You Might Want to Rethink

Un cine AMC de Los Ángeles se sumió en el pánico y la confusión durante una aparente emergencia este fin de semana. Fue un momento de caos que podría haber afectado a Martin Scorsese.

Todo esto sucedió el sábado por la noche en el cine AMC de Century City, donde testigos presenciales le informan a TMZ que todas las proyecciones de alrededor de las 7 PM fueron interrumpidas y acortadas después de una alarma de incendio que comenzó a sonar en todo el establecimiento, cuya causa aún no está clara.

Se nos dice que el personal de AMC no fue precisamente útil a la hora de aclarar la situación o decirle a la gente que hacer. Los asistentes actuaron por su cuenta y bajaron en dirección al vestíbulo.

Nuestras fuentes nos dicen que algunas personas estaban enloqueciendo un poco debido a la falta de información, un puñado de gente pensó que podría haber sido una situación de tirador activo, así que sí, parece que la situación fue bastante caótica.

Nos dicen que la gente estaba de pie torpemente alrededor y no muy segura de qué hacer. Con el pasar de los minutos y al darse cuenta de que la proyección se había arruinado, los asistentes formaron una gran fila para pedir el reembolso.

Nuestras fuentes nos dicen que todo el mundo finalmente recibió su dinero de vuelta  (eso, o un boleto para otra película otro día). Incluso había para la película de Taylor Swift (que se vende como un evento de estreno) fue honrado por el personal de AMC, pero todo el proceso fue un lío.

Scorsese estuvo presente el sábado por la noche en Century City, por que iba a dar unas palabras antes de la proyección de "Killers Of The Flower Moon" alrededor de la misma hora.

An AMC Theater in L.A. erupted into panic and confusion during an apparent emergency over the weekend -- a frenzied scene which might've actually affected one Martin Scorsese.

This all went down Saturday night at the AMC Century City location -- where eyewitnesses tell TMZ that all screenings around 7 PM PT were interrupted and cut short after a fire alarm started blaring throughout the entire facility ... the cause of which is still unclear.

We're told that AMC staffers weren't all that helpful in clarifying to people what was going on or what to do -- and folks started to shuffle out on their own ... heading into the lobby.

Our sources tell us, however, that some people were actually freaking out a bit -- seeing how no information was apparently being communicated, a handful of folks thought there might've been an active shooter situation ... so yeah, it sounds like it was a chaotic sitch.

We're told people were awkwardly standing around ... not really sure what to do. Eventually, though, a massive line formed once it became clear their movies were ruined -- and guest relations started to give out refunds.

Our sources tell us everybody there did eventually get their money back -- that, or a movie voucher for another visit -- and that even for the Taylor Swift movie, which is being sold as a premiere event was honored by the AMC staff ... but the whole process was messy.

The kicker to all this is that Scorsese was actually on hand Saturday night there at Century City -- as he was intro'ing a screening of "Killers Of the Flower Moon" around the same time.

La despreciable imagen de Hitler hizo una aparición sorpresa en un partido de fútbol de la Universidad Estatal de Michigan y no es sorprendente que la reacción fuera de repudio colectivo, lo que llevó a la universidad a emitir un mea culpa.

La cara del líder nazi apareció en un enorme tablero de video con vistas a Spartan Stadium el Sábado por la noche, justo antes de que la MSU Spartans diera inicio a su partido contra los Wolverines de Michigan.

La gran pantalla mostraba no solo la foto del Fuher, sino también una pregunta de trivial sobre su lugar de nacimiento en Austria.

Por supuesto, la metedura de pata no sentó bien a mucha gente en medio de la guerra entre Israel y Hamás, así que sacaron fotos del cameo de Hitler y las colgaron en las redes sociales.

Los responsables de la MSU no tardaron en disculparse, al tiempo que echaban la culpa del fiasco a una "fuente ajena".

En un comunicado, el Director Atlético Asociado de MSU, Matt Larson, dijo: "MSU es consciente de que el contenido inapropiado de una fuente de terceros se mostró en el tablero de video antes del inicio del partido de fútbol de esta noche".

Larson continuó: "Lamentamos profundamente el contenido que se mostró, ya que no es representativo de nuestros valores institucionales".

