Entertainment

Dave Chappelle is headed back to Netflix with The Closer, a brand-new stand-up comedy special that will premiere on October 5.

Netflix released a teaser on Wednesday which shows Chappelle on stage telling an audience that “Comedians have a responsibility to speak recklessly.” Billed as “the sixth chapter,” the special serves as a potential ending to the comedian’s previous specials, which include The Age of Spin, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Equanimity, The Bird Revelation, and Sticks & Stones. Stan Lathan, who directed Chappelle’s previous Netflix specials, also returns to direct The Closer.

In other news, Toni Braxton is deepening her relationship with Lifetime. According to Deadline, the singer has returned to the network to star and exec-produce a series of television movies based on the Hollis Morgan mystery book series by R. Franklin James. In the first film installment, tentatively called The Fallen Angels Book Club, Braxton plays Hollis Morgan, an “ex-con turned amateur sleuth who sets out to investigate a series of murders at her book club.” As previously reported, Braxton made her TV movie debut with Lifetime’s Twist of Faith. She later went on to executive-produce and star in two other projects for the network. The Fallen Angels Book Club is expected to premiere sometime in 2022.

Finally, Ruth Negga is teaming up with Daniel Craig for a Broadway production of Macbeth, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. This play marks Negga’s Broadway debut and Craig’s return to Broadway after recently ending his run as James Bond in No Time to Die. Negga will play Lady Macbeth, while Craig will take on the titular role. Directed by Tony winner Sam Gold, opening night for Macbeth is set for April 28, 2022 at the Lyceum Theatre. Additional casting has yet to be announced.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Daniel Craig‘s latest and last James Bond adventure, No Time to Die, hits theaters October 8, but it’s just been announced that shortly thereafter, he’ll be tackling The Bard on Broadway in William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth.

Craig will be playing the title role opposite Preacher‘s Ruth Negga as his Machiavellian Lady at the historic Lyceum Theatre in New York City starting March 29 of 2022. 

According to the play’s website, “A tale of malice, matrimony and murder, Macbeth tells the story of one couple’s obsession with power — and their guilt after doing the unthinkable.” The producers promise, “this thrilling new production will capture the passion and ferocity of Shakespeare’s most haunting text like never before.”

The limited-run engagement ends on July 10 of next year. 

The director of the production will be Tony winner Sam Gold, who called the shots on an Off-Broadway production of Othello that starred Craig and acclaimed Selma actor David Oyelowo in the title role.

Tickets are available now at MacbethBroadway.com.

Speaking of the famous play, Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand will be seen on the big screen in The Tragedy of Macbeth on December 25 for Oscar winning director Joel Coen.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

“Sabrina the Teenage Witch” turned 25 on Monday, and star Melissa Joan Hart didn’t let the milestone pass by without celebrating.

Sharing throwback photos of the cast, the 45-year-old actress took to Instagram to look back on the magical show, which also starred Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick and more.

“It’s been brought to my attention that 25 years ago today Sept 27, 1996 our show first aired on ABC for 7 seasons,” she captioned the series of pictures. “The little engine that could we called it since it was in the shadows of the largely anticipated show #Clueless but it persevered and we got to steal @reddonovan to come over to our fun cast.”

“Tons of talented guest stars, musical acts and magic tv tricks over the years. Full of friendships and crazy memories, it was an incredible ride to be sure!” she continued. “Thanks for the love and support to help us do what we love to do, make people smile!! Happy #SabrinatheTeenageWitch Day!”

Ahead of the milestone anniversary, Hart chatted with ABC Audio about why she thinks the show was such a success. 

“It brings you to this escapism that the world is always looking for… And you’re looking for a happy ending,” the actress said. “Are you looking for this escapism of this girl who can do anything at the point of a finger? We all want that. We all dream of that.”

Something else fans dream about is a reboot of the popular sitcom. Not Hart, though. 

“I would never want to reboot it because it just ended so perfectly,” she candidly revealed. “How are you going to improve on that?” 

There actually has been a reboot, of sorts. Netflix aired Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a much darker comedic take on the character, for two seasons, ending in July of last year.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Melissa Joan Hart (@melissajoanhart)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Tyra Banks has gone viral, thanks to the outfit she changed into halfway through Monday night’s Dancing with the Stars. The supermodel changed into a larger-than-life crimson gown that was accentuated by oversized fan-shaped sleeves.

While the internet was intrigued by the look, some compared the dress to the frilled dilophosaurus dinosaur that killed Wayne Knight‘s character, Dennis Nedry, in Jurassic Park.

Banks shook off the comparisons on Tuesday when speaking with E!’s Daily Pop and revealed that the dress is actually an homage to her past life as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.

“There’s a base of that dress. It looks like a normal, beautiful dress from the ’90s,” she described. “Then I go on the stage in front of the audience and everybody, and I put on the wing thing. And everybody was like, ‘Oh!’ because they thought the first thing was the normal dress.”

“I call it Victoria’s Secret wangs. It’s not wings. It’s got an ‘A,'” the supermodel said of her outfit. “That’s how we did it.”

