Archive for May, 2023

CELEBRITY NEWS: MAY 17, 2023

May 18, 2023

CELEBRITY NEWS: MAY 17, 2023
http://www.imdb.com/news/celebrity

Nikki Reed (“Twilight” movies) – 35 years old
Karrueche Tran (TNT’s Claws/ Model) – 35 years old
Tahj Mowry (Smart Guy, Tia & Tamara’s Brother) – 37 years old
Derek Hough (World of Dance/ Dancing With The Stars) – 38 years old
Tony Parker (NBA Player) – 41 years old
Kandi Burress (Xscape, The Real Housewives of Atlanta) – 47 years old
Sasha Alexander (Rizzoli & Isles) – 50 years old
Jordan Knight (New Kids On The Block) – 53 years old
Hill Harper (CSI: New York) – 57 years old
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) – 58 years old
LuAnn de Lesseps (Real Housewives of New York) – 58 years old
Paige Turco (“The Game Plan”/ Party of Five) – 58 years old
David Eigenberg (Chicago Fire/ Sex and The City) – 59 years old
Craig Ferguson (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) – 61 years old
Enya (New Age Singer) – 62 years old
Sugar Ray Leonard (Boxer) – 67 years old

FIRST LOOK/ ON TV/ POWERBALL

May 17, 2023

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 5/17/23)
APPLE TV+: High Desert (Premiere)
IFC: Sister$ (Premiere)
NETFLIX: McGregor Forever (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Working: What We Do All Day (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Rhythm + Flow France (Premiere)
PARAMOUNT+: The Family Stallone (Premiere)
PRIME VIDEO: Ready Set Startup (Premiere)
CBS: True Lies (Finale) at 9pm
FOX: The Masked Singer (Finale) at 8pm
FOX: Farmer Wants a Wife (Finale) at 9pm
HGTV: Property Brothers: Forever Home (Finale) at 8pm

ABC renewed “Not Dead Yet” for season two, and “The Conners” for season six. But with the WGA strike still raging, only unscripted content is on the network’s fall schedule right now, with the exception of “Abbott Elementary” reruns. Returning unscripted series include “America’s Funniest Home Videos” for season 34; “American Idol” for its seventh run on the network; “The Bachelor” for season 28; “Bachelor in Paradise” for season nine; “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” for season four; “Celebrity Jeopardy!” for season two; and “Shark Tank” for season 15. Decisions on “Home Economics” and “The Rookie: Feds” will be made at “a later date.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Adding a new twist to its “Bachelor” franchise, ABC is adding “The Golden Bachelor” to its Monday slate. The spin-off, centered on a man given a second chance at love in his senior years, will air after “Dancing With the Stars.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Peabody Awards in-person ceremony has been canceled because of the writers’ strike. “Due to the ongoing uncertainty and meaningful challenges that exist industrywide, we have decided to cancel the 83rd annual Peabody Awards ceremony,” announced the organization. “Canceling the ceremony is extremely disappointing as this year’s 39 winners are immensely talented and have brought forth powerful stories that deserve to be celebrated.” The ceremony was to have taken place, in LA for the first time, on June 11.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The strike has also impacted the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards, slated to air June 16 on CBS, and the Creative Arts & Lifestyle ceremony, set for June 17. Both events have been postponed until a strike resolution has been reached.
(Source: Cynopsis)

If the writers’ strike continues for “weeks or months,” said the WGA negotiating committee in an email to members, it would cost studios more than if they met the guild’s demands. “These companies have made billions in profit off writers’ work, and they tell their investors every quarter about the importance of scripted content,” stated the committee. “Yet they are risking significant continued disruption in the coming weeks and months that would far outweigh the costs of settling.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Dominion Voting Systems denied reports that its $787.5 million settlement with Fox News included a verbal agreement that the network would cut ties with Tucker Carlson. “Dominion wanted to punish Fox, and it’s working,” a source told Variety. But Dominion said in a statement, “As the Fox principals who negotiated the settlement well know, Dominion made no demands about Tucker Carlson’s employment orally or in writing. Any claims otherwise are categorically false and a thinly veiled effort to further damage Dominion. Fox should take every effort to stop these lies immediately.” Fox also denies the report.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Walt Disney Co. former CEO Bob Chapek, former Chairman of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution Kareem Daniel, and current CFO Christine McCarthy are being accused of providing misleading statements and omissions about Disney+ and its subscriber growth. A lawsuit filed by Local 272 Labor Management Pension Fund alleges the executives did not truthfully disclose subscriber numbers and the company’s overall streaming health. “We are aware of the complaint and intend to defend vigorously against it in court,” responded Disney.
(Source: Cynopsis)

