News Round-Up: April 3, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Here's a t-shirt (modeled by InstaHunk Ramses Principe) that I can totally relate to ;)

• The governor of Utah has signed into law the state's new, tougher hate crimes law with stricter punishments for those who commit crimes specifically due to bias. Yes - Utah!

• Even though Netflix cancelled the terrific One Day at a Time reboot, the streaming giant may be standing in the show's way of finding a new home.

• Starting out at a bus stop as young boys, James Corden and Tony Award winner Ben Platt tell the story of a life-long friendship using 9 different sets and 12 carefully curated songs all captured in one take.

• Investigators on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team say the four page letter by Attorney General William Barr didn't adequately portray the findings of their investigation.

• Stoning gays to death officially became the law of the land in Brunei today. Even Ellen DeGeneres has joined the boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei.

• Donald Trump's choices for ambassadorships has been, interesting, to say the least. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates — a wealthy real estate developer with no diplomatic experience. Ambassador to Morocco? A well-heeled car dealer. For Iceland? While well-traveled, the nominee had never even been to the Nordic country.

• The brilliant satirist, Randy Rainbow, offers his parody of the Disney classic, "Cruella DeVille," with a nod to our current clueless Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

🎶She might be even dumber than her boss...🎶 #CruellaDeVos 🍎😈 pic.twitter.com/8PhLorHukv

— Randy Rainbow (@RandyRainbow) April 2, 2019

Neil Patrick Harris & James Corden Try Their Hand At Singing Telegrams

James Corden and Neil Patrick Harris

 The Late Late Show host, James Corden, and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) share their adventures as singing telegram artists in a new skit for Corden’s late night talk show.

In the first of three performances, the dashing duo (adorned in red velvet tuxedoes) drop by a boxing gym to serenade a couple for their 19th wedding anniversary to the tune of Olivia Newton-John’s classic, “Physical.”

However, the tune got a change up for the moment resulting in lyrics like, “Anniversary, versary, it’s your anniversary, 19th anniversary!” while hunky boxers looked on.

Next up the musical men hit up a nail salon to sing in honor of a hot wax technician’s birthday via Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” albeit with new words:

Blue jean baby, LA lady, she works at the salon,
She’s given millions of good Brazilians, all those tiny hairs are gone

Unfortunately, there is a slight snag as the boys seem to have gotten their intel wrong and it’s not the woman’s birthday. #SadTromboneSound

And finally, there’s a performance to celebrate the adoption of a cat. There’s a small squabble about wearing cat ears, but you know how that turns out.

Launching into an altered version of “Memory” from the Broadway hit CATS, the twosome do their best with pawing movements, tail flicks and more, although the day’s tension seem to be wearing on the duo.

As he exits, Corden is asked to adopt a cat of his own but drops a truth bomb, “I hate cats.”

And the boys call it a day.

Watch below.

Ariana Grande & James Corden Serve Up 'Titanic' Mini-Musical

Ariana Grande & James Corden

 Ariana Grande dropped by The Late Late Show with James Corden earlier this week to promote her new album, Sweetener, set to drop August 17.

But the highlight of the appearance was Grande and Corden bringing the story of Titanic to life in a short mini-musical utilizing 13 songs and 9 different sets in one non-stop take.

Using songs from artists like Styx (“Come Sail Away”), Hall & Oates (“Rich Girl”), Lady Gaga (“Just Dance”), Vanilla Ice (“Ice Ice Baby”) and NSYNC (“Bye Bye Bye”), the duo manages to tell the story of the 1997 blockbuster movie in just five minutes.

And, of course, the only way to close out the mega-mix was for Grande to deliver a soaring Celine Dion tribute with “My Heart Will Go On.”

The LGBTQ ally also made an appearance on Corden’s Carpool Karaoke on Wednesday where she sang some of her hits, shared that the theme of her second birthday party was the movie Jaws, gave Corden some coaching on riffing, and pulled out some of her fantastic Celine Dion impersonation with a bit of “All Coming Back To Me Now.”

Dang, this girl is fierce. Watch the fun below and check out her new album here on iTunes.

James Corden's Perfect Melania Trump Parody of "Part Of Your World"

James Corden parodies "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid reimagined as a lonely, White House-bound Melania Trump.

I've got diamonds and purses aplenty,
I've got Donald's hair pieces galore,
You want red hats? I've got twenty.
But who cares? No big deal, I want more.

Out where they walk, out where they run
Out where they don't collude with Russians,
Wandering free, wish I could be part of that world...

Perfection.

The Late Late Show's James Corden Sings & Dances Some "L-O-V-E" To Transgender Military

The Late Late Show's James Corden trolled Donald Trump's latest policy debacle via a song and dance parody of Nat King Cole's "L.O.V.E."

