance on stage for the first time.
She is now the third most awarded artist in the ceremony’s history with 22 gongs — one more than Madonna.
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Lady Gaga won four gongs out of 12 nominationsCredit: Getty
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She performed her new single The Dead Dance on stage for the first timeCredit: Getty
Gaga is now just behind Beyonce and Taylor Swift who are tied on 30 awards each.
Despite putting on the best performance of the night, Bizarre can reveal the superstar wasn’t actually inside the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, when she appeared on stage.
In fact Gaga secretly recorded her performance across town at Madison Square Garden, where she was performing on her Mayhem Ball tour, and shot it four times to make sure they had the perfect take.
Gaga pushed back her performance there by 90 minutes in order to walk the red carpet at the VMAs before racing back across town to get on stage.
A source said: “Gaga was adamant she wanted to be involved in the VMAs but obviously cancelling her show at MSG was never an option.
She and her team worked with MTV for weeks in order to get in two places at once.
“As soon as she won Artist of the Year she raced backstage for pictures and then drove to MSG. It was full on but if anyone could pull it off it’s Gaga.
“During her show she performed with some of her Moonmen — she’s so proud to be still winging awards.
“It was a really special moment, especially as her mum and dad were in the crowd.”
As she picked up the Artist of the Year gong, Gaga gave a shout-out to her fiance Michael Polansky and said: “To my partner in all things, Michael.
Yungblud’s subtle message to mentor Ozzy Osbourne during VMAs tribute performance for late rock icon
“Creating this year with you was a beautiful, beautiful dream, and you have been my partner every step of the way.
“I dedicate this to you too, my love. I wish I could stay and watch all these amazing performances, but I have to go back to Madison Square Garden.”
Feeling reflective the superstar went on to admit she wants to be performing until 2045 and feels like New York has shaped her into the artist she is today.
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Bizarre’s Jack Hardwick was at the VMAsCredit: Supplied
Gaga said: “I hope in 20 years when I have written lots more albums that I will still be back here. I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel that this is where I grew up because it made me so much of who I am.
“I think about what [my music] would have sounded like if I hadn’t grown up here.
“I feel like when you are from New York it kind of grows roots in your veins. You have this understanding of life and community, it’s very strong. It’s a feeling. I can’t quite describe it as it’s a feeling.”
Now Gaga is on a roll, the wheels are in motion for her to come to the UK for four headline shows at London’s O2 Arena.
The gigs, along with two more in Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, sold out in seconds.
And if her performance in New York was anything to go by, us British fans are in for a treat.
IT’S RAINING MEN FOR SABRINA
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Sabrina Carpenter stunned fans with a rain-soaked rendition of her new single TearsCredit: Getty
SABRINA CARPENTER wowed fans with a seriously sexy and rain-soaked rendition of her new single Tears.
And there was something for everyone, as she was surrounded by a troupe of very attractive male dancers dressed as policemen as well as drag queens.
During the evening, Sabrina won three MTV VMAs and used her performance to call for the advancement of trans rights.
Speaking on stage, the Manchild singer said: “This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity.
“So to get to be part of something that can make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is your f***ing oyster, I’m so grateful to do that.”
NIGHT’S YUNG FOR AEROSMITH
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Yungblud was joined by Aerosmith legends Steven Tyler and Joe PerryCredit: Getty
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He led a special tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne after his death in JulyCredit: Instagram
HOMEGROWN star Yungblud led a special tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne after his death in July.
The punk rocker was joined by Aerosmith legends Steven Tyler and Joe Perry for a medley of the Black Sabbath singer’s hit singles Crazy Train, Changes and Mama, I’m Coming Home.
Speaking on the carpet, Yungblud revealed he was wearing Ozzy’s cross necklace (which Ozzy had given him, inset above) as a mark of respect.
He added: “It’s a big moment to honour someone you love.
“I’m wearing his cross tonight. I love him and always have. I hope he’s up there with a drink watching tonight.”
Teasing his future plans, Yungblud, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, added: “There is a new project coming in two weeks… I’ve not said that yet.”
