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Lifetime To Air ’80s Themed Holiday Movie With Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Linda Gray, Donna Mills & Nicollette Sheridan

(10/3/23) (Photo1, Photo2) Holy high waisted jeans! Lifetime has a big ’80s themed surprise in store for the holidays.

As the tentpole for its holiday movie slate, Lifetime will air Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas, a festive romp starring Loni Anderson (WKRP in Cincinnati), Morgan Fairchild (Falcon Crest), Linda Gray (Dallas), Donna Mills (Knots Landing) and Nicollette Sheridan (Knots Landing).

Filmed earlier this year, the movie follows five soap opera divas as they reunite to shoot the final Christmas episode of their long-running sudser. The producer, Alex (Travis Burns) and director Nell (Taylor Ann Thompson), who happen to be old college friends, do their best to keep things on the rails but as the ladies come together, old rivalries resurface that threaten to tear the production apart. With the show nearly canceled before it even begins due to the ladies’ famous diva behavior, they reluctantly agree to set aside their differences and past secrets to “act” as if they all still love each other. When old sparks reignite between Alex and Nell, the ladies become eager to play cupid and conspire to bring the couple together.

Naturally, they all learn the meaning of Christmas at the same time.

Eighties’ heartthrob Christopher Atkins, along with Patrika Darbo, Alec Mapa and Donna Mills’ real-life daughter, Chloe Mills, also star. The movie’s theme song Ladies of the 80’s was written by Song Writer Hall of Fame’s Steve Dorff and Michael Jay and is performed by 80’s pop sensation Tiffany (I Think We’re Alone Now).

“The opportunity to bring together Donna, Morgan, Loni, Linda and Nicollette, five powerhouse women into one holiday movie, has been like finding the perfect gift under the Christmas tree,” said executive producer Larry A. Thompson (Liz & Dick, Amish Grace).

An airdate will be announced in the coming weeks, along with the rest of the channel’s It’s a Wonderful Lifetime holiday movie slate.

Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas is executive produced for Lifetime by Thompson. Christie Will Wolf (Christmas on Candy Cane Lane, The Art of Passion) directs from a script by James Berg & Stan Zimmerman (The Golden Girls, Gilmore Girls) with Robert G. Endara II and Ed Polgardy producing..

Kevin Bacon Urges “Let’s Make A Deal” In Ongoing Strikes As He Unveils ‘Six Degrees’ Podcast

(9/5/23) Kevin Bacon addressed the ongoing dual Hollywood strikes today as he unveiled his new podcast Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon.

In an interview on Today show where he announced the podcast, Bacon was asked about the current status of the strikes and a response to those who would say it’s about rich actors who just want to make more money.

“In terms of rich actors, a very small percentage of our union is doing very, very well. Most of the people are living hand-to-mouth, those are the people that we are striking for,” Bacon said. “My situation is not the same as the majority of our union. When it comes to writers and actors, we are artists, so all of our membership are artists so if you do well you get to make your art. On the other side, they’re dealmakers, so if they do well, they get to make a deal. So let’s make a deal, let’s get it done.”

Bacon announced his new podcast Six Degrees Tuesday, in celebration of International Day of Charity, in which he “will encourage listeners to make a difference in the world around them and will help them to lean in, learn and be inspired to act.”

In each weekly episode, Bacon chats with his celebrity connections about their lives, passion projects and favorite charitable causes. Every episode also features the changemakers behind the charitable organizations, who share inspirational stories about their efforts to motivate and?bring about positive change in their communities.

Upcoming guests include Mark Ruffalo (The Solutions Project), Matthew McConaughey?(Just Keep Livin’),?Penn Badgley?(Tahirih Justice Center),?Idina Menzel?(A BroaderWay),? Alyssa Milano?(UNICEF),?Jewel?(Inspiring Children’s Foundation), Ron Funches?(School on Wheels), among others.

The podcast is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures and in collaboration with iHeartPodcasts and Bacon’s nonprofit SixDegrees.org.

Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon is executive produced by Bacon, Stacy Huston, Coltan Gibby, SixDegrees.org and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television. It’s distributed by?iHeartPodcasts and is available now on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcasting platforms. Episodes will be released weekly each Tuesday.

Y&R Alum Joins Bold & Beautiful

(7/17/23) Michael Corbett (ex-David Kimball, The Young and the Restless) will appear on CBS’ The Bold and The Beautiful beginning Friday, July 21 as the judge presiding over Sheila’s high stakes court hearing.

Catch up with Two-time Emmy Award-winner Michael Corbett

(7/10/23) (Watch here) Two-time Emmy Award-winner Michael Corbett will be live in The Locher Room on Tuesday, July 18th at a special time, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT to discuss some exciting new projects he’s been working on.

Michael is best known to CBS daytime viewers for his long run as villain David Kimball on “The Young and the Restless.” He recently took part in the celebration honoring the 50th anniversary of the show. Voted “Daytime’s Most Lovable Cad” by People Magazine, Corbett has also starred in the daytime dramas in “Ryan’s Hope” (ABC) and “Search for Tomorrow (NBC).

A two-time Emmy and Broadway World Best Actor Award winner, Corbett is also a host/correspondent for the syndicated entertainment newsmagazine “Extra” and senior producer and host for “Extra’s Mansions and Millionaires.” Starting his career on Broadway, he is a seasoned actor and has starred in numerous television series including “Zoey 101,” which is being re-booted as “Zoey 102” on Paramount+ this fall. He is also currently the executive producer of Netflix’s “Life After Death with Tyler Henry.”

Michael also just finished filming a role in the upcoming Season 2 of the popular web series, “The Disappointments.”

Vince Vaughn To Topline Stephen Chbosky Comedy ‘Nonnas’; Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro & Linda Cardellini Among Others Set

(7/10/23) Vince Vaughn (Bad Monkey) will topline Nonnas, an original comedy that Stephen Chbosky (Wonder) has been tapped to direct for Fifth Season (80 for Brady), 1Community (Just Mercy) and Madison Wells (The Eyes of Tammy Faye).

Among those joining Vaughn in the film, which wrapped production last month in New Jersey, are Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon (Blue Beetle) and Academy Award nominees Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Talia Shire (Megalopolis) and Brenda Vaccaro (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Others in the cast include Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Emmy winner Drea De Matteo (The Sopranos), Joe Manganiello (The Kill Room), Michael Rispoli (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) and Campbell Scott (Jurassic World Dominion).

Written by Liz Maccie (Siren, A Loud House Christmas), Nonnas is based on the true story of Brooklyn native Joe Scaravella (Vaughn), who, after losing his beloved mother, realizes he’s wasted time as a single man at a dead-end job and yearns for a second chance at life. Motivated by his Italian mother’s love of cooking, but with no culinary experience and dwindling funds, he opens a restaurant unlike any other by hiring the most unlikely team of chefs — one consisting of grandmothers.

Italian nonnas make their Sunday dinners every day of the week (except Christmas and Easter) for anyone who needs to feel at home. Joe finds a new purpose, community and love interest (Cardellini) in the process, and, along with the nonnas, discovers it’s never too late to start again.

Nonnas reunites Fifth Season and 1Community following their work together on the NAACP Image Award-winning Bryan Stevenson biopic Just Mercy, starring Michael B. Jordan. In partnership with Maccie, Madison Wells and Boat Rocker’s Matador Content began developing the project after purchasing Scaravella’s life rights.

Fifth Season is co-financing the film with 1Community and Madison Wells, with Madison Wells producing alongside Boat Rocker’s Matador Content (Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields). Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane are producing for Madison Wells, alongside Jack Turner for Matador Content. Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla are exec producing for 1Community, with executive Gabby Nowack overseeing. Also on board to exec produce are Vaughn, as well as Jay Peterson and Todd Lubin for Matador Content. Fifth Season and WME are repping worldwide distribution rights.

Accompanying the release of Nonnas will be a social impact campaign put on by the production and co-finance company 1Community, which will aim to protect and strengthen “the programs that help us age well.”

Recently wrapping production on the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey from Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence, Vaughn is next set to star alongside Al Pacino, Michelle Monaghan and Simon Rex in the drama Easy’s Waltz from True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto. Other upcoming projects for the actor include Legendary’s live-action/animation hybrid Animal Friends with Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa and Aubrey Plaza, and a sequel to his 2004 comedy Dodgeball now in development, as we were first to report.

Most recently appearing in the multi-generational rom-com Maybe I Do and on Fox’s Monarch, Sarandon will next be seen in Marvel’s Blue Beetle and Tyler Perry’s Netflix WWII pic Six Triple Eight.

Known for iconic roles in Goodfellas, The Sopranos and more, Bracco will be seen coming up in the David Henrie film Boys of Summer with Mel Gibson and the thriller Rich Flu with Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

An alum of the Rocky and Godfather franchises, Shire is part of the ensemble of Francis Ford Coppola’s self-financed, forthcoming epic, Megalopolis.

Previously seen in films ranging from Midnight Cowboy to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Vaccaro was most recently on Max’s And Just Like That….

Cardellini starred opposite Christina Applegate on the recently wrapped Netflix series Dead to Me and was most recently seen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Best known for her role as Adriana La Cerva on The Sopranos, De Matteo’s recent credits include A Million Little Things and Shades of Blue.

Seen of late in Magic Mike’s Last Dance and on series like Mythic Quest and Moonhaven, Manganiello will next be seen in the thriller The Kill Room with Samuel L. Jackson, Maya Hawke and Uma Thurman.

An alum of films like The Rum Diary, While You Were Sleeping and Kick-Ass, Rispoli’s recent credits include the series Power Book III: Raising Kanan, The Offer and The Deuce.

Perhaps best known for a weighty role on Netflix’s House of Cards, Scott’s recent credits include Jurassic World Dominion, WeCrashed and Billions.

The writer and director of the acclaimed films Dear Evan Hansen, Wonder and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, who also exec produced the latter, Chbosky additionally contributed to the scripts for Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and Rent, and co-created CBS’ Jericho.

Vaughn is represented by WME, Range Media Partners and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Sarandon by UTA; Bracco by A3 Artists Agency and Circle of Confusion; Shire by Sovereign Talent Group; Vaccaro by Arlene Thornton & Associates; Cardellini by CAA, Mosaic and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; De Matteo by Untitled Entertainment; Manganiello by CAA and Myman Greenspan Fox; Rispoli by Gersh and Principal Entertainment LA; Scott by CAA and KMR Talent; Chbosky by WME and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; and Maccie by Gersh, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobsen, Teller.eh

Kevin Bacon To Star In Horror Action Series ‘The Bondsman’ For Amazon From Grainger David & Blumhouse TV

(6/29/23) Kevin Bacon is fronting another television series.

The Following and City on a Hill star is to lead genre action series The Bondsman for Amazon’s Prime Video.

The drama, which scored a straight-to-series order, comes from creator Grainger David, whose short film The Chair screen in competition for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and Blumhouse Television.

It is a return to Amazon for Bacon, who starred in I Love Dick.

Erik Oleson, who was showrunner for the second season of Amazon’s Carnival Row, will serve as showrunner on the half-hour, eight-episode series, via his CrimeThink production company, which has a deal at the streamer.

The Bondsman is centered on Hub Halloran (Bacon), a backwoods bounty hunter who comes back from the dead with an unexpected second chance at life, and love, and a nearly-forgotten musical career — only to find that his old job now has a demonic new twist.

It is based on an original idea from David.

Production will not start until labor negotiations are resolved.

David will exec produce alongside Bacon, Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold and Chris Dickie for Blumhouse Television and Paul Shapiro for CrimeThink.

It is Blumhouse’s latest series for Amazon as well, the company is behind horror dramedy The Horror of Dolores Roach, which launches on July 7.

Bacon is represented by MGMT, Viewpoint and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole and David is represented by Grandview and Cohen Gardner.

2024 Hollywood Walk Of Fame Honorees

(6/26/23) In the category of Motion Pictures: Chadwick Boseman (posthumous),Kevin Feige, Gal Gadot, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Chris Meledandri, Chris Pine, Christina Ricci and Michelle Yeoh

In the category of Television: Ken Jeong, Eugene Levy, Mario Lopez, Jim Nantz, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Michael Schur, Kerry Washington and Raúl De Molina and Lili Estefan, co-hosts of the television show "El Gordo y La Flaca" (double ceremony)

In the category of Recording: Glen Ballard, Toni Braxton, DEF LEPPARD, Charles Fox, Sammy Hagar, Brandy Norwood, Darius Rucker, Gwen Stefani and Andre "Dr. Dre" Young

In the category of Live Theatre/Live Performance: Jane Krakowski and Otis Redding (posthumous)

In the category of Radio: Angie Martinez

In the category of Sports Entertainment: Billie Jean King and Carl Weathers

Dates have not been scheduled for these star ceremonies.

Recipients have two years to schedule star ceremonies from the date of selection before they expire.

Upcoming star ceremonies are usually announced ten days prior to dedication on the official web site www.walkoffame.com.

George Maharis Dies: ‘Route 66’ & ‘Fantasy Island’ Actor Was 94

(5/27/23) George Maharis, the Route 66 actor that left the series during the height of its popularity, died on Wednesday, May 24. He was 94.

“George is well known for his stardom in Route 66, stage productions, singing, artist, and above all a great guy would do anything for anyone. My dear friend, you’ll be terribly missed,” Maharis’ friend Marc Bahan shared in a Facebook post.

Maharis was born on September 1, 1928, in Astoria, New York. He studied at the Actors Studio and got his start working in off-Broadway productions.

His first television role came in 1958 with The Mugger. Maharis would go on to land other TV credits in shows like Naked City, Exodus and Search for Tomorrow. It would be until 1960 that he would land the role of Buz Murdock on Route 66, an indirect spinoff of Naked City that shared its same creator Stirling Silliphant. Maharis would be forced to leave the show midway through Season 3 due to health issues.

Maharis would continue acting and appear in films like Quick Before It Melts (1964), Sylvia (1965), A Covenant with Death (1967) and The Happening (1967).

In the 1970’s, Maharis returned to television and starred in shows like Night Gallery, The Mostly Deadly Game, Medical Center, Mission: Impossible, Barnaby Jones, Shaft, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Snoop Sisters, Rich Man, Poor Man, The Bionic Woman, Kojak, Fantasy Island, and many more.

Maharis’ final credit was in the film Doppelganger directed by Avi Neshar in 1993 which starred Drew Barrymore and George Newbern.

Dishing with Digest 5/12/23 - Michael Corbett

(5/12/23) (Listen /download) Michael Corbett remembers his early roles on RYAN’S HOPE and SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, his memorable run as Y&R’s David Kimble, his current successes and more with Digest’s Stephanie Sloane and Mara Levinsky. We also remember the late Jacklyn Zeman (ex-Bobbie, GH et al).

‘MaXXXine’ Adds Lily Collins, Kevin Bacon, Michelle Monaghan, Giancarlo Esposito, Halsey & More To Cast

(4/5/23) Ti West has locked in an all-star cast for his Mia Goth-led A24 horror pic MaXXXine, with Elizabeth Debicki (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.), Moses Sumney (The Idol), Michelle Monaghan (Nanny), Bobby Cannavale (The Watcher), Lily Collins (Emily in Paris), Halsey (Americana), Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul) and Kevin Bacon (City on a Hill) closing deals for roles.

MaXXXine is the third title in A24‘s first major horror franchise, on the heels of West’s films X and Pearl, both of which were released to much acclaim last year. The ’70s-set X had Goth pulling double duty as Maxine, who sees her pornography-shooting friends violently murdered in Texas, and one of their elderly assailants, Pearl. The latter film, set in 1918, meanwhile, served up an origin story for the latter villain character.

MaXXXine reverses the franchise’s trajectory through time to pick with Maxine after the violent events of X, as their sole survivor continues her journey towards fame, setting out to make it as an actress in 1980s Los Angeles. A24, Jacob Jaffke, West, Goth, Kevin Turen and Harrison Kreiss will produce the film, which heads into production this month.

Well known for her portrayal of Sovereign High Priestess Ayesha in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy films, Debicki will reprise the role in franchise ender Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3., which hits theaters on May 5th. The actress otherwise best known for her Golden Globe-nominated portrayal of Princess Diana on The Crown has also previously been seen on series like AMC’s The Night Manager. Other notable film credits include Tenet, Widows, The Cloverfield Paradox, The Tale, Breath, Everest, Macbeth and The Great Gatsby.

Sumney is an acclaimed singer-songwriter known for albums like Aromanticism and Græ who has previously been seen in Ryan Coogler’s Creed and Terence Nance’s HBO series Random Acts of Flyness. Also coming up for him is the anticipated drama series The Idol from HBO, A24, Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye.

Monaghan stars opposite Anna Diop in Nikyatu Jusu’s recent Sundance prize winner Nanny and has also been seen in multiple Mission: Impossible films, Patriots Day, Source Code, Due Date, Somewhere, Gone Baby Gone, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Bourne Supremacy, among other prominent big-screen titles. She earned a Golden Globe nom for her performance in True Detective‘s first season, led Hulu’s The Path opposite Aaron Paul and has also been seen on series like Echoes and Messiah. Also upcoming for the actress is Apple and Skydance’s action comedy The Family Plan, which has her starring opposite Mark Wahlberg.

Two-time Emmy winner Cannavale stars opposite Naomi Watts in Ryan Murphy’s hit Netflix series The Watcher, which has been renewed for a second season. Other notable TV credits include Nine Perfect Strangers, Homecoming, Mr. Robot, Angie Tribeca, Will & Grace, Vinyl and Nurse Jackie. The actor recently appearing in films like Blonde will also soon be seen in comedian Bill Burr’s directorial debut Old Dads, Tony Goldwyn’s comedy Inappropriate Behavior and more.

Collins is an Emmy- and two-time Golden Globe nominee best known for exec producing and starring in the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris, which returned for its third season in December. She prior to that produced and starred in Charlie McDowell’s Netflix thriller Windfall with Jason Segel and Jesse Plemons and has also been seen, in recent years, in films like David Fincher’s Mank. She’s currently set to exec produce and star in the series The Accomplice, based on Lisa Lutz’s same-name novel, which is in development at Amazon.

Halsey is a Grammy-nominated and Billboard Music Award-winning singer-songwriter who has thus far released the studio albums Badlands, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, Manic and If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, among other works. She stars alongside Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser and Zahn McClarnon in Tony Tost’s first feature Americana which recently world premiered at SXSW, and prior to that lent her voice to Uni/Illumination’s Sing 2.

A five-time Emmy nominee best known for his role as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and prequel Better Call Saul, Esposito currently stars in MGM+’s Godfather of Harlem and has also been seen on such notable series as The Boys, The Mandalorian, Once Upon a Time and The Get Down, to name a few. He’s also been seen in two Maze Runner films, as well as titles like Stargirl, Okja and Rabbit Hole. The actor lends his voice to the forthcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and will also be seen in Francis Ford Coppola’s epic Megalopolis, the Russo brothers’ Netflix pic The Electric State and more.

Bacon is a Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning screen icon who recently led Showtime’s crime drama series City on a Hill, also appearing as himself in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on Disney+. He’’ also been seen in recent years in films like Peacock’s horror-thriller They/Them and Sarah Gubbins and Joey Soloway’s Prime Video series I Love Dick, among other projects.

Debicki is repped by CAA; Sumney by UTA; Monaghan by CAA, Anonymous Content and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Cannavale by CAA, Peg Donegan and Schreck Rose; Collins by CAA, LBI Entertainment, Definition Entertainment and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Halsey by UTA; Esposito by Sugar23, CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; and Bacon by Mgmt Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.m

Talk Show Appearance

(3/31/23) TAMRON HALL, syndicated

Tu 4/4: Jane Krakowski

Talk Show Appearance

(3/22/23) THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON - NBC

Wednesday, March 29: Guests include Kevin Bacon

Talk Show Appearance

(3/17/23) LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN, syndicated

Th 3/30: Kyra Sedgwick

Wendie Malick guests on Young Sheldon 2/2/23

(1/12/23) “Ruthless, Toothless and a Week of Bed Rest” – Sheldon learns the university is building a database without him. Also, Mary takes care of a bedridden Mandy and Meemaw, on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Feb. 2 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

GUEST CAST: Wallace Shawn (Dr. Sturgis), Ed Begley Jr. (Dr. Linkletter), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer).

Kerry Washington To Exec Produce, Star In Tyler Perry’s Netflix WWII Pic ‘Six Triple Eight’; Sam Waterston, Susan Sarandon & Oprah Winfrey Among Others Set

(1/11/23) Kerry Washington (The School for Good and Evil) will exec produce and star in Six Triple Eight — the WWII drama that Tyler Perry is writing, directing and producing for Netflix, which has now entered production. She’s joined in the ensemble by such screen icons as Sam Waterston (Grace and Frankie), Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise) and Oprah Winfrey (Selma).

Others set include Ebony Obsidian (If Beale Street Could Talk), Milauna Jackson (A Jazzman’s Blues), Kylie Jefferson (Tiny Pretty Things), Shanice Shantay (The Wiz Live!), Sarah Jeffery (Charmed), Pepi Sonuga (Pam & Tommy), Jay Reeves (Safety), Jeanté Godlock (Daybreak), Moriah Brown (Raising Dion), Baadja-Lyne Odums (Ruthless), Gregg Sulkin (The Throwback) and Dean Norris (Breaking Bad).

The film based on an article by Kevin M. Hymel, published in WWII History Magazine by Sovereign Media, tells the true story of the only all-Black, all-female World War II Battalion. These 855 women joined the war effort with little knowledge of what exactly they would be doing, but were quickly given the mission of a lifetime: sorting through and fixing a three-year backlog of undelivered mail.

While this was a herculean task that most thought impossible, the women not only succeeded but did it in half the time they were given. Facing discrimination, unfamiliar land and a war-torn country, they persevered and sorted over 17 million pieces of mail, reconnecting American soldiers with their families and loved ones back home. The motto that kept them going each day was one they created themselves: “No Mail, Low Morale.”

While the story of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion hasn’t historically been given its due, President Joe Biden on March 14th of last year signed a bill that would give the women their long overdue notice, in the form of Congress’ highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.

Six Triple Eight marks Perry’s fourth feature for Netflix following A Fall From Grace; A Madea Homecoming, which hit the Top 10 in 43 countries; A Jazzman’s Blues, which was in the Top 10 in 55 countries; and Adam McKay’s chart-topper Don’t Look Up, which had him as part of the ensemble. He’s joined as a producer on the pic by Nicole Avant for Her Excellency Productions, Keri Selig for Intuition Productions, Carlota Espinosa, and Angi Bones and Tony Strickland for Tyler Perry Studios. Peter Guber exec produces for Mandalay Pictures, alongside Washington.

Pic’s producer and star Washington is an Emmy winner and two-time Golden Globe nominee who recently starred alongside Charlize Theron in the Paul Feig-directed Netflix fantasy pic, The School for Good and Evil — prior to that being cast in the streamer’s films The Prom and American Son.

The actress has also been seen in the Emmy-nominated HBO TV movie Confirmation, as well as such films as Django Unchained, Miracle at St. Anna and The Last King of Scotland, to name just a few. She starred in the series Little Fires Everywhere and Scandal from Hulu and ABC respectively, and will also soon appear in Lionsgate’s action-thriller Shadow Force, among other projects.

Washington is repped by CAA, Washington Square Arts and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Waterston by Industry Entertainment; Sarandon by UTA; Winfrey by WME; Obsidian by Innovative Artists and Brillstein Entertainment Partners; Jackson by A3 Artists Agency and Ethos Entertainment; Jefferson by Buchwald, Reel Talent Management and Rowan Maron Feil; Shantay by Defining Artists Agency, Greenlight Management and Production and Peikoff Mahan Law Office; Jeffery by Alchemy Entertainment, Vancouver’s Play Management and Ziffren Brittenham; Sonuga by Gersh, Stride Management and Granderson Des Rochers; Reeves by Luber Roklin Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Godlock by Innovative Artists and Marsh Entertainment; Brown by Global Artists Agency and Van Johnson Company; Odums by Ross Stephens Artists & Entertainment; Sulkin by APA and D2 Management; and Norris by Innovative Artists and Industry Entertainment.

‘Inside Job’ Canceled By Netflix, Reversing Season 2 Renewal

(1/9/23) There will be no second season for Inside Job, the adult animated conspiracy theory comedy series from Gravity Falls writer Shion Takeuchi and creator Alex Hirsch. The news was confirmed Sunday by Takeuchi on Twitter, a decision that reverses the series’ previously announced Season 2 renewal.

“I’m heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel Season 2 of Inside Job, Takeuchi tweeted. “Over the years, these characters have become real people to me, and I am devastated not to be able to watch them grow up.

“Reagan and Brett deserved to get their ending and finally find happiness,” Takeuchi continued. “And I would have loved to been able to share what was in store with you all. To everyone who watched, thank you for coming along on the ride. Even though I’m sad, it helps to know that there’s people out there who cared just as much about these characters as me.”

Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater and Clark Duke led the cast of the series, which also featured Andrew Daly, Bobby Lee, John DiMaggio, Tisha Campbell and Brett Gelman.

Inside Job is an adult animated comedy about the shadow government – and the dysfunctional team whose daily grind is committing the world’s conspiracies. From convoluted coverups to secret societies to masked orgy etiquette, navigating office culture at Cognito Inc. can be tricky, especially for anti-social tech genius Reagan Ridley. Even in a workplace filled with reptilian shapeshifters and psychic mushrooms, she’s seen as the odd one out for believing the world could be a better place. Reagan thinks she can make a difference, if only she could manage her unhinged, manifesto-writing father and her irresponsible coworkers, to finally snag the promotion she’s been dreaming about.

Takeuchi executive produced and served as showrunner. Hirsch co-executive produced.

The series was given a 20-episode order for Season 1, which was split into two parts of 10 episodes each, released in October and November 2022. Netflix had announced a Season 2 renewal for the series in June.

A Netflix spokesperson confirmed the cancellation.

Talk Show Appearance

(1/5/23) Live With Kelly and Ryan - Syndicated

Tuesday, Jan. 10 – Kelly and Ryan talk with actress JANE KRAKOWSKI

‘Maybe I Do’ Trailer: Emma Roberts & Luke Bracey Lead Vertical’s Star-Studded Rom-Com From Director Michael Jacobs

(12/19/22) (Video) Vertical has unveiled the first trailer for its multigenerational romantic comedy Maybe I Do, toplined by Emma Roberts (About Fate) and Luke Bracey (Elvis). The film also starring Diane Keaton (Mack & Rita), Richard Gere (Arbitrage), Susan Sarandon (Monarch) and William H. Macy (The Conners) is slated for release in theaters nationwide on January 27, 2023.

The first feature written and directed by Oscar nominee Michael Jacobs (Quiz Show), Maybe I Do follows Michelle (Roberts) and Allen (Bracey), who have reached the point in their relationship where they are considering the next steps and decide to invite their parents to finally meet. The parents already know each other well — really well — leading to distinct and defining opinions about the value of marriage.

Maybe I Do was financed and produced by Fifth Season — the global entertainment studio formerly known as Endeavor Content — and marks the latest in a line of successful collaborations between the company and Vertical, including Joe Bell starring Mark Wahlberg and Connie Britton, and Shadow in the Cloud starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Nick Robinson. Pic was produced by Jacobs, Vincent Newman and Scott Mednick, with Keaton, Stephanie Heaton-Harris, Jennifer Semler, Jonathan Montepare, Skyler Mednick and Jason Pinardo serving as exec producers.

The star-studded film is set to open against Greenwich Entertainment’s drama The Man in the Basement, Universal Pictures’ genre-bender Distant, IFC Films’ comedy Worlds Apart led by Bob Odenkirk, and Hidden Empire Film Group’s horror, Fear.

Other current and upcoming releases for the indie distributor Vertical include The Bragg Brothers’ indie Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game starring Mike Faist and Crystal Reed; Darren Le Gallo’s Sam & Kate starring Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek; Hans Canosa’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Gabrielle Zevin; the 2022 SXSW thriller Gone in the Night, directed by Eli Horowitz and starring Winona Ryder and John Gallagher Jr.; John Patton Ford’s Sundance 2022 thriller Emily the Criminal starring Aubrey Plaza, which this year is nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards including Outstanding Lead Performance; Krystin Ver Linden’s Sundance 2022 pic Alice starring Keke Palmer, Common, Gaius Charles and Jonny Lee Miller; and John Michael McDonagh’s The Forgiven starring Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain and Matt Smith, which premiered at Tribeca 2022.

Watch the trailer for Maybe I Do by clicking above.

Dan Lauria To Play Tip O’Neill In Ronald Reagan Biopic

(12/9/22) Dan Lauria will play former Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill in the upcoming biopic Reagan.

He’ll play opposite Dennis Quaid, who plays the 40th president.

In a statement, director Sean McNamara said, “He and Dennis have the chemistry needed to portray Reagan and O’Neill as two politicians who were respectful adversaries.”

In Washington, the 1980s friendship between Reagan and O’Neill has long been viewed as a contrast to recent decades, as partisan rifts have gotten more personal.

Others in the cast include Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan, Mena Suvari as Jane Wyman, Kevin Dillon as Jack Warner and Jon Voight as a fictional KGB agent who tracks Reagan over the course of 40 years. Howard Klausner and Jonas McCord wrote the script.

Reagan is scheduled for a 2023 release, with shooting already completed.

Lauria received critical acclaim for playing Vince Lombardi in the Broadway play Lombardi, and his recent feature credits include The Way Back and Holidate. In addition to The Wonder Years, he also starred in the series Sullivan & Son and Pitch.

In a statement, Lauria said, “I’ve seen wonderful works ruined by bad casting and I’ve seen others made great by the chemistry of great casting. Playing Tip O’Neill opposite Dennis Quaid’s Reagan was a great challenge for both of us. I look forward to sharing it with the world.”

Wendie Malick guests on Young Sheldon 12/8/22

(11/17/22) “Legalese and a Whole Hoo-Ha”– Sheldon’s database invention puts him at odds with the university. Also, the church takes issue with Meemaw’s video store, on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Dec. 8 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

GUEST CAST includes: Ed Begley Jr. (Dr. Linkletter), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Matt Hobby (Pastor Jeff).

John Aniston, soap opera mainstay and father of Jennifer Aniston, dies at 89

(11/14/22) Actor John Aniston, who long starred in the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” and who was the father of “Friends” actor Jennifer Aniston, has died. He was 89.

His daughter confirmed Monday on Instagram that Aniston died Friday, sharing several photos of them together. She did not mention the cause of death.

“Sweet papa…? John Anthony Aniston,” she wrote. “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now I’ll love you till the end of time.”

His daughter signed off her post with, “Don’t forget to visit.”

Representatives for Jennifer Aniston did not immediately respond Monday to The Times’ requests for comment.

John Aniston, whose career spanned six decades, was best known for playing villainous crime lord Victor Kiriakis on the daytime drama set in the fictional Midwestern town of Salem. Since his debut as the character on the NBC series in 1985, he had remained a steady presence on the show. (The soap recently moved to NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock.)

The series on Monday paid tribute to the late actor with a video montage posted on Twitter.

“Our hearts are broken over the loss of our beloved family member John Aniston. We love you John. Your legend will live on,” the tweet said.

Aniston was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for the role in 2017 and last summer received the lifetime achievement award at the 49th Daytime Emmy Awards.

“Soap operas have just the right amount of recognition. You get just enough recognition to salve your ego and not enough to disrupt your life. Whereas some people, my daughter being one of them, can’t go anywhere,” he said in an extended interview with the Television Academy Foundation.

He also told the foundation that his proudest career achievement was performing in a Theatre East production of “The Royal Hunt of the Sun.” His career regrets? Not being cast as Ted Baxter in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” a role that ultimately went to Ted Knight. Aniston said producers didn’t want “any possibility of a romance between the character and Mary, and with me there would’ve been that possibility.”

“Once I saw it — you get pissed off about something — [Knight] was perfect for it,” he told the foundation.

Born Yannis Anastassakis on the Greek island of Crete on July 24, 1933, Aniston and his family moved to the United States when he was 2. They shortened their last name to Aniston and settled in Pennsylvania, where his parents opened a diner called the Rialto. Aniston and his brother and sisters worked there alongside their parents before he went to college. He later graduated from Penn State University with a degree in theater arts and began acting after enlisting in the Navy, where he served as a Naval Intelligence officer and reached the rank of lieutenant commander.

Aniston began acting in the 1960s with a small part on the series “New Man in the Precinct” and appeared in soap operas. He was first cast on “Days of Our Lives” in a minor role as Eric Richards in 1970, but also appeared in soap operas “Love of Life” and “Search for Tomorrow.”

“I was a mature adult when I was 18. I didn’t really start working until I was 40,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to grow into things.”

The actor also notched guest roles in “Star Trek: Voyager,” “The West Wing,” “Gilmore Girls,” “My Big Fat Greek Life,” “American Dreams,” “Cold Case” and “Mad Men.”

Aniston was married to fellow actor Nancy Dow, Jennifer Aniston’s mother, from 1965 to 1980. She died in 1990.

In 1984, he married his “Love of Life” co-star Sherry Rooney, with whom he had a son, artist Alex Aniston.

“John’s genteel character, charm and great sense of humor will be missed but certainly not forgotten as he leaves behind an incredible body of work and legacy over the course of his career [that] spanned 60+ years of continuous work,” his manager, Richard N. Lewis, said Monday in a statement to The Times. “He was a devoted husband, father, and friend to millions of fans across the globe.”

Aniston is survived by his wife and two children.

John Aniston, ‘Days of Our Lives’ Star and Father of Jennifer Aniston, Dies at 89

(11/14/22) John Aniston, the charming Greek-born actor who for more than three decades portrayed the ruthless Victor Kiriakis on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, has died. He was 89.

The father of actress Jennifer Aniston died Friday, his daughter announced.

“Sweet papa …? John Anthony Aniston,” the Friends mega-star wrote in a tribute post on Instagram Monday, “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now.”

She ended the post: “I’ll love you till the end of time.”

Aniston had played a different character, a doctor, on Days of Our Lives in 1969-70, then worked on two other daytime serials, CBS’ Love of Life and CBS/NBC’s Search for Tomorrow, before returning to Days in July 1985. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his efforts in 2017.

“Soap operas have just the right amount of recognition. You get just enough to satisfy your ego but not enough to disrupt your life,” he said in a wonderful 2018 interview with Adrienne Faillace for the Television Academy Foundation website The Interviews. “Whereas some people, my daughter being one of them, can’t go anywhere.”

The dashing Aniston also appeared twice on Kojak — that show’s star, the late Telly Savalas, was Jennifer’s godfather — and also showed up on episodes of Combat!, I Spy, The Virginian, That Girl, Airwolf, Star Trek: Voyager, The West Wing, Gilmore Girls, Cold Case and Mad Men.

In the early 1970s, Aniston made it through three auditions to play newscaster Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but the part eventually went to Ted Knight.

“The original script described [the character] as the Marcello Mastroianni of Minneapolis,” he said. He was told he didn’t get hired because producers “didn’t want the possibility of a romance between Baxter and Mary.” When he saw the show, he realized that Knight was perfect for the part.

One of four children, Yiannis Anastasakis was born on July 24, 1933, in Chania on the Greek island of Crete. His father, Antonios, had gone back and forth between the U.S. and Greece before leaving his home country for good in 1935, bringing the family to Chester, Pennsylvania, where he opened a restaurant.

Aniston started acting in plays in high school and did two seasons of stock at the Allenberry Playhouse while attending Penn State University. After getting his bachelor’s degree in arts and letters, he served in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer based in Panama.

He moved to New York and in 1959 got a guest spot on the CBS cop show Brenner, starring Edward Binns, and began a 14-month stint playing a Native American, Chief Brown Bear, in the comic off-Broadway musical Little Mary Sunshine, starring Eileen Brennan.

Aniston tried for a part on Days of Our Lives and lost out to Bill Hayes, but he accepted an offer to play Eric Richards, a prison doctor.

After being thwarted in a bid to go to medical school in Greece, he returned to acting, spending three years as the Spaniard Edouard “Eddie” Aleata on Love of Life — Christopher Reeve played one of his stepsons — and six as the philandering Martin Tourneur on Search for Tomorrow. His daughter, then just a kid, appeared on that soap as an extra.

“I told her you don’t want to be in show business, show business stinks,” he recalled. “I tell everybody who wants to be an actor, ‘Don’t be an actor, be something else.’ Because if my telling them to stay out of show business is going to keep them out, they shouldn’t be in it in the first place.

“But I knew right from the beginning when Jennifer started auditioning for things [she would be a success], because she always got called back.”

Aniston said portraying the Greek crime boss Victor in the town of Salem appealed to him because “you could punish your enemies and reward your friends. What’s not to like?” His character was married five times, spent a year and a half in a coma and once was killed off, only to be found alive on the island of Melaswen (that’s new Salem spelled backward).

Friends fans know full well that in a second-season storyline, Joey Tribbiani, played by Jennifer’s castmate Matt LeBlanc, gets a job on Days of Our Lives, but his neurosurgeon character, Dr. Drake Ramoray, is killed off after falling down an elevator shaft.

Aniston was married to late actress Nancy Dow (Jennifer’s mother) from 1965 until their 1981 divorce and to actress Sherry Rooney, whom he met on Love of Life, since June 1984. In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by his son, Alexander.

Acting, Aniston pointed out in his TV Academy Foundation interview, “beats working for a living. Especially when you’re doing theater, you can feel the beast … When you’re in a play and you really control the audience, it’s a lot of fun.”

John Aniston, 'Days of Our Lives' Legend and Jennifer Aniston's Father, Dead at 89

(11/14/22) Days of Our Lives star John Aniston has died. He was 89.

The veteran actor, who was also Jennifer Aniston's father, was best known for portraying Days' Victor Kiriakis starting in 1985. On Monday, the Friends alum announced that her father passed on Nov. 11.

"Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston," she captioned a set of photos of the pair. "You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now. I'll love you till the end of time"

Jennifer concluded the post, "Don't forget to visit."

In response to his passing, Days of Our Lives also posted a sweet tribute video highlighting his time on the series.

"Our hearts are broken over the loss of our beloved family member John Aniston," the series said in a statement shared on Twitter and Instagram. "We love you John. Your legend will live on."

Series co-creator Ken Corday also shared a statement with PEOPLE.

"It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of one of our own — our beloved and legendary cast member and dear friend, John Aniston. It is truly unimaginable to think he won't be stepping foot on our set again, but it's comforting to all of us to know that he is at rest and no longer in pain," the statement began.

"John was one of the best — kind, smart, witty and incredibly talented. It is enormously fitting that he received the Emmy for Lifetime Achievement this past year," he continued. "There is no question that all of us at Days will be mourning this great and profound loss. John was an icon, but even more so, he was a pillar of strength and unity for our Days of Our Lives community. He, along with our 'Victor Kiriakis,' will forever be in our hearts. Our love and support goes out to his family and all those who knew him."

Peacock confirmed to PEOPLE that John's final Days episode will air on Dec. 26.

John was recently honored with a Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing role on the soap opera. Though John did not attend the June ceremony, Jennifer appeared virtually on the awards stage to celebrate to her her father's illustrious career.

"This is truly a special moment for me," Jennifer, 53, said. "It's an opportunity to not only pay tribute to a true icon in the daytime television world, but it's also a chance to recognize the lifelong achievements of a great and well-respected actor, who also happens to be my dad."

"For over 30 years, his dedication to that show has gained him respect and admiration of his fellow actors, deep friendships and thrilled millions of fans around the world," she added. "His career is literally the definition of lifetime achievement."

Early in Jennifer's career — even before her Friends fame — John shared what acting gifts make her invaluable to Hollywood. "Jennifer is a natural talent," John told E! News in 1990. "There are certain things you can learn in this business, and there are certain things you can't learn. The comic instinct that she has in unerring. That's her greatest asset."

John was born in 1933 in Crete, Greece. His acting credits also include TV series Search for Tomorrow, The West Wing, Gilmore Girls and Mad Men.

Most recently, the veteran actor — who previously served in the military — appeared in an episode of Days of Our Lives that aired on Friday.

John once opened up about his proudest career achievement.

"I don't know. Some play down the line somewhere," he said in an interview with the Television Academy Foundation. "Maybe Royal Hunt of the Sun. .. We did it at Theatre East."

"It was phenomenal the way the director conceived it and did that," he added. "Yeah, we were all very proud of that."

As for his only career regret, John said: "I'm sorry I didn't get The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

Along with Jennifer, John leaves behind son Alex Aniston. John's first wife and Jennifer's mom, Nancy Dow, died in 2016.

Days of Our Lives' John Aniston Dies: Peacock Sets Release Date for His Final Episode as Victor Kiriakis

(11/14/22) Days of Our Lives viewers will see Victor Kiriakis for the last time on Monday, Dec. 26, when the late John Aniston’s final episode begins streaming on Peacock, TVLine has confirmed.

Aniston’s death was announced by his daughter, Friends vet Jennifer Aniston, on her Instagram account Monday. “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew,” she wrote. “I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain.” He was 89 years old.

In a new statement provided to TVLine, Days of Our Lives executive producer Ken Corday refers to Aniston as “one of the best” — a Daytime TV “icon” whose passing is nothing short of a “profound loss” for the Days community:

“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of one of our own — our beloved and legendary cast member and dear friend, John Aniston. It is truly unimaginable to think he won’t be stepping foot on our set again, but it’s comforting to all of us to know that he is at rest and no longer in pain. John was one of the best — kind, smart, witty and incredibly talented. It is enormously fitting that he received the Emmy for Lifetime Achievement this past year. There is no question that all of us at Days will be mourning this great and profound loss. John was an icon, but even more so, he was a pillar of strength and unity for our Days of our Lives community. He, along with our Victor Kiriakis, will forever be in our hearts. Our love and support goes out to his family and all those who knew him.”

Aniston first started playing Days‘ Victor in 1985. He most recently appeared in the Nov. 11 episode. Earlier this year, he was among the Lifetime Achievement honorees at the Daytime, Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle, News & Documentary and Children’s & Family Emmy Award ceremonies.

John Aniston Dies: ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Actor, Father Of Jennifer Aniston Was 89

(11/14/22) John Aniston, the veteran soap actor best known in the daytime world for his long-running role of Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives, and, in his personal life as the father of TV superstar Jennifer Aniston, died Nov. 11. He was 89.

A cause of death has not been released.

In an Instagram post today, Friends star Jennifer Aniston wrote, “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace – and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now. I’ll love you till the end of time.”

Born on the island of Crete, Greece, on July 24, 1933, Aniston and his family moved to American when John was just two. Years later, Aniston graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts.

After a stint in the Navy, he began his acting career in 1962 in a small part on the series New Man in the Precinct, and began appearing regularly in soap operas in 1970, first on Days of Our Lives, then Love of Live, and Search for Tomorrow. In 1985, he took on what would be his signature role with a return to Days of Our Lives, this time as a new character named Victor Kiriakis, a role he’d continue to play until just last year. He was nominated for the 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance.

Aniston received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 49th Annual Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards on June 18.

Other TV roles include appearances on Airwolf, Gilmore Girls, The West Wing, Combat!, My Big Fat Greek Life, Star Trek: Voyager, American Dreams, Journeyman and Mad Men.

John Aniston is survived by daughter Jennifer Aniston, son Alexander, and his wife Sherry Rooney.

Kevin Conroy Dies: Longtime Voice Of Animated Batman Was 66

(11/11/22) Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman for three decades of animated TV, specials and video games, died Thursday. He was 66.

His death was announced by his rep Gary Miereanu and Warner Bros. A cause was not disclosed, but he reportedly had been battling cancer.

In a statement, Warner Bros. Animation said it “is saddened by the loss of our dear friend Kevin Conroy. His iconic performance of Batman will forever stand among the greatest portrayals of the Dark Knight in any medium. We send our warmest thoughts to his loved ones and join fans around the world in honoring his legacy.”

An actor with credits on stage, television and film, Conroy became a premier voice actor as the title character of Batman: The Animated Series (1992-96). He’d eventually give voice to the Dark Knight in nearly 60 different productions, including 15 films and more than 15 animated series spanning nearly 400 episodes and more than 100 hours of television.

Conroy also voiced Batman in dozens of video games and was featured as a live-action Bruce Wayne in the Arrowverse’s 2019-20 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event.

“Kevin was perfection,” said Mark Hamill, who voiced the Joker opposite Conroy’s Batman. “He was one of my favorite people on the planet, and I loved him like a brother. He truly cared for the people around him – his decency shone through everything he did. Every time I saw him or spoke with him, my spirits were elevated.”

In recent years, Conroy was a fixture on the convention circuit.

“Kevin was far more than an actor whom I had the pleasure of casting and directing – he was a dear friend for 30+ years whose kindness and generous spirit knew no boundaries,” said casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano. “Kevin’s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever.”

Born on November 30, 1955, in Westbury, NY, and raised in Westport, CT, Conroy attended The Juilliard School and, under the tutelage of John Houseman, studied alongside Christopher Reeve and Frances Conroy. He was, at one point, a roommate of Robin Williams.

Conroy began his stage career following in both New York and at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, playing Hamlet at the 1984 New York Shakespeare Festival.

On TV, he had recurring roles in Dynasty, Tour of Duty and Ohara and appeared on the soaps Search for Tomorrow and Another World. He had guest roles on Cheers, Murphy Brown, Spenser: For Hire and Matlock.

His voice acting career took off with Batman: The Animated Series, which debuted on September 5, 1992. Conroy’s association with the Dark Knight would continue with Batman Beyond and Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, Batman: the Killing Joke, Batman: Gotham Knight, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.

“Kevin was a brilliant actor,” Hamill said in his statement. “For several generations, he has been the definitive Batman. It was one of those perfect scenarios where they got the exact right guy for the exact right part, and the world was better for it. His rhythms and subtleties, tones and delivery – that all also helped inform my performance. He was the ideal partner – it was such a complementary, creative experience. I couldn’t have done it without him. He will always be my Batman.”

Conroy is survived by his husband Vaughn C. Williams, sister Trisha Conroy, and brother Tom Conroy. Memorial services are pending.

Celebration Of Black Cinema & Television: Angela Bassett, Quinta Brunson, Michael B. Jordan, Berry Gordy Among Honorees At 5th Annual Event

(11/2/22) A star-studded lineup is set for the Critics Choice Association’s fifth annual Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, taking place on Monday, December 5, at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

Angela Bassett, Berry Gordy, Quinta Brunson, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, and Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi are just a few of the names set to be honored at the event, which has grown into an awards season staple. Now in its fifth year, the celebration will recognize 15 categories as part of a special night honoring standout achievements in Black filmmaking and television.

“The Celebration of Black Cinema & Television has grown tremendously over the last five years,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “We’re thrilled to be able to recognize such outstanding projects across both film and television, and to honor these incredible actors and filmmakers for their work.”

Songwriter, producer, director, entrepreneur and Motown Records founder Gordy will receive the Icon Award for his unparalleled contribution to music, film and popular culture, while Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Bassett will receive the Career Achievement Award for her extraordinary career and her recent role as Queen Ramonda in the Marvel Studios film.

Actor, producer and director Jordan will receive the Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award for his overall contribution to the industry and in celebration of his directorial debut with the United Artists Releasing film, Creed III. In addition to directing the film, he reprises his role as Adonis Creed, as well as produces under his Outlier Society production banner. Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and actor Kid Cudi will be honored with the Groundbreaker Award for his starring role as Jabari in the Netflix television event, Entergalactic, which he also created.

Emmy-winning writer, producer and actress Brunson will be presented with the Actress Award for Television for her role as Janine Teagues on ABC’s hit series, Abbott Elementary, which she created and also executive produces.

Deadwyler will be honored with the Actress Award for Film for her role as Mamie Till-Mobley in the Orion Pictures/United Artists Releasing film Til.

Emmy- and Critics Choice Award-nominated Majors will be presented with the Actor Award for Film for his role as Jesse Brown in the Columbia Pictures/Black Label Media aerial war epic Devotion.

The Director Award for Film will be awarded to director Gina Prince-Bythewood for her work on TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One’s acclaimed The Woman King.

Brian Tyree Henry will be awarded with the Supporting Actor Award for his performance as James Aucoin in Apple Original Films/A24’s Causeway.

Nicco Annan will receive the Actor Award for Television for his role as Uncle Clifford on the hit Starz series P-Valley.

Writer and director Elegance Bratton will accept the Social Justice Award for his inspiring work on the A24 film, The Inspection.

Actress and comedian Ayo Edebiri will receive the Rising Star Award presented by IMDbPro for her role as Sydney Adamu on the FX series, The Bear. And Quincy Isaiah will also accept the Rising Star Award for his role as Magic Johnson on the HBO Original series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

Writer-director Nikyatu Jusa will accept the Breakthrough Film Award for the Amazon Studios and Blumhouse film, Nanny, an award winner at Sundance this year.

The Ensemble Award will be presented to the cast of ABC sitcom The Wonder Years.

“It has truly been a year to celebrate,” said CCA Board Member Shawn Edwards, Executive Producer of the event. “The unprecedented amount of content about the Black experience on film and television made it very difficult to choose our honorees for this milestone year. And our special Icon Award honoree, Berry Gordy, pushed open a heavy door during the ’70s and ’80s through his Motown Productions with a string of movies and TV series that helped pave the way for future Black storytellers.”

The Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Television will be hosted by veteran comedian Bill Bellamy and televised on KTLA in January and shown nationwide on Nexstar stations throughout the month of February in honor of Black History Month.

The show is produced by Madelyn Hammond and Javier Infante of Madelyn Hammond & Associates.

Event sponsors include Delta Air Lines, Fairmont Century Plaza, GreenSlate, IMDbPro, McBride Sisters Wine Company; Milagro Tequila and NEP Sweetwater. Event partners are Four Seasons Resort Nevis and Sunkist Growers.

Kyra Sedgwick Movie ‘Space Oddity’ Lands With Samuel Goldwyn Films

(11/1/22) Samuel Goldwyn Films has picked up North American rights to Kyra Sedgwick’s second feature directorial, Space Oddity, based on Rebecca Banner’s Black List script.

Planets and lives collide as Alex (Kyle Allen) longs to travel to outer space and finally gets the opportunity to do so thanks to a privately-funded Mars colonization program. In the midst of his rigorous preparation, he meets Daisy (Alexandra Shipp), the new girl in town who’s trying to start over. The two wayward souls connect in unexpected ways, both of them harboring secrets that they’re desperately trying to overcome. However, when questions about the legitimacy of the program and the future of his parents’ flower farm begin to crop up, Alex finds himself questioning whether it’s easier to confront his past or fly away into the stars. The movie also stars Madeline Brewer (The Handmaid’s Tale), Carrie Preston (The Good Fight), Simon Helberg (Annette) and Kevin Bacon (City on a Hill).

The pic had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this past summer.

“We are thrilled to bring Kyra Sedgwick’s feature film to audiences,” said Peter Goldwyn, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films. “Space Oddity has so many facets that seamlessly combine into a warm, engaging picture – swaying easily from a charming romance to a larger tale of the state of our world and the possibilities it holds.”

“Samuel Goldwyn Films is a dream distributor for me, as I’ve been such a fan of their films for many years. I’m grateful for their support and enthusiasm for Space Oddity. This film means the world to us and we can’t wait to share it with audiences,” said Sedgwick.

Space Oddity was produced by Valerie Stadler, Sedgwick and Meredith Bagby of Big Swing Productions. Additional producers include Richard Arlook, Jack Greenbaum, Mark Maxey and Mickey Schiff and executive producers are Paolo Mottola Jr., Joe Z. Crosby, Ibrahim Alhusseini, JL Pomeroy, Daryl Roth and Brent Emery. Stefanie Visser edited the film with cinematography by Alar Kivilo. REI Co-Op Studios also serves as an EP on the film to show how mainstream films can impact change and elevate current topics including Climate Change and protecting the environment. Travis Bacon, the son of Bacon and Sedgwick, is one of the composers on the film Scott Hedrick.

The deal was negotiated by Miles Fineburg on behalf of Samuel Goldwyn Films and CAA Media Finance negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.

