Dead to Me co-star Christina Applegate has joined the star-studded cast of The Ed Asner Family Center‘s annual charity reading of It’s a Wonderful Life.
The actress and newly-minted Hollywood Walk of Fame star recipient will join Brendan Fraser in the two lead roles — Mary and George Bailey — which were filled by Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart in the 1946 Christmas classic.
As reported, Jennifer Hudson will contribute a musical performance at this year’s reading on Sunday, December 11, which will also star Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, JK Simmons and Jean Smart.
The event, which kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET, benefits The Ed Asner Family Center (TEAFC), a charity the late Emmy winner started, which is dedicated to helping people with special needs and their families. Former Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron will once again serve as host.
Applegate, 50, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, which has made it difficult for her to walk, and even stand for long periods of time.
After scoring the most viewing time in a single week for an English-language series on Netflix, the mystery comedy Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega as the titular character, topped its own mark in the week of November 28-December 4, grabbing 411.29 million hours of viewing worldwide, according to the streamer. Additionally, Wednesday-related searches on TikTok number in the billions, and the show’s soundtrack tops the iTunes soundtrack chart…
Chelsea Handler will make her late night TV return — on a temporarily basis, at least. The former Chelsea Lately host is one of comedians who’ll guest host Comedy Central’s The Daily Show after Trevor Noah, who announced his exit as host of the show after seven years back in October, anchors his final episode on Thursday. Al Franken, D.L. Hughley, Leslie Jones, John Leguizamo, Hasan Minhaj, Kal Penn, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes and Marlon Wayans are among the other stars expected to fill in beginning January 17. Correspondents and contributors to The Daily Show will also get the chance to sit in the anchor chair. Handler filled in for a week for Jimmy Kimmel on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! over the summer…
A day after reporting that HBO Max had cancelled FBoy Island after two seasons, Deadline reported on Tuesday the competition series Legendary has gotten the axe after three seasons. Spotlighting ballroom culture, Legendary follows mainly Black and Latino LGBTQ house members — predominantly from eight houses — as they navigate through nine dance challenges for a shot at the $100,000 prize. Ballroom legend Leiomy Maldonado, fashion stylist Law Roach, actress Jameela Jamil and rapper Megan Thee Stallion served as judges for the series, along with ballroom MC Dashaun Wesley…
Hulu has renewed The D’Amelio Show for a ten-episode third season, according to Deadline. The D’Amelio Show follows the TikTok famous family as they continue to navigate rising fame and all that comes with it. Season two followed the family — Marc D’Amelio, Heidi D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, Charli D’Amelio — as they deal with “public relationships, private struggles, new pursuits, and unfathomable pressure and scrutiny,” while Marc and Heidi parented “in uncharted territory, as they try to protect their family from new pitfalls at every turn,” per the streamer. The second season premiered on September 28 and all 10 episodes are now streaming on Hulu…
Hugh Grant has joined the cast of the upcoming HBO limited series The Palace in a guest starring role, according to Variety. He joins Kate Winslet, who executive produces and stars along with Matthias Schoenaerts and Andrea Riseborough. The drama will “tell the story of one year within the walls of the palace of an authoritarian regime as it begins to unravel,” per the cabler. Specific character details for the series have yet to be revealed. The role marks a return to HBO for Grant, who previously starred in the critically-acclaimed limited series The Undoing, opposite Nicole Kidman…
Vanessa Williams is gearing up for her debut at 54 Below’s Diamond Series, during which she’ll take the stage for six different shows. While the concerts will broadcast her singing skills, the living legend has also been featured in many films, including the cult classic Soul Food.
The 1997 film, which also stars Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long and Mekhi Phifer, celebrated its 25th anniversary in September. Speaking of the film, Vanessa admits she had no clue the “small,” “independent” and “sweet” movie would be this long lived.
“I had no idea it would have the sustaining power that it has and that, you know, some of my lines would be iconic, which always cracks me up when I see people reenact them on their TikToks or Reels or whatever,” she tells ABC Audio.
She does, however, understand the movie’s lasting impact, as it encompasses relatable themes for any family.
“Everyone can relate to family, no matter what your cultural background is,” Vanessa says. “There’s always a matriarch, there’s always drama, and there is always tension within a family at certain times. So I think everybody can relate to it.”
One of her favorite parts about working on the film was the opportunity “to be part of something that was new.”
