| 1. HBO DOMINATES 2019 EMMY NOMINATIONS: HBO garnered the most Emmy nominations of any network on Tuesday with 137. The final season of the network’s fantasy drama series Game of Thrones scored a record 32 nominations, the most for a single series since NYPD Blue scored 27 in 1994. Associated Press: “The Emmy voters’ acclaim stands in sharp contrast to fan reaction to the show’s last hurrah, which included howls of laughter for a to-go coffee cup inadvertently included in one scene and a finale that detractors called unsatisfying. … There was a significant drop in diversity among this year’s group of nominees compared to 2018, when more than a third of the 101 nominees in acting categories were ethnic minorities. This year, the figure was less than a quarter, with diversity especially absent in comedy. Netflix, which last year ended HBO’s 17-year reign to win the most Emmy nominations, was bumped to second this year with 117. Amazon’s Prime Video was second to Netflix among streamers with 47 nominations.” 2. BUSCH WILL BRING A POP-UP BAR TO A NATIONAL FOREST: While many drink brands activate pop-ups in major cities, Busch is building one in the middle of a national forest. On July 20, the beer brand is hosting a pop-up shop in a secret location in the wilderness that can only be found on a scavenger hunt, in an effort to get consumers out of the city. For anyone who can find the pop-up, the brand will give them a chance to win free beer for life. Adweek: “The campaign is part of an ongoing partnership with the National Forest Foundation, with which Busch has already published a book about trees. The company said it will plant 100 trees in a national forest for every visitor who finds the pop-up, which will aid the N.F.F. in its goal of planting 50 million new trees by 2023.” 3. FEDS WARN U.F.O. SEEKERS TO AVOID AREA 51: More than one million people have signed up to join a joke Facebook event encouraging people to storm Area 51, the U.S. Air Force base in Nevada synonymous with alien conspiracy theories, in September. But with people on the Internet taking the event more seriously than others, the U.S. Air Force is warning people to stay away from the site. Washington Post: “Planned for September 20 in Amargosa Valley, an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, the event page is filled with thousands of satirical posts and memes theorizing the best way to break into the top-secret facility. … Speaking with the Washington Post on Friday, Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews said officials were aware of the event. When asked how authorities would respond to ardent explorers who might attempt to enter Area 51 in September, McAndrews said she could not elaborate on specific plans or security procedures at the base. She did, however, issue a warning to those itching to try their luck.” | 