Entertainment

There was an immediate outpouring of love from comics and others mourning the death of Norm Macdonald on Tuesday, but one note from one celebrity would have certainly made Norm smile. 

That message came from, you guessed it: Frank Stallone.

The musician brother of Sylvester was often used as a non-sequitur punchline, delivered in that exact way, by Macdonald while he sat behind the desk of Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update. Now the man himself took to Instagram to send Macdonald off in the most appropriate way. 

“I was saddened to hear that Norm Macdonald passed away…” he said, adding, “He had a lot of fun with me on weekend update, with You Guessed It Frank Stallone.” 

Stallone posted a photo of Norm at the anchor desk, with Stallone’s face displayed the screen next to the comedian, as it had been for numerous punchlines. Stallone said the frequent send-ups were “funny,” noting, “My only regret is that I never got the chance to do the show with him.” 

The musician called Macdonald “an original,” and passed along condolences to his family.

Incidentally, in 2018, Macdonald recalled that when Sylvester Stallone hosted SNL in the 1990s, he kindly asked Norm to lay off his brother, and Macdonald obliged.

Macdonald died Tuesday at age 61 after fighting a private battle with cancer. Or, as he used to say, it was a draw.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Frank Stallone (@frank.stallone)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

While Britney Spears tiptoes closer to being released from her controversial 13-year conservatorship, a judge has ruled that another celebrity will need to stay in hers for a little while longer.  

The Blast reports that Amanda Bynes, 35, who was placed in a conservatorship in 2013 following her mental health struggles, will remain under her legal arrangement until 2023.  The extension was triggered by a recent brief stay at a psychiatric facility for undisclosed reasons.

The Blast obtained copies of the legal documents filed earlier this week, in which a judge ruled that the Nickelodeon star will remain under supervision for a few more years.

Details about Amanda’s conservatorship — including treatment plans and restrictions — have been sealed.  She also did not appear in court when the documents were filed.

Bynes’ conservatorship was enacted over seven years ago following a string of high-profile run-ins with the law and controversial interactions with other celebrities on Twitter. She was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, went to rehab, and her finances and other dealings placed under the care of a conservatorship started by her parents.

Currently, Bynes is working on obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. She is also engaged to boyfriend Paul Michael, but no wedding date has been disclosed.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Gabrielle Union is ready to speak about a “terrifying” racist incident that left her and her group of friends “numb.”

In an interview with People, the 48-year-old actress said the encounter happened in 2019, when she and some friends visited a Game of Thrones filming location in Dubrovnik, Croatia. 

“We wanted to recreate Cersei’s steps from Game of Thrones,” she recalled. When her friends went to grab drinks at what they thought was a gay bar, they instead were accosted by its “Neo-Nazi” patrons.

Union adds that, in addition to being accosted, the bar displayed Jim Crow memorabilia, which left her and her group of friends shaken.  The Bring It On star adds that, even after they left, a group of “menacing” patrons pursued them down the street.

“I’ve never experienced that level of hatred and the threat of physical violence,” she said. “It was such a jolt. And the fear and adrenaline of what happened left us all numb.”

Calling the encounter “heartbreaking and terrifying,” Union admits the incident is just one of many acts of racism she’s had to endure. “To go through every instance is to take you through every day of my life… There are microaggressions and there are all out assaults. That’s what it is to be a person of color in this country,” she said.

Continues Union, “We think we’re post racial but we’re not. And that is beyond disappointing. I don’t think people understand the violence that comes with racism, whether it’s if you’re being chased or you’re having to watch someone wear blackface to collect a paycheck. It’s violent.”

“There are a lot of people who turn a blind eye to racism. But silence is complicity,” Union closed, saying, “real radical impactful change” happens when people stand against racism.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A crew member suffered serious injuries while working on the set of Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg‘s upcoming Netflix film, Me Time.

Around 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, paramedics responded to 911 calls about a 38-year-old male who had fallen through a hole in an elevated platform at Netflix’s Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles Times.

When paramedics arrived, the man didn’t have a pulse and wasn’t breathing, according to LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey, who says on-set medical workers were performing CPR.

The man sustained fractures to both legs and one arm and was bleeding after falling from a height of about 60 to 80 feet, according to first responders, who had to use a defibrillator to resuscitate the victim.

The man’s condition remains unknown as of Wednesday morning.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Congratulations are in order for Fast and Furious star Jordana Brewster, who announced Tuesday that she is engaged to Mason Morfit.