También prometió no volver a utilizar la fuente de terceros, mientras que la aplicación de "procedimientos de selección y aprobación más fuertes para todo el contenido de la pizarra de video en el futuro".

Hitler's despicable image made a surprise appearance at a Michigan State University football game ... and not surprisingly the reaction was collective disgust, leading to the college issuing a mea culpa.

The Nazi leader's ugly mug flashed on a huge video board overlooking Spartan Stadium Saturday night ... just before the MSU Spartans kicked off their match-up against the Michigan Wolverines.

The large screen displayed not only the Fuher's photo but also a trivia question about his birthplace in Austria.

Of course, the screwup didn't sit well with many people amid the Israel-Hamas war -- so they snapped pictures of Hitler's cameo and posted them on social media.

It didn't take long for MSU officials to apologize, while also blaming the fiasco on a "third-party source."

In a statement, MSU's Associate Athletic Director Matt Larson said, "MSU is aware that inappropriate content by a third-party source was displayed on the video board prior to the start of tonight's football game."

Larson continued, "We are deeply sorry for the content that was displayed, as this is not representative of our institutional values."

He also promised to never again use the third-party source, while implementing "stronger screening and approval procedures for all video board content in the future."

El apoyo de Tyler Perry para una anciana que lucha por conservar una propiedad de Carolina del Sur que su familia posee desde la época de la Guerra Civil, incluye una nueva casa con piscina.

Josephine Wright es la mujer de 93 años, que está enfrentada con un promotor de Hilton Head y su nieta Charise le dice a TMZ que Tyler se puso en contacto con la familia y le preguntó qué quería para su nueva casa, a lo que ella respondió, 5 dormitorios y una piscina.

Charise dice que Tyler estuvo de acuerdo y su equipo le envió los planos a Josephine, pero su abuela es muy particular y pidió algunos cambios menores, a los que él también accedió.

Como se puede ver en el plano, obtenido por TMZ, también hay una sala de juegos, comedor, oficina, sala de medios y un gran porche.

Nos han dicho que Tyler le está regalando una casa modular a Josephine, lo que significa que se construirá fuera del sitio y luego se trasladará a una parte separada de su propiedad, por lo que no tendrá que dejar la parcela de tierra que ha sido heredada por su familia durante generaciones.

Charise dice que parte de la actual casa de su abuela está construida sobre la sección de propiedad, que es objeto de disputa.

TMZ dio la noticia, Tyler compró la casa y los equipos de construcción se pondrán a trabajar en unas pocas semanas, una vez que todos los permisos estén listos.

Tyler prometió su apoyo a Josephine en julio después de enterarse de su difícil situación, y Charise nos dice que se puso en contacto con la familia a finales de agosto para poner en marcha el proyecto de su nuevo hogar.

En cuanto al enfrentamiento legal de Josephine con el desarrollador, se nos dice que ambas partes están todavía deliberando.

Charise nos dijo: "A mi abuela le gustaría dar las gracias a todas las personas que se fijaron en ella y no vieron a una pequeña dama frágil, sino a una gigante dispuesta a luchar para mantener lo que es legítimamente suyo. Ellá está muy agradecida, que Dios la bendiga".

Tyler Perry's lifeline for an elderly woman fighting to hang on to the South Carolina property her family's owned since the Civil War era includes a new home with a swimming pool.

Josephine Wright is the 93-year-old woman duking it out with a developer in Hilton Head and her granddaughter, Charise, tells TMZ ... Tyler got in touch with the family and asked Josephine what she wanted in a new home, and she told him 5 bedrooms plus a pool.

Charise says Tyler agreed and his team sent Josephine the blueprints. But, she says her grandma is very particular and asked for a few minor changes ... and he obliged.

As you can see in the blueprint, obtained by TMZ, there's also a game room, dining room, home office, media room and a big porch.

We're told Tyler is gifting Josephine a modular home ... meaning it will be built off-site and then moved to a separate part of her expansive property, so she won't have to leave the plot of land that's been passed down by her family for generations.

Charise says part of her grandma's current home is built on the section of property that is the subject of a bitter land dispute.

TMZ broke the story ... Tyler's buying the home and construction crews will get to work in a few weeks once all the permits are squared away.

Tyler pledged his support to Josephine back in July after learning of her plight ... and Charise tells us he reached out to the family in late August to get the ball rolling on the new home.

