Legendary NBA announcer Marv Albert -- the "voice of basketball" -- is stepping away from the mic ... with the Hall of Famer confirming his retirement at the end of the 2021 season.
79-year-old Albert has been calling games for 55 years -- spending 22 years with Turner Sports. He's called 25 NBA All-Star Games, 13 NBA Finals and the 1992 Olympics, covering the iconic "Dream Team."
He's also worked at 8 Super Bowls and Stanley Cup Finals ... as well as NFL games, horse racing, tennis, baseball and more.
Albert will be signing off one final time after the conclusion of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals ... with TNT set to air a 30-minute tribute in his honor.
"My 55 years of broadcasting the NBA has just flown by and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many wonderful and talented people," Albert said Monday.
"Now, I’ll have the opportunity to hone my gardening skills and work on my ballroom dancing."
Albert -- known for his signature "YES!" catchphrase -- kickstarted his career with the New York Knicks in 1963 and went on to work with NBC Sports and CBS Sports as well, before joining TNT in 1999.
Albert was honored with the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997 ... and has a stuffed trophy case with numerous other awards for his work.
NBA commish Adam Silver praised Albert ... saying, "There is no voice more closely associated with NBA basketball than Marv Albert’s."
"My first memories of the NBA were of listening to Marv call a game with his signature style, iconic phrases and unparalleled passion. From his remarkable run as play-by-play announcer for the Knicks to his prominent national roles calling our marquee games on NBC and Turner Sports, Marv has been the soundtrack for basketball fans for nearly 60 years."
"We congratulate him on a Hall of Fame career that is simply unmatched.”
3:15 PM PT -- HFPA has responded to NBC putting their award show on the shelf for a year, and it looks like the move lit a fire under their ass -- 'cause they've got a way quicker (and excruciatingly detailed) timeline on what they're going to do to shape up ... and exactly when.
UPDATE
The org says, "Regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes, implementing transformational changes as quickly -- and as thoughtfully -- as possible remains the top priority for our organization." They add, "We invite our partners in the industry to the table to work with us on the systemic reform that is long overdue, both in our organization as well as within the industry at large."
UPDATE
Starting this week, HFPA will begin the process of adding 20 new members (presumably all of whom will be BIPOC) by August ... and increasing their membership by 50% in 18 mos. By the end of May, HFPA is aiming to hire a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant, a bunch of other execs, roll out a new code of conduct and train their members up ASAP.
UPDATE
Come June, they're planning to review new bylaws with an independent firm they're bringing on, and also form a new credentials committee ... while sending out ballots to vote on these changes. In July, they're hoping all the new bylaws will be adopted and all the changes will go into effect -- and when August rolls around, they want to admit their new class of HFPA members. There's A LOT to do, but HFPA wants everyone to know ... they're on it.
Looks like there will be one less award show next year ... NBC just axed the 2022 Golden Globes because of a lack of diversity within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
The network announced its decision to cut ties with the Golden Globes Monday, citing the need for "meaningful reform" at the HFPA, which is stirring outrage in Hollywood due to a lack of people of color among its members.
NBC says it won't air the Golden Globes in 2022, but the network's leaving the door open for the award show's return in January 2023, as long as the HFPA follows through with a new plan to increase membership among POC.
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Remember, the HFPA -- a non-profit made up of international journalists who put on (and vote for winners of) the Golden Globes -- has been called out for reportedly having ZERO Black members for several years now.
The hosts of this year's Golden Globes, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, even raised the issue during NBC's February broadcast.
NBC's decision to ax the Globes comes the same day Tom Cruise reportedly returned his 3 Golden Globe trophies to the HFPA in a sign of protest.
6:54 AM PT -- 5/8 -- LaKeith Stanfield tells TMZ ... "Yesterday I entered an online chat room on ClubHouse about the teachings of Louis Farrakhan. When the room’s participants noticed me, I was quickly made a moderator of this room. At some point during the dialogue the discussion took a very negative turn when several users made abhorrent anti-Semitic statements and at that point, I should have either shut down the discussion or removed myself from it entirely. I condemn hate speech and discriminatory views of every kind. I unconditionally apologize for what went on in that chat room, and for allowing my presence there to give a platform to hate speech. I am not an anti-Semite nor do I condone any of the beliefs discussed in that chat room."