“I love working with people … that are kind of undiscovered or it’s their first time at it,” says Vanessa. “Because you get a chance to really kind of work at things together and and be a creative team, and that’s kind of what it was like.” She hasn’t “heard anything” about a sequel.
Vanessa’s upcoming shows, which will feature her live renditions of Broadway classics, American Songbook standards and her own hits, will take place December 13-18 at 54 Below in NYC. (AUDIO 1-ON-1)
In the new fantasy drama series Willow, many were thrilled to discover that in episode one, there’s LGBTQ representation among the main characters Jade and Princess Kit, played by Erin Kellyman and Ruby Cruz, respectively.
Fans weren’t the only one’s excited, though. In fact, Cruz told ABC Audio that the representation was a big reason she joined the project.
“I think it’s extremely important to represent sort of our our worlds and accurately in the Willow world,” she said. “And I’m just really privileged to be a part of that and to be able to develop such an important, awesome, layered, complicated relationship between two young women. That is the best opportunity ever.”
Kellyman felt similarly, explaining that having this kind of representation would have helped her growing up.
“You know, a show that is inclusive for a younger generation, I think it’s really important to be able to have queer representation involved in that because people of all ages are constantly figure out figuring out their sexuality and sometimes it can be kind of lonely or yeah, you can feel quite separate from people,” she shared. “So, if you have this representation in TV and film, it can feel way more normalized and less lonely. I know if I had that grown up, I think I would have felt a lot less scared.”
Catch the first two episodes of Willownow on Disney+, with following episodes releasing weekly on Wednesdays.
The 2022 People’s Choice Awards celebrated all things entertainment Tuesday night on NBC in a two-hour ceremony hosted by actor and comedian Kenan Thompson.
Here is the full list of winners:
People’s Champion Award 2022
Lizzo
Fashion Icon Award 20122
Kim Kardashian
Music Icon Award 2022
Shania Twain
People’s Icon of 2022
Ryan Reynolds
The Movie of 2022 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
The Comedy Movie of 2022 The Adam Project
The Action Movie of 2022 Top Gun: Maverick
The Drama Movie of 2022 Don’t Worry Darling
The Male Movie Star of 2022
Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Love and Thunder)
The Female Movie Star of 2022
Elizabeth Olsen (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
The Drama Movie Star of 2022
Austin Butler (Elvis)
The Comedy Movie Star of 2022
Adam Sandler (Hustle)
The Action Movie Star of 2022
Elizabeth Olsen (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
The Show of 2022 Stranger Things
The Drama Show of 2022 Grey’s Anatomy
The Comedy Show of 2022 Never Have I Ever
The Reality Show of 2022 The Kardashians
The Competition Show of 2022 The Voice
The Male TV Star of 2022
Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things)
The Female TV Star of 2022
Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy)
The Drama TV Star of 2022
Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
The Comedy TV Star of 2022
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building)
The Daytime Talk Show of 2022 The Kelly Clarkson Show
The Nighttime Talk Show of 2022 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The Competition Contestant of 2022
Selma Blair (Dancing with the Stars)
The Reality TV Star of 2022
Khloé Kardashian (The Kardashians)
The Bingeworthy Show of 2022 Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2022 Stranger Things
The Male Artist of 2022
Harry Styles
The Female Artist of 2022
Taylor Swift
The Group of 2022
BTS
The Song of 2022
“It’s About Damn Time” (Lizzo)
The Album of 2022 Midnights (Taylor Swift)
The Country Artist of 2022
Carrie Underwood
The Latin Artist of 2022
Becky G
The New Artist of 2022
Latto
The Music Video of 2022
“Anti-Hero” (Taylor Swift)
The Collaboration Song of 2022
“Left And Right” (Charlie Puth Featuring Jung Kook)
The Concert Tour of 2022
BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage
Taylor Sheridan has another hit show on his hands. The creator of the Paramount Network ratings powerhouse Yellowstone is also the creator of the acclaimed Paramount+ drama Mayor of Kingstown starring Jeremy Renner. With news that Sheridan’s Tulsa King, also on Paramount+, will have a second season, ABC Audio is hitting rewind on how the Sylvester Stallone-fronted series came to be.
Stallone, who famously refused to have his script Rocky made unless he starred in it, explains of actor-turned writer Sheridan, “I actually identified with him because I had a hard time making it as an actor. And that’s why I decided to, you know, diverge into writing.”