ABC has picked up “High Potential” to series. The ABC Signature drama from Drew Goddard stars Kaitlin Olson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) as a single mom with a knack for solving crimes.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Wheelhouse DNA and Frederator Studios have partnered with comedian Adam W. (Waheed), on the development and production of a new, adult animated series. It’s the first partnership between Frederator and Wheelhouse DNA, and the debut of Adam W. writing and starring in a series. Set in ancient Egypt where the gods are real, aliens built the pyramids and the afterlife exists, the 10-episode series follows a lovable royal buffoon (Waheed) who finds himself suddenly thrust onto the throne.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Children’s author Mo Willems (The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!) is teaming up with Stampede Ventures and RedBird Capital to form a new company, Hidden Pigeon Company. HPC will be led by Kathy Franklin as CEO. Franklin joins HPC from Lightstorm Entertainment where she served as President, Franchise Development.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Tami Roman (“The Ms. Pat Show”) will EP and star in “Whatever It Takes,” from Swirl Films and Roman Ramsey Productions, for BET+. The holiday film will debut later this year.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Onyx Collective and UK’s Channel 4 announced the straight-to-series pickup of “Queenie” from Further South Productions in association with Lionsgate TV. The drama, centered on a 25-year-old Jamaican woman straddling two cultures, will be available on Channel 4 in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and will stream exclusively on Hulu in the US, Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Speedvision has ordered “Helping Hands Garage,” a new automotive build and restoration series from Brenton Productions with an inspirational twist. The all-female core team features professional driver and builder, Collete Davis, and motorsports reporter and enthusiast, Katie Osborne. The series is currently in production and is slated for world premiere in 4Q23.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Hudson Valley is the setting for HGTV’s “Small Town Potential,” premiering Wednesday, June 14 at 9p. In the series, real estate agent and designer teams with her life partner, a contractor, to help families settle in a cozy upstate NY home.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“The Cook of Castamar,” a Spanish series based on the novel by Fernando J. Munez, makes its HITN debut on Thursday, May 18 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been set for Saturday, February 24, streaming live on Netflix starting at 8p. Submission for nomination consideration opens August 28.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The season 23 finale episodes of NBC’s “The Voice” will include special performances from Lewis Capaldi and Alex Newell during the live show on Monday, May 22 at 8p, while CeeLo Green, Diplo & Lily Rose, Maroon 5 and Toosii will take the stage on Tuesday, May 23 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick,” chronicling three families whose lives are upended by Lyme disease, makes its digital debut May 30 on Apple TV and Google Play.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Stamdup special “Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love” premieres Saturday, May 27 at 10p on Max, and 10:15p on HBO. It’s Silverman’s first HBO special since 2013.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Entertainment One announced a new special, “My Little Pony: Bridlewoodstock,” premiering on Netflix on June 6. The 44-minute special stars actress, singer, and dancer, Sofia Wylie, who will voice Ruby Jubilee. The music festival-inspired special will debut alongside 6 new 22-minute episodes, continuing the story from the “My Little Pony: Make Your Mark” series.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Crunchyroll and language learning platform Duolingo are teaming up to celebrate anime and the sixth anniversary of Duolingo’s Japanese language course. Duolingo’s Japanese course will feature nearly 50 phrases inspired by fan-favorite, popular anime series.
(Source: Cynopsis)

CNN killed the cable competition with its Donald Trump town hall on May 10, drawing 3.3 million viewers, but most didn’t stick around. During Friday primetime two days later, the news net averaged 335,000, behind Fox News (1.4 million), MSNBC (1.1 million) and Newsmax (357,000). CNN did beat Newsmax in the A25-54 demo with 87,000 viewers, versus 45,000.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Food Network’s ninth season of “Spring Baking Championship” saw an average .95 P18+ and 1.39 W18+ Live+3 rating, its highest-rated season among P/W18+ since 2020. Last week’s season finale delivered .98 P18+ and 1.42. W18+ Live+3 rating, with Food Network ranking as the #1 non-news/sports cable network in Prime among P/W18+.
(Source: Cynopsis)

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $146 million

Powerball is played in 43 states.