As the cameras cut away from the singer, to Steven Tyler’s impressive guitar solo, Bizarre watched as Yungblud turned his back on the audience and sipped an alcoholic drink, looking up to the emotional montage of the late rock legend.
Over the past few years Yungblud had grown close to Ozzy and his family. He was one of the star acts at Black Sabbath’s homecoming gig in Birmingham earlier this summer.
Yungblud revealed to Bizarre that he learned of Ozzy’s passing via a text from the heavy metal legend’s son Jack Osbourne. The singer said: “You get to know someone personally, who you love and then they leave.
“I was texting him, then his son Jack texted me and said, ‘He’s gone’.
“Being around the family and being at the funeral, the amount of love there. That family are real as f***.
“The dream is to have kids and a family like that. There’s no gimmicks. It’s authentic.”
VMA SPOT
BUSTA RHYMES gave fans a nostalgic trip down memory lane by performing eight of his biggest hits after collecting the inaugural Rock The Bells Visionary Award.
The rapper belted out a medley of his best-loved songs including Break Ya Neck, Gimme Some More and Stop the Party – which got some of the night’s biggest cheers.
TATE’S IN TRAINING TO WED
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Tate McRae gave a red-hot performance of Revolving Door and Sports Car in this two-pieceCredit: Getty
TATE McRAE appeared to be using the VMAs as a dry run for her own wedding.
The singer wore a sheer white dress with a statement train that was so long she needed two members of staff to carry it like bridesmaids.
Tate is thought to be single at the moment, but after watching her red-hot performance of Revolving Door and Sports Car in this two-piece we imagine she won’t be short of offers.
ARI: MIC’S TUTU TALL
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Ariana Grande joked that the height of the mic got taller each time she took to the stageCredit: Getty
ARIANA GRANDE may be small but she took home some of the biggest gongs of the night.
She picked up the award for Best Pop and Video of the Year for her Brighter Days Ahead.
Despite not being a performer, Ari was given her own dressing room backstage to cater for her three wardrobe changes.
The superstar arrived in a fitted polka dot number and ended things in a white ballerina tutu.
During her time on stage, Ari seemed overcome with emotion at her wins, before joking that the height of the mic got taller each time she took to the stage.
VMA SPOT
BIZARRE’S Jack got the A-List treatment before the main event after Virgin Atlantic invited him for champers at their Clubhouse Lounge at Heathrow before he set off to New York.
Not all of the stars flying out for the bash fancied a tipple, as Gogglebox’s Joe Baggs put Jack to shame by swerving the bubbles for a green juice.
MARIAH’S MEDLEY
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Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande were all smiles at the eventCredit: Getty
MARIAH CAREY returned to the VMAs stage for the first time in two decades to pick up the Video Vanguard Award and to perform a medley of her hits.
And, naturally, the notorious diva made sure the luxuries were laid on before she even stepped foot in the Big Apple.
Insiders said Mariah flew in via private jet, which had been decked out with white roses and cashmere blankets.
After laying low for a couple days at her sprawling £16million penthouse in Tribeca, Mariah and her glam squad then spent most of Sunday getting her red carpet-ready.
MTV bosses were on alert for the infamous diva to be hard work, but I’m told everything went smoothly . . . even if she did keep a wide berth from almost every other star.
Mimi opted to swerve both the red carpet and on stage VIP seats, instead zipping in and out via the backdoor.
She was handed her gong by Ariana Grande. Mariah told Ari: “I love you. I’m so grateful for you and I’m beyond proud of everything you’ve achieved, girl.”
It marked the first time the We Belong Together singer has ever won a coveted Moonman.
RICKY WINS LATIN ICON
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Ricky Martin gave a hip-thrusting medley of his biggest hitsCredit: Getty
RICKY MARTIN proved he’s still got it with a hip-thrusting medley of his biggest hits.
The Latin pop king belted out Livin’ La Vida Loca, Shake Your Bon Bon, Maria, The Cup Of Life along with two Spanish tracks.
Ricky, who also picked up the first ever Latin Icon award, was hoisted high above the crowd to kick off his medley before an outfit change mid performance.