The 76-year-old star adds with a laugh, “And…obviously I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t become a writer. And Taylor, I guess because he wasn’t satisfied with his acting career. It actually opened up the door to a whole new world that probably never would have been presented. So we had a lot in common.”
However, Stallone admits to ABC Audio that his instincts as a filmmaker die hard, recalling when he insisted a background actor, Justin Garcia-Pruneda, get bumped to a main role on the show. “Sometimes you see characters that you go…’He’s got it,'” the Hollywood icon explains.
Sly says, “…For example, the heavyset guy that I hit with the thermos [in the pilot], that was his only scene. That was it, done. I said, ‘No, no, no. He’s going to be around. He’s going to be my sidekick.’ And as the series goes on, Fred becomes my consigliere…Because you could just tell this guy has the ‘it’ factor. It’s just a certain way he moves. It’s so detectable.”
ABC’s Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary led the class in the just-announced nominees in the television category of the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards.
Quinta Brunson‘s comedy nabbed six nominations, including Best Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her. Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph scored Best Supporting Actress noms, while co-stars Chris Perfetti and Tyler James Williams earned Best Supporting Actor nominations.
AMC’s Better Call Saul scored a second-best five nominations in the drama category, including Best Drama Series, with lead Bob Odenkirk nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series; Giancarlo Esposito earned a Best Supporting Actor nod, while co-stars Carol Burnett and Rhea Seehorn will compete for the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series trophy.
Disney+’s series Andor scored a surprise nomination for Best Drama Series, with its lead Diego Luna nominated for Best Actor in a Drama series; the Star Wars show ranked alongside veteran shows like Netflix’s Emmy-winning The Crown, HBO’s Emmy winner Euphoria and Paramount Network’s ratings juggernaut Yellowstone.
The winners will be revealed at the Critics Choice Awards gala, broadcast live on The CW from the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 15.
Here are this year’s television nominees in the main categories; the full list can be found here:
BEST DRAMA SERIES Andor (Disney+) Bad Sisters (Apple TV+) Better Call Saul (AMC) The Crown (Netflix) Euphoria (HBO) The Good Fight (Paramount+) House of the Dragon (HBO) Severance (Apple TV+) Yellowstone (Paramount Network)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jeff Bridges – The Old Man (FX)
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)
Diego Luna – Andor (Disney+)
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul (AMC)
Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV+)
Antony Starr – The Boys (Prime Video)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski – The Good Fight (Paramount+)
Sharon Horgan – Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
Laura Linney – Ozark (Netflix)
Mandy Moore – This Is Us (NBC)
Kelly Reilly – Yellowstone (Paramount Network)
Zendaya – Euphoria (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Andre Braugher – The Good Fight (Paramount+)
Ismael Cruz Córdova – The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Prime Video)
Michael Emerson – Evil (Paramount+)
Giancarlo Esposito – Better Call Saul (AMC)
John Lithgow – The Old Man (FX)
Matt Smith – House of the Dragon (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Milly Alcock – House of the Dragon (HBO)
Carol Burnett – Better Call Saul (AMC)
Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus (HBO)
Julia Garner – Ozark (Netflix)
Audra McDonald – The Good Fight (Paramount+)
Rhea Seehorn – Better Call Saul (AMC)
BEST COMEDY SERIES Abbott Elementary (ABC) Barry (HBO) The Bear (FX) Better Things (FX) Ghosts (CBS) Hacks (HBO Max) Reboot (Hulu) Reservation Dogs (FX)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Matt Berry – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Bill Hader – Barry (HBO)
Keegan-Michael Key – Reboot (Hulu)
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear (FX)
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai – Reservation Dogs (FX)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate – Dead to Me (Netflix)
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Renée Elise Goldsberry – Girls5eva (Peacock)
Devery Jacobs – Reservation Dogs (FX)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Brandon Scott Jones – Ghosts (CBS)
Leslie Jordan – Call Me Kat (Fox)
James Marsden – Dead to Me (Netflix)
Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Paulina Alexis – Reservation Dogs (FX)
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear (FX)
Marcia Gay Harden – Uncoupled (Netflix)
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Annie Potts – Young Sheldon (CBS)
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
BEST LIMITED SERIES The Dropout (Hulu) Gaslit (Starz) The Girl from Plainville (Hulu) The Offer (Paramount+) Pam & Tommy (Hulu) Station Eleven (HBO Max) This Is Going to Hurt (AMC+) Under the Banner of Heaven (FX)
When Whoopi Goldberg recently mentioned she’d love a third Sister Act film to star Keke Palmer — as well as Lizzo and Nicki Minaj — Keke was listening.
