Keely's Korner

CELEBRITY NEWS: MARCH 24, 2021
http://www.imdb.com/news/celebrity

Keisha Castle-Hughes (“Whale Rider”) – 31 years old
Valentin Chmerkovskiy (Dancing With the Stars) – 35 years old
Chris Bosh (NBA Player) – 37 years old
Nivea (R&B Singer) – 39 years old
Lake Bell (“No Strings Attached”) – 42 years old
Jessica Chastain (“The Martian”/ “The Help”) – 44 years old
Peyton Manning (NFL Player) – 45 years old
Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother) – 47 years old
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) – 48 years old
Maseo (De La Soul) – 51 years old
Lara Flynn Boyle (The Practice/ Twin Peaks) – 51 years old
Jeff Lewis (Bravo’s Flipping Out) – 51 years old
Star Jones (former host of “The View”) – 59 years old
Kelly LeBrock (“Weird Science”) – 61 years old
Donna Pescow (“Saturday Night Fever”) – 67 years old
Robert Carradine (“Revenge of the Nerds”) – 67 years old
Louie Anderson (Life with Louie) – 68 years old
Tommy Hilfiger (Fashion Designer) – 70 years old

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

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 3/24/21)
NETFLIX: Who Killed Sara? (Premiere)
SCIENCE CHANNEL: How the Universe Works (Premiere) at 9pm
Nat Geo: Genius Aretha (Finale) at 10pm

NBCUniversal Syndication Studios has renewed “Judge Jerry,” promising it will be “turning up the heat” for the first-run court show’s third season in syndication. “I couldn’t be more excited for this new season where our audience gets an even closer look into the conflicts and drama of some very intense and outrageous disputes,” said Jerry Springer. “I’m totally aware of how fortunate I am to have such a rewarding job and I promise viewers and stations to do everything I can to dispense justice and fairness in a most entertaining way.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Also coming back: FX’s “Snowfall,” currently in season four, has been renewed for season five. Ratings for the crime drama are up 41% over the same period in season three, averaging 5.1 million total viewers across platforms.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Not coming back? Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family,” now in its ninth and final season. Paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, the show takes its final lap starting Monday, April 5, in a new three-day-a-week format. Final episode: Wednesday, August 4.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Roku is launching an advertising brand studio to produce content including short-form, ad-sponsored TV content, interactive video and other formats for marketers. “The shift to TV streaming has accelerated and leading advertisers are going beyond the 30-second ad,” said Dan Robbins, VP, Ad Marketing, Roku. “We’re excited to launch a new advertising brand studio for marketers to create streamer-first campaigns on America’s #1 TV streaming platform.” Roku struck a deal with the Funny Or Die Branded Entertainment division calling for a number of the company’s branded content team members to join Roku. Chris Bruss and Brian Toombs from Funny Or Die and Rachel Daly Helfman from Snap will join the studio in leadership roles.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Not so fast with a return to a theatrical window release pattern this summer. Theaters may be starting to open, but Disney is shifting release plans for its film slate to allow highly anticipated “Cruella” and Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow” to launch simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access on Friday, May 28 and on Friday, July 9, respectively. Disney and Pixar’s “Luca” will stream worldwide exclusively on Disney+ beginning Friday, June 18, as a special offering. “Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. “By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