A beaming Ricky told fans: “I’m addicted to your applause that’s why I keep coming back.”
Later this year he will tour Australia with support from Rita Ora. It’s been a long time since he played the UK so hopefully dates over here are not far off.
The duo met more than 20 years ago when she interviewed his band Busted on MTV’s TRL
Love Is Blind UK’s Emma and Matt Willis briefly followed the same path before they met with the celebrities both taking on roles in EastEnders.
The second season of Love Is Blind UK has gone down a storm with more instant connections and fiery personalities keeping Netflix subscribers hooked.
At the heart of it all are real-life married presenters Emma and Matt Willis who met back in 2004 when Emma, then 29, interviewed Busted on MTV’s TRL, including 22-year-old Matt.
Four years later, the pair got married at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire and welcomed their three children in 2009, 2011 and then their youngest five years later.
But years before meeting, both Emma and Matt experienced what life is like in BBC ’s iconic Albert Square.
Presenter Emma Willis starred as a minor character called Jodie in an episode of EastEnders in 1999. (Image: BBC)
In November 1999, The Voice presenter had a guest role in an episode of EastEnders as a youngster called Jodie. She starred alongside Jodie’s mum, played by actress Joanna Hole, although there is little information on what her involvement in the episode was.
In a still image from the episode, Emma looks a lot younger and has longer hair, in comparison to her famous short haircut.
Meanwhile, Busted star Matt made a couple of trips to Walford, the first being an unnamed teenager on a skateboard in 1998.
The second of the two was a far larger role in 2014 when Matt was already well known for being part of the noughties pop band.
Busted star Matt Willis portrayed Stacey Slater’s boyfriend Luke Riley in EastEnders in 2014.(Image: BBC)
He was behind Luke Riley, Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner) long-term boyfriend who she was living with in London after she killed Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb).
Stacey had been pretending that her name was Jenny Smith but when he found out the truth, she headed back to Walford to live with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace).
Luke still loved Stacey though and was willing to make another go of things, however, upon discovering she was a killer, he left for good this time, leaving her heartbroken.
Love Is Blind UK is available to watch on Netflix.
David Ellison finally clinched his prize Thursday, completing Skydance Media’s $8-billion takeover of the historic Paramount.
But the tech scion immediately faced questions about President Trump’s boast that he expects $20 million in free advertising and programming as part of a settlement to end Trump’s lawsuit over CBS “60 Minutes” edits. The settlement cleared the way for Skydance’s takeover of the company that, in addition to CBS, includes MTV, Comedy Central and the storied Paramount Pictures.
Last month, Paramount paid $16 million to settle the lawsuit, which 1st Amendment experts said had no merit. Three weeks later, Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount was approved by federal regulators.
If Skydance participated in such a deal to give free public service announcements to Trump to settle his “60 Minutes” lawsuit, viewers are going to have to watch CBS to find out.
The first question Ellison, the newly minted chairman and chief executive of Paramount, fielded from reporters during a news briefing Thursday was about the purported PSAs. Ellison would not directly answer it.
“We are not going to politicize anything today,” Ellison said at the event held at Paramount headquarters in Times Square in New York.
Paramount Global handled the settlement and Skydance was not involved “in any way,” Ellison said. But Trump — who has a friendly relationship with Ellison’s father, Larry — has proclaimed numerous times that he’s been promised $20 million in free air time for public service announcements that promote causes favored by the White House. Trump’s former agent Ari Emanuel also helped Ellison make its case to the president to allow the deal to go forward.
Ellison and the other top executives stated their support for the news division at the news conference. Ellison said CBS News and “60 Minutes” were among the first stops on his tour of the company’s offices after the deal was closed.
As for the news ombudsman that Skydance agreed to as part of the terms to get approval, Paramount’s new president, Jeff Shell, said the position should not be viewed as a censor.
“The ombudsman is meant to be a transparency vehicle, not an oversight vehicle,” Shell said. “We do believe in transparency.”
Asked how Skydance will handle the ongoing attacks on mainstream media that continue to come from the White House, Ellison said the company will stand its ground.
“We’re obviously going to be fierce defenders of our talent,” Ellison said. “We always have been.”