Vertical Entertainment Acquires Multi-Generational Rom-Com ‘Maybe I Do’ Starring Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey & William H. Macy From Fifth Season

(10/28/22) Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the multi-generational romantic comedy Maybe I Do, starring Diane Keaton (Mack & Rita), Richard Gere (Arbitrage), Susan Sarandon (Monarch), William H. Macy (The Conners), Emma Roberts (About Fate) and Luke Bracey (Elvis), from the global film and television studio Fifth Season, formerly known as Endeavor Content.

The first feature written and directed by Oscar nominee Michael Jacobs (Quiz Show) will be released exclusively in theaters nationwide on January 27, 2023.

Maybe I Do follows Michelle (Roberts) and Allen (Bracey), who have reached the point in their relationship where they are considering the next steps and decide to invite their parents to finally meet. The parents already know each other well – really well – leading to distinct and defining opinions about the value of marriage.

Maybe I Do was financed and produced by Fifth Season and marks the latest in a line of successful collaborations between the studio and Vertical, including Joe Bell starring Mark Wahlberg and Connie Britton, and Shadow in the Cloud starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Nick Robinson. Jacobs, Vincent Newman and Scott Mednick produced, with Keaton, Stephanie Heaton-Harris, Jennifer Semler, Jonathan Montepare, Skyler Mednick and Jason Pinardo serving as executive producers. WME Independent is repping international rights on behalf of Fifth Season.

“Michael’s funny, sad and wise take on marriage is fully realized by a dream cast and with the never-ending support from the entire Fifth Season family. We are thrilled to be in partnership with the excellent team at Vertical and to have Maybe I Do experienced theatrically,” said producer Vincent Newman. “The spirit on set and authentic moments delivered by these incredible actors made this film a joy for Michael, Scott, and me to produce. We look forward to audiences resonating with these moments of chaos that come in even the best of relationships, which these certainly aren’t.”?

“We have an exciting 2023 lined up for the company and are thrilled to kick-off the New Year with Maybe I Do,” added Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey. “Michael Jacobs’ impressive track record continues as he steps behind the camera directing his first feature film with an ensemble of amazing actors bringing his words to life. We can’t wait for audiences to say, ‘I Do’ and see it in theaters this January.”

Vertical Entertainment is an indie distributor which was founded in 2012. Other current and upcoming releases from the company include Hans Canosa’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, based on Gabrielle Zevin’s New York Times bestselling novel; Darren Le Gallo’s Sam & Kate, starring Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek; the 2022 SXSW thriller Gone in the Night, directed by Eli Horowitz and starring Winona Ryder and John Gallagher Jr.; John Patton Ford’s 2022 Sundance pic Emily the Criminal, starring Aubrey Plaza, who is nominated for a 2022 Gotham Award for Outstanding Lead Performance; Krystin Ver Linden’s Alice, which also premiered at Sundance 2022 and stars Keke Palmer, Common, Gaius Charles and Jonny Lee Miller; and John Michael McDonagh’s The Forgiven starring Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain and Matt Smith, which premiered at Tribeca 2022.

Vertical’s Jarowey and SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi negotiated the Maybe I Do deal with Fifth Season.

Morning Show Appearance

(10/28/22) GMA3: What You Need to Know - ABC

Tuesday, Nov. 1 — actor Kevin Bacon

‘City On A Hill’ Canceled After Three Seasons On Showtime

(10/27/22) The end has come for City On A Hill. Showtime has canceled the drama series after three seasons, Deadline has confirmed. The Season 3 finale will now serve as the series finale. The third season launched in September.

Sources tell Deadline the decision was made awhile back, prior to the regime change which saw longtime Showtime Networks CEO David Nevins exit parent company Paramount Global and Paramount Media Networks chief Chris McCarthy take over at the helm of the premium cabler.

“City On A Hill concluded its successful run on Showtime with its Season 3 finale,” Showtime said in a statement. “We have had nothing but the best experience working with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge and the entire cast and crew, led by showrunner Tom Fontana and fellow executive producers including Jennifer Todd and Jorge Zamacona. We offer our sincerest thanks to everyone.”

Created by Chuck MacLean, City On A Hill starred Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge, along with Jill Hennessy, Lauren E. Banks and Matthew Del Negro.

Set in early 1990s Boston, the series revolved around Assistant DA Decourcy Ward (Hodge) who formed an unlikely alliance with a corrupt yet venerated FBI veteran, Jackie Rohr (Kevin Bacon).

In the final Season 3, “having left the FBI and thrown his badge into Boston Harbor, Jackie Rohr (Bacon) lands a lavish new gig running security for a wealthy family. Life is good until secrets begin to unravel. When an investigation opens, ADA Decourcy Ward (Hodge) sees an opportunity to finally rip out the machinery perpetuating a broken criminal justice system. Siobhan Quays (Banks), representing a construction worker who was severely injured on the Big Dig, encounters the city’s corruption firsthand, all while coping with the traumatic events of her past year. As Jenny Rohr (Hennessy) can attest, given her history with her father, some experiences will haunt you beyond your breaking point.”

City On A Hill was executive produced by Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street), who also served as showrunner. Jennifer Todd, Jorge Zamacona, Bacon, Hodge, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Barry Levinson also served as executive producers.

Wendie Malick guests on Young Sheldon 11/10/22

(10/27/22) “A Tougher Nut and a Note on File” – Sheldon’s search for a comic book leads him to a breakthrough. Also, Georgie and Mandy have an uncomfortable first encounter with her parents, Jim (Will Sasso) and Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones), on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Nov. 10 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

GUEST CAST includes: Ed Begley Jr. (Dr. Linkletter), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Steve Burns (Nathan).

‘The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special’ Introduces Kevin Bacon To The MCU

(10/25/22) The Guardians of the Galaxy are headed to Earth once more. This time, in search of Kevin Bacon.

A trailer released Tuesday for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special introduced the actor into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the Guardians determine he would be the perfect Christmas present for Peter (Chris Pratt) to cheer him up as he’s still mourning the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña).

Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) head to Hollywood to bring Bacon back to space with them, though the actor doesn’t seem all that thrilled about the aliens breaking into his home.

(Video) The special, which is directed by James Gunn, also promises appearances from Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Groot (Vin Diesel), and Nebula (Karen Gillan), among others.

Gunn, who directed all three Guardians films, has previously called the special a highlight of his career. In an interview with the Radio Times earlier this year, he called it the “greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“It’s totally ridiculous, and every day we can’t believe that we’re making it,” he added. “We all completely love it. It is unlike anything that anyone’s ever seen before. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will debut on Disney+ on Nov. 25. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will hit theaters on May 5.

Kevin Bacon Joins Eddie Murphy In ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley’

(9/28/22) The next installment in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise is continuing to add star power to its all-star cast as Kevin Bacon is set to join Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley. Production on the sequel is underway with Mark Molloy directing. Murphy is back as Axel Foley and will produce along with Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Will Beall penned the script. Jospeh Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige are also on board with Judge Reinhold and John Ashton Paul Reiser; and Bronson Pinchot reprising their characters from previous installments.

The franchise moved from Paramount to Netflix in the winter of 2019 and follows the adventures of Detroit cop Foley, who first appeared in the 1984 smash hit that followed him to Beverly Hills to solve the murder of a friend. The film became one of the year’s biggest hits and solidified Murphy’s movie-star status. It was followed by two sequels, in 1987 and 1994.

Charisse Hewitt-Webster and Ray Angelic will exec produce the new movie. Melissa Reid of Jerry Bruckheimer Films will co-produce.

Bacon’s crime series City On A Hill just wrapped its third season at Showtime. He also was recently seen in the Blumhouse horror pic They/Them. He is repped by MGMT Entertainment and Gaines Solomon.

Talk Show Appearance

(9/23/22) THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW, syndicated

Tu 9/27: Susan Sarandon

Christian Slater Revealed As Part Of ‘Willow’ Cast, New Trailer Unveiled

(9/10/22) Christian Slater will be seen in Willow, Disney+’s upcoming live-action series based on the 1988 fantasy film directed by Ron Howard. Slater’s casting was revealed today during Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim.

No details on his role were shared other than a “character aiding in quest,” and a friend of Madmartigan.

“I love the fantasy, the sci-fi, just getting to be a part of this show was, I will be honest with you an absolute dream come true,” said Slater. “This was a very fun character, we got to have some improve, ad-libs we came up with stuff on the spot which was fun,” he added.

Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Amer Chadha-Patel and Tony Revolori star alongside Warwick Davis, who is reprising his title role as Willow Ufgood, a reluctant farmer who plays a critical role in protecting a special baby from a tyrannical queen who vows to destroy her and take over the world.

Joanne Whalley, who portrayed Sorsha, in the film, also returns to reprise her role in the series, reuniting with Davis.

The series, which picks up years after the events of the movie, introduces new characters and is set in a world where brownies, sorcerers, trolls and other mystical creatures flourish. An unlikely group of heroes set off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home, where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world.

No additional details about the series’ storyline have been released, though according to circulated casting information for the series, it revolves around a group on a mission to save a kidnapped prince.

The new incarnation comes from Jonathan Kasdan, who wrote the pilot and serves as co-showrunner alongside Wendy Mericle; Howard and writer Bob Dolman. Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan are also executive producers.

Kasdan also spoke with Deadline after the show’s panel, teasing a possible upcoming crossover “from the Ted Lasso universe.” (Video)

‘Monarch’: Susan Sarandon Admits Naiveté About Country Music; Says Closest She Got Was “Smoking A Joint With Willie Nelson”

(9/7/22) Susan Sarandon admits that that she knew nothing about country music before beginning work on Monarch, Fox’s upcoming sudser that the producers describe as “Empire meets Succession.”

Sarandon plays Dottie Cantrell Roman, the matriarch of the first family of country music. She’s married to Albie, who is played by Trace Adkins.

“I just go where the fun is, where I haven’t been before,” Sarandon told reporters Wednesday during Fox’s Television Critics Tour virtual panel. As for country music, “I never knew it. I smoked a joint with Willie Nelson. That’s as deep as I go.”

The actress is also cagey about how long she’ll stick around Monarch, which also stars Anna Friel as the heir to the country crown. At the risk of spoiling a major plot point, let’s just say Dottie’s character faces a few challenges.

“I’m leaving it open! I’m Jiminy Cricket, I’m gonna appear on everyone’s shoulder,” said Sarandon. ‘I’ll be around as long as they’ll have me. I entered on a handshake. The commitment word has been a problem for me. So I talk about fun and being in the moment.”

“Susan is a part of a show, she looms over everyone,” said EP Jon Feldman. “She will appear in multiple episodes and we have great stuff planned for her.”

Real-life country music stars like Shania Twain and Little Big Town will appear in the first season.

Monarch premieres September 11 on Fox.

Talk Show Appearance

(8/31/22) THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON - NBC

Wednesday, September 7: Guests include Susan Sarandon

Bob LuPone Dies: Off-Broadway MCC Theatre Founder Was 76

(8/27/22) Bob LuPone, a Tony-nominated actor and the founder of the off-Broadway MCC Theatre, has died. He was 76. The brother of Patti LuPone had been on a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

“The MCC Theater community mourns the loss of our much loved and uniquely inspiring partner, colleague, and dear friend, Bob LuPone, who lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humor, a boundless passion for connection, and a whole lot of heart. We will miss him deeply and always,” read a statement from MCC.

LuPone was born on July 29th, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York to Angela Louise (known as Pat), a housewife, and Orlando Joseph LuPone, a school principal.

His passion for the arts began at an early age. In the sixth grade at his North Port, Long Island elementary school, he saw his younger sister Patti dance at a PTA Dance Concert in a colorful hula skirt. After he told his mother how badly he wanted to wear the skirt, she told him that if that’s what he wanted then he’d have to enroll in dance class, which he did the following year. He started by taking tap lessons after school before enrolling in the Martha Graham Studio, where he studied under Antony Tudor, José Limon and Graham herself, from ages 15 to 18.

LuPone got accepted to Juilliard after a friend suggested he audition, an audition that he improvised. He would graduate with a BFA in Dance in 1968.

In 1966, he landed his first job as part of the ensemble of The Pajama Game starring Liza Minnelli. His Broadway debut would happen in 1968 in Noel Coward’s Sweet Potato and would later on appear in Minnie’s Boys, The Rothschilds, and The Magic Show.

LuPone was cast as Al in A Chorus Line but when one of the actors departed the production, he asked to audition for the part of Zach, which he would land. This role led LuPone to score a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. A Chorus Line opened at the Public Theater, before swiftly transferring to Broadway. The production was nominated for 12 Tony Awards at the 1976 ceremony.

While teaching an acting class at New York University, one of his students was Bernie Telsey, who together would form the Manhattan Class Company — known today as MCC Theatre.

LuPone, Telsey and Will Cantler successfully led MCC for nearly 40 years producing shows like Frozen, Hand to God, School Girls; or the African Mean Girls Play and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit.

While serving as a co-artistic director of MCC Theater, LuPone continued acting appearing in Broadway productions like A View from the Bridge, True West, and A Thousand Clowns. He was also in the Chicago premiere of Sam Shepard’s The Tooth of Crime and made television appearances on shows like The Sopranos, Sex & the City, Guiding Light, Ryan's Hope, Search For Tomorrow, Another world, Loving and All My Children, for which he received a Daytime Emmy nomination.

LuPone is survived by his wife Virginia, his son Orlando, sister Patti, brother William.

Christian Slater To Star As Mulgarath In ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Disney+ Series

(8/24/22) Christian Slater has been tapped as a major lead in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Disney+’s live-action series adaptation of the popular fantasy books.

Slater will play Mulgarath (alter ego Dr. Dorian Brauer), a capital-V Villain who does what all ogres do — he eats people, an insatiable desire to consume. Mulgarath wants the secrets contained in Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Natural World for a nefarious scheme that will satisfy his hunger. I hear this is a one-season commitment.

Based on the series of bestselling books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, The Spiderwick Chronicles is a contemporary American gothic coming-of-age story that addresses kids and families dealing with mental health issues among other relevant topics. Upon leaving New York and moving to Michigan and into their run-down ancestral home—The Spiderwick Estate—with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate, fantastical world.

Kat Coiro will direct the first two episodes of the series, a modern coming-of-age story combined with fantasy adventure, produced by Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television. Aron Eli Coleite (Locke & Key) is showrunner and exec produces with Coiro, Holly Black, DiTerlizzi, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, D.J. Goldberg and Julie Kane-Ritsch.

Slater recently wrapped Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut Pussy Island with Channing Tatum and Naomie Ackie, and Jerry Seinfeld’s directorial debut Unfrosted: A Pop Tart Story. He also filmed action-comedy Freelance alongside John Cena, FX’s Fleishman Is In Trouble and was the narrator of the animated spinoff The Boys: Diabolical. He was recently nominated for a Critics Choice Award for his performance in Peacock’s Dr. Death

Slater, a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards winner for his starring role in Mr. Robot, is repped by UTA and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen.

Series Premiere of Monarch 9/11/22

(8/23/22) MONARCH is a Texas-sized, multi-generational musical drama about country music royalty. The Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough as nails Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman (Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon) and her beloved husband, Albie Roman (multi-Platinum country music star and three-time Academy of Country Music Award winner Trace Adkins). Dottie and Albie have created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown Nicolette "Nicky" Roman (Golden Globe nominee Anna Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family's legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom in the all-new “Stop at Nothing” series premiere episode of MONARCH airing Sunday, Sept. 11 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/5:00-6:01 PM PT live to all time zones) on FOX. (MRC-101) (TV-14 D,L,V)

Cast: Susan Sarandon as Dottie Roman; Trace Adkins as Albie Roman; Anna Friel as Nicky Roman; Joshua Sasse as Luke Roman; Beth Ditto as Gigi Tucker-Roman; Meagan Holder as Kayla Tucker-Roman; Inigo Pascual as Ace Grayson; Martha Higareda as Catt Phoenix; Emma Milani as Ana Phoenix

Guest Cast: Matrina McBride as Herself; Adam Croasdell as Clive Grayson; Callum Kerr as Wade Stellings;Kevin Cahoon as Earl; Faith Prince as Nellie Cantrell; Ava Grace as Tatum Grayson

Talk Show Appearance

(7/29/22) The View - ABC

Friday, Aug. 5 – Kevin Bacon (“City on a Hill”)

Talk Show Appearance

(7/27/22) THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON - NBC

Wednesday, August 3: Guests include Kevin Bacon

‘They/Them’ Trailer: Kevin Bacon & Carrie Preston Run A Terrifying Conversion Camp With Deadly Consequences In Blumhouse Horror Pic

(7/21/22) (Video) Peacock has released a new, rather unsettling trailer for its upcoming slasher horror film They/Them. The Blumhouse thriller, starring Kevin Bacon and Carrie Preston, is set to be released on August 5.

Set at an LGBTQIA+ conversion camp, the film follows several queer and trans campers who join Owen Whistler (Bacon), the camp director, for a week of programming intended to “help them find a new sense of freedom”. With some more willing than others to be there, the camp starts, but as its methods become more psychologically unsettling (and the camp employees increasingly creepy) the campers must work together to protect themselves. When a mysterious killer starts claiming victims, things get even more dangerous (and terrifying).

Bacon’s Whistler, the camp director, runs Whistler Camp alongside several counselors, including his wife, Cora. Preston plays Cora Whistler, a licensed therapist in charge of the campers’ therapy sessions, and the wife of camp director Owen Whistler.?Anna Chlumsky portrays Molly, the camp’s medic and newest employee. Theo Germaine is Jordan, a transgender and non-binary camper from a religious background who has made a deal with their parents to legally emancipate if attending Whistler doesn’t “work.” Quei Tann plays?Alexandra, a transgender woman whose parents have threatened to kick her out of the house if she didn’t attend the camp.?Austin Crute isToby, a gay camper who negotiated with his parents for a trip to New York in exchange for a week at Whistler Camp. Monique Kim plays Veronica, a bisexual camper who wants to stop fighting who she really is.?Anna Lore portrays Kim, a closeted lesbian camper who puts on a perfectly crafted front for her family and friends, assuming that when she fits in, she’ll finally be loved. Cooper Koch plays Stu, a jock with aspirations of a swim scholarship and joining his father’s fraternity – things he doesn’t feel he can achieve if he’s open about being gay. Darwin Del Fabro is Gabriel, a sensitive gay camper tired of the persistent name-calling and bullying he’s endured his entire life.

They/Them is written/directed by John Logan (Skyfall) and produced by Jason Blum (Get Out) and Michael Aguilar (Penny Dreadful), with executive producers Kevin Bacon (You Should Have Left), Scott Turner Schofield (Euphoria), Howie Young (Mission: Impossible III, Hit and Run), and Jon Romano (Vengeance).

Check out the trailer above.

Christian Slater, Alia Shawkat, Geena Davis, Haley Joel Osment & Kyle MacLachlan Among Final Additions To Zoë Kravitz’s Directorial Debut ‘Pussy Island’ For MGM

(7/6/22) Zoë Kravitz has rounded out the cast for her directorial debut Pussy Island, with Christian Slater (Dr. Death), Alia Shawkat (Search Party) and Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise) signing on for roles, along with Adria Arjona (Morbius), Haley Joel Osment (Goliath), Liz Caribel Sierra (God’s Time), Levon Hawke (The Crowded Room), Trew Mullen (Sunny Family Cult), Saul Williams (Akilla’s Escape), Cris Costa and Kyle MacLachlan (Blue Velvet).

The actors join an ensemble that also includes Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum and Simon Rex, as previously announced.

The MGM genre pic written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum follows Frida (Ackie), a young and clever Los Angeles cocktail waitress who has her eyes set on the prize: philanthropist and tech mogul Slater King (Tatum). When she skillfully maneuvers her way into King’s inner circle and ultimately an intimate gathering on his private island, she is ready for a journey of a lifetime. Despite the epic setting, beautiful people, ever-flowing champagne and late-night dance parties, Frida can sense that there’s more to this island than meets the eye. Something she can’t quite put her finger on. Something terrifying.

Pussy Island is currently in production in Mexico. Bruce Cohen, Kravitz’s This Is Important and Tiffany Persons are producing the film, alongside Garret Levitz for Tatum’s Free Association. Jordan Harkins is executive producing along with RedRum’s Stacy Perskie.

Slater received Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards for his role in USA Network’s hacker drama Mr. Robot, more recently starring in Peacock’s limited series, Dr. Death. His upcoming projects include Jerry Seinfeld’s feature directorial debut Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story for Netflix, the FX on Hulu miniseries Fleishman Is in Trouble and Pierre Morel’s action-comedy Freelance.

Shawkat starred for five seasons in the hit comedy series Search Party, which originally aired on TBS before moving to HBO Max for its final two seasons. She recently appeared in Aaron Sorkin’s film Being the Ricardos for Amazon Studios, and can currently be seen in the FX series The Old Man, opposite Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow.

Davis won her first Oscar in 1989 for her turn in The Accidental Tourist, landing her second nom in 1992 for her performance opposite Susan Sarandon as Thelma & Louise‘s Thelma. The actress most recently appeared in the action-thriller Ava with Jessica Chastain and Colin Farrell. Other notable credits include Tootsie, A League of Their Own, Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight and In a World….

Arjona most recently starred as the female lead in Sony’s Marvel pic Morbius, opposite Jared Leto. She can currently be seen in HBO’s Irma Vep opposite Alicia Vikander and in HBO Max’s Father of the Bride remake, and will make her Disney+ debut in the Star Wars series Andor on August 31st.

Osment is an Oscar nominee who most recently wrapped a role in Alexi Pappas and Jeremy Teicher’s film, Not an Artist. He will next be seen opposite Alison Brie and Jay Ellis in Dave Franco’s Amazon feature Somebody I Used to Know, which is slated for release later this year. Osment recently starred on the TV side in the final two seasons of Netflix’s The Kominsky Method, in addition to the final season of David E. Kelley’s Goliath.

Sierra recently wrapped on Ellen, a miniseries from Automatik and New Regency in which she stars opposite Lin Shaye. Up next, she stars as Regina in the feature God’s Time, written and directed by Daniel Antebi, which made its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

Hawke is a 20-year-old actor and musician currently studying Philosophy at Brown University, who with Pussy Island makes his feature film debut. Also coming up for the actor is the Apple TV+ series The Crowded Room, which marks his debut on the TV side.

Mullen is best known for her lead role in Blumhouse and Eli Roth’s Crypt TV series Sunny Family Cult. She has also starred in music videos opposite the likes of Charlie Puth, Nick Jonas, Bazzi and Ross Lynch.

Williams was a series regular on The CW’s Girlfriends and has appeared in such films as K-PAX, Lackawanna Blues, New York, I Love You, and the French-Senegalese Aujourd’hui. He also starred in the 2021 film Akilla’s Escape and made his directorial debut with the Afrofuturist Cannes 2021 film Neptune Frost, which was released in theaters last month.

Costa is an executive protection consultant who, like Hawke, is making his feature film acting debut.

MacLachlan is best known for his iconic collaborations with David Lynch on Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and Dune. Among his other credits are Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives and Portlandia. He recently starred opposite Kate McKinnon in the Peacock limited series Joe vs. Carole and will next be seen opposite Jon Hamm in the film Confess, Fletch.

Slater is represented by UTA; Shawkat by UTA and Mgmt Entertainment; Davis by CAA and Untitled Entertainment; Arjona by CAA, Anonymous Content and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Osment by Mgmt Entertainment, Griffin Talent, and Edelstein, Laird & Sobel; Sierra by Grandview; Hawke by CAA; Mullen by Luber Roklin Entertainment; Williams by CAA and Knitting Factory Management; and MacLachlan by UTA, Entertainment 360, and attorney Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Dynasty's John James - The Interview

(7/5/22) (Watch here) Actor John James will sit down for a live interview in The Locher Room on Wednesday, July 13th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST. John is best known to television audiences for playing the dashing Jeff Colby in the Aaron Spelling hit prime-time soap Dynasty and its spin-off series, The Colbys.

John’s career began with his role Tom Bergman on Search for Tomorrow in the 1970’s. In addition to his role on Search, John appeared as Jeff Martin on All My Children and Dr. Rick Decker on As the World Turns.

Susan Sarandon Series Gets Premire Date

(6/6/22) Fox brass called new country music drama Monarch, the network’s first fully-owned drama, a “top priority,” when they pulled it from the schedule two weeks before it was to debut in January and pushed it fall. The series, starring Susan Sarandon, Trace Adkins and Anna Friel, is living up to that label as it is getting the same treatment in the fall that it was going to receive in midseason — a premiere behind an NFL game on Sunday (Sept. 11, following a football doubleheader) and a Tuesday 9 PM regular time slot, following The Resident.

Charles Siebert Dies: ‘Trapper John, M.D.’ Actor Was 84

(6/2/22) Charles Siebert, the actor who played the pompous Dr. Stanley Riverside II on the CBS medical drama series Trapper John, M.D., died May 1 of Covid-related pneumonia at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. He was 84.

His death was confirmed in a statement on the website of the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, California, where Siebert appeared frequently.

Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Siebert made his Broadway debut in a 1967 production of Brecht’s Galileo and would return to the Broadway stage five more times through the following decade. He began his TV career in the late 1960s on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. By the mid-1970s he had appeared in such series as Hawk, N.Y.P.D., Another World, The Adams Chronicles, Kojak, Police Woman and The Rockford Files.

In 1977 he recurred on the Norman Lear soap parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, later guesting on other Lear series including All in the Family, Good Times, Maude and One Day at a Time.

In 1979 he landed what would become his signature role in the M*A*S*H spinoff Trapper John, M.D., playing opposite stars Pernell Roberts (in the title role) and Gregory Harrison. Siebert’s character served as the persnickety, stuffy but talented foil to the more laid-back doctors played by Roberts and Harrison, following in the M*A*S*H tradition of Larry Linville’s Dr. Frank Burns and David Ogden Stiers’ Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester III.

The show was a hit in its 10 p.m. Sunday slot, where it aired for the first six-plus seasons, consistently ranking in the full-season Top 20 in the three-network universe. Siebert remained with the series throughout its entire 1979-86 run.

He would return to television throughout the 1980s and ’90s, appearing in The Love Boat, The New Mike Hammer, Hotel, Mancuso FBI, Murder, She Wrote and Xena: Warrior Princess.

During his tenure on Trapper John, M.D., Siebert began a directing career that would include seven episodes of that series and, later, episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Silk Stalkings, Pacific Blue, Knots Landing, The Pretender and others.

On the big screen, Siebert appeared in, among others, The Other Side of Midnight (1977), Coma (1978), All Night Long (1981), and White Water Summer (1987). In 1979, he played an assistant district attorney in Norman Jewison’s legal satire … And Justice for All, starring Al Pacino.

On Broadway, Siebert appeared in 1968’s Jimmy Shine opposite Dustin Hoffman; David Rabe’s Sticks and Bones (1972); The Changing Room (1973); and the 1974 revival of Tennessee Williams‘ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Elizabeth Ashley, Fred Gwynne and Keir Dullea.

Siebert would return to the stage throughout his career, often at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, California, where he played Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, the artist Mark Rothko in the play Red, Big Daddy in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.

In the tribute posted on the theater’s website by artistic director Jared Sakren and former artistic director Craig A. Miller, Siebert was remembered as “generous to his castmates,” with “an engaging sense of humor, a wealth of experience and pure, unadulterated talent capable of delivering towering, unforgettable performances.”

“Anyone who had the honor and pleasure of sharing the stage with him knows that simply watching him work was a Masterclass in itself: pure heart, fiery passion, terrifying truth, and fearlessness – all on display, every moment he was out there,” the statement continues. “He was not only a consummate artist, he was a mentor to those who worked with him.”

Siebert is survived by wife Kristine Leroux Siebert, daughter Gillian Bozanic, son Christopher, stepdaughter Kristina Harvey, stepsons Max Leroux and Jeremy Leroux, and other extended family. He was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine, and son Charlie Jr., a popular Bay Area musician who died in 2020.

‘City On A Hill’ Gets New Return Date on Showtime; See Kevin Bacon & Aldis Hodge In Latest Trailer

(5/17/22) (Video) Showtime has announced a new date for the third-season return of City on a Hill starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge. The series that also stars Jill Hennessy, Lauren E. Banks and Matthew Del Negro will premiere on Sunday, July 31 at 10 p.m. Eight, one-hour episodes are planned. Watch the new trailer above.

Joining the cast this season are guest stars Corbin Bernsen, Joanne Kelly and Ernie Hudson. Here’s the breakdown for the new episodes, per Showtime: “Season three brings us to Boston’s high society Beacon Hill. Having left the FBI and thrown his badge into Boston Harbor, Jackie Rohr (Bacon) lands a lavish new gig running security for a wealthy family. Life is good until secrets begin to unravel. When an investigation opens, ADA Decourcy Ward (Hodge) sees an opportunity to finally rip out the machinery perpetuating a broken criminal justice system. Siobhan Quays (Banks), representing a construction worker who was severely injured on the Big Dig, encounters the city’s corruption firsthand, all while coping with the traumatic events of her past year. As Jenny Rohr (Hennessy) can attest, given her history with her father, some experiences will haunt you beyond your breaking point.”

City on the Hill is executive produced by Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street), who also serves as showrunner. Other executive producers are Jennifer Todd, Jorge Zamacona, Bacon, Hodge, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Barry Levinson.

ABC New Series Teaser Trailers: ‘Alaska’, ‘The Rookie: Feds’, ‘Not Dead Yet’

(5/17/22) We’re getting the first look at three of ABC’s new series for the 2022-23 broadcast season. The network has released teaser trailers for fall dramas Alaska and The Rookie: Feds and midseason comedy Not Dead Yet. Check them out below.

ALASKA, Drama (Video)

Produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios. From writer-director-executive producer Tom McCarthy and executive producers Hilary Swank, Melissa Wells, Bert Salke, Kyle Hopkins and Ryan Binkley.

THE ROOKIE: FEDS, Drama (Video)

Produced by eOne and ABC Signature. From writer-executive producer Alexi Hawley and executive producers Mark Gordon, Niecy Nash-Betts, Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Bill Norcross, Corey Miller.

NOT DEAD YET, Comedy (Video)

Produced by A+E Studios and 20th Television. From writer-executive producer David E. Kelley, executive producer and showrunner Dana Calvo and executive producers Michael Connelly, Ross Fineman, Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson.

‘They/Them’: John Logan’s Blumhouse Horror Film Starring Kevin Bacon Heading To Peacock

(5/12/22) Peacock today unveiled They/Them, a new Blumhouse pic starring Kevin Bacon (City on a Hill), Anna Chlumsky (Inventing Anna), Carrie Preston (Claws), Theo Germaine (4400), Austin Crute (Call Your Mother), Monique Kim (What/If), Anna Lore (All American), Cooper Koch (Power Book II: Ghost) and Darwin del Fabro (Dangerous Liaisons), which will debut on the streamer on August 5th.

The LGBTQIA+ slasher, formerly known as Whistler Camp, marks the directorial debut of three-time Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan (Skyfall). It’s a queer empowerment story set at a gay conversion camp that follows camp director Owen Whistler (Bacon), who is joined by several queer and trans campers for a week of programming intended to “help them find a new sense of freedom.” As the camp’s methods become increasingly more psychologically unsettling, the campers must work together to protect themselves. And when a mysterious killer starts claiming victims, things get even more dangerous.

Logan also wrote the film, produced by Jason Blum (Get Out) and Michael Aguilar (Penny Dreadful) for Blumhouse. Logan, Bacon, Scott Turner Schofield (Euphoria), Howie Young (Mission: Impossible III) and Jon Romano (upcoming Firestarter) served as executive producers.

“THEY/THEM has been germinating within me my whole life. I’ve loved horror movies as long as I can remember, I think because monsters represent ‘the other’ and as gay kid I felt a powerful sense of kinship with those characters who were different, outlawed, or forbidden,” said Logan. “I wanted to make a movie that celebrates queerness, with characters that I never saw when I was growing up. When people walk away from the movie, I hope they’re going to remember the incredible love that these kids have for each other and how that love needs to be protected and celebrated.”

“Original films will be an integral component of Peacock’s content offering, and we are thrilled to partner with Blumhouse on THEY/THEM streaming exclusively this summer,” added Val Boreland, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, NBCUniversal Entertainment, Television and Streaming. “The film is not only entertaining and thrilling, but also empowers its audience with its message of acceptance in a way that only a creator like John Logan could imagine and then bring to life.”

Robin Givens Mockumentary ‘The Nana Project’ Adds Sierra McCormick, Morgan Fairchild, Katie Sarife & More

(5/12/22) Sierra McCormick (American Horror Stories), Tony Todd (Candyman), Katie Sarife (Annabelle Comes Home), Gina Hiraizumi (Doom Patrol), Emmy nominee Morgan Fairchild (Murphy Brown) and Nicky Whelan (The Binge) have boarded Robin Givens’ mockumentary-style comedy, The Nana Project. They join an ensemble that also includes Oscar and Golden Globe winner Mercedes Ruehl, Nolan Gould and Will Peltz, as previously announced.

Set primarily at Timeless Acres Retirement Home, the film follows a documentary crew who develop an interest in one of its star residents—feisty chess master Helen “Nana” Lewis (Ruehl). With the help of her friends Jennifer (Whelan), Francesca (Fairchild), Jack (Todd), Esther (Tilton), Kitty (Beth Broderick), Gladys (Margaret Avery) and Lisa (Hiraizumi), Nana begins training for an upcoming chess tournament. She plans on dominating the competition but her real plan involves reuniting her estranged grandsons, Andrew (Gould), a dedicated veterinary student, and Cody (Peltz), a flashy male model and influencer. Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years), Eddie Steeples (My Name is Earl), and Mike Manning (This Is Us) will round out the cast.

Eric Ulloa (Jekyll and Hyde), Anthony Del Negro (The Girl in the Window) and 12-time Tony Award winner Carl Moellenberg (Wakefield) wrote the script. The latter is also producing on behalf of Flamingo Films alongside Del Negro, with production set to kick off later this month.

McCormick is represented by Management Production Entertainment and Innovative Artists; Todd by manager Jeff Goldberg and Defining Artists Agency; Sarife by Link Entertainment and Innovative Artists; Hiraizumi by Link Entertainment; Fairchild by Pinnacle Theatrical Talent; Whelan by Luber Roklin Entertainment and Innovative Artists; D’Abo by APA; Steeples by Jackson Entertainment Management and Del Shaw Moonves; Broderick by Mavrick Artists Agency; and Avery by Ideal Talent Agency.

Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler & Megan Mullally To Star In Wedding Comedy ‘The Fabulous Four’

(5/11/22) Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise), Oscar nominee Bette Midler (The First Wives Club) and Emmy winner Megan Mullally (Will And Grace) are attached to star in The Fabulous Four from director Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker).

The feel-good comedy will follow two life-long friends (Sarandon, Mullally) who travel to Key West to be bridesmaids in a surprise wedding of their college girlfriend Marilyn (Midler). When there, sisterhoods are rekindled, the past rises up, and sparks, drinks and romance fly.

The plan is to start pre-production in July and begin filming in September in Atlanta, Georgia and Key West, Florida.

Sierra/Affinity is launching international sales next week in Cannes and the project will likely have strong appeal for those in need of humour and diversion and looking to tap into the mature audience quadrant. CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group are representing the North American distribution rights.

Richard Barton Lewis (August Rush) is producing for Southpaw Entertainment. The original script comes from Jenna Milly and Ann Marie Allison (Golden Arm) and Moorhouse. Gabrielle Jerou-Tabak (August Rush) is executive-producing.

Kristen Figeroid, Sierra/Affinity’s Managing Director and Executive Vice President, stated: “We are delighted to bring a project to the market that reminds us how much fun movies can be. This incredible package feels like the film we all need right now.”

Moorhouse is repped by CAA and HLA Management in Australia; Midler is repped by CAA. Sarandon is repped by UTA. Mullally is represented by UTA and attorneys Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum & Morris.

Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, William H. Macy, Emma Roberts & Luke Bracey To Star In ‘Maybe I Do’

(5/5/22) Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, William H. Macy, Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey are set to star in the multi-generational heartfelt romantic comedy Maybe I Do from Endeavor Content. Writer and producer Michael Jacobs makes his feature directorial debut in the poignant comedy based on his script.

“I got to watch this incredible cast playing characters I think people will love seeing them play,” Jacobs said. “The difficult choices they have to make about what might be the best rest of their lives is something I am hopeful will resonate strongly with the audience.”

The story follows Michelle (Roberts) and Allen (Bracey), who have reached the point in their relationship where they are considering next steps. They decide to invite their parents to finally meet and to offer some understanding of why marriage works. Except the parents already know one another quite well, which leads to some very distinct opinions about the value of marriage.

“We are thrilled to assemble this multi-generational all-star cast to explore a topic everyone can relate to – falling in and out and back in love again,” said Dan Guando, SVP Film Development and Production at Endeavor Content, and Christopher Slager, SVP\ Film Group. “Michael Jacobs’ poignant script and keen eye bring such joy to this uplifting comedy.”

Endeavor Content are financing and producing the pic alongside Jacobs, Vincent Newman and Scott Mednick. Jennifer Semler, Diane Keaton, Stephanie Heaton-Harris, Jonathan Montepare and Skyler Mednick are executive producing.

Endeavor Content and WME Independent are handling worldwide sales and will be taking it to Cannes market next month.

Keaton is repped by WME and Pearlman & Tishbi; Gere is repped by WME, Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman; Sarandon is repped by UTA; Macy is repped by ICM Partners and Atlas Artists; Roberts is repped by CAA and Sweeney Entertainment, and Bracey is repped by CAA, Fourward and Goodman Genow Schenkman. Jacobs is with Franklin Weinrib Rudell & Vassallo.

Susan Scannell Gilbert Interview 5/10/22

(5/5/22) (Watch here) Join actress Susan Scannell Gilbert live in The Locher Room on Tuesday, May 10th at 7 p.m. EST / 4 p.m. PST. Susan will be here to look back at her career and time working in daytime television.

Susan is well-known for her roles on Search For Tomorrow (Kristen Carter Emerson), Ryan’s Hope (Gabriel Dubujak) and appearances on One Life to Live and All My Children. Susan is also known for her debut role on the soap opera Another Life (Becky Hewitt) produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network where she wrote songs to be performed by her character. Daytime soaps led to a contract role on the ABC hit prime-time series, Dynasty, and guest starring roles on episodes of The A-Team and Remington Steele.

While acting, Ms. Scannell Gilbert kept her love of music alive by appearing at nightclubs such as: Dangerfields, Maxims, The Silver Lining, Carlos & Charlie’s and others, as well as performing her original songs on The Merv Griffin Show. She also sang the National Anthem at Shea Stadium. Scannell Gilbert ’s love of singing and writing led to writing a one-woman musical called “Love Jokes” which received a grant from Queens Public Television.

She is a three-time winner in Joel Selmeier’s New York One Minute Play Competition, which led to her scripts being published in “Rosebud Magazine”. She is also the winner of DramaLogues 1988 Critics Award for outstanding achievement in theater for her comedic performance in Dream Girl by Elmer Rice.

From 2001 – 2005 she served as the Founding Executive Director of the award-winning Astoria Performing Arts Center in Astoria, NY, where along with producing popular shows for the public, she was able to create musical theater programs for youth (“Summer Stars”) and Seniors (“Senior Stars”) which are free to all participants. She left APAC in good hands, and it is a thriving theater to this day. Susan can be found on the stage in Massachusetts where she enjoys performing roles that “tickle her mind and heart.”

Christian Slater Joins FX Limited Series ‘Fleishman Is In Trouble’

(4/29/22) Christian Slater is the latest big name to join FX’s limited series Fleishman Is In Trouble.

The Dr. Death and Dirty John star will feature opposite Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan and Claire Danes in the series, which is based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s bestselling debut novel.

The series also stars Adam Brody and Joy Supruno with the likes of Ralph Adriel Johnson, Brian Miskell, Michael Gaston, Maxim Jasper Swinton and Meara Mahoney Gross also featuring.

Created by Brodesser-Akner, the story centers on recently separated fortysomething Toby Fleishman (Eisenberg), who dives into the brave new world of app-based dating with the kind of success he never had dating in his youth, before he got married at the tail end of medical school. But just at the start of his first summer of sexual freedom, his ex-wife, Rachel (Danes), disappears, leaving him with the kids and no hint of where she is or whether she plans to return. As he balances parenting, the return of old friends, a promotion at the hospital that is a long time coming and all the eligible women that Manhattan has to offer, he realizes that he’ll never be able to figure out what happened to Rachel until he can take a more honest look at what happened to their marriage in the first place.

Slater, who recurs in three episodes, plays Archer Sylvan, a Tom Wolfe-esque figure in the book, a journalist who wrote a “legendary” article, titled Decoupling, which details the dissolution of a marriage and is pretty close to the story of Fleishman is in Trouble. Sylvan is also the obsession of Libby Epstein, the narrator of the book and friend of Toby Fleishman’s from college.

Brodesser-Akner serves as a writer of the limited series and executive produces along with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Susannah Grant as well as Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris who will also direct the first block of the series. Fleishman Is in Trouble is produced by ABC Signature.

Slater is coming off an impressive television turn, having played Dan Broderick in Dirty John and Dr. Randall Kirby in Dr. Death. Next up are a couple of animated projects including Netflix’s conspiracy theory comedy series Inside Job and Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas.

Slater is repped by UTA.

Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon 5/19/22

(4/28/22) “A Clogged Pore, a Little Spanish and the Future” – Sheldon struggles to cope with the first signs of puberty. Also, Mary and George Sr. hunt for new jobs, and Georgie and Meemaw take a business trip across the border, on the fifth season finale of YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, May 19 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

RECURRING CAST includes: Ed Begley, Jr. (Dr. Linkletter), Melissa Peterman (Brenda), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer)

Emmys: LeVar Burton, John Aniston to Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

(4/26/22) Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton and Days of Our Lives vet John Aniston will be among the Lifetime Achievement honorees at this year’s newly expanded Daytime, Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle, News & Documentary and Children’s & Family Emmy Award ceremonies, it was announced on Tuesday morning.

All NATAS events are scheduled to return to being in-person this year, after holding virtual ceremonies in 2020 and 2021.

This year marks the launch of the Children’s & Family Emmy Award ceremony — the first expansion in the competition since 1979 — as part of a previously announced realignment of the Daytime and Primetime Emmys. Burton, who has earned more than 20 Emmys over his career, will be honored at the 1st Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, to be held Dec. 11 at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.

Aniston, who has played Days‘ nefarious Victor Kiriakis for more than 35 years, will receive his Lifetime Achievement award at the 49th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which will be held Friday, June 24 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and air on CBS.

Other recipients of Lifetime Achievement awards this year include:

* This Old House, which will join Sesame Street and 60 Minutes as the only programs (versus individuals) to receive Lifetime Achievement awards from NATAS.

* Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s preeminent natural history documentarians, and Judy Woodruff, a news and political journalist for more than five decades and anchor/managing editor of PBS NewsHour. (The 43rd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards will be held Sept. 28-29 at the Palladium Times Square in New York.)

* Lesley Visser, a trailblazing sports journalist who is enshrined in six different halls of fame and is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. (The 43rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards will be held May 24 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.)

* Yvette Kanouff, a technology entrepreneur who has been involved in digital transformation worldwide for 25 years. (The 73rd Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards will be held April 25 at the Wynn Encore in Las Vegas.)

Wendie Malick guests on Young Sheldon 5/12/22

(4/25/22) “White Trash, Holy Rollers and Punching People” – As the church congregation gossips about Georgie, Missy stands up for her brother, and Sheldon is distracted by the family drama, on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, May 12 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

RECURRING CAST includes: Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Emily Osment (Mandy), Griffin McIntyre (Danny).

Sam Esmail’s Netflix Film ‘Leave The World Behind’ Adds Kevin Bacon, Farrah Mackenzie

(4/18/22) Kevin Bacon (City on a Hill) and Farrah Mackenzie (United States of Al) have signed on for roles in Sam Esmail’s Netflix film Leave the World Behind, Deadline can confirm. They join a cast that also includes Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke and Myha’la Herrold, as previously announced.

Leave the World Behind is based on Rumaan Alam’s novel about a family vacation on Long Island that is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a mysterious blackout. As the threat grows more imminent, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world.

Esmail adapted the screenplay and is producing with Chad Hamilton through Esmail Corp, alongside Roberts, Lisa Gillan, and Marisa Yeres Gill for Red Om Films. Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis is exec producing alongside Alam, Danny Stillman and Esmail Corp’s Nick Krishnamurthy.

Bacon is an Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner who currently stars on Showtime’s City on a Hill. In recent years, the actor has also been seen on such series as SMILF and I Love Dick. Recent film credits include You Should Have Left and Patriots Day.

Mackenzie stars on CBS’ sitcom United States of Al and was previously seen on Amazon’s Utopia. She also featured in Steven Soderbergh’s 2017 film, Logan Lucky.

Bacon is represented by MGMT Entertainment and Gaines Soloman Law Group; Mackenzie by A3 Artists Agency, Luber Roklin Entertainment and Brecheen Feldman Breimer.

Frankie Faison guests on The Rookie 4/24/22

(4/8/22) “Simone” – Officer Nolan and the LA division of the FBI enlist the help of FBI trainee Simone Clark when one of her former students is suspected of terrorism following an explosion at a local power station on an all-new episode of “The Rookie,” SUNDAY, APRIL 24 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. Watch episodes on demand and on Hulu?the day following their premieres.

Guest starring is Niecy Nash as Simone Clark, Felix Solis as Matthew Garza, Kat Foster as Casey Fox and Frankie Faison as Christopher “Cutty” Clark.

“Simone” was written by Alexi Hawley, Terence Paul Winter and directed by Liz Friedlander.

City on a Hill Return Date

(3/24/22) City on a Hill Season 3 (starring Kevin Bacon) will premiere Sunday, July 10 at 10/9c on Showtime. Watch a trailer: Video.

Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon 3/10/22

(2/24/22) “A Suitcase Full of Cash and a Yellow Clown Car” – Meemaw’s gambling room is a success, and Sheldon dips his toe in the stock market. Also, Missy starts a business, on the CBS Original series YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, March 10 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

RECURRING CAST: Craig T. Nelson (Dale), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Doc Farrow (Coach Wilkins).

Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon 3/3/22

(2/17/22) “A Lobster, an Armadillo and a Way Bigger Number” – Sheldon joins Dr. Linkletter (Ed Begley, Jr.) and Dr. Sturgis (Wallace Shawn) on a science road trip. Also, Georgie continues to lie about his age, on the CBS Original series YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, March 3 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

RECURRING CAST: Wallace Shawn (Dr. Sturgis), Ed Begley, Jr. (Dr. Linkletter), Craig T. Nelson (Dale), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Emily Osment (Mandy)

Wendie Malick recurs & Ming-Na Wen guests on Young Sheldon 2/24/22

(2/3/22) “A Free Scratcher and Feminine Wiles” – Sheldon butts heads with Dr. Lee (Ming-Na Wen), a new scientist in the lab. Also, Mary is given a lotto ticket, on the CBS Original series YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Feb. 24 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

RECURRING CAST: Wallace Shawn (Dr. Sturgis), Ed Begley, Jr. (Dr. Linkletter), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Rex Linn (Principal Petersen).

GUEST CAST: Ming-Na Wen (Dr. Lee), Derrick L. McMillon (Hal).

SPECIAL GUESTS AND STARS UNVEILED FOR NBC’S ‘CELEBRATING BETTY WHITE: AMERICA’S GOLDEN GIRL’

(1/27/22) President Joe Biden, Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli, Cher, Bryan Cranston, Ted Danson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Goldie Hawn, Vicki Lawrence, Jane Leeves, Jay Leno, Anthony Mackie, Wendie Malick, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Jean Smart, Mary Steenburgen and more will come together to pay tribute to the late actress and animal advocate in NBC’s primetime special “Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl.”

The special airs Monday, Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. and will be available the next day on Peacock.

Co-stars, friends, admirers and those who shared special moments with White recount their favorite memories and reveal untold stories to commemorate the life and legacy of the trailblazing television star. The telecast will include clips and never-before-seen footage that best capture White’s irreverent tone, spirit and impeccable comedic timing that are a hallmark of her decades-long career.

White was an Emmy, Grammy and SAG Award winner as well as being a tireless advocate for animals. With breakout performances in “Mary Tyler Moore” and “The Golden Girls,” she starred in two of the most popular comedies of all time and had hundreds of TV credits.

“Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl” is from Emmy-Award winning Brad Lachman Productions and is executive produced by Brad Lachman and Bill Bracken, and produced by Matt Lachman.

Christian Slater Joins John Cena, Alison Brie & Juan Pablo Raba In Action-Comedy ‘Freelance’

(1/27/22) Golden Globe winner Christian Slater (Mr. Robot) is joining John Cena, Alison Brie and Juan Pablo Raba in director Pierre Morel’s (Taken) action-comedy Freelance, which is filming in Colombia.

Freelance follows a special forces operator (Cena) who decides to retire from the Army and start a family back in the states. After several years of mortgage payments, school drop offs, backyard barbecues and trying to conform to life in suburbia, he decides to come out of retirement to take a gig providing security for a female journalist (Brie) as she interviews a cruel dictator who may or may not have ordered the attack on him and his men. When a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle where they must survive the elements, the military and one another.

Endurance Media’s Steve Richards is producing alongside Sentient Entertainment’s Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin.

In addition to producing, Richards’ Endurance is co-financing with Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios. The film marks Jacob Lentz’s (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) feature writing debut.

AGC International, the international sales arm of AGC Studios, closed a raft of deals on the movie when it launched at the virtual AFM market in November, 2021.

Slater’s recent roles include acclaimed series Mr. Robot, for which he earned a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award, and Dirty John, opposite Amanda Peet and Eric Bana.

In 2021, he appeared in the Peacock limited series Dr. Death alongside Joshua Jackson and Alec Baldwin, for which he has also been nominated for a Critics Choice Award, and lent his voice to Netflix’s animated series Inside Job, opposite Lizzy Caplan and Clark Duke. On the film side, the True Romance and Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves star recently starred alongside Glenn Close in Bjorn Runge’s well-received drama The Wife.

Slater is repped by UTA.

Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon 1/20/22

(1/13/22) Jason Alexander and Wendie Malick Return as Professor Lundy and President Hagemeyer, Respectively

“A Pink Cadillac and a Glorious Tribal Dance” – Sheldon attends his first comic book convention. Also, Mary tries selling make-up, on the CBS Original series YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Jan. 20 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

‘Monarch’: Fox Pushes “Priority” Drama To Fall Due To Covid-19

(1/12/22) Monarch, the country music family dynasty series starring Susan Sarandon, Trace Adkins, Anna Friel and Beth Ditto, has become the latest victim of Covid-19.

Fox has pushed back the launch of the series from January to fall as a result of the rising spread of the virus. The series was set to premiere on Sunday January 30.

The network called the series, which is its first fully-owned drama, a “top priority” but was forced in to the move as a result of the impact of the pandemic on production.

Fox is hoping that by shifting the show to fall of its 2022/23 season, it will benefit from having the entire first season produced and more time to market the drama.

It is one of the most significant scalps of the rising spread of the Omicron variant. A number of broadcast shows from NCIS to Chicago Fire and late-night shows such as The Late Late Show with James Corden and Late Night with Seth Meyers – have paused production, but Monarch shifting its premiere by nine months is a huge blow for the network.

“With an incredible pedigree of talent and musical performances, the powerfully compelling drama, Monarch, is a top priority for Fox Entertainment in 2022,” said a Fox spokesman.

“Unfortunately, due to the unavoidable realities of the pandemic and the profound impact Covid-19 continues to have on our industry and around the world, it is necessary to reschedule Monarch’s January 30 debut to the Fall. As the cornerstone of Fox’s new 2022-23 slate, shifting a show of this magnitude allows us to have its entire first season produced, create additional, high-profile content and promotional windows to support launch, and give our viewers the best opportunity to enjoy the series as intended with a non-compromised run of episodes. We thank our cast, producers, writers and the entire crew for their tireless work and continued dedication to the country music-filled world that is Monarch.”

The network is currently figuring out what will replace Monarch in the schedule on Sunday, January 30 and then on Tuesdays at 9pm for midseason going forward.

Monarch will continue to shoot in Atlanta through the spring.

It is the latest setback for the series, which Deadline revealed was forced to bring in a new showrunner in the form of former Designated Survivor showrunner Jon Feldman replacing Michael Rauch.