Dancing with the Stars will celebrate all things Britney Spears when it returns next Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

For fans of the bounty hunter who were left hanging by the after-credits scene in the season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, rest easy: The Book of Boba Fett now has a premiere date: December 29 on Disney+.

As the two-minute set-up teased, Temuera Morrison‘s legendary hunter and his enforcer, Ming-Na Wen‘s Fennec Shand, have taken over the crime syndicate once run by Jabba the Hutt, whose throne was being kept warm by his former majordomo Bib Fortuna — the pasty-faced alien with the tentacles sticking out of his head — after Jabba’s death in 1983’s Return of the Jedi. 

According to Disney+, the  new Star Wars adventure finds Fett and Shand “navigating the Galaxy’s underworld” after Fett dispatches Fortuna in The Mandalorian‘s finale. Disney+ also released a teaser poster for the show, showing Fett as he was in the finale’s closing moments, sitting on the throne with his still-warm blaster in his lap. 

Jon Favreau, the creator of the Emmy-winning The Mandalorian, is executive producing the new series, with his partner on that show, Dave Filoni, and life-long Star Wars fan-turned Mandalorian episode director Robert Rodriguez, along with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Rodriguez got to realize a boyhood dream by bringing the bounty hunter back in his episode, “Chapter 14: The Tragedy.”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Florida police took Bam Margera to a rehab facility after the Jackass star was found “acting out of control” at a Tampa Bay-area hotel on Sunday, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office tells The New York Post.

Police responded to a report of an “emotionally disturbed person” at the Don CeSar Hotel in St. Pete Beach, according to a police department spokesperson.

The exact nature of Margera’s disturbance was not revealed, but he was reportedly taken into custody after officers discovered the 41-year-old reality star had a legal order against him, which required that he be taken to rehab.

“They received a call that something was going wrong there,” the sheriff’s department spokesperson tells the newspaper.  “When deputies arrived, they were informed that Mr. Margera had an ex parte order, which is a judge’s order for court-ordered rehabilitation. Those are taken out by a third party on behalf of the person,” the spokesperson continued.

It’s unclear who requested that a judge order Margera to seek treatment, nor is it known where he was taken.

Sunday’s transfer was not considered an arrest, says the spokesperson, who also said Margera is “not going to face any criminal charges.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jennifer Aniston says she’s ready to fall in love again following her divorce from Justin Theroux.

Speaking on SiriusXM’s Lunch with Bruce, the Friends alum said she thinks “it’s time” she settles down with someone new.

At the moment, she admits, “No one of importance has hit my radar yet,” but that doesn’t mean she isn’t looking.

“I think it’s time,” Aniston continued. “I think I’m ready to share myself with another… I didn’t want to for a long time”

The Morning Show star revealed she took an extended hiatus from dating following her 2017 divorce because she enjoyed exploring who she was as a single woman.

“I loved really, being my own woman without being a part of a couple. I’ve been a part of a couple since I was 20. So there was something really nice about taking the time,” she said.

So what’s Aniston, 52, is looking for in a romantic partner?  “The ease at which the conversation flows the first time, that’s kind of a good indicator,” the Emmy winner divulged. “Confidence, but not a cockiness. Humor… Generous, kind to people. You know, it’s just very few necessities.”

She added that she’ll find her future significant other the “old fashioned way” and not on a dating app.

The conversation comes as Aniston had to dispel rumors that she and fellow Friends alum David Schwimmer were romantically involved.  The rumors about the two dating first sparked after the show’s HBO Max reunion, where the two actors admitted they had a mutual crush on one another but never acted upon it.

“That was bizarre. I could not believe that, actually. Like, really? That’s my brother,” Jennifer told Entertainment Tonight earlier this month about their alleged hook-up.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Wendy Williams is returning to television screens and she just has one question: How you doing?

In a social media announcement on Tuesday, it was revealed that the new season of The Wendy Williams Show will begin Monday, October 4.

The promotional clip, which was posted to the talk show’s Instagram account, promises “all new Hot Topics” and was captioned, “THE WAIT IS OVER! Season 13 starts MONDAY. You don’t wanna miss it!” 

The exciting news comes after the show’s premiere was postponed due to Williams’ numerous health issues, which included testing positive for COVID-19 and reportedly being checked into a mental health facility, according to the The New York Post. However, last week, sources shared that Wendy was ready to get back into the swing of things. 

“Wendy is on the mend, and doing well,” the insider said. “There was a meeting this week, and [execs] assured staff the show will return on October 4., and Wendy is ready to get back to work.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Wendy Williams (@wendyshow)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC has tapped former Bachelor Jesse Palmer to host the show’s upcoming 26th season, the network announced on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old former football pro starred on The Bachelor‘s fifth season. His final rose went to Jessica Bowlin, but the couple split shortly after the show aired in 2004.

“For more than 20 years, The Bachelor has brought the world dozens of unforgettable love stories, including at one time, my own,” Palmer said in a statement. “Falling in love is one of life’s greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey.”

Following his Bachelor stint, Palmer went on to host the ABC reality dating show, The Proposal and Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship. He currently hosts ABC’s The Ultimate Surfer and is a football analyst for ESPN.

The Bachelor season 26 is set to air in 2022.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.