Steve Pond's Blog, page 9

Jimmy Kimmel Goes Right Back to Roasting Trump, Compares Him to Biff From ‘Back to the Future’ | Video

In case you thought Jimmy Kimmel would pull punches on Trump in the face of threats from federal officials and still-boycotting affiliates – he’s not.

The “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host did a 15-minute monologue on Wednesday night, nearly all of it focused on roasting the president, calling him, among other things, a bully in the style of Biff from “Back to the Future.” After acknowledging that the show was being taped for “not all of the country,” Kimmel kicked off his rapid-fire roast by noting that among all the people he heard from during his four-day suspension, one “special friend” stood out: “The Mad Red Hatter.”

Kimmel pulled up many of Trump’s Truth Social posts, including the one that said “I can’t believe ABC fake news gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.”

“You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe we gave you your job back,” Kimmel fired back. “The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled. … Something happened between then and now because his audience is gone and his talent was never there,” Kimmel said, throwing the president’s criticisms right back to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

At that point, someone in the audience shouted some words of support, but Kimmel quickly shot him down: “Shut the [bleep] up,” he said. “The freedom of speech is only for me.”

Kimmel went straight into the teeth of veiled threats that came from Trump and FCC chairman Brendan Carr downstream of his reinstatement, saying, “They go to all these lengths to say, ‘Oh, it wasn’t coercion. The president was just musing.’ And then the second Trump is alone, he sits on the toilet. He gets his grubby little thumbs on his phone. And he immediately blows their excuses to smithereens and says, ‘It was ratings that got me fired.'”

He continued: “This was his big closer? Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad ratings. And he does know bad ratings. He has some of the worst ratings any president has ever had. So on behalf of all of us, welcome to the crappy ratings club, Mr. President.”

Kimmel also had choice words for “those who think I go too hard on Donald Trump … I talk about Trump more than anything because he’s a bully. I don’t like bullies. I played the clarinet in high school. Okay? So I just don’t like them.”

He called Trump an “old-fashioned ’80s movie style bully”: “I don’t care what side you’re on. It’s like rooting for Biff from ‘Back to the Future.’ Literally, Donald Trump was the model for Biff in ‘Back to the Future’ [Editor’s Note: This was only true for “Back to the Future II”]. And this is who people are cheering for. I don’t know about you. I’m with Marty McFly.”

Watch the entire video clip above – including a long segment featuring “real, unedited [and not entirely encouraging] texts” that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” staffers got from moms, aunts and other family members during their forced hiatus.

The post Jimmy Kimmel Goes Right Back to Roasting Trump, Compares Him to Biff From ‘Back to the Future’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Jordan Klepper Sees the Strategy in Trump’s Ukraine Pivot: ‘Can’t Lose a War If You’re on Both Sides’ | Video

Donald Trump suddenly seems to think Ukraine can win its war against Russia – maybe even come out ahead – and “The Daily Show” host Jordan Klepper sees the win-win in the president’s stunning pivot.

“It’s no secret Donald Trump sympathizes with Russia in its war against Ukraine,” Klepper said on Wednesday night’s Comedy Central broadcast. “He blamed Ukraine for getting invaded. He berated its president in the Oval Office. And he made the ultimate gesture of friendship to Vladimir Putin, picking him up at the airport.”

But a funny thing happened on the way to the U.N. – Trump reversed his position, saying “Ukraine would be able to take back their country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that.”

“Damn,” Klepper remarked. “Trump went from, ‘Ukraine needs to accept Russian invasion’ to, ‘They need to invade Russia.'”

Trump campaigned on ending the Ukraine-Russia conflict on “day one,” as Klepper noted, “and instead, we’ve now joined both sides. I guess you can’t lose a war if you’re on both sides.”

And if you don’t like the unexpected turn of events, maybe just wait a minute.

“Now, let’s not overreact here,” Klepper said. “Trump isn’t exactly known for his consistent positions. He could just as easily switch sides again tomorrow if he, I don’t know, gets complimented by a Russian lady or sees a photo of that dog that looks like Vladimir Putin.”

Klepper suggested that perhaps Trump changed his position “after coming to a better understanding of the geopolitical implications of the situation. Or perhaps it was something a bit more personal.”

After rolling footage of Trump greeting Putin on a red carpet in Alaska, “The Daily Show” cut to a clip of the president speaking this week:

“I thought that was going to be the easiest one because of my relationship with Putin. But unfortunately, that relationship didn’t mean anything,” Trump said offhandedly.