Created by Melissa London Hilfers, Monarch came out of the network’s fledgling script-to-series model.

Monarch is a multigenerational musical drama about America’s first family of country music, the Romans. The Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough as nails Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman, played by Sarandon. Along with her beloved husband Albie, played by Adkins, Dottie has created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown Nicolette “Nicky” Roman, played by Friel, will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.

Beth Ditto, Josh Sasse, Inigo Pascual, Martha Higareda, Meagan Holder and Emma Miliani also star with Eva Amurri, Adam Croasdell and Faith Prince among those recurring.

Exec producers for the Fox Entertainment-produced series include Hilfers, Feldman, Gail Berman, Hend Baghdady and Jason Owen.

Soap Opera Directors Interview - Bruce Barry, Sonia Blangiardo, Scott McKinsey, Phideaux Xavier

(1/6/22) (Watch Here) Go behind the scenes of your favorite daytime dramas with four Emmy Award-winning directors live in The Locher Room on Friday, January 14th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST. Joining the show are Bruce Barry, Sonia Blangiardo, Scott McKinsey, and Phideaux Xavier.

These four talented directors have brought to life some of your favorite stories, characters and moments in daytime television history over the last few decades. The shows they have worked on include All My Children, Another World, As the World Turns, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, Guiding Light, Love of Life, Passions, Search for Tomorrow, Sunset Beach, Texas and The Young and the Restless to name a few.

Joan Copeland Dies: Broadway Actress, Sister Of Playwright Arthur Miller Was 99

(1/4/22) Joan Copeland (ex-Selma, OLTL/ex-Greta & Joan, ATWT/ex-Maggie & Kay, Love Of Life/ex-Mary, EON, ex-Andrea, SFT), an actress whose Broadway career began in the 1940s and would include acclaimed performances in a 1976 revival of Pal Joey and in the 1980 premiere of The America Clock, written by her brother, the playwright Arthur Miller, died today at her home in New York City. She was 99.

One of the original members of the renowned Actors Studio, Copeland also had numerous film credits and recurring roles on such daytime serials as Search for Tomorrow and One Life to Live. Copeland’s death was first reported by the Broadway World website.

Copeland made her Broadway debut in 1948’s Sundown Beach, following it up the next year in Detective Story. She also appeared in Not For Children (1951), Handful of Fire (1958), Tovarich (1963), Something More! (1964), The Price (1968), Coco (1969), Two By Two (1970), Checking Out (1976), and 45 Seconds From Broadway (2001).

She was nominated for Drama Desk Awards for Pal Joey (1976) and The American Clock (1981), winning for the latter. She won an Obie Award in 1991 for her performance in Richard Greenburg’s The American Plan at the Manhattan Theatre Club Off Broadway.

Beginning her TV career with a role on the 1950 series Suspense, Copeland would appear in numerous of the era’s anthology dramas, as well as daytime serials Love of Life and The Edge of Night before taking the role of Search For Tomorrow‘s Andrea Whiting for five years starting in 1967. She also had roles on How To Survive a Marriage, As The World Turns and One Life To Live, and in such episodic programs as The Patty Duke Show, All in The Family, Chicago Hope, NYPD Blue and ER, among others. She recurred as Judge Rebecca Stein from 1991 to 2001 on Law & Order.

Copeland’s film credits The Goddess (1958), Middle of the Night (1959), Roseland (1977), It’s My Turn (1980), A Little Sex (1982), Happy New Year (1987), The Laser Man (1988), Her Alibi (1989), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), The Peacemaker (1997), The Object of My Affection (1998), The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998), Brother Bear (2003), The Last Request (2006), and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009).

Born in New York City to parents Isidore and Augusta Miller, Copeland was the younger sister of Death of a Salesman playwright Arthur Miller and their brother Kermit Miller. She was preceded in death by husband George J. Kupchik and is survived by son Eric Kupchik.

Wendie Malick recurs & Taylor Spreitler guests on Young Sheldon 1/6/22

(12/9/21) “An Expensive Glitch and a Goof-Off Room” – Sheldon gets a dorm room all to himself. Also, Meemaw gains an unwanted business partner, on the CBS Original series YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Jan. 6 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*. Reba McEntire and Wendie Malick return as June and Professor Hagemeyer, respectively. Melissa Joan Hart directed the episode.

RECURRING CAST: Wallace Shawn (Dr. Sturgis), Reba McEntire (June), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer).

GUEST CAST includes: Taylor Spreitler (Sam), Grady Lee Richmond (Wade), Matthew Josten (Bobby).

Former Soap Stars Get Critics Choice TV Nominations

(12/6/21) The prizes will be doled out at Sunday, January 9, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The CW and TBS will simulcast the show live in the East from 7-10 p.m. (delayed in the West).

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)
Mike Colter – Evil (Paramount+)
Brian Cox – Succession (HBO)
Lee Jung-jae – Squid Game (Netflix)
Billy Porter – Pose (FX)
Jeremy Strong – Succession (HBO)

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Uzo Aduba – In Treatment (HBO)
Chiara Aurelia – Cruel Summer (Freeform)
Christine Baranski – The Good Fight (Paramount+)
Katja Herbers – Evil (Paramount+)
Melanie Lynskey – Yellowjackets (Showtime)
MJ Rodriguez – Pose (FX)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicholas Braun – Succession (HBO)
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Kieran Culkin – Succession (HBO)
Justin Hartley – This Is Us (NBC)
Matthew Macfadyen – Succession (HBO)
Mandy Patinkin – The Good Fight (Paramount+)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Elle Fanning – The Great (Hulu)
Renée Elise Goldsberry – Girls5eva (Peacock)
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Sandra Oh – The Chair (Netflix)
Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Murray Bartlett – The White Lotus (HBO)
Zach Gilford – Midnight Mass (Netflix)
William Jackson Harper – The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)
Evan Peters – Mare of Easttown (HBO)
Christian Slater – Dr. Death (Peacock)
Courtney B. Vance – Genius: Aretha (National Geographic)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus (HBO)
Kaitlyn Dever – Dopesick (Hulu)
Kathryn Hahn – WandaVision (Disney+)
Melissa McCarthy – Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu)
Julianne Nicholson – Mare of Easttown (HBO)
Jean Smart – Mare of Easttown (HBO)

2021 Gotham Award Winners

(11/30/21) The Gotham Awards honor the best independent films.

Outstanding Lead Performance (tie)

Frankie Faison in The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (Gravitas Ventures)

Olivia Colman in The Lost Daughter (Netflix)

Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon

(11/19/21) “The Grand Chancellor and a Den of Sin” – Sheldon battles President Hagemeyer’s (Wendie Malick) mysterious boss over the university’s science requirements. Also, Mary discovers that Georgie is working at Meemaw’s illegal gambling room, on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Dec. 2 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

RECURRING CAST: Matt Hobby (Pastor Jeff), Ed Begley, Jr. (Professor Linkletter), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Nancy Linehan Charles (Peg)

Brett Dier, Anders Holm & David Rasche Board Lionsgate’s Sebastian Maniscalco Comedy ‘About My Father’

(11/19/21) Brett Dier (Jane the Virgin), Anders Holm (Workaholics) and David Rasche (Ryan’s Hope/Edge of Night/Search For Tomorrow) are the latest additions to the cast of the recently-wrapped Lionsgate comedy About My Father, written by and starring comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.

They join an ensemble that also includes Robert De Niro, Leslie Bibb and Kim Cattrall.

The film directed by Laura Terruso (Work It) is inspired by Maniscalco’s life and his relationship with his father. It sees Sebastian tell his old-school Italian immigrant father Salvo (De Niro) that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, with Salvo insisting on crashing a weekend with her tony parents. Though cultures clash and it seems that the two families have nothing in common, by the end of the weekend, they’ll be la famiglia.

As previously announced, Bibb is playing Sebastian’s onscreen fiancée, Ellie. Dier and Holm will play her brothers, Doug and Lucky Collins, with Rasche as her father, Bill.

Maniscalco wrote the film with Austen Earl. Depth of Field’s Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz and Andrew Miano are producing alongside Judi Marmel, with Depth of Field’s Dan Balgoyen exec producing. James Myers and Chelsea Kujawa are overseeing the project for the studio.

Dier is best known for his long run as Michael Cordero Jr. in The CW’s Jane the Virgin. He also starred in the Goldbergs spinoff series Schooled, and will next appear in Mimi Cave’s film Fresh opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan. He is represented by Gersh and Red Management.

Holm is best known as the co-creator, writer, and star of Workaholics, which ran on Comedy Central for seven seasons. He currently hosts the podcast This Is Important with his fellow Workaholics creators, and will next star in Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix miniseries Inventing Anna, opposite Julia Garner and Anna Chlumsky. He is repped by CAA, Avalon Management, and Yorn, Barnes, Levine.

Rasche is known for his series regular role as Waystar Royco’s Karl Muller on HBO’s Succession. The actor also recently starred in the feature The Good House, opposite Sigourney Weaver, and recurred on HBO’s Veep. He is with Innovative Artists, Liebman Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello.

Robert Melnik and Marc Shapiro negotiated the new cast members’ deals on behalf of the studio.

Megan Hilty Steps In As Replacement For Covid-Struck Jane Krakowski In ‘Annie Live!’

(11/12/21) Jane Krakowski has stepped down from the role of Lily St. Regis in NBC’s upcoming Annie Live! after being diagnosed with a breakthrough case of Covid, the network said Friday. Smash star Megan Hilty will step into the role.

“I am beyond thrilled to join this all-star cast, crew and creative team,” said Hilty in a statement. “My family and I have been super fans of Annie for as long as I can remember, and we always look forward to the epic televised musicals produced by Bob Greenblatt & Neil Meron, so to be a part of this particular production is an honor and a dream come true. I wish Jane the speediest of recoveries and hope to do her proud.”

According to NBC, Krakowski is “experiencing a breakthrough Covid case while working on a separate project in Ireland despite being double vaccinated, a regular testing process and abiding by protocols.”

Hilty joins Celina Smith, who will play Annie, and an ensemble that includes Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace and Tituss Burgess as Rooster.

2021 Holiday Movies, Shows On TV & Streaming For November & December – Updated Schedule

Hilty is best known to TV audiences for her portrayal of Ivy Lynn in NBC’s musical drama Smash, and she recently appeared in Lifetime’s Patsy & Loretta. Other TV credits include Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, Difficult People, The Good Wife and The Good Fight. She made her Broadway debut as Glinda in Wicked and was Tony-nominated for her role in 2016’s Noises Off.

Annie Live! will be executive produced by Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Alex Rudzinsky, with Lear deBessonet and Rudzinski sharing the directing duties. Choreography will be led by Sergio Trujillo. The live event is being produced by Chloe Productions.

The musical will air Thursday, December 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

Hilty is represented by Randi Goldstein and Nick Collins at Gersh.

Geoff Pierson & Clark Backo Join ‘The List’

(11/8/21) Geoff Pierson (Designated Survivor) and Clark Backo (Letterkenny) have joined the cast of The List, the indie comedy from director Melissa Miller Costanzo.

They’ll appear alongside previously announced cast members Halston Sage, Christian Navarro, Gregg Sulkin, Jonah Platt, Chrissie Fitt, Will Peltz and Zach Reino.

The film written by Rob Lederer and Steve Vitolo centers on Abby (Sage), a woman who is about to get married, for whom everything is perfect. Until she finds out her fiancé Matt (Platt) has slept with a celebrity from his “free pass” list. To get her mind off things, Abby and her best friend Chloe (Fit) come up with a crazy idea: Abby should pursue a celebrity from her own list. But things become complicated when she meets Jake (Navarro), a sweet and charming waiter at a neighborhood cafe, who gives her a fresh perspective. Pierson will play New York City Mayor Capozzi. On the verge of announcing his bid to run for president, Capozzi has a special, paternal relationship with Abby, who’s been his speechwriter for the last five years. Backo will portray Kenzie Burke, the rising star who sleeps with Abby’s fiancé.

Tobias Weymar, Annie Mahoney and Mark Fasano are producing for Nickel City Pictures, with Sage exec producing alongside Lederer, Vitolo, Eric B. Fleischman and Maurice Fadida, and New Legend Entertainment financing.

Pierson is perhaps best known for his turn as the doomed President John Keeler on 24, and will next be seen opposite Chris Pratt in upcoming Amazon series, The Terminal List. The actor has also appeared on the TV side in Designated Survivor, Splitting Up Together, Castle, Dexter, Boardwalk Empire, The West Wing and more. He recently appeared on the film side in Tyler Spindel’s Netflix pic The Wrong Missy, previously featuring in the casts of J. Edgar, World’s Greatest Dad, Get Smart, Changeling and other titles.

Backo is an actor, writer and activist who has appeared on the TV side in Hulu’s Letterkenny and The Handmaid’s Tale, Nat Geo’s The Hot Zone, The CW’s Supernatural, Designated Survivor and other series. She’s appeared on the film side in Blumhouse and Netflix’s Seven in Heaven and Jay Baruchel’s Random Acts of Violence, among other titles. The actress will next be seen in Amazon Studios’ rom-com I Want You Back, starring alongside Jenny Slate, Charlie Day, and Gina Rodriguez.

Pierson is repped by Artists & Representatives, Edna Talent Management and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller. Backo is with A3 Artists Agency and Ambition Talent.

Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon

(11/6/21) “An Introduction to Engineering and a Glob of Hair Gel” – Sheldon takes his first engineering class with Professor Boucher (Lance Reddick). Also, Meemaw and Dale help take care of his ex-wife, June (Reba McEntire), on the CBS Original series YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Nov. 18 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

RECURRING CAST: Craig T. Nelson (Dale), Reba McEntire (June), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Lance Reddick (Professor Boucher).

Patrick Mulcahey Interview 11/11/21

(11/5/21) (Watch here) Nine time Emmy Award-winning soap scribe Patrick Mulcahey will join me live in The Locher Room on Thursday, November 11th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST to look back at his incredible career writing for many of your favorite daytime dramas. As Patrick tells it, "I was having a fine misspent youth in 1979, writing plays and waiting tables in New Orleans, when a call came asking: Would he be interested in writing for Search For Tomorrow? Sure, I said. “What is it?”

Patrick has written for Another World (briefly), Texas, Guiding Light (twice), Loving, Santa Barbara, General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful, two short-lived primetime series, and two Movies of the Week. Patrick earned his first Emmy win at Guiding Light working where he was working side by side with Douglas Marland until Douglas left the show. 40 years after his start at Search for Tomorrow, Patrick left The Bold and the Beautiful at the end of 2019 and in his post-soap pandemic shutdown life, he’s writing plays nobody’s seen (no eyeballs in shutdown theaters), submitting to contests nobody’s heard of (won three of them, though), and enjoying the wilds of the North Cascade Mountains in Washington state, where he lives quietly and happily with his husband, who’s also named Patrick Mulcahey, to the amusement of everyone but the TSA. (In Patrick's words)

John James to play Joe Biden in film on son Hunter

(10/25/21) Now, he’s onto a different kind of dynasty.

“Dynasty” actor John James has been tapped to play President Joe Biden in the upcoming Hunter Biden movie “My Son Hunter.”

“The script has it all. Money, power, greed, sex, drugs and alcohol,” the 65-year-old soap opera star told the Daily Mail via a 30-second clip announcing his new role.

For the uninitiated, the controversial biopic is based on allegations by The Post and other outlets made against the Biden clan ahead of the 2020 election. The Post ran a story about emails allegedly retrieved from a laptop belonging to the younger Biden, which reportedly disclosed the family’s business dealings with both China and Ukraine. The exposé was blocked from being shared on Twitter.

“This is a common tale of a father’s ultimate love for his son, despite his major shortcomings. ‘My Son Hunter’ is an inside look at the world of politics,” James said in the clip.

“It kind of reminds me of ‘Dynasty,'” mused the “Axcellerator” actor in a nod to his breakout TV role. James famously played the character Jeff Colby on the ABC series, which ran from 1981 to 1989, as well as the short-lived spinoff “The Colbys” from 1985 to 1987.

“My Son Hunter” director Robert Davi, for one, thought James was the ideal actor to play the 46th president of the United States.

“I saw in him a depth, sincerity and an extreme likability which I wanted for the basis of Joe Biden, a man who has for 40-plus years been at the forefront of American politics,” gushed Davi, known for roles in TV series including “Stargate: Atlantis,” “Profiler” and “Wiseguy” and films like “Die Hard,” “The Goonies” and the camp classic “Showgirls.”

Filling the role of Biden’s controversial progeny, meanwhile, is British actor and politician Laurence Fox. Fox posted a Twitter photo Monday in which he’s seen wearing nothing but a white loincloth, an orange scarf and sunglasses – in an apparent parody of the photos allegedly found on the computer hard drive.

“Everything is fine. I’m in a really good place,” read the snarky caption.

“I’m especially excited to be working with a wonderful actor,” co-star James said of his new castmate. “We have some interesting scenes together.”

Davi added: “With John and Laurence, I think audiences will be riveted by Joe and Hunter’s relationship and come to understand the dynamics between father and son.”

“My Son Hunter” was the brainchild of conservative Irish husband-and-wife filmmakers Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer, who are currently conducting a crowdfunding campaign to amass the film’s $1.8 million budget. So far, the fund-raiser has managed to garner $1.6 million.

McAleer said he hopes that the project will help expose the “partying lifestyle and dodgy business practices” of President Biden’s son, the Daily Mail reported.

“Joe Biden is a complex character,” the filmmaker explained. “At times he mumbles and stumbles but he also is one the longest-serving politicians in Washington who has become very wealthy during his time in public service.”

“My Son Hunter” does not yet have a release date; however, production began in Serbia this week and will reportedly last until November.

Lenka Peterson Dies: Tony-Nominated Broadway Actress, Mother Of Glynnis O’Connor Was 95

(10/7/21) Lenka Peterson, whose Broadway performances included a 1984 Tony-nominated turn in the musical Quilters, co-starring roles with Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish and Colleen Dewhurst in plays with creative teams including Truman Capote and Arthur Penn, died Sept. 24 in her sleep at home in Roxbury, Connecticut. She was 95.

Her death was announced by her family, including daughter, actress Glynnis O’Connor (Ode to Billy Joe, Condor).

In addition to her stage work, Peterson appeared in an extensive roster of film and television projects, spanning more than 50 years beginning with a small role in director Elia Kazan’s 1950 film Panic in the Streets (Peterson was a charter member of The Actors Studio) and continuing through the 2006 remake of All The King’s Men starring Sean Penn, Jude Law and Kate Winslet.

Born Lenka Isacson in Omaha, Nebraska, Peterson moved to New York City following World War II to pursue a stage career, and soon landed at the famed acting studio founded by Kazan, Cheryl Crawford and Robert Lewis. “We felt like the Actors Studio was a place where we were free,” she is quoted in the family announcement, “where we could say anything and do anything and share anything and not have to worry that it’s going to affect us financially.”

Peterson made her Broadway debut in a 1947 production of Bathsheba, followed in quick succession by Harvest of Years, Sundown Beach and The Young and Fair (all 1948), and in 1952, the infamously unsuccessful premiere of Capote’s The Grass Harp, written by the novelist, produced by Saint Subber, directed by Robert Lewis, costumes and sets by Cecil Beaton and a starring performance by Mildred Natwick.

Concurrent with her early stage career, Peterson began appearing in such TV series as CBS Television Workshop, Hallmark Hall of Fame and The Philco Television Playhouse. In 1955 she co-starred with Richard Kiley in the feature film crime drama The Phenix City Story, and would continue her movie career with Black Like Me (1964), Lifeguard (1976) and Jeffrey (1995).

Her many TV credits through the years include roles in Route 66, Lucas Tanner, Apple’s Way, Kojak and the soaps Another World, Search for Tomorrow, General Hospital and, in 1981, a recurring role as Nurse Grady on Ryan’s Hope. She also taught and directed young people’s theater in Connecticut.

In 1948, Peterson married Daniel O’Connor, a longtime NBC News documentary executive producer who died at age 93 in 2015. She is survived by their children Kevin, Brian, Darren, Glynnis, and Sean, and many other family members.

“To have Lenka as your mother meant to have a mom who read to you during long family drives on cross-country vacations,” her family wrote, “who introduced you to the joys of swimming, of singing, and games, to the sweet taste of Swedish pancakes, the richness of paprikash and the crackle of Krishlika, the excitement of possibility, the delight and rewards of curiosity, and the enduring value of compassion. Even to the day she died, she never ceased to find the joy in every moment. She was our heartbeat.”

Search for Tomorrow Reunion 10/15/21

(10/7/21) (Watch here) Tune-in to The Locher Room on Friday, October 15th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST for a look back at Search for Tomorrow with two actresses and good friends, Maree Cheatham (Stephanie Wyatt) and Lisa Peluso (Wendy Wilkins Carter).

Maree has been a working actress for over 60+ years and is knowns to daytime audiences for her roles on Search, General Hospital and Port Charles (Charlene Simpson), Passions (Mona) and Days of Our Lives (Marie Horton). She is best known to movie audiences for roles in Beetlejuice, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Wedding Singer. As Maree puts it, "In my on-going 60+year career as a working actress, pottery continues to save my sanity. I live in two worlds, Native American and TV! When I am between gigs, I’m in my pottery studio or the garden, grounding myself by putting my hands into the dirt or clay."

Lisa is also known for her other roles on ABC's Loving as Ava Rescott Forbes Alden Masters and as Lila Hart Roberts Cory Winthrop on NBC's Another World. Lisa has transitioned and has made a successful career selling real estate in New Jersey full time since 2002. She prides herself on her ability to listen to her clients and give them the personal attention they deserve.

Kevin Bacon Boards Blumhouse John Logan LGBTQIA+ Empowerment Feature As Star & EP

(9/22/21) Kevin Bacon is joining John Logan’s untitled horror project at Blumhouse and will also serve as an executive producer alongside executive producer Scott Turner Schofield. The movie is a LGBTQIA+ empowerment tale set at a gay conversion camp and stars Theo Germaine. The role marks a return for Bacon to the horror genre, a space he appeared in early on in his career with Friday the 13th.

Three-time Oscar nominee, Logan (Skyfall, Gladiator, The Aviator) will make his feature directorial debut with the film he also wrote. Jason Blum and Michael Aguilar are producing. Bacon will serve as an EP, alongside Scott Turner Schofield.

Golden Globe winner and Primetime Emmy nominee Bacon recently starred in season 2 of Showtime’s hit series City on a Hill which was renewed for a third season. We reported over the summer that Bacon is joining his wife Kyra Sedgwick’s second feature directorial Space Oddity. He also starred in and co-produced David Koepp’s You Should Have Left and can next be seen in the upcoming movies One Way and The Toxic Avenger. The Footloose and J.F.K. star won a Golden Globe in 2010 in the Actor Miniseries/Made for TV movie category for Taking Chance which also landed him an Emmy nom in the same category in 2009.

In 1996, Bacon made his feature directorial debut with Losing Chase, starring Kyra Sedgwick, Beau Bridges and Helen Mirren which received three Golden Globe noms. Bacon directed his second film, Loverboy, which he also produced. He has also directed several episodes of Sedgwick’s hit show, The Closer.

Bacon’s stage work includes off-Broadway productions such as Album, Poor Little Lambs and Getting Out. He made his Broadway debut in 1983 with Sean Penn in Slab Boys, and starred in the 1986 production of Joe Orton’s Loot. He also starred in Theresa Rebeck’s comedy Spike Heels. In 2002, he starred in the one-man show An Almost Holy Picture, written by Heather McDonald.

With his musician brother, Michael, Bacon is the other half of The Bacon Brothers, and have recorded eight CDs and a concert DVD.

Bacon is represented by MGMT Entertainment and Gaines Solomon Law Group. Schofield is represented by Lisa Evan Blumenthal of Momentum Talent Management.

Christopher Goutman Interview 9/24/21

(9/17/21) (Watch here) Celebrate The Locher Room's 200th episode with Emmy Award-winning producer and director Christopher Goutman who will chat live on Friday, September 24th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m PST.

Chris has spent most of his career working as a director, producer, and writer. He started his career as an actor appearing on The Doctors, Search for Tomorrow, The Edge of Night and Texas. Chris served as the Executive Producer for Another World and As the World Turns as well as directed episodes from nine different daytime dramas.

He created and produced two web series, In Turn and L.A. Diaries, which he also directed, as well as promotional campaigns for network television, commercial movie theater trailers, and an award-winning Presidential campaign ad. For his work in television, he has shot on locations all over the world. He also wrote, produced, and directed two short films, The Square Root of Three and Visions of Joanna, both of which received extensive exposure on the independent film circuit. In theatre, he has directed in New York, Philadelphia and Florida, including productions at EST, NYC Fringe, the Harold Clurman Theatre and the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. His plays have been performed at L.A. Stage and Film Company, the Barrow Group and EST. He has five Emmy Awards for his work as a producer and director and a Directors Guild of America Award.

Chris currently serves as the Artistic Director, Associate Professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Louise Shaffer Interview Sept 15

(9/9/21) (Video) Author and actress Louise Shaffer will join The Locher Room on Wednesday, September 15th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.

Louise has been an actress since the age of 15 and is a graduate of the Yale Drama School. She has appeared on numerous daytime soaps including The Edge of Night, Search for Tomorrow and on Ryan’s Hope playing Rae Woodard, a role that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award.

Louise returned to her first love of writing and began a successful second career when she found herself as an unemployed actress in her mid-forties. She began writing scripts for daytime soaps, but soon followed her dream and wrote her first novel, The Three Miss Margarets published by Random House. It was followed by The Ladies of Garrison Gardens, Family Acts, Serendipity and Looking For A Love Story.

Susan Sarandon & Anna Friel To Star In Fox Drama Series ‘Monarch’

(9/7/21) Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel are set to star in Fox’s straight-to-series country music dynasty drama Monarch, produced by Fox Entertainment.

Created by Melissa London Hilfers, Monarch is described as a Texas-sized, multigenerational musical drama about America’s first family of country music, the Romans. The Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough as nails Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon). Along with her beloved husband, Albie, Dottie has created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown Nicolette “Nicky” Roman (Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.

Hilfers will write and exec produce, while Instinct creator and Royal Pains exec producer Michael Rauch, who supervised the writers room for the project, will act as showrunner and exec producer. Gail Berman and Hend Baghdady also exec produce alongside Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen, a leading country music manager who represents the likes of Faith Hill, Little Big Town and Kacey Musgraves. Jason Ensler will direct and executive produce the first episode. Adam Anders serves as Executive Music Producer. Monarch is produced by Fox Entertainment.

The series debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 30, immediately following the NFC Championship, and continuing on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Oscar winner and four-time Emmy nominee Sarandon most recently appeared on the big screen in Blackbird and next will be seen in the John Kennedy Toole biopic The Butterfly in the Typewriter. She received her most recent Emmy nomination for her performance as Bette Davis in FX’s Ryan Murphy limited series Feud. She’s repped by UTA.

Friel is known for her starring role in ABC drama series Pushing Daisies. Her recent TV credits include drama Deep Water, the three-part drama Butterfly, The Girlfriend Experience and the Jimmy McGovern drama Broken. She is next set to appear in The Box miniseries from Adi Hasak. In feature films, she currently stars in Books of Blood, Charming the Hearts of Men and Sulphur & White. Friel is repped by UTA, The Artists Partnership and 111 Media.

Jane Krakowski Joins NBC’s ‘Annie Live!’

(9/1/21) Jane Krakowski is joining NBC’s Annie Live! in the role of the duplicitous Lily St. Regis, a part that will pair the actress with her Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt co-star Tituss Burgess.

The casting, announced today by NBC, is the latest addition to the holiday season musical special airing Dec. 2: Krakowski, known to TV audiences for performances in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and 30 Rock, among others, and Broadway theatergoers for She Loves Me, Grand Hotel, Company and Once Upon a Mattress, joins a line-up that includes Burgess, Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr.’s Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger’s Grace and the recently announced Celina Smith as Annie.

Krakowski is currently starring on TV in Dickinson and Schmigadoon, and hosts Name That Tune.

As the larger-than-life Lily St. Regis, Krakowski teams up with Burgess’ conniving Rooster Hannigan as a greedy duo that schemes to abduct Annie and pose as her parents to land a big reward. The role of Lily was created on Broadway in 1977 by Barbara Erwin and portrayed in the 1982 film version by Bernadette Peters.

Annie Live! will be executive produced by Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Alex Rudzinsky, with Lear deBessonet and Alex Rudzinski sharing the directing duties. The live event is being produced by Chloe Productions.

Annie Live! airs Thursday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

Morning Show Appearance

(8/20/21) Today – NBC

Tuesday, August 24

Jane Krakowski and Celina Smith on NBC’s Annie Live!

Video Interview: Writers Carolyn and Richard Culliton

(8/19/21) (Video) The Emmy Award-winning real-life husband and wife duo Carolyn and Richard Culliton were guests The Locher Room on Thursday, August 19th and looked back at their incredible careers in daytime.

Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance Producing ‘One Thousand Years of Slavery’ Docu-Series For Smithsonian Channel

(8/18/21) (Video) ViacomCBS’ Smithsonian Channel is prepping One Thousand Years of Slavery, a four-part docu-series from Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s Bassett Vance Productions.

BAFTA-winning British-Nigerian director David Olusoga explores stories of survival and devastation that span across the globe – from Africa to the Caribbean, London to Washington DC, and more. Through preserved historical documentation and insight from experts, every story unfolds to chronicle how slavery frames the present and continues to act as a distinct force on the future. The series features interviews with public figures including Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, Senator Cory Booker, and actor David Harewood. (Watch a trailer above)

“Slavery is not that long ago. It’s really recent. It’s painfully close to us, and it’s no surprise it’s still shaping our societies,” said Olusoga. “Our aim is to break away from just seeing the slave trade as a phenomena that exists after the conquest and discovery of the New World, but to look back. It’s to set what happened in the New World in context, that it came from somewhere.”

James Blue, Head of Smithsonian Channel and SVP of MTV News and Docs, and Pamela Aguilar, VP of Original Documentaries will oversee this project for MTV Entertainment Studios and Smithsonian Channel. One Thousand Years of Slavery is produced by Uplands Television for Smithsonian Channel and Channel 5. Bassett Vance Productions executive produces.

Bassett Vance Productions is repped by Darrell Miller at Fox Rothschild.

Soap Opera Writers Interview: Carolyn and Richard Culliton

(8/13/21) (Watch here) The Emmy Award-winning real-life husband and wife duo Carolyn and Richard Culliton will be guests live in The Locher Room on Thursday, August 19th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST to look back at their incredible careers in daytime.

This talented duo met when they were both students at Northwestern University. Carolyn grew up watching soaps and Richard had never seen one. Fate intervened in 1978 when a family friend offered to make some introductions to an executive Procter & Gamble Productions. The rest is history.

Carolyn’s first job in the daytime industry was working as Paul Rauch’s assistant at Another World and Richard’s first job was as a script writer on Texas. From that moment forward this duo worked non-stop as breakdown writers, script writers and as head writers on almost every soap opera on the air. Together this duo created the General Hospital spin-off Port Charles while serving as head writers for the first few months of the show’s run.

They are the recipient of numerous Daytime Emmy Awards and Writer’s Guild Awards for their work. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Emily who is an adjunct professor of creative writing at St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, and Kathleen a journalist. Emily published her first novel In 2017, "The Misfortune of Marion Palm" was published by Knopf.

Looks like the writing gene is a strong one in the Culliton family.

LEGO Star Wars Halloween Special: Tony Hale, Christian Slater Among Cast

(8/3/21) Tony Hale (Veep) and Christian Slater (Mr. Robot) will be hanging out with Poe Dameron and BB8 in another Disney+ LEGO Stars Wars special that takes place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.

Premiering Friday, Oct. 1, the Halloween-timed special LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales finds Poe (voiced again by The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special’s Jake Green) and BB-8 making an emergency landing on the volcanic planet Mustafar, where they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt (Squidbillies‘ Dana Snyder) who has purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-Wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa and Dean (a courageous young boy who works as Graballa’s mechanic, voiced by Bunk’d‘s Raphael Alejandro) venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé (played by Hale).

Along the way, Vaneé shares three creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. As Vaneé spins his tales and lures our heroes deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges. With the help of Dean, Poe and BB-8 will have to face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends.

Slater will voice a character named Ren, while the cast also includes The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special’s Trevor Devall and Matt Sloan returning as Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, and veteran voice director Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as NI-L8.

David Shayne is writer and executive producer for the LEGO Group, Lucasfilm and Atomic Cartoons co-production, and the director is Ken Cunningham.

‘The Re-Education Of Molly Singer’: Britt Robertson, Wendie Malick & More Board Indie Feature

(7/30/21) We hear that the movie The Re-Education of Molly Singer is currently in production with Britt Robertson playing the title character who is a struggling young lawyer, yearning for her carefree days and raucous university nights from a decade ago.

Also headlining the cast of the Andy Palmer-directed movie is Nico Santos, Holland Roden, Wendie Malick (Another World/Search for Tomorrow) and Ty Simpkins.

In the Todd Friedman and Kevin Haskin written feature, the former Queen of Campus Molly Singer has just botched the biggest case of her career due to her inability to let go of her hard partying lifestyle. Rather than firing her, Molly is tasked by her boss Brenda to re-enroll at her old alma mater, to befriend her socially awkward son, Elliot (Simpkins), and guide him through an already tumultuous freshman year. Equipped with her quick wit, years of experience and her best friend Paulie, Molly discovers that college has certainly changed since her glory days, and maybe it really is time to move on from the best four years of her life to a new journey. Santos will play Ollie, Roden is Trina and Malick will play Mrs. Zimmerman.

Producers are Warner Davis and Friedman. The Warner Davis Company and Hemlock Circle Productions are producing.

Robertson, the star of ABC’s Big Sky, and the upcoming Amy Koppelman movie A Mouthful of Air and features I Still Believe, Tomorrowland, Mother’s Day and Cake, is repped by Innovative Artists.

Santos is the star of NBC’s Superstore, and movies The Clapper and Crazy Rich Asians. He is repped by Greene & Associates Talent Agency and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.

Roden recently starred in Sony’s Escape Room: Tournament of Champions and starred on 100 episodes of MTV’s Teen Wolf as Lydia Martin. She is repped by Paradigm, Eclipse Management and Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.

Malick will star in the Diane Keaton comedy Mack & Rita. She starred in 149 episodes of Just Shoot Me! as well as 125 episodes of Hot in Cleveland, as well as American Housewife and The Ranch. She is repped by Innovative Artists and Marcia Hurwitz.

Simpkins starred in such movies as the Insidious franchise, Avengers: Endgame, The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3, and Jurassic World. He is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.

Palmer is repped by CSP Management.

Kyra Sedgwick Movie ‘Space Oddity’ Adds Kevin Bacon, Simon Helberg & Carrie Preston

(7/29/21) Kevin Bacon, Simon Helberg and Carrie Preston are joining Primetime Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick’s second feature directorial Space Oddity from the 2016 Black List script.

Additionally, REI Co-op Studios has come on board as producers of the film alongside Sedgwick and Valerie Stadler’s Big Swing Productions.

Penned by Rebecca Banner, Space Oddity tells the story of Alex (Kyle Allen) who, after giving up on Earth and deciding to leave it all behind for a one-way mission to Mars, develops an unexpected romance with Daisy (Alexandra Shipp), the enigmatic town newcomer, which forces him to choose between an uncertain journey to the stars and an even more uncertain journey of the heart.

Bacon will play Jeff, Alex’s Father; Preston is Jane, Alex’s mother; while Helberg plays Dimitri, the love interest to Alex’s sister, Liz (played by Madeline Brewer, who we previously announced). Production is taking place in Rhode Island.

REI Co-op Studios is the retailer’s in-house content arm. Across films, podcasts, and editorial programs, the studio develops and produces stories that entertain, enrich and explore the power of time spent outside, while complementing the co-op’s broader climate and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments.

Said Paolo Mottola, REI’s Director of Content and Media, “Space Oddity’s story is set in the context of our changing climate and how the connections we have to this planet, and each other, makes it worth saving. We hope audiences see themselves in these characters and are motivated to advocate for a healthier planet.”

Added Sedgwick, “One of the things we want to do with this movie is generate hope. There is so much information out in the world today, and it’s easy for things to seem bleak, but we need to stay optimistic so we can keep fighting because our planet is worth fighting for. We are thrilled to be partnering with REI Co-op Studios to amplify this message and to work with their talent team who have a lifetime of experience loving the outdoors and the Earth.”

REI Co-op’s last production was last year’s The Dark Divide, directed by Tom Putnam and starring David Cross and Debra Messing.

Also producing Space Oddity is Jack Greenbaum and Richard Arlook for the The Arlook Group and Mickey Schiff for Unique Features. EPs are Bob Shaye, Ibrahim AlHusseini, JL Pomeroy, Brent Emery, Susan Cartonis, Suzanne Farwell, Meredith Bagby and Anne Clements.

Golden Globe winner and Primetime Emmy nominee Bacon recently starred in season 2 of Showtime’s hit series City on a Hill which was renewed for a third season. He also starred in and co-produced David Koepp’s You Should Have Left and can next be seen in the upcoming films One Way and The Toxic Avenger. The Footloose and J.F.K. star was won a Golden Globe in 2010 in the Actor Miniseries/Made for TV movie category for Taking Chance which also landed him an Emmy nom in the same category in 2009. He is repped by MGMT Entertainment and attorney Fred Gaines.

Golden Globe and multi-SAG nominee Helberg will next be seen in Amazon’s Annette which made its world premiere at Cannes and also stars Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver; penned by the Sparks brothers and directed by Leos Carax. He recently wrapped production on the film As Sick as They Made Us, an upcoming drama directed and written by Mayim Bialik and stars Candice Bergen, Dustin Hoffman, and Dianna Agron. Across 279 episodes, Helberg played Howard Wolowitz on CBS/Warner Bros. TV’s The Big Bang Theory. He is repped by UTA, MGMT Entertainment, Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.

Preston won a 2013 Primetime Emmy in the Guest Actress drama category for The Good Wife. She can now be seen as Polly in the hit TNT series, Claws, executive-produced by Rashida Jones. The drama continues to garner rave reviews and is currently in its fourth and final season. She also can be seen in Dr. Death with Joshua Jackson based on the true story of neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch who permanently maimed and killed his patients. Her directorial career continuous to flourish, most recently directing an episode of The Good Fight to stream on Aug. 5. She is repped by Innovative Artists, Principal Entertainment.

Academy Award-winner Lee Grant Interview 7/23/21

(7/22/21) (Video) Academy Award winning actor and director Lee Grant will be my guest live in The Locher Room on Friday, July 23 at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.

Grant’s films have become some of the most influential of the New Hollywood era. A survivor of the Hollywood Blacklist, she is the first female director to be honored by the Director’s Guild of America. She is well known to movie audiences for her roles in some of the most recognizable series and films of the last 60 years including In the Heat of the Night, The Valley of the Dolls, Peyton Place, Search for Tomorrow, Colombo, and Shampoo, for which she won an Academy Award. Her work as a director was also groundbreaking, earning an Oscar for the documentary Down and Out in America.

Ms. Grant will be here to discuss her incredible career and the 2020 re-release of her work behind the camera, 20th Century Woman: The Documentary Films of Lee Grant. The collection became America’s first virtual repertory film series as Grant continues to break ground even now. She will be seen in the upcoming music film Killian & the Comeback Kids in theaters this fall.

Netflix’s Animated ‘My Little Pony’ Movie Gets A Title And A Release Date; Voice Cast Revealed

(6/30/21) Netflix said Wednesday that My Little Pony: A New Generation will debut on the streamer on September 24, 2021, the same date it had been planned to premiere when the eOne animated pic was set up at Paramount. Netflix acquired global rights in February when the pandemic was wrecking havoc with movie theaters.

The voice cast includes Vanessa Hudgens (Sunny), Kimiko Glenn (Izzy), James Marsden (Hitch), Sofia Carson (Pipp) and Liza Koshy (Zipp) along with Ken Jeong, Elizabeth Perkins, Jane Krakowski, Phil LaMarr and Michael McKean.

The plot centers on what happens when Earth Ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi are no longer friends on Equestria and live separated by species. But idealistic Earth Pony Sunny teams with Unicorn Izzy team to travel to faraway lands to find a way to bring enchantment and unity back to their world.

Robert Cullen and José L. Ucha direct the film, and Mark Fattibene is co-director. The story was created by Cullen & Ucha, and Tim Sullivan. Sullivan and Gillian Berrow penned the script. Cecil Kramer and Peter Lewis produce.

Douglas S. Cramer, producer of ‘Love Boat,’ ‘Wonder Woman,’ dies

(6/22/21) Douglas S. Kramer, who produced top-notch television shows such as “Wonder Woman” and “Love Boat” and spent them on contemporary art at a blazing pace, had to buy a second home. He died at his home on Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts.

In an era of comfortable and family-friendly programming, Cramer was the dominant player in ABC, 20th Century Fox, and Paramount TV in the 1960s and 70s. He then teamed up with Aaron Spelling, the then undisputed golden-time television emperor. Together they dominated the rating war with shows such as “Love Boat,” “Heart to Heart,” and “Dynasty.”

Television made Kramer wealthy and gave him the ability to indulge in his almost obsessive hobby of collecting paintings, drawings and sculptures. By the 1990s, Cramer had collected more than 500 works of art worth about $ 100 million, the Architectural Digest reported. His collection was listed 17 times by ARTnews as one of America’s Top 200 Collection.

“I always enjoy seeing and owning things,” he explained.

Kramer, a longtime centerpiece of the LA art scene and former director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, died of renal failure on June 4, at the age of 89, said her husband Hubert Bush.

Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Kramer began his television career with Procter & Gamble, which oversees daytime standards such as “Search for Tomorrow” and “As the World Turns.” Over the next few years, he directed the golden-time soap opera “Payton Place,” and then helped direct a series of long-running television shows, including “The Brady Bunch,” “The Brady Bunch,” and “Dynasty.” .. ..

“We walk a thin line just here on the camp,” he told New York Magazine in 1985, explaining his approach to unraveling the story of a loveless, stinging family in the “dynasty.” Did.

He told the Louisville Courier Journal that his urge to collect art was likely facilitated by his grandmother, who ran an antique store. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he started collecting salt shakers, postcards, and posters. His first big splash was a black print purchased for $ 350 and paid off in monthly installments.

In LA, he grew up and bought the artwork crazy — Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Richard Erschwager, a seemingly endless list. He was so close to Andy Warhol that he persuaded the artist to make a guest appearance on “Love Boat” instead of asking for some of Warhol’s portraits.

The art collected was meditative instead of an enthusiastic work in the studio, Kramer said.

“There is a great freeze on art,” he told The New York Times in 1993. “At work, I spend a couple of hours watching movies and videos, but when I get home, the images stop.”

When Bel Air’s house was filled with art, he bought a 66-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley to store the rest. And when it was full, he added some galleries to the property due to the overflow.

The 420-acre ranch was eventually sold to Firestone Vineyard, where much of the art was donated to MOCA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Kramer was free to roam between his residences in Los Angeles, New York City, Martha’s Vineyard, Connecticut, St. Martin, and Miami, chasing the seasons and whims.

The marriage to Hollywood gossip columnist Joyce Haver divorced in the 1970s, and her two children, Courtney and Douglas, died in 2004 and 2015, respectively. He married Bush in 2006 after a long partnership. Besides his husband, he has survived by his brother, Peyton.

Dr. Death Premiere Date

(6/15/21) (Trailer) Peacock has officially booked an appointment with Dr. Death: The limited series starring Joshua Jackson will premiere with all eight episodes on Thursday, July 15.

Jackson (The Affair) plays Dr. Christopher Duntsch in a story inspired by the real-life neurosurgeon. “Patients entered his operating room for complex but routine spinal surgeries and left permanently maimed or dead,” per the official synopsis. “As victims piled up, two fellow physicians, neurosurgeon Robert Henderson (30 Rock‘s Alec Baldwin) and vascular surgeon Randall Kirby (Mr. Robot‘s Christian Slater), as well as Dallas prosecutor Michelle Shughart (The Carrie Diaries‘ AnnaSophia Robb), set out to stop him.”

Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, Clark Duke Join Netflix’s ‘Inside Job’

(6/14/21) Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater (Ryan’s Hope/Search For Tomorrow) and Clark Duke are set to lead the cast of Netflix’s adult animated conspiracy theory comedy series Inside Job, from Gravity Falls writer Shion Takeuchi and creator Alex Hirsch. Takeuchi and Hirsch revealed the cast today during Netflix’s Adult Animation Studio Focus at the Annecy Animation Festival, which also includes Andrew Daly (Veep), Bobby Lee (MadTV), John DiMaggio (Futurama), Tisha Campbell (Empire) and Brett Gelman (Stranger Thigns).

Inside Job is an adult animated comedy about the shadow government – and the dysfunctional team whose daily grind is committing the world’s conspiracies. From convoluted coverups to secret societies to masked orgy etiquette, navigating office culture at Cognito Inc. can be tricky, especially for anti-social tech genius Reagan Ridley. Even in a workplace filled with reptilian shapeshifters and psychic mushrooms, she’s seen as the odd one out for believing the world could be a better place. Reagan thinks she can make a difference, if only she could manage her unhinged, manifesto-writing father and her irresponsible coworkers, to finally snag the promotion she’s been dreaming about.

Caplan is Reagan Ridley, Cognito Inc.’s antisocial tech genius; Slater is Rand Ridley, Reagan’s father, and disgraced head of Cognito Inc.; Duke is Brett Hand, a lovable D.C. yes-dude; Daly is J.R. Scheimpough, CEO of Cognito; Lee plays Dr. Andre, a free-spirited biochemist; DiMaggio is Glenn Dolphman, a half-man, half-dolphin; Campbell plays Gigi, Cognito’s fast-talking Head of Media Manipulation and Subliminal Messages; and Gelman is Magic Myc, a psychic subterranean mushroom creature from a hive mind deep within Hollow Earth.

Takeuchi will executive produce and serve as showrunner. Hirsch will co-executive produce. The project falls under Takeuchi and Hirsch’s development deal with the streaming giant.

‘Our Kind Of People’: Joe Morton To Co-Star In Fox Drama Series

(6/11/21) Emmy-winning actor Joe Morton (Search For Tomorrow/Another World) is set as a lead opposite Yaya DaCosta, Morris Chestnut and LaToya Luckett in Fox drama series Our Kind of People, from writer/executive producer Karin Gist (Star, Mixed-ish) and executive producer Lee Daniels (Empire, Star).

Written by Gist inspired by Lawrence Otis Graham’s provocative, critically praised book Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class, the series takes place in the aspirational world of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, a historical stronghold where the rich and powerful Black elite have come to play for more than 50 years. Our Kind of People follows strong-willed single mom Angela Vaughn (DaCosta) as she sets out to reclaim her family’s name and make an impact with her revolutionary haircare line that highlights the innate, natural beauty of Black women. But she soon discovers a dark secret about her mother’s past that will turn her world upside-down and shake up this community forever.

Morton will play Teddy Franklin, Leah’s (Luckett) father, who is “smooth as butter, smart as a whip.” He was born into money and grew his family’s sanitation company into one of the largest holding companies in the world. He accomplished his present wealth and status by being more rapacious and manipulative than anyone else in the business. When Leah takes him to task for buying out Black properties for pennies on the dollar, he has no apologies to make, and reminds her where her current wealth and privilege came from. He has an arcane connection to Angela’s (DaCosta) past that may soon come to light.

Cast also includes Alana Bright and Rhyon Nicole Brown.

A co-production between 20th Television and Fox Entertainment, Our Kind of People is executive produced by Gist and Claire Brown via The Gist of It Productions; Daniels and Marc Velez via Lee Daniels Entertainment; Pam Williams; Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Rodney Ferrell via Propagate; and Montrel McKay.

Morton earned a best guest actor Emmy for role as Rowan Pope in Shonda Rhimes’ ABC drama series Scandal. He recently starred as Reverend Arthur Finer on CBS series God Friended Me and recurred on Netflix’s The Politician. On the film side, he appeared in the DC superhero hit features Batman V. Superman and Justice League as well as Legendary’s Godzilla. Morton is repped by Vanguard Management Group, TalentWorks and Nina Shaw at Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano.

‘Thelma & Louise’ To Celebrate 30th Anniversary With Susan Sarandon & Geena Davis Drive-In Event

(6/3/21) GM’s Thelma & Louise is turning 30, and the studio is holding a special drive-in screening event June 18 in partnership with Cinespia’s Drive In at The Greek in Los Angeles. The pic was originally released over Memorial Day weekend in 1991, on May 24.

Geena Davis, who played Thelma, and Susan Sarandon (ex-Patrice, A World Apart/ex-Sarah, Search For Tomorrow), who played Louise, will participate in a Q&A before the screening.

“Thelma & Louise is a landmark film that left an indelible mark on popular culture when it was released 30 years ago,” Michael De Luca, MGM’s Film Group chairman, and Pamela Abdy, MGM’s Film Group president, said Thursday. “We’re thrilled to celebrate its lasting legacy with a special screening event, and look forward to honoring Geena and Susan, whose groundbreaking characters paved the way for female empowerment stories in Hollywood.”

Said Davis: “What was so striking was the intense reaction to the film. Thelma and Louise end up driving off a cliff, and still viewers felt exhilarated by their story. It made me realize how few opportunities we give women to come out of a movie feeling inspired and empowered by the female characters. It changed everything about how I chose roles moving forward.”

Added Sarandon: “When we were filming Thelma & Louise 30 years ago, we had no idea the kind of cultural impact it would continue to have for decades. At the time, it was revolutionary to have two women in a film that weren’t enemies and were having fun together on screen. I think that’s been one of the biggest breakthroughs — today there are so many brilliant female actors making films where women aren’t adversarial to each other and have the power to determine their own destiny. “

Directed by Ridley Scott, Thelma & Louise grossed over $45 million at the domestic box office (unadjusted for inflation) and went on to be nominated for six Oscars including Best Director and Best Actress each for Davis and Sarandon. The pic’s scribe Callie Khouri won Best Original Screenplay in her first outing at the Oscars.

The pic follows accidental outlaws, Thelma and Louise, on a desperate flight across the Southwest. With a determined detective (Harvey Keitel) on their trail, a sweet-talking hitchhiker (Brad Pitt, in one of his early roles) in their path and a string of crimes in their wake, their journey alternates between high-speed thrill ride and empowering personal odyssey.

A portion of the drive-in event proceeds will benefit the LA Regional Food Bank and The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

‘City On A Hill’ Renewed For Season 3 At Showtime

(6/2/21) Showtime’s Boston crime drama City on a Hill is coming back for a third season.

The gritty drama, starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge, will return for another eight episode run with production set to resume in New York later this year for a 2022 premiere.

Tom Fontana returns as showrunner and exec producer. Chuck MacLean, who created the show, based on an original idea by Ben Affleck, will remain as an exec producer on the series but will not return as a writer for season three after becoming the subject of an internal investigation over alleged misconduct.

Season 2 of City on a Hill centered on a federal housing project in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston plagued with drug violence and a rightful distrust in local law enforcement. FBI agent Jackie Rohr, played by Bacon, works to exploit Boston’s defective criminal justice system in a desperate attempt to salvage his own career. Unfortunately for Jackie, assistant district attorney Decourcy Ward, played by Hodge, is onto his adversary’s latest misstep. In time, the personal antagonism between these two escalates to an all-out war between the offices of the U.S. Attorney and the Suffolk DA. No one is safe from the collateral damage. At the conclusion of Season 2, Decourcy pursues justice in and out of the courtroom and despite his maneuvering, Jackie discovers that he can’t escape his past and gets ousted from the FBI.

Season 2 also starred Lauren E. Banks, Mark O’Brien, Amanda Clayton, Matthew Del Negro and Jill Hennessy with guest stars Pernell Walker, Lucia Ryan, Keiko Elizabeth, Kameron Kierce, Shannon Wallace, John Doman, and Michael O’Keefe.

City on a Hill is exec produced by Fontana, Jennifer Todd, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jorge Zamacona, Barry Levinson, Chuck MacLean and Michael Cuesta. Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge and Michele Giordano serve as co-executive producers.

