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Netflix- 13 Reasons Why (Kate Walsh)

CBS All Access- Good Fight (Audra McDonald)

Wednesdays- All Americans (Taye Diggs, CW)

New DVD: Private Practice: Season 6

Instant Video: Season 6

HD Instant Video: Season 6

DVD: Private Practice: Season 5

DVD: Private Practice: Season4

DVD- Private Practice: Season 3

DVD- Private Practice: Season 2

DVD- Private Practice: Season 1

News, Rumors and Gossip

AMC’s Silicon Valley Drama Series Adds Paul Adelstein To Cast

The series, produced by AMC Studios, is set within the delusion bubble of Silicon Valley. The story follows an ethically compromised tech CEO (Magnussen) who is outrunning reputational damage as he tries to rescue his company from the brink of failure by any means necessary. Dragged into his chaos are his family, his kid’s elite prep school, an assortment of SV power players and his psychiatrist (Sarah Goldberg).

Adelstein will play Dr. Felder, a Freudian psychotherapist. In addition to Magnussen and Goldberg, he joins fellow series regulars Meaghan Rath, Rob Corddry and Simon Helberg.

Glatzer is writer, executive producer and showrunner. Gina Mingacci also executive produces.

Adelstein most recently guest starred on Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez and did an arc on Disney+’s Agatha All Along. He is repped by Gersh, Principal Entertainment and Gang Tyre Ramer Brown & Passman.

Shonda Rhimes Resigns From Kennedy Center After Donald Trump’s Takeover Of Performing Arts Institution

“Please be advised that as of today, Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center,” a spokesperson for the writer-producer said.

Rhimes had been appointed to the board by President Barack Obama and was serving as one of the officers.

Earlier today, Ben Folds announced that he was resigning as artistic adviser of the National Symphony Orchestra. A couple hours later, Renée Fleming said that she was exiting as artistic adviser at large.

Trump ousted board members appointed by Joe Biden to the Kennedy Center board, which has a long tradition of bipartisan representation. That left only Trump loyalists on the board, and they voted today to make Trump the chairman. His special envoy, Ric Grenell, is serving as interim president, ousting Deborah Rutter. Before the Trump purge, she had already announced last month that she was planning to step down as president at the end of this year, after more than a decade in that role.

Rhimes’ exit is not a surprise. She backed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Trump also is waging a war on diversity, equity and inclusion, something that she has embraced in some of her best known projects, including the hit Netflix series Bridgerton.

The exits of Folds and Rhimes raise questions as to the future of the Kennedy Center Honors, which is one of the premiere entertainment events in D.C.. In Trump’s first year in office in 2017, a number of honorees said that they would boycott a traditional pre-reception at the White House. Trump then declined to attend any of the ceremonies in his four years in office. Now, that process will be in control of Trump and his allies, as the executive committee of the board picks the honorees.

‘The Old Man’ Canceled By FX After 2 Seasons

The series, which also stars John Lithgow, Amy Brenneman and Alia Shawkat, became largely a victim of circumstance. Over its two seasons, The Old Man’s production was halted several times.

Its seven-episode first season started filming in 2019 and had three episodes left when it shut down at the start of the pandemic and later that year for star Bridges’ cancer treatment.

The Old Man launched on FX in June 2022, scoring the most-watched cable series premiere since January 2021, beating 60 other premium and basic cable dramas, comedies and limited series, while also becoming the most-watched FX series debut on Hulu in its opening weekend.

The strong showing earned The Old Man a Season 2 renewal. It was another unplanned production shutdown during the filming of the second season, due to the WGA strike, that proved detrimental, making for a gap of two years and three months between seasons.

It is hard to keep fans’ attention for that long, especially with a newer series that had only been on for a season. Premiering in September, the seven-episode second season of The Old Man could not match the ratings performance of Season 1.

It has still scored with critics, recently receiving three Critics Choice TV nominations, Best Drama Series, Best Lead Actor in Drama Series for Bridges and Best Supporting Actor for Lithgow.

“That’s outstanding,” series executive producer Warrren Littlefield said of the nominations in an interview conducted last week. He reflected on the series’ complicated path.

“We’ve made 15 episodes in five years; what a crazy journey it’s been,” he said. “I love everyone involved with the show.”

Based on Thomas Perry’s bestselling book, The Old Man follows Dan Chase (Bridges), who absconded from the CIA decades ago and has been living off the grid since. When an assassin arrives and tries to take Chase out, the old operative learns that to ensure his future he now must reconcile his past.

E.J. Bonilla, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Bill Heck, Leem Lubany and Pej Vahdat also star in the series from Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine. Littlefield, Steinberg, Dan Shotz, Levine, Bridges, David Schiff and Jon Watts executive produced The Old Man, produced by 20th Television in association with The Littlefield Company.

King Charles Honors Ted Sarandos, Shonda Rhimes For “Extraordinary Services To Creative Industry In UK”

The streamer’s co-CEO received his award – Commander of the British Empire – from British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce at the British Embassy in Washington, alongside fellow entertainment industry titan Shonda Rhimes, producer of Netflix hit Bridgerton.

Sarandos posted on Instagram his delight at receiving the award, describing the ceremony a ‘beautiful ceremony and an afternoon I will never forget.”

The UK Embassy also reported the event on social media, saying Sarandos was recognised for extraordinary services to creative industries. The Embassy praised his work: “Under his leadership, the platform has worked with more than 30,000 British cast and crew and currently has more than 100 productions active in the UK.”

Rhimes received her honorary for services to UK-US relations. The Embassy said: “Ms Rhimes has changed the face of TV storytelling, creating more roles for female actors, people from diverse cultures, and those with disabilities. As well as making some of the longest standing and record-breaking shows in history, she’s launched the career of many British actors and continues to make significant cultural and economic impact to the UK.”

In particular, they noted, “Bridgerton was not only one of the most watched Netflix shows of all time but was championed for its diverse casting and modern twist on regency-era storytelling.

“Alongside its cultural impact, the series also supported significant direct and indirect economic investment to the UK.”

Bridgerton, Rhimes adaptation of the Regency-period romance novels by Julia Quinn, debuted on Netflix on Christmas Day 2020, with its spin-off prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story appearing in May 2023. Both shows have been enormous global hits for the platform.

Kate Walsh Boards Oscar-Qualified Live-Action Short ‘The Runt’ As Executive Producer

Walsh is just the latest to attach in that capacity today, following Brendan Gleeson with The Boat and Sharon Horgan with Calf. The project reunites her with Stratton, with whom she previously collaborated on the Emmy-nominated web series Everyone’s Crazy But Us.

The Runt follows Janet Bauer (Luna Martin), who like most 12-year-olds in 1979, lives for Friday nights at the Moonlight Rollerway. This particular Friday is special — it’s the last one before junior high starts. When Janet finds out the 8th grade girls have chosen her to be the 7th grade “runt,” she decides she must skate with a boy to prove her maturity and avoid this fate, which would ruin her life forever.

Following its Florida Film Festival premiere, the short has gone on to win Best Live Action Short at the Lone Star Film Festival, Best Screenplay at the Wyoming Film Festival, Best American Spectrum Short at the Indy Film Festival, and Narrative Shorts Honorable Mention at Dances With Films. It’s also been selected to screen at the Florida Film Festival, HollyShorts, the Austin Film Festival, Imagine This Women’s Film Festival, the Catalina Film Festival, and the San Diego Film Festival.

“The Runt is a poignant and funny film about a tween girl learning how to fight through her fears. With themes of identity, friendship, and self-confidence, it really struck a chord with my 12-year-old self,” said Walsh. “Christy’s timeless story transcends generations, but hits me especially hard since I, too was a child in the 70’s and deeply committed to roller-skating, so I can dig it on that level as well.”

