Today’s Birthdays: Katey Sagal, Dolly Parton & More
Image By Phillippa McKinlay
JANUARY 19
Mac Miller, rapper (23)
Jodie Sweetin, Full House actress (33)
Katey Sagal, actress (61)
Paula Deen, TV chef (68)
Dolly Parton, country legend (69)
Janis Joplin, died in 1970, would have been 72 today
Tippi Hedren, actress (85)
JANUARY 20
Evan Peters, American Horror Story actor (28)
Brantley Gilbert, country singer (30)
Melissa Rivers, Joan’s daughter (47)
Stacey Dash, Clueless actress (48)
Rainn Wilson, Dwight on The Office (49)
Lorenzo Lamas, Renegade actor (57)
Bill Maher, talk show host (59)
Paul Stanley, Kiss rocker (63)
David Lynch, Twin Peaks director (69)
Buzz Aldrin, astronaut (85)
ARCHER: New Season Pushes ‘Decency Police’ and Features Christian Slater
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Aisha Taylor’s character Agent Lana Kane will get laid this season on Archer ‘and it’s very graphic,’ exec producer Matt Thompson announced/promised this morning at Winter TV Press Tour 2015. ‘I don’t know what happened to the Decency Police!’ he marveled.
Another sex scene earlier in the show’s run had caused the network’s Decency Police to respond ‘you can’t have that many thrusts,’ Thompson explained. This season the creators decided to turn in an episode ‘at its worst’ so there would be elements to remove at the DP’s will, but ‘they said nothing!’ Thompson recalled. His response: ‘Holy Cow!’
While Thompson opened the Q&A giving a nod to the series cast, he wrapped things up with a list of this season’s guest actors. Christian Slater ‘I consider him now basically part of the main cast,’ he said during FX’s day at the tour.
‘We had to get rid of ISIS. We had to get rid of it,’ Thompson said of the creators decision to drop the ISIS acronym on the animated spy farce for its fictional covert agency International Secret Intelligence Service. The change was acknowledged during the premiere this month; the ISIS name won’t be removed from episodes of the first five years.
Thompson reiterated, in re-acronym, ‘and it was a natural progression to go from working for our spy agency, to being contractors for the CIA. What that means is Christian Slater will be a round a lot of the time, giving us our missions and rankling Malory (Jessica Walter) quite a bit because he’s now seemingly in charge of her. Christian has been absolutely great. He’s a giant fan of the show. I am constantly surprised by his… level of knowledge of the show and how great he is at it.’
The Americans star Matthew Rhys is on board, after regaling Thompson – and the rest of the bus of Fox guests bound for the Super Bowl stadium – with a story about Welsh separatist movement in the 70’s. Thompson’s team turned it into an episode, which also will poke fun at Rhys’ role on the FX period spy drama, and will include an end credit noting it was inspired by ‘a rousing tale’ from Rhys.
CCH Pounder and Keith David will play Lana’s parents – both left-learning academics, Thompson noted, in other guest casting news.
Last May, Archer landed an elusive basic-cable-to-basic-cable syndication deal when Comedy Central signed with Twentieth Television for the off-network rights to the series that’s basic cable’s second-highest-rated comedy among adults 18-49. The deal covers all existing seasons and includes commitments for future seasons of the spy-toon, which will begin airing on Comedy Central beginning as soon as May. For the first two years, Comedy Central will have an exclusive window pre-midnight, while FXX has exclusivity post-midnight.
BETTER THINGS: Louis CK to Produce and Direct FX Show Staring Pamela Adion
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FX is going back into business with Louie’s Pamela Adlon.
Better Things stars Adlon as Sam, a working actor trying to earn a living, navigate her three daughters’ lives, having fun with a friend or two, and also — just maybe — squeezing in some sex once in a while. Her life is funny to watch, but you wouldn’t want to live it (except sometimes).
Adlon (Louie, Californication) and C.K. will write the pilot and executive produce alongside 3 Arts Entertainment’s Blair Breard and Dave Becky. The pilot hails from FX Productions and C.K.’s Pig Newton Productions. (FXP has an overall deal with C.K.’s production company, which is also behind Louie and upcoming comedy series Baskets, starring Zach Galifianakis.)
Adlon is a two-time Emmy nominee for her role on Louie and took home the prize for her voiceover performance as Bobby Hill on King of the Hill. Her work on Louie has also resulted in a WGA Award and two PGA Award nominations.
