(4/5/24) Sandrine Holt (House of Cards) and Corbin Bernsen (The Curse) have been tapped for recurring roles on Your Friends and Neighbors, Apple’s new drama series created by Jonathan Tropper, which is based on his original idea.

The duo’s roles are under wraps. As previously announced, Jon Hamm leads the cast, which also includes Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Lena Hall, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Aimee Carrero, Isabel Gravitt and Donovan Colan.

The show centers on Coop (Hamm), a recently divorced hedge fund manager who, after being fired, resorts to stealing from the wealthy residents in his tony upstate New York suburb in order to keep his family’s lifestyle afloat. These petty crimes begin to reinvigorate him until he breaks into the wrong house at the wrong time.

Hailing from Apple Studios, the series’ showrunner is Tropper, who exec produces under his overall deal with Apple TV+. Hamm also exec produces alongside Connie Tavel (Confess, Fletch). Craig Gillespie, the Emmy nominee in talks to helm DC’s Supergirl, as we were first to report, will direct the first two episodes, with Greg Yaitanes and Stephanie Laing to helm three apiece.

A series regular on The Crossing, Hostages, and MacGyver, Holt has previously recurred on series including American Gigolo, Better Call Saul, The Expanse, Homeland, House of Cards, The L Word and 24, among many others. Up next, she’ll be seen starring in David Cronenberg’s horror thriller The Shrouds.

Most recently recurring as Emma Stone’s father on Showtime’s The Curse, Bernsen’s also recurred on series like Showtime’s City on a Hill, CBS’s Tommy, Marvel’s The Punisher, Showtime’s Billions, CBS’s Magnum P.I., and Fox’s The Resident. Up next, he’ll be seen recurring on Max’s Duster and FX’s Donald Sterling series Clipped opposite Ed O’Neill.

Holt is repped by IAG, Agence Adequat in France, and Strand Entertainment; Bernsen by Paradigm and Randy James Management.

‘The Weight Of Darkness’: Angus Macfadyen, Jaime King, Doug Jones, Corbin Bernsen & Angus Benfield Sign On For Indie Thriller

(4/1/24) Angus Macfadyen (Braveheart), Jaime King (Sin City), Doug Jones (The Shape of Water), Corbin Bernsen (LA Law) and Angus Benfield (Inventing Anna) have signed on to star in action-thriller The Weight of Darkness, directed by Mark Furmie (Terminus).

Sean Rainwater and Furmie penned the script, with Benfield and Simone Bonser aboard to produce. LAMA Entertainment Studios will arrange financing and represent U.S rights. The film marks the first collaboration for LAMA Entertainment and Furmie’s Rezistor.

The film centers around Mark Besson (Benfield), a psychiatrist trying to encourage reform in the public health system. He is offered a helping hand from John Gatlin (Jones), a favorite mayoral candidate, with an interest in supporting Mark’s vision. But Mark’s world is soon rocked by tragedy when his young daughter Emma goes missing at a social event for victims of PTSD. Despite the efforts of the Sheriff Eli Watson (Bernson) and his deputy, Emma remains missing.

Mark’s estranged brother, Jim (Macfadyen), a church pastor, agrees to help an undocumented mother find her missing daughter, leading him to unravel a shadowy conspiracy that may lead to Emma’s whereabouts. The Besson brothers are soon forced to face the demons of their past, reconcile their differences and unite to find both children, uncovering a sinister underworld of unspeakable evil in the process.

Shooting for The Weight of Dakness is currently underway in Los Angeles.

Jennifer Leak Dies: ‘Yours, Mine And Ours’ Actress And Soap Star For ‘The Guiding Light’, ‘The Young And The Restless’ And ‘Another World’ Was 76

(3/28/24) Jennifer Leak, the first wife of Tim Matheson who met when they played step-siblings in the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours, has died at 76. She died March 18 at her home in Jupiter, Florida,

Leak was dealing with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disease, in her final years.

Matheson posted a tribute on Facebook to her.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leak’s passing. She wasn’t just my screen sister in ‘Yours, Mine and Ours,’ but also my beloved first wife. Jennifer was a remarkable woman, strong, lovely, and incredibly talented. My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James D’Auria, and their multitude of friends.”