As for Josephine's legal showdown with the developer ... we're told both sides are still in deliberations.

Charise tells TMZ ... "My Grandmother would like to thank all the people all over the world who looked at her and didn't see a little fragile lady but a giant ready to fight to keep what's rightfully hers. She is humbled and so appreciative, God bless."

A man known in social justice circles has claimed to have helped with the release of two American hostages amid the Israel-Hamas conflict -- but the family's calling BS.

Shaun King has been trending all weekend over a post he threw up Friday -- which seemed to be him taking credit, at least in part, for the safe return of Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter, Natalie Raanan.

King said he was grateful Natalie and her mother had been freed, adding ... "As I said last week, Natalie and her family have been supporters of mine and have protested police violence in America alongside us."

He continued, "I am also thankful for the Qatari government for helping to negotiate this. Dozens of us worked frantically behind the scenes to help make this possible."

King finished by saying ... "I spoke to Natalie's family this afternoon and they are anxiously awaiting more updates."

Well, his version of events apparently doesn't quite align with what the Raanan family's aware of -- 'cause they're saying they straight up don't know this guy. The family released a statement, saying ... "Today we came across bizarre posts on the Instagram page of one Shaun King, who turns out to have millions of followers, who claims that our relative Natalie Raanan supports the anti-Israeli messages he uploads to his page."

The family goes on ... "First and foremost, we make it clear that he is lying! Our family does not and did not have anything to do with him, neither directly nor indirectly. Not to him and not to anything he claims to represent." They go on to say Natalie has never met Shaun, and she first learned about him today amid all the speculation ... of which there's been much.

The Raanan family says folks shouldn't buy what King's selling ... and that his claims amount to misinformation -- which they say is spreading like wildfire. They also note they have more family members and loved ones in captivity that they're working to have released.

Now, as for King ... he's already defending himself by now sharing who exactly he spoke with -- and as it turns out, he says it was a brother of Natalie's ... going to post receipts of conversations he says he had with the guy, detailing his efforts to have her freed.

He also claims he just spoke to the Raanan family -- presumably the same people who released this blistering statement -- and insists they're being forced to distance themselves from him. So, at this point ... there seems to be conflicting accounts over what's going on.

Taylor Swift's 'Eras' film got torched by a critic who likened her movie to the downfall of society as we know it -- and all we can say about this over-the-top piece is ... holy crap.

This critique -- which is now going viral, for all the wrong reasons -- comes courtesy of Armond White of the National Review ... which is a well-known conservative outlet, so keep that in mind as we guide you through this nonsense.

White does a full-blown sociological examination of the 'Eras Tour' flick, as he sees it -- and you can tell how he views things from his headline and subheading ... "Taylor Swift's Asylum Seekers ... A movie concert promotes post-Madonna, post-Obama mind control."

You can read it all for yourself, but here's one excerpt that's getting mocked ... "The Swift circus doesn’t replace the thrill of originality and profundity that accompanied the advent of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Supremes, the Jackson Five, which Gen Z knows nothing about. Instead, Swift specializes in degraded girl-pop -- teenage solipsism, the silliness that kids will ideally outgrow. Yet her songs corrupt puppy love into jejune sophistication."

He then compares the movie's director, Sam Wrench, to Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl ... namely, making Taylor's concerts far more grand/aesthetically pleasing than they actually are in person, the way Riefenstahl did for Hitler -- at least that seems to be White's POV.

Not just this, but White actually tries to juxtapose Swfities innocently dancing in theaters to mass shooter James Holmes, intimating a connection by writing ... "The teens in TikTok clips who pitifully bounce and sing along with the film’s pre-recorded concert are the flip side of those nerds and sociopaths who lined up for 'The Dark Knight Rises' in Aurora, Colo."

If that sounds unhinged, that's because it is ... that's certainly how Twitter feels about it, anyway. They're unloading on White's hyperbole over something as benign as a concert film.

He ends his scorched-earth review this way ... "Boomer parents may want to let them have their fun — same as toying with matches and playing in the traffic. But here’s a frightening fact of the Swifties pheenom: These kids seem ready for a leader, anxious for totalitarianism. It will take a counterrevolution to repair Swift’s moral, aesthetic, and political damage."

