New Girl renewed
New Girl renewed for fifth season. Fox Entertainment President David Madden:
Four seasons in, New Girl continues to be one of the smartest and most relatable comedies on television. The writing is razor-sharp, the ensemble is consistently hilarious, and we couldn’t be more proud of Liz [Meriwether], Brett [Baer], Dave [Finkel] and the entire New Girl team. We absolutely love this show and we’re so excited to bring it back for Season Five.
Informed flight school of depression
Lufthansa says Lubitz had informed the flight school about his previous mental health issues in 2009. Lufthansa:
In his correspondence, he informed the Flight Training Pilot School in 2009… about a previous episode of severe depression.
Threatens Israel
Anonymous releases a video threatening Israel with an “electronic holocaust” for their alleged crimes against Palestinians.
We’ll erase you from cyberspace as we have every year, 7 April 2015, will be an electronic holocaust. As promised in previous attacks, we will continue to electronically attack until the people of Palestine are free. As shown in previous attacks, we will continue to invade and attack your devices, websites and personal data…To the government of Israel, you have not stopped your endless human right violations. You have not stopped illegal settlements. You killed thousand people as in the last war against Gaza in 2014 . You have shown that you do not respect international law.
https://youtu.be/5wxzJsBmdd8
New Beauty cover
Dreyfus appears on the cover of spring/summer 2014 issue of New Beauty. She talks her fitness regime and growing old in public eye.
You’ve seen me age. I’ve been in showbiz for so long. From the first time people saw me on Saturday Night Live until now…it’s no secret that I’ve gotten older…I’ve gotten older in front of you and that is odd – it is still so strange to me that everyone has seen me age on a public stage. It’s totally changing and difficult.
On Air interview
Seacrest interviews Duff during On Air With Ryan Seacrest about her role in the TV show Younger.
I play this girl, Kelsey Peters, who is pretty motivated and driven in her work life and her personal choices are questionable. So, it’s fun to play that for me The show is all about reinventing yourself, and if and when you get stuck in a rut, or in that wheel of life where you’re just going and not really happy, the show is kind of challenging that. F- it, we can do it.
Groping accusation
Battilana accuses Weinstein of grabbing her breasts and slipping a hand under her skirt during a “business meeting.” She says she went to Weinstein’s third-floor office the day after the pair met on the red carpet at a Radio City Music Hall event. Police:
He initiated the contact. He saw her and spoke to her. She didn’t know who he was until he approached her.
Police say the get-together was billed as a chance for Battilana to discuss her career with the producer, but she claims Weinstein asked if her breasts were real before ignoring his protests and groping her and slipping a hand under her skirt. She tells police he finally backed off after she rejected his request for a kiss. Police:
He asked if her breasts were real before touching them. She asked him to stop, and he put his hand up her skirt. He asked for a kiss; she responded ‘No’.
After leaving Weinstein’s office Battilana contacted a friend and went to the police with her allegations later that night. The friend took her to the 9th Precinct stationhouse in the East Village, and officers there drove her to the 1st Precinct station in Tribeca to report the incident.
Indiana act ‘gay discrimination’
King comments on the act:
Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration act is gay discrimination, pure and simple. You can frost a dog turd, but it's still a dog turd.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 31, 2015
‘…this all points to Benghazi’
In an interview on The Steve Malzberg Show, Attkisson discusses Hilary Clinton’s email scandal. Attkisson believes that on Clinton’s personal email server that got wiped clean there must have been some really bad or embarrassing information, especially information on Benghazi. Attkisson says the deleted data had to have been worse than the scandal that was created by erasing it. She also briefly touches on the state of the news media.
In my experience, there must’ve been some very, very bad or embarrassing things on there, because it appears as if she’d rather take the heat for the actions erasing the server at a time when she knew it was being sought by Congress and under Freedom of Information Act request, and probably lawsuits … than turn over what was really in them. To me, this all points to Benghazi…I’ve spoken to current and former high-ranking intelligence officials who are appalled by the fact that this happened, as well as her explanation. [A]t the very least, they consider [the decision] extremely naïve and would make that person totally unqualified to be in the position she served if she really believes the things she was saying about security.
[T]oo often, in my view, the media waits for the daily news stories to be handed to them. They’re not often doing a lot of their own independent digging.
‘…nervous about the attacks on the NSA’
On the Hugh Hewitt Show, Bush says he is nervous about criticism of the NSA and he wishes Obama was better at defending government surveillance systems. Bush talks about the threat that “lone wolf terrorism” poses.
[lone wolf terrorism] is a serious threat in a world where we’re so connected with the rest of the world. We have people moving in and people moving out. …I think that this is an ongoing threat, and I hope that our counterintelligence capabilities are always vigilant. I’ve always been nervous about the attacks on the NSA, and somehow that we’re losing our freedoms by keeping the homeland safe. I think we need to be really vigilant about that.
He’s [Obama] actually enhanced the intelligence capabilities, in many ways, because technology has gotten better. But he never defends it. He never explains it. He never tries to persuade people that their civil liberties are being protected by the systems we have in place. If people knew that, I don’t think there’d be any doubt that they would want to have the ability to identify people from the outside that may be trying to coordinate with some people in the inside.