Yours, Mine and Ours featured Matheson as Mike, the son of Henry Fonda’s Frank Beardsley, while Leak portrayed Colleen, the daughter of Lucille Ball’s Helen North. The movie was about a blended family of 18 children.

Leak was born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1947, and started her screen career with the Mike Nichols-directed pilot for Wojeck in the mid-1960s. She later was cast in Nichols’ The Graduate, but had to drop out because of immigration complications.

Leak’s was also a soap operas regular. She played Gwen Sherman on The Young and the Restless, Olive Springer Gordon Randolph on Another World, and Blanche Bouvier on Guiding Light.

Leak had largely retired from screen acting by the mid-1980s, working as a sales agent for a real estate company.

She was married to Matheson from 1968 to 1971, and wed D’Auria in 1977. She is survived by her husband and brother.

Lori McCreary & Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment Prepping ‘Ear Hustle’ Docuseries Based On Prison Life Podcast

(3/21/24) Lori McCreary and Morgan Freeman‘s Revelations Entertainment is partnering with the podcast Ear Hustle — part of the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX — on a docuseries adaptation.

Co-hosted by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, Ear Hustle launched in 2017 as the first podcast created and produced in prison. A two-time Peabody Awards finalist, National Magazine Awards finalist, and Pulitzer Prize finalist downloaded more than 78 million times, the show is made by a team both inside and out of San Quentin State Prison in California, traversing stories such as finding romance, grappling with a life sentence, trying to parent via 15-minute phone calls, getting out and starting over, and beyond.

With the series to be directed by Erika Cohn, the two-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker behind New York Times Critics Pick Belly of the Beast, Revelations aims to capture authentic, raw and surprising stories of prison life by delving even deeper into narratives that have resonated with listeners worldwide.

Cohn will also serve as an executive producer, along with James Younger, McCreary, and Kelly Mendelsohn for Revelations Entertainment. Poor and Woods will also serve as executive producers.

Renowned for its commitment to elevating under-served voices, Revelations was behind the hit series Madam Secretary as well as films like the award-winning Invictus and 5 Flights Up. Accolades include an Emmy nomination for The Story of God, three Emmy noms for Through the Wormhole, a Peabody Award for the ESPN 30 for 30 episode “The 16th Man,” and an Academy Award nomination for Freeman in the film Invictus.

Freeman, McCreary, and Revelations are represented by CAA and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

Christian Slater, Lucas Hedges & John Cameron Mitchell In Industry Reading Cast For Will Arbery Play ‘You Hateful Things’

(3/12/24) An invitation-only industry presentation of You Hateful Things, a new play by Will Arbery directed by Simon Stone, will be held this week in New York, with a cast including Christian Slater, Amandla Stenberg, Jakeem Powell, John Cameron Mitchell, Lucas Hedges and Myha’la.

The reading was announced by producers Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play) and Josh Godfrey. The reading will be presented on Thursday, March 14, at New York’s Pearl Studios.

The play’s synopsis: “In You Hateful Things, Dad keeps all of his weirdness in a big box, and today we’re opening it.”

In addition to their film careers, Slater has appeared on Broadway six times, most recently in 2005’s The Glass Menagerie; Hedges starred in 2018’s The Waverly Gallery; and Mitchell created and starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Powell is best known for his performance in Harris’ Slave Play, while Myha’la recently appeared in Leave the World Behind and Amandla Stenberg’s appeared in Bodies Bodies Bodies.

The industry presentation will be directed by Simon Stone, with Mark Shacket as Executive Producer.

Malachy McCourt Dies: ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Actor, Brother Of ‘Angela’s Ashes’ Author Frank McCourt Was 92

(3/11/24) Malachy McCourt, the Irish-American actor, raconteur and author best known to TV audiences for his long-running role as Kevin the bartender on ABC’s soap Ryan’s Hope, died today in Manhattan after battling a heart condition and cancer. He was 92.

His death was announced by his wife Diana McCourt to The New York Times.

