July 16 Weekly News Quiz: New Barbie, Emmys, Rulings

Mattel released a Naomi Osaka Barbie doll in time for the 2021 Olympics. The doll features clothing inspired by Osaka's Nike tennis outfit at the 2020 Australian Open.

More Barbie Facts

In 2021 Barbie announced a Maya Angelou doll and added a Ken doll who uses a wheelchair to their Fashionistas lineup.

Novak Djokovic has held the No. 1 spot for the most weeks in total in the history of the ATP rankings.

Novak Djokovic Bonus Fact

He is also the only man to win all nine of the Masters 1000 singles titles, something he has done twice.

Netflix has won no Emmy awards for Best Series since it started producing original content in 2013, until 2021.

The Crown’s 2021 Emmy facts:

Netflix’s “The Crown” received its fourth nomination for best series in 2021 and won the streaming service its first best drama series award alongside honors for acting, writing, and directing. Netflix won a leading total of 44 awards in the 2021 Emmys, equaling the record set back in 1974 by CBS.

Mj Rodriguez of “Pose” is the first trans performer to be nominated in a lead acting category. The show also earned a best drama series nod. The series from Steven Canals and Ryan Murphy broke ground with the casting of transgender actors as trans characters.

On Sunday, July 11, 2021, billionaire Richard Branson became the first person to blast off in his own spaceship, V.S.S. Unity, beating Jeff Bezos, the richest person on the planet, by nine days.

Billionaires in Space Fun Fact:

Bezos. Screenshot: Blue Origin on YouTube

The London-born founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways assigned himself to the flight after Bezos announced plans to ride his own rocket into space from Texas on July 20.  Bezos sent his congratulations, adding: “Can’t wait to join the club!”

Virgin Galactic told the Wall Street Journal Elon Musk had bought a ticket for his own space ride with Richard Branson's space-tourism company. It is unclear how far up the waiting list Musk is for a seat. In a preflight interview by London's Sunday Times, Branson said: "Elon's a friend, and maybe I'll travel on one of his ships one day." Sunday morning, July 11, 2021, Branson tweeted a photo of himself and Musk: "Great to start the morning with a friend."

Jacob Zuma, also known as J.Z.,  was South Africa’s fourth President from 2009 to 2018.

South Africa News Fact:

Violence broke out in South Africa after Jacob Zuma began serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court on Thursday, July 8, 2021. The former president had refused to comply with a court order to testify at a state-backed inquiry investigating allegations of corruption while he was president.

Sacha Baron-Cohen declared in documents filed in U.S. District Court in Boston Monday, July 12, 2021, that he “never has used cannabis in his life. He never would participate in an advertising campaign for cannabis, for any amount of money.” Baron-Cohen is seeking $9 million in damages from a Massachusetts cannabis dispensary he says used an image of his character Borat on a billboard without his permission.

Sacha Baron-Cohen Bonus Court Fact:

On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, a US federal judge dismissed failed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore’s $95-million-lawsuit against Sacha Baron-Cohen.  Moore complained Baron-Cohen tricked him into a “Who Is America?” interview, which parodied sexual misconduct accusations against him.

Michael Winslow’s most memorable role is Larvell Jones, the sounds-making policeman from Police Academy. He also had roles on Spaceballs and The Gremlins.

Michael Winslow 2021 Fact

On July 13, 2021, 62-year-old Michael Winslow appeared on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and showed off his skills as a “voicestrumentalist.” He delivered a stand-up comedy routine that recreates the sound of airplanes and radios. Watch it here.

The 2021 film “Aline,” based on Celine Dion’s life, premiered at Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, July 13. The film’s 57-year-old actress-director Valérie Lemercier portrays Celine Dion at every age of her life, including a 5-year-old child. And yes, it’s weird. Watch the trailer.

Aline Bonus Fact:

“Aline” begins with a disclaimer: “The life of Celine Dion inspires this film. It is, however, a work of fiction.” That’s why, even though the story follows nearly every element of Dion’s life, the main character is instead named Aline Dieu, and most of Dion’s best-known songs aren’t included due to rights issues.

Virgin Galactic’s first licensed space tourism flight took off from Spaceport America, near the city of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, where spectators were invited to watch the historic liftoff on Sunday, July 11, 2021.

Truth or Consequences Fun Fact:

The city is named after a US radio game show that aired on and off from 1940 to 1988.

Argentina tied Uruguay’s all-time leading Copa America record with their 15th Copa America triumph on Saturday, July 10, 2021, over Brazil 1-0.

Bonus Facts:

It’s Argentina’s first major Copa America title in 28 years. And the first with Argentina Captain and Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, after more than a decade.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar played together at FC Barcelona between 2013 and 2017 before Neymar's move to Paris St-Germain.

Messi Neymar Bromance Fact:

The pair - now in competing teams - embraced in a long-lasting hug while they waited for the trophy Copa America ceremony, Saturday, July 10, 2021.

Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics put their medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus. Medalists and ceremony officials also wore masks, which the medalists could then take off for 30 seconds. There were no handshakes and no hugs during the ceremony. The medals were presented to the athletes on a tray.

More Tokyo Olympics Covid-19 facts:

With no paying spectators allowed to attend most Olympic events, an immersive sound system will create the right atmosphere for the athletes in the stadiums and venues. Organizers will feed crowd noise recorded from each event at previous Olympics events into the arena as one of several ways to support the athletes.