Entertainment

Sarah Jessica Parker, reprising her iconic role as Carrie Bradshaw from the original HBO series, revealed Thursday that Nicole Ari Parker, Sarita Choudhury and Karen Pittman have joined the cast of HBO Max’s upcoming 10-episode Sex and the City revival, titled And Just Like That…

“And finally!!!!” Parker wrote in an Instagram post. “THRILLED to welcome @therealsararamirez, @NicoleAriParker, Karen Pittman? and Sarita Choudhury to #AndJustLikeThat.”

“Can’t wait to work with these brilliant actors who bring so much talent, humor and excitement to our ensemble,” she added.

According to HBO Max, Parker will play Lisa Todd Wexley, a “Park Avenue mother of three and documentarian.” Choudhury is playing Seema Patel, a “single, self-made powerhouse Manhattan real estate broker,” and Pittman will appear as Dr. Nya Wallace, a “brilliant, challenging Columbia Law professor.”

“Everyone at And Just Like That … is thrilled to have these amazing and vibrant actors join the Sex and the City family,” executive producer Michael Patrick King said in a statement.

It was announced in May that Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramírez would be joining the cast of the revival to play Che Diaz, a non-binary, queer comedian and podcast host.

As previously reported, Carrie’s besties Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York Goldblatt are back, played respectively by co-executive producers Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis.

Other returning SaTC cast members include Chris Noth as Mr. Big, Mario Cantone as Anthony Marentino, David Eigenberg as Steve Brady, Willie Garson as Stanford Blatch, and Evan Handler as Harry Goldenblatt.

Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones in the original HBO series, is not returning, and her character will not be replaced, though no one has publicly specified how that’ll be handled on the show.

 

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Gigi Hadid has replaced Chrissy Teigen in a voiceover role in Netflix’s comedy Never Have I Ever, in the wake of Teigen’s cyberbullying scandal. 

Hadid can be heard throughout the third episode of the season titled “…opened a textbook,” which centers on Darren Barnet‘s hunky high-schooler, Paxton. In the episode’s open, he’s shown staring at a poster of a bikini-clad Hadid. 

“This is Paxton Hall-Yoshida,” Hadid says. “He is a 16-year-old boy from Sherman Oaks, California, and I am model, designer, activist, and a former 16-year-old from California, Gigi Hadid.” 

A quick montage of Hadid posing on the red carpet follows.

“You may be asking yourself, ‘Why is Old Gigers taking time out of her busy skedge to narrate the story of a 16-year-old boy?’ Believe it or not, I relate to this kid. We’re both constantly underestimated because people only see us as sex symbols.”

She adds, “When scientists declare your face to be perfectly symmetrical, that’s all everyone thinks you have to offer the world…[But] we have some much more going on inside. At least that’s true for me…”

Teigen lost the gig — as well as endorsement deals, and her unofficial title as the Mayor of Twitter — after it was revealed she’d cyberbullied a then-teenaged Courtney Stodden.

Teigen recently made a lengthy Instagram post in which she claimed to have been sitting around the house depressed for being “cancelled.” In it, she claimed, “…I could use some time off my couch!”

In that post, she didn’t mention that she, husband John Legend and their two children had just returned from a trip to Italy.

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Shortly after ABC’s Dancing with the Stars announced it will return for its 30th season on September 20, Carrie Ann Inaba confirmed that she’ll be returning as well — alongside fellow judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.

“Hey guys, I’m walking my dog, Lola.  Anyway, just wanted to say, did you hear the news?  Dancing With the Stars, September 20, it’s official.  We’re back!” Inaba, 53, shared in a video posted her Instagram Stories on Thursday.  “Get your glitter on, pull your disco balls out, warm up your back.”

“I can’t wait,” she continued. “Let’s bring on the dancing!”

Carrie Ann also promised to have some news about her future on CBS’ The Talk.

“I noticed a lot of you are asking about The Talk, if I’m coming back and what’s happening there,” Inaba said in another series of videos.  “I should have some news soon about what’s going on with my future at The Talk.”

