Latest news with #Kirby
Los Angeles Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
'Étoile' Stars Gideon Glick and Luke Kirby Reflect on Canceled Series, Dance Immersion, and Palladino Magic
Actors Gideon Glick and Luke Kirby of the Prime Video series 'Étoile' recently discussed the show's first season with Los Angeles Times moderator Matt Brennan. The Q&A, held on June 11 at the NeueHouse in Hollywood, covered various aspects of the series, which is set in New York City and Paris and follows two ballet companies swapping their star dancers to save their institutions. Glick and Kirby revealed they learned of the show's cancellation shortly before Glick received an award for the series. Both actors shared their introduction to the dance world for their roles; Glick, from musical theater, shadowed choreographers, while Kirby, with family ties to dance, took ballet classes, gaining appreciation for the art form's physicality and dedication. A significant part of the discussion focused on their collaboration with creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, with whom they previously worked on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Glick likened the Palladinos' writing to Steven Sondheim, noting, 'It is all there and it's so well constructed and it's psychologically potent that for an actor it's pretty much a dream.' Kirby compared it to Shakespeare, explaining, 'You don't do the text, the text does you ... things are revealed in the writing in the moment.' Glick, who also worked in the 'Étoile' writer's room, described Amy Sherman-Palladino's creative bursts as 'being struck by lightning,' with dialogue 'spitting out almost word for word.' He also shared that his character, Tobias, was specifically written for him, an experience he called 'pretty life-changing' that expanded his ambitions to include writing. The actors also reflected on filming in Paris. Glick, who is hearing impaired, found the French accents challenging but noted, 'I did feel a little isolated and I felt it really helped me stay in Tobias's mind.' Kirby described the experience as 'just great to be in Paris,' highlighting the dedication of the French crew and the 'rare gift' of working with international talent. They reminisced about shooting pivotal romantic scenes, with Glick calling it 'the most magical day of shooting.' Kirby, recalling his scene, praised his co-star Lou de Laâge: 'Lou is exceptional and I was staggered by her, always staggered by her talent.' Finally, they touched upon the show's theme of art as a form of 'insanity' or 'ecstasy.' Glick described the creative process as sometimes 'manic,' akin to the Greek word 'ecstasis,' meaning 'to leave the body.' Kirby said, 'I think it's a shame if you've never been insane ... it's a great gift to know you have that option.' They concluded by expressing profound gratitude for the collaborative and enriching experience of making 'Étoile,' with Glick stating, 'It was one of the greatest artistic experiences of my life. Everybody was extraordinary.' Kirby added, 'I think it asserted the whisper that we all have within us. And to listen to the whisper, don't shut it down.'
Politico
14 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Senate megabill will strengthen Obamacare, says red state hospital CEO
A provision in a key Senate committee's version of the GOP megabill will backfire against Republicans by forcing red states to consider doing exactly what Republicans don't want them to: expand Medicaid, the CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association told POLITICO. Republicans have sought to shelter the 10 conservative states that have declined to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income people, as Obamacare encourages with generous federal subsidies. But the Senate bill, in an effort to find the savings needed to extend President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts, would still blow a hole in the budgets of Palmetto state hospitals by reducing what insurers who contract with the state to provide Medicaid services can pay them. States and Washington share the insurance program's costs. 'It affects the viability of the whole system,' said Thornton Kirby, chief executive of the South Carolina Hospital Association, which estimates the Senate proposal will cost the state over $2.3 billion annually. 'If you take away this alternative way to balance the budget, you leave us with only one path…Medicaid expansion,' Kirby said. The Senate is rushing to complete its version of a bill that would enact Trump's agenda using a procedure that requires only a simple majority vote. Trump wants it done by July 4, but with the slim margins in both houses of Congress, the industries affected by the bill are hoping to peel off votes to save themselves from cuts. Republicans can lose no more than three votes in either chamber as long as Democrats remain united in opposition. To make the case that the restrictions on so-called state-directed payments need to go, the hospital association is leaning on three home state Republicans with clout: Sen. Tim Scott, who has a seat on the Finance Committee that has proposed the restrictions; Rep. Russell Fry, who's on the Energy and Commerce Committee that drafted the Medicaid provisions of the megabill the House passed last month; and Henry McMaster, the governor of South Carolina and, Kirby said, a personal friend. 'I don't want to put him in the hot seat,' Kirby said of McMaster. 'He doesn't want to see [Medicaid] upended.' Of Scott, Kirby said he's in touch at least every other day and that the senator and Trump ally 'has been a champion.' 'He understands…he doesn't want to go down that path' of Medicaid expansion, Kirby added. The three Republicans did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Expanding Medicaid could help replace the revenue the Senate provision would take away because it would make many more people — South Carolina now has one of the nation's higher uninsured rates at 9 percent — eligible for the program. Under Obamacare, the federal government picks up 90 percent of the cost for the new enrollees. Under the Finance Committee proposal, state-directed payments to hospitals serving Medicaid patients would fall by 10 percent each year until the total payment rate is only 100-110 percent of the Medicare payment rate. In South Carolina, the current payment rate is more than twice the rate paid by Medicare, the federal health insurance program for elderly people. Hospitals in states that have expanded Medicaid would take an additional hit under the Senate proposal. The Finance Committee would lower the provider tax rate that the 40 states that have expanded Medicaid can levy on hospitals from 6 percent to 3.5 percent. States have used the taxes to boost their federal matching funds, which they have then sent back to hospitals in higher reimbursements. The Senate would freeze the tax rates in states like South Carolina that haven't expanded Medicaid, but would not require them to lower them. The version of the megabill the House passed would freeze the rates for all states, a plan Kirby was willing to accept. On Friday, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) urged GOP leaders to strike the Finance Committee language on Medicaid, warning the crackdown won't clear the House. Republican senators hope to pass their version of the bill next week after which the House would need to pass it before Trump could sign it into law.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Mini Messi' – Former Lionesses pay tribute to Fran Kirby after her international retirement
