Clash of lights

More musicals should end with a megamix. Photo-Illustration: by Vulture; Photo by Really Useful Films There is only one way for any musical to possibly begin: the sounds of an orchestra tuning to A, backed by the crinkles of the crowd unwrapping their Werther’s. From this place of reliable uniformity, there are any number of possible directions a musical can go, from commercial to experimental, from horny cowboys , to horny newsboys , to horny convicts in a Jazz Age women’s prison . And because Broadway is as a diverse art form as any — because there is an endless (pun acknowledged) variety of “I Want” songs and 11 o’ clock numbers and love ballads — composers and playwrights assumed they could just go ahead and end a musical any old kooky way too. But that is incorrect. Not to sound too much like some sort of scoldy Henry Higgins, but what I’ve come to realize is that there are only two acceptable ways for any musical to end. Comic or tragic, mainstream or weird, old or new, there are a ton of musicals that fall into the format of the Only Two Good Possible Ending Types. They cover the spectrum of human emotion and energy. Sometimes they encompass a reprise or encore, although they don’t have to. You might find that your favorite musical’s ending does not qualify as acceptable. The Sound of Music , for example, does not fit into either category. Its ending is therefore bad, even though it features the objectively Good Thing of its protagonists escaping literal Nazis. Les Misérables , as well, does not meet the Good Ending criteria; apologies to that ghost chorus. Since Broadway isn’t opening any time soon, I expect producers to take notes on this and adjust their shows accordingly, so that they can end in the only ways that matter: We’ve Come Full Circle Back to the Beginning But Now It’s Really Poignant As Hilary Duff once said, “Let’s go back, back to the beginning, back to when the earth, the sun, the stars all aligned.” Many musicals … [Read more...] about There Are Only Two Types of Musical Endings That Matter

February 25, 2021 - 16:31 GMT Rachel Avery Small kitchen design ideas: Whatever your budget or style, ensure your bijou cooking space is designed to perfection with our expert hacks and tips. The kitchen is the heart of the home, no matter how big or how small. Even if your cooking space is bijou, we've got small kitchen design ideas that will make a big impact. From the perfect colour choices through to savvy storage solutions, read on to get the lowdown… SEE: 22 of the best kitchen gadgets that will revolutionise the way you cook Small kitchen layout ideas Planning is key when it comes to being savvy with your small kitchen, so think long and hard when it comes to your layout. Stick to the kitchen triangle as it is a formula that's stood the test of time when it comes to kitchen design. It basically means ensuring your sink, cooker and fridge are in a triangle layout and are neither too close together or too far apart. Even with a tiny kitchen, ensuring you don't break this rule is very important to make your space workable. Think outside of the box to utilise your space Move any big appliances to an alternative space or seek slimline versions. If you have anywhere else that you can relocate large appliances like your washing machine and tumble dryer, this is a simple way of freeing up room for your cooking space to thrive. With remaining appliances such as your fridge and dishwasher, do check if you can get slimline versions to shave off all-important centimetres. Maximising any awkward corners is a great way to efficiently plan your space. Consider investing in a swish storage solution like this cupboard pull-out from Amazon. Kitchen revolving organiser, £149.99, Amazon SHOP NOW Small kitchen colour ideas Your colour choices are very important when you only have a small space to play with, so make sure you ponder your decision and use tester pots. … [Read more...] about 15 genius small kitchen design ideas to maximise your space

February 17, 2021 - 16:50 GMT Rachel Avery Rightmove has released its most-viewed properties of 2021 so far, and the gorgeous houses all over the globe have to be seen to be believed. Although we haven’t been able to move much further than the sofa and the local park during the pandemic, that hasn’t stopped us dreaming of properties abroad. Rightmove has revealed its most-viewed houses of 2021 so far from overseas, and the interiors are utterly amazing! RELATED: Rightmove's most viewed UK home revealed - with a glass floor like Gordon Ramsay's Florida mansion for £16.5million This island retreat would make an epic holiday home This six-bedroom residence is the epitome of luxury, and some of its best features include a Koi Pond with magnificent fish, a waterfront summer kitchen, and a glorious outdoor swimming pool – oh, and room for a 100ft yacht! Everywhere you look the views are remarkable The stunning waterside home offers sublime views of Biscayne bay and Smugglers Cove, and inside it is just as impressive with a home movie theatre and amazing décor. Fancy a private screening in your own movie theatre? View the full listing here . New York townhouse for £36million This pad is right in the heart of the city To call this property unique would be an understatement, just one look and you can see that it is truly one-of-a-kind. The seven-storey structure is fitted with specially curved glass which has travelled from Europe where it was meticulously made, and it allows the building to have panoramic views. The windows are made from bespoke glass The cityscape vistas are of course a real selling point of the house, and inside the immaculate interiors make it a modern-day dream. How chic are these interiors? View the full listing here . GALLERY: London's narrowest home has to be seen to be believed … [Read more...] about Rightmove’s most-viewed homes around the world are epic – see photos

