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Patel celebrates India from LA

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Quarantine brought opportunit­ies to Dev Patel’s front yard.

From a safe distance, the British actor was able to enjoy both his birthday and his relationsh­ip with India without leaving his Los Angeles home.

The first was courtesy of his girlfriend, Australian actress Tilda CobhamHerv­ey, who arranged for Patel’s friends to drive past with paper planes and letters while he sat in front of the house.

Second was the offer to celebrate India’s culture and civilizati­ons by narrating a National Geographic special, “India From Above,” which airs Sept. 30.

As he quarantine­d, a portable recording booth was sent and parked in his driveway.

“It was incredible to be able to make some art in a way, to voice this beautiful thing, linked up to India,” said Patel.

“India From Above” is a two-part documentar­y that uses drone footage to show aerial views of towering temples, religious gatherings, EDM festivals and solar technology.

“As soon as I step off that plane and out of the airport, you’re sucked into this massive humanity, the crowds and the people and your eye level just kind of being swept along with this tide of people.

“But to zoom further and further out and higher and higher. That is pretty special,” he added.

“For me, it was just telling the story of the ingenuity of the people, the everyman. How people find a way in India, no matter how hard the condition is,” he said.

Marge chides Trump top adviser: In a clip posted Friday by Fox’s animated series “The Simpsons,” matriarch Marge Simpson chided an adviser to President Donald Trump over a tweet comparing Simpson’s voice to that of the

Democratic vice presidenti­al contender, Sen. Kamala Harris.

“I usually don’t get into politics, but the president’s senior adviser, Jenna Ellis, just said Kamala Harris sounds like me,” Marge says in the clip.

“If that’s so, as an ordinary suburban housewife, I’m starting to feel a little disrespect­ed,” Marge said, balefully. “I teach my children not to name call, Jenna.”

As the clip ends, an off-camera Marge is heard muttering: “I was gonna say I’m pissed off, but I’m afraid they’d bleep it.”

The long-running “The Simpsons” is known for mocking public figures and celebritie­s, Trump among them. Actor Julie Kavner is the voice behind Marge Simpson.

Colombian superstar battling COVID-19: In a pretaped video that aired Thursday night as J Balvin accepted an award at Premios Juventud 2020, the performer revealed he contracted COVID-19 and that it impacted him heavily.

“At this moment, I am recovering from COVID-19. These have been some very difficult days, very complicate­d. Sometimes you think it’s not going to hit you, and it hit me, and it hit me very hard,” Balvin, speaking in Spanish in a soft tone.

The 35-year-old Latin Grammy winner told fans to take the virus seriously.

“I’m sending a message to all those who follow me, to all the youth, to people in general, that they take care, that this is not a joke the virus as such exists. It’s very dangerous. Take a lot of care of yourselves,” he said.

Aug. 17 birthdays: Actor Robert DeNiro is 77. “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes is 71. Singer Belinda Carlisle is 62. Actor Sean Penn is 60. Saxophonis­t Everette Harp is 59. Rapper Posdnuos is 51. Actor-singer Donnie Wahlberg is 51. TV personalit­y Giuliana Rancic is 46.

 ?? CHARLES SYKES/INVISION ?? Dev Patel was given the chance to narrate a new National Geographic show, “India From Above,” as he quarantine­d at his home in Los Angeles.
CHARLES SYKES/INVISION Dev Patel was given the chance to narrate a new National Geographic show, “India From Above,” as he quarantine­d at his home in Los Angeles.

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