Rena Sofer returning to ‘General Hospital’ after 26 years

Rena Sofer returning to ‘General Hospital’ after 26 years
Rena Sofer returning to ‘General Hospital’ after 26 years
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

General Hospital fans are going to see a familiar face next month. People reports that Rena Sofer is set to return to the ABC soap opera, reprising her Daytime Emmy-winning role of Lois Cerullo.

It’s been 26 years since Sofer played Cerullo, a feisty character known for her Brooklyn accent. Cerullo was in a relationship with Wally Kurth‘s Ned Ashton, and they were one of the show’s most popular super couples. 

Sofer played Cerullo for four years, from 1993 to 1997. The character was brought back to the show in 2004, played by Daytime Emmy winner Lesli Kay. Sofer and Kurth were actually married in real life, from 1995 to 1997, and have a daughter together.

Sofer’s first appearance on the soap is expected in October. She’ll return as Ned is dealing with a case of amnesia, believing he’s Ned’s alter ego, rock star Eddie Maine, the man Louis initially fell in love with before finding out his true identity.

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Brie Larson teaches ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ in trailer for new Apple TV+ series

Brie Larson teaches ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ in trailer for new Apple TV+ series
Brie Larson teaches ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ in trailer for new Apple TV+ series
Apple

Brie Larson stars in the new trailer for Apple TV+’s highly-anticipated eight-part limited series Lessons in Chemistry, which dropped Thursday, September 14.

Larson, who also executive produces the series, plays Elizabeth Zott, a scientist whose dreams are put on hold when she gets fired from her lab. This leads her to take on a job as a TV cooking show host, where she inspires her viewers in unexpected ways.

“In life, discoveries usually lead to more questions. The only constant variable is the unexpected,” Larson says in the trailer as Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” plays underneath.

The series, based on the bestselling novel by Bonnie Garmus, will debut new episodes every Friday starting on October 13.

Starring alongside Larsen is Lewis PullmanAja Naomi KingStephanie KoenigKevin Sussman and Thomas Mann.

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Adam Sandler to launch 25-City North American I Missed You comedy tour in October

Adam Sandler to launch 25-City North American I Missed You comedy tour in October
Adam Sandler to launch 25-City North American I Missed You comedy tour in October
Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Adam Sandler will launch his 25-city I Missed You North American tour in October, the comedian and Live Nation announced on Wednesday, September 13.

The tour, which also teases a “surprise guest,” will kick off in Vancouver, BC on October 12 and include stops in Portland, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Memphis, Toronto and more before wrapping up in Denver on December 12.

Pre-sale tickets will go on sale Thursday, September 14 at 12 p.m. local time, while the general sale begins the next day.

For a full list of dates and tickets, visit LiveNation.com.

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In Brief: ‘LEGO Masters’ renewed and more

In Brief: ‘LEGO Masters’ renewed and more
In Brief: ‘LEGO Masters’ renewed and more

Ahead of its fourth season premiere on September 28, Fox has already renewed LEGO Masters for a fifth season, debuting in 2024. The show, a hit with critics and fans, once again hosted and executive produced by Will Arnett, features pairs of Lego enthusiasts facing off in brick-building challenges, cheered on by Arnett and a panel of expert judges, until one duo is crowned the LEGO Master…

9-1-1: Lone Star alum Rob Lowe has moved on to his next Fox project, the quiz show The Floor, set for a midseason debut. The show, produced and hosted by Lowe, is “a spectacular battle of the brains in which 81 contestants stand on 81 squares on a massive game show floor, competing for a whopping $250,000 prize,” according to the network. The Floor marks Lowe’s latest unscripted series for the Fox, who hosted two seasons of Mental Samurai between 2019 and 2022…

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Mystery meets horror in ‘A Haunting in Venice’

Mystery meets horror in ‘A Haunting in Venice’
Mystery meets horror in ‘A Haunting in Venice’
20th Century Studios

A Haunting in Venice hits theaters this weekend!

Directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, the mystery-crime film is based on the Agatha Christie novel Halloween Party, though it’s a much less faithful Christie adaptation compared to the first two Branagh films, Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express. 

Although it strays a bit, James Prichard, one of the producers, who is also Christie’s great-grandson and CEO of her estate, tells ABC Audio that he trusted writer Michael Green.

“He wanted to play with the horror genre. And he felt that Halloween Party was a great launching pad to play with that,” Prichard explains. “I think we have achieved what we set out to achieve, which is to create what I would call a valid, a faithful Agatha Christie experience within some aspects of the horror genre.”

One way the movie strayed was relocating the story, which was originally set outside of London, to Venice, something Prichard says added to the spookiness.

“Venice does have a certain atmosphere. It has a certain mystery. It has a certain mystique,” he shares.

So what would Christie think of this latest representation of her work?

“I wouldn’t want to do her the disservice of putting her words into her mouth,” Prichard says. “I hope, I think she would just be amazed that we’re still here, we’re still talking about her works. I hope she’d be incredibly proud.”

A Haunting in Venice also stars Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, a writer of mystery novels, and a character many think Christie loosely based on herself. Whatever the case, Prichard says Fey brought the “wit” and “sass.”

“We get that really great interplay between her and Ken Branagh,” he shares, adding, “I think this is Ken’s best performance as [Detective] Poirot.”

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Chicago International Film Festival chooses ‘The Bikeriders’ to close the show

Chicago International Film Festival chooses ‘The Bikeriders’ to close the show
Chicago International Film Festival chooses ‘The Bikeriders’ to close the show
(Austin Butler, Jodie Comer) – 20th Century Studios

On Wednesday, September 13, the organizers of The Chicago International Film Festival announced The Bikeriders, the biker gang drama starring ElvisAustin Butler and Mad Max: Fury Road‘s Tom Hardy, will close the event. 

Also, writer-director Jeff Nichols will be honored with the festival’s Artistic Achievement Award.

The festival runs from October 11 to October 22 and has the distinction of being the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. 

Inspired by Danny Lyon‘s iconic book of photography, The Bikeriders also stars Killing Eve Emmy winner Jodie Comer and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, who is also appearing at this year’s festival with his directorial debut, Eric Larue

Bikeriders also stars The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny‘s Boyd Holbrook and West Side Story‘s Mike Faist. The film hits theaters December 1.

Regarding honoring the movie’s director, Chicago International Film Festival artistic director Mimi Plauché noted, “From his feature debut Shotgun Stories, which had its U.S. premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2007, to his stunning follow-ups Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special, Loving, and his latest achievement The Bikeriders, Jeff Nichols’ work is remarkable for the stunning performances he elicits from his actors … combined with a profound understanding of the human spirit and the often overlooked corners of American life.”

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Mira Sorvino reveals she’s dancing in honor of her late dad on ‘DWTS’ season 32

Mira Sorvino reveals she’s dancing in honor of her late dad on ‘DWTS’ season 32
Mira Sorvino reveals she’s dancing in honor of her late dad on ‘DWTS’ season 32
The Sorvinos in 2010 – Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Mira Sorvino said she’ll be dancing in honor of her late father, Goodfellas actor Paul Sorvino, on season 32 of Dancing with the Stars.

The Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion actress, 55, opened up to Good Morning America with a sweet recollection of her famous dad, who died in July 2022 at the age of 83, which she said inspired her to sign up for the show despite feeling both “excitement and fear.”

“We used to watch all the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly movies together,” she said. “That was such a fond memory I have, and so getting to do the ballroom portion, you know, the more elegant dances or the movie-type dances, it’s kind of for him.”

In addition to her dad, the Oscar winner said she’s dancing for herself, as well as for “my girls,” referencing her daughters Mattea and Lucia.