Stratton shared that “Kate’s immediate connection to the film was so gratifying to the entire team – we were delighted when she agreed to join us as an executive producer. It just goes to show what can happen when you ask for what you want.”

Known for her work on series like Grey’s Anatomy, Emily in Paris, and The Umbrella Academy, Walsh has also been seen in films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Girls Trip, and Under the Tuscan Sun, among others.

‘Both Eyes Open’: First Trailer & Release Date Revealed For Thriller Starring Gail Bean & Taye Diggs

Above is the first trailer for the movie, whose cast also includes Joy Brunson (This Is Us), Christie Leverette (You’ll Never Leave Me), Tristan Mack Wilds (The Wire), Michael Oloyede (This is Paradise), and Carla Fisher (The Boss).

Writer-director Ariel Julia Hairston‘s (The Comeback) indie movie, which shot in Atlanta earlier this year, centers on Ally (Bean), a woman who emerges from an abusive relationship hoping for a fresh start. Haunted by persistent hallucinations of her abuser, she begins to receive mysterious messages that suggest her tormenter may still be lurking in the distance. As the cryptic messages escalate and the ground beneath her starts to crumble, Ally discovers that the answers she seeks may lie closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

Pic was produced by RodFather Productions in association with Oasis Ave Films. Exec producers are Roderick McClure, Joshua Ferrell, Hairston, and Bean.

Best known for starring on FX’s Snowfall, the indie’s lead Bean has also been seen on series like P-Valley and Love in the Time of Corona, as well as films like The Belko Experiment. She can currently be seen in Malcolm Washington’s August Wilson adaptation The Piano Lesson for Netflix and has the third season of Prime Video’s Harlem, among other projects.

Diggs is known for stage and screen roles, including leading parts in series such as Private Practice and Murder In The First. He has a leading role in Berlanti and CW’s drama All American.

Shondaland Elevates Sandie Bailey & Chris DiIorio To Co-Presidents As Megha Tolia Departs

Bailey and DiIorio both joined Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland during the big 2016 executive expansion when the company — still based at Disney — transformed itself into a fully functioning mini-studio with its own infrastructure.

Bailey, who shares a name with one of Shondaland’s most beloved characters, Grey’s Anatomy‘s Miranda Bailey, started at Shondaland as Director of Branding and Engagement and was subsequently promoted to Chief Brand and Operations Officer; DiIorio originally joined as VP of Strategy and Development.

Both already had a relationship with Shondaland in their previous jobs — DiIorio while serving as head of PMK*BNC’s television department; events and interior decorating specialist Bailey while working in the set-decorating department of the company’s ABC drama Scandal.

“There are no two people who are more closely aligned with my vision and goals for where I want to go as a company than Sandie and Chris,” Shondaland CEO Rhimes said. “Together they have over 20 years of institutional knowledge from all areas of our business and I am excited to have their expanded leadership as we continue to build Shondaland. I want to thank Megha for her valuable contributions over the past three years and wish her the best as she focuses on time with her family.”

The executive change comes ahead of Shondaland’s 20th anniversary in 2025.

“As we enter the 20th anniversary year of Shondaland, we are honored to be a long-standing part of this storytelling,” Bailey and DiIorio said. “We are excited for this next chapter, and look forward to leading Shondaland into the future.”

Before joining Shondaland in December 2021, Tolia had worked in branding for such companies as Method Products and Neutrogena.

“I am so grateful to Shonda and my colleagues at Shondaland for three wonderful years at the company,” Tolia said. “I look forward to cheering them on as they continue to tell stories and fearlessly entertain audiences everywhere.”

Jane Fonda, Shonda Rhimes & Pedro Pascal Urge Gavin Newsom To Sign AI Safety Bill In Open Letter

Although California Gov. Gavin Newsom previously signed two AI bills last week giving performers greater protections, Jane Fonda, Shonda Rhimes and Pedro Pascal are among 125 industry professionals to sign Artists 4 Safe AI’s open letter urging him to pass Sen. Scott Wiener’s SB 1047.

Other signators include JJ Abrams, Mark Ruffalo, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Ava DuVernay, Rosie O’Donnell, Mark Hamill, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Judd Apatow, Fran Drescher, Sean Astin, Janelle Monáe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Cheadle, Mariska Hargitay, Sophia Bush, Connie Britton, Alec Baldwin, Mahershala Ali, Annaleigh Ashford, Alyssa Milano, Jessica Alba, Rosanna Arquette, John Cho, Jennifer Beals and Tom Arnold.

SB 1047 would require AI developers in the state to implement security precautions before training their models. The bill has drawn opposition from major companies like OpenAI, as well as from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But backers of the legislation say that it is light-touch regulation that merely codifies voluntary safety commitments that AI firms already have made.

Last week, Newsom signed two AI bills, including AB 1836, which expands the scope of the state’s postmortem right of publicity, including the use of digital replicas, meaning that an estate’s permission would be needed to use such technology to re-create the voice and likeness of a deceased person. AB 2602 bolsters protections for artists in contract agreements over the use of their digital likenesses.

Read Artists 4 Safe AI’s open letter below:

“As you well know, some of the most lucrative and powerful companies in the world are currently racing to dominate the enormous business opportunity known as AI. Many of those companies are based in your home state of California.

“Last week, you signed two bills into law that will help protect the rights and livelihoods of artists from various unethical uses of AI by those big tech companies. We are genuinely grateful for that.

“But right now, there’s another bill urgently awaiting your signature that would regulate AI: Senator Wiener’s SB 1047. This bill is not about protecting artists — it’s about protecting everyone.

“Grave threats from AI used to be the stuff of science fiction, but not anymore. Even though the billionaire opponents of SB 1047 dismiss these concerns as fantastical, many of the industry’s leading engineers, academics and policymakers warn otherwise. In a recent open letter in support of SB 1047, over a hundred current and former employees of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, Meta, and xAI said:

“‘We believe that the most powerful AI models may soon pose severe risks, such as expanded access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. It is feasible and appropriate for frontier AI companies to test whether the most powerful AI models can cause severe harms, and for these companies to implement reasonable safeguards against such risks.’

“SB 1047 would implement the safeguards these industry insiders are asking for. The bill passed with overwhelming majorities in the California State Senate and Assembly. Polling shows 77% of Californians approve of the bill. Why would the Governor not sign it into law?

“Governor Newsom, most of us are residents of California. We are your supporters. We voted for you. We want to continue to believe that you are a leader who will stand up for everyone’s wellbeing, not just for a few Silicon Valley giants.

“We fully believe in the dazzling potential of AI to be used for good. But we must also be realistic about the risks. Now is our moment, Governor, for California to set that practical and positive example for all of the United States, as well as the rest of the world.

‘The Real Full Monty’ Premiere Date: Anthony Anderson, Taye Diggs, James Van Der Beek & More to Strip for Charity

The Real Full Monty is an all-new two-hour special in which a daring group of male celebrities will volunteer to bare all to raise awareness for prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer testing and research. It will premiere on Monday, December 9.

Anthony Anderson has gathered a cast of male celebrities—joining himself in participating are Taye Diggs, Chris Jones, Tyler Posey, Bruno Tonioli, and James Van Der Beek to encourage men to get checked and strip the stigma around prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer.

During the two-hour special, Anderson will lead Diggs, Jones, Posey, Tonioli and Van Der Beek as they train and rehearse for the most revealing performance of their careers, culminating with a big strip-tease dance (choreographed by Emmy Award-winner Mandy Moore), where they will bare all in front of a live audience. Leading up to the final disrobing, the men will push their limits of comfortability, modesty, and brotherhood with a series of rehearsals and experiences, both private and public, designed to build confidence and remove them far from their comfort zone and strengthen their bond as a group. Along the way, each of the celebrities will share their personal stories of how cancer has impacted their lives. This special is based on the international unscripted format first broadcast on the U.K.’s ITV in 2017.