Video Chat: Soap Opera Music Makers

(5/27/21) (Video) Meet the Emmy Award-winning team behind the incredible music you heard daily on As the World Turns and Guiding Light live in The Locher Room on Thursday, May 27th.

Jill Chastain was the Supervising Music Producer for all Procter & Gamble Production shows starting with the Edge of Night and Search for Tomorrow in the late 70’s / early 80’s. Jill replaced Elliot Lawrence in the role. Jill hired Gary Deinstadt as one of her music directors for As the World Turns where he worked from 1994 through 2000. Gary then moved over to Guiding Light in the same role before being promoted to Audio Post Supervisor for the show.

This talented duo was in charge of selecting and editing the music from a staff of composers. They composed and performed original pieces of works, directed and worked alongside composers and cast members. They created, arranged and recorded tracks for featured vocalists, contracted talent and were in charge of music licensing / archiving / clearance / publishing rights with various composers and their affiliates such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.

BET Awards Nominations

(5/27/21) The BET Awards 2021 will air live on Sunday, June 27 on BET at 8 PM ET/ PT.

BEST ACTRESS
ANDRA DAY
ANGELA BASSETT (Guiding Light/Ryan's Hope/Search For Tomorrow)
ISSA RAE
JURNEE SMOLLETT
VIOLA DAVIS
ZENDAYA.

Chat with Jill Chastain & Gary Deinstadt - Soap Opera Music Episode

(5/20/21) (Watch here) Come meet the Emmy Award-winning team behind the incredible music you heard daily on As the World Turns and Guiding Light live in The Locher Room on Thursday, May 27th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.

Jill Chastain was the Supervising Music Producer for all Procter & Gamble Production shows starting with the Edge of Night and Search for Tomorrow in the late 70’s / early 80’s. Jill replaced Elliot Lawrence in the role. Jill hired Gary Deinstadt as one of her music directors for As the World Turns where he worked from 1994 through 2000. Gary then moved over to Guiding Light in the same role before being promoted to Audio Post Supervisor for the show.

This talented duo was in charge of selecting and editing the music from a staff of composers. They composed and performed original pieces of works, directed and worked alongside composers and cast members. They created, arranged and recorded tracks for featured vocalists, contracted talent and were in charge of music licensing / archiving / clearance / publishing rights with various composers and their affiliates such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.

Punkie Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Jo Ellen Pellman, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick and Joey McIntyre to Appear During Point Foundation Virtual Event on May 22nd

(5/20/21) Point Foundation, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) scholarship fund, will launch the Point Honors New York 2021 virtual event on May 22, 2021. The event is being hosted by Saturday Night Live's Punkie Johnson. Actors Ariana DeBose and Jo Ellen Pellman (Netflix's The Prom) will be presented with the Horizon Award. Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick will be honored with the organization's Leadership Award and there will be a special performance by Joey McIntyre.

Ariana DeBose and Jo Ellen Pellman will be honored with the 2021 Point Horizon Award at this year's Point Honors New York.

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick will be honored with the 2021 Point Leadership Award at this year's Point Honors New York.

Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose will be receiving the 2021 Point Horizon Award at this year's Point Honors New York.

Saturday Night Live's Punkie Johnson will be the host of this year's Point Honors New York.

"We're thrilled to honor Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon and Ariana DeBose and Jo Ellen Pellman for their leadership and activism in support of LGBTQ youth" said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and CEO of Point Foundation. "We're also honored and excited that our event will be hosted by Punkie Johnson, the first out, queer, black woman to ever join the cast of Saturday Night Live. In addition, our longtime friend and supporter, Joey McIntyre will perform a special song honoring our graduates."

To support Point Foundation's Point Honors New York, visit https://pointfoundation.org/events/point-honors-new-york-2021/

The event is made possible with support from:

Presenting Sponsor: Wells Fargo
Premier Sponsor: Cadillac

About Point Foundation: Point Foundation empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society. Point Foundation promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership development, and community service training.

Guiding Light Chat - Mart Hulswit and Fran Myers 5/13/21

(5/6/21) (Watch here) Join Guiding Light cast members Mart Hulswit and Fran Myers live in The Locher Room on Thursday, May 13th at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST. Mart joined the cast in 1969 playing the role of Dr. Ed Bauer for 12 years before leaving Springfield behind. Fran Myers joined the cast in 1965 and played the role of Peggy Scott Fletcher for an incredible 15 year run. Fran is currently a writer on NBC's Days of Our Lives. Don't miss the opportunity to catch up with this talented duo to hear their memories from their time spent in Springfield.

Olympia Dukakis Dies: Oscar-Winning Actress For ‘Moonstruck’ Was 89

(5/1/21) Olympia Dukakis (ex-Mrs. Martin, The Doctors/Barbara, Search For Tomorrow), , who won an Oscar for her supporting role in the 1987 hit Moonstruck and also starred in Steel Magnolias, Away From Her, the three Look Who’s Talking films and Mr. Holland’s Opus, died today at her home in New York City. She was 89 and had been in ill health for some time.

“My beloved sister, Olympia Dukakis, passed away this morning in New York City,” wrote her brother Apollo, who confirmed her death on his Facebook page. “After many months of failing health she is finally at peace and with her [husband] Louis [Zorich].” The cause of death has yet to be determined.

Her other film credits include Over the Hill (1992), I Love Trouble (1994) and Picture Perfect (1997).

Her television credits include the 1993 transgender drama Tales of the City and its 1998 sequel, which earned her an Emmy nomination. Dukakis also appeared in Netflix’s 2019 revival, titled Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City.

Dukakis was a theater veteran who struck gold in the film business later in life. She was 56 when she played Cher’s sardonic mother, Rose Castorini, in Norman Jewison’s classic romantic comedy Moonstruck. Her portrayal of a woman overly involved her daughter’s love life earned her an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA nomination.

1988 was a year of prominence beyond the Oscars, as Dukakis’s cousin, former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, was the Democratic nominee for president. She stumped for him during her Oscars acceptance speech, shouting “OK, Michael, let’s go!”

A lifelong activist and philanthropist, Dukakis earned a star on the the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.

Born on June 20, 1931, in Lowell, MA, she was the daughter of immigrants from southern Greece. That upbringing shaped her life, leading her to take to the stage as a means of expression.

She graduated from Boston University with a degree in in physical therapy and a master’s in performing arts. She then began her career in New York City. She made her debut in The Aspern Papers in 1962. That same year, she married actor-producer Louis Zorich, famous for his hit NBC comedy Mad About You decades later. They had three children.

In 1963, she won an Obie Award for A Man’s a Man, and then a second two years later in The Marriage of Bette and Boo.

Her work in the Broadway comedy Social Security playing Marlo Thomas’s mother was her ticket into filmdom.

She and Zorich founded the Charles Playhouse in Boston and the Whole Theater in Montclair, N.J. in the 1970s, appearing together in several productions. She also taught drama at New York University, while teaching at the American Conservatory Theater, and serving on its Board of Trustees.

No information was immediately available on memorial plans.

‘Schmigadoon!’: Apple TV+ Sets Premiere Date For Cecily Strong/Keegan-Michael Key Comedy From Lorne Michaels

(4/30/21) Schmigadoon!, a parody of iconic Golden Age musicals starring Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key, will debut on Apple TV+ in July.

The six-episode musical comedy series is executive produced by Lorne Michaels will bow on Friday, July 16 via the streamer. Two episodes will be available at launch, followed by one episode weekly every Friday.

Schmigadoon! stars Strong and Key as a couple on a backpacking trip designed to reinvigorate their relationship. They discover a magical town living in a 1940s musical and learn that they can’t leave until they find “true love.”

The first season also stars Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Dove Cameron, Ariana DeBose, Fred Armisen, Jaime Camil, Jane Krakowski and Ann Harada. Martin Short guest stars.

Hailing from Broadway Video and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, Schmigadoon! is co-created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. Cinco Paul serves as showrunner, and wrote all of the original songs for the series.

Barry Sonnenfeld directs and executive produces. In addition to starring, Cecily Strong serves as producer, and Ken Daurio serves as consulting producer and writer. Andrew Singer executive produces with Lorne Michaels on behalf of Broadway Video.

Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon 5/6/21

(4/29/21) “A Black Hole” – The Coopers discuss the possibilities of black holes and alternate universes when Dr. Sturgis comes over for dinner, on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, May 6 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

RECURRING CAST: Wallace Shawn (Dr. Sturgis), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer).

McKenna Grace & Wendie Malick recur on Young Sheldon

(4/26/21) “A Second Prodigy and the Hottest Tips for Pouty Lips” – Sheldon finds himself at odds with Paige (Mckenna Grace) once again when she considers enrolling at East Texas Tech. Also, Mary seeks June’s (Reba McEntire) advice when looking for a change, on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, April 29 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Melissa Joan Hart returns to direct.

RECURRING CAST: Wallace Shawn (Dr. Sturgis), Melissa Peterman (Brenda Sparks), Reba McEntire (June), Doc Farrow (Coach Wilkins), McKenna Grace (Paige), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Andrea Anders (Linda).

Oscars: Academy Sets Ensemble Cast Of 15 Stars To Serve As Presenters

(4/12/21) The producers of this year’s very unusual 93rd annual Academy Awards have promised to do the entire broadcast as if it were a movie itself. In line with that, they are “casting” it that way too with an ensemble of 15 stars to handle all the presenting duties, and also in lieu of a host (for a third straight year).

Among the “cast” though, the producers appear to be sticking with at least one Oscar tradition: to have all four acting winners from the previous year return to present the four acting categories this year. Specifically how they will be employed into the show the Academy didn’t say, but you can assume that is the reason Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Brad Pitt and Laura Dern are part of the proceedings.

Phoenix, Zellweger, and Dern did the honors similarly at the Golden Globes, though Pitt will be making his first appearance on the awards circuit this year at the Oscars. Also last year’s Best Director winner, Bong Joon Ho, who made four trips to the stage for Parasite, is also part of this ensemble, presumably to present Best Director. Other names announced Monday — in alphabetical order — are Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Harrison Ford, Regina King, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, Reese Witherspoon and Zendaya.

“In keeping with our awards-show-as-a-movie approach, we’ve assembled a truly stellar cast of stars,” said producers Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh. “There’s so much wattage here, sunglasses may be required.”

This idea of having a set group of presenters rotating in and out of the show is not new. When producer Gower Champion reimagined the 1969 Oscar show he created what they called “Friends of Oscar,” with 10 stars exclusively serving as presenters (and no host). The format was then repeated successfully the next year, and has been tweaked occasionally over the decades — including for the innovative 2009 show produced by Bill Condon and Laurence Mark, which used combinations of five past winners each to present the acting awards.

Additional talent joining the April 25 live broadcast on ABC will be announced later. Word is all the nominated songs will be performed for the first time on the pre-show. We shall see.

Julia Pace Mitchell & Marla Gibbs guest stars & Wendie Malick recurs on Young Sheldon 4/8/21

(4/7/21) “The Geezer Bus and a New Model for Education” - Sheldon refuses to ride in a car after getting into an accident with Meemaw. Also, Missy uses their trauma to her advantage at school and Meemaw is forced to take the church shuttle while her car is in the shop, on Thursday, April 8 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

RECURRING CAST: Wallace Shawn (Dr. Sturgis), Craig T. Nelson (Dale), Ed Begley, Jr. (Dr. Linkletter), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer).

GUEST CAST includes: Julia Pace Mitchell (Darlene Wilkins), Diane Ladd (Hortense), Marla Gibbs (Doris).

William “Biff” McGuire, Tony-Nominated Actor, Dies At 94

(4/4/21) William “Biff” McGuire (ex-Pop, Santa Barbara/ex-Don, Search For Tomorrow/ex-Harry, All My Children/ex-Bruce, Secret Storm), whose Broadway career spanned over seven decades and included a role in the original 1958 South Pacific, died according to a statement released on April 1. He was 94.

His death was announced by the Seattle Rep, a theater that McGuire shared a long history with. He performed in over 30 productions there, including Saint Joan (1979-80), Noises Off (1986-87), and A Flaw in the Ointment (1993-94). With dozens of films under his belt, he has appeared in scenes with Al Pacino in Serpico, Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair, and Alan Arkin in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Biff was also a regular on television from the late 1940’s to the early 2000’s. In his seventies, he was nominated for two Tony’s for his roles in The Young Man From Atlanta (1997) and Morning’s At Seven (2002).

In 1960, he was cast opposite British actress Jeannie Carson in a 1960 revival of Finian’s Rainbow. They married in November of that year, and then starred in the original national tour of Camelot. He played King Arthur while Carson played Guinevere. This was just the beginning of their lifelong romance and acting partnership. Together, they moved to the Pacific Northwest to bring playwrights’ works to life, including Shakespeare, Shaw and Ibsen.

Former Seattle Rep Associate Artistic Director Doug Hughes remembers the late actor as “reserved, even shy in real life.” However, Hughes says that Biff gained “a nearly scary confidence once he stepped on a stage.”

McGuire got his famous nickname from playing football as a kid growing up in Camden, Connecticut. He attended the University of Massachusetts, where he studied agricultural engineering and later left to join the US Army in the midst of World War II. Stationed in England, he studied acting, directing, radio, and television, eventually setting his sights on set design, only to return to acting.

In a 2004 talkinbroadway interview, McGuire attributes his love for theater to his big family and his love for entertaining them. “We had all of these big gatherings of the whole family on Saturday nights, and everybody had to do something, so that was my theater. I shared it with a very large family,” Biff reminisced.

McGuire is survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren.

Evelyn Sakash Dies: Daytime Emmy-Winning Production Designer Was 66

(3/31/21) Evelyn Sakash (Search For Tomorrow), a veteran production designer and scenic artist who won a Daytime Emmy for PBS’ Between the Lions and worked on films, including Still Alice and Mrs. Winterbourne, was found dead Tuesday at her New York City home. She was 66.

The Associated Press reported that Sakash was a known hoarder and was found lying on her kitchen floor under a pile of garbage. The body was discovered by her sister, who told police she had hired a cleaning crew to clear the home in Queens and to look for Sakash. The medical examiner’s office will work to determine the cause of death.

A missing-persons report filed with the NYPD said Sakash hadn’t been seen since September 30. Along with her Daytime Emmy win in 2003, she picked up another nom for the live-action/puppetry series Between the Lines the following year. Her other TV credits include all episodes of the 1994-97 Nick Jr. series Allegra’s Window, along with miniseries The Langoliers, some TV movies, and an episode of Netflix prison dramedy Orange Is the New Black.

On the film side, along with Still Alice (2014) and Mrs. Winterbourne (1996), Sakash worked on pics including Urge (2016), The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby trilogy (2013-14), White Lies (1997), Made in America (1993), Paradise (1991) and Mermaids (1990).

Video: Agnes Nixon Tribute

(3/31/21) (Video) Celebrate the life of the incredibly talented and visionary writer, producer and creator of the ABC Daytime soap operas ALL MY CHILDREN, LOVING and ONE LIFE TO LIVE; Agnes Nixon in The Locher Room on March 31.

Helping to honor Agnes will be her son Robert Nixon along with a list of actors who benefited from the unforgettable characters Agnes created on her shows. Joining Robert will be Daytime Emmy Award-winning actors Susan Lucci (Erica Kane), Erika Slezak (Vicky Lord), Peter Bergman (Dr. Cliff Warner), Debbi Morgan (Angie Baxter-Hubbard) and Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard). We will also hear from one of All My Children’s biggest fans, Carol Burnett.

Bob Iger, Disney chairman and CEO, said it best, "“Agnes’ impact on daytime television and pop culture is undeniable. She was the first to champion socially relevant topics, and the towns and characters Agnes brought to life leave an indelible imprint on television that will be remembered forever.”

Throughout her career Agnes Nixon won five Writers’ Guild of America Awards, five Daytime Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2010 and was inducted into Soap Opera Weekly’s Soap Opera Hall of Fame.

‘Mack & Rita’: Diane Keaton Comedy Adds Wendie Malick, Nicole Byer, Dustin Milligan, Simon Rex & More

(3/26/21) The Katie Aselton directed romantic comedy Mack & Rita has rounded out the cast which has already set Diane Keaton, Taylour Paige and Elizabeth Lail.

As we already told you Keaton is playing Rita, Lail is playing Mack, and Paige is playing Rita’s best friend Carla from when the protagonist was young. The movie, scripted by Madeline Walter and Paul Welsh, is now shooting in Los Angeles. Endeavor and Fortitude are repping worldwide rights.

Mack and Rita follows Mackenzie Martin is tired of doing all the things she has to do to keep up and get ahead in her 30’s. Since she was a little girl, raised by her Grammie Martin, her deepest wish has been to be just like her Grammie, comfortable in her own skin, great at saying “no” and largely unburdened by what other people think of her. Not to mention Mack has always loved a good chunky sweater and being in bed by 8 pm. While at her best friend’s bachelorette in Palm Springs, Mack stumbles into a sound bath regression pod and comes out as a 70-year-old woman, who she names her Aunt Rita. But Mack’s transformation really has nothing to do with her exterior body and Mack she learns that the reality of old age isn’t quite what she imagined. It turns out that being comfortable in your own skin isn’t a given at 70, or any age, really, because self acceptance comes from within and only through actually living.

Dustin Milligan will play Jack, Mack’s neighbor and sometime dog babysitter who befriends Rita whom he thinks is Mack’s aunt (actually Mack, who’s mysteriously become a 70 year old). They hit it off right away and Jack is not bothered at all by the fact that the person whose company he enjoys the most – and seems to have a spark with – is almost twice his age. Milligan starred on Schitt’s Creek as Ted, the local vet and love interest of Annie Murphy’s Alexis. He’ll next be seen in Peacock’s Rutherford Falls which premieres on April 22. He is repped by The Gersh Agency and RED Management.

Simon Rex will play the role of Luca. Rex stars in Sean Baker’s upcoming film Red Rocket, which was recently picked up by A24 for distribution. He also starred in the Scary Movie franchise and Jack & Jill, Rex most recently starred in My Dead Dad directed by Fabio Frey. He is repped by Buchwald and Advanced Management.

Primetime Emmy nominee of Nailed It! Nicole Byer joins Mack & Rita‘s ensemble. The comedienne starred in the TV series Loosely Exactly Nicole and the feature comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates as well as the Matt Walsh directed comedy feature A Better You, as well as the Amazon Prime animated series Invincible. Byer is repped by Artists First, WME and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.

Patti Harrison will play Mack/Rita’s Agent. Her recent feature credits include the Sundance feature Together Together, Raya and the Last Dragon, A Simple Favor and the Hulu series Shrill. Harrison is also a staff writer on Big Mouth and Dispatches From Elsewhere. She is repped by UTA, Rise and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman. Loretta Devine will play Sharon, the mother of Paige’s character Carla. The Primetime Emmy winner of Grey’s Anatomy has also starred in such big features such as Best Picture Oscar winner Crash and Waiting to Exhale. She is repped by Innovative Artists and Essential Talent Management.

Wendie Malick will play a member of Sharon’s Wine Club which Rita joins. Malick starred in 149 episodes of Just Shoot Me! as well as 125 episodes of Hot in Cleveland, and recently American Housewife and The Ranch. She is repped by Innovative Artists and Marcia Hurwitz.

Another member of Sharon’s Wine Club is Lois Smith, whose feature credits include The French Dispatch, Lady Bird, Tesla and Minority Report. She is repped by AKA and Cornerstone. There’s

Magnum P.I. and American Dad! actress Amy Hill is also part of that club. She is repped by SMS Talent.

Producers of Mack & Rita are Alex Saks, Keaton, Stephanie Heaton-Harris, Jina Panebianco and Dori A. Rath. EPs are Paris Kassidokostas Latsis, Terry Dougas, Jean-Luc De Fanti, Jackie Shenoo, R. Wesley Sierk, III, Joseph Panebianco, JoJo Ryder, John D. Straley, Joe Restaino, Brett Beveridge, and Lauren Beveridge. Saks’ Page Fifty-Four Pictures is the production company on Mack & Rita. Hercules Film Fund Financing and Rhea Films are also producing with what is a Caliwood Pictures co-financed production.

Rhea Films was founded in 2015 by Terry Dougas and Jean-Luc De Fanti as the production and advisory entity to Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis’s Hercules Film Fund. The Fund has financed or co-financed several motion pictures, including the Tom Cruise movie American Made, the Safdie Brother’s Cannes Film Festival premiere Good Time, Paul Feig’s Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick dark comedy A Simple Plan, Grant Sputore’s Netflix feature I Am Mother, Brie Larson’s directorial debut Unicorn Store, Fisher Steven’s Justin Timberlake AppleTV+ feature Palmer, and this past Christmas’ Chloe Grace Moretz sci-fi/fantasy WWII movie Shadow in the Cloud.

Agnes Nixon - Tribute March 31

(3/24/21) (Watch Here) Come help us celebrate the life of the incredibly talented and visionary writer, producer and creator of the ABC Daytime soap operas ALL MY CHILDREN, LOVING and ONE LIFE TO LIVE; Agnes Nixon in The Locher Room live on Wednesday, March 31st at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.

Helping to honor Agnes will be her son Robert Nixon along with a list of actors who benefited from the unforgettable characters Agnes created on her shows. Joining Robert will be Daytime Emmy Award-winning actors Susan Lucci (Erica Kane), Erika Slezak (Vicky Lord), Peter Bergman (Dr. Cliff Warner), Debbi Morgan (Angie Baxter-Hubbard) and Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard). We will also hear from one of All My Children’s biggest fans, Carol Burnett.

Bob Iger, Disney chairman and CEO, said it best, "“Agnes’ impact on daytime television and pop culture is undeniable. She was the first to champion socially relevant topics, and the towns and characters Agnes brought to life leave an indelible imprint on television that will be remembered forever.”

Throughout her career Agnes Nixon won five Writers’ Guild of America Awards, five Daytime Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2010 and was inducted into Soap Opera Weekly’s Soap Opera Hall of Fame.

Angela Bassett To Narrate Wildlife Special ‘Malika The Lion Queen’ For Fox As Network Moves Into Natural History

(3/16/21) (Video) Fox is roaming into natural history with a two-hour special narrated by 9-1-1 star Angela Bassett. The network has ordered Malika the Lion Queen, a documentary about the lionesses of a pride in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

The special, which is produced by British production company Plimsoll Productions, the business behind Apple TV+’s Tiny World, will launch April 4 at 8 p.m. and will be available on Fox’s AVOD streamer Tubi beginning April 18.

It marks the network’s first move into the natural history genre – an area dominated by the BBC and cable networks such as Discovery and Nat Geo as well as increased moves by streamers such as Netflix and Apple. It comes as Fox is no longer a sister company to Nat Geo following the Disney deal and after NBC also dipped its toe into the genre with a 10-part series from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the producers of Planet Earth and Blue Planet, due to air in 2024.

Malika the Lion Queen is exec produced by Tom Hugh-Jones, Martha Holmes and Grant Mansfield.

“We’ve long been exploring premium wildlife specials that present an entirely new world full of emotional and aspirational stories that appeal to all viewers. In Malika the Lion Queen, we’ve found everything we were seeking,” said Rob Wade, Fox president of Alternative Entertainment & Specials, on Tuesday. “With Angela Bassett guiding viewers along with her hallmark grace and gravitas, coupled with mesmerizing footage captured by the Plimsoll team, Malika the Lion Queen is perfect evening entertainment for the whole family.”

Bassett is repped by Gersh and Lighthouse Entertainment.

‘Adopted’: Shawn Vance, Bruce Campbell & Wendie Malick Lead Cast Of ABC Comedy Pilot

(3/10/21) ABC has set the cast for Adopted, its single-camera comedy pilot co-written and executive produced by Jimmy Kimmel. Series co-creator Shawn Vance (The Green Beret’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse), whose life inspired the series, will star as himself, along with Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead franchise) and Hot in Cleveland alum Wendie Malick. Also cast as series regulars in the pilot are Maxim Swinton (Halston), Tate Moore (Beautiful Dreamer), Sofia Pernas (Blood & Treasure) and Reyn Doi (Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar). The comedy hails from ABC Studios and Kimmelot, Kimmel’s joint venture with Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse Entertainment.

Written and executive produced by Kimmel and The Green Beret’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse creators, executive producers and stars Vance and Daril Fannin, Adopted is inspired by a true story. In it, when a Green Beret (Vance) returns home to Texas from military service, he and his family struggle with the challenges of adopting his new brother, a 12-year-old Russian boy (Swinton).

Vance and Fannin are both military veterans — Vance is a former United States Special forces Green Beret, and Fanin, a former combat army medic. They used their background for their Netflix hybrid scripted/unscripted action comedy series The Green Beret’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse, which was executive produced by Matt Damon and Peter Perg.

Vance plays Shawn Voss. Overconfident like his father and anxious like his mother, Shawn is fresh out of the US Army Special Forces and struggling to adapt to civilian life. He believes that anything worth doing is worth over-doing, including his role as Daniel’s mentor a.k.a. “tor-mentor.” Shawn loves to take a military “tough love” approach to life, and often goes too far with his criticisms, even if he has the best of intentions.

Campbell plays Shawn’s dad, John Voss. A goofy, optimistic, carefree, and conservative Dad, John is a red-blooded, all-American, business owner who hates negative thoughts… so he doesn’t have ‘em! He’s as out-of-touch as he is unaware, but makes up for it with his jolly nature. His greatest fear is interpersonal conflict, and now that the house is full of kids, conflict is inevitable.

Malick portrays Shawn’s mother, Michelle Voss. An empathetic, overly-attentive, good Christian mother who believes in her kids as much as she worries about them. She couldn’t be happier to have adopted her new Russian son, but is also realizing she doesn’t have the same pep in her parental step… and just may need something she’s never needed before: the help of her family.

Swinton is Daniel Voss. A recent adoptee from Russia, Daniel is socially unaware, naïve for his age, and speaks heavily accented English. On the one hand, he’s the sweetest kid you’ll ever meet. On the other, he has suffered a lot of trauma in his young life and runs primarily on raw emotion. He has high highs and low lows, but his earnest eagerness to connect with his new home & family is impossible to resist.

Moore plays Chelsea Voss. Despite being a budding social media “influencer”, she’s the hippest and smartest person in the house. Born with a host of health problems, she’s had to overcome a lot, but like her bio says, she is not defined by her struggles! At her core she’s a good person who’s doing her best to love her family and guide them towards “enlightenment” but at the same time, it’s a tough job and she’s pretty busy with Tik-Tok.

Pernas portrays Dr. Zora. An adoption specialist, Daniel’s homeroom teacher, and the apple of Shawn’s eye, Dr. Zora is as intelligent as she is charming. Accustomed to being fawned over and a black-belt in flirt-jitsu, she easily dismantles Shawn’s advances with a smile. She keeps her cool when others don’t and provides a voice of reason in an otherwise chaotic world.

Doi is Thumper. A happy-go-lucky adoptee and Daniel’s best friend, his nickname is derived from the term “Bible thumper.” His two favorite things are girls and God, and puberty is making it difficult to stay on the straight and narrow Jesus prescribed.

Vance is an accomplished personal trainer, a former Green Beret, and the creator, writer, and star of the upcoming Netflix series The Green Beret’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse. He’s repped by Gersh, Zero Gravity and Myman Greenspan.

Campbell most recently reprised his most famous role as Ash Williams from Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise in Starz’s follow-up series Ash vs. Evil Dead, which aired for three seasons. The Burn Notice alum next will be seen starring in indie thriller, Black Friday, with Michael Jai White. He currently hosts a revival of Ripley’s Believe it or Not for Travel Channel. He’s repped by APA, and Jacobson, Russell, Saltz, Nassim & de la Torre, LLP.

Malick, who starred as Victoria Chase on Hot in Cleveland and as Nina Van Horn in Just Shoot Me, recently recurred on American Housewife, The Ranch and This Is Us and guest-starred on Billions, among other credits. She’s repped by Innovative Artists.

Swinton has appeared in numerous TV shows, including Bull, Blacklist, Blacklist: Redemption, Blindspot and NOs4a2. He’ll next be seen in the upcoming Netflix series Halston. Swinton’s film credits include T-11 Incomplete, Becks and How to Get Girls. He’s repped by A3 Artists Agency, Dave McKeown/Edge Entertainment, & Jamie Feldman.

Moore previously booked a series regular role on the ABC pilot Woman Up and played the younger version of Alice Eve’s title character in CBS’ pilot Hannah Royce’s Questionable Choices. She was also featured in the indie film Beautiful Dreamer which won best ensemble at the San Francisco International Film Festival. She’s repped by A3 Artists Agency and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.

Pernas can currently be seen portraying international art thief Lexi in CBS’s summer series, Blood & Treasure. Her other credits include a series regular role on NBC’s The Brave and recurring on Jane the Virgin. She’s repped by Zero Gravity management, Innovative Artists.

The 12-year-old Doi can currently be seen in his breakout role of YoYo alongside Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo in Lionsgate’s film Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar. He also voiced the character Box Kid in the upcoming Boss Baby 2 sequel, Boss Baby: Family Business, slated to be released in September. Doi also is currently working on two new Nickelodeon shows. He’s repped by AEFH and Bartlett-Carter Talent Management.

Golden Globes Adds Presenters Angela Bassett, Laura Dern, Salma Hayek & Jamie Lee Curtis

(2/25/21) Angela Bassett, Laura Dern, Salma Hayek and Jamie Lee Curtis are the latest stars set to present trophies during the 78th annual Golden Globes on Sunday.

NBC will air the ceremony live coast-to-coast starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. It will stream the following day on Peacock.

Golden Globes Adds Presenters Bryce Dallas Howard, Christopher Meloni, Rosie Perez And Christian Slater

(2/23/21) Bryce Dallas Howard, Christopher Meloni, Rosie Perez and Christian Slater are the latest group to be added as presenters for the 78th Golden Globes, set for Sunday, February 28. All four will be appearing live from New York’s Rainbow Room for the NBC telecast of the ceremony, which will take place both in New York with co-host Tina Fey and at the Beverly Hilton with co-host Amy Poehler.

The ceremony will air from 8-11 p.m. ET/5-8 p.m. PT on NBC and be available to stream the next day on Peacock.

Golden Globes Adds Presenters Sterling K. Brown, Michael Douglas, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick & More

(2/19/21) Kevin Bacon, Sterling K. Brown, Michael Douglas, Kyra Sedgwick, Susan Kelechi Watson, and Catherine Zeta-Jones are among the second batch of presenters announced for the upcoming 78th Annual Gold Globe Awards.

The latest round of presenters was announced today by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, dick clark productions and NBC.

Douglas (three-time Golden Globe Award winner and ten-time nominee) & Zeta-Jones (two-time Golden Globe Award nominee) will take the stage together to present from The Rainbow Room in New York, while Bacon (Golden Globe Award winner and three-time nominee) & Sedgwick (Golden Globe Award winner and nine-time nominee), as well as Brown (Golden Globe Award winner and two-time nominee) & Watson, will present from The Beverly Hilton Ballroom in Los Angeles.

The pairs will join previously announced presenters Awkwafina, Cynthia Erivo, Joaquin Phoenix, Kristen Wiig, and Renee Zellweger.

NBC will air the ceremony live coast-to-coast starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. It will stream the following day on Peacock.

Nominations For 21st Annual Black Reel Awards

(2/19/21) The Black Reel Awards (BRAs), an annual event that recognizes the excellence of African-Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora in the global film industry, has unveiled the nominees for its 21st annual awards ceremony. The event, hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF), will take place on April 11 virtually across several media platforms.

OUTSTANDING VOICE PERFORMANCE

ANGELA BASSETT
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

JAMIE FOXX
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

MAYA RUDOLPH
THE WILLOUGHBYS (NETFLIX)

OCTAVIA SPENCER
ONWARD (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

PHYLICIA RASHAD
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

Wendie Malick guests on American Housewife 3/3/21

(2/17/21) “The Guardian” – Katie and Greg secretly put Kathryn (Wendie Malick) through a series of tests to see if she would make a good guardian for Anna-Kat in the unlikely event something should happen to them. Meanwhile, after tracking down J.D.’s (Jake Choi) potential egg donors, Tami (Holly Robinson Peete) and Katie scheme to learn more about them on an all-new episode of “American Housewife,” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 (8:30-9:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu.

Guest starring is Wendie Malick as Kathhryn, Jake Choi as J.D., Jim Rash as Walker and Holly Robinson Peete as Tami Gaines.

“The Guardian” was written by Jeremy Hall and directed by Randall Winston.

Amy Carlson & Jen Landon recur on FBI: Most Wanted

(2/11/21) “Winner” – After a suspect escapes trial and goes on a murder spree, the team partners with his bail bondsperson, Jackie (Amy Carlson), in order to track him down. Also, Jess continues to struggle with moving forward in his love life, on FBI: MOST WANTED, Tuesday, March 2 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Jen Landon debuts in her recurring role as Tali’s horseback riding instructor.

RECURRING CAST: Amy Carlson (Jackie Ward), Jen Landon (Sarah Allen).

Travis Schuldt & Wendie Malick recur on Young Sheldon 2/25/21

(2/11/21) “Crappy Frozen Ice Cream and an Organ Grinder’s Monkey” – Sheldon and George Sr. dine with President Hagemeyer (Wendie Malick) and a university benefactor. Also, Georgie gives Missy some brotherly advice when Mary won’t let her go to the school dance, and Dale and June (Reba McEntire) convince Meemaw to attend their son’s wedding, on Thursday, Feb. 25 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

RECURRING CAST includes: Craig T. Nelson (Dale), Wendie Malick (President Hagemeyer), Travis Schuldt (Justin).

‘Red Bird Lane’ Psychological Thriller Pilot Not Going Forward At HBO Max

(2/10/21) HBO Max has opted not to proceed with Red Bird Lane, its drama pilot starring Susan Sarandon.

Red Bird Lane, written by Sara Gran and directed by David Slade, is a psychological thriller that follows eight strangers who arrive at an isolated house, all for different reasons. Upon their mysterious and coincidental arrival, the strangers realize that something sinister and terrifying awaits them.

Kiersey Clemons, Isidora Goreshter, Danny Huston, Ash Santos, Fiana Dourif, Dizzie Harris, Tara Lynne Barr and Crispin Glover co-starred in the pilot, executive produced by Gran, Slade, John Wells and Erin Jontow. Warner Bros. Television was the studio.

HBO Max employs a mix of pilot and straight-to-series orders. The streamer recently picked up another drama pilot, Julia, to series.

Jessica Walter & Wendie Malick guest on American Housewife 2/24/21

(2/8/21) “Getting Frank with the Ottos” – To celebrate the momentous 100th episode milestone of his podcast, Franklin (Evan O’Toole) invites Katie and the family to make guest appearances on his show, “Getting Frank with Franklin.” After witnessing his intrusive tactics with Taylor and the others, Katie is determined to keep her interview light and fun but is surprised when her mom, Kathryn (Wendie Malick), joins her. Meanwhile, Greg asks Lonnie (Matt Shively) to be his campaign manager to help strengthen his social media presence on all-new episode of “American Housewife,” WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 (8:30-9:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. (TV-14, L) Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu.

Guest starring is Wendie Malick as Kathryn, Matt Shively as Lonnie Spears, Jessica Walter as Margaret, Logan Pepper as Cooper, Peyton Meyer as Trip and Evan O’Toole as Franklin.

“Getting Frank with the Ottos” was written by Rick Weiner and Kenny Schwartz, with story by Sarah Dunn and directed by Melissa Kosar.

Soap Alums 2021 NAACP Image Awards Nominations

(2/2/21) The nominees for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards are officially in.

Set to simulcast across all ViacomCBS Networks including BET, CBS and MTV on Saturday, March 27th at 8 p.m. ET, the 52nd NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of BIPOC artists across TV, music, film and literature.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
Deon Cole – Black-ish (ABC)
Jay Ellis – Insecure (HBO)
Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Laurence Fishburne – Black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series
Giancarlo Esposito – The Broken and the Bad (AMC.com )
J.B. Smoove – Mapleworth Murders (Quibi)
Jasmine Cephas Jones – #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)
Laurence Fishburne – #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)
Stephan James – #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Anika Noni Rose – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Gabourey Sidibe – Antebellum (Lionsgate)
Nia Long – The Banker (Apple)
Phylicia Rashad – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Taylour Paige – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson aka Questlove – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Angela Bassett – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Chris Rock – The Witches (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Jamie Foxx – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Phylicia Rashad – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Jane Krakowski is actually dating famed architect David Rockwell

(1/27/21) A bizarre report that actress Jane Krakowski had an affair with MyPillow guy Mike Lindell was fiercely shot down — now Page Six can exclusively reveal the “30 Rock” star has been sharing more elegant pillow talk with famed architect David Rockwell.

Proving the report about beloved theater darling Krakowski and mustachioed Republican Lindell was total horsefeathers — a source exclusively tells us that the actress has been quietly dating starchitect and designer Rockwell for a while.

The source said, “Jane has been dating David Rockwell for a couple of years now, however, very quietly.

“Friends are speculating if the strange story about Jane and the silly MyPillow guy was a game of telephone; maybe somehow Rockwell turned into Lindell in rumor-ville.

“Otherwise, people are baffled where the story came from. Lindell is absolutely not her type.”

Rockwell has designed many sets for Broadway shows and movies, which is how he is believed to have met the “30 Rock” star.

Krakowski also appeared on TV in “Ally McBeal,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Dickinson.” On Broadway, she won a Tony for “Nine” and an Olivier Award for “Guys and Dolls.”

In March 2019, Rockwell and Krakowski were pictured together at the Broadway Opening Night of “Kiss Me, Kate.”

They were also pictured cuddling up together at Bette Midler’s Hulaween in October 2019. She was also at Rockwell’s 60th birthday at Central Park Zoo in July 2020.

Meanwhile, Lindell is losing his pillow bobble knit over the story that he and Krakowski were allegedly linked.

He has filed a lawsuit against Mailonline.com saying the story caused him, “Significant humiliation and emotional distress.”

Reps for Krakowski and Rockwell didn’t get back to us. Lindell reps could not be reached.

CBS ALL ACCESS ANNOUNCES GUEST STARS FOR SEASON FOUR OF “NO ACTIVITY”

(1/15/21) CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, today announced several new and returning guest stars, all set to appear in the fourth season of its original, half-hour comedy series NO ACTIVITY. It was previously announced that the upcoming season will feature all of the fan favorite NO ACTIVITY characters in animated form.

The exciting group of new guest stars this season includes Louie Anderson (“Baskets,” “Search Party”), Kevin Bacon (“I Love Dick, “The Following”), Jillian Bell (“Brittany Runs a Marathon,” “Workaholics”), D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place,” “Barry”), Rob Delaney (“Catastrophe,” “Deadpool 2”), Elle Fanning (“The Great,” “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”), Will Forte (“The Last Man on Earth,” “Nebraska”), Kimberly Hébert Gregory (“Five Feet Apart,” “Vice Principals”), Udo Kier (“Bacurau,” “Downsizing”), Lamorne Morris (“Woke,” “New Girl”), Oscar Nuñez (“The Office,” “Baywatch”), Hannah Simone (“New Girl,” “Awokened”), June Squibb (“Nebraska, “Hubie Halloween”) and Samara Weaving (“Ready or Not,” “Hollywood”). Co-developer Patrick Brammall will reprise his starring role as Special Agent Nick Cullen and will be joined by returning guest stars Joe Keery as Officer Reinhardt, the new partner of Tim Meadows’ Judd Tolbeck; Sunita Mani as dispatch operator Fatima; Jason Mantzoukas as an undercover FBI agent; Bob Odenkirk as Greg, and Amy Sedaris as dispatch’s mother hen, Janice.

This season will find Special Agent Nick Cullen (Brammall) finally realizing his dream of joining the FBI, only to quickly discover being an FBI “special agent” isn’t what he expected it to be. When he’s assigned to a seemingly dull observation detail, he finds a potential career case in the form of an emerging cult, and when a large scale operation takes aim at the cult, it’s unclear which side will break first. Despite the promotion, Cullen’s path continues to cross with former partner Judd Tolbeck’s (Meadows), who is also adjusting to life with a new partner of his own.

NO ACTIVITY is produced by CBS Studios in association with Funny Or Die, Jungle and Gary Sanchez Productions, with animation production services provided by Flight School, and is based on the Stan original series produced by Jungle. The series is co-developed and executive produced by Brammall and Trent O’Donnell, alongside executive producers Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Joe Farrell, Mike Farah, Joe Hardesty and Jason Burrows. Nina Pedrad, Steve Toltz and Becca Kinskey serve as co-executive producers. As in previous seasons, O’Donnell will also direct.

Season four of NO ACTIVITY joins CBS All Access’ growing slate of original series that currently includes THE GOOD FIGHT, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, TOONING OUT THE NEWS, WHY WOMEN KILL, INTERROGATION, THE THOMAS JOHN EXPERIENCE, THAT ANIMAL RESCUE SHOW, TEXAS 6, TELL ME A STORY, and the limited event series THE STAND, as well as the upcoming THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, THE HARPER HOUSE, FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE and GUILTY PARTY. CBS All Access is also the exclusive domestic home to STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS and the U.S.S Enterprise set series STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS.

Talk Show Appearance

(1/14/21) THE TALK – CBS

Thursday, Jan. 21

Actress Jane Krakowski

The Locher Room's 100th Episode Welcomed Cast from The Bay

(12/28/20) (Video) Join cast members of the Emmy Award-winning digital series, The Bay, for the 100th episode of The Locher Room whixch took place Monday, December 28th. The cast previewed Part 2 of the Season 6 finale and share highlights from this incredible season and their careers. Tune in to see Kristos Andrews (Pete Garrett / Adam Kenway), Matthew Ashford (Steve Jensen), Najee De-Tiege (R.J. Foster-Garrett), Celeste Fianna (Tamara Garrett) and A Martinez (Nardo Ramos).

The season finale of The Bay will air Tuesday, December 29th at 3 p.m. EST on PopStar TV. thebaytheseries.com/

‘Station 19’: Robert Curtis Brown To Recur On ABC Firefighter Drama

(12/9/20) We’ll be meeting the father of Travis Montgomery (Jay Hayden) shortly on ABC’s firefighter drama series Station 19. Robert Curtis Brown will be introduced as Travis’ dad, Paul Montgomery, on Thursday’s episode titled “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and he will recur throughout the season. You can see a first-look photo above.

Brown’s Travis is a buttoned-up, religious father who’s hiding a part of himself from his family.

Station 19 follows a group of heroic Seattle firefighters as they put their lives and hearts on the line. It stars Jaina Lee Ortiz as Andy Herrera, Jason George as Ben Warren, Boris Kodjoe as Captain Robert Sullivan, Grey Damon as Jack Gibson, Barrett Doss as Victoria Hughes, Jay Hayden as Travis Montgomery, Okieriete Onaodowan as Dean Miller, Danielle Savre as Maya Bishop and Stefania Spampinato as Carina DeLuca.

The drama is produced by ABC Signature. Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy) serves as showrunner and executive producer. Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers serve as executive producers. Paris Barclay (Pitch, Sons of Anarchy) serves as the producing director and executive producer of the series. ABC Signature is a part of Disney Television Studios, alongside 20th Television and Touchstone Television

Brown’s credits include recurring roles on Ryan Murphy’s Ratched, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Netflix’s Dear White People. He most recently guest-starred on The Right Stuff, The Rookie and All Rise, among others. Brown is repped by Ellis Talent Group.

Nominations For Inaugural Critics Choice Super Awards

(11/19/20) The show airs Sunday, January 10, 2021 on the CW as a two-hour special at 8 pm ET/PT.

BEST VILLAIN IN A MOVIE
Jim Carrey – Sonic The Hedgehog (Paramount)
Katherine Langford – Spontaneous (Paramount)
Kathryn Newton – Freaky (Universal)
Martin Short and Jane Krakowski – The Willoughbys (Netflix)
J.K. Simmons – Palm Springs (Hulu)
Hilary Swank – The Hunt (Universal)

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION SERIES
Daveed Diggs – Snowpiercer (TNT)
Andrew Koji – Warrior (Cinemax)
Logan Lerman – Hunters (Amazon)
Alexander Ludwig – Vikings (History)
Shemar Moore – S.W.A.T. (CBS)
Al Pacino – Hunters (Amazon)

BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR SERIES
Jensen Ackles – Supernatural (The CW)
Mike Colter – Evil (CBS)
Michael Emerson – Evil (CBS)
Jonathan Majors – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Ben Mendelsohn – The Outsider (HBO)
Jared Padalecki – Supernatural (The CW)
Michael K. Williams – Lovecraft Country (HBO)

BEST VILLAIN IN A SERIES
Tom Ellis – Lucifer (Netflix)
Abbey Lee – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Samantha Morton – The Walking Dead (AMC)
Sarah Paulson – Ratched (Netflix)
Antony Starr – The Boys (Amazon)
Finn Wittrock – Ratched (Netflix).

Fox Brings Back ‘Name That Tune’ With Jane Krakowski Hosting & Randy Jackson As Band Leader

(11/18/20) Name That Tune is returning to screens with Jane Krakowski hosting a rebooted series for Fox.

Former American Idol judge Randy Jackson is set as band leader for the show, which will premiere on January 6 after The Masked Singer. It comes from Fox Alternative Entertainment, Prestige Entertainment, which owns the rights to the show, and Holey Moley producer Eureka Productions. Janine Cooper, who has overseen The Bachelor and The Masked Singer in Australia, is showrunner.

It joins Beat Shazam, the Name That Tune-esque competition hosted by Jamie Foxx that was renewed for a fourth season, on Fox’s unscripted schedule.

The ten-episode series order comes three years after CBS attempted a reboot of the classic format, which was created by Harry Salter and first aired in 1953. CBS ordered a pilot, which was hosted by Elizabeth Banks, but it didn’t go to series.

Ralph Rubenstein and Noah Rubenstein from Prestige Entertainment, who were involved in that version, will exec produce the series alongside Eureka Productions’ Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin and Cooper.

The game show, which launches in the 9 pm slot, tests contestants’ music knowledge as they battle it out in an assortment of challenging musical games for cash and prizes.

Each episode will include two standalone half-hour contests pitting two players against one another as they race against the clock to test their knowledge of songs, performed by the live band. Each contest features a rotating variety of games from the original format, before the iconic Bid-a-Note round. The player with the most money at the end of Bid-a-Note wins the game and takes his or her bank into the Golden Medley bonus round, for a chance to win additional cash and potentially the $100,000 grand prize.

Name That Tune premiered on NBC Radio in 1952. It quickly made the leap to television and aired from 1953-1959 on NBC and CBS. After a 17-year hiatus, the show returned for a syndication run from 1974-1981 and then again in 1984, with Tom Kennedy and then Jim Lange as the host.

“We’re thrilled to bring the iconic musical game show Name That Tune back to television with this updated revival. It’s been beloved the world over for decades and we can’t wait for a new generation of families to get to play along with the classic series at home,” said Rob Wade, President, Alternative Entertainment & Specials, Fox Entertainment. “With the captivating Jane Krakowski as host alongside band leader Randy Jackson the Big Dawg himself, this surely will be a harmonious pairing.”

Prestige Entertainment, Jane Krakowski and Randy Jackson are repped by UTA and Jackson is also repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

Video: Search for Tomorrow Reunion - Maree Cheatham, Michael Corbett

(11/10/20) (Video) Maree Cheatham (Stephanie Wyatt), Michael Corbett (Warren Carter) and Marcia McCabe (Sunny Adamson) from Search for Tomorrow joined The Locher Room on Tuesday, November 10th at 3 p.m. EST. Search for Tomorrow began its run on CBS on September 3, 1951, and concluded on NBC, 35 years later, on December 26, 1986. Join them as they look back and reminisce.

Search for Tomorrow - Reunion 11/10/20 - Maree Cheatham, Michael Corbett and Marcia McCabe

(11/3/20) Maree Cheatham (Stephanie Wyatt), Michael Corbett (Warren Carter) and Marcia McCabe (Sunny Adamson) from Search for Tomorrow will join The Locher Room on Tuesday, November 10th at 3 p.m. EST. Search for Tomorrow began its run on CBS on September 3, 1951, and concluded on NBC, 35 years later, on December 26, 1986. Join us as we look back and reminisce with these Henderson residents. (Watch here)

Kevin Bacon Joins Action Thriller ‘One Way’ Opposite Colson Baker & Travis Fimmel

(11/2/20) Kevin Bacon has come aboard Andrew Baird’s action thriller One Way, joining already announced cast Colson Baker and Travis Fimmel.

In One Way, Freddy (Baker) goes on the run with a bag full of cash after a robbery of his former crime boss goes wrong. With a potentially fatal wound, he slips onto a bus headed into the unrelenting California desert. After a call for help, Freddy’s estranged father (Bacon) betrays him, notifying the crime boss where he is. With his life slipping through his fingers, Freddy is left with very few choices to survive.

Production is expected to commence in February in Los Angeles and Tulsa, OK. Highland Film Group is handling worldwide sales during the virtual AFM for the title, which is scripted by Ben Conway.

“Kevin Bacon is one of the most talented and internationally recognizable actors of his generation. We are thrilled that he is joining Colson Baker and Travis Fimmel to star in One Way,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser. “Bacon is perfect for this role! We are really looking forward to shooting with him and the rest of the terrific cast and crew next January,” continued Highland Film Group COO Delphine Perrier.

Baird adds, “I’m really excited to work with Kevin. He was already a major star when he really caught my eye as Willie O’Keefe in Oliver Stone’s JFK. To me he showed a new, raw and very powerful side. His turn in The Woodsman should have won him an Oscar and I love his work in his new show City on a Hill. Kevin and I have had great discussions about his role and he will be bringing all of this edge and power and his darker side to Fred Sr. in One Way where he plays the father to Freddy. It’s going to be wild ride and an iconic turn!”

A star for more than three decades since his breakout roles in Diner and Footloose, Bacon won Golden Globe and SAG honors for his lead role in the television movie Taking Chance, and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his supporting role in The River Wild and a SAG Award for Murder in the First. He has received three other SAG Award nominations with the ensembles of Frost/Nixon, Mystic River, and Apollo 13. Bacon starred in the Amazon Original series I Love Dick and The Following. He currently stars in the Showtime series City on a Hill. His feature credits include A Few Good Men, Black Mass, JFK, The Big Picture and most recently the Blumhouse thriller You Should Have Left.

Tim Palmer, Martin Brennan and Jib Polhemus are producing One Way with Bill Grantham serving as executive producer. The film was developed with funding from Northern Ireland Screen and Screen Ireland.

Bacon’s representatives are MGMT, attorney Fred Gaines and Viewpoint. Baird is repped by source | management + production..Ó.èú

Morgan Fairchild guests on The Simpsons 2/15/20

(10/22/20) Grampa is accused of a crime in this return to THE SIMPSONS by writer David X. Cohen. Meanwhile, Kent Brockman questions his careerin the all-new “Podcast News”episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, Nov. 15 (8:00-8:31 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-3122) (TV-PG D, L, S, V)

Voice Cast: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson; Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson and Nelson; Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; Hank Azaria as Moe; Harry Shearer as Skinner; Tress MacNeille as Dolph; Pamela Hayden as Milhouse; Harry Shearer as Flanders

Guest Voice Cast: Morgan Fairchild as Vivienne St. Charmaine, Stellan Skarsgard as himself, Christine Nangle as Tabitha Shingle, Bill Simmons as himself

Susan Sarandon says Cher stole her role in ‘The Witches of Eastwick’

(10/21/20) Susan Sarandon revealed that Cher stole the role intended for Sarandon in their classic film “The Witches of Eastwick” — after Cher had a “liaison” with producer Jon Peters.

Sarandon played dowdy teacher Jane in the 1987 movie, with Jack Nicholson as the devil. But in a candid talk with the screenwriter, Michael Cristofer, Sarandon said that she was originally hired to play Cher’s role of sexy sculptress Alex.

“I initially was cast in Cher’s part, and didn’t find out till I got to LA — because I was living in Rome — that I was actually moved to a different part,” she recalled. “I had to learn suddenly to play the cello, and I had never played an instrument in my life. They said they would sue me if I left, so I didn’t have much choice!”

“Cher sort of muscled her way into that part,” Cristofer said. Sarandon replied, “That’s Jon … [He] and Cher had a past liaison or something, so that was another element.”