“I’m dancing for myself because it was a dream of mine since I was a kid to be a real dancer,” she noted. “I love dancing, but I’m not really a dancer, so this is like this little visit to Dancing Land.”

As for her daughters, Sorvino said Mattea is an “incredible dancer” in her own right and Lucia “loves dancing too.”

Sorvino also has two sons, Holden and Johnny, whom she shares with husband Christopher Backus.

Dancing with the Stars season 32 premieres September 26 on ABC and Disney+.

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Chris Pratt thanks donors for raising more than $375,000 for Maui relief

Chris Pratt thanks donors for raising more than 5,000 for Maui relief
Chris Pratt thanks donors for raising more than 5,000 for Maui relief
Getty Images for Marvel Studios

On Wednesday, September 13, Chris Pratt posted on Instagram a warm thank you to those who contributed to a charity effort for Maui fire relief via sale of clothing from his lifestyle apparel partner TravisMatthew.

Pratt previously announced that all the profits from the company’s online End of Summer Sale, which began September 1, would be donated to the Maui Strong Fund through the Hawaii Community Foundation.

“We raised a ton of money for our friends in need out in Maui,” said Pratt, who incidentally was discovered as an actor while working at a restaurant in hard-hit Lahaina.

He noted the effort raised $375,628. “That’s awesome,” Pratt said, calling the results “a big step up” from what they expected, adding he’s going to be making his own donation “on top of that.”

Pratt also asked people to donate to the charity, if they are able, even though the sale is over. “Our friends are in need. And they are our countrymen, our brothers and sisters, mothers, fathers and friends. So God bless you, and thank you,” the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise star said.

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‘Strike Force Three’: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon to go live to benefit show staff

‘Strike Force Three’: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon to go live to benefit show staff
‘Strike Force Three’: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon to go live to benefit show staff
Live Nation

Three of the late night hosts who make up the podcast Strike Force Five — Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon — are taking their podcast live.

The trio are coming together for a one-night-only show at the Dolby Live at Park MGM venue in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 23, to support the podcast’s goal: raising money for the staff of their respective shows. Due to Hollywood’s ongoing writers and actors strikes, their staff have been out of work for several months.

For the record, the two remaining Strike Force Five hosts, Seth Meyers and John Oliver, already made their excuses.

Oliver explained, “I’m not allowed back in Vegas until I’m cleared of all charges.” Meyers said, “I will be in Vegas but unable to attend as I gotta play my slots.”

Presale tickets for Strike Force Three go on sale September 14 at 1 p.m. ET; general public sales start on September 15 at 1 p.m. ET at Ticketmaster.com.

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Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon, Jane Lynch and more to guest on Fox’s animated ‘Krapopolis’

Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon, Jane Lynch and more to guest on Fox’s animated ‘Krapopolis’
Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon, Jane Lynch and more to guest on Fox’s animated ‘Krapopolis’
Fox

Fox’s mythological animated comedy series Krapopolis has announced a series of very high-profile stars to guest on its first season.

Ben Stiller, Jane Lynch, Hamilton‘s Daveed Diggs, Fargo‘s Steve Buscemi and Susan Sarandon are among the guests announced Wednesday, September 13.

The show was co-created by Dan Harmon, and Sarandon already voiced a character on Harmon’s other animated series, Rick and Morty.

Another Harmon pal, Yvette Nicole Brown, from Community, is also on the guest list, as are SNL vets Will Forte, Bobby Moynihan and Tim Meadows. Twisted Metal‘s Stephanie Beatriz and The Hangover‘s Rob Riggle also join the cast.

As reported, Krapopolis is set in ancient Greece and stars the voices of Ted Lasso Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham, What We Do in the Shadows’ Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd.

It “tells the story of a dysfunctional family of humans, gods and monsters trying to run one of the world’s first cities, while also trying their best to not kill each other in the process.”

The new show premieres on Fox Sunday, September 24, but in the meantime, fans can get a sneak peek of Stiller as Prometheus in a new clip.

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