FOX’s The Real Full Monty is produced by Spun Gold TV (a 53 Degrees Global company) and FOX Alternative Entertainment. The special is executive produced by Anderson, Dan Norris, and Ashley Edens, who also serves as showrunner. Executive producers from Spun Gold include Nick Bullen and Daniela Neumann.

The Real Full Monty, Special Premiere, Monday, December 9, Fox.

Chicago Fire Casts Private Practice Vet KaDee Strickland as New Chief’s Wife

Private Practice alumna KaDee Strickland will recur during Season 13 of the NBC firefighter drama as Monica Pascal, the estranged wife of Dermot Mulroney’s character, TVLine has confirmed.

As TVLine previously reported, Mulroney is joining the cast in the series-regular role of Chief Dom Pascal, who comes to the Windy City from Miami, where he’s been a chief for a while, but he actually got his start with the Chicago Fire Department. His leadership style differs from that of the beloved Chief Wallace Boden.

The new boss takes over Firehouse 51’s top position from Boden, whose portrayer Eamonn Walker exited the NBC drama as a series regular in the Season 12 finale. In the episode, Boden was promoted to CFD’s Deputy Commissioner and then revealed that he wants Herrmann (played by David Eigenberg) to replace him at 51. But first, Herrmann needs to get promoted to captain and take the Battalion chief test, so the introduction of another chief makes sense for the time being.

In addition to starring on the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff Private Practice for six seasons, Strickland’s TV credits include the second installment of Freeform’s anthology series Cruel Summer (where she reunited with her Private Practice TV husband Paul Adelstein and TV stepson Griffin Gluck), Hulu’s Shut Eye and ABC’s Secrets and Lies.

Chicago Fire Season 13 premieres Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9/8c, once again sandwiched between Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.

Taye Diggs & Meagan Good To Lead & EP Lifetime’s ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Forever’

From writer Bart Baker, Terry McMillan Presents: Forever follows Johnnie (Diggs) returns home after a tour of military service, he’s unexpectedly met with divorce papers. With his life at a crossroads, the last thing he expected was to fall for the local policewoman Carlie (Good), who pulled him over for speeding. Determined to win her heart, his first hurdle is winning over her three daughters. To be the man Carlie needs him to be, Johnnie must let go of old fears and regrets to find love and learn the true meaning of family.

The Ninth House produces the movie in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment. Taye Diggs, Meagan Good and Terry McMillan executive produce alongside director Charles Murray and Richard Foster and Chet Fenster for GroupM Motion Entertainment. Emmy-winning producer Shelby Stone, Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren serve as producers for The Ninth House.

Terry McMillan Presents: Forever marks the second film under the previously announced umbrella, including Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted By Love starring and executive produced by Garcelle Beauvais, premiering a week prior on August 17.

Diggs is repped by Global Artist Agency and A Management Co. Good is repped by Atlas Artists, Gersh Agency and Yorn, Levine, Barnes and Krintzman.

Audra McDonald, Mary-Louise Parker, Richard Kind & More To Star In Indie ‘The Auction’ From William Atticus Parker

Described by the filmmaker as “a workplace drama with elements of fantasy and horror,” the film is a loose adaptation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Further plot details are being kept under wraps.

The son of Mary-Louise Parker, William will also make his feature acting debut in The Auction and produce alongside Sabina Friedman-Seitz (Atrabilious) and Cory Asinofsky. William’s sister, Ash Parker, will write and compose an original song for the pic, with production to kick off in New York this summer.

Currently starring on HBO’s The Gilded Age, which has been renewed for a third season, McDonald is also known for turns on series like The Good Fight and Private Practice. Notable recent feature credits include Rustin, Respect, and Beauty and the Beast.

Most recently seen starring on Prime Video’s The Horror of Dolores Roach, Freeman prior to that was seen on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Film credits for him include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Dark Night, to name just a few.

Best known for her Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning role in Showtime’s Weeds, Mary-Louise Parker most recently signed on to star in Justine Bateman’s indie Face and MGM+’s series adaptation of Stephen King’s The Institute.

A veteran character actor most recently seen in John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA, the acclaimed variety series put on during Netflix Is a Joke Fest 2024, Kind will next be seen in the fourth season of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

A Tony Award winner, as well as a multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, Vereen is best known on the film front for his turn in Bob Fosse’s 1979 classic All That Jazz. Recently seen on series like B Positive and The Good Fight, he’ll next appear in the historical drama series The Gray House from EPs Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.

The Auction marks the third feature from the 20-year-old Parker, whose sophomore feature Atrabilious, starring Leon Addison Brown, Whoopi Goldberg, Alec Baldwin, and Jeffrey Wright, is currently in post-production. Previously, he made his feature directorial debut with the darkly comedic psychological thriller Forty Winks, which like Atrabilious, was shot in New York City on a micro-budget.

William Atticus Parker and Mary-Louise Parker are repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment. McDonald is repped by WME; Freeman by Innovative Artists and D2 Management; Kind by Innovative Artists and Forster Entertainment; and Vereen by The Suchin Company.

Shonda Rhimes To Open London Stock Exchange As Netflix Reveals ‘Bridgerton’ Landmark

The Shondaland boss is getting ready to press the button on another day in London’s financial district to mark the release of Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2, which premiered in the English capital last night.

According to Netflix, Rhimes’ day at the stock exchange comes as the Bridgerton universe’ contribution to the UK economy tops £250M ($318M), supporting 5,000 businesses ranging from food to transportation to carpentry. The streamer provided examples including Visit West reporting a boost in visits to the region where much of the show is set.

Rhimes said: “The Bridgerton universe occupies a special space in culture, resonating with young and old alike, creating conversation, starting trends and influencing everything from baby names to weddings. It is clear that the business of art and culture can make a huge economic contribution to local communities. I could not be prouder.”

Rhimes, who was awarded an honorary CBE by King Charles earlier this year, is an American TV icon, with credits including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Inventing Anna. Bridgerton is one of Netflix’s biggest hits of all time and millions have been tuning in over the past weeks to see how Colin and Penelope’s love will pan out.

Kicking off the London Stock Exchange has been in vogue for stars of late. Succession icon Brian Cox did the same last March to ring in the new season of Succession.

Black Reel TV Awards Unveils 2024 Nominees

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series
Joey Bada$$ | Power Book III: Raising Kanan – Starz
Malcolm Barrett | Average Joe – BET+
Nicole Beharie | The Morning Show – Apple TV+
Colman Domingo | Fear the Walking Dead – AMC
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | Loki – Disney+
Audra McDonald | The Gilded Age – HBO
Wunmi Mosaku | Loki – Disney+
DeVaughn Nixon | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty – HBO
Karen Pittman | The Morning Show – Apple TV+
Lynn Whitfield | The Chi – Showtime

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series
Michael Braugher | The Gilded Age – HBO
Michaela Coel | Mr. & Mrs. Smith – Amazon Prime Video
Loretta Devine | Kingdom Business – BET+
Taye Diggs | All American – CW
Lisagay Hamilton | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty – HBO
Rashida Jones | Silo – Apple TV+
Rob Morgan | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty – HBO
Wendell Pierce | Power Book III: Raising Kanan – Starz
CCH Pounder | 3 Body Problem – Netflix
Susan Kelechi Watson | Will Trent – ABC

Gail Bean, Taye Diggs, Tristan Mack Wilds & More Set For Psychological Thriller ‘Both Eyes Open’

Additional cast for the pic from RodFather Productions includes Taye Diggs (The Best Man), Joy Brunson (This Is Us), Christie Leverette (You’ll Never Leave Me), Tristan Mack Wilds (The Wire), Michael Oloyede (This is Paradise), and Carla Fisher (The Boss).