‘I don’t think of taking over. I’m joining the team.’
In an interview with the Associated Press, Noah talks about The Daily Show and his role. Noah doesn’t consider himself to be taking over the show, but rather he is simply joining a successful team of writers and producers. He goes on to talk about similarities between he and Stewart: they share the same progressive ideology and “think in a global space.” Noah says he is looking forward to being a part of election coverage because he loves the drama surrounding the campaigns.
I don’t think of taking over. I’m joining the team. It’s a huge ship that has won Emmys and Peabodys for a reason, because it’s a fantastic team of writers and producers working to make that show magic…One thing we both share: We are both progressives. Obviously where you’re from may inform a lot of your decisions. But traveling the world I’ve learned that progressives, regardless of their locations, think in a global space…When you are honest in your comedy, you have to acknowledge the world that you’re in. Through a comedic voice you’re talking about what needs to be talked about, whether it’s race relations or politics or anything that’s happening on a global or an American scale. That’s exactly the space “The Daily Show” is in.
Questioned by police
Police question Weinstein after a young woman claims he groped her at the Tribeca Film Center. No charges have been filed.
He initiated the contact. He saw her and spoke to her. She didn’t know who he was until he approached her.
Quits Instagram
Fry posts a blank picture on Instagram and declares that he is quitting the social media platform.
Newspapers, as ever, suck all the joy out of everything. Closing down. It was, briefly, fun. Bye.
https://instagram.com/p/02fpjVMycC/
Crew goes on drunken rampage
On a flight from England to Mexico, Eon’s film crew triggers an international air safety alert by going on a drunken rampage. Hi Fly sent a report to Eon, detailing the film crew’s misdeeds: they removed a safety pin from one of the aircraft’s doors; they vomited and urinated in the aisles; they flouted the aircraft’s strict no-smoking ban; and they verbally abused cabin crew and other passengers. After the plane landed, it appeared to workers that a bunch of wild animals had gone through the plane.
The behaviour of a handful of crew members got out of hand and made things very unpleasant for their fellow passengers. Eon has apologised to all the crew members who had to endure this intolerable behaviour.
Pays tribute to today’s martyrs
During Palm Sunday’s celebrations, Francis pays tribute to those who have been and who are being killed for their faith, especially referring to victims of ISIS.
We think too of the humiliation endured by all those who, for their lives of fidelity to the Gospel, encounter discrimination and pay a personal price…We think too of our brothers and sisters who are persecuted because they are Christians, the martyrs of our own time. There are many of them. They refuse to deny Jesus and they endure insult and injury with dignity.
Calls whistleblowers ‘whiners’
Reid says that the government whistleblowers who accused him of using political pressure to obtain special treatment for a Las Vegas casino are “a bunch of whiners.” Reid stated that it’s his job to pressure the federal government into fast-tracking decisions concerning his constituents’ needs.
If I had to do over again, I would do it again. If I did it over again, I’d probably be stronger than I was…The homeland security report came from a bunch of whiners at the Department of Homeland Security who they felt I guess that they weren’t included in my conversation. Maybe I should have called them.
On Air interview
Seacrest interviews Piven during On Air With Ryan Seacrest about his role as Harry Selfridge in the TV series Mr Selfridge.
He was an incredible character. Between nine and five, he was brilliant. At night, he could be a disaster. He loved to gamble and cheated on his wife, and yet, [he] came to his senses. It’s a cautionary tale [and] it’s the best work that I’ve ever done. It’s challenging when you’re on a station that is funded by the people. They don’t have any money to advertise. So, it’s up to me to be a one-man band. And it’s almost like a pop culture experiment to see how long it takes to possibly break a show with just one man. And I feel like the tide is turning.
On Air interview
Seacrest interviews Lopez during On Air With Ryan Seacrest about her single Feel The Light.
I didn’t write the song. The song was written by Stargate and it was written for the movie Home. And it was the one that they thought that I should do. I just feel really lucky because I think it’s an amazing song. My kids love it and that’s all that really matters.
Simon, Obama discussion
Obama and Simon discuss the war on drugs, prison reforms and The Wire.
I think it [The Wire] is one of the greatest — not just television shows but pieces of art — in the last couple of decades…I was a huge fan of it.
‘A colorful player and man’
In a brief statement, Buss reflects on Hundley’s contributions to the Lakers.
Hot Rod was a colorful player and man, and an important member of the early Lakers teams in the 1960s and therefore the history of our franchise. We’re saddened by his passing, and send our condolences to his family.
‘One of the best play-by-play announcers in the game’
Upon hearing the news of Hundley’s death, West gives this statement:
I am saddened by the news of the passing of my longtime friend, Rod Hundley. I first met Rod when I was 18 and he encouraged me to attend West Virginia University. We were Laker teammates and never lost contact…Rod was not only a great basketball player, but one of the best play-by-play announcers in the game. He will be missed by all those he touched through his legendary career as will his colorful story-telling.