FWIW, White is very much a man apart here ... 'cause just about every other film critic (big and small) has praised the 'Eras' movie for being what it is -- a wholesome, good time.

La película 'Eras' de Taylor Swift fue incendiada por un crítico que comparó su película con la caída de la sociedad como la conocemos, y todo lo que podemos decir sobre ello es, ¡vaya mierda!

La crítica, que se está haciendo viral en este momento por todas las equivocadas razones, es cortesía de Armond White de National Review. Este es un conocido medio conservador, así que tenlo presente mientras les contamos sobre esta tontería.

En la crítica, White hace un examen sociológico completo de la película y solo con leer el titular y los subtítulos se puede ver de qué va: "Los solicitantes de asilo de Taylor Swift, un concierto de cine promueve el control mental post-Madonna, post-Obama".

Pueden leerlo con sus propios ojos, pero aquí hay un extracto que está siendo objeto de burlas: "El circo de Swift no reemplaza la emoción de la originalidad y la profundidad que acompañó el advenimiento de los Beatles, los Rolling Stones, las Supremes, los Jackson Five, de los que la Generación Z no sabe nada. En su lugar, Swift se especializa en un pop de chicas degradado: un solipsismo adolescente y tontería que los niños idealmente superarán. Sin embargo, sus canciones corrompen el amor de cachorro y lo convierten en una sofisticación ridícula".

A continuación, compara al director de la película, Sam Wrench, con la propagandista nazi Leni Riefenstahl, diciendo que está haciendo los conciertos de Taylor mucho más grandiosos/estéticamente y agradables de lo que son realmente en persona, de la misma manera que Riefenstahl hizo con Hitler, o al menos eso cree White.

No solo eso, White intenta yuxtaponer a los Swfities que bailan inocentemente en los cines con el tirador de masas James Holmes, insinuando una conexión al escribir: "Los adolescentes en los clips de TikTok que lastimosamente rebotan y cantan junto al concierto pregrabado de la película son la otra cara de esos nerds y sociópatas que hicieron cola para 'The Dark Knight Rises' en Aurora, Colo".

Si eso suena desquiciado, es porque lo es ... Y, Twitter siente lo mismo, muy ciertamente, ya que se están desahogando con la hipérbole de White por algo tan inocente como una película sobre un concierto.

El autor termina su crítica de esta manera: "Puede que los padres de la generación boomer quieran dejar que sus hijos se diviertan, igual que cuando juegan con cerillas y en el tráfico. Pero he aquí un hecho aterrador del fenómeno de los Swifties: Estos niños parecen listos para tener un líder, ansiosos de totalitarismo. Hará falta una contrarrevolución para reparar el daño moral, estético y político de Swift".

Para lo que es importante, White es un hombre muy aparte aquí, porque casi todos los otros críticos de cine (grandes y pequeños) han elogiado la película 'Eras' por ser lo que es -un tiempo de diversión.

Ryan Reynolds and Mandy Moore think their union's rules over Halloween costumes this year are absurd -- which has forced SAG-AFTRA to clarify what they mean ... if only a bit.

The two actors are among the most famous faces to be calling out SAG's demand this week that their members refrain from dressing up as characters from struck movies or shows ... this as they enter their 100th day of picketing amid yet another stalemate in negotiations.

On Wednesday, SAG issued new guidelines about getups they would consider forbidden -- especially ones that actors might want to throw up on IG. Rather than dress as specific characters from splashy titles this year -- "Barbie," obviously -- SAG recommends choosing generic 'stumes ... like ghosts, zombies, spiders, etc. That, or animated TV show characters.

In response to the harsh restrictions, MM and RR fired away. Mandy wrote, "Is this a joke? Come on @sagaftra. This is what’s important? We’re asking you to negotiate in good faith on our behalf. So many folks across every aspect of this industry have been sacrificing mightily for months. Get back to the table and get a fair deal so everyone can get back to work."

Ryan had his own critique ... jokingly writing about his daughter, James -- "I look forward to screaming 'scab' at my 8 year old all night. She’s not in the union but she needs to learn."

More so in response to Ryan's sentiment, SAG has cleared up exactly who these "rules" apply to -- and it ain't the little ones. They say, "SAG-AFTRA issued Halloween guidance in response to questions from content creators and members about how to support the strike during this festive season. This was meant to help them avoid promoting struck work, and it is the latest in a series of guidelines we have issued. It does not apply to anyone’s kids."