VidCon will return – live and in person! – to the Anaheim Convention Center October 21-24. The event for online video and digital creators will also have on demand options.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Sesame Workshop introduced the “ABCs of Racial Literacy,” a new set of resources that are part of the Coming Together initiative, Sesame Workshop’s ongoing commitment to racial justice. The “ABCs of Racial Literacy” resources are designed to help families celebrate their unique identities, while also providing age-appropriate language and strategies to answer tough questions around race and racism.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Verizon Media announced at its Yahoo Build It Forward event that the company is donating $5 million in media to a number of disability organizations, including the National Association of the Deaf, the American Council of the Blind, and the American Association of People with Disabilities, in support of their advocacy work. In addition, Verizon Media will ramp up captioning efforts and commit to featuring closed captions on 100 percent of new user-facing video, and extend video ad captioning to its reserved and programmatic offerings. “Our mission at Verizon Media is to be the most inclusive scaled digital platform in the industry,” said Joanna Lambert, Head of Consumer,Verizon Media.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Hulu handed an eight-episode order to animated family comedy series “Koala Man,” about a powerless superhero in an Australian suburb, created by and starring Michael Cusack. Justin Roiland (“Rick and Morty”) and Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (“Pokemon Detective Pikachu”) are exec producing; the studio is 20th Television Animation.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Beacon Pictures (“Castle”) is developing a scripted series about, and financed by, crypto currency. Blockchain technology will allow investors to receive profits from comedy “Hold on for Dear Life” in their digital wallets.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Sherri Shephed (“Mr. Iglesias”) will star in and produce ABC pilot “Black Don’t Crack,” following three former sorority sisters who reunite during a pivotal time in their lives. The project comes from writer/EP Regina Hicks and executive producers Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, and Larry Wilmore.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”) and Jimmi Simpson (“Perpetual Grace”)will star in Showtime drama “The Man Who to Earth”, along with Chietel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”). Production for the series, originally slated for Paramount+, is slated to start this spring in London, for a 2022 premiere.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Part One of HBO supernatural drama series “The Nevers,” set in Victorian London, debuts with six episodes beginning Sunday, April 11 at 9p. Part Two’s six episodes will follow at a later date.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Also on HBO, “Exterminate All the Brutes,” examining the “exploitative and genocidal aspects of European colonialism,” premieres Wednesday, April 7 at 9p with two back-to-back episodes. Sketch comedy series “A Black Lady Sketch Show” returns for season two on Friday, April 23 at 11p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Spy City,” a six-part espionage Cold War series starring Dominic Cooper (“Preacher”), premieres Thursday, April 15 on AMC+.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Production company LXTV, a part of NBC and Telemundo owned stations, is launching interview show “Celebrity Sleepover,” hosted by reality star Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio. The weekly show launches Saturday, April 3 on NBC Owned & Affiliate stations (check local listings).
(Source: Cynopsis)

Season two “Izzy’s Koala World” premieres on Netflix Tuesday, April 20. The Dodo kids’ series follows the life of a 12-year-old as she works to rescue and rehabilitate koalas (with an assist from her parents).
(Source: Cynopsis)

Another children’s series, “My Little Pony: Pony Life” is headed for a second run. New eleven-minute episodes kick off Saturday, April 10 at 11:30a.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Duff Goldman and his puppet crew explore the science behind cookingand baking in “Duff’s Happy Fun Bake Time,” premiering Thursday, April 29 on discovery+. Duff and his puppet friends teach fundamental cooking techniques and easy-to-make recipes that inspire chefs of all ages to experiment in the kitchen
(Source: Cynopsis)

“The Circle” returns for season two on Netflix on Wednesday, April 14. Four episodes of the reality show will drop each week, with the finale available May 5.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Real Housewives of New York City returns for lucky season 13 on Tuesday, May 4 at 9p. Attorney, broadcaster and producer Eboni K. Williams has jumped aboard for the ride.
(Source: Cynopsis)

VH1 docu-series “Black Ink Crew: New York” is set to return on Monday, April 19 at 8p. The new season will highlight the crew emerging from isolation and adapting to their new normal, as they strive to be better than ever before at their new flagship shop in Brooklyn.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Cartoon Network event Spring Breakaway kicks off Monday, March 29with the series premiere of the new sci-fi adventure comedy “Elliott from Earth,” and continues for 14 days with a line-up of action adventure-themed shows and movies to keep kids and families engaged, entertained and in vacation mode.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Shudder has acquired South African film “Fried Barry” for release in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, May 6. The film follows the story of a drug-addled degenerate who, after yet another bender, gets abducted by aliens.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Lifetime’s “Women Making History,” featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, debuts Tuesday, March 30 at 8p. Executive produced by Sharon Scott of Category 6 Media group, the show will encore on Wednesday, March 31 at 8p on LMN.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Popsugar announced the line-up for its “Girl Talk” event on March 25 at 9p, airing on TLC and discovery+ with an encore presentation at 10p on OWN. Joining former First Lady Michelle Obama will be host Sofia Wylie, Lilly Singh, Alicia Keys, Andra Day, Auli’i Cravalho, Demi Lovato, Julia Roberts, Kristen Bell, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Marsai Martin, Meryl Streep, Naomi Osaka, Natalie Portman, Shaun Robinson, and Shonda Rhimes among others. “Girl Talk” will encourage and advocate for the power of learning and education.
(Source: Cynopsis)

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $220 million. 

Powerball is played in 43 states.