Following reports that she was seen with a massive sparkler on her ring finger, the 41-year-old actress took to Instagram to confirm the happy news. Sharing a photo of the two cozying it up by the beach, Brewster gushed, “JB soon to be JBM,” and decorated the caption with red heart emojis.

The photo also shared a closer look at the F9 star’s engagement ring, which appears to be a circle-cut diamond, yellow in color, nestled on a brilliant gold band.

Brewster and Morfit, a businessman, first sparked dating rumors last year but have remained relatively private about their love life. The actress was previously married to movie producer Andrew Form, her husband of 13 years.  The two share sons Julian and Rowan, who are eight and five, respectively. 

Brewster opened up in June about her divorce in an op-ed published by Glamour, writing that the two drifted apart because they wanted different things in life.

“Most of why my marriage didn’t work was not my ex-husband’s fault.  He loves work. He loves being on set, on location. I knew this from ages 27 to 32, but it became a problem for me once the kids were older,” she wrote at the time. “I wanted a partner.”

She also opened up about Morfit, saying she found him “cute” and “charming” when they first met and that she could see herself marrying him one day.

Brewster nor Morfit have hinted when they will walk down the aisle.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by jordanabrewster (@jordanabrewster)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After a long hiatus, due in large part to the pandemic, The Morning Show returns for season two this Friday.

The critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning Apple TV+ drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, launched two years ago and goes behind the scenes of a network morning news program. While the first season had its own themes, director and executive producer Mimi Leder tells ABC Audio season two adds a lot more on top.

“Season one was about the fallout and the repercussions of the Me Too movement, season two is about identity,” she reveals. “We pose a lot of questions we don’t necessarily answer about race, sexuality and cancel culture.”

Leder also dishes that the upcoming 10 episode season will incorporate the COVID-19 pandemic, adding, “COVID lingers in the background of our show, like a storm coming. You know how the news largely missed it.”

Speaking of the pandemic, like the rest of the entertainment industry, production for The Morning Show was shut down at one point, which Leder says made them “reevaluate” some things. 

“We were shooting for 13 days when we shut down on March 12^th, and basically had to reevaluate what we were, what was our story,” she explains. “We’re a news show, we had to really mirror what was happening right under our feet.” 

Season two of The Morning Show premieres Friday, with the remaining episodes being released every Friday thereafter. 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After starring in the record-setting Fast & Furious franchise, Ludacris has now been inspired by one of his four children to produce an animated TV series.

The three-time Grammy winner named the show Karma’s World, after his 10-year-old daughter, and released the theme song, “Welcome to Karma’s World.”

‘I’m so proud of Karma’s World, which was inspired by my oldest daughter Karma. It’s about a girl who wants to bring positivity to the world through her music, and each episode draws on real-life situations faced by kids today,” Ludacris says in a statement.

Karma’s World follows Karma Grant, an aspiring rapper.  “We see Karma use her voice to help her family, friends and community, demonstrating the power young people have to create change,” Luda continues. “I truly believe that every single person on this earth has the power to change the world for the better – just like Karma.”

He goes on: “It is important to me that kids and families around the world will identify with Karma’s World, and my goal for the show is to help spread positivity, inspire self confidence in our children, and bring the world together through music.”

The show will premiere on October 15 on Netflix and a soundtrack album will be released on the same date.

The “Money Maker” rapper celebrated his 44th birthday on September 11, and posted a series of photos and videos on vacation in exotic locations. As he swam alone in an ocean, he commented on Instagram, “People Say it’s Lonely At The Top, But I For Damn Sure LOVE The View #virgoseason.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NOTE LANGUAGE) The news of the death of stand-up comedian and legendary Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update” anchor Norm Macdonald sent shockwaves through the comic community Tuesday, with many turning to social media to mourn him. 

Macdonald, who was a member of the sketch show’s cast from 1993 to 1998, died after a private, years-long battle with cancer. He was 61. 

Here are some of the first celebrities to comment: 

David Letterman, who once called Norm his all-time favorite guest, tweeted, “In every important way, in the world of stand-up, Norm was the best. An opinion shared by me and all peers. Always up to something, never certain, until his matter-of-fact delivery leveled you.”

Conan O’Brien: “I am absolutely devastated about Norm Macdonald. Norm had the most unique comedic voice I have ever encountered and he was so relentlessly and uncompromisingly funny. I will never laugh that hard again. I’m so sad for all of us today.”

Jon Stewart: “No one could make you break like Norm Macdonald. Hilarious and unique. F*** cancer.”