The pickup joins an FX pilot slate that also includes animated comedy Bigfoot,comedies Death Pact, Donald Glover’s rap comedy Atlanta, Bill Burr’s Pariah and Kurt Sutter’s The Bastard Executioner.
FX, meanwhile, also announced that the eight-episode fifth season of Louie will take a bow on Thursday, April 9 at 10:30 p.m., after the series debut of Billy Crystal starring in The Comedians at 10 p.m.
The cable network — and younger-skewing sibling FXX — have a roster of originals that include anthologies Fargo, American Horror Story and American Crime Story, as well as dramas The Americans, The Strain, Taboo, Tyrant and comedies Sex, Drugs & Rock & Roll, Archer, Baskets, Louie, Married, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Man Seeking Woman and You’re the Worst.
X-FILES, PRISON BREAK to Get Reboots?
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At the 2015 Winter TCA Press Tour, new Fox bosses Gary Newman and Dana Walden revealed the network is open to bringing back two beloved series: The X-Files and Prison Break!
Following the success of 24: Live Another Day, both series are being eyed for potential returns as limited-run events.
“I think it’s been reported and it’s true that we’ve had some conversations on X-Files. We’re hopeful we’ll bring that back at some point,” Newman said of the David Duchovny-Gillian Anderson cult series.
And after their panel ended, Newman elaborated on Fox’s plans for The-X Files, should it return. “If this happens, it will be with David and Gillian reprising their roles. Chris [Carter] is interested, both David and Gillian are interested. Scheduling it is very different. David has his shows and Gillian is doing something in the UK, so it’s a little hard. I really don’t know how fast it can happen because of that. But there are ongoing conversations happening.”
When we recently spoke with Anderson about a possible X-Files reboot, she was hesitant about it returning as a series and not a movie. “I need to wrap my brain around what that would entail,” she said. “I live in London. I’ve got three kids, it’s not a small proposition and it would take a lot longer to shoot than a movie would. I need to think about that.”
As for Prison Break, Newman admitted the recent headlines saying Fox was “definitely” interested (straight from stars Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell!) in bringing the series back was “slightly news to us,” but said, “We’ve made it clear over the years…we’d bring Prison Break back in a heartbeat. It’s probably the perfect event series, so if our old partners in that show are getting interested, that would be great. But at the moment, we have nothing else to report.”
Walden even threw in, “We’ll take it!”
And Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are definitely interested, as both revealed to E! News that they are down to return to the roles of brothers Michael and Lincoln after reuniting on-screen for The CW’s The Flash.
CAPTAIN AMERICAN 3: CIVIL WAR: Scarlett Johansson’s Return as Black Widow Confirmed
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Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow will appear in the forthcoming third Captain America film, the sequel’s directors have confirmed. She joins Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Chadwick Boseman and Daniel Brühl in the Marvel sequel.
Shooting on the film, titled Captain America: Civil War, is due to start in April. Anthony and Joe Russo are returning as directors after also steering the franchise’s second installment, last year’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Asked for an update on the sequel during a press event in Beijing, Anthony Russo told reporters:
‘We’ve been preparing for the movie since the last one debuted last year. So we’ve been working on it for a long time now. We’re very happy how it’s coming along. Captain America 3 is gonna be called Captain America: Civil War and it’s going to star Chris Evans. Scarlett Johansson will be back, Winter Soldier [Sebastian Stan] will be back, and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man will also be joining us in the next film.’
Chadwick Boseman, the star of last year’s James Brown biopic Get On Up, will also appear in Captain America: Civil War as another iconic superhero, Black Panther. Marvel announced in November that Rush/Inglourious Bastards actor Daniel Brühl has joined the film’s cast too and is rumored to be playing the main villain, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Captain America: Civil War is set for release on May 6, 2016. In the meantime, Johannson’s Black Widow, Downey Jr’s Iron Man and Evans’ Captain America will all be seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which opens on May 1 this year.
ELVIS & NIXON: Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville Join Cast
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Colin Hanks, Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville, Tracy Letts and singer Sky Ferreira have joined Elvis & Nixon, the true story drama that has begun shooting in Atlanta.