Both Eyes Open centers on Ally (Bean), a woman who emerges from an abusive relationship hoping for a fresh start. Haunted by persistent hallucinations of her abuser, she begins to receive mysterious messages that suggest her tormenter may still be lurking in the distance. As the cryptic messages escalate and the ground beneath her starts to crumble, Ally discovers that the answers she seeks may lie closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

Pic’s exec producers are Roderick McClure, Joshua Ferrell, Hairston, and Bean.

Said producers McClure and Ferrell in a statement to Deadline, “When we started RodFather Productions, we knew we wanted to be game changers in the film industry. We treat each and every cast and crew member as though they were a member of our family. As filmmakers, we are deeply committed to discovering and showcasing the brilliance of exceptionally talented individuals—especially those who may not have been afforded the opportunities they deserve. BOTH EYES OPEN is the first of many more films to come, and we look forward to continuing to empower and entertain.”

Best known for starring on FX’s Snowfall, the indie’s lead Bean has also been seen on series like P-Valley and Love in the Time of Corona, as well as films like The Belko Experiment. Up next, she’ll be seen in Malcolm Washington’s August Wilson adaptation The Piano Lesson for Netflix and the third season of Prime Video’s Harlem, among other projects.

Hairston’s credits as a director include the romantic comedy The Comeback, starring Diggs and Apryl Jones, and the boxing drama Boxed In.

Bean is represented by Innovative Artists, manager Doreen Wilcox Little, and The Hay Group; Diggs by Global Artists Agency and manager Abe Hoch; Brunson by Alexander White Agency and Luber Roklin Entertainment; Wilds by UTA, manager Justin Adams, and Hansen, Jacobsen, Teller; Leverette by Privilege Talent and The Carson Kolker Organization; Oloyede by CESD, Reena Patton at John Carrabino Management, and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole; and Fisher by The People Store.

Taye Diggs Set To Return To ‘All American’ For Season 6 Guest Appearance

The actor, whose character died in Season 5, is set to appear in the May 20 episode of The CW series, which will usher in the 100th episode on May 27.

While canonically its been more than a year since the All American universe lost Billy Baker, Diggs only exited the series last season.

His character died in Season 5, Episode 11, titled “Time.” Since then, the characters have been grieving Billy’s death in various ways, and Season 6 has largely focused so far on the ways everyone is trying to move forward without him.

Details around how, exactly, Diggs will appear in the episode are being kept under wraps, and a logline for the episode has not been released quite yet.

Season 6 of All American was recently expanded from 13 episodes to 15, which was intended to allow the writers to better flesh out the story and build toward a satisfying conclusion for this season. So far, there’s been no news on whether the series is renewed for Season 7.

The series stars Daniel Ezra, Michael Evans Behling, Samantha Logan, Greta Onieogou, Bre-Z, Chelsea Tavares, Cody Christian, Monét Mazur, and Karimah Westbrook.

All American hails from Warner Bros. Television and CBS Studios in association with Berlanti Productions, with executive producers Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Greg Berlanti, Jameal Turner, Sarah Schechter, Mike Herro and David Strauss.

Shonda Rhimes Reveals The British TV Show She Wishes She’d Made Herself

Rhimes, the creator of Bridgerton which returns for a third season on Netflix in May, told The Times of London she enjoys watching other TV shows including Succession, Beef and The Bear, but there is one she wishes she had created –the UK’s longrunning sci-fi epic Doctor Who.

She said: “I have been obsessed with that show for ever.”

And when she met Doctor Who’s show-runner, Russell T Davies, credited with rebooting the show over a decade ago and bringing it to new heights? “I was so nervous.”

Rhimes’s achievements are of similar size. Having created Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, she told the newspaper she was persuaded to move to Netflix because she wanted to have fun – she didn’t mention the lure of a reported $150million deal – and said the streamer’s bosses told her, “Just make the shows you want to make.”

They have been rewarded for their trust. On Bridgerton’s debut on Christmas Day 2020, it broke Netflix records becoming its most-watched English-language show. The second season broke that record two years later.

Rhimes told The Times why she thought the show had found such a huge fanbase, with its offer of an antidote to the current world of dating apps and Tinder:

“I think there’s this desire for something simpler, where there are rules to courting. We just said, how do you meet somebody? Well, back then you met somebody because you went to these balls, your parents talked and you had a dance. People seem to love that sort of order to a world, where the rules of love are so clear. There were rules of interaction, like a map, and that doesn’t exist anymore. There are no rules of engagement now in anything.”

2024 SAG Awards Nominations

THE CROWN
KHALID ABDALLA / Dodi Fayed
SEBASTIAN BLUNT / Prince Edward
BERTIE CARVEL / Tony Blair
SALIM DAW / Mohamed Al Fayed
ELIZABETH DEBICKI / Princess Diana
LUTHER FORD / Prince Harry
CLAUDIA HARRISON / Princess Anne
LESLEY MANVILLE / Princess Margaret
ED MCVEY / Prince William
JAMES MURRAY / Prince Andrew
JONATHAN PRYCE / Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
IMELDA STAUNTON / Queen Elizabeth II
MARCIA WARREN / Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
DOMINIC WEST / Prince Charles
OLIVIA WILLIAMS / Camilla Parker Bowles

THE GILDED AGE
BEN AHLERS / Jack
ASHLIE ATKINSON / Mamie Fish
CHRISTINE BARANSKI / Agnes van Rhijn
DENÉE BENTON / Peggy Scott
NICOLE BRYDON BLOOM / Maud Beaton
MICHAEL CERVERIS / Watson
CARRIE COON / Bertha Russell
KELLEY CURRAN / Mrs. Winterton
TAISSA FARMIGA / Gladys Russell
DAVID FURR / Dashiell Montgomery
JACK GILPIN / Church
WARD HORTON / Charles Fane
LOUISA JACOBSON / Marian Brook
SIMON JONES / Bannister
SULLIVAN JONES / T. Thomas Fortune
CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER / Mrs. Bruce
NATHAN LANE / Ward McAllister
MATILDA LAWLER / Frances Montgomery
ROBERT SEAN LEONARD / Luke Forte
AUDRA MCDONALD / Dorothy Scott
DEBRA MONK / Armstrong
DONNA MURPHY / Mrs. Astor
KRISTINE NIELSEN / Mrs. Bauer
CYNTHIA NIXON / Ada Brook
KELLI O’HARA / Aurora Fane
PATRICK PAGE / Richard Clay
HARRY RICHARDSON / Larry Russell
TAYLOR RICHARDSON / Bridget
BLAKE RITSON / Oscar van Rhijn
JEREMY SHAMOS / Mr. Gilbert
DOUGLAS SILLS / Borden
MORGAN SPECTOR / George Russell
JOHN DOUGLAS THOMPSON / Arthur Scott
ERIN WILHELMI / Adelheid

THE LAST OF US
PEDRO PASCAL / Joel
BELLA RAMSEY / Ellie

THE MORNING SHOW
JENNIFER ANISTON / Alex Levy
NICOLE BEHARIE / Christina Hunter
SHARI BELAFONTE / Julia
NESTOR CARBONELL / Yanko Flores
BILLY CRUDUP / Cory Ellison
MARK DUPLASS / Chip Black
JON HAMM / Paul Marks
THEO IYER / Kyle
HANNAH LEDER / Isabella
GRETA LEE / Stella Bak
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Laura Peterson
TIG NOTARO / Amanda Robinson
KAREN PITTMAN / Mia Jordan
REESE WITHERSPOON / Bradley Jackson

SUCCESSION
NICHOLAS BRAUN / Greg Hirsch
JULIANA CANFIELD / Jess Jordan
BRIAN COX / Logan Roy
KIERAN CULKIN / Roman Roy
DAGMARA DOMINCZYK / Karolina Novotney
PETER FRIEDMAN / Frank Vernon
JUSTINE LUPE / Willa
MATTHEW MACFADYEN / Tom Wambsgans
ARIAN MOAYED / Stewy Hosseini
SCOTT NICHOLSON / Colin Stiles
DAVID RASCHE / Karl Muller
ALAN RUCK / Connor Roy
ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD / Lukas Matsson
J. SMITH-CAMERON / Gerri Kellman
SARAH SNOOK / Shiv Roy
FISHER STEVENS / Hugo Baker
JEREMY STRONG / Kendall Roy
ZOË WINTERS / Kerry Castellabate

‘The Gilded Age’ Renewed For Season 3 By HBO

The renewal comes just days after the Dec. 17 finale and follows solid ratings for Season 2 of the period drama. Total premiere-night viewing for the season grew for six consecutive weeks, culminating in a series high for the Dec. 17 Season 2 finale, according to HBO.