However, the actresses got along so well that Cher lent her a wig and dress for a scene in which Nicholson seduces her. They also had lunch with Nicholson in his trailer daily.

Sarandon and Cristofer spoke ahead of a fund-raiser for LA’s Project Angel Food, which will throw a “Witches of Eastwick” “home brewing party” Saturday, hosted by Sandra Lee.

Sarandon said that she, Cher and co-star Michelle Pfeiffer bonded to survive the shoot, where Peters threw chairs on the set in a temper and director George Miller quit twice.

“There were a lot of reasons why we could not have gotten along, and everybody took a higher road,” she said.

Sarandon also revealed that she turned down a role in “The First Wives Club,” which she’s never seen, saying: “[It] ended up making a lot of money. It starred all great women, who were getting revenge on their ex-husbands, in the script that I got, by being mean to other women. And I was just like … who needs that, you know? I don’t want to be in something where women are tearing down other women.”

Peters and reps for Cher didn’t comment.

Kevin Bacon To Direct Mike Vukadinovich-Scripted Comedy ‘A Problem Of Providence’ For AGC Studios

(10/10/20) Kevin Bacon is set to direct A Problem Of Providence, a dark comedy scripted by Mike Vukadinovich. AGC Studios is producing and financing the film.

Script is a darkly comedic exploration of greed and violence that centers around an eclectic group of residents in a small Alaskan town as they attempt to cover up a murder for hire. Bacon most recently has directed episodes of The Closer and City On A Hill, and his last feature as director was Loverboy.

Vukadinovich has got a lot happening. Among other projects, he’s adapting the Ray Bradbury classic From The Dust Returned for Netflix, Cupid for Mythos Studios, with Justin Bieber attached to play the winged matchmaker, Beetlejuice 2 for Warner Bros, an original for James Wan to direct and produce and The Wanderling for 20th Century Studios and director Stephen Daldry, and The Phantom Tollbooth for TriStar. Vukadinovich most recently served as a Supervising Producer of Kidding, the Michel Gondry series starring Jim Carrey.

Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios has been remarkably prolific despite the pandemic. On the small screen, AGC is partnering with Studio Canal on season 2 of Epix’s War of the Worlds starring Gabriel Byrne and Daisy Edgar Jones. The company just started production on the Doug Liman-directed heist comedy Lockdown starring Anne Hathaway, Chewitel Eijofor, and Ben Stiller; the Andrea Riseboroough-starrer Geeche; AGC wrapped production in summer an an untitled Neill Blomkamp scifi thriller, and starts production in three weeks on the Kristen Bell comedy Queenpins with STX Entertainment and Red Hour. The Roland Emmerich-directed $150 million budget Moonfall starring Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson starts production in two weeks, and AGC Studios is in pre-production on a TV adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s News of A Kidnapping for Amazon Studios, with production to start later this year. Other upcoming projects include the Pierre Morel-directed espionage thriller The Blacksmith starring Nick Jonas and Lawrence Fishburne and the Sylvester Stallone action thriller Little America to be directed by Rowan Athale.

Bacon is repped by MGMT and attorney Fred Gaines; Vukadinovich is repped by Verve, Industry Entertainment and attorney Rob Goldman.

Susan Sarandon To Headline ‘Red Bird Lane’ As HBO Max Psychological Thriller Pilot Sets Cast

(10/10/20) HBO Max has assembled the cast for its YA drama pilot Red Bird Lane, from John Wells Prods. It will be led by Oscar winner Susan Sarandon, with Kiersey Clemons, Isidora Goreshter, Danny Huston, Ash Santos, Fiona Dourif, Dizzie Harris and Tara Lynne Barr also starring.

Red Bird Lane, written by Sara Gran and directed by David Slade, is a psychological thriller that follows eight strangers who arrive at an isolate house, all for different reasons. Upon their mysterious and coincidental arrival, the strangers realize that something sinister and terrifying awaits them.

Sarandon plays Catherine, a welcoming and beautiful hostess with a devious secret.

Clemons (Antebellum, Dope) will play Jane, a mix of high intelligence and no common sense. She came to the house for drugs.

Goreshter (Shameless, Condor) is Isabelle who is sophisticated and hard-edged, although not unkind. She came to the house for pleasure.

Huston (Succession, Yellowstone) will play Hugh, old money and exhausted. He came to the house for resolution.

Santos (American Horror Story: Apocalypse) will play Kesha who is is soft-spoken, elegant, and hard as nails. She came to the house to save a life.

Dourif (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency) will play Mikki. Smart and cruel, Mikki is Catherine’s right-hand person. She came to the house for fun.

Harris (Shameless) will play Sam who is well-meaning, but in way over her head. She came to the house for hope.

Barr (Casual) is Rose. Young and naive, Rose came to the house out of desperation.

Gran and Slade executive produce with Wells and Erin Jontow for John Wells Productions. Dan Halsted serves as consulting producer. Warner Bros. Television is the studio.

Sarandon recently starred in Roger Michell’s Blackbird appeared on Showtime’s Ray Donovan. She is repped by UTA.

Clemons is with UTA, Range and Jackoway Tyerman; Goreshter is repped by Stride Management, Hyperion; Huston is with Untitled Entertainment, UTA, and Myman Greenspan; Santos is repped by A3 Artists Agency and Seven Summits; Dourif is with Innovative Artists; Harris is with Entertainment Lab and attorney Kendall Minter; Barr is repped by Authentic Talent & Management, ICM Partners and Brecheen Feldman.

Keegan-Michael Key, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, Kristin Chenoweth Among 10 Cast For Apple Musical Comedy Project Starring Cecily Strong

(10/2/20) Apple TV+ has set a star-studded ensemble cast for its upcoming musical comedy project starring Saturday Night Live‘s Cecily Strong and executive produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. Joining Strong are Keegan-Michael Key (Dolemite is My Name), Alan Cumming (The Good Wife), Fred Armisen (Portlandia), Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked), Aaron Tveit (Graceland), Dove Cameron (Hairspray Live!), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story film adaptation) Jaime Camil (Jane the Virgin), Jane Krakowski (Dickinson) and Ann Harada (Avenue Q).

Written by Despicable Me duo Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, the as-yet untitled comedy series follows a couple on a backpacking trip designed to reinvigorate their relationship when they discover the magical town of Schmigadoon, in which everyone acts as if they’re in a studio musical from the 1940s. They then discover that they can’t leave until they find “true love.”

Key will play Josh, Melissa’s (Strong) long term, pragmatic partner, and the last person who wants to be stuck in this magical town. Cumming is Mayor Menlove, the welcoming mayor of the town with a secret (and a song) in his heart. Armisen plays Reverend Layton, the mild-mannered religious leader of the town. Chenoweth is Mildred Layton, Reverend Layton’s morally superior wife who is in everybody’s business. Tveit plays Danny Bailey, the town bad boy who is trouble with a capital T, especially once he sets his sights on Melissa. Cameron is Betsy, the farmers daughter who instantly falls for Josh. DeBose portrays Emma Tate, a more modern woman and the town’s teacher, she struggles to fit into the town’s strict mold. Camil plays Doc Lopez, the handsome town doctor with an icy heart. Krakowski plays The Countess, a stunning and sophisticated woman determined to marry Doc Lopez. Harada is Florence Menlove, the oblivious and dutiful wife of Mayor Menlove.

Paul will serve as showrunner, and will write all of the original music. Barry Sonnenfeld will direct. Strong will produce in addition to star, and Daurio will serve as consulting producer. Andrew Singer will serve as executive producer on behalf of Broadway Video. Caroline Maroney, Micah Frank and Rose Lam will serve as producers. The series hails from Broadway Video and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Key is represented by UTA, Viewpoint and Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver & Thompson. Cumming is represented by ICM Partners and Untitled Entertainment. Armisen is represented by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Jared Levine. Chenoweth is represented by Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham, 3 Arts Entertainment and ICM Partners. Tveit is represented by CAA, Elin Flack Management and Wolf Kasteler. Cameron is represented by A3 Artists Agency, LBI Entertainment and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson. DeBose is represented by Anthony Calamita of AC Management, Ryan LeVine & Kimberly Jaime of Jackoway/Austen & CAA. Camil is represented by Zero Gravity and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Harada is represented by her agents in NY and LA at Artists and Representatives. Krakowski is repped by UTA.

‘Army Of The Dead: Lost Vegas’: Netflix Anime Series Adds Joe Manganiello, Christian Slater, Vanessa Hudgens & More

(10/2/20) Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, Netflix’s anime spin-off series of Zack Snyder’s in-the-works zombie action heist movie, has spawned up a number of Hollywood names set to star. Joe Manganiello (Justice League), Christian Slater (Mr. Robot), Harry Lennix (The Blacklist), Ross Butler (13 Reasons Why), Anya Chalotra (The Witcher), Vanessa Hudgens (Tick, Tick … Boom!), Yetide Badaki (American Gods), Christina Wren (Man of Steel), Monica Barbaro (The Good Cop) and Nolan North (Star Trek: Lower Decks) round out the cast for Netflix’s anime show, the streaming service announced Thursday.

The newly-announced stars join Dave Bautista, Ana De La Reguera, Tig Notaro, Omari Hardwick and Ella Purnell in the new anime series executive produced by Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Wesley Coller from The Stone Quarry alongside Jay Olivia and Shay Hatten.

The spin-off series will focus on the origin story of Scott (Bautista) and highlight his rescue crew’s efforts to protect all they love during the first phases of the mysterious zombie outbreak in Vegas. Manganiello will star as Rose, Slater as Torrance, Lennis as Boorman, Butler as Chen, Chalotra as Lucilia and Hudgens as Willow. Malone, Badaki, Wren, Barbaro and North will play Queen Meeru, Nicole, Meagan and Clemenson, respectively.

Snyder will direct two episodes of the anime series with Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and upcoming Netflix Original Anime Series Trese) showrunning as well as directing two other episodes. Meduzarts Animation Studio will serve as the animation studio.

Though Snyder’s film isn’t set to hit streaming until next year, Netflix has already greenlit other plans to expand the Army of the Dead universe. In addition to the anime series, Netflix announced in September a prequel film.

Army of the Dead actor Matthias Schweighöfer will direct and star in the prequel, which will shine a light on his character “Ludwig Dieter.” Hatten is also set to write the prequel. The pic will be produced out of Germany by Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder and Wesley Coller of The Stone Quarry and Schweighöfer and Dan Maag of Pantaleon Films.

Video: The Simon Family

(9/2/20) (Video) Courtney Simon (Dr. Lynn Michaels, As the World Turns) and Peter Simon (Dr. Ed Bauer, Guiding Light) along with their daughter Kate Hall will joined The Locher Room on Wednesday, September 2. The Simon family discussed their various roles as writers and actors in the television industry (Search for Tomorrow, As the World Turns and Guiding Light to name just a few of their roles).

Soap Alum Smythe Dies at 70

(8/28/20) (crescentavalleyweekly.com) Marcus Smythe, actor of film, television and theatre, died Aug. 20 at his home with family in La Crescenta, Calif. He was 70. The cause of death was the culmination of a three-year battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Goddard, two sons, Harrison and Duncan, and brother Casey of Tucson, Ariz., as well as nieces and nephews in Kansas and Arizona. He is preceded in death by parents, Patricia (Schweitzer) and Paul Smythe and brother Scott.

Smythe was a familiar romantic lead in the most popular daytime-television serials of the 1970s and ‘80s. These included his portrayal of Gordon Middleton on “The Guiding Light,” Dane Taylor on “Search for Tomorrow,” and Peter Love on NBC’s long-running and award-winning “Another World.” He also appeared with such acting luminaries as Henry Fonda, Myrna Loy and Jessica Tandy in feature films and performed extensively in off-Broadway theatrical productions and national stage tours. He was the recipient of Drama Logue and LA Weekly Drama Awards during his stage career in Los Angeles. He was a member of SAG, AFTRA and Actors Equity.

He received his B.A. in theatre from Otterbein University in 1972 and a Master of Fine Arts from Ohio University in 1975. He appeared at the Cleveland Playhouse post-college before his move to New York City.

With his sons, Smythe was active in Boy Scouts of America in La Crescenta. He served as assistant scout master, Chaplain and recruiter as well as coaching, with wife Suzanne, both sons to achieve Eagle Scout.

A memorial remembrance will be deferred to either electronic access or post-pandemic in-person service. In lieu of flower tributes, the family respectfully encourages contributions to a favorite charity or Democrat in the upcoming election. The family wishes to reinforce to everyone that the pandemic is real and asks everyone to please wear a mask.

Live Chat with The Simon Family 9/2/20

(8/25/20) Courtney Simon (Dr. Lynn Michaels, As the World Turns) and Peter Simon (Dr. Ed Bauer, Guiding Light) along with their daughter Kate Hall will join The Locher Room on Wednesday, September 2 at 3PM EST. The Simon family will discuss their various roles as writers and actors in the television industry (Search for Tomorrow, As the World Turns and Guiding Light to name just a few of their roles). (Watch here)

‘Between The World And Me’: Oprah Winfrey, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance Among 9 Cast In HBO Special

(8/14/20) Angela Bassett (Guiding Light/Search For Tomorrow/Ryan’s Hope), Alicia Garza (Black Futures Lab), Joe Morton (Guiding Light/Search For Tomorrow/Another World), Phylicia Rashad (One Life To Live/Santa Barbara), Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance (The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story), Pauletta Washington (Genius: Aretha), Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us), who also executive produces, and Oprah Winfrey (Wrinkle In Time) are the first to be cast in Between The World And Me, HBO’s adaptation of the critically praised stage show based on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ New York Times bestseller.

Originally adapted and staged by the Apollo Theater in 2018, the special will combine elements of that production, including readings from Coates’ book, and will once again be directed by award-winning director and Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes. It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage, and animation.

The book, which was first published in 2015 by One World, is written as a letter to Coates’ teenage son and recounts the author’s experiences growing up in Baltimore’s inner city and his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community. The narrative explores Coates’ notion that American society structurally supports white supremacy.

Forbes will executive produce with Coates, Watson and Roger Ross Williams.

The special, which is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, debuts this fall on HBO and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

Additional cast will be announced.

Bassett is represented by The Gersh Agency, Lighthouse Entertainment and Fox Rothschild. Garza is represented by ICM. Morton is represented by Vanguard Management Group and TalentWorks. Trotter is represented by Sweet 180, Maverick and the Law Office of Brad Rubens, Esq. Vance is represented by WME and Fox Rothschild. Washington is represented by WME. Rashad is represented by BKEntertainment, and Innovative Artists. Watson is represented by Authentic Talent and Literary Management, United Talent Agency and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein Winfrey is represented by Ziffren Brittenham.

How Jane Krakowski’s son supported her during ‘30 Rock’ reunion

(7/18/20) Tina Fey’s “30 Rock” reunion was COVID-safe by filming remotely over a month with staff working over Zoom.

“We were asked to do every job,” star Jane Krakowski explained on the “Stars In The House” Web series. “My 9-year-old son Bennett was my main home helper. When I needed a fan to hit on one lyric, the boy had it. I had trained him well. He kept saying ‘Quiet on set!’ when there was no one else in my home. At one point he asked for a union break.”

Download the Emmys App to Watch Past, Present, and Future Shows!

(7/16/20) The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was planning to create a special app to allow fans to live-stream the award ceremonies on their computers, mobile devices, and smart TVs, but then this year’s main Daytime Emmy Awards was actually broadcast on television for the first time in years. However, NATAS has now announced the release of The Emmys app in time to watch the upcoming ceremonies this summer!

“Television programming and its underlying technology have each gone through immense change over the more than seven decades the Emmys have recognized excellence in both facets of our industry,” said Adam Sharp, NATAS President & CEO. “Our awards have adapted through each of these transitions. Working with Vimeo, we now bring our celebration of this dynamic community of creators to all of the devices the audience uses to watch the television programming they love.”

The platform will allow fans to watch behind the scenes interviews, clips of memorable moments, and past Emmy ceremonies. Plus, you’ll be able to watch the upcoming shows live as they happen, because this year’s Daytime Emmys were split up into multiple shows to separate out the categories. Here’s what’s coming up:

Sunday, July 19, at 9 p.m. ET: The 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards – Digital Dramas
Sunday, July 26, at 8 p.m. ET: The 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards – Children’s, Lifestyle, and Animation
Tuesday, August 11, at 8 p.m. ET: The 41st Annual Sports Emmy Awards
September 2020: The 41st Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards

The app is completely free and all you have to do is sign up. Watch The Emmys is available on the web, as well as for iOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, and Roku.

Mélange Cast Chat

(6/11/20) (Video) Kristen Alderson (Abigail Collins), Diana DeGarmo (Melissa Bennett), Morgan Fairchild (Vivian), Ilene Kristen (Dolly Faye) and Robert Newman (Dorian Sydney Winchester - "Syd") came together to talk about the pilot for their new soap, Mélange on Thursday, June 11th. Don't miss the chance to catch up with this talented group of actors.

Video: Mélange (Pilot) w/ Morgan Fairchild, Scott Evans, Robert Newman & More! | Logo TV

(5/22/20) (Video) As the founder of a historic gay bar suddenly and mysteriously dies, his young protégé and estranged ex-wife battle for control of the legendary bar. As the stakes rise and tensions mount, Mélange becomes infested with betrayal, corruption, and revenge.

Cast of characters:

Morgan Fairchild (Golden Globe nominee, Two-time Emmy nominee, Flamingo Road, Falcon Crest, Cybil, Friends): Vivian King - One of the world's leading hotel moguls. She feels her ex-husband Syd used and betrayed her to gain his inheritance and open Mélange. With Syd gone, Vivian is out for vengeance.

Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie, One Life to Live, Daytime Divas): Ryann Parker - As Syd's protége and manager of Mélange, he will fight to preserve Syd's legacy and keep Mélange out of the hands of Vivian.

Robert Newman (Two-time Emmy nominee, Guiding Light, House of Cards): Dorian Sydney "Syd" Winchester - A prominent figure in the LGBTQIA+ movement, Syd opened Mélange with a trust fund he inherited. In order to receive this fund, he needed to be married to a woman. In 1975, he married his close friend Vivian.

Ilene Kristen (Two-time Emmy nominee, One Life to Live, Ryan's Hope, General Hospital): Dolly Faye - The eyes and ears of Mélange, she has been there since day one.

Omar Sharif Jr. (LGBTQIA+ Activist and Model): Zayn Hadid - Ryann's loyal boyfriend and bar back at Mélange. As a Syrian immigrant, his work visa has expired and he fears deportation.

Diana DeGarmo (American Idol season 3 runner up, The Young and the Restless): Melissa Bennett - A server at Mélange, she was a runaway who met Ryann during their tumultuous teenage years. She carries an unrequited torch for Ryann and is currently sleeping with Hunter.

Anne Ramsay (Mad About You, The L Word, A League of Their Own): Carter Sendroff - Syd's attorney and Dolly's wife. She is tough, but her moral compass is immovable.

Maya Days (Rent, Aida, FX's Damages, worldwide #1 hit single "Feel It" [The Chimney Song]): Carroll Davis - The Global Head of Operations for King Enterprises. She is bound to Vivian for mysterious reasons.

Kristen Alderson (Emmy winner, One Life to Live, General Hospital): Abigail Collins - Ryann's sister who recently escaped their mother's religious cult in search of her brother.

Laith Ashley (Strut): Detective Alexander Thomas - The district's first transgender police officer, he got his start as security at Mélange.

David Gregory (One Life to Live, The Good Fight, Constantine): Hunter Black - A young documentarian making a film about Mélange's 40th anniversary. However, he may have captured more footage than he bargained for.

Perez Hilton (Celebrity blogger and television personality): Briggs Baxter - an infamous gossip columnist who founded BriggsBaxter.com and has no problem exposing other people's secrets.

Mark Indelicato (Ugly Betty, Dead of Summer): JJ Marshal - JJ works several jobs, including being a bar back at Mélange, a barista at the coffee shop, and an escort to pay for medical school. He is dating Genesis, but his escorting is a secret.

Alex Newell (Glee, Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist): Genesis - Mélange's resident performer with a heart of gold and a history of substance abuse. Genesis identifies as gender-fluid.

Jessica Leccia (Guiding Light, One Life to Live): Eva Sotomayor - Vivian King's cutthroat attorney. She has her eye on Mélange and rival attorney Carter Sendroff.

Darnell Williams (Emmy winner, Golden Globe winner, NAACP winner, All My Children, The Young and the Restless): Dr. Max Bradshaw - Syd's longtime doctor. He was with Syd when he died. He is currently working on controversial new medicines.

Pamela Winslow Kashani (Star Trek: The Next Generation): Meredith Scott - A political activist and Mélange regular who is always ready to organize for a worthy cause.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ Sets Ricky Martin, Tessa Thompson, Jane Krakowski And More As Guest Judges; Unveils Season 5 Twist

(5/22/20) (Video) The fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars is about to serve some “La Vida Loca” realness with its slate of guest judges. Ricky Martin will kick things off as a guest judge for the premiere episode of the reality drag race competition which will premiere on June 5 at 8pm ET/PT on VH1.

The star-studded lineup of guest judges does not stop with the “She Bangs” singer. Joining RuPaul on the mainstage are Tessa Thompson, Jane Krakowski, Nicole Byer, Bebe Rexha, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Sam Richardson, Madison Beer, Sarah Hyland, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Tommy Dorfman and Drag Race regular Todrick Hall. In the premiere, Martin will help judge the all-star queens for seasons past as they partake in a reading mini-challenge and hit the runway for a “Werq the World” variety extravaganza.

On top of that, the fifth season has thrown traditional elimination rules out the window. Mama Ru has shaken things up and has “Ru-vealed” that each week she will name a top all-star and that queen will lip sync for her legacy against a mysterious lip sync assassin, chosen from the most iconic performers in Drag Race “herstory”. If the top all-star of the week wins the lip sync, she wins a $10,000 tip and the power to eliminate the bottom queen of her choice. If the lip sync assassin wins, a bottom queen selected from a secret group vote gets the chop, and the money rolls over until a top all-star wins — now that is a gag!

As previously announced, the 10 queens competing for a spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame” and a grand prize of $100,000 are Alexis Mateo (Season 3, All Stars 1), Blair St. Clair (Season 10), Derrick Barry (Season 8), India Ferrah (Season 3), Jujubee (Season 2, All Stars 1), Mariah Paris Balenciaga (Season 3), Mayhem Miller (Season 10), Miz Cracker (Season 10), Ongina (Season 1) and Shea Couleé (Season 9).

The RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 reunion airs May 22 at 8pm ET/PT followed by the finale on May 29 at 8pm.

Talk Show Appearance

(4/24/20) The Talk – CBS

Wednesday, April 29

Actress Jane Krakowski

‘Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story’ Premiere Date: Season 2 Of USA’s Anthology Drama Starring Amanda Peet & Christian Slater

(4/14/20) (Video) USA Network has set a pre-summer premiere for Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story, the second season of its true-crime anthology series. Starring Amanda Peet and Christian Slater, the tale of love, betrayal and death will bow with two back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, June 2.

Watch the new trailer above.

Moved from Bravo to NBCU sibling USA Network, the new Dirty John stars Peet as Betty Broderick, the perfect Southern California wife and mother. Married to her handsome college boyfriend Dan (Slater), Betty charms everyone she meets. After years of sacrifice and suffering while supporting Dan through both medical and law school until he exploded into the San Diego legal community as a superstar, Betty finally is enjoying the fruits of their labors. That is, until Dan hires Linda (Rachel Keller), a bright, beautiful young woman without baggage with whom he can happily forget the struggles of his past. Betty’s attempts to fight back and her enraged refusals to accept reality only serve to isolate and destabilize her until she loses her very identity. And Dan’s cold confidence blinds him to the bear he has created, and he won’t stop poking — until it’s too late.

USA Network also announced today a marathon of Dirty John‘s first season and a new special, Dirty John, The Dirty Truth, to air April 14.

Dirty John, which received a two-season straight-to-series order by Bravo in January 2018, hails from creator-writer Alexandra Cunningham and UCP. The first season was based on the articles and true-crime podcast by Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard about the story of how a romance between Debra Newell (Connie Britton) and the charismatic John Meehan (Eric Bana) spiraled out of control.

Kevin Bacon Launches ‘6 Degrees’ Campaign To Encourage Social-Distancing

(3/18/20) (Video) Kevin Bacon is offering up a fun and thoughtful way to encourage folks to stay home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The actor, who has been deemed Hollywood’s most interconnected figure through the concept of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”, took to his social platforms today to not only encourage his millions for followers to practice social-distancing but to also share who they are staying home for during the current health crisis.

“Hi, folks. You know me, right? I’m technically only six degrees away from you,” he said in a video posted across the different social platforms.

He continued, “Right now, like people around the world, I’m staying home, because it saves lives and it is the only way we’re going to slow down the spread of this coronavirus. Because the contact that you make with someone, who makes contact with someone else, that may be what makes somebody’s mom or grandpa or wife sick.”

“Every one of us has someone who is worth staying home for,” he said, citing his wife and fellow actor Kyra Sedgwick as his reason to self-isolate. Bacon is asking his followers to post a similar video or photo with the hashtag #IStayHomeFor and tag six other people to follow suit. “The more folks involved, the merrier – We’re all connected by various degrees (Trust me, I know!),” he wrote in the caption.

Talk Show Appearance

(2/25/20) THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON - NBC

Tuesday, March 3: Guests include Kevin Bacon

Actress And Former Guiding Light Star Tina Sloan Releases Debut Novel

(2/3/20) (Chasing Cleopatra) Former Guiding Light actress Tina Sloan brings tales of dangerous and devilish romance off the small screen and into the pages of her debut novel, Chasing Cleopatra: A Novel of Love, Betrayal and Suspense.

Chasing Cleopatra follows Cleopatra "Cleo" Gallier, a gorgeous local TV host in her mid-40s, who is no longer afraid to go after what she wants. This leads to a fast-paced and intimate affair with the much-younger Jake Regan. Jake and his family are staying on the same Hawaiian island for the holidays where Cleo lives, and she soon finds herself entangled with the whole family in order to stay close to Jake-including Jake's controlling and adoring mother Miranda, his naïve and charming girlfriend Julia who is anxiously awaiting an engagement ring, and the mysterious Tripp, Jake's father, whose work as a CIA agent could put his whole family in jeopardy.

Little do the Regans know, Cleo is the perfect asset to help keep them safe. A secretly trained Krav Maga fighter, she gets pulled into joining Tripp's classified CIA mission that, if blown, could cause a national tragedy on Christmas Day. As tensions flare between Cleopatra and the Regans, secrets are exposed that will not only test their trust in one another but will reveal what it truly means to love with its heart-racing and heart-stopping twists and turns. Sloan's scandalous and suspenseful writing style, mimicked from her film and soap-opera past, makes Chasing Cleopatra a must-have for book clubs as the guilty-pleasure book of the season.

"Tina Sloan creates the perfect cocktail of spy thriller and romance in Chasing Cleopatra," says Danielle Paige, New York Times Bestselling author of the Dorothy Must Die series. "Equal parts sexy and intriguing, Sloan's mystery keeps you breathless and guessing until the very last page."

Get your copy here: amazon.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tina Sloan is best known for her 26-year-role on CBS's soap opera Guiding Light and as the author of Changing Shoes: Getting Older - Not Old - with Style, Humor and Grace, based on her autobiographical one-woman show. Some of Sloan's most notable on-screen appearances include roles in Law & Order: SVU, Third Watch, Celebrity, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, The Brave One, Changing Lanes, The Guru, People I Know, and Black Swan. Her latest projects include being part of an all-star cast on the soap web series Beacon Hill and Venice, and she continues to be a sought-after speaker. She divides her time between Florida and Maryland with her husband of 44 years, where they enjoy time with their son, his wife and 2 grandchildren.

ABC's Live All in the Family Stars Return for Holiday Encore — Justina Machado, Kevin Bacon, Jesse Eisenberg Join Cast

(12/12/19) ABC on Wednesday announced that Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Ellie Kemper and Ike Barinholtz will reprise their respective roles as Archie, Edith, Gloria and “Meathead” in its holiday-themed Live in Front of a Studio Audience special (airing Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 8/7c). They will be joined by new cast members Kevin Bacon, Jesse Eisenberg and Justina Machado in as-yet-specified roles.

As reported in November, the second edition of Studio Audience will feature episodes of Norman Lear’s All in the Family and Good Times. Casting for Good Times will be revealed at a later date (though soon, let’s hope!).

Eisenberg previously appeared opposite Harrelson in two film franchises (Zombieland and Now You See Me), while Machado — who was supposed to play The Jeffersons’ maid Florence in the first Studio Audience special, but was replaced by surprise guest star/original portrayer Marla Gibbs — currently stars in Lear’s One Day at a Time reboot.

ABC has not yet confirmed which episodes of All in the Family and Good Times will be recreated as part of the broadcast. The former sitcom did multiple Christmas installments — including, but limited to: Season 2’s “Christmas Day at the Bunkers'” (which featured Louise, Lionel and Henry Jefferson), Season 4’s “Edith’s Christmas Story” (in which Edith had a breast cancer scare) and Season 7’s “The Draft Dodger” (in which Mike’s draft-dodging friend David attended Christmas dinner). Good Times, meanwhile, celebrated Christmas on three occasions — though only one of those outings occurred before the exit of original series star John Amos (Season 2’s “Sometimes There’s No Bottom in the Bottle”).

Airing on May 22, the first Live in Front of a Studio Audience special averaged 10.4 million total viewers and a 1.8 demo rating, dominating the night in both measures while giving ABC its most watched season-ending Wednesday in 12 years. It was nominated for three Emmy awards and took home the statue for Outstanding Variety Special.

Wendie Malick Guests On Bob Hearts Abishola

(12/10/19) “There’s My Nigerians” – While Bob and Abishola struggle to pull Dottie out of her depression, Auntie Olu and Uncle Tunde come over to lift her spirits, on BOB ? ABISHOLA, Monday, Jan. 6 (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Wendie Malick and Marilu Henner guest star as Jen and Trish, Dottie’s friends.

Wendie Malick on American Housewife

(11/25/19) “The Bromance Before Christmas” – Katie looks forward to sharing her favorite childhood Christmas tradition with Taylor, but a surprise visit from her mom, Kathryn (Wendie Malick), threatens her holiday cheer. Meanwhile, Greg is blindsided by Katie’s good intentions; and to make matters worse, Oliver and Anna-Kat break a family heirloom on the winter finale of “American Housewife,” FRIDAY, DEC. 13 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EST), on ABC. Episodes can also be viewed the next day on ABC.com, the ABC app and Hulu.

“American Housewife” stars Katy Mixon as Katie Otto, Diedrich Bader as Greg Otto, Meg Donnelly as Taylor Otto, Daniel DiMaggio as Oliver Otto, Julia Butters as Anna-Kat Otto, Carly Hughes as Angela and Ali Wong as Doris.

Ed Weeks and Wendie Malick guest star.

“The Bromance Before Christmas” was written by Jonathan Fener and directed by Chris Koch.

Talk Show Appearance

(10/31/19) THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN – CBS

Thursday, Nov. 7: Actress Jane Krakowski

Maree Cheatham on Young Sheldon 11/7/19

(10/18/19) “A Parasol and a Hell of an Arm” – A church carnival leads Missy to try out for the baseball team. Also, Meemaw struggles after her breakup with Dr. Sturgis, on YOUNG SHELDON, Thursday, Nov. 7 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Craig T. Nelson guest stars as Coach Dale.

GUEST CAST: Maree Cheatham (Dorothy), David Futernick (Man In Crowd), Davey Johnson (Nigel).

Disney Channel’s ‘The Owl House’ Sets Voice Cast, Secures New York Comic Con Berth

(9/5/19) Wendie Malick, Gravity Falls‘ Alex Hirsch and Boss Baby‘s Sarah-Nicole Robles have been set to lead the voice cast of The Owl House, Disney Channel’s upcoming animated fantasy comedy series. They will be joined for the first season, set to premiere in early 2020, by guests including Matthew Rhys, Isabella Rossellini and Mae Whitman.

Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Bumper Robinson (The Game), Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home), Parvesh Cheena (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and Eden Riegel (All My Children) will voice guest roles for Season 1.

The news for the series comes as it secured a berth at next month’s New York Comic Con. Malick, Hirsch and Robles will join creator/executive producer Dana Terrace (DuckTales) and art director Ricky Cometa (Steven Universe) for the New York Comic Con panel, set for October 4.

The Owl House follows Luz (voiced by Robles), a self-assured teenage girl who stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm where she befriends rebellious witch Eda (Malick) and tiny warrior King (Hirsch). Despite not having magical abilities, Luz pursues her dream of becoming a witch by serving as Eda’s apprentice at the Owl House and ultimately finds a new family in an unlikely setting.

The series is produced by Disney Television Animation.

Dickinson Trailer: Hailee Steinfeld Is a Literary Rebel in Apple TV+ Comedy

(8/26/19) (Video) Apple is taking some poetic license with its forthcoming Emily Dickinson series. The tech giant on Monday released the first trailer for Dickinson, its Hailee Steinfeld-fronted comedy series that is slated to bow on its Apple TV+ streaming platform this fall, and it’s literally crazy-pants.

“She’s wild,” Jane Krakowski matriarch bemoans at the start of the trailer, before adding, “She will be the ruin of this family. And she doesn’t know how to behave like a proper young lady.”

Dickinson — starring actress-singer Steinfeld in the titular role — “audaciously explores the constraints of society, gender and family from the perspective of the rebellious young poet. Set in the 19th century, Dickinson is a coming-of-age story that finds Dickinson to be an unexpected hero for our millennial era.”

Created and written by Alena Smith (The Affair), who serves as an EP alongside Steinfeld, the cast also includes Jane Krakowski, Toby Huss, Anna Baryshnikov, Ella Hunt and Adrian Blake Enscoe.

Apple TV+ is expected to launch in November with a reported $9.99 monthly subscription price.

City on a Hill Renewed for Season 2

(8/2/19) City on the Hill is standing its ground at Showtime.

Despite unspectacular ratings, the Kevin Bacon-Aldis Hodge drama has been renewed for a second season, the cabler announced Friday at the Television Critics Assoc. summer press tour.

City on a Hill averages nearly a half-million total weekly viewers (in Live+Same Day ratings), although that audience swells to 3.5 million across all platforms.

“City on a Hill is that addictive kind of meaty and messy show we love at Showtime,” said the cabler’s president, Gary Levine, in a statement. “With the inspired pairing of Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge and the inspired writing of Tom Fontana and Chuck MacLean, we believe there is a rich future for this compelling series.”

Denise Nickerson Dies: ‘Willy Wonka’, ‘Dark Shadows’ Actress Was 62

(7/12/19) Denise Nickerson, who played the bratty, bloated Violet Beauregarde in 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and a sweet-natured orphan bedeviled by ghosts and werewolves on the classic ’60s supernatural soap Dark Shadows, died Wednesday night at a hospital near her home in Colorado. In declining health since suffering a stroke last year, Nickerson was removed from life support by her family earlier that day. She was 62.

Nickerson’s son Josh Nickerson posted news of his mother’s death on Facebook after keeping friends and fans apprised of her health issues. Denise Nickerson was a longtime attendee at fan conventions for both Wonka and Dark Shadows.

“She’s gone,” Nickerson’s family posted on Facebook.

Born in New York City in 1957, Nickerson began acting on shows including The Doctors and Flipper before landing her breakthrough role in 1968 as little Amy Jennings on Dan Curtis’ gothic soap opera Dark Shadows. Teamed with young David Henesy, the two child actors were at the center of a wildly popular storyline inspired by Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, in which the kids were haunted and eventually possessed by a ghost named Quentin Collins (David Selby, in his own breakthrough role).

Nickerson, along with the rest of the cast, was soon appearing on covers of teenybopper magazines, with fans waiting outside ABC’s Hells Kitchen studio each day for autographs.

But the soap’s outsize popularity vanished as quickly as it arrived, and upon its cancellation in 1971 Nickerson soon found herself one of the few cast members to land a role that would prove as durable in memory and pop culture as the Collins family curse.

But first there was a flop – and a big one: Nickerson played the title role in 1971’s Lolita, My Love, a notorious stage musical failure by John Barry and My Fair Lady’s Alan Jay Lerner, based on the Nabokov novel. Co-starring John Neville, Dorothy Loudon, and The Boys In The Band‘s Leonard Frey, Lolita, My Love played pre-Broadway engagements in Philadelphia and Boston, ravaged by critics and closing before hitting New York. With a reported loss of $900,000, Lolita, My Love would quickly enter the annals of infamous Broadway flops.

Fortunately for Nickerson, then 13, a better booking soon followed when she was cast as Violet Beauregarde, the gum-chewing mean girl of 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Giving star Gene Wilder’s exasperated Wonka plenty to play against, Nickerson stole some gum (and each of her scenes), paying a hefty price: As her skin turns purple, she swells to the size of a giant, round blueberry. As she’s rolled to the “juicing room” by the Oompa-Loompas, Nickerson’s ready-to-blow Violet has become the film’s most memorable villain and kids movie cautionary tale.

A few roles followed – Search For Tomorrow, The Brady Bunch, Allison in The Electric Company, in Michael Ritchie’s Smile. Nickerson would later say in interviews that she auditioned for the role of the possessed Regan in 1973’s The Exorcist but her parents thought the material too disturbing. After appearing in Don Weis’ 1978 film Zero To Sixty opposite Darren McGavin and Sylvia Miles (who died last month), Nickerson retired from acting to pursue a nursing career.

Nostalgia conventions and cast reunions kept her in touch with fans of both Willy Wonka and Dark Shadows, and last summer her son Josh shared news on social media that Nickerson had suffered a severe stroke. Her health deteriorated throughout the year, and, according to a Go Fund Me page set up by her son to pay death expenses, she had recently been in a “coma-like state” after suffering a seizure and pneumonia. She was removed from life-support Wednesday.

Nickerson is survived by her son Josh Nickerson and daughter-in-law Jasmine.

Talk Show Appearance

(6/12/19) LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS – NBC

Monday, June 17: Kevin Bacon

Talk Show Appearance

(6/7/19) THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, CBS

Th 6/13: Kevin Bacon

Talk Show Appearance

(6/7/19) THE VIEW, ABC

Fr 6/14: Kevin Bacon

Jane Krakowski on Match Game 6/19/19

(6/4/19) “Chris Parnell, Whitney Cummings, Tony Rock, Jane Krakowski, Rob Riggle, Sarah Chalke” – We’ve got a bunch of posers this week and it’s going to be BLANK! Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin hosts an all-new episode of “Match Game,” airing WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand. Produced by Fremantle, “Match Game” features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000, as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-blank.

Celebrity panelists for June 19 include the following:
Chris Parnell (“Archer”; “Rick and Morty”)
Whitney Cummings (comedian, actress and producer)
Tony Rock (“Living Biblically,” “All Def Comedy,” “The Game of Dating,” nationally touring comedian)
Jane Krakowski (“Dickinson,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “30 Rock,” Tony Award® winner)
Rob Riggle (“Holey Moley,” “The Hangover,” “12 Strong,” “Midnight Sun”)
Sarah Chalke (“Friends from College,” “Rick and Morty,” “Scrubs,” “Speechless”)

Joining the celebrity panelists are contestants Mike Brown (hometown: Harlem, New York), Christina Floriza (hometown: Chevy Chase, Maryland), Brett White (hometown: Queens, New York) and Julee Snitzer-Levine (hometown: Northridge, California).

Susan Sarandon To Star In ‘Kill Your Darlings’ Director John Krokidas’ Next Film ‘Tunnels’ – Cannes

(5/17/19) Susan Sarandon has been set to star in Tunnels, the new film from Kill Your Darlings director John Krokidas. The drama based on Victoria Rose’s debut feature screenplay is being produced by Lucidity Entertainment and Circle of Confusion. Highland Film Group is now handling international sales and UTA Independent Film Group domestic at the Cannes film market.

The movie is set in the wake of a school shooting, when an unlikely friendship develops between Ruby Love (Sarandon), the grandmother who raised the shooter, and Grayson Mitchell, the teenage brother of one of the victims, when paired to work together at the local supermarket. The two outsiders help each other to find hope in a town still too stuck in its recent history to see the potential of something beautiful on the horizon.

Colin Bates and Michael Jefferson are producing for Lucidity, which is now in production on Son of the South, along with Circle of Confusion’s Matt Smith and Brad Mendelsohn. Ethan Terra, Cindy Bru and Circle of Confusion’s Frank Frattaroli are executive producers.

The Oscar-winning Sarandon this spring was set to co-star with Elisabeth Moss in the women’s rights drama Call Jane, along with recent credits including playing Bette Davis on FX’s Feud with earned her an Emmy nomination. She’s repped by UTA.

Krokidas, who recently has been directing TV with credits including Fox’s Star and Empire, is repped by UTA and Circle of Confusion.

City on a Hill Trailer

(5/4/19) Showtime has released a new trailer for Boston-set crime drama City on a Hill, starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge. The series premieres Sunday, June 16 at 9/8c; watch the trailer here: Video.

Dallas' Ken Kercheval Dead at 83

(4/24/19) Dallas vet Ken Kercheval, who played Cliff Barnes, the longtime archenemy of Larry Hangman’s J.R. Ewing, on the original CBS series and subsequent TNT revival, has died. He was 83.

Kercheval died Sunday evening in his hometown of Clinton, Indiana, according to THR.

After making his acting debut in 1962 in the Broadway play Something About a Soldier, Kercheval went on to appear on stage in The Apple Tree, Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof. He segued to television via roles in soaps Search for Tomorrow, The Secret Storm and How to Survive a Marriage. His film work included roles in the ’70s pics Network, The Seven-Ups Rabbit Run and and F.I.S.T.

But his big break came in 1978 when he landed the role of Cliff on Dallas. He appeared in the pilot through to the 1991 series finale, one of only two cast members to appear in all 14 seasons of the show (the other one being Hagman). He reprised his role as Cliff in a 1996 TV movie version as well as the TNT revival.

Kercheval and Hagman were the only two castmembers who were on Dallas through its entire 1978-91 original run, from pilot to finale. He appeared on 342 of the Lorimar series’ 357 episodes in its first incarnation — and directed a pair of installments as well — before returning as Cliff for a 1996 telefilm and for TNT’s revival, the latter of which ran for three seasons (concluding in 2014).

On playing Cliff, Kercheval admitted back in 1987 to the Chicago Tribune, ‘He just makes you cringe sometimes. The only reason he works is his own sincerity and the humor I inject into him. If I wasn’t able to convince people that Cliff really, really believes in all his schemes, it would never work.”

Elisabeth Moss & Susan Sarandon To Star In Women’s Rights Drama ‘Call Jane’ — EFM

(2/3/19) The Handmaid’s Tale star Elisabeth Moss and Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) will star in women’s rights drama Call Jane for Tallulah director Sian Heder and producer Robbie Brenner (Dallas Buyers Club) under her Unburdened Entertainment banner. The Blacklist script comes from Hayley Schore & Roshan Sethi with Moss also set to produce.

Protagonist will launch sales at the EFM on the project about Joy (Moss), a traditional 60’s American housewife, who is desperate for a child. When she receives news of her pregnancy, complications mean that what should have been a joyous moment is instead an imminent threat to her life. She has nowhere to turn until she stumbles upon the Janes, an underground abortion movement led by Virginia (Sarandon).

The film is currently in pre-production and, along with Moss and Brenner, Kevin McKeon and David Wulf are producing. Michelle Mason Vella and the script’s writers, Hayley Schore & Roshan Sethi, will serve as executive producers. Endeavor Content and ICM Partners will handle North America.

“As a producer, I strive to tell stories that are meaningful and provocative, but also to help put a mirror up to our world in order to move and inspire the audience with honesty and relatability”, said Brenner. “As a woman and a mother of two girls, I feel a responsibility with Call Jane to tell the incredible story of these brave women at a time when women’s rights and empowerment hangs in the balance. I have no doubt that Sian will craft a beautiful and important film with our dedicated and amazing cast, Elisabeth and Susan.”

Moss said, “I’m so excited to be bringing this beautiful script to life with Sian and Robbie and to be working with Susan, who I admire tremendously. The Jane Collective is an important and fascinating part of our history, especially for women. We see their story unfold through the eyes of Joy, a complex character who represents many women caught between one period of time and the next. It’s also frighteningly relevant and timely to be telling this story right now and I know, with Sian at the helm, it’s going to be an honest and brave film.”

Moss is repped by WME, Ribisi Entertainment Group and Viewpoint. Sarandon is repped by UTA. Heder is repped by ICM and Stone, Genow, Smelkinson, Binder & Christopher. Schore and Sethi are repped by ICM and Madhouse.

Kevin Bacon Drama Gets Premiere Date at Showtime

(2/1/19) (Video) Showtime has set a premiere date for Kevin Bacon’s City on a Hill. Launching Sunday, June 16 at 9pm, the ’90s-set crime drama stars Bacon as corrupt FBI veteran Jackie Rohr, who teams up with ADA Decoucy Ward (Underground‘s Aldis Hodge) to catch a family of armored car robbers. The case eventually exposes a massive scandal within Boston’s criminal justice system. Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom), Mark O’Brien (Halt and Catch Fire), Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan), Sarah Shahi (Person of Interest), Lauren E. Banks (Maniac), Amanda Clayton (If Loving You Is Wrong), Kevin Chapman (Person of Interest) and Jere Shea (Passion) co-star.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Trailer: First Look at the Series' Final Episodes

(1/17/19) (Video) Slip on a pair of shants and pour yourself a tall glass of Peeno Noir, because the trailer for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt‘s final run of episodes has arrived. Netflix on Wednesday released a sneak peek of what the comedy’s last six episodes have in store for us, even if we’re nowhere near ready to say goodbye to this group of living Muppets.

Highlights from the trailer include Kimmy being mistaken for Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, Titus orchestrating a celebrity showmance to make Mikey jealous and Lillian… joining a gang? Also, what are the “Toonys,” and how do we get an invite?

Season 4B also boasts a bevy of famous guest stars, including Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story), Greg Kinnear (House of Cards), Busy Philipps (Busy Tonight), Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live), Amy Sedaris (At Home With Amy Sedaris), Fred Armisen (Portlandia), Jon Bernthal (The Punisher), Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers), Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live), Ronan Farrow (of the news) and Lisa Kudrow (Friends).

The Netflix comedy returns for its final run on Friday, Jan. 25.

Jane Krakowski on Match Game 1/30/19

(1/14/19) “410” – It’s Wednesday night and that means BLANK! Alec Baldwin is at the helm with Chris, Whitney, Kevin, Jane, Ron and Caitlyn on an all-new “Match Game,” airing WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand. “Match Game” is produced by Fremantle and features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000, as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-blank.

Celebrity panelists for Jan. 30 include the following:
Chris Parnell (“Archer”; “Rick and Morty”)
Whitney Cummings (comedian, actress, author and producer)
Kevin Smith (writer, director and podcaster)
Jane Krakowski (Tony Award® winner; “30 Rock”; “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Ron Funches (“Giggle Fit”; podcast “Getting’ Better with Ron Funches”)
Caitlyn Jenner (best-selling author and reality TV star).

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’: Season 4B First-Look Teaser

(12/24/18) (Video) Netflix has released some first-look photos and a teaser clip for the second half of the fourth and final season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

The clip features Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess) performing the theme song for Season 4B titled “Magic Boy”, that of course, is all about Titus. The first-look photos (see below) feature Kimmy (Ellie Kemper), Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski), Lillian (Carol Kane) and Mimi Kanasis (Amy Sedaris).

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt follows Kimmy Schmidt (Kemper) as she continues to adjust to the 21st century and learn more about who she really is. Joining Kimmy on her journey are her best friend and roommate, Titus Andromedon (Burgess); her former-employer-turned-friend Jacqueline White (Krakowski); and landlord Lillian Kaushtupper (Kane).

The first ongoing original half-hour comedy series to debut on Netflix, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has been among the streaming giant’s most acclaimed shows. To date, it has earned 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including a best series nom for each of its first three seasons. The comedy also quickly entered the cultural zeitgeist with pop culture parodies and songs like “Pinot Noir” that have amassed sizable followings on social media.

Wendie Malick & Patrick Duffy in American Housewife 12/12/18

(11/28/18) “Saving Christmas”– Katie strives to keep her long-separatedparents apart when her father, Marty (Patrick Duffy), arrives in time to surprise the Otto family for Christmas. Anna-Kat does her best to help Tripwin Taylor back but has a hard time getting past a very persistent Pierce (Milo Manheim). Meanwhile, Oliver thinks no one will remember him as the mask-wearing villain in the school’s production of “The Nutcracker” but quickly takes center stage when a series of mishaps damages his costume, on an all-new episode of “American Housewife,” airing WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12 (8:30-9:00 p.m. EST), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand.

“American Housewife” stars Katy Mixon as Katie Otto, Diedrich Bader as Greg Otto, Meg Donnelly as Taylor Otto, Daniel DiMaggio as Oliver Otto, Julia Butters as Anna-Kat Otto, Carly Hughes as Angela and Ali Wong as Doris.

Guest star Wendie Malick returns as Kathryn. Patrick Duffy guest stars as Marty and Milo Manheim as Pierce.

“Saving Christmas” was written by Jeremy Hall and directed by Jennifer Arnold.

Susan Sarandon Replaces Diane Keaton In Next Roger Michell Film; Sam Neill, Rainn Wilson, Bex Taylor-Klaus + More Join Cast

(10/18/18) Oscar winner Susan Sarandon has joined Kate Winslet and Mia Wasikowska in the Roger Michell-directed remake (formally titled Blackbird) of an English-language remake to the 2014 Danish film, Silent Heart, directed by Bille August. Sarandon will take over for Diane Keaton, who was previously attached to the project, which hails Millennium Films.

Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Arrow), Lindsay Duncan (Birdman), newcomer Anson Boon have also joined the cast in supporting roles.

Christian Thorpe, who wrote the script for the original, wrote this latest adaptation. The plot is set over the course of one weekend and centers on Lily (Sarandon), a terminally ill mother who brings her daughters (Winslet and Wasikowska), and their families, together for one last family gathering before she commits suicide.

Filming is slated to begin next week in the United Kingdom. Sherryl Clark and Millennium’s David Bernardi are the producers, while, Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson, Jeffrey Greenstein, and Jonathan Yunger serve as exec producers.

Sarandon is repped by UTA; Neill by ICM and Curtis Brown Group; Wilson by UTA and Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment; Taylor-Klaus by Hyperion Talent Agency, Curtis Talent Management, and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLP; Duncan by Paradigm.

Jane Krakowski Joins Dickinson

(8/30/18) Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) will co-star opposite Hailee Steinfeld in Apple’s recently ordered comedy Dickinson. She will play Emily Dickinson’s mother in the series, which will tell the titular poet’s coming-of-age story.

Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon urge voters to show up for midterms

(8/10/18) (Video) WASHINGTON D.C. — The waning months before the 2016 presidential election saw a flood of videos featuring celebrities urging people to vote and volunteer.

That is now happening again for the upcoming midterm elections this November.

On Thursday, Swing Left debuted a new video featuring Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, urging viewers to sign up for one of the progressive group’s projects, the Last Weekend. Swing Left has organized a coalition of 30 progressive groups aiming to line up volunteers for a final push before the Nov. 6 elections.

In the video, Sedgwick called the election “the most important midterms of our lives,” and tells viewers that “even if you live in a progressive stronghold, there are races all over the country near you.”

Swing Left also produced a video last month that featured Jane Fonda, Rashida Jones and Lily Tomlin.

“I am just terrified of where our country is headed,” Sedgwick said in an interview. She worked on the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama but said that she and other progressives were probably “lulled into a false sense of security” that much of his agenda could not be rolled back.

“I just feel we have gotten far off the path of what our forefathers — and women — meant for us,” she said.

She cited a host of issues, including the environment and abortion rights, as well as the rollback of business regulations, that have been of major concern for her, but also that “there has been no check on the power” that President Donald Trump now has in the White House. She also cited the Trump administration’s effort to roll back California auto emission standards, despite the support that the standards have from car companies.

Republicans have already been hammering Democrats for their links to Hollywood, trying to characterize the industry as the very cultural elite that Trump ran against in 2016. A recent Republican National Committee video, called “Unhinged,” featured a number of celebrities, including Kathy Griffin and Madonna, railing against Trump.