The brother of Pulitzer Prize-winning Angela’s Ashes memoirist Frank McCourt, Malachy McCourt left an indelible mark on New York City’s Irish American community. As the owner of the quintessential 1950s Irish pub Malachy’s on Third Avenue in Manhattan – McCourt would often call it the city’s first singles bar, since he welcomed unaccompanied women to the establishment – the Brooklyn native became one of the city’s great story-tellers, regaling patrons from longshoremen to the actor Richard Harris with blarney, rugby talk and biographical anecdotes.

His way with words would hold him in good stead through a wide-ranging career path that included acting, writing, talk-show hosting and politics.

Born Malachy Gerard McCourt in Brooklyn on September 20, 1931, McCourt and his siblings were uprooted by parents Malachy and Angela McCourt to Limerick, Ireland. When his alcoholic father, a former member of the IRA, deserted the family after two years, leaving mother Angela to raise four of their surviving seven children in poverty, a harrowing tale detailed in Frank McCourt’s 1996 memoir Angela’s Ashes. (Frank McCourt died in 2009)

Malachy McCourt, who returned to New York at age 20, would later write his own memoirs including A Monk Swimming (1998), an account of his life in Limerick that picks up where Angela’s Ashes leaves off, and in 2000, Singing My Him Song, which recounts his later (sober) life as a husband and father. Other writing includes a history of the Irish ballad “Danny Boy.”

An occasional guest on Jack Paar’s Tonight Show and sometime host of New York radio programs, McCourt also acted on stage (he co-wrote and co-starred in A Couple of Blaguards with brother Frank); movies The Molly Maguires (1970), The Brink’s Job (1978), Brewster’s Millions (1985), Starman (1987), and The Devil’s Own (1997), among others; and such TV series as Oz, Tales of the Unexpected and Remember WENN.

McCourt appeared on numerous New York-based soaps, including One Life To Live, Search For Tomorrow and Another World, but will best be remember for his annual Christmas appearances on All My Children as the possibly angelic Father Clarence and, most especially, in the recurring role of bartender Kevin MacGuinness throughout the entire 14-year run of Ryan’s Hope.

Bringing a outsized touch of Irish authenticity to the Washington Heights-set soap, McCourt’s Kevin was best friend to bar owner Johnny Ryan (Bernie Barrow) and truth-telling thorn-in-side to the trouble-making family in-law Delia (Ilene Kristen). In all, McCourt appeared in 217 episodes of the 1975-1989 series.

Offscreen, McCourt waged a high-profile, if ultimately losing, political battle in 2006 when he ran for governor of New York as a Green Party candidate. An outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, McCourt was an early and vociferous proponent of allowing gay and lesbian groups to march in New York’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

In addition to wife Diana, McCourt is survived by daughter Siobhan McCourt; sons Malachy Jr., Conor and Cormac; stepdaughter Nina Galin; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson. e

Talk Show Appearance

(3/7/24) The Talk - CBS

Monday, March 11

Actor Marg Helgenberger (CSI: VEGAS)

Julia Stiles Wraps On Directorial Debut ‘Wish You Were Here’; Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Grey, Kelsey Grammer & More Star

(2/23/24) Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actress Julia Stiles has wrapped production on her directorial debut, Wish You Were Here, based on the bestseller by Renee Carlino. The cast includes Isabelle Fuhrman (The Novice), Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Jimmie Fails (The Last Black Man in San Francisco), Gabby Kono (Magic Carpet Rides), Jennifer Grey (A Real Pain) and Kelsey Grammer (Frasier).

Adapted for the screen by Stiles, the film tells the story of Charlotte, a woman who finds herself in a rut, searching for a spark that seems just out of reach. After she has a whirlwind night of romance and imagining a future with a man named Adam, he ghosts her. But when Charlotte finally discovers that Adam is terminally ill, she helps him spend his last days living life to the fullest.

In a statement to Deadline, Stiles shared that she’s “been looking for years for the right story to tell” as director, “and finally found it here. Wish You Were Here is a love story that explores what it means to be human, all the laughter and tears that remind us we are alive.”