“We’re so proud of what Julian Fellowes and The Gilded Age family have achieved, said Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films. “From the costumes to the production design and performances, the show has captivated so many week after week. Along with our partners at Universal Television, we are thrilled to continue this grand tale for a third season.”

With its strong performance and a Production Design Emmy win for its first season, The Gilded Age passed a stiff test to earn a renewal.

In May Orsi told Deadline that the network was “having conversations regarding viewership relative to budget” while “assessing” several series, including sophomores Perry Mason, Winning Time, and The Gilded Age. “Each show has a job to do, given the price tag that we give to it, and there’s a viewership. component, and there’s a critical response element to it and, of course, the buzz nature of a show,” she said at the time. “It’s those elements that we are always keeping in mind and discussing relative to whether or not a show will continue.”

Perry Mason and Winning Time were subsequently canceled after two seasons each. The Gilded Age outdrew significantly both of them in viewership and ranks among the most watched HBO series.

Season two of The Gilded Age begins on Easter morning 1883, with the news that Bertha Russell’s bid for a box at the Academy of Music has been rejected. Through the eight episodes of the season, we watch as Bertha challenges Mrs. Astor and the old system and works to not only gain a foothold in Society, but to potentially take a leading role in it. George Russell takes on his own battle with a growing union at his steel plant in Pittsburgh. In the Brook House, Marian continues her journey to find her way in the world secretly teaching at a girls school while much to everyone’s surprise Ada begins a new courtship. Of course, Agnes approves of none of it. In Brooklyn, the Scott family begins to heal from a shocking discovery, and Peggy taps into her activist spirit through her work with T. Thomas Fortune at the NY Globe.

Season 2 cast includes Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Ben Ahlers, Michael Cerveris, Kelley Curran, Taissa Farmiga, Jack Gilpin, Simon Jones, Sullivan Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, Kristine Nielsen, Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Page, Harry Richardson, Taylor Richardson, Blake Ritson, Douglas Sills, Erin Wilhelmi, Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, John Douglas Thompson, Ashlie Atkinson, Laura Benanti, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Christopher Denham, David Furr, Ward Horton, Matilda Lawler and Robert Sean Leonard.

Fellowes serves as creator, writer and executive producer. Gareth Neame executive produces with David Crockett, who directs. Michael Engler, Bob Greenblatt and Salli Richardson-Whitfield executive produce. Sonja Warfield serves as writer/executive producer. The Gilded Age is a co-production between HBO and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

“There is much more story to tell with The Gilded Age. We’re delighted that HBO is giving fans another season of Julian Fellowes’ incredible storytelling,” said Erin Underhill, President, Universal Television. “The cast and crew put so much of their heart and soul into the last two seasons, and we’re so proud that all this hard work is paying off with another season…you won’t want to miss what’s next!”i

‘Origin’ Trailer: Ava DuVernay’s Epic Explores History, Tragedy, Resilience And Love

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor stars as the author in the pic, which hits theaters January 19, 2024 after it world premiered this fall at the Venice Film Festival.

DuVernay wrote, produced and directed the film, which follows journalist Wilkerson, grappling with her own personal tragedy, as she sets herself on a path of global investigation and discovery to write her book. Despite the project’s colossal scope, she finds beauty and bravery while crafting one of the defining American books of our time.

Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, Finn Wittrock, Jasmine Cephas-Jones and Connie Nielsen also star. Paul Garnes and DuVernay produced via her Array Filmworks.

Neon acquired Origin just ahead of its bow in Venice, where DuVernay became the first African-American woman director in competition in the fest’s 80-year history.

Check out the trailer above.

‘Cruel Summer’ & ‘Good Trouble’ Canceled By Freeform

We hear Good Trouble will be given the opportunity to film some additional scenes for a supersized series finale episode to properly wrap up the series. Season 5B premieres on January 2.

The series were Freeform’s last remaining scripted originals following the November cancellation of animated comedy Praise Petey.

Set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest, the final chapter of Cruel Summer followed the rise and fall of an intense teenage friendship. Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twisted and turned as it tracked the early friendship between Megan, Isabella and Megan’s best friend Luke, the love triangle that blossomed, and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.

The series starred Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, Griffin Gluck, KaDee Strickland, Lisa Yamada and Sean Blakemore. Paul Adelstein and Braeden De La Garza recurred.

Cruel Summer hailed from studio eOne and was created by Bert V. Royal. Elle Triedman served as showrunner. Executive producers includedTriedman, Bill Purple, Tia Napolitano and Iron Ocean Productions’ Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple. The series was produced and distributed internationally by eOne.

The Fosters spinoff Good Trouble followed the 20-something residents of the Los Angeles co-living space, The Coterie.

In what now will be the final season, the roommates are set to face their toughest obstacles yet as they’re confronted with evolving relationship challenges and new career opportunities. Through highs and lows, romance and heartbreak, The Coterie crew will lean on each other while they navigate the next stage of adulthood.

The series stars Cierra Ramirez, Tommy Martinez, Emma Hunton, Sherry Cola, Zuri Adele, Josh Pence, Bryan Craig and Booboo Stewart. It is executive produced by Joanna Johnson, Christine Sacani, Greg Gugliotta, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Cierra Ramirez. Johnson also serves as showrunner.&

Black Reel Awards Honorees Include Samuel L. Jackson, Colman Domingo, Shonda Rhimes And Ruth E. Carter

For a third year in a row, the Black Reel Awards will fete a slate of special honorees, awarding the Oscar Micheaux Memorial, Sidney Poitier Trailblazer, Ruby Dee Humanitarian and its Vanguard Award among others. The latter will now be known as the Chadwick Boseman Vanguard Award to honor both the recipient and memory of the prolific Boseman, who died of cancer in 2020 at age 43.

The first Chadwick Boseman Vanguard Award recipient is Colman Domingo, who this year can be seen portraying civil rights leader Bayard Rustin in the Netflix film Rustin and as Mister in the movie musical The Color Purple.

The Black Reel awards committee also this year created the Diahann Carroll Icon Award to recognize outstanding work in television, and will give the inaugural Diahann Carroll Executive Award to Shonda Rhimes. The producer, author and screenwriter is known for her run of successful series including Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Station 19, Bridgerton and more.

The Oscar Micheaux Memorial Award, which recognizes the work of an industry executive, will be awarded this year to costume designer Ruth E. Carter, the only African-American woman to win multiple Oscars. Her credits include Spike Lee projects School Daze, Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X and with Marvel and Ryan Coogler in both of the Black Panther movies.

The Sidney Poitier Trailblazer Award, which recognizes the work of an outstanding actor, will be awarded to Samuel L. Jackson. The Ruby Dee Humanitarian award will be presented to Abbott Elementary star and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph.

“I am pleased to salute the lifelong accomplishments of our 2024 honorees,” Black Reel Awards founder and CEO Tim Gordon said today. “However, I am most proud that our organization has taken the opportunity to honor the legacy left behind by a talent that seemed to be overlooked by others, Chadwick Boseman. The inclusion of his name along with the introduction of the Diahann Carroll award gives me great joy.”