But Corden's version, meant as commentary on Trump newly-tweeted transgender military ban, is spelled, "L.G.B.T."

Armed with a swing band and backup dancers, Corden doesn't miss his chance to skewer Trump's well-known sensitivities about his diminutive assets:

“Trump wants to seem like a manly man, overcompensating for his tiny... hands.”

Watch the clip below:

The Late Late Show Parodies Current Tenants Of The White House "When I Grow Up"

James Corden and The Late Late Show hit another out of the park with this parody of the current White House tenants 'back when.'

Composer Tim Minchin, Ben Platt (Dear Even Hansen), Abigail Spencer ("Timeless") and host James Corden perform a parody of Matilda's "When I Grow Up" playing the roles of Donald Trump, Sean Spicer, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon, respectively, wondering what running the world would be like as adults.

Just. Fab.

Watch below:

(h/t Boy Culture)

James Corden's "Beauty And The Beast" Production Literally Stops Traffic

The Late Late Show's James Corden literally stopped traffic this week with his latest "Crosswalk Musical"- Beauty and the Beast.

This "production" Corden gets some experienced help thanks to three stars of the new live-action version of the musical - Luke Evans, Dan Stevens and Josh Gad.

But, of course, the coveted role of "Belle" goes the curvaceous Corden himself.  Hilarious.

Watch below:

James Corden Remembers George Michael & The Birth Of Carpool Karaoke

James Corden, fresh from the holidays, takes time to honor music icon George Michael, who passed away recently.

In addition to Michael's music, Corden acknowledges the iconic singer's 2011 participation in the birth of a comedy skit  that what would evolve into Corden's now uber-popular "Carpool Karaoke" segments.

The Late Late Show: Carpool Karaoke With Madonna

US Weekly raves about the "carpool karaoke" episode we've all been waiting for The Late Late Show's James Corden to deliver:

Bitch, she’s Madonna. New York City drivers, beware: The Material Girl does not like to be cut off when she’s driving. The Queen of Pop joined James Corden for Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show on Wednesday, December 7, and the segment began with their black SUV getting cut off by a Manhattan bus. “Let’s drive up next to the bus. I want to give him what’s what,” Madonna, 58, told the host before calling him a p–sy. “You let people get away with bad behavior, they’re gonna do it again.”

First up came “Vogue,” as the pair began singing and striking poses, including a mile-high leg in the air from the singer. Then she began twerking as “Bitch I’m Madonna” played. Then they discussed whether her children liked her new music, and the Grammy winner admitted that while her four kids “are quite rebellious,” she’s “quite square.” “When I go home, I’m Julie Andrews,” she insisted.

Corden, 38, then changed the subject to men and marriage and asked what it was like hanging out with the late Michael Jackson. “You want me to kiss and tell then, don’t you?” she teased before admitting that she had kissed the King of Pop (with tongue), after getting him to loosen up with a glass of chardonnay. “Baby, I’ve been around,” she said.

Coming This Wednesday: "Carpool Karaoke With Madonna!"

This will kill.

I'm betting she'll Vogue - but will she "kiss and tell?"

I'm just saying. Make sure you watch The Late Late Show with James Corden Wednesday night.

Strike a pose. @Madonna #CarpoolKaraoke drops this Wednesday! pic.twitter.com/xM1s0nREYj

— The Late Late Show (@latelateshow) December 5, 2016

Madonna Tease Carpool Karaoke with James Corden

Madonna teased her Instagram followers with this shot with The Late Late Show's James Corden.

The Queen of Pop is apparently shooting an episode of Corden's wildly popular "Carpool Karaoke."

Sure to be a huge ratings maker.

Lady Gaga Joins James Corden For Carpool Karaoke

Lady Gaga, who only recently received her drivers license, is the latest superstar to join in the James Corden’s "The Late Late Show" Carpool Karaoke fun.

Along the way, the way the duo sing through Gaga classics like ”Perfect Illusion”, “Edge of Glory”, “Bad Romance”, “Born This Way”, “Poker Face”, and “Million Reasons”.

The banter includes her upcoming appearance at the Super Bowl, the story behind writing the lyrics of “Bad Romance”, her famous collection of Michael Jackson’s clothing, even a parade of her past costumes including the "meat dress."

First Lady Michelle Obama Kills It In "Carpool Karaoke"

First Lady Michelle Obama brings it as she joins The Late Late Show's James Corden for a sassy serving of "carpool karaoke" cruising around the White House last night.

Stevie Wonder’s “Signed Sealed Delivered,” Beyoncé’s”Single Ladies” were on the song list, and even Missy Elliott dropped in for some “This Is For My Girls.”