NYLottery.NY.gov

MEGAN MARKLE IS GLITTERING IN GOLD DURING RED CARPET DATE NIGHT WITH PRINCE HARRY AFTER CORONATION

May 17, 2023

MEGAN MARKLE IS GLITTERING IN GOLD DURING RED CARPET DATE NIGHT WITH PRINCE HARRY AFTER CORONATION
https://www.eonline.com/news/1374624/meghan-markle-is-glittering-in-gold-during-red-carpet-date-night-with-prince-harry-after-coronation

JACKSON MAHOMES APEARS IN COURT IN AGGRAVATED SEXUAL BATTERY CASE

May 17, 2023

JACKSON MAHOMES APEARS IN COURT IN AGGRAVATED SEXUAL BATTERY CASE
https://www.tmz.com/2023/05/16/jackson-mahomes-appears-in-court-in-aggravated-sexual-battery-case/

JOHNNY DEPP IS SWARMED BY FANS OUTSIDE OF CANNES FILM FESTIVAL MOVIE PREMIERE FOR “JEANNE DU BARRY”

May 17, 2023

JOHNNY DEPP IS SWARMED BY FANS OUTSIDE OF CANNES FILM FESTIVAL MOVIE PREMIERE FOR “JEANNE DU BARRY”
https://www.tmz.com/2023/05/16/johnny-depp-cannes-premiere-fan-love-amber-heard-trial/

PRISCILLA PRESLEY SETTLES DISPUTE OVER LISA MARIE’S TRUST, GETS MILLIONS FROM ESTATE

May 17, 2023

PRISCILLA PRESLEY SETTLES DISPUTE OVER LISA MARIE’S TRUST, GETS MILLIONS FROM ESTATE
https://www.tmz.com/2023/05/16/lisa-maria-presley-estate-pays-priscilla-settle-trust-dispute-riley-keough/

THE 2023 TONY AWARDS WILL GO ON BUT THE WRITERS GUILD SAYS IT WILL NOT PICKET THE SHOW

May 17, 2023

THE 2023 TONY AWARDS WILL GO ON BUT THE WRITERS GUILD SAYS IT WILL NOT PICKET THE SHOW
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wga-says-will-not-picket-tony-awards-1235492267/

CELEBRITY NEWS: MAY 16, 2023

May 17, 2023

CELEBRITY NEWS: MAY 16, 2023
http://www.imdb.com/news/celebrity

Miles Stephens (Chrissy Teigen & John Legend’s son) – 5 years old
Major Harris (VH1’s T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle) – 15 years old
Grayson Chrisley (E!’s Chrisley Knows Best) – 17 years old
Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why/ NBC’s Parenthood) – 29 years old
Kirstin Maldonado (Pentatonix) – 31 years old
Thomas Brodie-Sangster (“The Queen’s Gambit”/ “Love Actually”) – 33 years old
Behati Prinsloo (Model/ Adam Levine’s wife) – 35 years old
Megan Fox (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movies) – 37 years old
Melanie Lynskey (Two And A Half Men) – 46 years old
Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills, 90210) – 50 years old
Jason “Wee-Man” Acuna (MTV’s Jackass) – 50 years old
Bill Rancic (E!’s Guiliana & Bill) – 52 years old
David Boreanaz (Bones) – 54 years old
Tracey Gold (Growing Pains) – 54 years old
Ralph Tresvant (New Edition) – 55 years old
Janet Jackson (Pop/ R&B Singer) – 57 years old
John Salley (former NBA Player) – 59 years old
Mare Winningham (“St. Elmo’s Fire”) – 64 years old
Debra Winger (“An Officer And A Gentleman”) – 68 years old
Pierce Brosnan (“Die Another Day”/ Remington Steele) – 70 years old
Danny Trejo (“Machete Kills”) – 79 years old