Sedgwick said that she understands why some entertainment figures are reluctant to get into the political fray. She does get some backlash comments when she tweets something political, but “I don’t care.”

“My business is to do what is right for this country,” she said.

The goal of the Last Weekend is to get commitments for 1 million volunteer hours in the last four days before the election.

“I feel like you sit around and feel really terrible and hopeless, or you can be part of the solution,” Sedgwick said.

Soap Alumni Unite For New Project

(8/8/18) A sudsy new half-hour drama that wraps its three-day shoot today in Manhattan features a bevy of soap alumni: Morgan Fairchild (ex-Anjelica, DAYS, et al), Robert Newman (ex-Josh, GUIDING LIGHT), Darnell Williams (ex-Jesse, ALL MY CHILDREN), Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Ilene Kristen (ex-Roxy, OLTL, et al), Scott Evans (ex-Fish, OLTL), Diana DeGarmo (ex-Angelina, Y&R) and David A. Gregory (ex-Ford, OLTL) star alongside entertainment blogger Perez Hilton in the ensemble drama MÉLANGE, which Variety reports “will center on the fight over the ownership of an historic New York City gay bar, Mélange, after its proprietor has suddenly and mysteriously died.” Newman plays the late bar owner, Syd, and Fairchild plays his widow, Vivian.

Anthony Ray Dies: ‘Shadows’ Actor, Son Of Director Nicholas Ray Was 80

(7/21/18) Anthony “Tony” Ray, the actor-producer son of Rebel Without a Cause director Nicholas Ray, died June 29 in Saco, Maine, following a long illness, his family has announced. Ray, who lived in Saco for the last 10 years, was 80.

A graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse and a member of the Actor’s Studio, Ray was on the producing teams of such 1970s hits as The Rose, An Unmarried Woman, Harry and Tonto, and Freebie and the Bean. He was an assistant director throughout the 1960s and into the ’70s on TV series The Iron Horse and Bewitched, films Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Cactus Flower, and, according to his family, Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus and John Huston’s The Misfits, among other credits.

Ray, who often went by the name Tony Ray, also worked as an actor, his credits starting in 1957 with Men In War and an uncredited appearance in his dad’s 1957 film The True Story of Jesse James. Later, he’d appear in John Cassavetes’ Shadows (as pictured, above, with co-star Lelia Goldoni), soap opera Search for Tomorrow, and primetime TV’s The Twilight Zone and The Untouchables.

According to his family, Ray Cape retired to Cape Neddick, Maine, in the late 1980s, and subsequently created a film program at Emerson College and directed the International Film and Television Workshop in Rockport, Maine. He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Director’s Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild.

Though born in Washington, D.C. to Nicholas Ray and writer Jean Evans, Ray grew up in New York City and later lived among Hollywood’s biggest stars. In 1948, his father married actress Gloria Grahame, divorcing four years later. In 1960, the 23-year-old Anthony Ray married the 37-year-old Grahame, his former stepmother, in Tijuana, Mexico, scandalizing Hollywood when the news went public and damaging the actress’ career. They divorced in 1974.

Ray is survived by his wife Eve; daughter, Kelsey; and son, Tony Jr. A service to celebrate his life will be held in the autumn.

Christina Ricci & Jane Krakowski on Match Game

(7/10/18) “309” – A hilarious hour of non-stop BLANK is in store as Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin hosts an all-new episode, THURSDAY, JUNE 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand. “Match Game” features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000 as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-missing-blank. “Match Game” is produced by FremantleMedia North America.

Celebrity panelists for June 28:
Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock”; “Wreck-It Ralph”; “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”)
Jenifer Lewis (“black-ish”; author “The Mother of Black Hollywood”)
James Van Der Beek (“Pose”)
Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Anthony Anderson (“black-ish”; host, “To Tell the Truth”)
Kate Flannery (“The Office”; “All Night”)

Joining the celebrity panelists are contestants Star Mitchell (hometown: Akron, Ohio), Amanda Morris (hometown: Merrimack, New Hampshire), Chris Capuano (hometown: Queens, New York) and Kristy D’Amelio (hometown: Sparta, New Jersey).

Executive producers include Alec Baldwin, FMNA’s Jennifer Mullin, Scott St. John and Mallory Schwartz.

Talk Show Appearance

(7/3/18) WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN - Bravo

Tuesday, July 10 – JANE KRAKOWSKI

Susan Sarandon: I was arrested during immigration protest in DC

(6/30/18) Susan Sarandon said she was arrested Thursday after participating in a protest on Capitol Hill against the Trump administration’s approach to illegal border crossings and the separation of immigrant children from their parents.

“Arrested. Stay strong. Keep fighting,” the actress tweeted without offering any further details.

Capitol Police did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

However, Sarandon was back on Twitter a mere three hours after she said she was arrested.

“Powerful, beautiful action with hundreds of women saying we demand the reunification of families separated by immoral ICE policy. This is what Democracy looks like. #WomenDisobey,” the 71-year-old tweeted.

The actress joined hundreds of women in the protest, which was organized by the Women’s March and the Center for Popular Democracy. They demanded for migrant families who had been separated at the border to be reunited.

Prior to her arrest, Sarandon retweeted other women who attended a sit-in style protest held at the Hart Senate Office building.

Women at the protest wrapped themselves in foil blankets to mimic the silver blankets that were seen in photographs of migrant children taken at detention centers.

Soap's Robert Mandan Dead at 86

(6/4/18) Robert Mandan, best known to TV audiences for his role as Chester Tate on the classic ABC sitcom Soap, has died at the age of 86.

Mandan passed away in Los Angeles on April 29 after suffering a long, undisclosed illness, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He is survived by his wife, Sherry Dixon.

The veteran TV actor got his start in soap operas, with stints on From These Roots (1959-1961), The Edge of Night (1963), The Doctors (1963) and Search for Tomorrow (1966-1970). He continued to work regularly throughout the 1970s, appearing on episodes of All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, Mission: Impossible and The Streets of San Francisco, among other high-profile series.

Mandan’s star-making role came soon after, when he was cast on the aforementioned Soap as the philandering husband to Katherine Helmond’s Jessica from 1977 to 1981. The series ran for a total of four seasons and spawned the successful spinoff Benson, starring the late Robert Guillaume.

After Soap, Mandan starred as Col. Lawrence Fielding in the TV adaptation of Private Benjamin, which ran on CBS from 1981-1983. In 1984, he starred opposite John Ritter on the short-lived Three’s a Crowd, in a role he originated in the final episodes of Three’s Company. In 1986, he appeared on The Facts of Life as Dr. Bruce Gaines, a member of the Peace Corps who married Mrs. Garrett in Charlotte Rae’s farewell episodes. Then in 1991, he reunited with Soap spouse Helmond in two episodes of Who’s the Boss.

Mandan’s film credits include Hickey & Boggs, MacArthur and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Other notable TV gigs included episodes of The Love Boat, CHiPS, Highway to Heaven, Santa Barbara, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Married… with Children.

Kimmy Schmidt's Final Episodes

(6/1/18) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt‘s journey won’t come to an end until next year: Netflix has announced that the second half of the comedy’s fourth and final season will debut on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019.

The show’s last six episodes may be followed up by a movie to wrap up any loose ends, it was reported earlier this month.

The first half of Kimmy‘s fourth season hit the streaming service on Wednesday.

Kimmy Schmidt Ending With Season 4; Finale Movie in the Works — Report

(5/4/18) Kimmy Schmidt has apparently reached her breaking point.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will end its run on Netflix after its fourth season, TVLine’s sister site Deadline reports, with a finale movie in the works to wrap up any loose ends.

The movie will reportedly be written by Kimmy co-creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock following production on Season 4, which releases its first six (of 13) episodes on Wednesday, May 30. (The second half arrives later this year.)

TVLine has reached out to Netflix for comment.

Are you ready to say goodbye to Kimmy and the gang (keeping in mind that you still have a season and a potential movie left to enjoy)?

Kimmy Schmidt Gets a New Job (and Song!) in Season 4 Premiere — Watch

(5/4/18) (Video) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is no longer unemployable.

Netflix has released a first look at the opening minutes of the comedy’s Season 4 premiere (debuting Wednesday, May 30), and in it, Ellie Kemper’s Kimmy is starting her first day at work to the tune of an energetic, Mary Tyler Moore-style theme song — sung by co-star Jane Krakowski, naturally. Kimmy even tosses her hat in the air, just like Mary Richards… but alas, it gets stuck in a tree, along with a dozen others.

Kimmy’s the new HR manager at Giztoob, a hip tech start-up where she hands out unwanted high-fives and hugs to her fellow co-workers — including a robot named C.H.E.R.Y.L. But her job isn’t easy: Her boss Zach informs her she’ll have to fire an employee for being late — and fix that scratchy record player, while she’s at it.

Jane Krakowski Guest Stars on Modern Family

(5/1/18) “Clash of Swords” – Mitchell sneaks out to “Hero-Con” with fanboy Phil, dressed as their favorite characters from the show “Clash of Swords.” It’s great until Phil commits the ultimate fan faux pas. In a clash of another kind, Gloria’s dinosaur party for Joe is ruined when her nemesis, Dr. Donna Duncan (Jane Krakowski), upstages her with a far bigger and better party right next door, on the season finale of “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 (9:00–9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand.

“Modern Family” stars Ed O’Neill as Jay Pritchett, Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Sofia Vergara as Gloria Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker, Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy, Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy, Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily Tucker-Pritchett and Jeremy Maguire as Joe Pritchett.

Guest starring are Jane Krakowski as Dr. Donna Duncan, Christian Barillas as Ronaldo, Ben Schwartz as Nick and Dylan Bay Kleckner as Cal.

Susan Sarandon is fine with being underpaid under one circumstance

(4/27/18) Susan Sarandon is willing to take a lower paycheck for one reason.

“I’ve worked with five women directors lately, and they’re all on low-budget films because that’s the way they’ll get their shot,” she explained to InStyle’s financial column Money Talks. “I had an incredible part when I did ‘The Meddler,’ for instance. Am I going to turn down a great part and a woman director because I’m not getting my quote? No. It’s the process that’s important to me and the people I’m working with.”

Sarandon, 71, who won an Oscar in 1996 and has been nominated for the award four other times, says actors are sometimes offered mountains of money for movies that have little chance of being good.

“If you really need to buy that house or send your kid to college, then maybe you’ll take that job,” she added. “But I’ve always maintained a rather low standard of living so that I don’t get in the position of having to do that.”

While detailing her spending habits, the “Thelma & Louise” legend revealed she’s pretty frugal with her coins. Sarandon said her business partner once told her, “You never spend any money.”

It’s for that reason that she’ll skip a trip to the salon when she can.

“I still cut my own hair, badly,” she quipped. “I just hold it up and trim it. It’s a mess.”

Ray Donovan: Susan Sarandon Returns as Series Regular for Season 6

(4/13/18) Susan Sarandon will be following Ray Donovan to the Big Apple. Showtime announced Thursday that the Oscar winner will reprise her role as studio head Sam Winslow for the drama’s NYC-set sixth season, which is slated to bow this fall.

Sarandon — who presumably will attempt to fill the void left by former leading lady Paula Malcomson, whose Abby succumbed to cancer last season — will be a series regular.

Back in October at the conclusion of Season 5, Ray Donovan showrunner David Hollander hinted at Sarandon’s return, telling us, “We’re all very interested in Susan’s character and we’re all hoping that there’s a place for her [in Season 6].”

Jane Krakowski & Tituss Burgess Set To Announce Drama Desk Award Nominations

(4/10/18) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt duo Jane Krakowski and Tituss Burgess will announce the nominations for the 63rd Annual Drama Desk Awards on Thursday, April 26, the organization announced today.

The awards ceremony, as previously announced, will be hosted by Michael Urie at Manhattan’s The Town Hall on Sunday, June 3.

“What an honor to have Jane Krakowski and Tituss Burgess announce this year’s Drama Desk Nominations,” said Gretchen Shugart, President of Arts and Culture of AudienceView, parent company of TheaterMania.com, producer of the awards ceremony. “With their unique theatrical backgrounds, we are so pleased that they will be on hand to celebrate the New York theater community.”

The nominations will be announced at 10 a.m. ET on April 26 from Feinstein’s/54 Below and livestreamed on the TheaterMania site. The Drama Desk Awards honor outstanding achievement on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway.

Kevin Bacon, David Koepp Making ‘You Should Have Left’ For Blumhouse

(3/26/18) David Koepp is writing and directing the feature adaptation of Daniel Kehlmann’s You Should Have Left for Blumhouse with Kevin Bacon set to star.

Book, akin to Stephen King’s The Shining, follows a screenwriter who is writing a sequel to his big hit film in a remote house in the Alps with his wife and daughter contending with his writer’s dilemma.

Bacon brought the source material to Koepp who directed the actor in 1999’s Stir of Echoes. Blumhouse acquired the project, following Koepp and Bacon’s pick up of the book’s film rights.

Susan Sarandon: Paul Newman shared salary to bridge gender pay gap

(3/9/18) Susan Sarandon has praised the late Paul Newman for tackling pay inequality sharing his salary with her when they starred in a film together.

Hollywood’s gender pay gap has been a hot topic since 2014, when leaked documents revealed Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams, the female stars of American Hustle, were paid less than their male counterparts.

Susan said that she faced the problem when filming the 1998 neo-noir thriller Twilight, but that Paul gave up a portion of his salary to help bridge the pay gap.

“Emma Stone once came forward and said she got equal pay because her male stars insisted upon it and gave up something of theirs,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live in an interview marking International Women’s Day. “That happened to me with Paul Newman at one point, when I did a film with him ages ago.”

She explained that Newman had, “stepped forward and said ‘Well, I’ll give you part of mine’. So yeah – he was a gem”.

Figures across the movie industry have vowed to stamp out mistreatment of women in the wake of the scandals surrounding movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who is alleged to have sexually harassed or assaulted actresses starring in his films, and other filmmakers and stars.

But Susan, 71, believes the “casting couch” culture which involves actresses having to sleep with movie executives to win roles will never disappear entirely.

“I don’t think it will ever go away,” she explained. “I think what will go away is the unwanted exchange, but I think that giving yourself sexually, or being drawn to power and wanting to have sex with someone that’s in power is also a choice.

“What we don’t want to have is (people) being exploited and to have the Harvey Weinsteins of the world holding it over your head and holding it over your project – that is the most despicable.”

Kimmy Schmidt Season 4 Gets May Premiere Date, Will Be Split in Half

(2/14/18) Kimmy Schmidt may be unbreakable, but her show is apparently a different story.

Netflix on Wednesday announced that it’s breaking the comedy’s upcoming fourth season into multiple parts, with the first half (six episodes) premiering on Wednesday, May 30. The second half will premiere sometime in 2018.

This makes at least half of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt‘s fourth season eligible for Emmy consideration, as episodes must air or be released by May 31 in order to qualify.

The announcement, naturally, came equipped with this fun little video of Kimmy being… Kimmy:

STOP… in the naaaame of Season 4! Part 1 streams May 30th! pic.twitter.com/ey0mHQ5DDM — Kimmy Schmidt (@KimmySchmidt) February 14, 2018

‘The Village’: Michaela McManus, Frankie Faison & Jerod Haynes Cast In NBC Pilot

(2/8/18) Michaela McManus (SEAL Team), Jerod Haynes (Southside With You) and Banshee alum Frankie Faison have booked series regular roles on NBC’s The Village pilot.

Written/executive produced by Mike Daniels (Sons of Anarchy), The Village is a sprawling ensemble drama. Despite differences in age, race, culture and lifestyle, the residents of a Manhattan apartment building find that the more their lives intertwine, the more complex and compelling their connections become, thus proving life’s challenges are better faced alongside family, even if it’s the one you make wherever you find it.

McManus will play Sarah, a caring nurse and mother of a pregnant teen who was a teen mom herself. Haynes will portray Ben, a local police officer and tenant of the apartment building. Faison will play Ron, a man who’s very caring and willing to help anyone.

McManus played Grace Karn on Aquarius and recently appeared as Alana Hayes on SEAL Team. She is repped by UTA and Principato-Young.

Chicago native Haynes most recently appeared in the feature Southside with You and has guest-starred on Chicago Med, Sense8 and Empire. He can currently be seen starring in Blueprint for The Orchard, which Haynes co-produced and co-wrote and was directed by Daryl Wein. He next will be seen in Netflix and Blumhouse Prods’ Benji. Haynes is represented by WME, Marsh Entertainment and Patti Felker at Felker Toczek.

Faison, known for his roles as Sugar Bates on Cinemax’s Banshee and Commissioner Ervin Burrell on The Wire, most recently recurred on Grey’s Anatomy and guest-starred on The Good Fight. He is with Vanguard Management.

Lin Bolen Dies: First Female VP Of Programming At A Network Was 76

(1/28/18) Lin Bolen, the first female VP of programming at a TV network and an influential force in daytime television fare, has died. She passed away on January 19 at the age of 76 in a hospital in the San Fernando Valley, according to friend and former game-show host Jim MacKrell.

Bolen worked for NBC in the 1970s and was responsible for commissioning the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune. She also is credited with bringing long-form narrative to soap operas, expanding them to hour-long formats.

It was long rumored that the ruthless Faye Dunaway character of Diana Christiansen in the 1976 satrical film Network was based on Bolen, something Bolen denied.

She was appointed VP of daytime programming at NBC in 1972, rising to become the VP of programming in Sept. 1975. NBC thrived under her leadership, becoming the No. 1 network in ratings.

Some of her moves were controversial. Bolen ended the 11-year run for Jeopardy!, citing its older demographics and stodgy host Art Fleming, and also killed the 15-year-old game show Concentration. Instead, she pivoted to a new concept from creator/producer Merv Griffin, a casino-like game called Wheel of Fortune that debuted in 1976. It became a huge hit.

Merv Griffin remembered Bolen in his Simon & Schuster memoir, Merv: Making The Good Life Last. He described her as a “hard-driving” and “difficult” woman, with whom he had many “bitter fights.” Still, he noted, “I developed a gruding respect for her talent and determination. She wanted to put her own stamp on NBC’s daytime lineup, and if that meant throwing out a few babies along with the bathwater, then so be it.”

Bolen left NBC in 1976 to form her own, self-named producion company focused on creating and developing game shows, movies of the week, and theatrical films for networks and studios. Among its show was Stumpers!, hosted by Allen Ludden (which lasted 13 weeks before cancellation), and W.E.B., a show that looked seriously at the men who ran network television. It, too, was canceled after 13 weeks, done in by its slot against the ABC hit Charlie’s Angels.

She fared better in television movies. The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle, starring Kurt Russell and Melissa Gilbert, was the highest-rated movie of the year for NBC.

Survivors include a son, Jason Wendkos. No details on memorial services have been made public.

‘One Mississippi’, ‘I Love Dick’ & ‘Jean-Claude Van Johnson’ Canceled By Amazon

(1/17/18) Amazon is doing more clearing the decks with the cancelation of three comedy series, Tig Notaro’s One Mississippi, Jill Soloway’s I Love Dick, and Jean Claude Van Damme’s Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

One Mississippi was canceled after two seasons, while I Love Dick and Jean-Claude Van Johnson were axed after one.

“This is part of a move towards bigger, wider-audience series,” an Amazon insider told Deadline.

Jane Krakowski & Jason Biggs on Match Game 1/31/18

(1/17/18) “Episode 312” – Fun, laughs and BLANKS! are all in store, on “Match Game,” WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC, streaming and on demand. Produced by FremantleMedia North America, Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin hosts the third season of the bawdy and hilarious game show. “Match Game” features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000, as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-missing-blank.

Celebrity Panelists for Jan. 31:

Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”)
Jane Krakowski (Tony winner, Emmy nominee, “30 Rock,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Ron Huebel (“Do You Want to See a Dead Body?” “Transparent”)
Ana Gasteyer (“Lady Dynamite,” “People of Earth”)
Jason Biggs (“American Pie,” “Orange Is the New Black”)
Tichina Arnold (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “Daytime Divas”)

Joining the celebrity panelists are contestants Jondelle Jardine (hometown: Troy, New York), Joe Schmidt (hometown: Bedminster, New Jersey) Alexis Vitetta (hometown: Nutley, New Jersey) and Barry Rosenblum (hometown: White House Station, New Jersey).

Executive producers include Alec Baldwin, FMNA’s Jennifer Mullin, Scott St. John and Mallory Schwartz.

SAG Awards Nominations

(12/14/17) Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET / Elio – “CALL ME BY YOUR NAME” (Sony Pictures Classics)
JAMES FRANCO / Tommy Wiseau – “THE DISASTER ARTIST” (A24)
DANIEL KALUUYA / Chris Washington – “GET OUT” (Universal Pictures)
GARY OLDMAN / Winston Churchill – “DARKEST HOUR” (Focus Features)
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Roman J. Israel, Esq. – “ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ.” (Columbia Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
MARY J. BLIGE / Florence Jackson – “MUDBOUND” (Netflix)
HONG CHAU / Ngoc Lan Tran – “DOWNSIZING” (Paramount Pictures)
HOLLY HUNTER / Beth – “THE BIG SICK” (Amazon Studios/Lionsgate)
ALLISON JANNEY / LaVona Golden – “I, TONYA” (Neon/30West)
LAURIE METCALF / Marion McPherson – “LADY BIRD” (A24)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
LAURA DERN / Renata Klein – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)
NICOLE KIDMAN / Celeste Wright – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)
JESSICA LANGE / Joan Crawford – “FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN” (FX Networks)
SUSAN SARANDON / Bette Davis – “FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN” (FX Networks)
REESE WITHERSPOON / Madeline MacKenzie – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven – “STRANGER THINGS” (Netflix)
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
LAURA LINNEY / Wendy Byrde – “OZARK” (Netflix)
ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June – “THE HANDMAID’S TALE” (Hulu)
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ANTHONY ANDERSON / Andre “Dre” Johnson – “BLACK-ISH” (ABC)
AZIZ ANSARI / Dev – “MASTER OF NONE” (Netflix)
LARRY DAVID / Himself – “CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM” (HBO)
SEAN HAYES / Jack McFarland – “WILL & GRACE” (NBC)
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)
MARC MARON / Sam Sylvia – “GLOW” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

THE CROWN (Netflix)
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II
VICTORIA HAMILTON / Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
VANESSA KIRBY / Princess Margaret
ANTON LESSER / Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
MATT SMITH / Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
ALFIE ALLEN / Theon Greyjoy
JACOB ANDERSON / Grey Worm
PILOU ASBÆK / Euron Greyjoy
HAFÞÓR JÚLÍUS BJÖRNSSON / The Mountain
JOHN BRADLEY / Samwell Tarly
JIM BROADBENT / Archmaester Ebrose
GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE / Brienne
EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Jaime Lannister
LIAM CUNNINGHAM / Davos Seaworth
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister
RICHARD DORMER / Beric Dondarrion
NATHALIE EMMANUEL / Missandei
JAMES FAULKNER / Randyll Tarly
JEROME FLYNN / Bronn
AIDAN GILLEN / Petyr Baelish
IAIN GLEN / Jorah Mormont
KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow
LENA HEADEY / Cersei Lannister
ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT / Bran Stark
CONLETH HILL / Varys
KRISTOFER HIVJU / Tormund Giantsbane
TOM HOPPER / Dickon Tarly
ANTON LESSER / Qyburn
RORY McCANN / The Hound
STAZ NAIR / Qhono
RICHARD RYCROFT / Maester Wolkan
SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark
RUPERT VANSITTART / Yohn Royce
MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark

THE HANDMAID’S TALE (Hulu)
MADELINE BREWER / Janine/Ofwarren/Ofdaniel
AMANDA BRUGEL / Rita
ANN DOWD / Aunt Lydia
O-T FAGBENLE / Luke
JOSEPH FIENNES / Commander Waterford
TATTIAWNA JONES / Ofglen #2
MAX MINGHELLA / Nick Blaine
ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June
YVONNE STRAHOVSKI / Serena Joy
SAMIRA WILEY / Moira

STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)
SEAN ASTIN / Bob Newby
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven
CARA BUONO / Karen Wheeler
JOE CHREST / Ted Wheeler
CATHERINE CURTIN / Claudia Henderson (Dustin’s Mom)
NATALIA DYER / Nancy Wheeler
DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper
CHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan Byers
JOE KEERY / Steve Harrington
GATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin Henderson
CALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas Sinclair
DACRE MONTGOMERY / Billy
PAUL REISER / Dr. Owens
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers
NOAH SCHNAPP / Will Byers
SADIE SINK / Max
FINN WOLFHARD / Mike Wheeler

THIS IS US (NBC)
ERIS BAKER / Tess Pearson
ALEXANDRA BRECKENRIDGE / Sophie
STERLING K. BROWN / Randall Pearson
LONNIE CHAVIS / Young Randall
JUSTIN HARTLEY / Kevin Pearson
FAITHE HERMAN / Annie Pearson
RON CEPHAS JONES / William Hill
CHRISSY METZ / Kate Pearson
MANDY MOORE / Rebecca Pearson
CHRIS SULLIVAN / Toby Damon
MILO VENTIMIGLIA / Jack Pearson
SUSAN KELECHI WATSON / Beth Pearson
HANNAH ZEILE / Teenage Kate

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
BLACK-ISH (ABC)
ANTHONY ANDERSON / Andre “Dre” Johnson
MILES BROWN / Jack Johnson
DEON COLE / Charlie Telphy
LAURENCE FISHBURNE / Pops
JENIFER LEWIS / Ruby
PETER MACKENZIE / Mr. Stevens
MARSAI MARTIN / Diane Johnson
JEFF MEACHAM / Josh
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS / Dr. Rainbow Johnson
MARCUS SCRIBNER / Andre Johnson, Jr.
YARA SHAHIDI / Zoey Johnson

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
TED DANSON / Himself
LARRY DAVID / Himself
SUSIE ESSMAN / Susie Greene
JEFF GARLIN / Jeff Greene
CHERYL HINES / Cheryl David
JB SMOOVE / Leon Black

GLOW (Netflix)
BRITT BARON / Justine Biagi
ALISON BRIE / Ruth Wilder
KIMMY GATEWOOD / Stacey Beswick
BETTY GILPIN / Debbie Eagan
REBEKKA JOHNSON / Dawn Rivecca
CHRIS LOWELL / Bash
SUNITA MANI / Arthie Premkumar
MARC MARON / Sam Sylvia
KATE NASH / Rhonda Richardson
SYDELLE NOEL / Cherry Bang
MARIANNA PALKA / Reggie Walsh
GAYLE RANKIN / Sheila the She-Wolf
BASHIR SALAHUDDIN / Keith
RICH SOMMER / Mark
KIA STEVENS / Tammé Dawson
JACKIE TOHN / Melanie Rosen
ELLEN WONG / Jenny Chey
BRITNEY YOUNG / Carmen Wade

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
EMILY ALTHAUS / Maureen Kukudio
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
ROSAL COLÓN / Ouija
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
FRANCESCA CURRAN / Helen Van Maele
DANIELLA DE JESÚS / Zirconia
LEA DeLARIA / Big Boo
NICK DILLENBURG / CO Blake
ASIA KATE DILLON / Brandy Epps
BETH DOVER / Linda Ferguson
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
LAURA GÓMEZ / Blanca Flores
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
EVAN ARTHUR HALL / CO Stratman
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
BRAD WILLIAM HENKE / Desi Piscatella
MIKE HOUSTON / CO Lee Dixon
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
KELLY KARBACZ / Kasey Sankey
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Cindy Hayes
MIRIAM MORALES / Pidge
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
JOHN PALLADINO / Josh
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara Diaz
LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause
JOLENE PURDY / Stephanie Hapakuka
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina Murphy
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Yoga Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda Berlin
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
EMILY TARVER / CO Artesian McCullough
MICHAEL TORPEY / CO Thomas Humphrey
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Morgan Freeman

GENERAL HOSPITAL and ALL MY CHILDREN Actress Jennifer Bassey Joins the Cast of ANACOSTIA!

(12/10/17) Daytime veteran Jennifer Bassey is joining the cast of ANACOSTIA, the Daytime Emmy Award-winning digital series. The actress most recently appeared as Quinn Danvers on GENERAL HOSPITAL, but is perhaps best known for her role as Marian Colby on ALL MY CHILDREN. “Just like I do during ever visit to Port Charles, I couldn’t feel more at home in ANACOSTIA!” Bassey enthused. “There is always an abundance of love and lies — so I do my best to give them life!”

Bassey will be playing Beverly, the close friend of the villainous Eva’s long-suffering husband, Henry, in the fifth season of the online soap when it resumes on Tuesday, Dec. 26. Her character will be at the center of the drama when Dominique seeks her out looking for information that could lead to the missing Alexis (played by AS THE WORLD TURNS star Martha Byrne (Lily)) and her son. “Dominique and our audience will get far more than they bargained for when Beverly starts to tell what she knows,” promises ANACOSTIA’s executive producer and writer, Anthony Anderson.

Byrne joining the cast of the series years ago was just the first of many familiar daytime faces that Anderson was able to bring to his series. “The next year, I had to pinch myself when we welcomed Elizabeth Hubbard,” he added. “Today I’ve just hit the jackpot, no two ways about it. Jennifer Bassey is a true professional and we are honored she brought her special blend of talent and powerful screen presence to ANACOSTIA.

“Jennifer plays a huge part in the twists and turns that will mark the end of this season,” he continued, “but trust me — both Jennifer and Beverly are just getting started!”

ANACOSTIA took home the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approaches — Drama Series in 2015, the same year that Byrne took home the trophy for Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series. It follows the lives of the residents of a small residential community in Washington D.C. as they navigate a web of love, betrayal, sex, and murder. You can catch up on all the drama in the first four seasons to prepare for season five on its YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/ANACOSTIASERIES

Former Soap Stars In The 75th Golden Globes Nominations

(12/12/17) BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
STEVE CARELL, BATTLE OF THE SEXES
ANSEL ELGORT, BABY DRIVER
JAMES FRANCO, THE DISASTER ARTIST
HUGH JACKMAN, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
DANIEL KALUUYA, GET OUT

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
MARY J. BLIGE, MUDBOUND
HONG CHAU, DOWNSIZING
ALLISON JANNEY, I, TONYA
LAURIE METCALF, LADY BIRD
OCTAVIA SPENCER, THE SHAPE OF WATER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
ANTHONY ANDERSON, BLACK-ISH
AZIZ ANSARI, MASTER OF NONE
KEVIN BACON, I LOVE DICK
WILLIAM H. MACY, SHAMELESS
ERIC MCCORMACK, WILL & GRACE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
JESSICA BIEL, THE SINNER
NICOLE KIDMAN, BIG LITTLE LIES
JESSICA LANGE, FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
SUSAN SARANDON, FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
REESE WITHERSPOON, BIG LITTLE LIES

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
DAVID HARBOUR, STRANGER THINGS
ALFRED MOLINA, FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
CHRISTIAN SLATER, MR. ROBOT
ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD, BIG LITTLE LIES
DAVID THEWLIS, FARGO

Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge to Star in Showtime Drama Pilot City on a Hill

(11/14/17) Aldis Hodge is moving several degrees closer to Kevin Bacon: The Underground breakout is set to star opposite Bacon in Showtime’s Boston-based drama pilot City on a Hill, TVLine has learned.

From exec producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and writer Chuck MacLean, the prospective series is a fictional account of what was referred to as the “Boston Miracle.” In the early ’90s, corruption and racism was the norm in Boston, until an African-American district attorney (Hodge) from Brooklyn arrives in the city, advocating change. He forms an unlikely alliance with a corrupt yet venerated FBI veteran (Bacon) who is invested in maintaining the status quo. Together they take on a family of armored car robbers in a case that eventually upends the city’s criminal justice system.

“Kevin Bacon radiates intelligence and mystery with every role he plays,” Showtime president David Nevins said in a statement. “He is a gifted, mesmerizing actor who will be the perfect partner and foil to Aldis Hodge, one of Hollywood’s rising talents and someone primed to stand at the center of this powerful drama.”

Bacon recently signed on to reprise his role as Valentine McKee in Syfy’s in-the-works revival of Tremors. Should Tremors and City on a Hill earn series orders, sources confirm that The Following alum would be able to juggle both. It’s unclear what all of this means for Bacon’s in-limbo Amazon comedy I Love Dick, which reportedly remains in consideration for a second season.

Obit: Harry R. Eggart, 79

(11/9/17) (westportnow.com) Harry R. Eggart of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, a former longtime resident of Westport, died Oct. 23 after a long illness. He was 79.

He spent his life in the theater, starting out as an actor and advancing to directing and producing. He was director of CBS’s “Guiding Light” for 18 years as well as many other soap operas.

Born in Florida, he attended Auburn University and Tulane University. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army in Ethiopia.

He was a member of theatrical unions AEA, SAG, AFTRA and DGA. He directed more than 2,000 hours of network television that also included episodes of “Search for Tomorrow,” “Another World,” and “Santa Barbara.” He also directed touring legit shows, dinner theater performances, industrials, and specials.

He was director of the daytime Emmy Awards for 12 years for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In 2003, he appeared as a panelist at the Westport Historical Society discussing soap operas with fellow Westporters (see WestportNow Oct. 19, 2003). In 2004, he and wife Roberta sold their home on Spicer Road.

He loved to paint, never met a book he didn’t like and wrote in his spare time. He loved hot weather, his family, a good joke, his dogs and cornbread. He had a great smile.

Married to Roberta B. Eggart for 50 years, he was father of Jesse, Casey, and Kat Eggart and proud Papi to Kai McCready. Survivors also include nieces Linda Dunn and Suzzie Akins of Florida, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Judy and Steve Penn, and niece, Joanna Shober of California, and son-in-law Michael McCready of Stratford.

There will be a military graveside service on Wednesday Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Avenue, Bourne, Massachusetts.

Morning Show Appearance

(10/20/17) Today - NBC

Wednesday, November 1

(10-11 a.m.) Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Susan Saradon and Cheryl Hines on Bad Moms Christmas. Trim Before Turkey. Kip Moore performs on Today.

Fox's Christmas Story: Jane Krakowski, Chris Diamantopoulos Join Live Musical

(10/19/17) We triple-dog dare you not to get excited about this casting: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt‘s Jane Krakowski and Silicon Valley‘s Chris Diamantopoulos have joined the cast of Fox’s live musical production of A Christmas Story.

Krakowski is set to play Miss Shields, teacher to nine-year-old Ralphie (played by relative newcomer Andy Walken). Diamantopoulos, meanwhile, will play Ralphie’s father. (He better brush up on his Italian!)

Fox’s A Christmas Story Live! is a new rendition of the classic 1983 holiday film, based on the Broadway musical with new songs written by Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Krakowski and Diamantopoulos join an all-star ensemble, with Matthew Broderick playing an older version of Ralphie and serving as the musical’s narrator, and Saturday Night Live alum Maya Rudolph playing Ralphie’s mom.

A Christmas Story Live! is set to ring in the holiday season on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7/6c.

The worst advice Susan Sarandon ever received

(10/13/17) Susan Sarandon has no regrets about having had three kids — or the timing.

When asked by Good Housekeeping what the worst advice she ever received was, the actress didn’t hesitate.

“I think it was ‘Don’t have the baby,’ as though it would ruin my career, and I was so old anyway,” she told the magazine (via People). “I had my first baby at 39 and my third at 45, and with each child, [people were] like, ‘Are you crazy? Don’t!’”

Sarandon, 71, who is a mom to Miles Robbins, 25, Jack Robbins, 28, and Eva Amurri Martino, 32, is also now a self-described “silly grandmother.”

“All my kids have a sense of humor,” Sarandon added. “I even have a clown nose for having serious conversations — it stops you from getting emotionally loaded.”

The Oscar winner also makes it a priority to relax because she found that “perfection requires too much energy,” so she “gave it up a while ago.”

“It comes in handy when you age because there is this idea of beauty being perfection,” Sarandon explained. “Embracing what it is about you that makes you an individual goes hand in hand with that.”

Our history: P&G put the ‘soap’ in 'soap opera'

(10/5/17) (cincinnati.com) Count soap operas among Procter & Gamble’s many successes. P&G was one of the first companies to sponsor daytime serial dramas on the radio in the 1930s to advertise their products to housewives. The shows were associated with sponsors such as P&G’s Oxydol, Duz and Ivory soaps and were dubbed “soap operas.”

P&G was prolific, producing several long-running soap operas for radio and television.

The company first dipped into radio in 1927, underwriting NBC’s “Radio Beauty School” to advertise Camay perfumed soap.

Then, in 1930, Chicago radio station WGN hired Irna Phillips of Dayton to write “Painted Dreams,” a domestic serial drama. The format was appealing to P&G, as research suggested women would prefer to be entertained while they did housework.

P&G had a top-notch radio studio in its own backyard with WLW, broadcasting from the Crosley Building in Camp Washington.

After trying out “The Puddle Family Radio Show” in 1932, P&G sponsored “Ma Perkins” at WLW, starting Aug. 14, 1933. The 15-minute serial was picked up for a nationwide rollout on NBC on Dec. 4, 1933, and production moved to Chicago.

“Ma Perkins,” sponsored by Oxydol laundry soap, starred Virginia Payne of Price Hill as the venerable widow who ran a lumberyard in the small Southern town Rushville Center and raised her three children. “The mother of all soap operas” was produced by Anne and Frank Hummert, the leading soap opera creators in the 1930s and ’40s.

The connection to Oxydol was so strong that the show was often called “Oxydol’s Own Ma Perkins.”

Although Oxydol dropped its sponsorship in 1956, “Ma Perkins” continued until Nov. 25, 1960, when all the remaining radio serials were canceled. The date became known as “the day radio drama died.”

Payne played Ma Perkins in all 7,065 episodes over 27 years. She later performed on Broadway, then moved back to Cincinnati and often appeared in productions for Playhouse in the Park. Payne died in her Clifton home in 1977, at age 67.

P&G sponsored numerous radio shows, including “Perry Mason,” “The Red Skelton Show,” “Truth or Consequences,” “The Road of Life,” “Dreft Star Playhouse” and “Against the Storm,” the only radio drama to win a Peabody Award.

Their most successful production was “The Guiding Light,” a soap opera created by Irna Phillips in 1937, and sponsored by P&G White Naphtha Soap. The series transitioned to television in 1952, but continued to also be broadcast on radio until 1956.

Procter & Gamble Productions produced several soap operas for television:

» “Guiding Light” (1952 to 2009) is listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records” as the longest-running TV drama, running 57 years. Including radio, it ran 72 years, a total of 18,262 episodes.

» “Search for Tomorrow” (1951-86) advertised P&G’s Joy dishwashing liquid and Spic and Span household cleaner.

» “The Brighter Day” (1954-62) was created by Phillips for radio in 1948, and was the only soap with an overt religious theme.

» “The Edge of Night” (1956-84) was conceived as a daytime version of “Perry Mason,” but Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner had a fight with CBS and backed out. Instead, “Edge” was a thinly veiled copy with John Larkin, who portrayed Mason on radio. The show was set in the fictional Midwestern town Monticello, but the opening credits showed the Cincinnati skyline.

» “As the World Turns” (1956 to 2010), Phillips’ sister show for “Guiding Light,” debuted the same day as “The Edge of Night” and became the second-longest running show, lasting 54 years.

» “Another World” (1964-99) was supposed to be a spinoff of “As the World Turns,” thus the name, but it was picked up by a different network.

“As the World Turns” ended its run on Sept. 17, 2010, the last P&G-owned soap opera.

Susan Sarandon & Gideon Adlon Join Focus Features Drama ‘Mustang’

(10/4/17) Susan Sarandon and Gideon Adlon have come aboard the Focus Features drama Mustang, from French actress and first-time director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The two join a cast that includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Mitchell and Bruce Dern, production slated to begin this month in Nevada.

Schoenaerts stars as Roman, a convict who is given the chance to participate in the rehabilitation-therapy program training wild mustangs. Roman forms a strong bond with a particularly difficult horse, which forces him to confront his harsh past and innermost demons.

Sarandon will play the prison therapist, and Adlon is Roman’s daughter.

Mona Fastvold and Brock Norman Brock co-wrote the screenplay with de Clermont-Tonnerre. Alain Goldman is producing through his company Legende, while Molly Hallam will serve as executive producer.

Sarandon is coming off an Emmy-nominated role in the FX anthology series Feud: Bette and Joan and recurs on Showtime’s Ray Donovan. On the big screen, she co-stars in STX’s holiday sequel A Bad Moms Christmas, which hits theaters November 3.

Gideon next will be seen in Universal’s Seth Rogan-produced comedy The Pact. Other credits include Dustin Lance Black’s When We Rise and John Ridley’s American Crime.

Sarandon is repped by UTA, and Adlon is with UTA and Main Title Entertainment.

‘Neo Yokio’ Trailer: Jaden Smith, Susan Sarandon & Jude Law Star In Netflix Anime Series

(9/8/17) (Video) “Neo Yokio is the greatest city in the world. It is a diverse labyrinth of cultural and architectural innovation. Of course, whenever a city becomes the envy of the world, problems are bound to arise.”

We’re getting the first look at Neo Yokio, Netflix’s new six-episode anime series from creator, writer and executive producer Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend), writer/executive producer Nick Weidenfeld and his Friends Night banner.

Jaden Smith stars as lovesick Kaz Kaan, the youngest member of a family of “magistocrats” – pink-haired demon slayers who once liberated the city of Neo Yokio. Today, his demon-slaying is barely more than a side-hustle coordinated by his Aunt Agatha (Susan Sarandon) – Kaz himself would rather concern himself with shopping, field hockey and – of course – mending his broken heart.

Always by Kaz’s side are his faithful mecha-butler, Charles (Jude Law), and his inseparable friends Lexy and Gottlieb (The Kid Mero and Desus Nice) as he navigates the complexities of life in Neo Yokio and tries to stay one step ahead of his arch-rival, Neo Yokio’s number one most eligible bachelor, Arcangelo Corelli (Jason Schwartzman.)

Things take a mysterious turn when Kaz is drawn into the turbulent world of ex-fashion blogger Helena St. Tessero (Tavi Gevinson), setting in motion a sequence of events that force him to question everything he knows about Neo Yokio.

The series is a collaboration between Netflix and Japanese anime studios Production IG and Studio Deen, along with Seoul-based animation studio MOI.

All six episodes of Neo Yokio will launch globally on Friday, September 22 exclusively on Netflix.

‘Bad Moms Christmas’ Trailer: Santa Lap Dancing, Susan Sarandon & Naked Justin Hartley

(9/6/17) (Video) Summertime wasn’t easy on raunchy comedies, but Christmas is for dreaming, right? STX Entertainment has unwrapped a new – and restricted – trailer for A Bad Moms Christmas, the not-yet-rated comedy that sends a group of mothers and their adult daughters off to the mall and other holiday destinations for some bad mom adventures.

The logline: “A Bad Moms Christmas follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas. And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers. By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.”

Expect Santa lap dances. And stripper Kringles.

Cast includes Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines, Jay Hernandez, Wanda Sykes, Peter Gallagher, Justin Hartley and Oona Laurence. Jon Lucas and Scott Moore direct from their screenplay.

Producers are Bill Block, Mark Kamine and Suzanne Todd.

The raunchy trailer boasts a strong, cross-generation cast, including a very nude Hartley (This Is Us), that could help put a big ribbon over that summer crop of disappointing rude comedies, like Rough Night, The House, Baywatch, and Snatched.

STX Films takes Bad Moms Christmas to theaters November 3. Check out the NSFW trailer above, and happy holidays.

Susan Sarandon Hits Kaepernick Rally, 'I Stand With Colin'

(8/23/17) Hundreds of people rallied in support of Colin Kaepernick in NYC Wednesday -- including Susan Sarandon -- who said proudly, "I'm With Kaep."

The "United We Stand" rally went down in front of the NFL headquarters in New York -- stars like Kurtis Blow, ex-NFL player Willie Colon and rapper Mysonne were all there.

Sarandon tweeted about the rally -- saying, "Together we win. I stand with Colin."

Members of Kaepernick's college fraternity -- Kappa Alpha Psi (a historically black fraternity) -- were also marching for the QB.

Several people gave speeches applauding Kaep for taking a stand -- and imploring NFL owners to sign him.

Susan Sarandon to be honored at Woodstock Film Festival

(8/15/17) Susan Sarandon will receive the Maverick Award at an annual film festival in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Organizers of the Woodstock Film Festival say the star of such films as “Thelma and Louise” and “Bull Durham” will receive the award during the Oct. 11-15 event. She also will screen “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” for which she was executive producer.

Sarandon will receive the award Oct. 14 during a ceremony at Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston, one of the host communities of the festival.

Previous recipients include Steve Buscemi and the late movie director Jonathan Demme.

Sarandon won an Academy Award in 1996 for best actress for her role in “Dead Man Walking.”

Besides Kingston, the festival is hosted by nearby Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Rosendale and Saugerties.

Ellie Kemper and Jane Krakowski Are Singing Dragons—Yes, You Read That Right

(7/19/17) It's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Ellie Kemper and Jane Krakowski as you've never seen them before: Singing together. In animated dragon form. Yes, they're singing animated dragons.

The two costars made their way over to Disney Junior's Sofia the First to play dragons, Kemper is the recurring character of Crackle, and Krakowski plays Crackle's childhood rival Sizzle. In the episode, Sofia (Ariel Winter) disguises herself as a dragon to attend the annual Dragon Roast n' Toast picnic with her pal Crackle. There, they meet Sizzle and another familiar-voiced dragon, Orange Is the New Black star Kimiko Glenn's Cinder.

And then they sing, of course. And spoiler alert, it's kind of a catchy song. For those missing 30 Rock, you can just pretend it's Krakowski's Jenna Maroney singing and that'll take things to a whole new level.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was nominated for three Emmys for the 2017 ceremony. Kemper, Tituss Burgess and the series itself picked up nominations. Netflix renewed the comedy from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock for a fourth season, which is likely a year away. So, let this Sofia the First clip give you a little Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Sofia the First has won Daytime Emmys in the past, maybe this original song done by the Unbreakable duo will get it another?

Sofia the First airs Friday, July 21 at 9 a.m. on Disney Channel.

2017 Emmy Awards Nominations

(7/14/17) LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Viola Davis - How To Get Away With Murder, ABC
Claire Foy - The Crown, Netflix
Elisabeth Moss - The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu
Keri Russell -The Americans, FX Networks
Evan Rachel Wood - Westworld, HBO
Robin Wright - House Of Cards, Netflix

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Carrie Coon - Fargo, FX Networks
Felicity Huffman - American Crime, ABC
Nicole Kidman - Big Little Lies, HBO
Jessica Lange - Feud: Bette And Joan, FX Networks
Susan Sarandon - Feud: Bette And Joan, FX Networks
Reese Witherspoon - Big Little Lies, HBO

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Pamela Adlon - Better Things, FX Networks
Jane Fonda - Grace And Frankie, Netflix
Allison Janney - Mom, CBS
Ellie Kemper - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep, HBO
Tracee Ellis Ross - Black-ish, ABC
Lily Tomlin - Grace And Frankie, Netflix

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Anthony Anderson - Black-ish, ABC
Aziz Ansari - Master Of None, Netflix
Zach Galifianakis - Baskets, FX Networks
Donald Glover - Atlanta, FX Networks
William H. Macy -Shameless, Showtime
Jeffrey Tambor - Transparent, Amazon

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Vanessa Bayer - Saturday Night Live, NBC
Anna Chlumsky - Veep, HBO
Kathryn Hahn - Transparent, Amazon
Leslie Jones - Saturday Night Live, NBC
Judith Light - Transparent, Amazon
Kate McKinnon - Saturday Night Live, NBC

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Louie Anderson - Baskets, FX Networks
Alec Baldwin - Saturday Night Live, NBC
Tituss Burgess - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix
Ty Burrell - Modern Family, ABC
Tony Hale - Veep, HBO
Matt Walsh - Veep, HBO

HOST FOR A REALITY/REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
Alec Baldwin - Match Game, ABC
W. Kamau Bell - United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell, CNN
RuPaul Charles - RuPaul’s Drag Race, VH1
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn - Project Runway, Lifetime
Gordon Ramsay - MasterChef Junior, Fox
Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg - Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, VH1.

PBS: GREAT PERFORMANCES “She Loves Me”

(7/13/17) (Friday, October 20, 9 pm-12 am ET) Two feuding clerks in a 1930s Budapest parfumerie unwittingly find solace in each other as anonymous romantic pen pals—not realizing their respective correspondents are in fact each other. Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, Jane Krakowski and Gavin Creel star.

Tales of the City Revival Eyed at Netflix

(6/29/17) Revival-enamored Netflix is looking to resurrect another beloved television tale.

TVLine has learned that the streamer is developing a 10-episode, present-day continuation of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City. Sources confirm that original cast members Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis (Barbara, Search For Tomorrow) are attached to star, with other Tales vets expected to join them.

Netflix declined to comment.

This would mark the fourth TV chapter of the LGBT-themed, San Francisco-set Tales, following the landmark 1993 version (which aired stateside on PBS) and the “sequels” More Tales of the City and Further Tales of the City, which ran on Showtime in 1998 and 2001, respectively.

Maupin would return as an exec producer and, per Variety, Michael Cunningham (The Hours) has already penned the first script.

‘A Bad Moms Christmas’ Redband Trailer: It’s The Mother Of All Holidays

(6/29/17) (Video) Bad Moms pounced on an unsuspecting box office last year, pulling down $113M from a $20M budget. It was the first $100M domestic hit for STXfilms, which quickly greenlighted a sequel. And with late-June thermometers redder than a Utah primary map, here’s the first redband trailer for A Bad Moms Christmas.

Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn are reprising their roles as fed-up mothers who tend to the children, wrestle with the PTA hierarchy and stray to commit random acts of debauchery. Now the setting is the holidays, the time when families come together to share in the joy of the season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Right? Enter Cheryl Hines, Christine Baranski and Susan Sarandon ? the bad moms’ moms.

“Do you know the secret behind what makes Christmas so special? Moms. Moms working their asses off ? cooking, wrapping decorating and shopping.” No argument there. “Remember when the holidays were actually fun?” Kunis’ Amy asks. “Let’s take Christmas back.” Cue the previous-gen mothers, along with male strippers, a lapdance-happy Santa, destructive giant tree and shots. Lots and lots of shots.

Jay Hernandez, Peter Gallagher, Justin Hartley, David Walton co-star in the film, with Bad Moms writer-directors Jon Lucas & Scott Moore back for more. Suzanne Todd again produces, with Bill Block executive producing. STXfilms will open A Bad Moms Christmas on November 3. Have a look at the NSFW trailer, and tell us if you plan to spend the holidays with the Bad Moms and their moms.

‘Tremors’ Reboot Starring Kevin Bacon From Blumhouse Gets Syfy Pilot Order

(6/26/17) The long-gestating Tremors reboot, headlined by original star Kevin Bacon, is a go, Syfy has given a pilot order to the project, from Universal Cable Productions and Blumhouse Television, with Kevin Bacon reprising his role from the 1990 cult classic film of the same name.

In the new Tremors written by Andrew Miller (The Secret Circle), the killer Graboid worms that nearly destroyed Perfection, Nevada 25 years ago are back, and the town’s only hope for survival is Valentine McKee (Bacon) who beat them once. But to do it again he’ll have to overcome age, alcohol and a delusional hero complex.

Miller, who serves as showrunner, executive produces along with Bacon and David Schiff (Southpaw).

“This is the only character I’ve played that I’ve ever thought about revisiting. I just got to thinking, where would this guy end up after 25 years?” said Bacon. “Andrew Miller has a fantastic take on it and we hope to create a show that will be fun and scary for fans of the movie and folks that have yet to discover it. Let’s kick some Graboid ass!”

Bacon signaled his interest in revisiting Tremors in a May 2015 interview. He teamed with Miller, Blumhouse and UCP for a reboot series later that year, with Syfy as a possible home.

“We are so pleased to continue our partnership with Syfy and UCP in reviving this cult classic with none other than Kevin Bacon as Valentine McKee; we look forward to thrilling original fans and new audiences alike,” said Jason Blum, who also has the high-profile Purge series at UCP, which will be shared by Syfy and USA Network.