Seth Rogen: “Oh f***. I was a huge fan of Norm Macdonald and I essentially ripped off his delivery when I first started acting. I would stay up specifically to watch him on talk shows. He was the funniest guest of all time. We lost a comedy giant today. One of the the all time greats. RIP.”

Gilbert Gottfried posted a photo of himself with Norm and fellow comics Jeff Ross and Macdonald’s Dirty Work director and comedian Bob Saget. “This photo was taken after I was a guest on Norm’s show,” Gottfried wrote. “At dinner, the laughs just continued nonstop. He will be missed. RIP Norm Macdonald.”

Seth MacFarlane: “To so many people in comedy, me included, there was nobody funnier than Norm Macdonald. You always hoped he would hang around after the work was done, just so you could hear his stories and get a laugh. So hilarious and so generous with his personality. I’m gonna miss him.”

Whitney Cummings posted a video of Macdonald at the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget, along with the message, “Norm is the pinnacle of bravery and originality.”

Ken Jeong: “In such a divisive time even among comedians, we can all agree Norm MacDonald was the best. Rest In Peace.”

Tom Green: “Words can’t describe how saddened I am to hear of the passing of my friend.”

John Stamos: “Usually when you see a celebrity trending, you check it out because you’re afraid they may have died. You click their name and most of the time it’s something innocuous. Not this time sadly, #RIPNormMacdonald.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Ken Jeong (@kenjeong)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Seth Green‘s irreverent, Emmy-winning stop-motion animated show Robot Chicken just started its 11th season on Adult Swim, and co-creator Matt Senreich tells ABC Audio he can’t believe it, either.

“It’s something Seth and talk about this on a daily basis, is when we started this thing, it was a second job for both of us,” Senreich told ABC Audio. “I was working in comic books and he was a full-time actor, and then we both had to adjust to our careers to make this animated television show.”

He adds, “When we sold this show to Adult Swim was they said…’You’re you’re an animated SNL. You’re a sketch comedy show using action figures. This thing could go on forever.’ We laughed at that point,” Matt admits. 

Robot Chicken has a collection of famous voices behind its animated characters, and one of them is Battlestar Galactica and The Mandalorian star Katie Sackhoff. She calls Robot Chicken‘s longevity “absolutely amazing.” 

Sackhoff explains she came in to voice a few characters in her first appearance on Robot Chicken years ago, but one quickly became a fan favorite, a Strawberry Shortcake-like character called B**** Pudding.

“I wasn’t a voiceover actor when I came in, I…came into play myself, but Adult Swim was so cheap,” she lauighed, “they had paid me to come in and play myself. And I think that we finished so quickly that they were like, ‘We should get our money’s worth and have her play some more characters.'”

Senreich explains Sackhoff’s foul-mouthed character was an instant hit behind the scenes as well. “Those are the sketches that just pop, when someone comes in and just sells it.” 

And about her new gig, playing Mandalorian leader Bo Katan — which began as a voice part on Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Senreich surprised Katie by telling her that Robot Chicken had a lot to do with it.

“Before you got that gig on Clone Wars, [Mandalorian producer Dave] Filoni called Seth and I asked him what you were like to work with…He’d seen the stuff that we’d done. And he was like, ‘She’s awesome.’ And we’re like, ‘Yes, she is.’

Sackhoff was stunned, exclaiming, “Thank God I wasn’t a total b**** to you guys!”  

The Clone Wars role led to Sackhoff’s playing the live-action version of the same character in The Mandalorian. 

Star Wars is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Robot Chicken airs at midnight on Adult Swim.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Cynthia Erivo and Andy Serkis have been added to the cast of Idris Elba‘s upcoming Netflix film Luther, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Directed by Emmy nominee Jamie Payne, the film is described as “an epic continuation of the Luther saga,” which originally aired on BBC for five season between 2010 and 2019. It followed Elba as DCI John Luther, a homicide detective who was often drawn into “the darkness of the crimes” that he investigated. Details on casting and a release date for Luther has yet to be announced.

In other news, Deadline has learned that Apple TV+ has given a December 17 release date to their Mahershala Ali-led futuristic drama, Swan Song. The film, which also stars Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, Awkwafina and Adam Beach, follows Ali as a husband and father who is “presented with the risky chance of surviving a terminal illness.” Swan Song marks the producing debut of Ali, who is a two-time Oscar winner.

Finally, HBO Max has given an October 28 release date for the second season Love Life. Executive-produced by William Jackson Harper, the new season follows Harper as Marcus Watkins, a man emerging from a years-long relationship with the woman he thought was his soul mate. As previously reported, Greenleaf alum Keith David recently joined the second-season cast to take on the role of the narrator.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.