The movie sees Michael Shannon as Elvis, embarking on a trip to Washington D.C. to meet President Richard Nixon, being played by Kevin Spacey. Liza Johnson is directing the movie that also has Evan Peters (X-Men: Days of Future Past) in its supporting cast.
The movie tells of the infamous Dec. 21, 1970, meeting between Presley and Nixon, both men at the height of their power in their respective fields. The meeting was initiated by Presley, who wrote Nixon an urgent six-page letter requesting a visit and suggesting that he be made a “Federal Agent-at-Large” in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
Pettyfer is playing Jerry Schilling, Elvis’ best friend who accompanies the singer to DC. Hanks is playing Nixon’s aide Egil Krogh. Knoxville is playing another member of the Memphis mafia who was Elvis’ head of security. In her screen debut, Ferreira is playing Schilling’s love interest. Cassian Elwes and Holly Wiersma, whose credits range from Dallas Buyers Club to movies such as The Butler and Bobby, are producing.
It has been a long journey for many on the filmmaking team. The project has been in the works since at least 2011, when Eric Bana was attached to play Nixon and Cary Elwes, who also wrote the script with Hanala and Joey Sagal, was going to direct it.
THE DIRT: Mötley Crüe Biopic to Move Forward with JACKASS Director
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The long-gestating film adaptation of Mötley Crüe’s 2001 autobiography The Dirt is set to move forward with a new production company. According to an exclusive report by The Hollywood Reporter, Focus Features will develop the movie, which will be directed by Jeff Tremaine, whose resume includes the Jackass films.
The book, which was co-written by band mates Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx, along with author Neil Strauss, gives an uncensored look at the glam-metal group’s wild exploits, including plenty of sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, arrests, feuding and hairspray.
Mötley Crüe’s members are among a number of people who are serving as co-producers on the movie. Casting for The Dirt is expected to begin soon.
Numerous attempts to kick-start the film have been made over the years. Previous directors attached to the project include Larry Charles and David Fincher.
In other news, Mötley Crüe is expected to announce details about the last legs of its farewell tour soon. A report in the Las Vegas Sun alleges that the group’s final show will take place on December 31 in Los Angeles, but there’s been no official confirmation.
Meanwhile, Mötley Crüe will be the musical guest this Thursday, January 22, on NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which airs at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT.
Metallica are Recording New Album, Post Pic From Studio as Proof
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Metallica have posted a teaser picture that finally proves they’re working on the follow-up to 2008’s Death Magnetic.
They’ve posted an Instagram photo, taken by drummer Lars Ulrich, showing Robert Trujillo recording bass parts for a song. The caption reads: ‘Rockin’ along…’
Ulrich recently revealed the writing process for the long-awaited project began in 2013.
Last month, Trujillo said he was excited by the songwriting they had completed to date, adding: “We’re just blueprinting everything right now. There are a lot of ideas, a lot of song bodies. You’ve got to go through the process. I’m really happy with what’s happening instrumentally. So let’s see how that journey continues.”
Former producer Bob Rock said of what will be Metallica’s tenth album:
‘I think they’ve got a landmark record in them – and it’s probably brewing right now.’
The band will be honored by the NHL’s San Jose Sharks as they host Metallica Night later this month. They headline the Reading and Leeds festivals in August.
Grateful Dead 50th Anniversary Reunion Shows Coming to Chicago Only on 4th of July Weekend
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The surviving ‘core four’ members of the Grateful Dead will reunite over Fourth of July weekend at Soldier Field in Chicago for three concerts celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary.
For the shows, scheduled to take place July 3-5, Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann will be joined by an assortment of guests that includes former touring member Bruce Hornsby and Phish co-founder Trey Anastasio.
‘This year is the 50th anniversary of the band we all know and love — the Grateful Dead,” says Jerry Garcia‘s daughter Trixie in the video announcement. ‘There’s going to be a celebration. … This is an amazing American rock band, being celebrated on America’s birthday. It’s so significant that they’re doing the shows in Chicago — a central location for all Deadheads to gather, and it’s also the last place the Grateful Dead played together in 1995.’
It’s also what sounds like the closing of an age.
Weir told Billboard, ‘These will be the last shows with the four of us together’ — something not lost on promoter Peter Shapiro, who added, ‘That’s why we’re doing it in Chicago. They’re the great American rock ‘n’ roll band returning to where it ended, 20 years later.’