She also congratulated Jerry O’Connell, who was announced Wednesday as the show’s permanent new co-host, joining Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth.

In April, Inaba announced that she would be taking “a leave of absence” from The Talk “…to focus on my well-being.”

 

 

 

 

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A new documentary out today looks at the life and death of chef and travel show host Anthony Bourdain, who died by suicide in 2018. The film Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain is from Oscar winning director Morgan Neville, who talked to ABC Audio about why he wanted to explore Bourdain’s life.

“Because I felt like he was a fellow traveler with me,” he explains, adding that, in a way, he felt Bourdain was a documentary filmmaker just like himself.

“He was somebody who was trying to share people’s stories and humanize them and be an advocate for curiosity and open mindedness,” Neville shares.

The director admits that losing Bourdain was sad for him — not just because of losing him as a person, but also because of losing him as “a voice in our culture,” which seems to echo how others felt as well. Neville says he was often greeted with “a heavy sigh” after revealing that he was working on the documentary.

But, he hopes the film “can at least make you see [Bourdain] as a full dimensional, complex and flawed human…maybe that was kind of the goal is like this is a real person who’s got great strengths and weaknesses. And sometimes those are the same things in him.”

Neville also hopes that after watching Roadrunner, audiences realize that “it doesn’t matter if you seemingly have everything, pain is pain and there’s no way around it.”

“And I think understanding that these are humans, that we shouldn’t put them on pedestals and that we really should have love and understanding, because the more you put somebody on a pedestal, the harder it is for them to ask for help,” Neville concludes. 

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain is in theaters now. 

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Reality competition shows have become popular primetime television entertainment over the past decade.  Sandwich King star Jeff Mauro says he knows why those shows are a recipe for success. 

Mauro explained to ABC Audio how Food Network series such as Chopped — or his own, Kitchen Crash — became staples on the network he’s called home for decades.

“People love to be critics and judges in their home,” the chef said, noting how American watchers have transitioned from passive to active spectators. “It’s so funny how people are, like, ‘What you made wasn’t good! You didn’t deserve to win that!’ Without ever having a bite of it. It’s crazy where you can kind of judge somebody… via your couch.”

Mauro added that reality competition shows create an experience for the audience, which includes “living vicariously through… the judges” to gain a sense of how everything tastes. 

The chef, who’s a paid spokesperson of gourmet dog food Caesar’s Bestie Bowls, says the transition is fueled by the audience’s love to watch food being made.

“We love to see people really dip into their resources to create something really special.  That — with the help of unbelievable crews and cameramen and descriptive judges — you can almost taste it from home,” he said.

Speaking of spectators, Mauro noted of another popular form of entertainment taking over social media — reaction videos. “Nothing’s safe from commentary these days,” he chuckled, admitting online critics have even used him as fodder.

Recalling Kalen Allen‘s viral reaction to the “bougie” mac & cheese made on his other show, The Kitchen, Mauro praised the “funny” and “wonderful” video.

“[He] introduced us to millions more people,” Mauro explained, and revealed that he learned something very important from Kalen’s brutally honest feedback: “I would never make that [mac & cheese] again!”

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Actor and successful investor Ashton Kutcher apparently had the dough to go to space aboard one of Richard Branson‘s Virgin Galactic flight to space, but his wife, Mila Kunis, scrubbed his launch. 

Kutcher revealed to the business channel Cheddar in an on-camera interview, “When I got married and had kids, my wife basically encouraged that it was not a smart family decision to be heading into space when we have young children. So I ended up selling my ticket back to Virgin Galactic, and I was supposed to be on the next flight. But I will not be on the next flight.”

The former That ’70s Show star then added defiantly, “But, at some point, I’m going to space.”

Apparently, Kutcher listened to Kunis this time, but, thankfully, not when the actress told her husband that she thought some of Kutcher’s earliest investments — Bitcoin, Airbnb and Uber — — weren’t worth backing. 