The First Lady shares that this is only the second time that she's ridden in the front passenger seat since her husband became president.  Apparently, the other time was when daughter Malia was learning to drive in 2014.

This is fun. What an upbeat First Lady.

Broadway Carpool Karaoke With James Corden

In advance of his upcoming gig hosting this year's Tony Awards, The Late Late Show's James Corden HAD to do a Broadway version of his uber-popular segment "Carpool Karaoke," right?

And who better to join him than Broadway stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Audra McDonald, Jane Krakowski and Jesse Tyler Ferguson?

Stick around for the "One Day More" from Les Miz (Audra's last note!).

David Schwimmer & James Corden "Drop The Mic" In Rap Battle

Last night on CBS' The Late Late Show, David Schwimmer and host James Corden threw down in a "Drop The Mic" rap battle, and some hilarious rhymes were dropped.

Corden began with this: "Millennials, let me introduce you to this guy. His name is David – he was famous in '95. He was on TV then. Now it's 2016, and he has no Friends."

Referencing Schwimmer's new role in The People v. O.J. Simpson against him: "He was a Kardashian on TV, but that was only for pretend. You played Robert, and that was a great combo. But you were so white, you shoulda probably played the Bronco."

Schwimmer was not intimidated, opening his salvo with this: "We all know as an actor your roles were all the same: the heavy best friend, the humorous side-kick with a belly so big you can't find your own –."

Along the way, the former Friends star took aim at Corden's weight ("They know me in Japan; they know you at In & Out"), and TV pedigree ("You're late night; I'm prime-time. You're cola, I'm fine wine.")

The battle looked like a draw until Rebel Wilson crashed the party with rap attacks for both Corden ("Carpool Karaoke, you think it's your big thing. But everyone is thinking, 'Shut up and let Adele sing.'") and Schwimmer ("David, your career – it's a huge mistake. It's like Ross and Rachel; it's 'on a break.'").

Some fun stuff here. You can watch the full battle royale below.

Sia Joins THE LATE LATE SHOW's James Corden For Some "Carpool Karaoke"

The fabulous Sia joins The Late Late Show host James Corden for some "Carpool Karaoke," and the results are big fun.

Corden, who finds himself lost on the way to work, sees Sia and realizes SHE is the perfect person to give him directions to work.

Along the way, Sia and Corden belt out some of her biggest hits like “Chandelier”, “Diamonds," “Elastic Heart”, “Alive”, and “Titanium.”

The awesome Aussie also explained the famously over-sized, face-obscuring wigs and hats: “I don’t wear this unless there’s cameras around. I only wear this to maintain a modicum of privacy.”

At one point Corden takes issue with Sia's diction while singing. And she just laughs LOL...

I love that I had the unexpected but fabulous experience of meeting Sia when she visited Las Vegas in March of last year. She came to see her idol, Olivia Newton-John, in concert and she came backstage for a spell. She was more than joyous, and very happy to take a pic with me. Like just about every Aussie I've ever met, she was full of life and completely down to earth. 

Viral Video: Adele Joins James Corden For "Carpool Karaoke"

James Corden is hysterical (as always) and Adele is so very charming. Fun clip.

Sneak Peek: Adele Joins James Corden For Some "Karaoke Carpool"

James Corden shares a sneak peek at his next guest who will be joining him for some "Carpool Karaoke" - Adele!

The full fun will air Wednesday night, but we get this advance clip to enjoy.

Previous "carpoolers" include Justin Bieber, Jennifer Hudson and One Direction.

Corden is killing it on The Late Late Show.

Funny: Josh Groban & James Corden Sing Public Domain Songs

James Corden and Josh Groban perform Public Domain songs

Josh Groban joins James Corden of The Late Late Show for a mini-concert of Public Domain songs since more current songs are so expensive.

Now you might think this would be a tad boring, but Groban finally finds his PD voice and "raises" everyone's excitement about the endeavor by "Grobanizing" the final ditty.

Groban surprises a bit here by singing with his eyes open (for the most part), which has been a pet peeve of mine regarding his performances for some time.

Cute segment.

Christmas: Kylie Minogue & James Corden Duet On "Only You"

Christmas comes early for Kylie Minogue fans as she shares the first single from her upcoming holiday album, Kylie Christmas.

Duetting with Late Late Show host James Corden, "Only You" is a cover of the 1982 hit by Yazoo.

About the track, Kylie says, "As a fan and friend, I'm so excited to have James Corden duetting with me on the song 'Only You'. He suggested the song for my Kylie Christmas album and I just knew he would sound amazing on it. It's so subtle and lovely and I think it will surprise a lot of people."

The full album drops this Friday, November 13th. You can pre-order the album now and get "Only You" immediately at iTunes.