The 24th Annual Black Reel Awards will be broadcast on January 16, 2024.

Shonda Rhimes Says She Was “Sort Of Waiting” To Be Called Out During Strike For Netflix Deal “That Started People Moving Into Streaming”

“You know, I don’t live in LA. So I wasn’t on the picket lines every day. I wasn’t going to lose my job, or my house, or my car, or not be able to pay my kid’s school tuition. But the strike was for those people, for the people who make much less as writers than I do, who are trying to get a living wage. And we’re trying to make sure that their futures are assured.”

During a Q&A at The New York Times DealBook conference, she was asked if she ever worried about being blamed to some extent for moving viewers to Netflix as streaming services (led by Netflix) disrupted the television landscape. Streaming residuals were a big issue in both the writers and actors in the recent strikes. Rhimes was one of the first to sign a major talent deal with the company in 2017, jumping from her longtime home at ABC.

“I will admit that I was sort of waiting for someone to say, ‘You made the first big deal that started people moving into streaming…And therefore, like, this is partially your fault.”

She did not make the move for the money, which was substantial, but for a change and creative freedom. “I’d been making television at one place for such a long time, she said, referencing her long-time home at Disney. “And at the time, I remember The Crown was on Netflix [and] someone was telling me that they spent $12 million an episode on The Crown. And I thought, that’s an insane, amazing…And you could see that they could do things there that you can’t do on [broadcast] television. I liked the challenge of that.”

She recalled a conversation with co-CEO Ted Sarandos “where I said, ‘I just want to make shows and be left alone’.” And she went, followed by Ryan Murphy and others. ”It started a big sort of chain of people moving to streaming.”

On the economics of streaming, she cautioned, “It works for Netflix, but doesn’t work for anybody else.”

Asked what she’s watching, she said, “I’m not watching television….I mean, I encourage everyone to watch Netflix obviously. But I have not watched narrative programming in a while. And I think it’s because I wanted to give my brain a break.” There’s “some really great stuff out there” and she doesn’t want it to influence her projects or writing. “But I also have been watching a lot more documentary programming, sports programming. I don’t know why, but that’s what’s interesting to me right now.”

New celebrity narrators announced for this year’s Candlelight Processional at EPCOT

The theme park announced the next group of storytellers for the EPCOT Candlelight Processional during EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays.

The Candlelight Processional retells the story of Christmas along with a choir, orchestra and the Voices of Liberty.

There will be nine new voices: Chrissy Metz, Luis Fonsi, Ann-Margret, Brendan Fraser, Eva Longoria, Joey McIntyre, Sterling K. Brown, Jordan Fisher and Audra McDonald join the fan-favorite tradition.

Here is the complete schedule:
Chrissy Metz: Nov. 24-Nov. 25
Luis Fonsi: Nov. 26- Nov. 27
Ann-Margret: Nov. 28- Nov. 29
Simu Liu: Nov. 30-Dec. 2
John Stamos: Dec. 3- Dec. 5
Neil Patrick Harris: Dec. 6- Dec. 8
Marlee Matlin: Dec. 9- Dec. 11
Brendan Fraser: Dec. 12- Dec. 14
Eva Longoria: Dec. 15-16
Joey McIntyre: Dec. 17-18
Sterling K. Brown: Dec. 19- Dec. 20
Jordan Fisher: Dec. 21- Dec. 23
Steven Curtis Chapman: Dec. 24- Dec. 26
Audra McDonald: Dec. 27-Dec. 28
Lisa Ling: Dec. 29- Dec. 30

In addition to the Candlelight Processional, Disney World will have a new selection of merchandise, food offerings, beverages and decorations just in time for the holiday festivities at EPCOT.

Shonda Rhimes, Lena Waithe And Matt Bomer To Be Honored At Human Rights Campaign National Dinner

The Oct. 14 event, to take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, also will recognize four transgender kids and teenagers, Grayson McFerrin, Libby Gonzales, Hobbes Chukumba, and Daniel Trujillo, who organized Trans Youth Prom.

Rhimes will be honored with the National Equality Award, Waithe with the Visibility Award and Bomer with the Impact Award.

HRC also is launching a new event as part of the weekend, the Equality Convention, which will take place the night before the dinner. The event will feature political and cultural figures as well as volunteers and other movement leaders to talk about LGBTQ+ equality.

Kelley Robinson, president of HRC, said in a statement that the three honorees “are pioneers in their field and deserve to be celebrated for the immeasurable contributions they’ve made to the LGBTQ+ community.”

In June, HRC declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States, citing the wave of legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights. More than 525 bills were introduced in 41 states in 2023, according to the group.

Taye Diggs Signs With A Management Co. & Global Artists Agency

Diggs can next be seen leading the two-part BET+ film Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy based on the true crime story of businessman Lance Herndon. In the film, Diggs stars as Lance (Diggs), a successful Atlanta businessman, renowned in equal measure for both revolutionizing the city’s 911 system, and his womanizing ways. When he is found murdered in his own home, questions and allegations abound as to who might have wanted him dead.

Diggs also is set to voice King Triton with Amber Riley as Ursula in Ariel, the Disney/Disney Junior animated series.

Other TV credits include the series regular role of Dr. Sam Bennet in Grey’s Anatomy spinoff series Private Practice as well as the TNT serial crime drama Murder in the First as homicide inspector Terry English. He also had recurring roles in Ally McBeal, The West Wing, Will & Grace as Eric McCormack’s boyfriend in the show’s final season, The Good Wife, Rosewood, and Empire as city councilman Angelo Dubois, a love interest for Taraji P. Henson’s character.

Notable film credits include Go, The Wood, The Best Man, House on Haunted Hill, Equilibrium, The Way of the Gun, Brown Sugar, and The Best Man Holiday among others.

Diggs made his film debut in How Stella Got Her Groove Back starring opposite Angela Bassett as her younger love interest Winston Shakespeare. From there, he went on to build a successful career across film, television, and theatre. On the film side, Diggs portrayed The Bandleader in Rob Marshall’s film version of the Broadway musical Chicago. He also reprised the role he originated on Broadway, landlord Benjamin Coffin III, in Chris Columbus’ film version of the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent. He continued his theatre career and went on to appear in Broadway musicals including Chicago, Rent, Wicked, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Diggs has served as a producer on several projects in addition to starring including the critically acclaimed UPN series Kevin Hill in which he plays the title character who juggles work as a lawyer while raising his ten-month-old cousin, and the ABC series Day Break in which Diggs’ Detective Brett Hopper relives the day he is accused of murder to discover the true killer. Diggs has also produced and starred in the films Til Death Do Us Part and Incarnation. He executive produced and hosted two variety specials alongside Ne-Yo and Eric Bellinger titled The Black Pack for The CW which featured music, dance, and comedy. He also executive produced and hosted the Hulu reality dating series Back in the Groove based on Digg’s original starring vehicle.

Diggs is also an author and has penned five children’s books, Mixed Me!, Chocolate Me!, I Love You More Than…, My Friend!, and Why? A Conversation about Race..

‘How I Met Your Father’ Canceled By Hulu After 2 Seasons

News of the decision comes on the heels of Hulu also canceling popular comedy The Great after three seasons, and Disney+ not going forward with two new series and cancelling Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. after two seasons amid companywide streaming content cuts at Disney.

In How I Met Your Father, written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, in the near future, Sophie (Kim Cattrall) is telling her son the story of how she met his father: a story that catapults us back to the year 2021 where Sophie (Hilary Duff) and her close-knit group of friends – Jesse (Chris Lowell), Valentina (Francia Raisa), Charlie (Tom Ainsley), Ellen (Tien Tran) and Sid (Suraj Sharma) — are in the midst of figuring out who they are, what they want out of life, and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps and limitless options.