Photo: Rob DeMartin/Spotify It’s been just over two years since Spotify cannonballed into podcasting, marking its spendy February 2019 acquisitions of Gimlet Media and Anchor as a splashy first step in the company’s expansionary transition from a music streaming platform towards something that’s significantly more than that. It was a scaling up of ambition, one that founder and CEO Daniel Ek conceptually outlined in a blog post titled “Audio-First” published at the time. As has been chronicled at length in this newsletter, that transition went on to include a string of further acquisitions (Parcast, The Ringer, Megaphone), a steady drumbeat of buzzy content partnerships (Joe Rogan, the Obamas, Kim Kardashian, etc.), and a bevvy of product experiments that poke at the edges of the current on-demand audio experience (playlists, vodcasts, talk-music mixes, etc.). The past two years are abundant with Spotify-filled headlines, and they collectively exert the feel of a show of force. But the piecemeal nature of the story also sometimes led to a lack of clarity over how the company intended to structurally reshape the digital audio business as we know it and reinvent itself as a platform that, in Ek’s words, will “begin competing more broadly for time against all forms of entertainment and informational services, and not just music streaming services.” I keep seeing the shiny individual pieces, but I’m curious as to how they think it’s all supposed to fit together. Yesterday’s hour and a half-long livestream presentation didn’t quite give me that full picture I was hoping for, but it does feel like we’re getting closer. Plus, the event also gave me the opportunity to jump on the phone with several executives at the company who I could pelt a few questions at. There was a lot that was announced yesterday, but I’m going to organize this write-up around three main buckets and lump a bunch of remaining threads in a miscellaneous section. Spotify’s already … [Read more...] about Key Podcast Takeaways from Spotify’s Big Event

Photo: Left: Getty Images, Center: Paramount+, Right: Getty Images Amy Schumer is bringing back her Emmy and Peabody Award–winning Comedy Central sketch series Inside Amy Schumer — but not for cable. Instead, the revival is headed to Paramount+, where it will be one of the centerpieces of a Comedy Central–branded hub on the new streaming platform. New chapters of well-known Comedy Central titles such as Workaholics, Reno 911! and The Daily Show, along with a new Beavis and Butt-Head movie, are also headed to the service, according to MTV Entertainment Group president Chris McCarthy. The exec unveiled plans for the latest iteration of the 30-year-old cable network Wednesday during a ViacomCBS investors conference outlining the company’s overall streaming strategy. In an interview earlier this week, McCarthy told Vulture the Comedy Central hub “will define comedy” on Paramount+. “It will serve as an anchor for the audience, [telling them] that this is the home for all the comedy content within the service, both iconic franchises and brand-new stuff,” he said. This doesn’t mean everything comedy on the new streamer will hail from Comedy Central: Paramount+ will also house half-hours from the libraries of CBS ( I Love Lucy ), Paramount TV ( Frasier, Taxi, The Love Boat ), and even the former ViacomCBS-run network UPN ( Everybody Hates Chris ). But at least initially, original comedy productions on the platform will lean heavily on refreshing franchises that got their start on Comedy Central or sister network MTV. “We wanted to make the biggest projects to reignite the biggest volumes of our iconic library,” McCarthy explained. “We want to remind audiences Paramount+ is now the home for this great comedy.” Among the projects announced or confirmed today: • The original cast of Workaholics are set to return for a movie about “what it’s like to work through the pandemic,” McCarthy said. The film is being made with an eye toward a sequel … [Read more...] about Comedy Central Is Getting the Brands Back Together for Paramount+

February 24, 2021 - 19:58 GMT Matthew Moore Kelly Ripa has marked her youngest child's 18th birthday by releasing a series of never-before-seen family photos Kelly Ripa is the doting mother to three children, and on Wednesday her youngest child, Joaquin , turned 18. MORE: Kelly Ripa showcases toned physique revealing realities of intense gym workout To celebrate the momentous occasion, the famous mum delved through her archives of pictures of the young man and created a video montage. Set to the theme of Jurassic Park , Kelly highlighted moments from throughout Joaquin's life from his childhood right up to today. Loading the player... Watch: Kelly Ripa's amazing video tribute to her youngest child The nearly three-and-a-half-minute montage featured never-before-seen snaps from times when the family were at home and others from their holidays. It also highlighted the close bond that Joaquin shares with his entire family , as he appeared in many sweet pictures with Kelly, father Mark Consuelos and his two siblings, brother Michael and sister Lola. Paying tribute to her son, Kelly wrote: " Joaquin 18!!!! Happy birthday to the light of our lives! You fill everyday with joy, and make everything better! " We love you to the moon and beyond! " Joaquin turned eighteen on Wednesday The Live! with Kelly and Ryan presenter also paid a small tribute to her youngest child in some Instagram Stories posts. In one of the posts, she showed Joaquin as a young child all wrapped up in a hat and scarf, captioning it with: "The newborn turns 18 at 9:31 am today!!!!" A second more recent picture of him was captioned: "Happy almost birthday @joaquinconsuelos stay tuned for your birthday tribute!!" MORE: We just noticed something major about Kelly Ripa's daytime wardrobe MORE: Kelly Ripa stuns in LBD perfect for working from home Many fans were wowed at how … [Read more...] about Kelly Ripa shares never-before-seen family photos to mark son Joaquin’s birthday