The 1990 film from Universal Pictures, directed by Ron Underwood and also starring Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, and Reba McEntire, grossed a modest $16.6 million domestically but developed a cult following. It spawned a previous TV spinoff, Tremors: The Series, which aired for one season in 2003, on then-Sci-Fi Channel.

Julianne Moore, Tracy Morgan, Kate McKinnon Join Alec Baldwin Tribute

(6/16/17) Julianne Moore, Tracy Morgan, Kate McKinnon, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer will be among Alec Baldwin’s friends and co-stars offering comedic tribute on Spike TV’s One Night Only: Alec Baldwin.

Additional names will be announced shortly, Spike says.

One Night Only: Alec Baldwin, described as part roast, part This Is Your Life, will include comedy, music, “candid personal stories and a few surprises for the superstar,” Spike said in announcing the headliners.

Set for taping at Harlem’s Apollo Theater on Sunday, June 25, the special is produced by Casey Patterson Entertainment and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller. One Night Only: Alec Baldwin will premiere on Spike TV on Sunday, July 9, 9 pm ET/PT.

Talk Show Appearance

(6/16/17) WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN - Bravo

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 – JANE KRAKOWSKI

Daytime Emmys Agnes Nixon Tribute (Extended Version)

(6/16/17) (Video) The iconic creator of All My Children and One Life to Live, Agnes Nixon, is honored in this tribute to her career, her legacy, and the soap operas she made famous by many of the actors who played beloved characters within them including: Erika Slezak, Thorsten Kaye, Michael E. Knight, Peter Bergman, Kim Delaney, Eden Riegel, Robert S. Woods, Darnell Williams, Cameron Mathison, Brynn Thayer and Andrea Evans.

Produced by Michael Fairman, with deep respect, appreciation, and love for Agnes, the cast of AMC and OLTL, and the fans, The Michael Channel brings you this one-of-a-kind special retrospective.

The shorter version of this retrospective appeared on the 44th Annual Daytime Emmys Ceremonies this past April.

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Renewed For Season 4 By Netflix

(6/13/17) It is another quick renewal for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt at Netflix. The streaming service has ordered a fourth season of the comedy series, from the 30 Rock duo Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, less than a month after the release of the show’s third season.

The Emmy-nominated series starring Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski and Carol Kane follows the travails of Kimmy (Kemper) who, after living in a cult for fifteen years, decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. She quickly finds a new job (working for Krakowski), a new roommate (Burgess), and a new beginning.

Recurring guest stars have included Anna Camp, Josh Charles, David Cross, Amy Sedaris, Tina Fey, Daveed Diggs and Jon Hamm.

Kimmy started with a straight-to-series order at NBC, moving to Netflix before the premiere with a second-season order tacked onto the first. The series received a third-season renewal from Netflix in January 2016, ahead of the April 2016 debut of its second season.

Fey and Carlock serve as executive producers with fellow 30 Rock alums Jeff Richmond and David Miner. The series, from Universal Television, Little Stranger, 3 Arts Entertainment and Bevel Gears, has amassed 11 Emmy nominations, including two in the Outstanding Comedy Series category for each of its first two seasons. Like the first two, Season 3 also has been well received by critics.

Talk Show Appearance

(5/25/17) The Talk - CBS

Thursday, June 1

Actor Kevin Bacon discusses his new television series

Angela Bassett Boards ‘Mission: Impossible 6’

(5/19/17) Angela Bassett (Search for Tomorrow / Ryan’s Hope) has signed on to Paramount’s Mission: Impossible 6 in which she’ll play the C.I.A. director. The Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner for What’s Love Got to Do With It starts work next week and joins Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirky and Alec Baldwin in the Christopher McQuarrie-directed sequel.

On April 8, McQuarrie announced on social that he lit the fuse, and kicked off production on M:I 6. The movie comes out July 27, 2018.

Following her work on M:I 6, Bassett heads straight to 20th Century Fox’s upcoming 911 series in which she stars and serves as executive producer alongside Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The 13-episode series centers around 911 operators. Bassett recently wrapped work on Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther, due out Feb. 18, in which she plays Ramonda, the stepmother of lead protagonist T’Challa. Last season on FX’s American Horror Story: Roanoke, Bassett directed the episode “Chapter 6”.

Bassett is repped by Gersh, Lighthouse Entertainment and Fox Rothschild.

Ryan Murphy's 911, Starring Angela Bassett, Nears Series Order at Fox

(5/12/17) Angela Bassett (Salina, Search For Tomorrow) will continue to answer the call for Ryan Murphy.

The American Horror Story alum is set to star in 911, a new drama series created by Murphy and Brad Falchuk. A formal 13-episode, straight-to-series order is expected to be announced as part of Fox’s upfront presentation on Monday.

Per our sister site Deadline, 911 revolves around the lives of 911 operators, and is described as similar in vein to ER — a show on which Bassett was a series regular during its final season. She has since gone on to appear in four of six AHS seasons (Coven, Freak Show, Hotel and Roanoke).

911 joins a long list of Murphy series currently on TV or in development, including FX’s American Crime Story, FEUD and Pose, as well as Fox’s stillllll-on-the-bubble Scream Queens.

911 is expected to launch in midseason, indicating an early 2018 premiere.

Morgan Fairchild To DAYS!

(5/12/17) Soap vet Morgan Fairchild (ex-Sydney, THE CITY et al) has been tapped to play Anjelica Deveraux on DAYS and will begin airing this summer. “I was thrilled to get to work with great folks like Deidre Hall [Marlena] and Judi Evans [Adrienne] on an iconic show like DAYS OF OUR LIVES,” she tells Digest exclusively. “What a joy and what fun to come into work each day! We had a great time, I now have 2 new best friends and I hope the audience loves our storyline!” The character, previously played by Jane Elliot (ex-Tracy, GH) and Judith Chapman (Gloria, Y&R), as well as Shelley Taylor Morgan (ex-Lorena, GH), was last seen in Salem in 1991. Anjelica shares a son, Alexander, with Justin, and was Jack’s stepmother.

Talk Show Appearance

(5/12/17) THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT - CBS

Monday, May 15

Jane Krakowski

Kevin Bacon still struggles with handling money

(5/11/17) After bringing home the bacon, Kevin Bacon has trouble handling his earnings.

“My parents weren’t wealthy, and they didn’t really teach us much about money,” the “I Love Dick” actor told Wealthsimple, the automated investment company.

In an interview on the firm’s website, Bacon tells how he moved to New York City with no money and had various jobs — busboy, waiter and working in a warehouse — before making it big.

“It took me a long time to come around to the idea that you have to have a kind of responsibility with money, to keep an eye on it. To a certain extent, I still kind of struggle with it.”

He doesn’t lie. Bacon and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, were victims of Bernie Madoff.

Sedgwick didn’t lose her sense of humor and joked at the time, “I always thought, ‘We’re so boring. We should be in the tabloids more. C’mon honey, let’s have a scandal.’?”

Talk Show Appearance

(5/5/17) Today – NBC

Wednesday, May 17

(7-9 a.m.) Jane Krakowski on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Talk Show Appearance

(5/5/17) The Chew - ABC

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 – “WEEKNIGHT WOWS” – The incredible Kevin Bacon (“I Love D*ck”) teams up with Mario Batali to make a dish that dazzle

Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines & Peter Gallagher Join ‘A Bad Moms Christmas’

(5/3/17) Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Peter Gallagher are joining STXfilms‘ comedy sequel A Bad Moms Christmas. The three actresses are playing the moms of the bad moms — Sarandon will play Kathryn Hahn’s character’s mom, Baranski for Mila Kunis and Hines for Kristen Bell as the clash of the female titans happens this time over the holidays.

Bad Moms writer-directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, producer Suzanne Todd and executive producers Bill Block and Mark Kamine all are rejoined on this one. Also starring are returning cast members Jay Hernandez, David Walton and Wanda Sykes along with the previously reported Justin Hartley.

The logline: “A Bad Moms Christmas follows the under-appreciated and over-burdened young moms as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas. And if creating a more perfect holidays for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers. By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.”

Last year’s banked $113.2 million domestic last year and added $70.1 million overseas. Filming on the sequel is already underway in Atlanta. The film will be released by STXfilms on November 3.

Talk Show Appearance

(5/3/17) Talk Show Appearance

THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN - CBS

Thursday, May 11 - actor Kevin Bacon

Morning Show Appearances

(4/29/17) Today – NBC

Monday, May 8

(7-9 a.m.) Kevin Bacon on I Love Dick

Today – NBC

Tuesday, May 9

(10-11 a.m.) Kevin Bacon on I Love Dick

I Love Dick Trailer

(4/11/17) Amazon has released a trailer for Transparent creator Jill Soloway and Sarah Gubbins’ new series I Love Dick, debuting Friday, May 12 on the streaming service. The drama, based on Chris Kraus’ 1997 novel, stars Kathryn Hahn (Transparent) as a New York filmmaker who follows her academic husband (House of Lies‘ Griffin Dunne) to Texas for a writing residency, where she meets a legendary artist named Dick (The Following‘s Kevin Bacon). (Video)

Inside the life of 'All My Children' creator Agnes Nixon

(3/22/17) (abcnews.go.com) For over four decades, murder, deceit, kidnappings and all kinds of hysteria ensued. It was small-town America portrayed in a sensational way against the backdrop of a more innocent time.

It was pre-social media, before skyrocketing divorce rates, and before bad behavior was celebrated or rewarded.

All across America, people were glued to their television sets, living vicariously through someone else’s naughty or scandalous lives on the soap operas "All My Children" and "One Life to Live." The muscle and brains behind these shows? A devout Catholic, wife and mother of four: creator Agnes Nixon.

Nixon completed her memoir, "My Life to Live," in September 2016 but it is just being released today. In her heartfelt book, she opened up about her Irish roots and the lessons she learned about working outside the home from the women in her family. Those lessons would help Nixon forge ahead during a time in television when men ruled the airwaves.

Nixon also revealed where many of her characters and plots came from; one in particular came out of the heartbreak of losing her first love in World War II.

Two days after writing the final words in her book, Nixon died peacefully in her sleep. She was 93.

“Agnes lived beyond the boundaries of the norm,” Judith Light, who won two Daytime Emmys for her role on "One Life to Live," told ABC News. “She was one of the relatively few of that era who was leading the way and changing the dynamic in the world for women. When I was in her presence she exuded self-confidence and was the personification of grace and gentility with an unmistakable power surging beneath.”

Before Nixon created "All My Children" and "One Life to Live," she worked as a writer at the soap opera "Guiding Light." According to her memoir, Nixon wrote a storyline in the early-1960s surrounding early detection of uterine cancer with a Pap test after she lost a friend to cancer.

"Guiding Light" executives were outraged, but Nixon stood her ground. She was eventually granted permission to write the storyline, but was forbidden from using the words cancer, uterus or hysterectomy in her scripts. Nixon’s story, one the first involving cancer on television, resonated with millions of women, who, after watching the show, scheduled Pap tests.

“Agnes changed the world for woman although I don’t think she set out to do that,” Light said. “She simply owned herself and knew she was good? She just happened to be a woman in a time when woman were generally not expected to create big things. I will always be grateful to Agnes Nixon for creating this place that changed not only my career, but also my life.”

In 1968, Nixon created her own soap opera, "One Life to Live," and after a year, ABC executives asked Nixon to develop another soap opera. Little did they know, sitting in the bottom drawer of Nixon’s desk was an outline for a show she had already written, she wrote in her memoir.

ABC quickly gave the show the green light, and "All My Children," which became one of the most popular soaps of all time, was born.

As the January 1970 "All My Children" premiere date approached, panic set in for Nixon, she wrote in her memoir. She still did not have an actress to play the determined, teenage bad girl, Erica Kane.

Casting directors went across the country looking for an actress, but were having no success until they met Susan Lucci, then 23. Immediately, a videotape of Lucci’s audition was sent to Nixon’s home. Nixon admitted in her memoir she had failed at conjuring up an image of who Erica Kane was, until she saw Lucci.

“She made such an impression on me because that was the first time I saw a woman with designer clothes on,” Lucci, now 70, told ABC News. “She embodied a successful woman in business in New York. You could clearly see she was the woman in charge, and an artist at the same time.”

After Lucci stepped into the role of Erica Kane, Nixon told a number of important stories through the character. One of those came in 1973, shortly after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade, affirming a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion, when Erica had television's first legal abortion. Audiences were divided, but Nixon didn't mind the criticism.

"There was no preaching," Lucci said of Nixon's stories. "She was too busy to preach. She told stories and told everybody's point of view. She was inclusive."

In addition to abortion, Erica also helped tell stories about rape and addiction. And, when Nixon wanted to tell the story of a lesbian "coming out," she wrote that she knew it had to be Erica's daughter, Bianca.

Nixon was praised for the honest portrayal of how a parent deals with their child's sexuality. The storyline eventually resulted in America’s first lesbian kiss on daytime TV.

Nixon said her storytelling philosophy was "make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, make 'em wait," something she credited to the days of vaudeville. While telling socially relevant stories on "All My Children," Nixon also infused glamour, adventure and a lot of romance.

One of the most popular love stories in the history of “All My Children” was the one of Angie Baxter and Jesse Hubbard, played by Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams.

Angie and Jesse were African-American teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks who fell in love. The audience rooted for them and could not get enough of their love story. It was another benchmark for Nixon. Angie and Jesse were daytime's first African-American “supercouple.”

The love between Angie and Jesse remained part of the "All My Children” fabric for decades. Through their story, the actor who played Jesse, Darnell Williams, formed a close bond with Nixon. From the time they met, Williams says he remembers Nixon’s being very helpful, supportive and warm.

"She was a perfect blend of corporate, arts and humanity," Williams said. "What I'll miss the most about Agnes is that warm, beautifully embracing Irish smile of hers. It was always like family."

In 1995, after thousands of episodes and countless cliffhangers, new characters captured the attention of daytime viewers: those associated with the O.J. Simpson trial. From January through October, the twists and turns of a real-life murder mystery, involving one of the most celebrated athletes of all time, kept viewers on the edge of their seats and eclipsed the popularity of the scripted soap opera.

In the first three months of 1995, at least a million fewer households tuned in to the soap operas from the previous year. Additionally, new talk shows were debuting at warp speed and an increasingly number of cable channels gave people more options for programming. Soap operas never recovered in the ratings.

Finally, after more than four decades, on April 14, 2011, ABC canceled "All My Children" and "One Life to Live."

Nixon wrote in her memoir that to distract herself from the painful news, she looked at the Lifetime Achievement Emmy statuette given to her in 1992. The base was inscribed: “Agnes Nixon introduced social relevance to Daytime, and at the same time changed traditional storytelling.”

Nixon suffered a stroke a year after the cancellations. While her body failed, Nixon’s son, Bob, a documentary film maker, says her mind was as sharp as ever.

“The shows may have been canceled, but all of those lives and characters were running through her head constantly,” he told ABC News. “Ag was determined to make the most of her time on Earth. She thought she had God-given gifts and worked tirelessly to benefit others. She always said life was like a brief candle.”

Lucci added: “She was an original. What I’m going to miss the most is being able to talk to her.”

It’s hard to believe so much scandal, impropriety and mischief came from a woman who attended mass regularly, lived a conservative life and was married only once for 45 years until her husband’s death in 1996. If Nixon thought life was simply a brief candle, her flame was one of the most illuminating of all.

Agnes Nixon’s memoir, "My Life to Live," is available now.

Susan Sarandon Joins Ray Donovan

(3/14/17) Susan Sarandon — who’s currently starring as Bette Davis in FX’s FEUD: Bette and Joan — will remain in the showbiz world for her next TV gig.

The Oscar winner is joining Ray Donovan‘s upcoming fifth season as Samantha Winslow, the strong, focused head of a motion picture studio. Showtime is billing Sarandon’s stint a “season-long guest arc.”

Back in September, Ray Donovan showrunner David Hollander hinted at Season 5’s Tinseltown theme, telling TVLine, “I am very interested to see what happens when the Donovan family actually attempts to work together in more unison in the world of Hollywood. I would love to do a very grand Hollywood story.”

Ray Donovan is slated to return this summer.

Agnes Nixon’s upcoming memoir describes creation of Erica Kane

(3/4/17) My Life to Live: How I Became the Queen of Soaps When Men Ruled the Airwaves: Hardcover, Kindle.

Agnes Nixon, the late creator of classic soaps “One Life To Live” and “All My Children,” describes creating the character Erica Kane and says Susan Lucci was born to play the role in an upcoming posthumous book.

She wrote in “My Life to Live: How I Became the Queen of Soaps When Men Ruled the Airwaves” that “Susan Lucci was Erica Kane. It wasn’t just her beauty; it was her ability to transmit to the screen the essence of the character.”

Carol Burnett writes in the foreword, “I became an ‘All My Children’ fan when Erica Kane was on her first marriage ... I was as sad and mad as everyone else when ‘AMC’ was canceled. It could’ve gone on for 42 more years!” The book, published by Crown Archetype, is out March 21.

My Life to Live: How I Became the Queen of Soaps When Men Ruled the Airwaves: Hardcover, Kindle.

From the Emmy-winning creator and writer of All My Children and One Life to Live, a memoir of her trailblazing rise to the top of the television industry, including behind-the-scenes stories from some of the most beloved soaps of all time

Before there was Erica Kane, Adam Chandler, or Victoria Lord, there was Agnes Nixon, a young girl who dreamed up stories for paper dolls. Those tales she imagined--ones filled with ambitions, rivalries, and romances--would soon parallel her own path to success. In a memoir filled with as much drama as the soaps she penned, Nixon shares her journey from Nashville to New York City, as she overcomes the loss of her fiancé in World War II, a father intent on crushing her writing dreams, and the jealousy of her male colleagues on her way to becoming one of the most successful names in television.

While fans will delight in Nixon’s own incredible life, they will also love her behind-the-scenes insight into her most popular shows. Inside, she shares the inspiration for Erica Kane and how she cast Susan Lucci in the role; an excerpt from the never-before-seen All My Children story bible; entertaining anecdotes about her shows’ beloved casts and special guests, including Carol Burnett, Kelly Ripa, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffett; and more.

But My Life to Live is also a portrait of a pioneer. Driven to use her ratings power for good, Nixon fought and broke network taboos by wrestling with controversial social issues ranging from women’s health, interracial relationships, and the Vietnam War to drug addiction, LGBT rights, and AIDS. By infusing her characters with sensitivity, humor, and humanity, she enabled millions to examine an opposite point of view. And long before Shonda Rhimes launched a golden age of female showrunners, Agnes Nixon positioned ABC to become the media giant it is today. She is a true television legend, and her candid and inspiring glimpse behind the curtain of the television industry will charm soap fans and story lovers alike.

“I owe my career to Agnes Nixon, who was not only a brilliant creator and writer, but also my friend. My Life to Live is full of wonderful, evocative stories from her life and career that even I hadn’t heard. And in typical Agnes fashion, her storytelling is full of humanity, social relevance and delicious humor! I know that her legions of fans will treasure it as much as I do.” —Susan Lucci

"Aggie Nixon is the only person I've ever known whom I didn't say awful things about. And much to my dismay, her memoir did nothing to change that. Unforgivable." —Larry David

“[Agnes’s] career wasn’t easy to come by…. We know she won, but the story of her ups and downs make this book a true page-turner.” —Carol Burnett, from the foreword

My Life to Live: How I Became the Queen of Soaps When Men Ruled the Airwaves: Hardcover, Kindle.

Susan Sarandon had a ‘very loving affair’ with a gay man

(2/17/17) Susan Sarandon doesn’t have a long dating history, but she sure has a colorful one.

“My sexual orientation is up for grabs, I guess you could say,” the “Feud” star told Pride Source in an interview published Tuesday.

Sarandon, 70, also revealed one big reason she isn’t into labels for one’s sexuality.

“I did at one point have a very successful and very loving and wonderful affair with a man who then wasn’t with another woman after me, and that worked out fine,” she said. “I don’t think you had to declare yourself as rigidly as you do now in terms of having to declare yourself almost politically about your sexual preference.”

The lucky guy was Philip Sayer, her co-star in 1980’s “The Hunger.”

“He was a wonderful actor,” Sarandon gushed. “He passed away, but yes, he was gay, and we had a great relationship in every way.”

“I’m a serial monogamist, so I haven’t really had a large dating career. I married Chris Sarandon when I was 20, and that went on for quite a while — each of my relationships have,” she continued. “I haven’t exactly been in the midst of a lot of offers of any kind. I’m still not! I don’t know what’s going on!”

Talk Show Appearance

(2/17/17) Tinight Show – NBC

February 23

Susan Sarandon on Feud.

Talk Show Appearance

(2/10/17) Today – NBC

Monday, February 13

(10-11 a.m.) Susan Sarandon on Feud.

'Unabomber' Scoop

(1/30/17) Michael Nouri is turning the page in his career.

The Damages alum is set to play Penthouse founder Bob Guccione Sr. in Discovery Channel’s forthcoming ‘Unabomber’ series Manifesto, TVLine has learned exclusively. Guccione famously offered to publish the manifesto written by Ted “Unabomber” Kaczynski (played by Paul Bettany).

Additionally, Ben Weber (Secret Life of the American Teenager) has joined the cast of the Greg Yaitanes-helmed project as Andy Genelli, the former head of the Unabomomber Task Force.

Soap Opera Writer Courtney Simon to Be Honored by Writers Guild East

(1/18/17) (variety.com) The Writers Guild of America East has selected soap opera writer Courtney Simon as the recipient for its Richard B. Jablow Award for service to the guild.

Simon will be honored at the 69th annual Writers Guild Awards at New York’s Edison Ballroom on Feb. 19. The Jablow award was established in 1978 to recognize service and created in honor of Jablow, who helped found the WGA East, authored its constitution, and served as its first counsel.

Simon has been a WGA East member since 1980. She has written for 12 different daytime dramas, including “As the World Turns,” “Santa Barbara,” “Guiding Light,” and “All My Children.” She has won seven Daytime Emmy Awards and seven Writers Guild Awards.

Simon has served on the WGA East Council since 2007 and has been active in lobbying efforts to promote a diversity-based tax credit in the state of New York. She co-chairs the WGAE Diversity Coalition, is a member of the Awards Committee, and has been chair of the Daytime Committee.

“Not only is Courtney Simon a gifted writer who has mastered the intricacies of daytime drama, she has been a dedicated member of the Writers Guild of America East council and a hardworking contributor to a number of union committees, most recently as co-chair of our Diversity Coalition,” said WGA East president Michael Winship. “No one is more deserving of our Jablow Award, presented to someone who has so thoroughly devoted herself to the Writers Guild of America East.”

The 2017 Writers Guild Awards ceremony in New York will be hosted by Lewis Black.

NAACP Image Awards

(12/14/16) 48th Image Awards ill be announced February 11 at ceremony airing live on TV One.

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett – “London Has Fallen” (Focus Features/Millennium Films/G-Base Production)
Madina Nalwanga – “Queen of Katwe” (Walt Disney Studios)
Ruth Negga – “Loving” (Focus Features/Big Beach)
Taraji P. Henson – “Hidden Figures” (20th Century Fox)
Tika Sumpter – “Southside With You” (Roadside Attractions)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Amirah Vann – “Underground” (WGN America)
CCH Pounder – “NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS)
Cicely Tyson – “How To Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Lynn Whitfield – “Greenleaf” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)

2016 Critics’ Choice Award Winners

(12/12/16) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES: Jane Krakowski – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Netflix

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES: Alec Baldwin – Saturday Night Live – NBC

Mom Guest Stars

(11/30/16) Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleveland) and David James Elliott (JAG) are slated to guest-star in separate episodes of Mom, TV Insider reports. Malick will play Adam’s ex-wife, while Elliott will portray a sober restaurateur whom Bonnie finds herself drawn to.

Debra Messing and Susan Sarandon are still beefing over the election

(11/19/16) More than a week after the election, Debra Messing is still mad Susan Sarandon spoke out against Hillary Clinton.

The beef began in March when staunch Bernie Sanders supporter Sarandon, 70, appeared on MSNBC and said, “Well, you know, some people feel Donald Trump will bring the revolution immediately. If he gets in, then things will really explode.” Some interpreted it as a Trump endorsement.

Sarandon denied supporting the now-president-elect the morning after the interview aired, tweeting, “LOL that I would ever vote Trump.”

That wasn’t enough for Messing, 48, who retweeted a fan who wrote, “@DebraMessing = national treasure. @SusanSarandon = national embarrassment.” She deleted the retweet, but added, “She had said Bernie is a revolution. Saying Trump would hasten the revolution implies a vote toward Trump. I believe she meant a ‘revolution’ was needed and if not thru Bernie, than at least thru Trump.”

“.@DebraMessing now RT-ing personal attacks. Cool. Right, the diff is I’m not RT attacks on u to 350K+ followers,” Sarandon responded at the time.

Messing kept it going, writing, “2- the idea that Susan Sarandon wud say that NOT supporting Hillary in a HRC/Trump race is a legitimate choice for Democrats, is insane.”

Sarandon responded, “.@DebraMessing For those passionate, principled independents & first-time voters who would not be voting (1/2) .@DebraMessing if it weren’t for Sanders & whose interests HC doesn’t represent, it is a dilemma. (2/2)”

When a fan tweeted at Messing on Thursday about her feud with Sarandon, the “Will & Grace” star replied, “She encouraged ppl to vote for Trump over HRC on a news interview. Said she was more ‘dangerous.’ She needs to be held accountable.”

Sarandon took the high road, replying to a fan who claimed that neither Messing nor Clinton cared about the Dakota Access Pipeline. “I know Debra cares about a lot and hope she will care about #NoDAPL as well since Standing Rock needs her voice now more than ever,” she tweeted.

Critics’ Choice TV Nominations Include Former Soap Stars

(11/14/16) Hosted by TJ Miller, the 22nd annual Critics’ Choice Awards airs on A&E live on December 11 at 8PM ET, 5 PM PT.

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ellie Kemper – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Netflix
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep – HBO
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live – NBC
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish – ABC
Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Fleabag – Amazon
Constance Wu – Fresh Off the Boat – ABC

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Julie Bowen – Modern Family – ABC
Anna Chlumsky – Veep – HBO
Allison Janney – Mom – CBS
Jane Krakowski – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Netflix
Judith Light – Transparent – Amazon
Allison Williams – Girls – HBO

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin – Saturday Night Live – NBC
Christine Baranski – The Big Bang Theory – CBS
Larry David – Saturday Night Live – NBC
Lisa Kudrow – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Netflix
Liam Neeson – Inside Amy Schumer – Comedy Central

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones – HBO
Kit Harington – Game of Thrones – HBO
John Lithgow – The Crown – Netflix
Mandy Patinkin – Homeland – Showtime
Christian Slater – Mr. Robot – USA Network
Jon Voight – Ray Donovan – Showtime

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski – The Good Wife – CBS
Emilia Clarke – Game of Thrones – HBO
Lena Headey – Game of Thrones – HBO
Thandie Newton – Westworld – HBO
Maura Tierney – The Affair – Showtime
Constance Zimmer – UnREAL – Lifetime

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Caitriona Balfe – Outlander – Starz
Viola Davis – How to Get Away with Murder – ABC
Tatiana Maslany – Orphan Black – BBC America
Keri Russell – The Americans – FX
Evan Rachel Wood – Westworld – HBO
Robin Wright – House of Cards – Netflix

BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Bryan Cranston – All the Way – HBO
Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock: The Abominable Bride – PBS
Cuba Gooding Jr. – The People v. O.J. Simpson – FX
Tom Hiddleston – The Night Manager – AMC
Tim Matheson – Killing Reagan – National Geographic
Courtney B. Vance – The People v. O.J. Simpson – FX

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Elizabeth Debicki – The Night Manager – AMC
Regina King – American Crime – ABC
Sarah Lancashire – The Dresser – Starz
Melissa Leo – All the Way – HBO
Anna Paquin – Roots – History
Emily Watson – The Dresser – Starz

Wendie Malick on American Housewife

(11/8/16) “The Blow-Up” – It’s Thanksgiving, but Katie is less-than-thankful that the holiday features a visit from her least-favorite person, her mom, Kathryn (guest star Wendie Malick, “Hot in Cleveland”), a self-centered former Pan Am stewardess. Surprisingly it’s Katie’s nemesis, Viv (Leslie Bibb), who helps ease the tension when she invites herself to dinner, on “American Housewife,” airing TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 (8:30-9:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network.

“American Housewife” stars Katy Mixon as Katie Otto, Diedrich Bader as Greg Otto, Meg Donnelly as Taylor, Daniel DiMaggio as Oliver, Julia Butters as Anna-Kat, Carly Hughes as Angela and Ali Wong as Doris.

Leslie Bibb is recurring guest star as Viv. Also guest starring are Wendie Malick as Kathryn and Asif Ali as Vali.

“The Blow-Up” was written by Vanessa McCarthy and directed by Eyal Gordin.

Wendie Malick on NCIS: New Orleans

(10/3/16) “Escape Plan” – The NCIS team must rescue one of their own after Sebastian is kidnapped while at a restaurant with his mother, Sylvia Lund (Wendie Malick), and forced to use his gaming skills in a prison break, on NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, Tuesday, Oct. 18 (10:00-11:00, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network.

'All My Children' creator Agnes Nixon dies at 93

(9/29/16) Agnes Nixon, the creative force behind the edgy and enduring TV soap operas "One Life to Live" and "All My Children," died Wednesday. She was 93.

Nixon died at a Haverford, Pennsylvania, physical rehabilitation facility close to her Rosemont home, said her son, Bob Nixon. She had checked in to gain strength for a planned book tour, he said.

She had just completed her memoir, "My Life to Live," on Sunday, a week before it was due to publisher Penguin Random House for publication in early 2017, her son said.

"She was really a great wife, mother and human being — but above all, a writer. She was writing up until last night," he said, and had called him with a few changes for the book.

The cause of death was not immediately known, he said.

Nixon suffered a stroke four years ago with serious complications, her son said, but she fought to regain her health. He confirmed her birthdate as December 1922, despite media reports that she was 88.

"I am devastated to learn that we have lost Agnes. I adored her and admired her and I am forever grateful to her!" Susan Lucci, who starred as Erica Kane on "All My Children," said in a statement.

Nixon created, wrote and produced the long-running ABC daytime serials, which were canceled in 2011 as the network bowed to the reality that soaps had faded as a daytime TV force. (Both subsequently had short-lived online runs.)

"All My Children" aired for nearly 41 years, while "One Life to Live" made it to 44 years. They were set in the fictional Philadelphia-area towns of Pine Valley and Llanview.

Social issues including child abuse, AIDS, alcoholism and gay rights made their way into the series' story lines. Erica Kane was the first regularly appearing TV character to undergo a legal abortion, in 1973.

In a 2003 episode of "All My Children," Bianca, who was Erica's daughter, and the character Lena shared what was billed as daytime TV's first same-sex kiss.

"The theme of 'All My Children' from the beginning is the belief that, as God's children, we are all bound to each other by our common humanity, despite our many personal differences," Nixon told The Associated Press at the time. "The Bianca story is our latest effort to dramatize that belief."

Nixon, a native of Chicago, was mentored by the grande dame of the soap opera genre, Irna Phillips, back in the radio age.

She was writing for a TV soap, "Search for Tomorrow," as early as 1951. In the late 1960s, while raising a family and serving as head writer for "The Guiding Light," Nixon created a "bible" detailing "All My Children."

The show was rejected by CBS, but after Nixon breathed new life into NBC's flagging "Another World," she was approached by ABC to create a new serial. That was the start of "One Life to Live," which earned such solid ratings in its first year that ABC asked for another.

"I said to my husband, 'I can't think of another one,'" Nixon told the AP in 2013. "He said, 'How about "All My Children"?' So I opened the desk drawer and took out the 'bible' and sent it to ABC. They said, 'Boy, that was fast work!'"

The stories and characters of Nixon's fictional worlds never ended for her, Bob Nixon said: "It might not have been on the air but it was in her head."

Agnes Nixon was married to the late Robert Nixon, and the couple's four children are among her survivors. Services were planned for Saturday in Rosemont, with a private burial to follow.

Agnes Nixon, Creator of All My Children and One Life to Live, Dead at 93

(9/29/16) (tvline.com) Agnes Nixon, creator of long-running soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live, died Wednesday morning. She was 93.

Nixon’s daytime-television writing/producing credits include stints at As the World Turns, Search for Tomorrow, Another World and Guiding Light. The first soap she created, ABC’s One Life to Live, premiered in 1968. Two years later, her All My Children also bowed on ABC. Both AMC and OLTL would run until 2011 on ABC (and then for a brief time after online).

Nixon also co-created Loving and was involved in that series’ spinoff, The City. She was a multiple Daytime Emmy winner and took home the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

Nixon’s son, Bob Nixon, told the Associated Press that his mother had just finished her memoir, My Life to Live, and had checked into a Philadelphia physical rehabilitation facility in order to gain strength for an upcoming book tour.

As news of Nixon’s death spread Wednesday, those who worked with her her shared their memories.

Susan Lucci played AMC‘s Erica Kane for the soap’s entire ABC run. On Wednesday, via her Instagram account, she said she was “forever grateful” to Nixon.

Cameron Mathison, who played AMC‘s Ryan for the better part of 13 years, tells TVLine, “Most of my memories of her are from when I had the opportunity to travel with her for different events and appearances. I just remember how incredibly sharp and witty she was for being in her 80s. She constantly cracked me up and yet at the same time so elegant and sweet. She will be missed.”

Alicia Minshew portrayed AMC‘s Kendall Hart Slater from 2002 to 2011. “I would like to say that she was always such a beautiful class act when I saw her, with a great sense of humor!” the actress tells TVLine. “I think she put all of that into her stories. I was honored to be able to tell her stories for 10 years and am grateful for the time I got to spend with her.”

Susan Lucci: All My Children Creator Agnes Nixon 'Was All I Hoped to Be'

(9/29/16) (tvline.com) When Susan Lucci first read for the role of All My Children‘s Erica Kane — a part she’d eventually play for more than four decades and which would become emblematic of daytime television — she had no idea that the strong, flawed, brave, gutsy heroine pulled strongly from creator Agnes Nixon‘s own experiences.

Lucci just knew the character was good.

“I didn’t know for a long time that the story [Nixon] was telling through Erica was so close to her own,” Lucci told TVLine. “When I found that out, I felt so honored to be doing it. All I knew was that the writing I was seeing on the page was so rich and full of conflict and history and character — and also humor. She had such a great sense of humor, and it was all there.”

In an exclusive interview Wednesday evening, hours after Nixon’s family confirmed the news of her death, Lucci shared some memories of her 40-plus-year friendship with Nixon.

TVLINE | Can you remember your first impression of Agnes?

Absolutely. And actually, I didn’t meet her; I saw her in the distance. It was my final callback audition for Erica Kane and I was put on tape that day. Fra Heflin and I were paired, always, as mother and daughter until that day. Fra was put on tape at a different time. But I was put on tape that day. And when I finished, I saw a very pretty blonde woman in an Yves St. Laurent pantsuit which I recognized from magazines [Laughs]. She was the first woman I ever saw wearing the designer clothes that I had seen in magazines. And she had a beautiful satchel with her, and she was running down the hallway. As she ran down the hallway in the opposite direction from me, into what I think was the control room, the producer at that time Bud Kloss said to me, “Do you know who that was?” I said no. He said, “That’s Agnes Nixon.” I just had been so taken with the appearance of her. She was the first up-close I ever had to a professional woman who was a working, professional, successful woman in New York. She looked like everything I would have imagined such a woman would look like. I learned later that she was so much more than her appearance, which was beautiful and chic and modern. But she, herself, was all these things and more.

TVLINE | Talk to me about how your relationship with Agnes progressed as your time on the show went on.

The first time I was in her company outside of the studio was for an appearance that we were both asked to do early on in my career, early on with All My Children — certainly in the first year — down near where she lived. Her main house was in Rosemont, Penn. We rode the train down from New York, and that was just a thrill to be with her on the train and she told me about her Irish superstitions. I was just all ears. I was so thrilled she spoke to me that way. She asked me to come to her house to have some lunch, so I did… To go to her house, I saw a home. I knew that she had four children and she was also a very successful professional woman. And those were the things — I had no children at the time — but it was what I had always dreamed of. I wanted to be an actress and she was a writer, but I wanted to have it all. I wanted to have the career and raise the children beautifully, as she did. She was a mentor to me, as well. She was a role model. Her house was a home. And she was really part of that home. She had family traditions and love, and you could just feel all of it. And she was also a great success in her chosen field. That was all I had hoped to be, my whole life. She embodies it all.

TVLINE | Do you remember any times that she bucked you up? Or you talked about where Erica was going? Or that you celebrated with her?

Oh sure, we celebrated many times together. You know, I never really spoke to her about the writing of the character. I just felt so lucky. She would say to me, “You’ve got it.” She was so generous in her comments to me about what I brought to Erica. It was an amazing bond, because it was on the page. It was in her writing. Even before I knew Agnes, I would just think when I read it, “My god, how does someone know this?” It just made me fly. Made me soar. It was her writing. We were very much on the same page. [Laughs] I didn’t mean that as a pun, but yes, there it is.

TVLINE | All My Children taped its last ABC scene in 2011. There was a ceremony and cake, and Agnes was there. She was frail, but from all accounts, it seems like she was holding court, telling stories, still very sharp.

Absolutely she was. Our producer who was producing the show at that time in Los Angeles, Julie [Hanan] Carruthers, said that Agnes was the youngest voice in the room. Whatever room. And she was! She was modern. She was forward-thinking. She fought for storyline that was groundbreaking, that had never been done before anywhere on television. And she prevailed. It took a while, but she prevailed. When she had the opportunity and the greenlight to go ahead and write those storylines, they were rich, they were full and they were full of humanity. There are no words. She really was all that.

TVLINE | Were you in communication with her recently?

Oh yes, constantly. I’m so happy for her, and for all of us, that she finished her book. She finished her book. That will be out I don’t know exactly when, but I’m guessing very soon. In fact, last night, her son Bobby was saying that she asked him please to read the book jacket. She was supposed to sign off on it. That was last night.

TVLINE | Oh, wow.

Yeah. Yes, as you mentioned, she had become more fragile, certainly in the last few years. But she still went to speech therapy and physical therapy and was always looking forward and ahead. She would still tell jokes! We would go out to dinner and she would still tell jokes. [Laughs] She was just spunky and fantastic in the best sense of the word… One of the loveliest women, ever.

TVLINE | Is there anything you think I need to know before we go?

Yes, one more thing. Because this is Agnes. When Bobby spoke to me, I wanted to personally put a small tribute to her on my personal [Instagram] account. So I had my autobiography with me today — I was in meetings — and I knew there was a wonderful picture of Agnes and me in there together. During one of those meetings, we had spoken of it… I knew when I got back in the car, I was going to take my phone out and take a picture of the picture so I could post whenever Bobby told me that it would be OK to do that. So I got in the car and I took my book in my hand and it fell open to the picture of Agnes and me. And that is Agnes. That was Agnes smiling on me, Agnes and her Irish superstition and her spirit and the little elf in her. That was Agnes, letting me know she was still with me.

Agnes Nixon Dies: Creator Of ‘All My Children’ & ‘One Life To Live’ Was 88

(9/29/16) (deadline.com) One of the all-time giants of American soap operas is gone. Agnes Nixon, creator of the landmark ABC daytime dramas All My Children and One Life to Live, was an instrumental figure in making soaps a socially conscious medium and created Susan Lucci’s iconic AMC character Erica Kane, died today. She was 88. No details of her death were provided.

Born in Chicago in 1927, Nixon started out as a writer in the postwar early days of TV as a protege of legendary writer-producer Irna Phillips, who created many of the earliest American soaps. Nixon became a writer on the Phillips-created shows Woman in White and As the World Turns and would serve as head writer on Phillip’s iconic Guiding Light — then titled The Guiding Light — from 1958-66.

Nixon was highly in-demand early in her career, serving as co-head writer on Search for Tomorrow from 1951-56. She later would serve as sole head writer on Another World for 300 episodes from 1965-69, before creating her first series.

As a writer, she pioneered the use of soap operas to discuss real-world issues, penning what is widely believed to be the first medical-related narrative in the genre’s history. Inspired by a friend who had died of cervical cancer, Nixon wanted to educate women to get regular pap smears and subsequently penned a 1962 storyline in which Guiding Light lead character, Bertha “Bert” Bauer had a cancer scare.

Because of content restructions of the day, Nixon was forced to find creative ways to discuss the topic, as she was forbidden from using the words “cancer,” “uterus” or “pap test.” Despite these limitations, the storyline popularized the pap smear significantly among American women and for this Nixon was recognized as a pioneer in 2002 by Sentinel for Health.

Nixon made the jump from writer to show creator in 1968 with One Life to Live, a series on which she was specifically given the mandate to incorporate a more contemporary tone — not only examining class divisions but also racial and ethnic diversity, among them Jewish and Polish-American characters and most notably the first African-American soap opera leads played by Ellen Holly and Al Freeman Jr.

Thanks to the success of One Life, Nixon then was allowed to bring All My Children to television, premiering the series in 1970. The show was known for frequently incorporating real-life controversies and social issues, including the anti-war movement, the AIDS crisis and abortion. Nixon served as head writer on the series several times throughout its long tenure, and still was shaking things up well into the twilight years of her career. In 2000, notably, Nixon would be personally responsible for the first time the series saw a major character come out, with Bianca Montgomery revealing she was a lesbian.

Nixon also created the series Loving, which ran from 1983-95 on ABC but never managed to catch on like her other series.

In addition to her groundbreaking storylines, Nixon also created some of the most famous and iconic characters in soap opera history, most notably All My Children‘s Erica Kane. Introduced in 1970, Kane was portrayed for more than 40 years by Lucci, whose name became synonymous with consistently being nominated for, but not winning, Daytime Emmys. She earned 18 nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series before finally taking home the statuette in 1999. She was nommed again twice after that.

Nixon’s survivors include her son, Robert Nixon, a conservationist and filmmaker who among his other credits was co-producer on 1988’s Gorillas in the Mist.

'All My Children' creator Agnes Nixon dies at 93

(9/29/16) (usatoday.com) Another TV titan is gone.

Agnes Nixon, the "Queen of Modern Soap Opera" best known for creating the critically acclaimed soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live, died Wednesday at The Quadrangle, a senior living community in Haverford, Penn. She was 93.

A luminary in the world of daytime serials, Nixon also enjoyed writing credits on a score of other shows, including Studio One in Hollywood; Cameo Theatre; Somerset Maugham TV Theatre; Another World;Guiding Light;Search for Tomorrow; and Loving, which was later rebooted as The City.

Nixon first demonstrated an interest in writing while studying at Northwestern University, a passion which she channeled on One Life to Live and All My Children, which were heralded for their racial and social diversity. Nixon would go on to garner six Daytime Emmy Awards and five Writers Guild of America Awards. She was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Television Hall of Fame in 1993 and took home the Lifetime Achievement honor at the 37th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in June 2010.

Ahead of the 2010 tribute, All My Children star Susan Lucci, who played Erica Kane on the show, said Nixon "helped create the very fabric of the daytime drama. With her vision, words and sensibility, she has created a legacy of characters and socially relevant stories that have made and indelible mark upon the lives of those who have and continue to watch her shows."

Following the news of her passing, Disney CEO and chairman Robert A. Iger also paid homage to the pioneer, telling USA TODAY in an emailed statement: "It is with a heavy heart I mourn the passing of television pioneer Agnes Nixon, someone I was proud to call a friend. Agnes’ impact on daytime television and pop culture is undeniable. She was the first to champion socially relevant topics, and the towns and characters Agnes brought to life leave an indelible imprint on television that will be remembered forever."

Agnes Nixon, Who Injected Social Ills Into Soap Operas, Dies at 93

(9/28/16) (nytimes.com) Agnes Nixon, a celebrated creator and writer of television soap operas, who introduced uterine cancer, venereal diseases, child abuse, AIDS and other societal terrors into the weekday fantasy worlds of millions of daytime viewers, died on Wednesday in Rosemont, Pa. She was 93.

The cause was pneumonia resulting from Parkinson’s disease, her family said.

In a career that paralleled the rise, enormous popularity and gradual decline of soap operas in the last half of the 20th century, Ms. Nixon fashioned many of television’s most popular daytime shows, drawing on a rich imagination to find the great and small human dramas lurking just below the surface of American life.

To a 1950s audience mostly composed of women who were at home doing housework and raising children, Ms. Nixon’s early scripts for “The Guiding Light” and “Search for Tomorrow” provided an escape: a glimpse of dashing lives, handsome cads, passions run amok, dark secrets and terrible betrayals.

But in the 1960s and ’70s she virtually reinvented soaps, creating for the ABC network “One Life to Live,” “All My Children” and other shows infused with social relevance and politically charged topics like racism, abortion, obscenity, narcotics, the generation gap and protests against the Vietnam War.

Like their predecessors, the new Nixon soaps were disturbing, fascinating and addictive. Because she presented various sides of a controversy, they were more complex. But she tried to avoid preachy dialogue, letting action and plot speak for themselves. The conundrum was no longer simply whether Tara was pregnant, but whether Phil, home from Vietnam and scarred by the horrors of war, could still love her.

Many Nixon stories were based on reality. In 1964, after a friend died of cancer, she created a “Guiding Light” character who was found, after a Pap smear, to have cervical cancer. Despite misgivings by the sponsor, Procter & Gamble, the character appeared onscreen, though the words “cancer,” “uterus” and “hysterectomy” were never uttered. Even so, thousands of women wrote in to express gratitude for the information that a simple test might save their lives.

On “One Life to Live,” which began in 1968 and ran for 43 years, Ms. Nixon created a tale that reflected the nation’s changing social structures and attitudes. It had many ethnic characters, including Jews, Polish-Americans and African-Americans. A woman assumed to be white was revealed after months to be a light-skinned black, turning the story, and the audience, sharply to questions of racial prejudice.

Ms. Nixon’s revolutionary changes were widely copied by other soaps and other networks, and helped capture new audiences at a time when the traditional base of daytime viewers — 20 million to 30 million daily, the vast majority of them homemakers — was being eroded by women entering the work force. Increasingly, men and college students drawn by their topicality were tuning in.

“It was a kind of first,” Lewis Antine, a graduate student at the City University of New York, told The New York Times after watching a 1974 episode of “All My Children” featuring a Vietnam War veteran. “It was a sense of your stuff being on TV for the first time, like, ‘Hey, they’re talking about us on Mom’s show.’”

Ms. Nixon was an unlikely source of tales of infidelity and divorce, let alone racial and antiwar conflicts. The mother of four children, she was married to the same man for 45 years. And she wrote not in the caldron of New York or glitzy Hollywood, but in her suburban home in Rosemont, on the Philadelphia Main Line. (She died in a nursing facility in Rosemont.)

Rosemont and adjoining Bryn Mawr, Pa., were the prototype for Pine Valley, the setting for “All My Children,” which had its premiere in 1970 and ran for 41 years. (For that entire time, its best-known cast member was Susan Lucci, one of daytime TV’s best-known and highest-paid stars, as Erica Kane.) In 1973, a character on the show was the first on television to have a legal abortion after the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. The show also tackled drug addiction, depression, child abuse and AIDS. In 2000, it introduced a lesbian character, who shared the first lesbian kiss on a soap opera. In 2007, a transgender character appeared.

“Life is fascinating,” Ms. Nixon told The Milwaukee Sentinel in 1983, “and if you look at your family and your friends and you have a writer’s viewpoint, you can see each person’s life as a soap opera in itself. The really amazing thing is they are basically similar.”

She was born Agnes Eckhardt in Chicago on Dec. 10, 1922, the only child of Harold and Agnes Dalton Eckhardt. Her parents were separated when she was an infant. She and her mother moved to Nashville, where she attended St. Cecilia Academy, a Roman Catholic prep school. She studied writing at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Ind., and attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

Her father, who manufactured burial garments and paid for her education, wanted her to join his firm. He tried to dissuade her from a writing career by arranging a talk with Irna Phillips, a well-known creator of radio soaps and serials. The tactic backfired. After reading a script she had written, Ms. Phillips offered her a job in New York. She began in 1948, writing radio scripts for a hospital drama, “Woman in White.”

In 1951, she married Robert Henry Nixon, an auto dealer who later gave up his business to join his wife in a television production company. He died in 1996.

She is survived by their three daughters, Cathy Chicos, Mary Nixon and Emily Nixon; their son, Robert; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

In the early 1950s, Ms. Nixon wrote for major dramatic programs, including “The Philco Television Playhouse,” “Robert Montgomery Presents” and “The Hallmark Hall of Fame.” She eventually succeeded Ms. Phillips as lead writer for “The Guiding Light.” She was the head writer for the NBC soap opera “Another World” from 1965 to 1967.

For decades, the lucrative advertising revenues of Ms. Nixon’s best-known creations, “One Life to Live” and “All My Children,” helped support ABC’s evening programming. But in the 1990s, the popularity of all soaps fell steadily as cable networks and the internet provided new sources of entertainment, and after 2000 their audiences and revenues went into steep declines.

In 2008, Ms. Nixon appeared on the 40th-anniversary episode of “One Life to Live,” and the 10,000th episode of “All My Children.” Both shows, with only 2.5 million viewers a day each, were canceled in 2011.

Fans bombarded ABC with protests and petitions and picketed network affiliates. An online production company, Prospect Park, offered a reprieve, announcing plans to continue both programs, with Ms. Nixon’s participation, online. The plans were delayed, suspended and revived as union and financing problems arose and were resolved. Both shows went into production in 2013 and were available via Hulu and iTunes, but they lasted only a few months before being canceled last November.

Because of both her success and her longevity, Ms. Nixon was often called the queen of the modern soap opera. From the premiere of “One Life to Live” in 1968 to the finale of “All My Children” in January 2012, shows she had created or had a hand in writing, producing or shaping as a consultant were on the air every weekday for 43 years — more than 11,000 days.

The recipient of many awards, including a Daytime Emmy for lifetime achievement in 2010, Ms. Nixon often spoke of soap operas as ensembles and would share credit with actors, directors, producers, camera crews and other writers. Her own contributions, she said, had no unrealistic objectives.

“On the social issues, whether the Vietnam War or abortion or racism, I never thought I could change the way most people felt,” she told the Catholic magazine America in 2002. “I just wanted to show the unfairness of it, the inequality, the injustice.”

Amazon Orders The Tick, I Love Dick and Jean-Claude Van Johnson to Series

(9/27/16) Amazon on Tuesday ordered to series three of its latest pilots: Jill Soloway’s I Love Dick, its remake of The Tick and Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

The Tick, starring Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Peter Serafinowicz, follows a strange blue superhero who is called to action when an underdog accountant (Vinyl‘s Griffin Newman) with zero powers comes to realize his city is owned by a global super villain long-thought dead.

I Love Dick, based on the best-selling book, follows a married couple (Transparent‘s Kathryn Hahn and House of Lies‘ Griffin Dunne) as their preconceptions about love and monogamy are challenged by an enigmatic writer (played by The Following‘s Kevin Bacon).

Last but not least, Jean-Claude Van Johnson stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as a retired action film star (heh!) who enters the covert contractor game. Kat Foster (Your Family or Mine), Moises Arias (The Middle) and Phylicia Rashad (Creed) also star.

All three of the aforementioned programs debuted as part of Amazon’s latest “pilot season” on Aug. 19, meaning each pilot is already available to Prime subscribers. Full-length seasons are expected to drop in 2017.

The Tick, Kevin Bacon, Jean-Claude Van Damme Pilots Get Amazon Debut Date

Amazon is getting into the superhero business, having set an Aug. 19 premiere date for its pilot reboot of The Tick.

Two other comedy pilots premiering that day on the streaming service star Kevin Bacon and Jean-Claude Van Damme… as himself-ish?

Here’s a summary of the three new pilots coming Amazon’s way:

The Tick | In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, an underdog accountant (Vinyl‘s Griffin Newman) with zero powers comes to realize his city is owned by a global super villain long-thought dead. As he struggles to uncover this conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero (Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Peter Serafinowicz). Counting Ben Edlund (Supernatural) among its exec producers, The Tick also stars Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), Valorie Curry (The Following), Yara Martinez (Jane the Virgin) and Brendan Hines (Scorpion).

