Garden Wednesday: Celebs Rumors

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Warner Bros. Discovery kicked off its 2023 upfront presentation in a no-frills way, with an overall brand sizzle and ad chief Jon Steinlauf giving a few remarks on stage at the Theater at Madison Square Garden Wednesday. While the presentation covering HBO, Max, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery and more Warner Bros. Discovery brands was shorter than last year’s show (which was the company’s first since the merger that created it last April) the tight 90-minute presentation still covered each of its key divisions. Albeit, with much less sizzle, with no stars in attendance amid the writers strike. “Let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with the writers,” HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys said, adding that he hopes for a return of talent to the stage, “making this a far more entertaining show” compared to “me and my clips.”

Billy Joel poked fun at himself while playing one of his monthly shows at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night. Turning to the audience during a break between songs, Joel joked that fans «may be right» if they think he has a wooden leg, before assuring the crowd that his eyes are just fine.The legendary rocker shared with the audience that while he has «a leaky eye» — the result of one of his eyes not getting enough lubrication, he does not have a glass eye, despite what he says some of them may have heard.The 73-year-old singer went on to play some of his biggest hits for the sold-out crowd, including a cover of The Beatles' «A Day in the Life,» telling concertgoers that though he hadn’t written that song, he wishes he had.Joel continued to be self-deprecating throughout the night, making light of his age while entertaining the audience.Belting out his 1983 hit «An Innocent Man,» Joel told the crowd that he wrote the song before his voice deepened with age.