That got the crowd rolling.

“This season of ‘The Golden Bachelor is [bleeped] weird,” Klepper said.

Watch the entire monologue in the video clip above.

The post Jordan Klepper Sees the Strategy in Trump’s Ukraine Pivot: ‘Can’t Lose a War If You’re on Both Sides’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 20 Winner Revealed: Who Took Home the $1 Million Prize?

“America’s Got Talent” has crowned its Season 20 winner.

After the 10 finalists took the stage of the NBC competition show for their final performances on Tuesday, Sept. 23, the two-part finale concluded on Wednesday, Sept. 24, when comeback contestant Jessica Sanchez was revealed as the Season 20 winner, taking home the $1 million prize to her family and daughter on the way.

Sanchez was among the 10 finalists that competed in the finale, and went head-to-head against their fellow finalists, which included rappers Mama Duke, Micah Palace and Chris Turner, the Leo High School a cappella choir, singers Jourdan Blue, Steve Ray Ladson, aerial performers Sirca Marea and dancers Team Recycled and LightWire.

The finale performances on Tuesday showcased the 10 finalists by bringing in some special guests, including singers Ciara, who performed “Level Up” with Team Recycled, Leona Lewis, who was joined by Lightwire, Aloe Blacc, who was accompanied by the Leo High School Choir for “The Man,” Manuel Turizo, who collaborated with Micah Palace and The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue of ‘The Script’ reprising Jourdan Blue’s popular audition cover of “Breakeven.”

Sanchez auditioned for the first season of America’s Got Talent back in 2006. She returned to make a comeback for Season 20, but this time nine months pregnant with a daughter of her own. Watch the expectant mother’s finale performance to “Die With A Smile” here.

Additionally, the NBC competition show welcomed back some fan-favorites for the finale, with Season 19 winner Richard Goodall collaborating with Journey’s Neal Schon while trap choir Sainted shared the stage with Mama Duke. 

Tuesday’s performances were recapped in the first hour of the “America’s Got Talent” by host Terry Crews before revealing the winner.

“America’s Got Talent” has solidified its place as the No. 1 summer entertainment broadcast for 20 consecutive years, and has also seen gains on social media this season, with the show’s social and YouTube accounts tallying up 1.7 billion video views.

“America’s Got Talent” was created by Simon Cowell and is co-produced by Fremantle and Syco Entertainment, with Cowell, Sam Donnelly and Natasha Brugler serving as executive producers.     

The post ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 20 Winner Revealed: Who Took Home the $1 Million Prize? appeared first on TheWrap.

‘South Park:’ Trump Tries to Abort His Baby With Satan, Accidentally Gives Plan B to Brendan Carr

After a week’s delay, “South Park” returned Wednesday as President Donald Trump plotted how to handle he and Satan’s accidental pregnancy.

Though the devil did not think Trump’s followers would agree with his motives, Trump subliminally tried to harm his future child. The president suggested they smoke in the hot tub together and even made him a soup full of bottles of Plan B pills in the fifth episode of the Trey Parker and Matt Stone Comedy Central series.

Meanwhile in South Park, the kids discovered prediction market apps and placed bets on random things at school. One popular bet was whether or not Kyle’s Jewish mother would strike Gaza and destroy a Palestinian hospital.

Kyle became increasingly upset with Cartman and his classmates that they would think such a thing about his mom just because they were Jewish. His anger only fueled the bets to continue.

Back in D.C., FCC chairman Brendan Carr became the accidental target for Trump’s plot against his baby daddy Satan. Trump placed some obstacles on a slippery set of stairs to trip Satan and crush their baby, but instead an eager Carr toppled all the way down trying to speak with the president.

Vice President JD Vance warned the president that exposure to cat feces could cause toxoplasmosis that is dangerous to pregnant women. Trump set up a whole room full of cat litter to poison the carrier of his child only for Carr to find it instead. The president even made a soup full of Plan B pills. Satan did not have some because he didn’t like carrots, so Carr had a bite, sending him into orbit as he pooped his pants.

Though Trump made several attempts to abort the baby, none of them included Tylenol. But Carr did end up in the hospital because of the president’s plots against Satan. The doctor said Carr’s toxoplasmosis as a result of exposure to cat feces may cause the FCC chairman to lose his freedom of speech.

As chatter about Kyle’s mom’s views on Gaza reached the mommy crowd, the mother became upset and defensive over her stance.