I Love Dick | Adapted from what has been referred to as “the most important book about men and women written in the last century,” this series follows Chris (Kathryn Hahn, Transparent) and Sylvere (Griffin Dunne, Dallas Buyers Club) as they arrive in Marfa, Texas, and meet Dick (Kevin Bacon, The Following), an enigmatic writer who taunts their imaginations and upends their preconceptions about love and monogamy. Jill Soloway (Transparent), Andrea Sperling and Sarah Gubbins serve as EPs.

Jean-Claude Van Johnson | If you need to deftly eliminate a political rival, debilitate a multinational corporation or overthrow an entire government, there’s only one person to turn to: one of the most internationally recognizable movie stars in the history of film, Jean-Claude… Van Johnson (played by Jean-Claude Van Damme). Though retired for years, a chance encounter with a lost love will bring “Johnson” back to the covert contractor game — and this time, he’ll be deadlier than ever. Probably. Kat Foster (Your Family or Mine), Moises Arias (The Middle) and Phylicia Rashad (Creed) also star.

Kyra Sedgwick To Direct, Kevin Bacon To Star In ‘Story Of A Girl’ Lifetime Movie

The Closer star Kyra Sedgwick will make her directorial debut with Lifetime movie Story Of A Girl, based on the novel by Sara Zarr, with The Following alum and her husband Kevin Bacon set to star. Production begins this September in Vancouver for a 2017 debut on Lifetime following the film’s festival run.

A powerful coming-of-age story, the film is about a teen who must deal with the ramifications of a sex video that goes viral. When a sex video of 13-year-old Deanna Lambert and Tommy, her older brother’s best friend, hits the Internet, her life of carefree innocence is changed forever. Three years later, Deanna is still dealing with the fallout of the video, including being branded the school slut and bearing the burden of the daily taunts from her classmates. Her home life is even more troublesome as her father’s anger and disappointment over the incident has left him unable to look her in the eye. Ready to move on, Deanna longs to escape a life defined by the mistakes of her past.

Story of a Girl is produced by Kikkosview. Golden Globe and Emmy winner Sedgwick produces and directs from a script written by Laurie Collyer (The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe) and Emily Bickford Lansbury (Work of Art: The Next Great Artist) who also produces. The film is also produced by Liz Levine and Adrian Salpeter of Random Bench (Toad Road). Ross Katz (Lost in Translation) is executive producer.

Sedgwick was tapped to direct the film as part of Lifetime’s Broad Focus initiative to provide women with more opportunities to write, direct and produce content for the network. This year to date, Lifetime has hired women to direct 30% of its movies and 40% of its scripted series episodes, according to the network. Sedgwick is repped by CAA, Impression and Schreck Rose Dapello & Adams.

Aharon Ipalé Dies: ‘The Mummy’ Actor Was 74

Aharon Ipalé, the Morocco-born actor whose 50-year career stretched from early 1960s soap operas to Ray Donovan but is perhaps best remembered as the Pharaoh in the Brendan Fraser-starring Mummy franchise, has died at his home in Israel. The 74-year-old actor’s death was confirmed by his manager Susan Ferris.

With 1960s appearances on Search for Tomorrow and General Hospital, Ipalé later had roles in 1971’s Fiddler on the Roof and the 1974 mini-series Moses the Lawgiver. He became a frequent presence on TV for the next several decades, with appearances on comedies (One Day at a Time, The Love Boat) and dramas (Hawaii Five-O, Wise Guy, Miami Vice to Alias and Ray Donovan).

Apalé’s feature credits include 2007’s Charlie Wilson’s War and 1987’s Ishtar, but he’s probably most known for Universal Pictures’ The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001), in which he played the Pharaoh Seti.

“For the past 15 years I have had the honor, and the pleasure, of working with Aharon Ipalé,” said manager Ferris. “We are deeply saddened by his loss. In 2012, Ipalé had moved back to Israel to be with his family and work on film and TV projects from there. The film and TV world has gotten smaller and smaller, with projects being filmed all over the world, so his decision to move out of Hollywood made no impact on his continuing to work regularly. The entertainment industry has lost a true titan today, whose work will live on for years to come. Aharon Ipalé will be missed by us all.”

Ferris said she learned of the actor’s death today. No cause of death has been released.

Carpool Karaoke Goes Broadway With Jane Krakowski, Audra McDonald & more

Carpool Karaoke Goes Broadway With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jane Krakowski, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Audra McDonald: Video.

The Cast of Ryan Murphy's New Anthology Series Feud Is Predictably Star-Studded

Ryan Murphy is pulling out all the stops for his next anthology series, Feud.

Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange will star in the first season of the upcoming FX drama, which will focus on the infamous bad blood between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford on the set of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Crawford (Lange) and Davis (Sarandon) already had a heated rivalry before signing on to co-star in Baby Jane, with the hopes the 1962 film would revive their careers. And the movie did just that -- it scored five Oscar nominations, including one for Davis. However, it was Crawford who got the last laugh at the Academy Awards when she accepted the Oscar on behalf of Anne Bancroft, who beat Davis for the win.

Feud will also star Alfred Molina as Baby Jane's director Robert Aldrich, Stanley Tucci as studio exec Jack Warner, Judy Davis as gossip columnist Hedda Hopper and Dominic Burgess as Crawford and Davis' co-star Victor Buono. Brad Pitt has signed on to executive-produce the eight-episode first season alongside Murphy, Lange and Sarandon.

This is Murphy's fourth anthology series in the works. He's currently working on new seasons of American Horror Story, American Crime Story and Scream Queens. And while Sarah Paulson managed to film American Horror Story and American Crime Story simultaneously, we doubt Lange will follow suit. So don't expect the grand dame of AHS to feature prominently -- if at all -- in Season 6.

Tony Award nominations

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me
Jennifer Simard, Disaster!
Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Kevin Bacon to Star in Transparent Creator's Amazon Pilot I Love Dick

Kevin Bacon has found his next TV role, and Ryan Hardy it is not.

The Following vet will fill the title role in I Love Dick, Amazon’s comedy pilot from Transparent creator Jill Soloway, Deadline reports.

Based on Chris Kraus’ 1997 novel of the same name, the potential series follows a struggling married couple in Texas and their mutual obsession with an off-putting but charismatic professor (played by Bacon).

Through that fixation, failing wife and independent filmmaker Chris (Transparent‘s Kathryn Hahn) goes on a journey of self-discovery and eventually transformative power. The role of Sylvere, Chris’ husband, has yet to be cast.

In addition to his three seasons on Fox’s now-defunct The Following, Bacon is in talks to reprise his role as Valentine McKee in a potential TV-series adaptation of the 1990 cult film Tremors.

Just Like Mom! Jane Krakowski Says Her Son Bennett Is a ‘Fun, Dramatic Child’

Jane Krakowski is a comedy queen, but there’s one special person who sends her into fits of laughter: Her son Bennett Robert.

“I came home from rehearsal [the other day] and he ran to the door yelling ‘Mommy!’ and then pretended to faint and fall on the floor,” Krakowski, 47, told PEOPLE at the season 2 world premiere of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in New York Wednesday night.

“I love coming home and seeing his joy running to the door,” she says. “He’s a real ham — a fun, dramatic child!”

Those traits are ones he most certainly gets from his mama, who is currently starring in the Broadway revival of She Loves Me while juggling shooting for Kimmy and motherhood. “I’m in rehearsal six days a week [and have] eight performances a week,” she says.

But recently, Krakowski was able to combine the best of both worlds when Bennett paid her a visit at the Roundabout Theatre where she’s performing. “He came to see me in the Broadway show,” she says. “He sat through the whole thing — it’s a long show!”

Her only worry was that he’d disrupt the theatre. “I just said, ‘Please don’t yell [for] Mommy! You have to stay quiet,’ ” she explains.

And Bennett did just that while still offering the actress some encouragement. “Apparently during my numbers he was giving me signals — if he liked it, [he gave a thumbs up] and when a man treated me badly, he did a thumbs down. He’s very sweet!”

On top of her incredibly busy schedule, Krakowski has a party to plan.

“I’m planning his [fifth] birthday party,” she says, “It’s Star Wars Jedi training-themed. It’s a really fun age because you can chat with them and he’s got his own opinions and ideas. I’m so in love.”

Kevin Bacon Joins ‘Patriots Day’ As Key FBI Agent

Kevin Bacon is breaking out his FBI windbreaker and returning to Boston for Patriots Day, the CBS Films and Lionsgate pic about the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The Following alum — who co-starred as an FBI agent in last year’s Black Mass — will play Richard DesLauriers, the Bureau’s special agent in charge, was one of the law-enforcement figures during the manhunt for the bombers who carried out the attacks on the city’s annual race.

“Richard DesLauriers worked tirelessly as one of the key figures in an impossibly sophisticated investigation, and Kevin Bacon possesses the intelligence and empathy to portray him,” director Peter Berg said.

The pic also features John Goodman, J.K. Simmons, Jimmy O. Yang, Vince Curatola and James Colby. Bridge of Spies Oscar nominee Matt Charman penned the script. Scott Stuber, Wahlberg, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson, Dorothy Aufiero and Michael Radutzky are producing. CBS Films is handling production and advertising for the film, which Lionsgate will open December 21.

Kevin Bacon Is Promoting Eggs

Kevin Bacon Is Promoting Eggs (Naturally) in This Hilarious New Commercial: Video.

Lawsuit Against Christian Slater by His Father Is Part of a 'Long and Difficult Situation' Says Family Source

The $20 million lawsuit filed by Thomas Knight Slater against his son Christian Slater has a complicated back story.

Slater's father, 80, acted using the stage name Michael Hawkins. He appeared on the soap opera Ryan's Hope in the 1970s.

The elder Slater claims his son "ruined" his acting career because the Mr. Robot star said his father was "suffering from manic-depressive schizophrenia" in a December 2015 interview — years after the elder Slater's last credited role on IMDB, a small part in the 1988 action film Midnight Run.

But a family source says Slater's father a has long history of personal struggle.

"His father has had his troubles," says the source. "Christian has done what he can for him financially by supporting him for many years, but eventually had to distance himself because of his erratic behavior."

Thomas Knight Slater previously claimed in a Dec. 2015 National Enquirer interview that Slater's mother, his ex-wife Mary Jo Slater, a casting agent, had "poisoned" his son against him.

"It's been a long and difficult situation," says the source. "The lawsuit is baseless."

Christian Slater Sued by His Dad ... I Don't Have Schizophrenia

Christian Slater destroyed his father's acting career by going public with allegations his dad is suffering from mental illness ... according to a new defamation lawsuit.

Thomas Knight Slater -- who's acted under the name Michael Hawkins -- says his son did an interview last year where he described his father as suffering from "manic-depressive schizophrenia."

Hawkins denies the comment and points out his son has no medical creds to make such a diagnosis.

In the suit -- filed Wednesday in L.A. and obtained by TMZ -- Hawkins says the article resulted in him being "blacklisted" in Hollywood. He says he was hoping to land more roles in the "autumn of his life," but that won't be possible after Christian's lies.

Hawkins had roles in soap operas like "Ryan's Hope" and "As the World Turns" in the '70s. He's also had small roles in some big movies -- 'Amityville Horror,' "Midnight Run" and "Mommie Dearest."

Dad is suing for at least $20 million.

George Gaynes, a Versatile Character Actor, Dies at 98

George Gaynes, who played a grouchy foster parent on the 1980s sitcom “Punky Brewster,” the beleaguered commandant in seven “Police Academy” films and a soap opera star with a crush on Dustin Hoffman in drag in the Hollywood hit “Tootsie,” died on Monday at his daughter’s home in North Bend, Wash. He was 98.

His death was confirmed by his daughter, Iya Gaynes Falcone Brown.

With his baritone voice, chiseled good looks and versatility as a character actor and singer, Mr. Gaynes appeared in hundreds of episodes of sitcoms and dramas on television, 35 Hollywood and made-for-TV films, and many plays, musical comedies and operas in New York and Europe.

Critics often applauded his work in supporting roles, and his face became familiar to millions of Americans. But he never achieved leading man stardom.

“Anyone who believes in happy endings will take consolation from the career of George Gaynes, about to become a television celebrity at the age of 64,” The New York Times reported (erroneously; he was 67 ) in 1984, shortly before NBC telecast the first episode of “Punky Brewster.” The show ran for four seasons, first on NBC and then in syndication.

Mr. Gaynes, in the television role for which he was probably best known, played a building manager, Henry Warnimont, who finds an abandoned little girl, played by Soleil Moon Frye, in an empty apartment and becomes first her foster parent and then her adoptive father. Their tender relationship was the heart of the show. There was a puppy, too.

“The two things an actor dreads most are children and dogs,” he told The Times in 1984. “I have both in this series.”

Mr. Gaynes got the part on the heels of two of his strongest film performances. In the first, in “Tootsie,” released in 1982, he was a misguided would-be paramour pursuing his leading lady (Mr. Hoffman), an unemployed actor who wins celebrity by masquerading as a woman on a daytime soap opera.

Then, in 1984, he was the commandant in charge of misfit recruits in the first “Police Academy” movie, which critics called crude and noisy — although some found it also hilarious — and which spawned six sequels, all of them with Mr. Gaynes in the cast.

Writing about Mr. Gaynes’s performance in “Tootsie,” Vincent Canby of The Times called him “priceless as the seedy but tirelessly lecherous leading man on the soap” and “so memorably funny in such memorably funny circumstances that I doubt he’ll much longer remain one of those actors whose looks are as familiar as his name, though one never puts the two together.”

“Tootsie” was a hit and received 10 Academy Award nominations, although only Jessica Lange won, for best supporting actress.

George Gaynes was born George Jongejans in Helsinki, Finland, on May 16, 1917, to Iya Grigorievna de Gay, a Russian artist later known as Lady Iya Abny, and Gerrit Jongejans, a Dutch businessman. His uncle was the actor Gregory Gaye, who played a Nazi Reichsbank official in “Casablanca.”

Raised in France, England and Switzerland, George was introduced to opera by his mother’s friend, the Russian basso Feodor Chaliapin. He studied in Milan and performed in Italy and France. But his career was interrupted by World War II. He crossed the Pyrenees and was interned in Spain for three months. After being released, he went to Britain and enlisted in the Royal Dutch Navy for the duration.

He landed in New York after the war, joined the New York City Opera and played Figaro, Leporello in “Don Giovanni” and assorted fathers, monks and ragpickers. He also appeared in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. But he considered himself primarily an actor. “I was an acting opera singer, and that’s one of the reasons I left opera,” he said.

On Broadway, he appeared in Cole Porter’s “Out of This World” (1950) and was Rosalind Russell’s suitor in “Wonderful Town” (1953), a musical version of “My Sister Eileen” with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

That same year, he changed his surname to Gaynes and married Allyn Ann McLerie, an actress, who survives him. In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by one granddaughter and two great-granddaughters. His son, Matthew, died in a car crash in 1989.

Mr. Gaynes appeared in many television series in the 1960s and ’70s, including “The Defenders,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Bonanza,” “Mannix,” “Hogan’s Heroes,” “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “Hawaii Five-0.” He also acted in the daytime soap operas “General Hospital” and “Search for Tomorrow.” His films included “The Way We Were,” “Altered States” and “Wag the Dog.”

He retired in 2003 and lived in Santa Barbara, Calif., before moving to Washington to stay with his daughter’s family.

Mr. Gaynes was philosophical about his brush with movie stardom in the 1980s. “I’m too old, I’ve been at it too long, to be exhilarated,” he told The Times in 1984. “Of course I’m happy about it. My wife is happy, because we can travel more, and she can get a new couch cover. But knowing the vagaries of the entertainment business, I can’t take it too seriously.”

Maree Cheatham Joins THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS

As a veteran of numerous soap operas, including GENERAL HOSPITAL (where she played Lucy’s doting aunt, Charlene Simpson), DAYS OF OUR LIVES (where she was ingénue Marie Horton), and SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (as sarcastic nurse Stephanie Wyatt), Maree Cheatham knows a thing or two about what makes for good drama.

Now, she’s joined the cast of one of primetime’s best, Tyler Perry’s THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS on OWN. “I play an eccentric woman named Pearl,” she says of the delicious role in which she and her native Texas drawl will debut on Tuesday, January 12. “She lives across the street from Candace (Tika Sumpter; Layla, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), the meanest woman on the show, and she’s up to no good!”

Having portrayed a string of eccentric seniors in recent years on everything from HART OF DIXIE to SAM & CAT, Cheatham was ready to roll with her comedic chops. “You know how they say, ‘And the curtains twitched?’” she asks. “Pearl is that lady behind the curtain, keeping tabs on the whole neighborhood.”

While Perry keeps a tight lid on the show’s scandalous storylines, Soaps In Depth did learn that Cheatham’s character will be the mother of Justin, a hunky new police officer on the canvas. “The young man [Nicholas James] has been invited to be a regular on the show,” Cheatham previews. “I’m thrilled to hear it.”

Might that also mean a prolonged future with the soap for herself? “From your mouth to God’s ears!” she laughs. “I’m counting on it.” For more from the popular actress, look for her Catching Up feature in CBS Soaps In Depth, on sale Monday, February 8.

Alan Alda Writes Touching Tribute to Late M.A.S.H. Costar Wayne Rogers: 'I Would Tell Him My Dreams'

Alan Alda has penned a touching remembrance of his late friend and costar Wayne Rogers just days after his death.

Rogers, best known for his role as Trapper John on the TV adaptation of M.A.S.H., died last week at the age of 82. Roger's former publicist confirmed that the actor died of complications from pneumonia.

Alda, 79, published a heartfelt tribute to Rogers in The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, in which he recalled the first time he met Rogers and what it was like working with the actor on the iconic CBS show.

"Wayne Rogers and I had never met before the day we began rehearsing for M.A.S.H.", he wrote. "We were strangers, but we both knew we somehow had to find a relationship like the one the characters we played had."

Alda wrote that the two men bonded over their passion for acting. He recalled days in which they would practice acting out a scene, even after it had already been filmed. "We just wanted to see if it could have been better," he explained.

"We never stopped trying to get better – as individual actors, and as a team," he said. "And that brought us together in a way, I think, that neither of us had ever felt before with a fellow actor."

He also said they carpooled together whenever the show shot on location. It was during these trips that their bond strengthened.

"Wayne didn't like to drive, so when we shot on location in the mountains of Malibu, he would leave his car at my house and I would drive us the hour to the mountains. On the way, I would tell him my dreams and he would interpret them for me. Especially the dreams about acting."

Alda also said he will remember Wayne for his smart and unassuming character.

"Wayne was warm and funny and very, very smart," he wrote. "But, as smart as he was, he never told you what to think. If he disagreed, he just asked you a question that innocently invited you to think about what you thought. Now, what I'm thinking about is him."

He added: "I missed Wayne when he left the show, but for decades I could see him whenever we were in the same city. But I miss him now in a new, unhappy way."

‘M*A*S*H’ star Wayne Rogers dies at age 82

Wayne Rogers (Slim Davis, Search For Tomorrow), best known for playing Captain “Trapper” John McIntyre on “M*A*S*H” from 1972 to 1975, died Thursday (Dec. 31) from complications with pneumonia, reports ET. He was 82 years old.

Along with “M*A*S*H,” Rogers had recurring roles on “The FBI,” “City of Angels,” “House Calls” and “Murder, She Wrote.” His last on-screen acting appearance was in the 2003 film comedy “Nobody Knows Anything!,” though in recent years he appeared regularly on Fox News financial program “Cashin’ In,” as Rogers founded the successful stock trading company Wayne Rogers & Co.

Rogers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005, and prior to his acting career, he served in the United States Navy and had a degree from Princeton University.

He is survived by his wife Amy; children Bill and Laura from his first marriage; and four grandchildren.

Wayne Rogers, Played M*A*S*H's Trapper John, Dead at 82

Wayne Rogers, best known to TV audiences for playing Captain “Trapper” John McIntyre on M*A*S*H, died on Thursday after suffering complications from pneumonia, his family told Entertainment Tonight. He was 82.

Rogers’ first major acting role was on the ABC Western Stagecoach West, which debuted in October 1960 and ran for 38 episodes. A little over a decade (and numerous gigs) later, he was cast as Trapper John on CBS’ TV adaptation of M*A*S*H, assuming the role played by Elliott Gould in the 1970 film.

Bidding M*A*S*H adieu after three seasons, Rogers went on to star in NBC’s detective drama City of Angels and the CBS sitcom House Calls.

His other TV acting credits include (but are by no means limited to) Murder, She Wrote, The Larry Sanders Show and Diagnosis Murder. He also did some producing, writing (including episodes of House Calls) and, as a successful investment strategist, served as a panelist on Fox News’ Cashin’ In business analysis program.

Rogers is survived by his wife Amy, two children from a previous marriage and four grandchildren.

Wayne Rogers Dies: ‘M.A.S.H.’s Trapper John Was 82

Actor and entrepreneur Wayne Rogers, best known for playing Captain “Trapper” John McIntyre from 1972-1975 on the long-running CBS dramedy M.A.S.H. has died today following complications from pneumonia. His publicist confirmed the news to Deadline: he was 82.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1933, he was a graduate of The Webb School in Tennessee and earned a history degree from Princeton, then served in the US Navy before embarking on his career as an actor. Acting on both television and film, among his early roles he played Slim Davis on the soap Search for Tomorrow in 1959, appeared on Odds Against Tomorrow in 1960, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. Rogers also co-starred on the ABC Western drama Stagecoach West as Luke Perry from 1960-1961.

Other early roles include appearances on The Invaders, The F.B.I., Gunsmoke, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Death Valley Days, and The Fugitive. Rogers also had a small supporting role in the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke.

He was of course most famous for his three-year stint as “Trapper” John on M.A.S.H., an adaptation of Robert Altman’s hit 1970 film based on the book by Richard Hooker. Originally intending to audition for the role of Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, Rogers found that character too cynical and instead opted for the character whose outlook he considered sunnier. He was known to have enjoyed his time on the series, and became close friends with co-star Alan Alda, but was dissatisfied after Alda’s Hawkeye became the center of the show at, he felt, the expense of his own role, and chose to leave after the third season.

Rogers was the second of three actors to play the character. Elliott Gould originated the role in Altman’s film, and Pernell Roberts famously portrayed him for seven seasons on CBS’ Trapper John, M.D..

Following M.A.S.H., Rogers continued to work steadily. In 1975, he played an FBI agent on the 1975 TV movie Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan, he starred in the short lived NBC series City of Angels, he starred on the CBS series House Calls, as well as the miniseries Chiefs. He also guest starred five times on Murder, She Wrote.

Among his other television and film roles, he co-starred in the TV film I Dream of Jeannie… Fifteen Years Later, the 1981 film The Hot Touch, and later he played Civil Rights attorney Morris Dees in Rob Reiner’s Ghosts of Mississippi.

Later in life Rogers became well known as a business investor, having started doing so knowing that his income as an actor was not necessarily reliable long term. He eventually earned a sizable income from real estate and other ventures, penning the book Make Your Own Rules about his experiences, and was a regular panelist on the Fox Business Network show Cashin’ In. He also served on the Board of Directors of the electronics components manufacturer Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., and as the head of Wayne Rogers & Co., a stock trading investment corporation.

He is survived by his wife Amy Hirsh, who he married in 1988.

Wayne Rogers, Trapper John on 'M.A.S.H.,' dies at 82

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wayne Rogers, whose Trapper John McIntyre alongside Alan Alda's Hawkeye Pierce brought mischief, martinis and meatball surgery to the masses in the 1970s every week on "M.A.S.H.," has died.

The actor was surrounded by family when he died Thursday in Los Angeles of complications from pneumonia at age 82, his publicist and longtime friend Rona Menashe told The Associated Press.

Rogers' army surgeon Trapper John was one of the most beloved characters — and half of one of the most beloved duos — in TV history, despite the actor's appearing in only the first three of the show's 11 seasons on CBS.

The two skilled doctors, Hawkeye and Trapper, blew off steam between surgeries pulling pranks, romancing nurses and tormenting their tent-mate Frank Burns, with a seemingly endless supply of booze and one-liners at the ready.

In one classic moment, Trapper reaches out as though he's checking for rain and says, "Hmm, feels like it's going to martini," as Hawkeye promptly passes him a drink.

And in another line that typified the show's ethos, Trapper answers a question with "How should I know? I dropped out of school to become a doctor."

McIntyre was on "M.A.S.H." from 1972 to 1975, becoming one of many original cast members to leave the wildly popular show that went on until 1983. He was initially considered for Alda's character, but he preferred Trapper's sunnier disposition to Hawkeye's darkly acerbic personality.

The characters were essentially equals when the show began, but it increasingly focused on Alda, which was a factor in Rogers' departure.

Two other actors played Trapper in other incarnations. Elliot Gould was same character in the "M.A.S.H." feature film that preceded the TV show, and Pernell Roberts played the title character in the 1980s spinoff drama "Trapper John, M.D."

An Alabama native and Princeton University graduate, Rogers had parts on many short-lived shows early in his career, specializing in westerns like "Law of the Plainsman" and "Stagecoach West." He had a bit part in the 1967 film "Cool Hand Luke" with Paul Newman.

In the years after "M.A.S.H." he returned to TV regularly, including a recurring role in the early 1990s on "Murder, She Wrote."

He moved beyond acting to see serious success later in life as a money manager and investor. In 1988 and 1990, he appeared as an expert witness before the House Judiciary Committee to speak in favor of maintaining the Glass-Steagall banking laws of the 1930s. In recent years he was a regular panelist on the Fox News stock investment show "Cashin' In."

Rogers is survived by his wife Amy, two children, Bill and Laura, and four grandchildren.

Martin E. Brooks of 'Six Million Dollar Man' dies at 90

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Martin E. Brooks (Everett, Search For tomorrow/Paul, Love Of Life/Skip, Secret Storm/Arthur, General Hospital) whose acting career stretched from Broadway dramas to TV series including "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Dallas," died Monday. He was 90.

Jon Landau, a film producer and friend of Brooks, said he died of natural causes after a brief hospitalization in Los Angeles. Brooks and Landau's mother, Edie Landau, were childhood friends who became close companions two decades ago, after she was widowed.

Brooks' best-known role was as scientist Dr. Rudy Wells on the 1970s series "The Six Million Dollar Man" and its spinoff, "The Bionic Woman." The role of Wells had previously been played in the original series by Alan Oppenheimer.

Brooks' other credits included "The Philco Television Playhouse" in the 1950s, "Combat!" in the 1960s and "Knots Landing" in the 1990s. He also played Dr. Arthur Bradshaw on the ABC daytime serial "General Hospital."

Landau said Brooks was proud of his stage work that included "An Enemy of the People" and "I Am a Camera," as well as the actors he worked with, Julie Harris and Barbara Bel Geddes among them.

"Marty was the eternal optimist. He only looked at the good things in life," said Landau, the producer of "Titanic" and "Avatar."

A private service was planned.

Robert Loggia, star of ‘Big,’ ‘Sopranos’ and ‘Scarface,’ dies at 85

Robert Loggia (Tony Vincente, Search For Tomorrow/Frank Carver, Secret Storm) , one of the most recognizable supporting actors of the last several decades, has died at age 85.

Born on Staten Island in 1930, Loggia would play more than 200 film and television roles. He danced alongside Tom Hanks in the iconic piano scene from “Big,” was called a cockroach by Al Pacino’s Tony Montana, and spent time alongside such classic characters as Magnum P.I., Inspector Clouseau and The Six Million Dollar Man.

Loggia’s widow Audrey confirmed to Variety that Loggia died Friday (Nov. 27) in Los Angeles.

Nominated for an Oscar for the 1985 Glenn Close thrilled “Jagged Edge,” Loggia’s IMDb page reads like a laundry list of pop culture touchstones from the ’60’s to 2015. Quite possibly, Loggia was the only actor who could claim to have worked with both Alfred Hitchcock and Tim & Eric. In 2011, he even voiced a very funny “Family Guy” clip teasing the multiple generations who had trouble spelling his name.

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Loggia portrayed mobster Feech La Manna on several episodes of “The Sopranos,” was nominated for Emmys for both the 1989 drama “Mancuso FBI” and the could-not-be-any-more-different “Malcolm in the Middle” in 2000, and helped save the world in “Independence Day.”

After graduating from the University of Missouri (Class of 1951) with a degree in journalism, Loggia served in the U.S. Army. Soon after his discharge, he began landing work as a radio voice and TV anchor. By the mid-’60’s, his brash, no-nonsense style and disarming smile was landing him supporting work on such top shows as “Ben Casey,” “Rawhide,” “Combat!” and “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.”

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In the ’70’s, Loggia continued dropping in on such hits as “S.W.A.T.,” “Mannix,” “Kojak” and “The Bionic Woman.” Soon afterwards, his career began shifting more towards films, most notably the “Pink Panther” movies opposite Peter Sellers. Soon after, he was a highly-recognizable “That Guy” actor for film fans who saw him make the most out of supporting work in Sylvester Stallone’s “Over the Top,” The Dana Carvey vehicle “Opportunity Knocks” or the Alec Baldwin/Kim Basinger flick “The Marrying Man.”

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Loggia kept working right up until the end, whether it was voicing his old “Scarface” character or a crooked “Grand Theft Auto” cop in videogames, appearing in ads for Mac or orange juice, or acting — Loggia is listed as having appeared in four movies this year, and has at least three more awaiting release.

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Robert Loggia Dies: Oscar-Nominated ‘Jagged Edge’ & ‘Scarface’ Actor Was 85

Robert Loggia, veteran character actor whose career spanned 6 decades and who received an Oscar nomination in 1986 for his role in Jagged Edge died Friday in Los Angeles, his family have confirmed. He was 85.

Born in Staten Island, New York in 1930, Loggia attended the University of Missouri and served in the US Army before embarking on his career in entertainment. First working as a radio and TV anchor in the Panama Canal zone, his rise to fame began after playing real-life old west lawman Elfego Baca in a series of TV shows for Disney in 1958. Among his other roles during the following decade, he played the lead on NBC’s short-lived series T.H.E. Cat in the 1966-67 television season and he appeared on the CBS soap The Secret Storm as “Frank Carver.” He also had numerous guest appearances, including Overland Trail, The Untouchables, Combat!, Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Rawhide, Little House on the Prairie, Starsky and Hutch, Charlie’s Angels, and The Rockford Files. In later years he also appeared on shows including Frasier, The Sopranos, and Monk.

He also had a varied film career, particularly during the 1980s, appearing in Revenge of the Pink Panther, An Officer and a Gentleman, Psycho II, Prizzi’s Honor, Over The Top, Necessary Roughness, Return to Me, Armed and Dangerous, and Lost Highway, among many others. He recieved his only Oscar nomination, in the Best Supporting Actor category for his turn as private detective Sam Ransom in the thriller Jagged Edge.

Popular culture will likely remember him best for three crucial roles in the 1980s and 90s. Playing drug lord Frank Lopez in Brian De Palma’s influential crime film Scarface, he mentors and then is betrayed by Al Pacino’s ruthless hothead Tony Montana. He delivered several of the film’s most iconic lines, including “don’t get high on your own supply”; the film was a particularly big influence on the development of hip hop, and that line has been frequently quoted by some of the genre’s biggest stars.

In 1988, he played Mr. MacMillan, the head of a powerful toy company for whom Tom Hanks’ adult-sized child Josh Baskin works in Penny Marshall’s Big. Loggia and Hanks shared the screen for the film’s most famous scene, when their two characters play chopsticks together on a giant piano keyboard laid out on the floor of a toy store.

Loggia also appeared as General William Grey Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin’s blockbuster Sci-Fi action film Independence Day, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff who advises Bill Pullman’s President Whitmore after aliens lay waste to all of earth’s major cities.

Loggia was married to Marjorie Sloan from 1954 to 1981. He is survived by his wife Audrey O’Brien, who he married in 1982, as well as three children and one stepdaughter.

David Canary dies at 77

(wiltonbulletin.com) Emmy Award-winning actor and Wilton resident David Hoyt Canary died of natural causes at the age of 77 on Nov. 16 at The Greens at Cannondale.

He was as well known here for his generosity to the community as for his acting career.

Canary and his wife, Maureen, raised two children, Christopher and Kathryn, in Wilton and became very involved in the community after realizing “how much local organizations could benefit from their talents,” and participated in many fund-raisers involving music and acting, according to a March 2005 Wilton Bulletin article. That year, the couple were named Distinguished Citizens of the Year by the Wilton YMCA.

His volunteer efforts included performing in a production of Love Letters to benefit A Better Chance (ABC) of Wilton and emceeing and singing in the Wilton Kiwanis Club’s annual holiday concert. He was also an active volunteer with the Friends of Wilton Library.

Canary participated in Middlebrook School’s first-ever Career Day in 1997, when he told students his work was “wonderful but tough.”

The couple opened the Wilton Education Foundation’s 1997 spelling bee, served as celebrity hosts of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center’s annual Safe & Sound Race/Walk in 2000 and 2001, and narrated Wilton’s Bicentennial in 2002.

Canary regularly participated in Wilton’s annual CROP walks and was also a spokesperson for NRFTD, formerly the Wilton Task Force on Lyme Disease. He was the NRFTD’s guest of honor in 2002.

He also sang with the Wilton Singers and was a fan of the Wilton Children’s Theater, crediting the theater and its alumni during a 2001 speech for “accolades bestowed upon the high school’s drama department” the previous year, when the department was recognized as having one of the top acting programs in the country.

Canary performed Clarence Darrow: A One-Man Show at the Wilton High School Little Theater in 2001 to raise money for Wilton Library and served as master of ceremonies of ABC of Wilton’s 2006 Food for the Soul benefit concert.

Professional career

Canary starred in soap operas like All My Children and One Life to Live, and was well known for his role as the ranch foreman Candy Canaday on Bonanza, which he played from 1967 to 1970 and 1972 to 1973.

He also made guest appearances on two of the longest running prime time dramas in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke and Law & Order.

Canary was born in Elwood, Ind., on Aug. 25, 1938, and grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where he attended Washington High School.

He earned a football scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, which is where he developed a passion for the performing arts. According to IMDB.com, Canary trained as a singer at the school and graduated with a degree in music.

Canary turned down an offer to play professional football for the Denver Broncos and instead decided to head to New York City to become an actor.

There he performed in summer stock, regional theater, and in on- and off-Broadway productions before being drafted into the U.S. Army. During his two years of service, Canary entered and won the All-Army Entertainment Contest in 1963.

After being honorably discharged, Canary moved to Los Angeles to continue his acting career. He landed a role in the musical The Fantasticks in San Francisco. According to Jean M. Peck’s “Interview with an ‘All My Children’ star” article in the University of Cincinnati’s UC Magazine, Canary’s experience in The Fantasticks “led to his first break in television” — playing Russ Gehring on Peyton Place in 1965 and 1966.

During that time, Canary’s film roles included Lamar Dean in Hombre (1967) and Frank Gusenberg in The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre (1967). In addition to his roles on Bonanza and Peyton Place, some of Canary’s television roles included George McClaney in Gunsmoke (1967) and Charlie Montana on Dundee and the Culhane (1967).

Canary returned to New York City in 1975 and met his second wife, Maureen, with whom he moved to Wilton in 1983. That same year, Canary started his 27-year run on All My Children as Stuart and Adam Chandler — roles that would earn him 16 daytime Emmy nominations and five wins.

Canary is survived by his wife; his son Christopher and his wife, Amy, of Philadelphia; his daughter Kathryn and her fiancé, John Rotheimer, of New York City; his grandson, Donovan Canary, of Philadelphia; and his brother John and wife Paula of New York City.

Funeral services will be privately held for immediate family at Bouton Funeral Home in Georgetown, and a memorial tribute is being planned, with a date to be determined.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, ALZ.org.

Obituary: David Canary, 77, actor

(wiltonbulletin.com) Actor, David Hoyt Canary, beloved husband of Maureen Canary for over 33 years, passed away of natural causes on November 16, 2015, at The Greens at Cannondale in Wilton, Conn.

David was born on August 25, 1938 in Elwood, Indiana to the late Hillary Canary and Lorena Heal. Growing up in Massillon, Ohio, David played football for the famed Massillon Tigers of Washington High School before earning a football scholarship and playing varsity at the University of Cincinnati, graduating with a major in music. After turning down an offer to play professional football for the Denver Broncos in the first year of their existence, David took off for New York City to pursue his passion for acting. He was met with much success in theatre, doing summer stock, regional theatre, on and off Broadway productions, both musicals and straight plays. During his Broadway debut of Great Day in the Morning, with Colleen Dewhurst, David was drafted into the United States Army. After two years of service, David resumed his acting career and soon found himself in Los Angeles, where he began to work in film and television. He appeared in Hombre with Paul Newman, The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre with Jason Robards and Shark’s Treasure with Cornel Wilde to mention but a few.

Television soon beckoned with a stint as Mia Farrow’s physical therapist in the hugely successful night-time soap,Peyton Place. David was seen in a two-part Gunsmoke episode called Nitro, by David Dortort, Bonanza producer, who tapped him to play the role of Candy Canaday, ranch foreman of the Ponderosa, on the iconic western series. He remained there until the show’s finale in 1972.

In 1975, David returned to New York City to continue his pursuit of theatre, and appeared in numerous plays including Tennessee Williams’ final play, Clothes for a Summer Hotel, opposite Geraldine Paige. Soon he met and married his wife, Maureen. Just 10 days after the birth of their first child, David began a 26-year stint on the classic daytime drama, All My Children, creating the dual roles of Adam and Stuart Chandler, which garnered him five Outstanding Actor Awards and 16 nominations between 1983 and 2001. David retired from full-time acting in 2010.

In addition to his wife, Maureen, David is survived by his son, Christopher and his wife, Amy of Philadelphia, his daughter, Kathryn and her fiancé, John Rothmeier of New York City, his grandson, Donovan Canary of Philadelphia, and his brother John and wife Paula, of New York City. He was predeceased by his brother, Glenn, in 2008.

Funeral services will be private for immediate family. A memorial tribute is planned for a date to be determined.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown, Conn. 06829.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Go to alz.org “David Canary Memorial Fund.”

Tremors Series Starring Kevin Bacon in Development — Are You Feeling It?

Kevin Bacon is feeling a Tremors revival.

The Following actor is developing a TV-series adaptation of his 1990 cult hit in which he would reprise his role as Valentine McKee, per EW.com.

No network is currently attached to the project, which is being shepherded by Universal Cable Productions with Bacon and Andrew Miller (The Secret Circle) on board as an exec producers.

Sci-Fi Channel took a stab at a Tremors series in 2003, but it was cancelled after one season. The franchise also spawned four direct-to-video sequels, none of which Bacon took part in.

Emmy nominees answer: What TV world would you hang out in?

"I'm obsessed with 'The Affair.' I love 'The Affair,' but the Hamptons is pretty close. ... I'm actually in the Hamptons right now, so I could totally go to the Lobster Roll, which is where Ruth Wilson's character works. I'm somewhat in 'The Affair' already." — Jane Krakowski, a supporting actress nominee for Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."

Jane Krakowski’s Son Bennett Is a Budding Comedian Like His Mom

He gets it from his mama!

Jane Krakowski‘s son Bennett Robert might only be 4 years old, but he already shares his mother’s appreciation of comedy.

“He has a great sense of humor, which obviously makes his mama proud,” Krakowski told PEOPLE at the kickoff of Pampers Cruisers #SagToSwag Tour in New York City on Wednesday.

“[Bennett]’s just learning what an actual written out joke is and enjoys it.”

She adds, “He enjoys getting a laugh, I wonder where he got that from.”

In fact, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star’s son is already well-versed in what differentiates a standard joke from a classic.

Once when a visitor came by, the actress reveals, “he started telling them some jokes and he did first, ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ … So he did that joke and he said, ‘Now, do you want to hear a classic?’ ”

“He actually called a joke a classic,” Krakowski adds with a laugh. “And then he did the knock knock who’s there banana, banana, banana, orange and I was like, ‘Well he’s right, it’s a classic.’ ”

While the mother-son duo share the same funny bone, the 46-year-old actress admits her son isn’t her mini-me. “He’s actually a very individual little person,” she says. “He’s a wonderful little chap.”

Krakowski, who is returning to Broadway in the revival of She Loves Me next year, calls finding the balance between work and family a “process,” but it’s one where there is “joy every day” at both home and work.

Luckily for the Emmy-nominated actress, she gets to bring a piece of home — her son — with her to set on special occasions.

“We have a kid’s Halloween party every year,” Krakowski reveals. “We did at 30 Rock and do at Kimmy as well, so he’s visited on those days.”

And although Bennett might not fully comprehend what Mommy does for a living, the actress says, “I’m sure he just thinks I live Halloween every day because I dress up and there’s craft service, which is basically free candy so I think he thinks I’m some sort of Halloween character.”

The Stars of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Share What Is 'Unbreakable' About Themselves

At their Television Critics Association panel on Tuesday, PEOPLE asked the cast of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt to share what is unbreakable about themselves:

Tituss Burgess

[Before I was cast on Kimmy Schmidt], I actually had started accepting offers to teach at universities. I was on staff at Marymount Manhattan College, about to teach voice, and my manager called and said, "I think you should quit [and give acting] another go round."

Things were very slow, just to speak very candidly, but I'm a very specific type of a performer. I can do lots of different things, but … you have to put me in and then let me do it versus the inverse. And so, to have the great pleasure of waiting it out, I think my unbreakableness is about resilience and patience.

Ellie Kemper

If you choose this kind of career, you have to be able to stand up to rejection and keep on going. [Laughs.] I mean, I'm acting like [acting is] the hardest job in the world. It's not the hardest job in the world, but you have to keep on going. … I didn't accept any jobs to teach because no one would want me to.

Tina Fey

I have problems with my hip.

[Laughs.]

I came out here today. I wore two different shoes by accident. I didn't let that stop me from coming out here.

[She models her mismatched footwear for the room of reporters.]

I mean … we didn't give up on this idea. We believed in [Kimmy Schmidt], and we did have to shepherd it through a few groups of people who were very reasonably nervous about it. And, so, that. Yeah, let's count that.

Jane Krakowski

There were two years between 30 Rock and Kimmy that I had to endure working with other people. [Laughs.] I thank you so much, [Tina,] for having me back. And I am thrilled to say that this is our ninth season of television together.

My hip hurts as well.

Season 2 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will come to Netflix next spring.

The History and Influence of Soap Operas

(Listen) Earlier today, Julianne Moore got an Oscar nomination for "Still Alice." She is by far the betting favorite to win the best actress award. But you may remember her better as Franny Hughes Crawford on "As The World Turns." And four or five years before Ellen said "I'm gay," Bill Douglas came out as a gay teenager on One Life to Live. That character was played by Ryan Philippe. In fact, Leo DiCaprio, Maria Tomei, Tommy Lee Jones, Parker Posey, Kevin Bacon, Meg Ryan, they all worked on soaps before they moved on.

Now there are only four soap operas left – drawn out, dramatic stories that used to be sponsored by soap manufacturers, and now are struggling to maintain relevance to house wives who have a lot more options in the middle of the day. We'll talk about this slice of Americana with those in the industry, and a professor who co-directs “Project Daytime.”

GUESTS:

Barbara Irwin - Professor of Communication Studies at Canisius College, co-director of Project Daytime
Ken Barnett - Actor
Mara Levinsky - Senior Editor at Soap Opera Digest
Ron Carlivati - Head writer for General Hospital

Agnes Nixon Fast Facts

(erietvnews.com) (CNN) -- Here's a look at the life of Agnes Nixon, creator of "All My Children" and "One Life to Live."

Personal: Birth date: December 10, 1927

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

Birth name: Agnes Eckhardt

Father: Harry Joseph Eckhardt, owner of Perfection Burial Garment Company

Mother: Agnes Patricia (Dalton) Eckhardt, bookkeeper

Marriages: Robert Nixon (April 6, 1951-November 22, 1996 his death)

Children: Catherine Agnes, Mary Frances, Robert Henry, Emily Anne

Education: Attended Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1940-1944

Other Facts:

Agnes Nixon grew up in Nashville, Tennessee.

Known as the "Queen of Soap Opera writing," she has nine Daytime Emmy writing nominations and four wins between her two shows "All My Children" and "One Life to Live," and a Lifetime Achievement award.

Her storylines often included socially conscious topics of the time, such as uterine cancer and Pap smears, racial identity, interracial relationships, abuse and abortion.

She created roles specifically for these actors: Laurence Fishburne, Tommy Lee Jones, and Tom Berenger on "One Life to Live".

She patterned her soap opera cities after an area in Philadelphia known as the "Main Line."

Nixon was one of the early writers on "The Guiding Light" (1953-2009), the longest running soap opera in history.

The character Agnes Eckhardt appeared on both "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" played by Nixon. She also played the characters Agnes Dixon on "One Life to Live" and Aggie on "All My Children".

The production company Prospect Park teamed up with Apple and Hulu, to save "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" by making both shows available online.

Timeline:

1944 - After college Nixon begins writing for the radio soap opera, 'Woman in White."

1950 - She relocates to New York and begins freelancing for live television prime-time broadcasts.

1951 - Writes for 13 weeks for daytime television as head writer for the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow."

1952-1954 - Writes for prime-time drama "Robert Montgomery Presents."

1957-1959 - Nixon writes for the soap "As the World Turns."

1959-1965 - Head writer on "The Guiding Light."

1965-1967 - Becomes head writer for "Another World"

July 15, 1968 - Nixon's creation "One Life to Live" debuts. She is the head writer.

January 5, 1970 - Another Nixon creation debuts, "All My Children," also with Nixon as head writer.

June 26, 1983 - The soap opera "Loving" premieres. Nixon is co-creator with Douglas Marland.

1988 - Wins Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team for "All My Children."

June 25, 1994 - Nixon becomes the first female writer to be inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame.

November 1995 - The storyline of "The City," created by Nixon, James H. Brown and Barbara Esensten, picks up where "Loving" left off.

1996-1998 - Wins Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team for "All My Children".

May 12, 2010 - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announces Nixon as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

April 14, 2011 - ABC announces the cancellation of "One Life to Live" as of January 2012. "All My Children" is also being canceled.

June 30, 2011 - ABC announces "All My Children" will air its final episode on television on Friday, September 23, 2011.

January 13, 2012 - "One Life to Live" airs its final episode on television.

April 29, 2013 - "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" come back to life, airing twice weekly online at Hulu and Apple's iTunes. Nixon is the creator of the new "All My Children."

Fall 2013 - The first online seasons of "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" end. Further production is then put on indefinite hold, due to legal proceedings between ABC and Prospect Park, which produces the shows.

Rosemont's Agnes Nixon honored as a pioneering role model for working women

(mainlinemedianews.com) Mary Nixon, founder of Rosemont’s New Leaf Club, did not have to look far to find an honoree for a capstone event to its “Wonder Women’s Week” of programs Feb. 16-22.

Her mother, Agnes Nixon, a longtime Rosemont resident and supporter of the community-centered club, was a pioneer as a writer and creator of daytime drama, known for introducing social issues of the times into these popular “soap operas.”

From the beginning of her decades-spanning career in the later 1940s, Nixon, 86, was a role model for many other women, breaking a mold that taught girls that typing and shorthand classes were their best career path.

At a tea in her honor Feb. 21, just one of those women who paid tribute, via videotaped good wishes, was actress Susan Lucci, who performed the iconic role of Erica Kane in Nixon’s “All My Children.” (The show, which ran for 41 years from 1970 to 2011, was set in the community of Pine Valley, a fictionalized Philadephia suburb reportedly inspired by Nixon’s Main Line hometown, as was the town of Llanview in “One Life.”)

“She was my role model since the first time I laid eyes on her,” Lucci recalled. The ingénue was auditioning for the teen-aged Erica when she saw a stylish, purposeful petite blonde breeze by the audition room. The woman was Nixon, and she was, Lucci said, “Everything I had dreamed of being when I grew up.”

To say that Nixon, who began a script-writing career after graduating from Northwestern University, was prolific is a serious understatement. Among her credits as headwriter, creator or producer are beloved soaps including “Search for Tomorrow,” “As the World Turns,” “The Guiding Light,” “Another World,” “One Life to Live,” “All My Children” and “Loving.”

She has been called “The Queen of Soap Opera.” In 1993, she was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Hall of Fame.

It was for her determination to weave relevant social issues of the day into her storylines that the New Leaf Club recognized her this Women’s History Month. In addition to Mary, of Berwyn, daughters Cathy Chicos of Gladwyne and Emily Nixon of New Rochelle, N.Y., were present for the event, with more than 50 other well-wishers.

The non-profit club, housed in a former retail space at 1225 Montrose Ave., is intended to serve as an education and entertainment community center. In addition to a café where teens and others can meet or study, it is a venue for live music and open mic nights. It also focuses on wellness, offering a yoga and meditation program, and hosts a monthly free lecture series on a variety of topics.

For Women’s History Month, it offered a week of special events, featuring a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” and presentations by speakers including veteran TV journalist Lu Ann Cahn, a women’s self-defense class, and a women’s expo highlighting resources in the community.

At the tea in Nixon’s honor, Mary Nixon announced the dedication of the club’s large meeting room as the Agnes Nixon “All My Children” Room.

“I’m overwhelmed. This is fabulous,” Nixon said.

While creating indelible characters, stirring romances and cliff-hanging plots, Nixon as a writer and show producer became known for insisting on real-world relevance in her dramas.

Topics such as abortion, the Vietnam War and protests, drug addiction, child abuse, racism and AIDS were addressed in her storylines beginning in the volatile 1960s.

In one example, after a friend died of cancer, she wanted to introduce a plot on “The Guiding Light” emphasizing the importance of early detection of uterine cancer. According to program notes for the tribute, the network “was appalled.” When she persisted, according to a 1988 New York Times article, “CBS relented” – with the stipulation that she avoid words such as cancer, uterus, Pap smear or hysterectomy.

Nixon introduced the story through the character of matriarch Bert Bauer. Nixon herself wrote at the time,” Women who would never have watched or heeded a Cancer Society program with its obvious public service appeal were, in effect, a captive audience for our message, because Bert Bauer was to them like a sister or a very old and dear friend.”

In another groundbreaking concept, Nixon incorporated improvised group therapy sessions with recovering addicts into a “One Life to Live” subplot involving teenage drug addiction in 1970.

At the tea, Nixon, sharing some favorite stories and anecdotes from the making of the shows, spoke in particular about the importance to her of introducing in 1968 the controversial story of Clara “Carla” Gray, a light-skinned black woman who passed as white on “One Life to Live.” Her actual identity was not revealed to viewers for six months. Clara, portrayed by actress Ellen Holly, was the first African-American heroine on daytime soap opera in a plot that raised issues of race relations in America.

When Nixon was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the television academy in 1983, presenter Barbara Walters called her the “most prolific talent daytime television has ever known,” her shows running 52 weeks a year for more than 30 years at the time.

That she was able to combine her very active career while raising a family was another source of admiration, Lucci said. While daughter Mary said her mother eventually maintained an apartment in New York, where the shows were produced, writing for them at first was a sort of “cottage industry.” Nixon did most of her writing from home in Rosemont, mailing scripts and story ideas back and forth in those pre-Internet times.

Nixon herself downplayed the idea that her work ethic was unusual or new. “I grew up with working women. I thought it was the thing to do,” she said, recalling that, “My mother in her era was very much a feminist.”

But she did acknowledge that she might have been a bit more dedicated than most. Retelling a family story, she related, “I always had long labors” with the births of her three daughters and son Robert. Not wasting any time for writing, “I took my Dictaphone to the hospital,” she said.

Agnes Nixon Launches Website!

Agnes Nixon, the creator of All My Children, One Life to Live, and Loving/The City -- not to mention a former head writer of Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow, and Another World and writer for As The World Turns -- has launched her own website! And it's awesome! At AgnesNixon.com, you can learn more about Agnes's life and career, get a timeline of her work, and watch some classic clips and interviews with Agnes. Best of all, you can check out TONS of photos, many of them from Agnes's personal collection. There's also a section where you can submit questions to Agnes, and she will periodically answer them on the site. You can visit the site here (www.agnesnixon.com). Enjoy!