Fuhrman shared that she watched Julia pen the script while the pair were at work on horror sequel Orphan: First Kill in 2020. “When she called me to be her lead I was so grateful,” the actress said. “Watching her create her own romance film- a genre she knows better than anyone else- has really inspired me.”

In addition to Phiphen’s founder, award-winning producer Molly Conners (Birdman, Frozen River), producers on the film include Amanda Bowers (Phiphen), Kono, Rick Dugdale (Enderby), Jane Sinisi (Phiphen), Siena Oberman (Artemis), and Gary Leff (Southland Securities) as exec producer.

Rising to prominence in the late ’90s and early ‘2000s as the star of films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Stiles’ most recent projects in front of the camera include the rom-com Chosen Family with Heather Graham, Prime Video dramedy The Lake, Orphan: First Kill, and indie The God Committee opposite Grammer. Previously, she’s also been seen in the Bourne franchise led by Matt Damon, as well as such acclaimed titles as Hustlers, Silver Linings Playbook, Hamlet and more.

Stiles’ lead, Fuhrman, is best known for starring in the Orphan films, as well as the rowing drama The Novice, which won her the prize for Best Actress at the Tribeca Festival. Also previously seen in Showtime’s Masters of Sex and The Hunger Games, her next big project coming to theaters is Kevin Costner’s two-partner Horizon: An American Saga.

Fuhrman is represented by UTA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Massoud by Gersh, Link Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Fails by Anonymous Content and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; Kono by Untitled Entertainment and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Grey by UTA and Untitled Entertainment; Grammer by UTA and Vault Entertainment; and Stiles by Gersh, Untitled Entertainment and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.d

‘Frasier’ Scores Season 2 Renewal At Paramount+

(2/22/24) Kelsey Grammer is bringing back more laughs as Frasier has been renewed for a second season at Paramount+. Season 2 will continue to film in front of a live studio audience at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

The series follows Frasier Crane (Grammer)—a character that originated in NBC’s Cheers— in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships, and – with hope – finally fulfill an old dream or two.

Frasier also stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy, Frasier’s son; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Freddy’s roommate; and Anders Keith as David, Frasier’s nephew. Season one featured guest appearances from original series cast, including Bebe Neuwirth and Peri Gilpin.

“Fraiser is a love story, and I am very happy we will be allowed to continue it. I’m delighted that our partners at CBS Studios and Paramount+ are on board for another season, and I can’t wait for the fans to see what we have in store!” said Grammer in a statement.

Although Cheers co-creator James Burrows has confirmed the legendary bar from the mothership series is retired for good, Grammer has ideas on how to bring back an additional two prior castmates: Ted Danson as Sam Malone and Shelley Long as Diane Chambers.

“The relationship with Diane is something that still gnaws at [Frasier] a little bit because he felt like he failed at it,” Grammer told Deadline on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards in January. “It would be nice if they acknowledge one another… ‘I’m glad you did ok.’”

He added, “It would only happen if it’s important to Frasier’s development as a human being.”

Similarly, he addressed what it would take for a reunion with Danson in this universe.

“If Sam Malone is still alive and has a vital connection of making Frasier move to another place,” Grammer teased.

Although fans of the original Frasier would love to see David Hyde Pierce back as Frasier’s brother Niles, that return seems more impossible. In December, Pierce revealed he has moved on and enjoying his time working on stage and other new projects. However, the Crane legacy continues via his son Freddy Crane, portrayed by Jack Cutmore-Scott.

Frasier for Paramount+ hails from writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, who executive produce with Kelsey Grammer, Tom Russo and Jordan McMahon. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Grammer’s Grammnet NH Productions. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of the Paramount+ markets.n

‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Teaser Trailer: First Look At Christian Slater & Joy Bryant In Fantasy Series

(2/21/24) (Video) Roku has released the first trailer for The Spiderwick Chronicles, ahead of the fantasy series’ April launch.

“This town is full of stories,” says Christian Slater‘s’ Mulgarath as he sets the scene at the beginning of the teaser. “Some are darker than others. What kind of creatures are lurking inside Spiderwick?”