‘It is with respect and gratitude that we reconvene the Dead one last time to celebrate,’ said Lesh. ‘Not merely the band’s legacy, but also the community that we’ve been playing to, and with, for 50 years.’ And while this appears to be the end of the road for the Dead as a performing unit, Weir insisted fans shouldn’t mourn too deeply, saying, “I know we’ll all continue playing this music forever in our own ways. I’ve got some miles left in me.’
For more on the shows, including ticketing information, visit the Dead 50 website.
NFL Threatened to Eject Marshawn Lynch if He Wore Gold Cleats in NFC Championship
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Marshawn Lynch was planning on wearing gold cleats worth over $1,000 during today’s NFC Championship Game. According to Jay Glazer, during the FOX pre-game show, the NFL threatened to eject Marshawn Lynch if he wore the gold cleats for the game. The Seahawks are trying to implore Lynch to wear the proper uniform. Glazer also said that while the NFL had threatened ejection, they probably would just prohibit him from entering the game while he was wearing the gold shoes.
Greg Anthony Outed in Blind Item for Liking Transgender Hookers
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Greg Anthony was arrested on Friday night after being busted in a prostitution sting in Washington, D.C. and was suspended from his CBS and Turner Sports analyst jobs as a result. If the former NBA player tries to argue that soliciting the prostitute was a one-time deal, he may be met with suspicion.
A gossip website called “Crazy Days and Nights” often posts “blind items” about famous people. The blind items usually contain salacious details about the person in question and leave readers guessing about the mystery subjects. In light of his arrest, Anthony was outed as the person behind a Nov., 2013 blind item.
Here is what the site wrote in a Nov. 15 entry that they now say was about Anthony:
If you are a transgender hooker this TNT host/commentator has no problems giving you lots of money to come over to his hotel room when he is in town. He won’t invite you to his home but when he is on the road you can make some serious money. Good thing for you he is on the road every week for a couple of days at a time. Atlanta pros are making a killing off this guy and his need for a new look each week.
If this blind item is indeed true — and it’s hard not to believe it in light of Friday’s arrest — that makes two well known sports figures who allegedly have mixed it up with transsexual prostitutes.
Anthony faces 90 days in jail if convicted. This will be damaging for his future job prospects and political aspirations (he is a big supporter of the Republican party).
Aaron Rodgers’ Girlfriend Olivia Munn Boasts About His Dog Training Skills
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Aaron Rodgers and girlfriend Olivia Munn are still going strong and almost entering their second year of dating.
Munn has been busy promoting her newest movie, “Mortdecai,” while Rodgers has led the Packers to another excellent season. Munn has spent some time during the football season going to Wisconsin to watch Rodgers play. She even says she has given up work at times to be with him.
Recently, Munn, who is an animal lover, adopted a cocker spaniel. She advocates people adopting pets and talked about how well Rodgers trained the rescue.
“My boyfriend house-trained him within a day and a half — it was amazing,” she told the New York Daily News while promoting “Mortdecai.” “He came with the name Chance, because he got a second chance.”
Munn has been giving the dog plenty of attention. She has been taking Chance on photoshoots and even to interviews and business outings.
It sure looks like the dog is having all the fun.
Last year around the same time as the massive celebrity photo hack, Munn joked about what would happen if you hacked into her phone. It turns out she was actually a part of it.
News roundup: Sarah Palin on Mitt Romney third bid: ‘We need new blood’
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FILE – In a Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 file photo, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks at the 2014 Values Voter Summit in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Sarah Palin on Mitt running again: ‘We need new blood.’
Happy Thursday. Not surprisingly, potential 2016 candidates on the Republican side aren’t too pleased by the idea of Mitt Romney jumping into the race. Sen. Rand Paul called Romney “yesterday’s news,” and former Alaska governor and VP candidate Sarah Palin was skeptical: “We need new energy. We need new blood. We need new ideas.” [HuffPost]
Topping the news: Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes took a secret trip to Colombia last October to participate in taking down a child sex trafficking operation. [DNews][Fox13]
-> A new report says Utah’s tax burden is at a 20-year low because of pre-recession tax cuts. However, the poor and middle-class are paying nearly twice as much as the wealthiest 1 percent. [Trib][DNews][UtahPolicy]
-> A new poll shows some 56 percent of Utahns favor more controls on the payday loan industry. [UtahPolicy]
-> Utah lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert are still split over his Healthy Utah alternative to Medicaid expansion, but they hope to find a compromise within the next week. [DNews]
Tweets of the day: From @JohnJHarwood: “Pretty much all that’s left is for McCain to get in the race.”