NYLottery.NY.gov

CELEBRITY NEWS: MARCH 23, 2021
http://www.imdb.com/news/celebrity

Kyrie Irving (NBA Player) – 29 years old
Princess Eugenie of York (Daughter of Prince Andrew & Sarah Duchess of York) – 31 years old
Ayesha Alexander-Curry (NBA Player Stephen Curry’s wife) – 32 years old
Ben Higgins (ABC’s The Bachelor) – 32 years old
Brett Eldredge (Country Singer) – 35 years old
Mario Lavandeira Jr. (aka Perez Hilton) – 43 years old
Nicholle Tom (The Nanny) – 43 years old
Keri Russell (Felicity) – 45 years old
Michelle Monaghan (True Detective) – 45 years old
Randall Park (Young Rock/ ABC’s Fresh Off The Boat) – 47 years old
Jason Kidd (former NBA Player) – 48 years old
Richard Grieco (21 Jump Street) – 56 years old
Marc Cherry (creator, Desperate Housewives & Devious Maids) – 59 years old
Hope Davis (“Captain America: Civil War”) – 57 years old
Catherine Ann Keener (“Get Out”/“The 40 Year Old Virgin”) – 62 years old
Amanda Plummer (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”) – 64 years old
Chaka Khan (R&B Singer) – 68 years old

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

ON TELEVISION (TUESDAY 3/23/21)
DISCOVERY+: Pig Royalty (Premiere)
PBS: Beyond the CANVAS (Premiere) at 9pm
SUNDANCE NOW: Secrets of a Psychopath (Premiere)
YOU TUBE: Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil (Premiere)
ABC: To Tell the Truth (Finale) at 8pm
VH1: Basketball Wives (Finale) at 8pm

“Knight Rider” alum David Hasselhoff will star in “Ze Network,” for RTL SVOD platform TVNOW. The German comedy spy series is the first project from a first-look deal between CBS Studios and Berlin-based Syrreal Entertainment. Hasselhoff will play himself as he travels to Germany – where, in case you haven’t heard, he’s a huge star – and is thrust in the center of an international conspiracy. “‘Knight Rider’ was incredibly successful for both me and RTL,” said Hasselhoff, who also serves as an executive producer. “Returning now 30 years later to do a cutting-edge series and working with RTL again is a dream come true.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

ViacomCBS announced offerings of $2.0 billion of its Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Class B common stock”), and $1.0 billion of its Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share. The combined net proceeds are intended for general corporate purposes, including investments in streaming.
(Source: Cynopsis)

NBC renewed “Mr. Mayor,” starring Ted Danson, for a second season. The pilot increased to a 3.7 among A18-49 demo 16 million total viewers, making the show NBC’s best Thursday comedy launch in Live+7 total viewers since the premiere of the “Will & Grace” revival in 2017.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The US ad economy contracted 7.3% in February 2021 versus February 2020, according to data from Standard Media Index. The top 10 categories dipped 3.0%, versus 13.7% for other categories. Digital saw an 18% gain year-over-year.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Apple ranked #1 for women in MBLM’s Brand Intimacy COVID Study, analyzing brands based on emotional connections during the pandemic. Amazon and Toyota placed second and third with women, respectively. The top three brands for millennial women were Apple, Amazon and Target. Women A35-54 prefer Amazon, Disney and Apple, while those A55-64 ranked Hershey’s, Coca-Cola and Samsung as their top brands.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Performer/“Celebrity Apprentice” contestant Meat Loaf has partnered with Nobody’s Hero, the production label launched in 2020 by Christopher Potts and Jonty Nash (“Nailed It!”), for a new reality competition series. “I Would Do Anything For Love… But I Won’t Do That,” inspired by power ballads, was created by Potts and Nash, and will be produced by Nobody’s Hero via the label’s overall deal with ITV America. Meat Loaf will serve as executive producer.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Mike Tyson biopic “Tyson,” starring and executive produced by Jamie Foxx (“Ray”) and exec produced by Antoine Fuqua, Martin Scorsese and the boxing great, has evolved from a film to a limited series project. Hulu announced the order of limited series “Iron Mike” last month, a move Tyson labeled “cultural misappropriation.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