Before the news conference, Ellison put out a mission statement for the merged company, promising to combine the company’s storied movie and TV properties with technological prowess. Paramount is also the home of several iconic but aging cable brand names, including MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.
“Moving forward, we will work with conviction and optimism to transform Paramount into a tech-forward company that blends the creative heart of Hollywood with the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley,” Ellison wrote.
The immediate challenge facing Skydance will be building the scale of Paramount+, which, despite a decent number of popular shows, has lagged in the streaming competition led by Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Ellison promised the direct-to-consumer offering can be “a leading global streaming service.”
The mogul is taking over the most-watched television network in CBS, but like the rest of the legacy media industry, it’s fighting the migration of viewers to streaming.
Ellison’s note made a point of praising “60 Minutes,” saying it has “a long tradition of impactful reporting led by seasoned journalists committed to accuracy, integrity, and public trust” and expressed thanks to the news division for continuing to toil through the controversy.
“We take immense pride in CBS News’ legacy of impactful journalism and look forward to continuing to foster a newsroom culture where journalists are empowered, trusted, and equipped to do their best work,” Ellison wrote.
The new company is now called Paramount, a Skydance Corp, with its stock trades under the PSKY ticker. Shares were trading down about 3%, to $11.25, in midday trading.
According to Ellison and his private equity Paramount investors, RedBird Capital Partners, the company will soon be positioned to reach new heights.
Ellison’s play for the studio began nearly two years ago during Hollywood’s summer of labor unrest, when then-controlling shareholder Shari Redstone’s family enterprise, National Amusements, found itself in a cash crunch after Paramount halted its dividend to its investors.
In December 2023, Redstone turned to Paramount’s board to approve the Skydance transaction. That triggered another fraught process as board members agonized over the structure of a deal that would reward rank-and-file shareholders — not just the Redstones.
The deal was finally signed July 7, 2024. As part of the Skydance buyout, the Redstones’ National Amusements Inc. was paid $2.4 billion. After the firm’s considerable debts are paid, the family should come away with about $1.75 billion.
Paramount shareholders will receive $4.5 billion. Skydance and RedBird Capital Partners also agreed to inject $1.5 billion into Paramount’s balance sheet to help pay down debt.
“Our investment in Paramount and long-term partnership with the Ellison family reflects our deep conviction in the value of world-class intellectual property and the potential to unlock substantial growth,” RedBird founder Gerry Cardinale said in a statement.
Jack Osbourne is set to make his small screen return on ITV this weekend, in what will be his first TV appearance since the tragic death of his rock legend father Ozzy
This weekend, Jack will make his first TV appearance on ITV since the unfortunate passing of his renowned rockstar father, Ozzy Osbourne, who sadly died at 76 years old on July 22. The 39-year-old television personality, who shot to fame at just 16 alongside his family on MTV’s At Home with the Osbournes, will be participating in the fifth series of ITV’s celebrity cooking competition, Cooking with the Stars, presented by Emma Willis.
In the pre-recorded episode scheduled to air this weekend, Jack will compete against seven other celebrities, hoping to impress the judges and secure the coveted Golden Frying Pan. ITV has assembled an impressive roster of celebrities for the new series, including Ekin-Su, EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy, and former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, reports the Express.
Jack Osbourne makes TV return after dad’s sad death(Image: Getty Images North America)
Viewers will likely already be familiar with the format of the competition – in each episode, the two celebrities with the lowest scores face off in the ultimate cook-off, with one contestant being eliminated immediately.
The stars will need to pull out all the stops to impress the judges if they hope to progress to the next round.
Just last week, Jack, his family and fans worldwide were left devastated by the sudden passing of Ozzy, who had been battling the debilitating disease Parkinson’s for years.
Jack Osbourne will be taking part in ITV’s Cooking with the Stars(Image: Getty)
His death occurred just days after he’d completed his final Black Sabbath’s Back To The Beginning gig in Birmingham, where it all started for Ozzy and his original bandmates.
In 2003, with his renowned wife Sharon Osbourne, 72, by his side, Ozzy was informed that his body carried a rare genetic mutation PARK 2 also known as PRKN2, giving him an early indication that he would eventually face the challenges of Parkinson’s.
