February 5, 2019: Trump Inauguration Committee Subpoenaed For Records, Oscars Stress Inclusion and Strict Speech Times at Nominee Luncheon, Super Bowl Ratings Hit 10-Year Low

1. TRUMP INAUGURATION COMMITTEE SUBPOENAED FOR RECORDS: New York prosecutors have subpoenaed records from President Donald Trump's inauguration committee. The Southern District's subpoena is examining Trump's political fund-raising before and after the 2016 election. ABC News: "Prosecutors are seeking documents and records related to the committee's donors to the massive inauguration fund, according to sources familiar with the request. Prosecutors also are seeking information on attendees to the events surrounding the inauguration, including benefits to top-level donors such as photo opportunities with Trump, sources said. ... Those involved in discussions surrounding the inaugural fund, a nonprofit tasked with organizing festivities surrounding the president's swearing-in, declined to detail specific questions from investigators. Trump's inaugural fund raised $107 million—the most in modern history." https://abcn.ws/2ScRtOi

2. OSCARS STRESS INCLUSION AND STRICT SPEECH TIMES AT NOMINEE LUNCHEON: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held its annual Oscars nominee luncheon on Monday at the Beverly Hilton. Of this year's 212 nominees, 171 were in attendance ahead of Oscars voting, which starts February 12. Academy president John Bailey told the nominees they represented the organization's push to be more inclusive, while the producers of the February 24 telecast stressed that runtimes will be strict to keep the show moving. The Hollywood Reporter: "Donna Gigliotti, who is producing this year’s Oscars, warned the potential winners that they will have 90 seconds once their name is called to make it to the stage and complete an acceptance speech on the show, which the Academy has vowed will not run longer than three hours. Joked Glenn Weiss, who is co-producing and directing the kudocast, 'It means you can hit the parties by 8:15.'" https://bit.ly/2DaiVll

3. SUPER BOWL RATINGS HIT 10-YEAR LOW: Super Bowl LIII drew its lowest ratings in a decade. CBS Sports said the broadcast was seen by 100.7 million on all cable and streaming platforms. Deadline: "Besides being a very unique bundling spin on Super Bowl numbers that previous broadcasters haven’t shamelessly taken, that’s the first time the N.F.L.’s big game on a network has fallen beneath 100 million viewers since 2009 when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII. With no mention of how the tepid Maroon 5 led halftime show did, CBS is keeping the actual number of eyeballs that saw the game on the network alone close to the chest. ... The actual number of people who watched the 6:32 to 10:05 PM ET game on CBS itself was 98.2 million." https://bit.ly/2WDY8zu

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry has announced a 19-city tour for its 2019 series. Stops for the culinary event series include Austin on February 7, San Francisco on March 28, Washington on April 9, Philadelphia on May 9, and Boston on June 4.

ATLANTA:  Connections Housing, a sourcing, housing, and event management company, has acquired Par Avion, a convention housing and travel company. 

LAS VEGAS:  The 54th Academy of Country Music Awards will broadcast live from the M.G.M. Grand Garden Arena April 7 on CBS. 

LOS ANGELES:  The Grammy Museum is hosting a series of community events leading up to the awards on February 10. A celebration of women and music took place on Monday and a panel on L.G.B.T.Q. artists will take place on Wednesday.

Disney-ABC Television Group’s executive vice president of global communications, Kevin Brockman, is stepping down after 22 years. He'll stay on during the acquisition of 21st Century Fox, after which his role is being eliminated.

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Parkinson’s Foundation South Palm Beach County Chapter will hold the second annual Spring Soirée Gala on March 30 at Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton. 

NEW YORK:  The Metropolitan Museum of Art has debuted its first-ever culinary collaboration with chef John Fraser. Museum visitors can try a menu collaboration with Fraser at the fourth-floor restaurant, the Dining Room, which will offer five new museum-exclusive dishes that will rotate seasonally.

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) will honor chef Eric Ripert at its annual benefit, taking place February 26 at Pier Sixty. 

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE:  L’Auberge de Sedona hotel has appointed Julie Sokol director of sales. 

TORONTO:  Event production company PSAV has appointed FMAV C.E.O. Bill Brown to lead FMAV and PSAV divisions in Canada. 

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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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