LaKeith Stanfield's under fire for his involvement in a Clubhouse discussion about Louis Farrakhan's anti-Semitism that devolved into a cesspool of hateful conspiracy theories and comments about Jewish people.
The recently Oscar-nominated actor was a moderator for a discussion on the Clubhouse app Wednesday night, and although he's not accused of spewing any anti-Semitic speech himself ... many are outraged he did nothing to speak out against it either.
The Clubhouse discussion Stanfield was monitoring began when another chat -- titled, "Did Min. Farrakhan Tarnish His Legacy by Being Antisemitic?" -- got shut down by its moderator for becoming too inflammatory.
Very interesting choice, LaKeith Stanfield. Always interesting to see who stands by and co-signs vile Jew hatred. pic.twitter.com/kh8ABvKkBi
Instead of ending the convo, someone launched the second room titled, "Someone Ended the Room About Farrakhan" ... and that's where things got very disturbing, with one participant describing comments as "worse than things that I’ve read or heard about neo-Nazis saying."
When a Jewish woman in the room confronted Stanfield about why he was allowing the hate speech to continue unchecked, he skirted the issue and implied he was trying to remain neutral ... according to The Daily Beast.
For some people in the room that was inexcusable behavior from an influential Hollywood star with 79,000 followers on the Clubhouse app ... and they question his intentions.
Now, LaKeith did join another Clubhouse chat Thursday moderated by a panel of Jewish educators who wanted to address the hate speech they had witnessed ... and he admitted he fell short moderating.
He said if he continues to choose to be a moderator in a certain room, he needs to pay "attention to what is actually being discussed and determine if that’s a discussion that you really want to get into."
Stanfield also explained he lacked knowledge about "the origins of Judaism in Jewishness," but suggested he enjoys Clubhouse because he learns a lot from it.
He said ... "I've been in a couple rooms where a lot of s**t has been discussed and talked about, very heightened emotional states. It’s been very enlightening and interesting to me."
LaKeith's response was well-received within the room. Outside of it, however, you gotta wonder how a 29-year-old man didn't see the grossly anti-Semitic remarks for what they are ... hate speech.
Questlove says he had the time of his life DJ-ing the Oscars over the weekend, but his one regret ... he couldn't shoo away winners who took forever with their acceptance speeches.
We got "The Tonight Show" band frontman heading into work Tuesday at NBC Studios in NYC and he told our guy he was ordered by Oscars producer Steven Soderbergh to stand down on playing any kind of wrap-up-your-speech music.
The famous DJ said compiling his walk-off music was one of the first tasks he completed when he got the gig ... but Soderbergh, one of 3 producers of the Oscars, foiled the plan.
That's too bad ... 'cause Questlove said his playlist was tight and a perfect sendoff to long-winded winners.
All good though ... Questlove says he's been going to the Oscars for a decade now and really enjoyed the new format. So much so ... he said he hopes it's the new normal.
There were some pretty cool moments (albeit scripted) ... like when Questlove played EU's classic "Da Butt" and got Glenn Close to play along and dance her ass off.
Chadwick Boseman's family has a message for those saying the late actor got snubbed from an Oscar ... he was NOT snubbed, and shout out to Sir Anthony Hopkins for the win.
Chadwick's brother, Derrick Boseman, tells TMZ ... he doesn't view Chadwick not winning an Oscar for Best Actor as a snub because every nominated actor was excellent and deserving of the award. He says the family isn't upset or agitated whatsoever that Chadwick's name wasn't called at the end of the Oscars ceremony.
TMZ.com
What's more ... Derrick tells us the family wishes Hopkins and his family all the best because, as Derrick put it, "I"m sure [Anthony] would if Chad won." Don't forget ... after AH won the award for his role in 'The Father' his gracious message included a shout-out to Chadwick.
As we first reported ... a throng of celebs felt Chadwick got snubbed following his stellar performance on 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' ... his last role before he died. Model Winnie Harlowbrought it up herself ... calling it "insane" Chadwick didn't get a statue.
Derrick says Chadwick wasn't one to put too much value on the Oscars anyway. Derrick says Chadwick "always described them to me as a campaign." That being said ... Derrick says, yes, an Oscar would have been an achievement, but was never an obsession.
Chadwick Boseman's impact on and off the screen goes far beyond his trophy case ... so says Reggie Bush, who tells TMZ Sports the actor's posthumous Oscar snub doesn't define his legacy.