Jack found fame alongside his family on MTV at just age 16(Image: MTV)
While no official cause of death has been announced yet, Ozzy’s loved ones and fans have witnessed his health deteriorate over the years. The rock star even suffered a fall resulting in a terrifying neck and spinal injury back in 2019, leading to the father-of-six undergoing numerous surgeries up until 2023.
Aware that his health was not improving, Ozzy made the tough decision, supported by his family, to perform one last time in his own farewell concert, which was greatly appreciated by his adoring fans.
Cooking with the Stars kicks off on Sunday, August 3 at 8pm on ITV1.
Speaking with musician and producer Adrian Quesada elicits a calming effect, as if a salve has been applied to the people conversing with him. His voice moves and bounces with intrigue and interest, but never catapults itself upward in decibels.
The soothing and entrancing qualities of his disposition mirror that of his latest album, “Boleros Psicodélicos II,” a 12-track sonic field trip through Quesada’s Latin American influences — and a testament to teamwork — that dropped on Friday.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the mellow Austin-based musician prefers to kick it in the background, fancying himself more of an Izzy Stradlin than a Slash — despite having his name splashed across his imminent record.
“I always consider myself more of a producer than an artist. Being a solo artist is a very recent thing for me,” Quesada told The Times on a recent sunny day by Echo Park Lake. “It’s really raw and kind of a weird thing for me because it’s not my style to be in the forefront. I just like to make the music. I try to move in silence.”
He managed to maneuver the music industry by flying under the radar up until a few years ago by playing in large ensembles. His former band, Grupo Fantasma, had 10 members; his mid-2000s Latin-funk group Brownout was also a dectet; and his Grammy-winning group, Black Pumas, had seven (sometimes eight) members. While he obscured himself physically, his musicianship and production skill always stood out.
Grupo Fantasma’s “El Existential” won a Grammy for Latin rock or alternative album in 2011. Black Pumas were nominated in the new artist category in 2020, then received three more Grammy nods in 2021 — which included record of the year for the track “Colors” and album of the year for the group’s eponymous album. Black Pumas also nabbed two Grammy nominations in 2022 and another one in 2024.
Quesada embarked on his journey as a solo artist with “Boleros Psicodélicos” — the spiritual precursor to his latest album. It featured covers of boleros from across Latin America, as well as original material, with Quesada enlisting artists such as iLe from Calle 13, Mireya Ramos and Gaby Moreno to lend their voices to the project.
The Times called that 2022 album a “tropical mystery-thriller of a record,” imbued with a “crispy, 1960s psych-rock feel [that] … sets the scene for Latin indie’s best and brightest vocalists to truly sparkle.”
“Boleros II” finds Quesada as aurally slick as ever as he tackles the oft-covered romantic Spanish standard “Cuatro Vidas,” plus Los Pasteles Verdes’ “Hoy Que Llueve” and brand-new tracks — all while integrating his signature three-over-two rhythms.
(James Carbone / For De Los)
Born and raised in the border town of Laredo, Texas, Quesada always felt he was “at the crossroads of a crossroad.”
“It’s not quite Mexico, but it’s not quite Texas and it’s not quite the Rio Grande Valley,” Quesada said. “Laredo is completely bilingual, everybody just speaks Spanglish. I didn’t have a distinction between English and Spanish and it was a couple of different cultures together. Now with music, people seem really caught up on genres — this is in Spanish and this is in English. And none of that really fazes me.”
Like most American kids of the ’80s and ’90s, Quesada’s biggest source of musical consumption came from binge-watching MTV, with a sprinkling of recommendations from friends.
“I was home a lot by myself and I would just watch MTV, so I used to watch all the shows: ‘Yo! MTV Raps,’ ‘Headbangers Ball,’ ‘Alternative Nation’ and ‘120 Minutes,’” he said. “That was where I was discovering stuff. And then friends had an older cousin who used to make me cool tapes, and other friends would pass around hip-hop tapes.”