Aptaker and Berger executive produced alongside HIMYM creators/exec producers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and the original series’ director/exec producer Pam Fryman, as well as Adam Londy. Duff served as a producer. 20th Television was the studio.

A standalone sequel to CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, HIMYF featured cameos by original series stars Cobie Smulders (as Robin Scherbatsky) and Neil Patrick Harris (as Barney Stinson).

Taye Diggs To Voice King Triton With Amber Riley As Ursula In ‘Ariel’ Animated Series

Other Disney Junior programming news made at the event included the lead cast for the channel’s upcoming Ariel animated series, with Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) in the title role, Taye Diggs (Rent) as King Triton and Amber Riley (Glee) as Ursula. In the recent Disney live-action movie The Little Mermaid, the parts were played by Halle Bailey, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy, respectively.

Additionally, Cynthia Erivo, Valerie Bertinelli, Alan Cumming, Susan Kelechi Watson, Ana Gasteyer, Alison Pill and Dulé Hill have been tapped for recurring guest star roles in new animated series RoboGobo.

A stop-motion Halloween special Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats also was announced, along with holiday-themed episodes of Disney Junior’ SuperKitties, Pupstruction, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse‘s successor Mickey Mouse Funhouse as well as Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends. Additionally, there were several premiere date reveals.

The CG animated Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which aired originals from 2006-2016, anchored a Disney Junior – Live On Stage! show at Disney California Adventure.(You can watch the opening theme and the famous Hot Dog Dance closing song below at your own risk.)

Disney Junior is the U.S. linear home of the Australian animated series Bluey, which just notched two consecutive weeks of over 1 billion minutes on Disney+ domestically as the streamer’s most watched program.

“Disney Junior captures the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families everywhere with stories and characters filled with magic, wonder, adventure and heart,” Davis said. “From providing early entry points into classic Disney franchises to introducing brand-new IP that becomes the latest kid obsessions, Disney Junior is always there with infinite opportunities to engage and play.”

DISNEY JUNIOR’S ARIEL — (Premieres 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+)
Produced by: Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior
Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland
Producer: Ezra Edmond
Supervising Director: Kuni Tomita
Art Director: Chrystin Garland
Story Editors: Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner

Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) has been cast in the lead role of Ariel in Disney Junior’s Ariel, an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of “The Little Mermaid.” Broadway, film and television stars Taye Diggs (Rent) and Amber Riley (Glee) will voice King Triton and Ursula in the series, which follows 8-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond. In addition to Harris, Diggs and Riley, the series stars Elizabeth Phoenix Caro (The Christmas Chronicles) and Cruz Flateau (SuperKitties) as Ariel’s friends Lucia and Fernie, respectively, and Gracen Newton (Puppy Dog Pals) as Flounder..

Shonda Rhimes On The Differences Between Working On ABC Versus Netflix; Reveals If Fans Affect Storytelling

“They’re completely different engines,” Rhimes told Vulture in an interview. “ABC was a very powerful, very storied institution. There’s a ton of bureaucracy. The process was you get answered ‘no’ initially and then you have to find your way.”

Rhimes continued, “Even getting Scandal to start what was live-tweeting, they were like, ‘Why would anybody do that? No.’ And then they came around to a ‘yes,’ but we just did it on our own until they saw it. We accomplished a lot in terms of exploring a woman’s right to choose, stuff I thought was just storytelling but turned out to be a real sort of quiet battle on my part to make happen on TV.”

The Shondaland production company founder signed a multi-million deal with Netflix back in 2017, which she extended in 2021 to cover films, gaming and VR content, in addition to TV. As opposed to network television, Rhimes said that “Netflix was a baby in this business” when she started working with them.

“They start with ‘yes’ and then figure out how to make something happen. And the attitude of a place that says ‘yes’ has a lot to do with your enthusiasm for doing the projects,” she added.

In terms of budget between the two, Rhimes said she “was so obsessed with Netflix in the beginning” was because someone told her that The Crown had a budget of $12 million per episode.

“I just couldn’t get over it. That is so much money. Think about what you could do with a much bigger playground,” Rhimes said.

Most of the shows that Rhimes has created drive conversations on social media and with a vocal fan base suggesting ideas of what the characters should do next, things could get tricky. However, the producer and writer doesn’t let fans dictate her creative decisions.

“I think I’m pretty famous for being a person who says I don’t pay attention to fans,” she revealed. “I don’t mean that in a bad way; I mean, the only way I know how to tell a story is to sort of be its keeper, and I therefore can’t take in all the outside influences from people’s reactions to the story. It doesn’t help me in figuring out a way to be creative in my job.”

Tony Award Nominations

Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House

Jodie Comer, Prima Facie

Jessica Hecht, Summer, 1976

Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders

Taye Diggs To Star In True Crime Film Series ‘Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy’ For BET+

Courtney Miller will direct, based on Ron Stodghill’s book Redbone: Money, Malice and Murder in Atlanta. Gregory R. Anderson will pen the script.

Atlanta Playboy follows Lance (Diggs), a successful Atlanta businessman, renowned in equal measure for both revolutionizing the city’s 911 system, and his womanizing ways. When he is found murdered in his own home, questions and allegations abound as to who might have wanted him dead. An investigation into the murder is launched which reveals the truths and suspicions behind Lance’s professional and personal life. Was it a business rival, threatened by Lance’s bid for a big contract? Was it a scorned lover jealous of the place occupied in Lance’s bed? The film, much like the book, reconstructs Lance’s life as told by the various players in it.

“Working in partnership with Mona and her team at Monami Productions to produce this film series is certainly a career highlight. This is the beginning of many collaborations that will emphasize important stories that will be told by an extraordinary producing team. We couldn’t be more excited,” Tomosunas said.

Adds Scott-Young: “I am so excited to collaborate with Swirl Films on our first project, Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy. The film series is a captivating true life crime story that captures the unique culture of Atlanta. BET has always provided a platform for stories that are authentic and relatable and we are proud to be partnered with them on this project.”

Scott-Young and Tomosunas executive produce, and Stodghill serves as co-executive producer with Stephanie R. Gayle of Monami Productions and Abbey MacDonald of Swirl Films. Ron Robinson and Keith Neal of Swirl Films serve as producers.

Brian Rikuda and Devin Griffin also produce. Lorisa Bates and Marvin Neil serve as co-executive Producers. John Baldasare and Noelle Broussard serve as consulting producers all for BET Films.

Taye Diggs guests on S.W.A.T.

WRITTEN BY: Ryan Keleher

DIRECTED BY: Jay Harrington

Lady Gaga And Bruce Cohen To Co-Chair Joe Biden’s Revived President’s Committee On The Arts And Humanities; George Clooney, Jennifer Garner And Shonda Rhimes Among Members

Also on the list for the committee are musician Jon Batiste; Constance M. Carroll, president of the California Community Colleges Baccalaureate Association; actor George Clooney; Harvard professor Philip J. Deloria; M. Angélica Garcia, president of Berkeley City College; actress Jennifer Garner, art historian, museum director and curator Nora Halpern; bookstore owner and former congressman Steve Israel; producer-writer Marta Kauffman; producer Ricky Kirshner; actor Troy Kotsur; Bad Robot Prods. co-CEO Katie McGrath; Laura Penn, executive director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society; artist and educator Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya; author and Stanford Professor Emeritus Arnold Rampersad; producer and author Shonda Rhimes; retired attorney and CPA Kimberly Richter Shirley; educator and journalist Horacio Sierra; writer and actress Anna Deavere Smith; singer-songwriter Joe Walsh; actress, director and producer Kerry Washington; and Pauline Yu, president emerita of the American Council of Learned Sciences.

Biden announced last year that he was reviving the committee, which was disbanded during the presidency of Donald Trump.