Jesus and the gang in “South Park.” (Credit: Comedy Central)

“‘I’m so sick of being grilled about my views on Palestine and my thoughts on Hamas and being judged for things that are centuries old and that non-Jews know nothing about,” she said at the family dinner table. “Well, if they all think we should do something, then you’re better believe I’ll do something.”

Kyle’s mom took her complaints all the way to Israel and took it up with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself.

“You’re making life for Jews miserable and life for American Jews impossible,” she said. “Now you can just sit in that chair because I’m not going anywhere. Buster, I’ve been to every PTA meeting, every school board meeting, I can go on and on.”

Episode 3 previously established that Satan desperately wants to escape his relationship with Trump, but in the fourth episode, the devil shares that he is pregnant with the president’s baby to Jesus and Fox News.

Episode 2, “Got a Nut,” which mocked Charlie Kirk, was pulled from Comedy Central’s linear broadcast after the right-wing activist’s murder. It’s still available to stream.

“South Park” will air its next episode on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Additional new episodes in Season 27 are set to air on Oct. 29, Nov. 12, Nov. 26 and Dec. 10. Past episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.

The post ‘South Park:’ Trump Tries to Abort His Baby With Satan, Accidentally Gives Plan B to Brendan Carr appeared first on TheWrap.

Henry Jaglom, Indie Filmmaker Known for Intimate, Improvisational Style, Dies at 87

Henry David Jaglom, the independent filmmaker known for introspective, improvisational and talky dramas, has died, according to multiple media reports. He was 87.

Jaglom died Monday night at his home in Santa Monica, representatives for his daughter, filmmaker Sabrina Jaglom, confirmed to TheWrap.

Jaglom’s talky dramas often focused on personal relationships and emotional conflict, relying on naturalistic dialogue and loosely structured narratives.

His directorial debut, “A Safe Place” (1971), featured Tuesday Weld and Orson Welles. Over the years, Jaglom helmed more than a dozen features including “Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?” (1983), Last Summer in the Hamptons (1995) and Irene in Time (2009). His 1987 film Someone to Love marked the final on-screen performance by Orson Welles.

Jaglom’s more than 20 films – all of which he wrote or co-wrote – were made outside the major studio system, their budgets and their conventions. His actors were encouraged to improvise and develop their characters, not just between takes, but during them.

Jaglom was born in London to a Jewish family that immigrated to the United States. He trained at the Actors Studio in New York and worked in off-Broadway theater before relocating to Los Angeles, where he directed, wrote and produced films over five decades.

He also wrote plays and published “My Lunches with Orson,” a memoir based on his conversations with Welles.

His first wife was actress Patrice Townsend, but after their divorce they went on to co-star in the 1985 comedy “Always,” as a middle-aged couple deciding whether to split. His second wife, the actress Victoria Foyt, starred in the 1994 comedy “Babyfever,” about women exploring themes of motherhood and with a mostly female cast.

He is survived by his daughter, the filmmaker Sabrina Jaglom.

The post Henry Jaglom, Indie Filmmaker Known for Intimate, Improvisational Style, Dies at 87 appeared first on TheWrap.

‘The Golden Bachelor’ Women Take Mel Owens to Task in Season 2 Premiere, but Who Got the First Impression Rose?

Note: The following story contains spoilers from “The Golden Bachelor” Season 2, Episode 1.

While “The Golden Bachelor” Mel Owens apologized for his disparaging remarks about women over 60, the women he’ll be courting on the ABC reality dating show took him to task for it in the first episode of his season.

The premiere of “The Golden Bachelor” Season 2 addressed Owens’ past comments that he would be cutting any women over 60 from his season in the first minutes of the episode, with the former football star admitting he was wrong and thoroughly apologizing for the harm he caused.

With the apology to “Bachelor” nation out of the way, the premiere still saw Owens thrown a number of references to his comments as the women of “The Golden Bachelor” arrived to the “Bachelor” mansion. The comments were kicked off by the second woman to arrive, 71-year-old Diane, who used her background in hockey to make a jab at Owens’ remarks.

“I got to ask you, what the puck was that interview about on that podcast?” Diane asked, to which Owens responded, “I sincerely apologize — it was unfair, unkind,” before asking for a second chance, to which Diane agreed.

Diane wasn’t the only woman to bring up Owens’ remarks, with another 71-year-old, Terri, using her dental assistant puppet to joke that the leading man wasn’t expecting all these women over 60 who “look so hot,” before the puppet hit Owens. “That was for all women over 60 because he’s never been exposed to women like us,” Terri said.