Quesada says he finally became curious about what a music producer does after listening to N.W.A in his teen years. He recalls sitting in front of his Casio keyboard with its pre-programmed drum machine and trying to dissect the intricacies of what producer Dr. Dre was able to craft.
Revealing the arbitrary nature of self-imposed borders — of both countries and genres — is one of Quesada’s artistic goals, opting to build bridges and not walls.
“There’s a thing called the narcissism of small differences, which means we can’t get over our differences that we have with other people that are so minuscule, we have to differentiate ourselves,” Quesada said. “And I’m starting to finally feel a responsibility for showing people nothing is that different. Latin rhythms are not that different from soul rhythms, or funk rhythms, or rock ’n’ roll. That’s probably the biggest [impact] my upbringing has on me.”
Despite his deeply Texas roots and sensibilities, Quesada’s “Boleros II” and his recent life experiences have been immensely L.A.-coded.
Quesada was nominated for original song at this year’s 97th annual Academy Awards, for writing the track “Like A Bird” with Abraham Alexander, as featured in the Colman Domingo-led film “Sing Sing.”
“I had fun with that. I was catching key things in the movie, seeing what they did visually, and what I could do musically on the song,” he said of working on the piece.
That process led to him spending more time in L.A. than anticipated. “The Oscars kind of flipped my world upside down,” he said. “I had to be here a lot between the nomination being announced and Oscars night. That was the first three months of the year.”
Carrying the L.A. momentum from the Academy Awards to “Boleros II” is the notable presence of Angelenos on the album, including Hawthorne’s perpetual sadboi Cuco, El Monte native Angélica Garcia and Carson soul singer Trish Toledo. (L.A. producer Alex Goose may not be Latino, but his intrepid hip-hop production chops blend seamlessly with Quesada’s eclectic sensibilities.)
“L.A.’s such a predominant Latino town,” said Quesada. “All the references I was showing Angelica, Trish and Cuco, they were very familiar with all that stuff. It came really natural to them. So I do think there’s something with L.A. where they get it culturally here. I leaned on a lot of L.A. artists.”
Quesada is currently touring as part of Trio Asesino, in support of Hermanos Gutiérrez on their U.S. tour. Quesada will perform songs from “Boleros II” at L.A.’s Grand Park on Aug. 2, as part of a free summer concert series by Grand Performances. (Editor’s note: De Los will be a co-presenter of Quesada’s performance.)
“‘Sing Sing’ was about rehabilitation through the arts and how it can change people’s lives, not just reaching people as a fan, but also reaching more kids who can take up art,” Quesada said of the mission of the Grand Performances series. “I believe in the power of art. Everything from a song inspiring a whole movement to a song just making you smile for the day, that’s the power of music.”
TEEN Mom star Cheyenne Floyd has revealed she’s pregnant with her third child on the show’s season premiere.
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter fans figured out the 32-year-old mom of two’s news ahead of time after catching a tell-tale detail in the background of the season finale teaser.
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Cheyenne Floyd recently covered her stomach on a trip to Turks & Caicos with Yris Palmer and Kylie JennerCredit: Instagram/Cheynotshy
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Two positive pregnancy tests were teased on a Teen Mom: The Next Chapter season finale promo clipCredit: Instagram/Teenmom
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Cheyenne is a proud mom to Ryder and AceCredit: Instagram/cheynotshy
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Cheyenne was emotional while talking about her fertility struggle on the show’s latest seasonCredit: MTV
On the finale’s last moments, Cheyenne tells the camera that she’s going to start fertility treatments in the coming days – but feels she needs to take a pregnancy test ahead of time.
“Oh my God, it says that I’m pregnant,” she says after taking two Clear Blue tests. “Oh my God, I’m shaking!”
In the next scene, she tells Ryder, who becomes so excited and emotional, she bursts into tears.
After the scene aired, Cheyenne announced her pregnancy to her fans on Instagram.
“And when we had nothing left to give, we surrendered it all to God,” she wrote.
“We told Him we couldn’t carry it anymore — and He answered.
“Not in our timing, but in His.
“This little life is proof that even in the waiting, even in the heartbreak, miracles are still being written.”
