Keely's Korner

LONI ANDERSON (WKRP IN CINCINNATI) HAS DIED AT 79
https://www.tmz.com/2025/08/03/loni-anderson-dead-dies/

CELEBRITY NEWS: AUGUST 4, 2025
http://www.imdb.com/news/celebrity

Jessica Sanchez (Runner Up on the 11th Season of “American Idol”) – 30 years old
Bobby Shmurda (Rapper) – 31 years old
Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) – 33 years old
Dylan Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) – 33 years old
Lily Costner (“Black or White”/ Kevin Costner’s daughter) – 39 years old
Greta Gerwig (Director of “Barbie”) – 42 years old
Marques Houston (Sister, Sister) – 44 years old
Meghan Markle (Prince Harry’s wife/ USA”s Suits) – 44 years old
Kym Johnson (Dancing With The Stars) – 49 years old
Tariano Adaryll “Taj” Jackson (Tito Jackson’s oldest son/ Michael Jackson’s nephew) – 52 years old
Todd Tucker (Kandi Burruss’ Husband/ Real Housewives of Atlanta) – 52 years old
Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker (Rapper) – 54 years old
Richard “Rich Dollaz” Trowers (VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York) – 54 years old
Jeff Gordon (Race Car Driver) – 54 years old
Michael DeLuise (“Wayne”s World”) – 56 years old
Daniel Dae Kim (Hawaii Five-O) – 57 years old
Barack Obama (44th President of the United States of America) – 64 years old
Lauren Tom (Futurama/ “The Joy Luck Club”/ Friends) – 64 years old
Kym Karath (Gretl from “The Sound of Music”) – 67 years old
Billy Bob Thornton (“Sling Blade”) – 60 years old

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

ON TELEVISION (MONDAY 8/4/25)
HULU: King of the Hill (Premiere)
NICK: Tim Rex in Space (Premiere) at 9:30am

ESPN has struck a deal with the NFL for top NFL Media holdings including NFL RedZone and the NFL’s fantasy football business, with the league receiving equity in the network, reports The Athletic. Word of the agreement comes as ESPN prepares to roll out a$30/month direct-to-consumer service called ESPN.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down in January, having been defunded by Congress last month. “Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country,” said President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.” While NPR and PBS will survive, Katherine Maher, the chief executive of NPR, said the corporation’s closure “represents the loss of a major institution and decades of knowledge and expertise.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

HBO Max’s “And Just Like That…” is coming to a close. “While I was writing the last episode of ‘And Just Like That…” season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop,” said showrunner Michael Patrick King in a statement posted on Instagram. “Along with Sarah Jessica Parker, [Chairmen and CEO, HBO and Max Content] Casey Bloys and [HBO Head of IP] Sarah Aubrey, we decided to end the popular series this year with a two-part finale and extended the original series order from 10 episodes to 12. SJP and I held off announcing the news until now because we didn’t want the word ‘final’ to overshadow the fun of watching the season.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

TV news profitability fell below 50% for the first time since 2010, according to the latest RTDNA/Newhouse School Survey. Smaller markets saw the biggest drop, while larger markets held steady or improved slightly; 38.3% of news stations reported cuts, with19.9% reporting increases.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Gray Media has reached an agreement with Block Communications to acquire its television stations for $80 million. “We expect the transaction to strengthen our presence in the Midwest by creating a new Big 4 duopoly in one market and by adding top-ranked local news stations in two more midwestern markets that can support and benefit from our strong local stations in adjacent markets,” said Gray. The transactions are expected to close in 4Q25 following receipt of regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Apple TV+ has a limited series adaptation of Nancy Meyers 2006 film “The Holiday” in the works. Krissie Ducker (“Sweetpea”) will write and produce through Left Bank Pictures, and Rob Delaney (“Catastrophe”) is consulting. What does Nancy Meyers say? “News to me,” she posted on Instagram. 
(Source: Cynopsis)

Cineverse has launched a campaign with Moviefone that has Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) voicing his character from the upcoming film “The Toxic Avenger,” reading showtimes, re-enacting the film’s trailer, and offering ticket info. To promote the re-launched phone number and upcoming release, digital video will be seen on Moviefone’s website and social channels, as well as “The Toxic Avenger” socials, supported with a media buy that will include Cineverse’s ad network.
(Source: Cynopsis)

All eight episodes of song battle series “KPOPPED,” starring PSY and executive producer Megan Thee Stallion, drop Friday, August 29 on Apple TV+. 
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Hot in Cleveland” joins the Catchy Comedy lineup on Monday, September 1 at 9p. The sitcom had its first run on TV Land from 2010-2015.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Season two of “The Newsreader” will exclusively stream on AMC+ starting Thursday, August 7. The critically acclaimed Australian drama is set in a 1980s newsroom.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Boat Rocker Studios has closed its management buyout, and returning to operating as a privately held, independent studio. Led by co-founders David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg alongside John Young, Boat Rocker Studios will continue to operate under its existing leadership team and brand. “This exciting next chapter gives us the independence and flexibility to continue bringing compelling and entertaining stories to audiences around the world across all genres and platforms,” said Fortier, Schneeberg, and Young in a joint statement. “We’re energized by the opportunity ahead and grateful to our partners, creators, and teams for their continued belief in Boat Rocker.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

ABC’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” rose 5% in Total Viewers to 4.46 million, becoming the top program of the night for the second week in a row. The program also held 100% retention in A18-49 (0.38 rating) from its week-ago season premiere.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Season 27 of “Big Brother” has reached nearly 26 million unique viewersacross CBS and Paramount+, reports the network. Through its first two weeks (episodes airing July 10, 13, 16, 17, 20), season-to-date multiplatform viewership is averaging 4.8 million, up 9% from last summer’s first two weeks.
(Source: Cynopsis)

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $426 million.
(One ticket costs $2.00)
Powerball is played in 43 states.
NYLottery.NY.gov

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – $40 million
The Bad Guys 2 – $22.2 million
The Naked Gun – $17 million
Superman – $13.9 million
Jurassic World: Rebirth – $8.7 million
(Source: Box Office Mojo)