Owens’ “over 60” remark was used by a handful of other women arriving to the mansion as a form of empowerment on this stage of their lives. “We show the world that people over 6o can continue being fun and funny and have fire inside,” Alexandra said.

Once inside with all the women, Owens made a formal apology and called his comments “insensitive” and “unfair.” “I hope you forgive me and let me earn it back,” he said, which the women appreciated it. “Age is just a number and spirit has no age.”

Owens went on with his evening with chats with the women, and ultimately decided to give his first impression rose to Gerri, a 64-year-old from Rockville, Maryland, who owns and runs a home care agency that she started with her late husband. During their chat, Gerri showed Owens her journal and the pair bonded over their love for their children.

“Gerri made a huge impression on me with her story and sincerity and her love of life, and what she done and her kids,” Owens told TheWrap. “It made a big impression on me … I still remember [it] today, so there’s a lasting impression as well.”

“The Golden Bachelor” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.

The post ‘The Golden Bachelor’ Women Take Mel Owens to Task in Season 2 Premiere, but Who Got the First Impression Rose? appeared first on TheWrap.

Kamala Harris’ Book Tour Launch Interrupted by Gaza Protesters: ‘I’m Not President Right Now’ | Video

Kamala Harris’ first stop on the “107 Days” book tour was interrupted multiple times Wednesday night by protesters denouncing Israel’s war in Gaza, but the former vice president pressed on with calm.

An enthusiastic crowd greeted the former vice president at Town Hall in Manhattan, but half an hour into the program, the first of at least three protesters shouted accusations of “genocide,” prompting security to escort them out, according to multiple media reports and videos posted on social media.

The crowd countered with chants of “Kamala.” Harris kept quiet at first, but eventually spoke up to lower the temperature.

“I’m not president right now,” she said, drawing cheers. “There’s nothing I can do.”

Protesters in support of Gaza have interrupted Kamala Harris several times during the first stop of her book tour tonight in NYC.

At one point, she responded to a protester: “I’m not president right now. There’s nothing I can do.” pic.twitter.com/3oGdLnHzp6

— Sabrina Rodríguez (@sabrod123) September 24, 2025

“Unlike the current president of the United States, I understand what’s happening right now in Gaza,” she added after more protesters popped up. “What is happening to the Palestinian people is outrageous, and it breaks my heart.”

She also said that during her vice presidency, she raised concerns about humanitarian suffering in Gaza, but “couldn’t make the decision” to intervene as she wasn’t the president then, either. Harris slammed the Trump administration for giving a “blank check” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and suggested that Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un are “laughing at us right now.”

The discussion of “107 Days” – a reference to her truncated campaign – was moderated by journalist Aaron Parnas. It ranged from Harris’ account of Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid to campaigning while serving as vice president.

Harris also confirmed her endorsement of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling his candidacy “powerful.”

Demonstrators also waved Palestinian flags outside the midtown venue. The New York stop was the first in a nationwide tour that will include Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, and international dates in Toronto and London.

The post Kamala Harris’ Book Tour Launch Interrupted by Gaza Protesters: ‘I’m Not President Right Now’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Jesse Watters Doubts Disney Will Renew Jimmy Kimmel’s Contract: ‘He’s Not Good for Business’ | Video

Jimmy Kimmel is the denominator that keeps dividing “The Five,” with Jesse Watters saying the ABC late night host’s days are numbered – while Jessica Tarlov believes he’s become an “un-fireable” lightning rod for the free-speech debate.

Whatever happens to Kimmel, everyone agreed that Kimmel’s comeback monologue Tuesday night fell short of an actual apology for insinuating that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, was a MAGA supporter.

“Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air after a four-show suspension,” Dana Perino said Wednesday to open the discussion on the Fox News panel show, “but dozens of affiliate stations refused to carry it – and it is all over his false claim that Charlie Kirk’s suspected session was part of the MAGA gang. That is the line he did not apologize for last night.”

“The Five” played a clip of Kimmel’s emotional statement, in which he said: “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. For those who think I did point a finger, I get why you are upset. I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn’t.”

Kimmel’s next sentence scolded Donald Trump rooting for him and his staff to be fired “because he can’t take a joke.”

Watters was first to offer a rebuttal.