Happy Birthday: Former state Rep. Steven Mascaro.
Tune in: University of Utah history and ethnic studies professor Ronald Coleman, NAACP’s Alain Balmanno and activist Joan Mulholland join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the film “Selma,” the civil rights movement and the continuing struggle against prejudice and discrimination. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on sltrib.com.
In other news: The state held the first public hearing about Utah’s proposed wood-burning ban in Tooele yesterday to gauge public opinion, and boy did they get it. Nearly 200 people attended the hearing, expressing their adamant disapproval for the ban. [DNews]
-> State Sen. Jerry Stevenson, a co-chariman of the Prison Relocation Commission, thought he had the perfect solution for the new location of the state prison: a remote spot in Tooele County where the military once destroyed weapons from decades ago. Until he found out the military is still regularly blowing up weapons, which would cause the prisoners to be rocked with regular aftershocks of explosions. [Trib]
-> ABC News’ Jeff Zeleny sat down with Sen. Orrin Hatch to talk about his love of writing songs. [ABCNews]
-> UTA recently did some research and determined that it would cost an extra $49 million to expand its late-night service, something that rider groups and petitioners have been asking for. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker gave his State of the City address yesterday, telling a crowd of elementary students that they have an equal chance to succeed and asking them to help him get their families to be more environmentally friendly. [Trib][DNews][UtahPolicy]
-> House Speaker John Boehner announced that Rep. Chris Stewart will serve on the House Intelligence Committee. [Trib]
-> The West Valley City Council voted Tuesday to release previously withheld records of the 2012 officer-involved shooting death of Danielle Willard. [Trib]
-> The Orem City Council voted last night to ban all new billboards in the city and put restrictions on electronic billboards after residents complained the bright lights disrupted their quality of life. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City officials are still trying to decide where to put the huge Hoberman Arch, one of the icons from 2002 Winter Olympic. [Trib] [KSL]
-> Former chief executive of The Community Foundation of Utah, Fraser Nelson, has joined Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams’ staff as the first director of data and innovation. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on the third coming of Mitt Romney. [Trib]
Nationally: In a continuation of the battle between Congress’ aggressive conservative agenda and President Obama’s veto power, the House voted Wednesday to block funding for the president’s immigration orders. [TheHill] [NYTimes] [FOX] [WaPost] [CNN] [Politico] All four Utahns in the House voted for the GOP measure. [Trib]
-> In an effort to protect transgender and gender non-conforming people, a new law in California requires all businesses in West Hollywood to make their single-stall restrooms gender-neutral. [LATimes] [FOX]
-> Customers can expect slower tax refunds, fewer identity-theft protections and worse customer service from the IRS this year due to drastic budget cuts. Only one good thing will come from the smaller budget: fewer audits. [AP] [FOX] [Politico] [ABC]
-> A new Pew Research study says that only 20% of Republican women care about having a female president in their lifetime, compared to 69% of Democratic women. [WaPost] [TIME] [Politico] [USAToday] [WSJ]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends House Republican strategy meetings in Hershey, Pa.
Gov. Gary Herbert meets with the Utah Business Coalition at the State Capitol.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the “What’s up Down South” conference in St. George.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the Wasatch Front Regional Council and the Hinckley Institute Policy Session at the State Capitol.
President Barack Obama travels to Baltimore to meet with Democratic Senators and hosts U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron for a working dinner at the White House.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at [email protected]. If you haven’t already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]
— Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer
Secret Service: Shots fired outside Bidens’ Delaware home
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FILE – In this Nov. 22, 2014 file photo, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the annual Atlantic Council Energy and Economic Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. The Secret Service says multiple gunshots were fired from a vehicle near Biden’s Delaware home on Saturday night, Jan. 17, 2015. The vice president and his wife were not at home at the time. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File)
Wilmington, Del. • Multiple gunshots were fired from a vehicle near the Delaware home of Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday night, the U.S. Secret Service said Sunday. The vice president and his wife were not at home at the time of the shooting, authorities said.