They added, "We are on strike for important reasons, and have been for nearly 100 days. Our number one priority remains getting the studios back to the negotiating table so we can get a fair deal for our members, and finally put our industry back to work."

Ryan Reynolds y Mandy Moore piensan que las reglas de su sindicato sobre los disfraces de Halloween de este año son absurdas, lo que ha obligado a SAG-AFTRA a aclarar lo que quieren decir, aunque sea un poquito.

Los dos actores son algunos de los rostros más famosos que están alegando el llamado de SAG a que sus miembros se abstengan de vestirse de personajes de películas o espectáculos afectados por la demanda. Esto, al entrar al día 100 de huelga y con las negociaciones en un punto muerto en este momento.

El miércoles, SAG emitió nuevas directrices sobre los atuendos que consideraran prohibidos, especialmente aquellos que los actores podrían querer exhibir en Instagram. En lugar de vestirse como personajes específicos de títulos de este año, como "Barbie", obviamente, SAG recomienda elegir disfraces genéricos como fantasmas, zombies, arañas, etc. Eso, o personajes animados de programas de televisión.

En respuesta a las duras restricciones, Mandy Moore y Ryan Reynolds se fueron en contra. Mandy escribió: "¿Es una broma? Vamos @sagaftra. ¿Esto es lo importante? Les pedimos que negocien de buena fe en nuestro nombre. Tanta gente de esta industria se ha sacrificado mucho durante meses. Vuelvan a la mesa y consigan un acuerdo justo para que todo el mundo pueda volver al trabajo".

Ryan hizo su propia crítica. En tono de broma escribió sobre su hija, James. "Estoy deseando gritarle "traidora" a mi hija de 8 años toda la noche. No está en el sindicato, pero tiene que aprender".

Sobre todo en respuesta al sentimiento de Ryan, SAG aclaró exactamente a quiénes se aplican estas "reglas", y no es a los niños. Dijeron: "SAG-AFTRA emitió una guía de Halloween en respuesta a las preguntas de los creadores de contenido y miembros sobre cómo apoyar la huelga durante esta temporada festiva. La intención era ayudarlos a evitar la promoción del trabajo en huelga, y es la última de una serie de directrices que hemos publicado. No se aplica a los hijos de nadie".

Y añadieron: "Estamos en huelga por razones importantes y lo hemos estado durante casi 100 días. Nuestra prioridad número uno sigue siendo conseguir que los estudios vuelvan a la mesa de negociación para que podamos conseguir un acuerdo justo para nuestros miembros, y finalmente poner nuestra industria de nuevo a trabajar."

Emily Blunt is apologizing for insulting an anonymous waitress on TV more than a decade ago -- this after social media resurfaced a clip of her mocking the woman's weight.

The actress issued a full-throated mea culpa to People Mag -- acknowledging a clip from an appearance she made on the 'Jonathan Ross Show' in 2012 ... when she was plugging "Looper" and yukking it up with the host.

At one point, Ross jokes about Americans being "enormous" at Chili's ... citing the size of burgers they get served/eat. Emily laughs and adds her own anecdote to it -- saying a Chili's server who was waiting on her during the filming of "Looper" was, indeed, humongous.

EB recreates the convo, playing up the woman's Southern accent ... and noting that this lady actually recognized Emily. It was mostly light-hearted -- but Twitter wasn't having it. Countless users accused her of fat-shaming ... and, per usual, demanded accountability.

Of course, Emily caved ... saying, "I just need to address this head on as my jaw was on the floor watching this clip from 12-years ago. I’m appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show."

She adds, "I’ve always considered myself someone who wouldn’t dream of upsetting anyone so whatever possessed me to say anything like this in that moment is unrecognizable to me or anything I stand for. And yet it happened, and I said it and I’m so sorry for any hurt caused. I was absolutely old enough to know better."

Rod Wave is dedicated to his art -- so much so, in fact, that he recreated a perilous leap from a window live onstage for all his fans ... although, it's quite clear they didn't want this.

The rapper was performing in Lincoln, Nebraska Thursday ... and at one point in his sold-out show, he decided to play stuntman right then and there in front of everyone -- climbing on top of a set piece and reenacting something he did in one of his music videos.