“It wasn’t really an apology,” Watters said. “He did point the finger at us for killing our friend. A lawyer wrote it, he read it … are the affiliates probably going to come back? Probably. But this guy doesn’t have the juice to go to war. He’s in third place. He has a staff of … 100? What does Greg [Gutfeld, also seated at the table] have, 13? He is getting paid $15 million a year. He has already lost probably a quarter of his advertisers, and I don’t even think Disney is going to renew his contract. He’s not good for business … He has a right to say whatever he wants. He doesn’t have a right to a job in a network television.”

Perino then threw it to Jessica Tarlov – a Democratic advisor and “The Five” resident non-Republican – who had reason to believe that Watters will be proven wrong.

“In the process, Trump has basically made Kimmel un-fireable at this point, even if his ratings go down to three people watching it, [Disney] will not be able to do it because now he has become the lightning rod, the signal, the avatar for this fight about the First Amendment and government overreach.”

Watch the entire exchange in the video above.

The post Jesse Watters Doubts Disney Will Renew Jimmy Kimmel’s Contract: ‘He’s Not Good for Business’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

DreamWorks Animation Union Set to Add Remote Workers

The Animation Guild‘s unionization efforts at DreamWorks continue, as the studio’s bargaining unit ratified a new contract for production workers who unionized last year and have announced their intent to add remote workers outside of Los Angeles to its ranks.

The contract for production workers is the first ever established at DreamWorks and was ratified with 96% of members in favor. Among the benefits in the contract, negotiated over the course of nine months, include established minimum wage rates with annual increases, reduced healthcare costs with no annual premiums, guaranteed retirement contributions and additional sixth and seventh day pay for salaried and on-call employees.

In addition, a group of 75 DreamWorks Animation workers who are employed outside of Los Angeles have announced their intent to unionize with the National Labor Relations Board. These workers hold positions that are union positions under The Animation Guild and have worked on film and television projects alongside DWA workers based at the studio’s Glendale headquarters.

“While it is a tremendous privilege to be able to work remotely in the industry I love and alongside people I love, it is unfair to be treated as a second-class employee,” said Anthony Holden, an Oregon-based Story Artist who has worked at DreamWorks for seven years. “Those of us who work remotely do not enjoy the same health care, retirement planning, or other benefits afforded to our co-workers in L.A. County who are covered under collective bargaining agreements.”

Remote work has become a common option for animators who want to remain in the industry but cannot afford the rising cost of living in Los Angeles. But with current Animation Guild contracts only extending jurisdiction over workers in Los Angeles, the union has sought to organize remote and production workers to expand its protections to all employees at unionized studios.

The post DreamWorks Animation Union Set to Add Remote Workers appeared first on TheWrap.

Travis Kelce Can’t Believe He Booked Leonardo DiCaprio’s First-Ever Podcast, Either | Video

Travis Kelce was beyond starstruck during Wednesday’s episode of “New Heights,” as he and his co-host, brother Jason Kelce, sat down to interview Benicio del Toro and Leonardo DiCaprio in what was his first-ever podcast appearance.

Ahead of the filmed chat, where DiCaprio and del Toro promoted their new Paul Thomas Anderson movie, “One Battle After Another,” the Kansas City Chiefs player was visibly shocked when his older brother confirmed they’d be interviewing the A-list movie stars.

“What? How the f–k did we get these guys? What is this show?” Kelce pondered aloud in disbelief.

The football tight end – who is currently engaged to pop star Taylor Swift – clearly felt the pressure heading into the podcast episode, as he warned his brother that they had to be “a little more professional.”

He added, “We are in way over our head. This is f–king — I still can’t wrap my head around it.”

However, the Kelce brothers appeared to do just fine during the interview, especially after DiCaprio assured the cohosts that he and del Toro were novices when it came to recording a podcast.

“Our first podcast, fellas,” the Oscar winner quipped, though admittedly it was not del Toro’s first podcast. “We don’t know what’s going on.”

However, Kelce did set the bar low for DiCaprio and del Toro, as he promised that “New Heights” was “the most unprofessional podcast there’s ever been” at the start of their conversation.

DiCaprio and del Toro appeared to enjoy their time on the Kelce brothers’ podcast, nonetheless, discussing everything from their new movie to their experiences with Hollywood directors.

You can watch the full “New Heights” episode in the video above.

“One Battle After Another” hits theaters in the U.S. on Sept. 26.

The post Travis Kelce Can’t Believe He Booked Leonardo DiCaprio’s First-Ever Podcast, Either | Video appeared first on TheWrap.