Fran Kirby's former teammates dubbed the recently-retired Lioness 'mini Messi' for her game-changing ability in an England shirt. The 31-year-old midfielder retired from England duty earlier this month, following news from Sarina Wiegman that she would not be involved in this summer's Euros in Switzerland. Advertisement After making her debut in 2014, Kirby earned 77 caps and scored 19 goals for the Lionesses, and despite not making it into Wiegman's travelling squad, her former teammates were full of praise for her England legacy. Jill Scott, who retired after England's Euros win alongside Kirby in 2022, said: 'What she [Kirby] contributed to England over the years, she's been amazing. 'I think usually when you put that England shirt on, it probably takes you a tournament or a few games to kind of get going. But I remember 2015, which I think was one of her first tournaments, she was incredible. 'I think they actually nicknamed her 'mini Messi' because of the impact she would have on games. I have never really seen a player impact an international game like she did, since Kelly Smith. Advertisement 'She's a great player and just would like to wish her a massive congratulations on a great England career.' Former England captain Steph Houghton added: 'Fran should be so proud of what she's achieved in her career. 'To think, I was there when she came into the England setup and she was playing for Reading at the time, which was the league below, and she came in and she was that number 10 that we had been crying out for – that little bit of trickery, that game changer. 'And ever since then, she's scored important goals and made important progress within the team. 'She can hold her head up high and know that she had a great international career and I was really proud to be her teammate as well.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Never be afraid to be loud, transparent and authentic': First in Sheboygan Pride Month series
June is Pride Month. To mark the occasion, the Sheboygan Press connected with the Sheboygan County LGBTQ Alliance to provide a chance for people to share personal stories of Pride. Here is the first in a series. Hi! We are Kirby & Ember! We are 'fashionably late' best friends, lovers and soulmates who met on social media in 2022 — finding each other through sharing our personal journeys of confusion and questioning. Both Kirby and myself were married to men at the time we met — but both knew that we were lacking something when it came to our sexuality and authenticity. After establishing a long-distance friendship, we met in person — and knew immediately all of the questions we had were not questions at all — and that we had no choice but to chase that authenticity and freedom that we had found within ourselves, hand in hand. We came out to our families, friends and social media, together. Despite the odds, we chose to chase what felt right and step into who we knew we were all along. We have been together for almost three years and take a lot of pride in sharing our coming-out journey through our weekly Podcast (fashionablylate) and on social media. Pride, to us, screams authenticity. It screams, 'IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!' It does not matter how you were raised, how many wrong turns you might have taken or what choices you have made in the past, you can ALWAYS choose to step into a new era of growth and chase who you are deep down. We have learned that being 'fashionably late' to the game is nothing to be ashamed of — but instead, something to celebrate. No matter what part of your journey you're at — never be afraid to be loud, transparent and authentic in who you are. Live without regret and chase happiness because life is too short to allow for 'what ifs.' Kirby and I are proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and look forward to continuing to share our story, meet new people and support others. This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan stories for Pride Month: Meet Kirby & Ember
Hypebeast
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Nintendo's Kirby Teams up With Heinz for Limited-Edition Ketchup
Summary In a deliciously surprising move that has sent ripples of excitement through both the gaming and culinary communities,Nintendo's beloved pink puffball,Kirby, is once again lending his iconic charm toHeinz Japan. This month, the two giants are set to release a limited-edition collection of Kirby-themed ketchup bottles and exclusive keychains, cementing a partnership that truly embodies the phrase, 'Maxim Tomato meets tomato ketchup.' This isn't the first time Kirby has swallowed up a piece of the condiment world. Following a successful collaboration in 2024 that saw Kirby gracing ketchup pouches, Heinz Japan and HAL Laboratory (Kirby's developer) are upping the ante. The inspiration behind this whimsical alliance is ingeniously simple: the 'Maxim Tomato,' Kirby's signature health-restoring item in the games, provides a perfect thematic link to Heinz's globally renowned tomato-rich ketchup. Fans can look forward to three unique Kirby designs, along with an adorable cameo from Waddle Dee, all splashed across the familiar 420ml upside-down ketchup bottles. These limited-edition bottles, priced at ¥383 (approximately $2.65 USD), are rolling out across Japanese supermarkets and convenience stores throughout June 2025. Each design cleverly integrates Kirby and Waddle Dee alongside tomatoes and burgers within Heinz's iconic Keystone logo, making them instant collector's items. Adding another layer of collectibility, consumers in Japan will also have the chance to win an exclusive embroidered Kirby keychain featuring the Heinz logo. These highly sought-after keychains will be distributed to only 1,000 lucky winners through a designated social media quiz campaign on Heinz Japan's official X account. あれ？カービィとワドルディが… — ハインツ (@HeinzJapan)June 6, 2025 ／#星のカービィが#ハインツケチャップに再び登場！！＼ 今度は逆さボトルケチャップに登場✨3種類のカービィに、ワドルディも！6月から順次発売開始🍅 みんなはどれが欲しい？👀#ハインツカービィコラボ — ハインツ (@HeinzJapan)June 9, 2025 ニュースです〜っ！ハインツから「星のカービィ」のコラボケチャップが新たなパッケージで登場！今回は、ハインツの「トマトケチャップ 逆さボトル」に、カービィさんが3種類のポーズでデザインされています。われわれの仲間の姿も♪2025年6月から順次発売予定とのこと。これは要チェックっ！ — 星のカービィ (@Kirby_JP)June 9, 2025
