“People on House Hunters -type shows have usually already bought the place that wins.”

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From The Hill

Trump’s “get things done and worry about the fallout later” approach has resulted in a series of failures, such as the Reflecting Pool renovation and the Iran deal, which have left the American public questioning his competence, accountability and judgement.

EXCLUSIVE: HBO has set its directing team for Season 2 of Task, and all are women. Georgi Banks-Davies (I Hate Suzie), Clare Kilner (House of the Dragon) and Kitty Green (The Assistant) will join returning director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Task, The Gilded Age) to helm Season 2 of the critically acclaimed crime drama […]

Source: Deadline.

A Gabby’s Dollhouse-inspired competition series is coming to Netflix. Hosted by Laila Lockhart Kraner, who voiced Gabby in the series and portrayed the character in the live-action movie, follows talented young baker-and-maker duos as they compete in whimsical baking and crafting challenges inspired by the magical world of Gabby. Four holiday-themed episodes will launch later […]

Source: Deadline.

NEW YORK (AP) — Clive Davis, the record company lawyer who became one of the music industry’s most powerful figures, launching or resurrecting the careers of such superstars as Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and Alicia Keys, has died, his family confirmed to the New York Times. He was 94.

Earlier this year, Davis was hospitalized following an upper respiratory issue and was released a few days later. He died in his Manhattan apartment, the Times reported. Messages sent to representatives for Davis were not immediately returned Monday.

Unlike other record moguls whose influence waned as they got older, Davis’ might only seemed to grow over his career, which spanned more than five decades, various genres and multiple labels. Into his 80s, he was directing the careers of everyone from Barry Manilow to “American Idol” winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.

His success stories were staggering, with Houston a crowning achievement and devastating tragedy: Davis signed her to his Arista record label when she was just a teen and turned her into America’s reigning pop princess: She racked up multiple No. 1 hits and became one of the top-selling artists in pop history before drug abuse hobbled her career. She died in a Los Angeles hotel room in 2012 just hours before she was to appear at the annual pre-Grammy Awards gala hosted by Davis, who had been convinced she was turning her life around.

“Maybe I should have been more skeptical,” Davis wrote in his 2013 memoir, “The Soundtrack of My Life,” “but I’ve always been optimistic, and I felt hopeful. It felt like old times.”

He also launched the career of multiplatinum, multiple Grammy winner Keys — and was quick to note other talents he signed, including Joplin and Billy Joel, Blood Sweat & Tears and other “all-timers,” as he so often put it.

“I signed Patti Smith, the great Renaissance woman … I signed Lou Reed … I signed the Grateful Dead,” he proudly touted in an interview with The Associated Press in 1999.

But Davis didn’t simply have an eye for new talent — he also knew how to keep veterans relevant decades after their first hit. Aretha Franklin, whose legend was made at Atlantic Records, flourished in her later years at Arista Records, as did Luther Vandross, who made his last albums for another Davis label, J Records.

Davis was also responsible for conceiving of the 1999 album “Supernatural,” which paired guitar god Santana with some of the day’s hottest talents. The record went on to win a record tying eight Grammys and gave Santana more success than he had ever enjoyed in his decades-long career.

He had middle aged star Rod Stewart trade in his rock hits for standards from “The Great American Songbook.” The album, released in 2003, sold millions and was so successful it spawned four titles in all.

Davis didn’t always make the right choices; he turned down a chance to sign up Meatloaf. And he and his collaborators didn’t always agree. He and producer David Foster fought bitterly over the arrangement for Houston’s all-time hit, a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Manilow strongly objected to recording “I Write the Songs,” noting that he didn’t even write the song, a Bruce Johnston ballad that became a signature hit for Manilow, who would have similar latter-day success mining the music of the 1950s, 60s and ‘70s.

“He’s just brilliant at picking ideas he thinks the public will connect,” raved Manilow, who had worked with Davis since he was a budding singer at Columbia Records.