In a conversation with the Los Angeles Times‘ The Envelope podcast, the recent SNL host and recently revealed mom-to-be says she’s all in.
“My reaction was, ‘Whoopi, where do I sign on the dotted line?'” Keke enthused. “Because Whoopi, I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever that you need from me.”
Palmer explained, “Whoopi is an EGOT winner. Whoopi had her own one-woman show. Whoopi hosted the Oscars. Whoopi is everything! So for her to mention me for the Sister Act, I mean, I’m here, I’m there for whatever that needs to be done, just call me up.”
Whoopi name-dropped Keke back in October on Charlamagne tha God‘s Comedy Central talk show, adding of the possible threequel, “You know, I want everybody to come in. I want Lizzo to come in, I want everybody. I want the girl with the chest, what’s her name? Nicki [Minaj], I want Nicki to come!”
The View co-host said, “I want as many people who wanna have some fun, ’cause I really, desperately need to have some fun.”
For her part, Keke passed along a fan-made poster that featured Goldberg’s photo in costume, along with Palmer’s name. She noted, “God bless y’all for this manifestation over my life. @WaltDisneyCo, this is what they asked for I’m just here to relay,” referencing the studio that produced the film, which is ABC News’ parent company.
It’s been nearly a year since Abbott Elementary premieredand the show’s seen much success, earning social media praise and three Emmy awards. As the cover star of Cosmopolitan‘s Party Issue, show creator Quinta Brunson discussed why her show’s been a big hit.
“I can feel a chord that’s connected to everybody else, where I can feel what people would like to see right now or what would make people feel better,” she says. “I think that’s why Abbott hits the way that it does. Even if we’re telling a really specific joke about Jill Scott or Lil Uzi Vert, there’s a way to craft it so that it will still make a white grandma in Wichita laugh, even if she doesn’t know the reference.”
Abbott has earned several awards and nominations, including nods at the upcoming People’s Choice Awards. Despite the wins, Quinta admits she’s been more focused on improving the show than celebrating.
“I’m just not sure that certain things have been processing the way they should. I’m finding my ways to celebrate, but it’s been a consistent grind,” she says. “My focus is to make more Abbott and make it well.”
“I was recently telling someone older and way more successful than me that this period feels a little bit like a blur,” she continues. “But the person said that watching my wins has allowed her to remember her own wins and have this celebration she never gave herself … I look forward to the day when I can look back and remember, ‘Ah, yeah. That was cool.’”
Until then, Quinta’s anticipating a little break during the winter hiatus.
“I’m looking forward to actually … going away and being able to sit in silence,” she says. “Silence and sitting seem to be in short supply for me.”
Ice Cube wants more Friday films just as much as fans do, but he says that Warner Bros. is holding things up.
“I’ve written two scripts,” the rapper shared while on the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tysonpodcast Dec. 2. “One of them they said the timing wasn’t right, but it was totally right and then the next one they just kind of put it in what we call development hell.”
“They holding on to the classics and they don’t want to go forward,” he adds, “I don’t know if it’s personal or not.”
Friday, released in 1995, spawned two sequels with 2000’s Next Friday and 2002’s Friday After Next. A fourth Friday installment is tentatively titled Last Friday.
Elaborating on the situation, Ice Cube explained that he can’t move forward with another film because Warner Bros. has distribution control.
“Warner Brothers is weird right now. I don’t know what they’re doing, they don’t know what they’re doing,” he said. “We’d love to have it back. I think it’s going to be close to a time when we get it back. So, we’ll either wait for that time, or we’ll keep trying to convince them that they need to let us control the movie. It’s my movie, but they have distribution control.”
As for whether the rapper and actor would consider purchasing the rights from Warner Bros., Ice Cube refuses.
“I ain’t putting s*** up for it. F*** no,” he said. “They need to give it to me, and they gon’ make money. I’m not about to pay for my own stuff, that’s stupid…They need to do the right thing, get it to us, let us turn it into more money, and make the fans happy…We can do a lot with it.”