CBS’s “Survivor” is returning to Fiji for its 41st season, over a year after it was scheduled to start shooting. “The past year has reminded me and I hope it’s reminded you that you got to live your life like it’s one big great adventure and ‘Survivor’ fulfills that,” posted host Jeff Probst on social media.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Mattel Television is developing “Barbie Fashion Battle,” a competition for the doll’s outfits, with Mission Control Media (“Hollywood Game Night”). “This project is part of our broader effort to expand the Barbie content universe with new scripted and unscripted content,” said Adam Bonnett, Executive Producer, Mattel Television.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Releve Entertainment and Revelations Entertainment are teaming for docu-series “History in Color,” focused on African American trailblazers and unknown heroes. Each of seven episodes will be directed by an African American icon, and focus on a different discipline.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Disney Channel ordered movie sequel “Zombies 3,” with Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly reprising the lead roles – this time with an intergalactic twist. The first two films ranked as the #1 telecast among K6-11 and tweens 9-14 the year they debuted.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, Professor of African-American Studies and Psychology at Yale University, and Co-Founder and CEO of the Center for Policing Equity, inked a multi-year creative partnership and exclusive overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. Goff and his creative team, JusticeRx, will develop original programming and consult with the studio and show creators to promote equity, inclusion and social justice.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Natalka Znak (“Hell’s Kitchen,” “Love Island”) announced the launch of her new banner Znak TV, an LA- and London-based production company. Most recently, Znak served as President under her previous company, Znak&Co, which was acquired under UK-based Sky Studios.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios signed a joint overall deal with Pete Browngardt (“LooneyTunes Cartoons”). Browngardt will develop projects for both kids and adult audiences.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Netflix nabbed the rights to BRZRK, the comic book created by Keanu Reeves, who will star in and executive produce screen adaptations. An anime spinoff series is also in the works.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Casting notes: Jane Lynch (“Glee”) has joined ABC comedy pilot ”Bucktown,” as the mother of a woman (“Westworld” alum Shannon Woodward) forced to move back home…Eleanor Fanyinka (“Holy City”) landed the lead in ABC drama pilot “Epic,” from Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis (“Once Upon a Time”)…Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek”) and Ari Afsar (“Hamilton”) are onboard Netflix film “Wedding Season.”…Kevin Hair (“Black Lightning”) will recur on season two of BET’s “Ruthless.”…Y’lan Noel (“Insecure”) landed the lead role in FX drama pilot “The Spook Who Sat by the Door.”…Ana Villafane (“New Amsterdam”) will guest star on the seventh and final season of Paramount+ series “Younger.”

Netflix is losing about $6 billion a year in potential revenue due to password sharing, estimates Citi analyst Jason Bazinet. That’s about a quarter of the total amount streamers are missing out on due to cheating. Hence Netflix’s testing of a feature to crack down on password sharing. “This test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so,” said the company.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Doing the Most with Phoebe Robinson,” a new unscripted, interview-based series from comedian Phoebe Robinson, premieres Friday, April 9 at 11p on Comedy Central, with a second episode airing at 11:30p. The 10-episode half-hour series stars Robinson as she takes celebrity guests out of their comfort zones. (A little magic, Property Brothers?)
(Source: Cynopsis)

To celebrate Aretha Franklin’s legacy and National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha,” Nat Geo has partnered with Watch The Bands, an online platform that focuses on preserving and promoting the marching band and dance culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to host “All Hail The Queen: HBCU Band Tribute.” Winner of the virtual competition will be announced on Thursday, March 25.
(Source: Cynopsis)

INSP programming event The Duke Days of May, celebrating Western movies featuring John Wayne, kicks off its seventh year Friday, April 30 at 8p, then airing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in May. “At INSP, we spotlight stories that exemplify integrity, valor, and justice, which are synonymous with the heroes portrayed throughout these beloved films,” said Butts. “Duke Days has become one of our network’s most successful and beloved events, demonstrating ratings growth year after year.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

“That Way Madness Lies,” filmmaker Sandra Luckow’s account of her family’s odyssey through the broken mental healthcare system, will become available on the PBS Plus platform starting Monday, April 5.
(Source: Cynopsis)

AVOD VUit announced record viewership of its presentation of the Iditarod Sled Dog race, streamed nationally from March 7-15. The channel attracted viewers from 201 DMAs (out of 210 markets nationally), and viewers returned an average of six times to check in at different points during the race, watching an average of 25 minutes.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Producer Jeffrey M. Hayes died March 9. He was 69. The one-time EVP of Paramount Pictures Network Television and President of Village Roadshow Pictures Television oversaw the development of series including “MacGyver” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $122 million.

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

NYLottery.NY.gov