Davis also had his struggles. Though he became president of Columbia Records in 1967 after joining the label in 1960 as a lawyer, by 1973 he was gone in a bitter fallout. The label accused him of mismanagement of funds and he was fired. Although Davis says he was later cleared, it wasn’t the end of his problems; he later was indicted on tax evasion charges, pleaded guilty to one count and had to pay a $10,000 fine.

However, Davis would declare victory: he says Columbia gave him the money to start Arista Records to resolve the dispute, and the label would become a huge success with artists like country superstars Brooks & Dunn, sassy R&B group TLC, Babyface, Houston, Franklin and others.

The label had huge success with a debut act — Milli Vanilli. But the male pop duo would become the embarrassment of the industry when, after winning a Grammy, it was revealed that they weren’t actually singing their songs (Davis blamed the debacle on the label’s European division, which he said signed them; the group was later stripped of its best new artist Grammy).

In 1999, as Arista was celebrating its 25th anniversary, Davis faced another crisis: the label’s then-parent company, BMG Entertainment, a division of German media conglomerate Bertelsmann, wanted him to retire; most of its executives were eased out by 60, and Davis was in his mid-60s.

In 2000, despite support from his superstar roster, the company ousted him in favor of producer and songwriter Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who would later become chairman of Island/Def Jam.

However, instead of severing its ties with Davis, BMG helped him launch J Records in what BMG has described as the largest record company startup ever created. Vandross was one of his initial artists, along with forgettable acts like the boy-band O-Town.

J Records was a success from the start, though, and only grew in stature with the arrival of a young singer named Keys, a piano-playing singer-songwriter with powerful pipes and dramatic R&B songs. Keys’ albums would go on to sell millions and win several Grammys.

His influence grew even more when Davis was tapped for BMG’s U.S. division.

He became a key backer of the careers of the winners of “American Idol,” guiding many albums to platinum status. The show’s link to Sony BMG came through a deal between Davis and 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by “Idol” creator Simon Fuller.

In 2007, however, Davis disagreed with the direction of Clarkson’s “My December,” and she publicly criticized him. The album was a flop, and she later apologized.

In 2008, Sony BMG replaced Davis as chairman and chief executive officer of the BMG label group, giving him the title of chief creative officer.

Davis, who was born on April 4, 1932, had four children. In his memoir, he confirmed longtime rumors that he was bisexual and had been living with a man in recent years.

“Do I feel I could have been similarly attracted to a woman?” Davis wrote. “The answer is yes.”

The post Clive Davis, music industry starmaker, dies at 94 appeared first on MS NOW.

From MS Now.

Will the extreme heat forecast for some parts of the UK last into next week? Chris Fawkes has the details.

Source: BBC.

Paul Pierce’s Father’s Day came with some serious drama … ’cause Princess Santiago says the basketball Hall of Famer forgot all about their baby boy … something she claims is becoming a theme. Princess unloaded on Paul in a series of Instagram…

From TMZ.

From The Hill

To view past editions of The Hill’s 12:30 Report, click here: https://bit.ly/30ARS1U To receive The Hill’s 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: https://bit.ly/3qmIoS9 –> A midday take on what’s happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.* *Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha–breaks down crying hysterically. Click in for The Hill’s midday…

La leyenda de la Selección Argentina se pronunció sobre una de las máximas figuras de la Albiceleste y su prometedor futuro.

This post was originally published on NBC News.

Pucker up … it’s National Kissing Day, and nobody celebrates with more enthusiasm than Hollywood’s biggest lovebirds! Just check out the photos and take some tips from couples like Claudia Sulewski and Finneas, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis…

From TMZ.

El defensor francés recuerda cómo vestir la camiseta de Francia hizo realidad un sueño de infancia. Además, habla de la unión del grupo, la influencia de Neymar y Ronaldinho, y su ambición de triunfar en el Mundial 2026.

This post was originally published on NBC News.

Sussex all-rounder James Coles is called up by England for their T20 series against India.

Source: BBC.