The Wilmington home is several hundred yards from the main road where the shots rang out, and authorities were searching outside the Biden residence and nearby homes to determine whether any rounds hit anything. Police in New Castle County, Delaware, said there were no reports of any injuries related to the shooting.
Secret Service spokesman Robert Hoback said the shots were fired at about 8:25 p.m. on a public road outside the home’s secure perimeter.
Secret Service personnel heard the shots, saw the vehicle drive by the home at a high rate of speed and flee the scene.
The Secret Service said about 30 minutes later, an individual in a vehicle tried to pass a county police officer at a checkpoint set up after the shooting near the Biden home. That person was arrested for resisting arrest and was scheduled to be questioned regarding the shooting incident. County Police Sgt. Jacob Andrews said it appears the man was not involved in the shooting.
Young Cho, who lives two houses up from the Bidens, said Sunday that he heard four gunshots just before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday evening.
“We heard the shots, four of them,” Cho said. “But next door there is always Secret Service so I wasn’t too worried. I feel really safe here. But it was really strange, to hear those kinds of shots next to the vice president’s house.”
Biden’s neighborhood includes stately stone-and-brick homes along a curving two-lane road that winds through rolling hills. Nestled in a heavily wooded area, the vice president’s home is not visible from the main road. A small cottage, occupied by the Secret Service, sits on the property near a gate in front of the driveway that is blocked off by Secret Service vehicles and personnel.
Police said there was a report of shots fired in the nearby area of Hoopes Reservoir, just northwest of the Biden home. The reservoir is a source of fresh water for Wilmington.
Biden’s office said the vice president and his wife, Jill Biden, were briefed Saturday night, as was President Barack Obama. Biden’s office referred all other questions to the Secret Service.
On Sunday afternoon, half a dozen sport utility vehicles were parked near the entrance of the Bidens’ property, providing a heavy security presence in the area. Shortly before 2 p.m., a motorcade of several more SUVs arrived at the house. It was unclear whether the vice president was in any of the vehicles.
Biden planned to speak Monday in Wilmington at the Organization of Minority Women’s 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast.
The Bidens spend many weekends at their Delaware home, and, while he served in the Senate, Biden frequently made a daily commute from Delaware to Washington by train.
Thomas reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Juliet Linderman in Baltimore contributed to this report.
Ex-BYU QB Jim McMahon tells HBO he considered suicide
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Jim McMahon leads BYU against Utah in this photo from Nov. 22, 1980. In a “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” report that airs Tuesday, former BYU and Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon talks about his many lingering health problems — and admits he has considered suicide.
McMahon says that when he heard about other NFL veterans “killing themselves, I couldn’t figure out how they could do that. But I was having those thoughts myself. Feelings of inadequacy. And just like you’re a dumbass. Once the pain starts getting that bad, you figure you’ll take the only way out. If I would’ve had a gun, I probably wouldn’t be here.”
The “Real Sports” segment profiles the Super Bowl-winning 1985 Chicago Bears — media darlings who suffer from more than their share of physical and mental disabilities three decades later.
William “The Refrigerator” Perry, Keith Van Horne, Wilbur Marshall and Richard Dent — among others — are physical wrecks. Walter Payton died of liver disease in 1999.
And Dave Duerson shot himself to death in 2011.
“I had the same thoughts myself,” McMahon says. “I just didn’t have no way to do it. … I can totally relate to it now.”
He is front-and-center in the “Real Sports” report, which airs Tuesday at 11 p.m. on HBO.
“I was on painkillers my last 11 years in the league,” McMahon tells Gumbel. “I was eating 100 Percs a month just to function” — medication he grabbed from “bowls of pills sitting out” in the Bears’ locker room.
And there were “hundreds” of painkiller shots.
“Twelve knee surgeries, seven on the right, five on the left,” he says in the HBO show. “Three right shoulder surgeries. Tore half my kidney off. Broke five ribs off my sternum. Broke my neck at some point, they didn’t tell me about.
“Other than that, I feel good.”
Not so good, clearly. He tells Gumbel, “I just lay in my room for days … weeks,” just “staring at the ceiling fan.”
He also talks about his memory loss — that he’ll get up, intending to go to the store and then forget where he was going. That if he gets to the store, he can’t remember how to get home.
“Hey, people always thought I was nuts anyway,” McMahon says. “Well, I’m finally living up to it.”
