If we’re going to pillory hip-hop sensation M.I.A.—and plenty of folks have done so since she flipped the bird while performing with Madonna Sunday night—we had better consider what that reaction implies. In a word: sexism. Plain and simple. Hear me out before bringing on the bromides.
Fifty pizzas from Papa John’s: That’s what Sunday night’s halftime show performer fed her posse on Wednesday night, if that bastion of journalism known as TMZ is to be believed. Indiana-born “Papa” John Schnatter’s store reported a reduced-rate bill of $467, with a “very decent” tip. Madonna footed the bill herself. (Duh.)
>> Super City went on the air with Ed Wenck at 93 WIBC on Thursday. (Hear the audio below the photo at right.) The spot aired at 6:10 p.m. and focused on reader and public reactions to the freshly revealed official Super Bowl poster by Walter Knabe and the Host Committee’s (ahem) super-important parking and traffic announcement.
So you’ve been kicking yourself for not signing up to volunteer at the Super Bowl. Now you have another chance to express yourself: Super Bowl Productions and our local Stage Crew Committee are enlisting volunteers—reportedly 500 of them. McKenze Rogers, marketing and communications coordinator for the Host Committee, verified that the recruitment is legit. The Halftime Show rig has to be set up in eight minutes, which is one of the main things the star is fretting about. The rehearsal schedule is demanding, but if you can’t hack a few dry runs, you probably shouldn’t be working around Madonna.
Word from the Super Bowl Host Committee’s communications team is that the music acts to perform the pregame and halftime shows on Feb. 5 will be announced in mid-December. And yes, rumor has it that Madonna will finally grace that stage with her “Madgesty’s” presence–and song catalog.