As Kunis explained during a recent appearance on Stephen Colbert‘s The Late Show, “He is also really smart at knowing that, sometimes, you shouldn’t listen to your wife.”

The Four Good Days star told Colbert that she initially thought Bitcoin was “a horrible idea,” and said of a then-fledgling Uber, “You’re going to put me in a car with a stranger? What is wrong with you?”

Kunis then confessed, “I’ve never been happier to be wrong,”

Ashton considered her input, but invested anyway — and that paid off big time. It’s no wonder he could afford the reportedly $250,000-a-seat flight.

 

Actor and investor @aplusk says he was supposed to be on the next Virgin Galactic flight, but sold his ticket to space. 🚀 Don’t miss the full interview on Cheddar at 3:20 p.m. ET. https://t.co/fi07qhm3FE pic.twitter.com/HVMei8mnrZ

— Cheddar News 🧀 (@cheddar) July 14, 2021

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Fresh from its 20 Emmy nominations earlier this week, the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso leads the pack with five nominations for this year’s Television Critics Association (TCA) awards.

Jason Sudeikis‘ series is in good company: Disney+’s Emmy leader WandaVision, along with HBO’s Emmy nominees Mare of Easttown, Hacks, and I Will Destroy You all earned four TCA nominations each.

Other shows recognized by the Television Academy this week were also represented in the TCA’s nominations, including The Flight Attendant, The Mandalorian, and Pose.

Like last year, the pandemic means no actual event will be held for the winners to gather their gold; instead, they’ll be notified at a later date. 

Here are the nominees for the 37th Annual Television Critics Association Awards: 

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You – HBO
Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird – Showtime
Thuso Mbedu, The Underground Railroad – Amazon
Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision – Disney+
Mj Rodriguez, Pose – FX
Omar Sy, Lupin – Netflix
Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit – Netflix
Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown – HBO

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

Bo Burnham, Bo Burnham: Inside – Netflix
Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant – HBO Max
Maya Erskine, Pen15 – Hulu
Renee Elise Goldsberry, Girls5Eva – Peacock
Charlotte Nicdao, Mythic Quest – Apple TV+
Jean Smart, Hacks – HBO Max
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso – Apple TV+
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso – Apple TV+

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM

Bridgerton – Netflix
The Flight Attendant – HBO Max
Hacks – HBO Max
I May Destroy You – HBO
Mare of Easttown – HBO
P-Valley – Starz
Ted Lasso – Apple TV+
WandaVision – Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES OR SPECIALS

Bo Burnham: Inside – Netflix
The Good Lord Bird – Showtime
I May Destroy You – HBO
It’s a Sin – HBO Max
Mare of Easttown – HBO
The Queen’s Gambit – Netflix
The Underground Railroad – Amazon
WandaVision – Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

Bridgerton – Netflix
The Crown – Netflix
For All Mankind – Apple TV+
The Handmaid’s Tale – Hulu
Lovecraft Country – HBO
The Mandalorian – Disney+
Pose – FX
P-Valley – Starz

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

The Flight Attendant – HBO Max
Girls5Eva – Peacock
Hacks – HBO Max
Mythic Quest – Apple TV+
Pen15 – Hulu
Superstore – NBC
Ted Lasso – Apple TV+
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist – NBC

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

Bridgerton – Netflix
Hacks – HBO Max
I May Destroy You – HBO
Mare of Easttown – HBO
The Queen’s Gambit – Netflix
Ted Lasso – Apple TV+
The Underground Railroad – Amazon
WandaVision – Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY, TALK OR SKETCH

The Amber Ruffin Show – Peacock
A Black Lady Sketch Show – HBO 
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – Comedy Central
Desus & Mero – Showtime
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – HBO 
Late Night with Seth Meyers – NBC
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – CBS
Saturday Night Live – NBC
Ziwe – Showtime