Teen Mom Cheyenne Floyd finally responds to pregnancy rumors after hinting she’s expecting baby number three
EMOTIONAL STRUGGLE
Her struggle to get pregnant with her third child was a focus of the show’s latest season.
“Zach and I have been trying to get pregnant for a year and a half now and just being told you’re not fertile, it just doesn’t work. It’s hard. It’s really hard,” she told Us Weekly.
“I just want to know, Why didn’t anybody tell me? I’m crying in the bathroom by myself and then calling my best friend.
“What do I do? It’s hard. It’s so hard. But that’s why I wanted to talk about it on the show, and the influx of messages that I’ve got from people that are like, ‘Thank you.’”
In a finale promo, the narrator promised one cast member would reveal their secret pregnancy on the episode.
Fans initially thought the star was Jade Cline, 27, who was two weeks late on her period and bought a pregnancy test on the previous episode.
But a eagle-eyed viewer caught that the pregnancy tests in the promo were placed on a counter that looked to be the same as those in Cheyenne and Zach’s Los Angeles home.
“Shout out to Zach for literally zooming in on the countertop in their house tour video,” a Reddit user said.
In another clue, Cheyenne recently covered up her stomach in a swimsuit on a recent trip to Turks & Caicos for friend Yris Palmer’s birthday.
Kylie Jenner was also on the trip, and spoiled the birthday girl with a massive $39k-a-night beach mansion.
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Cheyenne, here with Ryder, often takes her kids on tropical vacationsCredit: Instagram /Cheyenne Davis
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Ryder, here with the family at graduation, goes to school with Kardashian kids including Rob’s daughter DreamCredit: Instagram/cheynotshy
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Cheyenne co-parents Ryder with her ex Cory Wharton and his girlfriend Taylor SelfridgeCredit: Photography by Diego Canseco
Chad Smith remembers the night in 2003 when the Red Hot Chili Peppers played for an audience of 80,000 or so amid the rolling hills of the Irish countryside.
After a somewhat fallow period in the mid-’90s, the veteran Los Angeles alt-rock band resurged with 1999’s eight-times-platinum “Californication” and its 2002 follow-up, “By the Way,” which spawned the chart-topping single “Can’t Stop.” To mark the moment, the Chili Peppers brought a crew to document their performance at Slane Castle, where they headlined a full day of music that also included sets by Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age, for an eventual concert movie.
“Everything’s filmed now, but back then it was a big shoot,” Smith, the band’s drummer, recently recalled. “You can get a little self-conscious. At the beginning, I f— something up — nothing nobody would know, but we would know — and Flea kind of looked at me,” he said of the Chili Peppers’ bassist. “We gave each other this ‘Oh s—’ look. We laughed it off, and I don’t think I thought about it after that because the crowd was so engaged. The energy was incredible.”
Twenty-two years later, the Chili Peppers are bringing that 2003 gig to screens again — only this time they’re string puppets.
“Can’t Stop” is director David Fincher’s re-creation of the band’s rendition of that tune at Slane Castle. Part of the just-released fourth season of the Emmy-winning Netflix anthology series “Love, Death + Robots,” the animated short film depicts the Chili Peppers — Smith, Flea, singer Anthony Kiedis and guitarist John Frusciante — as dangling marionettes onstage before a veritable sea of the same. As the band rides the song’s slinky punk-funk groove, we see Flea bust out some of his signature moves and Kiedis swipe a fan’s cellphone for a selfie; at one point, a group of women in the crowd even flash their breasts at the frontman.
The puppets aren’t real — the entire six-minute episode was computer-generated. But the way they move looks astoundingly lifelike, not least when one fan’s lighter accidentally sets another fan’s wires on fire.
So why did Fincher, the A-list filmmaker behind “Fight Club” and “The Social Network,” put his considerable resources to work to make “Can’t Stop”?
“A perfectly reasonable inquiry,” the director, who executive produces “Love, Death + Robots,” said with a laugh. “First and foremost, I’ll say I’ve always wanted a Flea bobblehead — it started with that. But really, you know, sometimes there’s just stuff you want to see.”