FIRST LOOK/ ON TV/ MEGA MILLIONS

May 16, 2023

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (TUESDAY 5/16/23)
BRAVO: Dancing Queens (Premiere) at 9pm
FPX SPORTS 1: Dirt: The Last Great American Sport (Premiere) at 7pm
HBO: Angel City (Premiere) at 9pm
HULU: La Chica Invisible (Premiere)
FOX: 9-1-1 Lone Star (Finale) at 8pm
HISTORY: The Curse of Oak Island (Finale) at 9pm

Once high-flying Vice Media has filed for bankruptcy protection, a victim of the financial realities of digital publishing. A group of Vice’s lenders has submitted a bid of $225 million to acquire the company out of bankruptcy; the lenders include Fortress Investment Group and Soros Fund Management. Co-founder Shane Smith is expected to stay with the company – once considered to be worth $5.7 billion – along with co-chief executives Hozefa Lokhandwala and Bruce Dixon, who said, “We look forward to completing the sale process in the next two to three months and charting a healthy and successful next chapter at Vice.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Ready for disruption? Startup Telly plans to give away an initial batch of 500,000 smart TVs with a second screen that can display sports, weather and more, as well as a square box on the right that runs ads. Telly founder Ilya Pozin, co-founder of Pluto, is betting that consumers will trade their data and that commercial box for 55-inch sets with 4K HDR picture quality and a built-in premium sound bar. “When I co-founded Pluto TV, we created an entirely new model that offered amazing TV content to viewers for free,” said Pozin. “Now, with Telly, we are providing the actual television for free as well.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Reba McEntire has joined NBC’s “The Voice” as a coach, alongside returning coaches John Legend, Niall Horan and Gwen Stefani for season 24. McEntire served as a mega mentor for the show’s current season 23.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Netflix renewed “Outlast” for a second season. The Alaskan survival series is the first unscripted series from Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Films.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Why did Fox cancel “9-1-1,” its highest-rated scripted series? “The business model wasn’t right for us,” said Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade during a pre-upfront call. “We felt moving forward into what is really a new era of television, the economics weren’t going pan out for this show for us.” Not all is lost for fans, since ABC picked up the series. But the future for crossovers between the sister shows looks dim. “Crossovers have always been really hard on the ‘9-1-1’ franchise because they’re such ambitious schedules,” noted President of Scripted Programming for Fox Entertainment Michael Thorn. “We weren’t able to do it every year when both shows were on our network.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Prime Video greenlit a feature documentary film from Religion of Sports and The Ringer centered on the NBA G League. The doc is an immersive, character-driven film that features behind-the-scenes access to some of basketball’s future stars competing in the NBA’s developmental league over the course of the 2022-23 season.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Asylum Entertainment has struck a first-look co-production deal with guitarist Tom Morello and his recently formed company Comandante Productions. The partnership is aimed at creating a slate of premium documentary films and series that draws on Morello’s musical legacy, social consciousness and dedication to activism.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Vuelve a Mi,” a romantic drama about a woman involved with one of the owners of the company she works for, is headed for Telemundo. The announcement was made at NBCU’s upfront presentation on Monday.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Africa Channel has reached several new content and renewal partnership agreements, including with BBC Africa, Cardova Trading Ltd, eTV, FilmOne, Inverleigh and M-Net. “Through a combination of licensing, minimum guarantees and generous revenue sharing arrangements, The Africa Channel continues to provide additional revenue streams to African content owners via the world’s most lucrative market,” said Ava Hall, Head of Content & Brand. “We are honored to be participating in these win-win content partnerships.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Casting notes: Luke Evans (“The Pembrokeshire Murders”) has joined the cast of BBC drama “The Way.”…Nolwenn Leroy is starring in French drama series Brocéliande, for TH1.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Season one of “Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators”premieres on Ovation TV on Saturday, June 24 at 7p, followed by the season two launch on Saturday, July 29 at 7p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Crime drama “Happy Valley’s” third and final season arrives Monday, May 22 on Acorn TV, AMC+ and BBC America. The six-episode season sees Siobhan Finneran (“Downton Abbey”) returning to her role as Clare Cartwright, the devoted sister of Catherine.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Painting with John,” starring musician, actor, director, painter, and The Lounge Lizards founder John Lurie, is back for a third season on HBO starting Friday, June 2 at 11p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Season five of Peacock’s “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy” reunites former New York Housewives Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer and Kristen Taekman, who jet off to the house on Saline Beach featured in season five of “RHONY.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Speaking of, Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City“ season 14 premieres Sunday, July 16 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Toonstar animated comedy “Space Junk,” starring Jon Heder (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and Tony Cavalero (“Righteous Gemstones”) premieres Friday, May 19 on spacejunkies.xyz.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Warner Bros. Discovery has asked talent not to show up for its Upfronts event on Wednesday, so they don’t have to cross WGA strikers’ picket line, reports Variety. Stars will still be part of the presentation, but not in person.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Fox’s Upfront presentation at the Manhattan Center opened with Michael Strahan and Gordon Ramsey. The hosts of Fox News’ “The Five” were in the house, and soccer star Carly Lloyd was introduced as a new member of the Fox Sports lineup. As far as programming, the net is adding two new dramas, two new animated comedies and two new unscripted series to its lineup. Joining returning dramas “9-1-1: Lone Star,” “Accused,” “Alert: Missing Persons Unit” and “The Cleaning Lady” are medical drama “Doc, “and action-drama “Rescue: HI-Surf,” from executive producer John Wells. New animated comedies “Krapopolis,” from “Rick and Morty” and Grimsburg, starring and executive-produced by Jon Hamm join returning series “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy,” “The Great North” and “The Simpsons. “
(Source: Cynopsis)