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION

Allen v. Farrow – HBO
City So Real – NatGeo
Framing Britney Spears – FX/FX On Hulu
Frontline – PBS 
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark – HBO
Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special – CBS
The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC
60 Minutes – CBS

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY

Couples Therapy – Showtime
Deaf U – Netflix
The Great Pottery Throw Down – HBO Max
Legendary – HBO Max
Nailed It! Double Trouble – Netflix
The Real World Homecoming: New York – Paramount+
Taste the Nation – Hulu
Top Chef: Portland – Bravo

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING

The Baby-Sitters Club – Netflix
Bluey – Disney Jr.
Donkey Hodie – PBS Kids
Emily’s Wonder Lab – Netflix
Odd Squad – PBS Kids
Sesame Street – HBO
Waffles + Mochi – Netflix
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum – PBS Kids

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The first teaser trailer to 50 Cent‘s new Starz drama BMF has been released.

Inspired by the Black Mafia Family — also known as the B.M.F. — the new series will premiere on Sunday, September 26, at 9 p.m. ET. It will then move to its regular time slot at 8 p.m. ET. on Sunday, October 3. As previously reported, BMF follows the real-life story of brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, who “rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in the country.” The series stars Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., Russell Hornsby, Snoop Dogg, La La Anthony and Serayah, among others.

In other news, Grammy Award-winning producer and artist DJ Khaled has been tapped to join the celebrity judging panel for season two of TBS’ Go-Big Show. He joins Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles and Cody Rhodes on the panel. The extreme talent-competition series, hosted by Bert Kreischer, features “some of the most extreme and death defying acts from around the country” as they battle to impress the judges and advance toward the finale’s ultimate $100,000 prize. Production on season two of Go-Big Show begins in August.

Finally, Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga has set their season-two premiere date. The new season will launch on September 8 with three new episodes, followed by an additional episode every Wednesday. Created and written by Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA, the series follows the group’s formation and examines how Bobby Diggs, better known as RZA, took his vision for the group and made it a success. Wu-Tang: An American Saga stars Shameik Moore, Ashton Sanders, Erika Alexanderand Joey Bada$$, among others.

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Stand-up comic and actor Gabriel Iglesias took to social media to tell fans that although he’s been vaccinated, he tested positive for COVID-19. 

In a video post accompany a message that reads “Announcement I didn’t want to make on my bday,” Iglesias, known to his fans as Fluffy, said, “I made sure I that I got tested by two different types of tests,” adding he has started to show some signs of symptoms, including body aches and chills.

“Other than that, I feel pretty good. I give credit to being vaccinated for getting me through this,” he said, in a voice more muted than usual. 

The comic noted that he has to isolate, forcing him to cancel his five remaining shows at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, and explained that he will “go back to work” when he gets three negative tests. Tickets will be refunded, the venue has announced.

“It’s not the way I wanted to spend my birthday, but I’m alive, and I have cake. I can’t taste it or smell it, but I have it,” Iglesias quipped, adding, “Wish me luck,” before thanking his fans.

Iglesias can currently be heard in the Disney+ show Monsters at Work.

 

 

 

 

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Robert Downey Jr. will appear in a small-screen project for the first time since his short stint on Saturday Night Live, playing multiple characters in an HBO series adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Sympathizer.

Viet Thanh Nguyen‘s book centers on a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist double agent during the final days of the Vietnam War and afterward, after he settles in the United States.

Deadline, which broke the news, says legendary Oldboy director Park Chan-wook will direct the series. The project will be produced by Team Downey, the company that the Marvel movie veteran runs with his wife, producer Susan Downey. 

According to the trade, Downey Jr. will play several characters, including an American congressman, a CIA agent and a Hollywood director. In a statement, Downey said, “Adapting Mr. Nguyen’s important and masterful work requires a visionary team. With…Park at the helm, I expect this to be a creative producing adventure for Susan, me and Team Downey, and a stimulating process for myself in playing these complex supporting roles.”

The series will reportedly feature a predominantly Southeast Asian cast.

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