Why did David Fincher turn the Chili Peppers into puppets? “First and foremost, I’ll say I’ve always wanted a Flea bobblehead — it started with that. But really, you know, sometimes there’s just stuff you want to see.”
(Netflix)
Fincher, 62, grew up loving Gerry Anderson’s “Thunderbirds” series featuring his so-called Supermarionation style of puppetry enhanced by electronics. But the Chili Peppers project also represents a return to Fincher’s roots in music video: Before he made his feature debut with 1992’s “Alien 3,” he directed era-defining clips including Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up,” Madonna’s “Express Yourself” and “Vogue” and George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90.” (Fincher’s last big music video gig was Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie” in 2013.) In addition to “Thunderbirds,” he wanted “Can’t Stop” to evoke the ’80s work of early MTV auteurs like Wayne Isham and Russell Mulcahy — “that throw 24 cameras at Duran Duran aesthetic,” as he put it.
Fincher said he knew his puppet concept would require “a band you can identify just from their movement,” which seems like a fair way to describe the Chili Peppers. He recalled first encountering the band around 1983 — “I think it was with Martha Davis at the Palladium?” he said — and was struck by a sense of mischief that reminded him of the “elfin villains” from the old Rankin/Bass TV specials.
“I feel like Finch got the spirit of me,” said Flea, 62, who’s known the director socially for years. The bassist remembered discussing “Can’t Stop” with Fincher at a mutual friend’s house before they shot it: “I was talking about how I still jump around onstage and my body still works really good. But I used to dive and do a somersault while I was playing bass — like dive onto my head. And now I’m scared to do it.” He laughed. “Some old man thing had happened where I’m scared to dive onto my face now. Finch went, ‘Well, Puppet Flea can do it.’”
Sketches of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and bassist Flea as puppets in Vol. 4 of Netflix’s “Love, Death + Robots.”(Netflix)
After doing a day of motion capture with the band at a studio in the Valley, Fincher and a crew of animators from Culver City’s Blur Studio spent about 13 months working on “Can’t Stop.” Fincher said the hard part was giving the marionettes a feeling of suspension.
“With the mo cap, you’re capturing the action of a character who has self-determination,” he said, referring to a human Chili Pepper, “then you’re applying that to an object that has no self-determination,” meaning a puppet controlled by an unseen handler. “It’s so much trickier than it looks. But that was kind of the fun, you know? I mean, not for me,” he added with a laugh.
Asked if the production involved any use of AI, Fincher said it didn’t. “It’s Blur — it’s a point of pride for them,” he said. But he also shrugged off the idea that that question has become a kind of purity test for filmmakers.
A digital rendering of the Chili Peppers as puppets.
(Netflix)
“For the next couple of months, maybe it’ll be an interesting sort of gotcha,” he said. “But I can’t imagine 10 years from now that people will have the same [view]. Nonlinear editing changed the world for about six weeks, and then we all took it for granted.
“I don’t look at it as necessarily cheating at this point,” he continued. “I think there are a lot of things that AI can do — matte edges and roto work and that kind of stuff. I don’t think that’s going to fundamentally ruin what is intimate and personal about filmmaking, which is that we’re playing dress-up and hoping not to be caught out.”
As he reportedly works on an English-language version of “Squid Game” and a sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” did making “Can’t Stop” lead Fincher to ponder the state of the music video now that MTV is no longer in the business of showcasing the form?
“Well, the audience that MTV aggregated — in retrospect, that was time and a place,” he said. “Remember, the Beatles were making music videos — they just called it ‘Help!’ There was no invention at all on MTV’s part.
“What I do miss about that — and I don’t think we’ll ever see it again — was that I was 22 years old and I would sketch on a napkin: This is kind of the idea of what we want to do. And four days later, $125,000 would be sent to the company that you were working with and you’d go off and make a video. You’d shoot the thing in a week, and then it would be on the air three weeks after that.
“You make a television commercial now and there’s quite literally 19 people in folding chairs, all with their own 100-inch monitor in the back. The world has changed.” He laughed.
“I started my professional career asking for forgiveness rather than permission, and it’s been very difficult to go the other direction.”