Many believe the "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" star was robbed of Best Actor honors at last night's Academy Awards ... with Anthony Hopkins winning for his role in "The Father."
We spoke with Bush about the results outside Spring Place in Beverly Hills ... and he makes it clear Boseman's body of work speaks for itself -- Oscar or no Oscar.
"It would have been nice to see him win, but it was great to see all the nominees get a shot," Bush tells us.
"Chadwick Boseman, he's a legend regardless. No matter if he wins or not. A trophy is not gonna validate what he did. The work he put in validates that."
It's almost as if Bush is reflecting on his own experiences -- the former NFLer forfeited his 2005 Heisman Trophy after an investigation determined he committed NCAA violations by receiving improper benefits.
Even though his name and image were scrubbed from USC's campus and record books, nothing will change the fact that Bush is easily one of the best -- if not THE best -- college football players of all time.
Taking all that into consideration, it's no wonder Bush isn't sweating Boseman's snub.
There's also another reason why Bush was watching the Oscars -- did you know Andra Day, who was nominated for Best Actress, is his step-sister?!?!?
IT'S TRUE!!! Check out the awesome exchange Reggie and his mom have with our camera guy when they drop that truth bomb!!
Brad Pitt's opportunity to announce an Oscar winner from a film he helped make ... turned into a bit of a diss on live TV ... courtesy of the Best Supporting Actress winner.
Yuh-Jung Youn won the category for her role in "Minari." We know, ya probably didn't see the film -- like many of this year's nominees -- but you'd have to believe Brad did ... because he produced it!!! However, Youn was clearly not impressed.
She gave Brad a shout-out that, whether intended it or not, played like a major diss. Youn said, "Mr. Brad Pitt, finally! Nice to meet you. Where were you when we were filming in Tulsa?"
The limited crowd at L.A.'s Union Station laughed at Youn's remark, perhaps thinking it was a playful flirtation ... and, who knows? Maybe it was an inside joke for the cast and Brad, one of their executive producers.
But, to the general Hollywood public, it seems like she was upset Brad wasn't more hands-on during filming. Anyway, Youn and Brad did get a chance to greet each other as she walked off stage. Check out the interaction ... seems like neither was too bent.
Susan Sarandon and Cynthia Erivo are planning to draw attention to a little-discussed issue they want people to know about during the Academy Awards ... hospital pricing transparency.
TMZ has learned a PSA is set to air Sunday during ABC's broadcast of the award show -- which will star the two Oscar-caliber actresses doing a spot for a campaign known as Power to the Patients ... a national org that fights for patient rights when it comes to this issue.
We got a hold of the ad early, and it looks like Suze and Cynthia are fully on board with the effort ... noting that hospitals across the country are required by law -- as of this year -- to give patients a full rundown of what their services cost ... BEFORE using 'em on folks.
Most people who've been to the ER or who've had long-term hospital stays know this nightmare all too well ... you're in there getting treated for whatever it is you need, and not long after -- you get a FAT bill in the mail that amounts to tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars you never knew you were agreeing to while being treated.
The whole idea here is educational ... basically letting people know they have a right to know going in, and not to be afraid to demand a hospital's staff to disclose that type of info.
It's a worthy cause, for sure, and one that'll definitely get eyeballs come showtime.
The biggest night in Hollywood is on deck and TMZ is giving you the chance to win a quick $10,000 ... all ya gotta do is nail 6 questions about Sunday night's award show and its winners!!!
"Fox Bet Live" host Rachel Bonnetta joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday to break down TMZ's Bust the Movie Awards Contest on the Fox Bet Super 6 app.
The contest is fun and free to play ... you just have to download the Super 6 app to enter for a chance to win big come Sunday night.
The premise here is pretty simple ... if you correctly answer 6 questions about what will unfold during Sunday's awards, you'll have the chance to win the $10,000 prize.
Rachel gives us her picks for some of the prop bet-style questions ... like how many acceptance speeches will be interrupted by music, how many fellow nominees will the Best Actress winner thank by name and what type of tie will the Best Actor winner wear ... and she's got some pretty good reasoning.
The full interview with Rachel airs on "TMZ Live" Thursday, so check your local listings.
There's no purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the US, excluding WA. 18 and older. See terms and conditions at foxsuper6.com. Sponsored & prize supplied by TSG Interactive US Services Limited.