Fox is also adding game shows “Snake Oil,” hosted and produced David Spade (“Just Shoot Me”) and executive-produced by Will Arnett (“LEGO Master”), through his Electric Avenue Productions, and music guessing game show “We Are Family,” hosted by Jamie Foxx and co-hosted by his daughter, producer and activist Corinne Foxx. Returning to the unscripted lineup are “Farmer Wants a Wife,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “I Can See Your Voice,” “LEGO Masters,” “The Masked Singer”, “Name That Tune,” “Next Level Chef” and “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.” In addition, Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares” is returning to the network after 10 years.
(Source: Cynopsis)

How might the writers’ strike impact Fox’s schedule? “Nobody wants this strike and our thoughts go out to the writers at the moment,” said Rob Wade.” But we feel very confident in our schedule and our ability to pivot as and when necessary.” As for a third season for comedy “Welcome to Flatch,” that decision is expected after the strike ends,” said Michael Thorn, President of Scripted Programming.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump” starts streaming Monday, May 22 on Hulu. The doc from ABC News Studios and LA Times Studios investigates allegations of race discrimination and workplace abuse against Hollywood producer Randall Emmett.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Comedy special “John Early: Now More Than Ever” premieres Saturday, June 7 at 10p on HBO. It’s Early’s first HBO comedy special.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has signed a deal with AMC Networks to add 12 FAST channels that include The Walking Dead Universe, the sketch comedy series Portlandia, and sports fan-focused MSG SportsZone. “The Walking Dead and Portlandia are some of AMC Networks’ most iconic series, and the ability for our consumers to watch them 24 hours a day will be an immediate hit,” said Laura Florence, SVP and GM of digital for Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. “Our Redbox Free Live TV app continues to scale with brands and series our viewers know and love. We should quickly reach 200 channels by summer and have plans to scale even further later this year.” CSSE also struck an agreement with Rome-based social media platform TaTaTu, which rewards users with coins for social media activities and viewing content.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The first five seasons of “S.W.A.T.”, renewed for a seventh and final season on CBS, will be available on Netflix starting tomorrow.
(Source: Cynopsis)

James Cameron 2022 meghit “Avatar: The Way of Water” debuts Wednesday, June 7 on Max and Disney+. Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max launches May 23.
(Source: Cynopsis)

MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $113 million.

You can now play in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

NYLottery.NY.gov

JUSTIN LONG & KATE BOSWORTH ARE MARRIED ONE MONTH AFTER ANNOUNCING ENGAGEMENT

May 16, 2023

JUSTIN LONG & KATE BOSWORTH ARE MARRIED ONE MONTH AFTER ANNOUNCING ENGAGEMENT
https://www.eonline.com/news/1374498/justin-long-and-kate-bosworth-are-married-one-month-after-announcing-engagement