Watch ... the dude scales the side of a fake building, going up the fire escape and eventually standing on the rail -- with his back turned to the audience. Guess what happens next!

RW goes crashing toward the ground below ... dropping like a sack of potatoes and eventually tearing through the stage floor itself. Indeed, it's pretty damn dramatic. It stunned the audience -- and even from the crowd, you can hear folks telling him not to do it.

The videos cut out before we can see what happens next -- but, presumably, he's alright ... on account of the fact that he was performing in Minnesota last night and is posting pics on his IG page. All's well that ends well, we suppose -- but damn, this was dangerous.

BTW, this whole fall-from-the-window thing is straight out of his music video for "Come See Me" ... which is the song that was playing when he did this. So, a little life imitating art.

Emily Blunt se disculpó por insultar a una camarera en televisión hace más de una década. Esto, después de que las redes sociales revivieran un clip de la actriz en el que se burla del peso de la mujer.

Emily realizó un mea culpa en People Mag, en donde se refirió al clip de "Jonathan Ross Show" de 2012, en donde se la ve haciendo chistes con el anfitrión, en medio de la promoción de su película "Looper".

En un momento dado, Ross se ríe sobre los estadounidenses que son "enormes" en Chili's, citando el tamaño de las hamburguesas que les sirven a sus comensales. Emily se rió y contó una anécdota que ella misma vivió, diciendo que una camarera de Chili's que la estaba atendiendo durante el rodaje de "Looper" era, de hecho, enorme.

Emily recrea la conversación, haciendo hincapié en el acento sureño de la mujer y señalando que la señora la reconoció. La conversación fue más bien desenfadada, pero Twitter no lo toleró. Innumerables usuarios la acusaron de avergonzar a los gordos y, como de costumbre, exigieron responsabilidades.

Por supuesto, Emily cedió diciendo: "Solo tengo que abordar esto de frente, me quedé boquiabierta viendo este clip de hace 12 años. Estoy horrorizada de haber dicho algo tan insensible, hiriente y sin relación con la historia que estaba tratando de contar en el programa de entrevistas".

Y añade: "Siempre me he considerado alguien a quien no se le ocurriría molestar a nadie, lo que me llevó a decir algo así en ese momento es irreconocible para mí y lo que represento. Sin embargo, pasó, lo dije y siento mucho el daño causado. Era lo suficientemente grande para saberlo".

An accused con man came up with a bizarre, yet hilarious scheme to get out of paying his restaurant tabs ... he faked heart attacks on TWENTY occasions!!!!

The alleged scam artist, identified as Aidas J., took on a "typical Russian tourist" persona as he hit various eateries in Alicante, Spain, where he moved from his home in Lithuania, according to news reports. He would then go about swindling the establishments.

In his latest grift, Aidas sat down in El Buen Comer and ordered a seafood dish and two whiskies.

After he knocked it all back, he tried to slip out the door without paying. But an eagle-eyed employee blocked him and demanded he pay the $36.80.

Aidas said he needed to get the money from his hotel room, but, when that excuse didn't fly, he pretended to be sick and slumped to the floor.

Of course, the staff was dubious and contacted the police. Responding officers immediately recognized Aidas as the notorious scammer whose been arrested numerous times for the same hijinks.

Aidas was arrested for the unpaid $36 bill and hauled off to the police station. Usually, he spends a few days in jail and then he's back out doing his thing.

President Biden is urging Americans to support the war efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine ... he says we all have to come together to help defeat terrorists and tyrants.

The Prez just made his case for Congress to approve billions more in military aid to help Israel fight Hamas and Ukraine fight Vladimir Putin ... selling Americans on the battle between good and evil.

In a rare speech Thursday from the Oval Office, Biden says Americans must put their petty differences aside and unite against the bad guys ... he says if the U.S. gives up the fight in Gaza and Ukraine, it will only embolden our enemies across the globe.

POTUS says he's going to ask Congress to approve more military aid to help fight wars overseas ... while reiterating he won't send American troops to fight Russia.

We haven't seen a lot of rah-rah speeches from Biden in office ... and he's pretty animated here, at least by his standards.

The Prez says it's all part of keeping up with America's calling as a global leader ... and he says the world is watching and counting on us to save the day.