Jim Steinman, who wrote and produced huge hits for Meat Loaf, Air Supply, Celine Dion and Bonnie Tyler, is dead ... TMZ has learned.
Steinman died Monday in Connecticut, according to the state's medical examiner. The cause of death is unclear. We do know it appears it was sudden ... there was a medical emergency call to his home around 3:30 AM Sunday to transport a male patient.
Jim's perhaps best known for his songwriting work on Meat Loaf’s "Bat Out of Hell" -- one of the best selling albums of all time -- and "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell" ... writing and producing the smash hit, "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)."
Steinman's got his fingerprints all over Bonnie Tyler's albums, writing and producing her biggest hit, "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Jim also wrote and composed Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and Barry Manilow's "Read 'Em and Weep," which was originally written for Meat Loaf.
He's also the brainchild behind another power ballad, "It's All Coming Back To Me Now," first recorded by Pandora's Box and then made famous with Celine Dion's cover.
Jim also worked with Def Leppard, Barbra Streisand, Billy Squier and The Sisters of Mercy. You wanna talk about accomplishments ... for 3 straight weeks in 1983, Jim was responsible for the #1 and #2 songs on Billboard -- 'Total Eclipse' was in the top spot, and 'Making Love' was second.
The HOF says members of the 2020 class were each asked "to select previous inductees to accompany and present them to their peers" during the ceremony.
In the case of Kobe, who passed away in January 2020, the decision was left for his family -- and they chose MJ.
Everyone knows ... Kobe modeled his entire career after Jordan and they grew close over the years.
In fact, after Kobe's death, Michael Jordan took the mic at Staples Center and paid tribute to Mamba in a very emotional and memorable speech to the L.A. crowd.
"When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died," MJ said at the time.
Here is the rest of the list of HOFers and their presenters ...
Patrick Baumann, presented by Russ Granik (’13), Vlade Divac (’19)
Kobe Bryant, presented by Michael Jordan (’09)
Tamika Catchings, presented by Alonzo Mourning (’14), Dawn Staley (’13)
Tim Duncan, presented by David Robinson (’09)
Kevin Garnett, presented by Isiah Thomas (’00)
Kim Mulkey, presented by Michael Jordan (’09)
Barbara Stevens, presented by Geno Auriemma (’06), Muffet McGraw (’17)
Eddie Sutton, presented by John Calipari (’15), Bill Self (’17), Sidney Moncrief (’19)
Rudy Tomjanovich, presented by Calvin Murphy (’93), Hakeem Olajuwon (’08)
WWE Superstar Bianca Belair was overcome with emotion after making history Saturday night as part of the first 'WrestleMania' main event to feature 2 black female superstars.
... and when we spoke with her moments after the match, Bianca didn't hold back -- thanking her role models like Gail Devers and Flo Jo for inspiring her to chase her dreams!!
This whole video is just awesome -- you can feel Bianca's authentic excitement as she begins to realize she's the new 'SmackDown' women's champion!!!
Bianca took on Sasha Banks at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Saturday night -- ultimately dethroning the champ in a match that's being hailed as one of the best moments of the entire 'WrestleMania 37' weekend.
"This is the most amazing feeling ever," Bianca told us moments after the match ... "It's just something that I can't put into words."
When we brought up the historical significance, Bianca told us she felt blessed and honored -- and credited WWE for making it happen.
"It's so important. I always say representation is not a request. Representation is a requirement and WWE is a perfect example of how people should follow by propelling women and representing women and treating women in sports and in the world."
"It's an amazing moment to stand in the ring with Sasha Banks -- it was the first time two African-American women have had a title match at 'WrestleMania' and [it was the] main event."
Belair continued, "It's more than just about us. It's about women and Black women and two alpha women -- and representing and being role models. My role models inspired me and they're the reason why I'm here today."
Belair shouted out track stars Gail Devers and Florence Griffith Joyner -- along with Team USA gymnastics legend Dominique Dawes.
"They completely changed the trajectory of my life and where my life went," Belair said.
"I'm just so grateful to be able to contribute ... and do the same for others like my role models did for me."
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had glowing things to say about the NAACP's contribution to America -- especially in the year of the pandemic -- as they kicked off the NAACP Image Awards.
The Prez and the Veep recorded their praise for the org at The White House for Saturday's event. Biden made it clear ... the NAACP has been a key player, if not THE key player, in the advancement of equality for more than 100 years.