Per the series official logline: Helen and her children, 15-year-old fraternal twins Jared and Simon and their sister Mallory move to their ancestral home, Spiderwick. Jared discovers a boggart and realizes that magical creatures are real! The only one to believe him is his great-aunt Lucinda who implores Jared to find the pages of her father’s field guide to magical creatures and protect them from the murderous Ogre, Mulgarath.

Roku picked up the exclusive U.S. rights to the television adaptation of the popular children’s fantasy books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black after Disney+ opted not to move forward with the series.

Joy Bryant, Noah Cottrell, Lyon Daniels, Mychala Lee, Jack Dylan Grazer also star.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is executive produced by Aron Eli Coleite and Kat Coiro, also also serve as showrunners, along with Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, D.J. Goldberg, Julie Kane-Ritsch and Grace Gilroy. The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television.

All eight episodes will be available for streaming on The Roku Channel beginning April 19.

Watch the trailer above and see the new key art here.

Morgan Freeman Accepts Auburn Player’s Apology For Laying Of Hands

(2/4/24) After slapping away a hand he thought belonged to a rival’s fan, Auburn basketballer Johni Broome realized he had to get right with God — aka actor Morgan Freeman, who memorably played the deity in the film Bruce Almighty.

Broome tried to save a ball from going out of bounds in the second half of Auburn’s game against Ole Miss when someone in the front row grabbed his jersey.

Thinking it was an Ole Miss fan trying to rattle him, Broome brushed the person’s arm away.

Broome turned and quickly realized it was Freeman, the Academy Award-winning actor who is a big Mississippi fan and attends many Rebels games.

“I kind of got his hand off,” Broome later told reporters. “I saw who it was and I’m a big movie guy. I probably watched one of his movies on the plane coming here.

“But I realized it was him and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m a big fan. I’m sorry.’ He said, ‘Just keep playing.’”

Broome went back over to Freeman during the game.

“I’m just like, ‘I’m sorry, again,’” Broome said. “He said, ‘You all good. Just keep playing.’ He’s a very good guy. Love him.”

Auburn won the game. Broome won absolution.

31st Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Award Nominees

(1/24/24) Movieguide has revealed the nominees for its 31st Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala, taking place on February 9 at the Avalon Theatre in Hollywood.

GRACE PRIZE FOR MOVIE PERFORMANCE

BIG GEORGE FOREMAN
Khris Davis
Forest Whitaker

JESUS REVOLUTION
Kelsey Grammer
Joel Courtney
Anna Grace Barlow

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM
Fiona Palomo
Joel Smallbone

ON A WING AND A PRAYER
Dennis Quaid

GRACE PRIZE FOR TELEVISION PERFORMANCE

A THOUSAND TOMORROWS: Episode 1.1-1.3
Rose Reid

DIVINE INFLUENCER
Jason Burkey

A CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Lori Loughlin
Jesse Hutch

For Older News Visit The Daytime Soap Operas News Archives: Here!

<![if lt IE 4]> <script src="http://ab139437.servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=139437;size=300x250;setID=129179;type=js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://ab139437.servedbyadbutler.com/go2/;ID=139437;size=300x250;setID=129179"> <img src="http://ab139437.servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=139437;size=300x250;setID=129179;type=img;tP=1" border="0" height="250" width="300" alt=""></a> </noscript><![endif]>

Facts

The young heroine of the show, Mary Ryan Fenelli, was based on one of the show’s writers, Mary Ryan was Kate Mulgrew, who is currently on Star Trek: Voyager.
Working titles: "City Hospital" and "A Rage to Love"
The original cast consisted of Nancy Addison Altman, Bernard Barrow, Faith Catlin, Justin Deas, Michael Fairman, John Gabriel, Helen Gallagher, Michael Levin, Malcolm Groome, Rosalinda Guerra, Ron Hale, Michael Hawkins, Earl Hindman, Ilene Kristen, Frank Latimore, Kate Mulgrew, Hannibal Penney, Jr., and Diana van der Vlis

Options

Other Shows

Non-Soap Polls

Other Sites

Sponsors

News & Cast Updates

Sandrine Holt & Corbin Bernsen Join Apple’s ‘Your Friends And Neighbors’ As Recurring