The committee, set up in 1982 during Ronald Reagan’s administration, advises the president and heads of cultural agencies on ways to elevate the importance of the arts, including through federal support.

In 2017, remaining Obama-era members of the committee resigned in protest of Trump’s response to the Charlottesville riots. Trump did not renew the executive order for the committee.

Biden issued an executive order in September reviving the committee.

In the order, Biden pledged that his administration would “advance the cultural vitality of the United States by promoting the arts, the humanities, and museum and library services,” including when it comes to advancing equity, accessibility and opportunity. The order also pledges to “strengthen America’s creative and cultural economy, including by enhancing and expanding opportunities for artists, humanities scholars, students, educators, and cultural heritage practitioners, as well as the museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, colleges and universities, and other institutions that support their work.”

A number of the members of the committee have ties to Biden, including as campaign donors and supporters. Along with Stephanie Cutter, Kirschner served as executive producer of Biden’s inaugural. Kaufmann hosted First Lady Jill Biden at her home for a midterm fundraising event in September. Batiste performed at a White House state dinner in December.

During the Obama administration, Cohen also served as the entertainment industry liaison for Joining Forces, the initiative from First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden to support military service members, veterans and their families. Lady Gaga performed at Biden’s inauguration, and traveled with him to support an initiative to address campus sexual assault.

Julianna Margulies, Shonda Rhimes & Andy Cohen Among Celebrities Supporting ‘Let America Read’ Campaign Amid Book Ban Concerns

The initiative comes from CAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), in partnership with the non-partisan group Campaign for Our Shared Future.

“History is clear: good ideas are strengthened through contest, as governments are through debate. Since time immemorial, book banning has been the refuge of leaders who fear that their arguments and writs cannot withstand scrutiny. Its violence is born of weakness. And we are not a weak people – fighting book bans is an act of patriotism and a show of strength,” stated Emmy Award-winning actress, Julianna Margulies.

Between July 2021 and June 2022, 2,571 unique books that fairly address issues of race, gender, and culture in age-appropriate ways were at risk of being banned from classroom and library shelves by state or local officials.

“I am a reader. I think all books have some value, but the life-changing books that have fought for that space in the school Canon of literature, they represent what has been so vital to America. Eli Wiesel’s books and “The Diary of Anne Frank” taught me the importance of never forgetting. And to keep tragedies alive in writing teaches the resilience we have. They went through it and they wrote about it so one day we won’t have to,” stated actress Selma Blair.

States including Florida, Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma, have proposed or passed legislation to eliminate some books. The book titles at risk include Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Beloved”, Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, and “The 1619 Project”, a Pulitzer Prize-winning report from The New York Times on the legacy of slavery in the U.S.

CAA Foundation Executive Deborah Marcus says, “This current wave of book banning in the U.S. is an issue that we all need to be deeply concerned about. Librarians and teachers across the country are being targeted, threatened, and fired for putting books on shelves that are age-appropriate, historically sound, and reflective of society during the time periods in which they were set. The bans and these tactics pose a direct threat to the health of our entire educational ecosystem and to our democracy.”

Campaign for Our Shared Future Executive Director, Heather Harding, Ed.D. added, “Books have the power to introduce us to new places, cultures, and perspectives. But right now students across the country are facing empty bookshelves in their classrooms and school libraries. Books that have been read for generations are being banned by extremists who appoint themselves judge and jury on what’s appropriate for everyone else.”

To learn more about #LetAmericaRead, the dangers of book bans, and actions you can take, visit the website here.

Ava DuVernay’s ‘Caste’ Adds Audra McDonald & Myles Frost

The two join previously announced cast Aunjanue Ellis, who is in the lead role, alongside Niecy Nash, Vera Farmiga, Nick Offerman, Connie Nielsen, Jon Bernthal and Jasmine Cephas-Jones.

Written and directed by DuVernay, she is also producing alongside veteran collaborator Paul Garnes (Selma, Middle of Nowhere) of Array Filmworks.

A bestseller and shortlisted for several awards, Wilkerson’s Caste examines racism in America through the prism of social, economic and cultural delineation and “pillars” of exclusion. Caste has been filming for several weeks in Savannah, GA. The formerly Netflix-attached Caste will move on to shoot in Germany and India later this year.

The feature is financed by J4Am with sales handled by CAA.

McDonald has earned six Tonys, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win in all four acting categories. On TV she starred in A Raisin in the Sun, Private Practice and The Good Fight. Her feature credits include Beauty and the Beast, Respect and The Object of My Affection. In 2016, McDonald was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama. She’s a 2015 Primetime Emmy winner for Outstanding Special Class Program for Live from Lincoln Center.

Frost won the 2022 Tony for his portrayal of Michael Jackson in the Broadway production of MJ the Musical and received a Grammy nomination for the cast recording.

‘Cruel Summer’: Season 2 Of Freeform Anthology Set For Summer 2023 Release

The cast includes Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, Griffin Gluck, KaDee Strickland, Lisa Yamada and Sean Blakemore. Paul Adelstein will recur. Freeform hasn’t given a specific release date for the season yet.

Set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest, the next chapter of Cruel Summer follows the rise and fall of an intense teenage friendship. Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twists and turns as it tracks the early friendship between Megan, Isabella and Megan’s best friend Luke, the love triangle that blossomed, and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.

The first season of Cruel Summer, which quickly became Freeform’s highest-rated series to date, debuted in April 2021. The story followed two young women: Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), the popular girl with a charmed life who one day goes missing, and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelias), the nerdy wannabe who is accused of being connected to Kate’s disappearance. All signs point to Jeanette’s guilt, but is Kate really who she seems to be? Set over three summers and told through shifting points of view, the series challenges perception and follows how one girl can go from being a sweet outlier to the most despised person in America.

Cruel Summer hails from studio Entertainment One (eOne) and was created by Bert V. Royal. Elle Triedman serves as showrunner. Executive producers include Triedman, Bill Purple, Tia Napolitano and Iron Ocean Productions’ Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple. The series is distributed internationally by eOne.

‘All American’ Renewed For Season 6 At The CW; Marks First Scripted Deal Under New Owners

The network has handed an early sixth season renewal to the drama series, marking the first scripted renewal after Nexstar took ownership earlier this year.

All American, which was The CW’s number one linear series in adult 18-49, most-watched series on digital and the largest show in total audience across all platforms, will launch its fifth season on January 23.

It will then return for season six in the 2023-24 broadcast season.

Deadline understands the series, which comes from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Studios, will continue to be produced in line with its previous seasons. This comes despite talk that the network is looking to cut budgets for scripted orders and floating a target license fee for drama series of $1 million dollar per episode going forward.

The move also marks the first renewal since the hire of Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment.

It bucks a trend where a large number of The CW’s scripted shows are coming to an end including DC’s Stargirl, The Flash, Riverdale and Nancy Drew.

Season five kicks off when Laura (Monet Mazur) throws Billy (Taye Diggs) a surprise birthday party, everyone comes together to roast Billy, but Billy has a looming decision hanging over his head. Spencer (Daniel Ezra) makes an effort to do what’s best for himself, hoping it helps Olivia (Samantha Logan) and him take a step towards moving on. Jayme (guest star Miya Horcher) offers some sage advice to Asher (Cody Christian) about his speech with JJ (Hunter Clowdus), but she ignores her own about watching out for red flags. Meanwhile, Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) and Layla (Greta Onieogou) get in their first fight over something neither of them could have predicted.

All American is exec produced by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, John A. Norris, Jameal Turner, Mike Herro and David Strauss.

“Over the last five seasons, All American has established itself as one of the all-time CW flagship franchises,” said Schwartz. “All American is not only the network’s youngest series, but also the strongest performer when combining all our platforms. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, the entire creative team and the incredible cast for another season of captivating family drama.”

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