Harris then talked about the contributions Black entertainers have made to the arts, but also to advance social justice in America. She talked about the advancements but then acknowledged a lot more has to happen to achieve true equality.
Chadwick Boseman won the Outstanding Actor Award posthumously for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." As we reported, Boseman died at 43 after fighting colon cancer for more than 4 years ... a condition he kept from the public until the end,
Boseman's widow, Simone Ledward Boseman, thanked the crowd ... "As always, he would give all honor and glory to the most-high God ... He would thank his mom and dad, and he would give honor to the ancestors as we now honor him."
Johnny Manziel may have never become Johnny Football if it weren't for his 2012 arrest ... 'cause the former superstar says his grueling punishment after getting in trouble led to his Heisman-winning season.
Manziel was arrested for disorderly conduct and having a fake ID after getting in a fight at College Station on June 29, 2012 ... months before his breakout redshirt freshman season at Texas A&M.
28-year-old Manziel is now opening up on the fallout from his wild night of Irish car bombs and Patron ... saying he was forced to run gassers before and after every Aggies football practice as punishment -- which ended up being the ultimate blessing in disguise for a guy that was 4th on the depth chart at the time.
"In 11 days, I won the (starting) job doing these sprints, doing the whole thing," Manziel said on his "Ball Don't Lie" podcast with Mike.
"At the end of the year, I rushed for 1,500 yards. I outrushed Todd Gurley in the SEC. Nuts. My redshirt freshman year, the year I won the Heisman."
"I believe all that was directly correlated to me running those sprints at the beginning of the year and being in the dumbest shape on the team."
In other words, Johnny says if he hadn't gotten in trouble, his whole career would have played out completely differently.
"Without a doubt. I got punished and I won a Heisman for it. It's crazy. The bad doesn't always turn out so bad down the line."
Manziel became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman in 2012 ... but says he could have won ANOTHER if he had put in the work -- and it's his biggest regret.
"I think every day if I would of done what I need to do in between seasons, not only would I of won another Heisman, I would of put my team in a position to win a national championship."
He added ... "I wasn't voted team captain after winning the Heisman because I didn't show up to workouts, I didn't do what I need to do and I wasn't accountable to guys on my team."
Village People founder Victor Willis is teeing off on the Grammys, saying it disrespects recording artists and has a Hall of Fame so lame ... the group's rejecting the recent induction of its biggest hit.
Willis tells TMZ ... his legendary disco group told Grammy Interim President Harvey Mason that it's declining induction into the 2021 Grammy Hall of Fame because the Hall is "lacking" and "not taken seriously by the recording academy."
Willis -- the cop in the Village People -- takes serious issue with the lack of attention Grammy Hall inductees get, saying there's no mention of them during the actual Grammy Awards ... and there's no induction ceremony.
For the record, the group's iconic track "Y.M.C.A." specifically was inducted into the Grammys Hall of Fame in December, because it's only for singles or albums, not the artists -- but Victor's not even down with them honoring the song.
He calls the whole thing an insult the Village People want no part of until the Grammys "get their act together." He adds that when the group releases an album later this year, it likely won't even submit it for Grammy consideration.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are being compared to the likes of Pepe Le Pew and Dr. Seuss after their Grammy night performance of "WAP" prompted dozens of heated -- and sometimes amusing -- complaints to the FCC.
Based on the 80 or so reviews (yeah, that's what we'll call 'em) ... you'd have to say the rappers' were every bit as eye-popping and titillating as intended -- especially since one Colorado viewer groused it was "as if they were dancing in a strip club."
Bingo!!! Remember, the stage included a stripper pole and women drowning in dollar bills.
In many of the FCC complaints, uncovered by WFAA in Dallas, wardrobe was a big issue ... particularly for an Idaho viewer who called their outfits "absolutely disgusting" -- while a Texas critic said Megan was "barely dressed in a thong" with "naked look-alike legs."
Sorry, sir or ma'am, those were Meg's actual legs.
One person in NJ complained, "Why was that performance okay but Pepe Le Pew is offensive?" -- a reference to the Looney Tunes character getting canceled for allegedly perpetuating rape culture.
Likewise, another viewer wondered how Dr. Seuss's books were being yanked while Cardi is allowed to "sing about her [WAP] on national television."
Truth is, this was a light night for the FCC compared to something like Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl -- which drew 540,000 complaints!!
