Obamas developing ‘Blackout’ for Netflix; limited series on female Baseball Hall-of-Famer in the works; & more

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Michelle and Barack Obama are teaming up with Netflix’s Fatherhood producers for a new film and TV event called Blackout.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blackout is “being adapted from six different love stories, each penned by a different writer.” This means the project is being developed concurrently as a TV series and film adaptation and some of the six stories could wind up in the film, while others are in the TV show. Blackout centers on twelve teens perspective during a New York city power outage during the summer. A premiere date for the project has yet to be announced.

In other news, a limited series is being developed about Effa Manley, the first and, to date, only woman to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Deadline has learned. Based on baseball historian James Overmyer’s non-fiction novel Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles, the limited series will chronicle the “dramatic efforts by tenacious civil rights activist Effa Manley and her husband Abe as they embark upon a risky business venture [of] starting their own ball club” in the Negro Baseball Leagues. No casting details have been announced.

Finally, Emmy nominations were announced on Tuesday, with some groundbreaking nods. Jonathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett, of the recently-canceled Lovecraft Country, made history as the first two Black leads to be nominated from the same series. Meanwhile, Pose‘s Mj Rodriguez made history as the first trans actress to be nominated in any major Emmy category. And for the first time, the lead drama actor category, which included This Is Us‘ Sterling K. Brown, Lovecraft Country‘s Jonathan Majors, Bridgerton‘s Regé-Jean Page, and Pose’s Billy Porter, was led by people of color.

Hard work pays off: Antony Starr on the struggles that earned ‘The Boys’ five Emmy nominations

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NOTE LANGUAGE) While Amazon’s skewed-view superhero show The Boys may have been a natural fit for Emmys’ visual effects categories, its nominations Tuesday morning in the Best Drama category turned some heads.

Based on Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson‘s very graphic graphic novel series, the show centers on an Avengers-like group of superheroes known as The Seven — and unlike their Marvel counterparts, most of them are anything but heroic. Opposing them are The Boys: Karl Urban as Billy Butcher and Jack Quaid as Hughie, and their pals — who all have various scores to settle with the not-so-super super people.

For Antony Starr, who plays the megalomaniacal Homelander, the positive reaction from fans and critics to the second season is gratifying. “I got to be honest, it was like pulling teeth through the season,” he tells ABC Audio.

“It was because it was all really new stuff, you know: Homelander parenting and doing all these bizarre things — and also having that character on the back foot was really very weird. And then also any sort of romantic involvement that he gets up to was all really new. And I was like, ‘How do we do that?!'”

Starr allows, “But the end result…has been looked at favorably, which is really nice.”

“We work our a**es off, so it’s great to have some positivity around,” he noted. (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)

‘Behind the Attraction’ trailer: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson helps pull back the curtain on Disney parks

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Disney+ has released the trailer to Behind the Attraction, a 10-part peek behind the scenes at Disney Parks that features Jungle Cruise star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Johnson serves as your tour guide as the series takes you from “It’s a Small World” to “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” and everywhere in between, with never-before-seen archival footage and photos, and interviews with the Imagineers who bring the attractions to life.

Brian Volk-Weiss co-produced the project. He explains, “I don’t know if you remember the scene in The Matrix, where they’re in The Matrix and they’re on the roof and Trinity is like, ‘Yo, I need to fly a helicopter,’ then the guy’s like, ‘boop, boop, boop’ and then she can fly a helicopter? That’s what we try to do for people that have been to the park a billion times and people that have never been to the park.”

He continues, “They can be like, ‘Oh, my God, now I know how Jungle Cruise is related to the castles and how it’s related to Haunted Mansion’…So that’s what we tried to do, but in a fun way.”

Volk-Weiss first met The Rock after the superstar posted to Instagram that he’d been watching Brian’s Toys That Made Us series.

“He is so awesome,” the producer says sincerely. “I’ve worked with a lot of famous people over my career. There’s usually like an inch of daylight to 50,000 miles of daylight between their public persona and who they really are. There is zero daylight with Dwayne. I mean, what you see is what you get. He is the hard-working guy he claims to be. He is the nice guy he claims to be.”

Behind the Attraction drops on July 21 on Disney+.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

‘Pose’ star Mj Rodriguez makes Emmys history with lead actress nomination

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The awards show isn’t until September, but Pose star Mj Rodriguez has already made Emmys history.

The actress was nominated for best actress in a drama series Tuesday morning, becoming the first trans actress to ever garner an Emmy nod in a leading acting category.

In 2014, Orange Is the New Black actress Laverne Cox became the first transgender person to ever be nominated for an acting Emmy; Rain Valdez, creator and star of the short Razor Tongue, became the second last year. Neither Cox nor Valdez won.

Last year, Pose fans voiced their frustrations that the series’ transgender stars were snubbed on Emmy nominations day. Pose actor Billy Porter, however, was nominated for best actor in a drama series; Jeremy Strong of Succession went on to win the category.

Rodriguez has not yet commented on her groundbreaking nomination, though GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called it “a long-overdue recognition for her groundbreaking performance.”

Ellis continued, “Additionally, the show’s nomination for outstanding drama series, as well as Billy Porter’s third nomination for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, mark a historic show that undoubtedly raised the bar for trans representation on television and changed the way viewers around the world understand the trans community.”

“As over 40 leading LGBTQ organizations pointed out in our open letter about Pose to Emmy Award voters [last month], representation matters. Congratulations, Michaela Jaé, Billy Porter, and the entire Pose team — the world is standing with you and applauding your talents.”

‘The Crown’, ‘The Mandalorian’ lead the field with 24 noms; ‘WandaVision’ conjures 23 for 73rd Emmy Awards

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Netflix’s The Crown and Disney+’s Star Wars series The Mandalorian led the field with 24 nominations for this year’s primetime Emmy Awards, which were just announced.

Following close behind is another Disney+ series, Marvel Studios’ first small-screen MCU spin-off, WandaVision, which earned 23.

As previously predicted, this year’s Emmy nominations were a mix of surprises and sure things, with newcomers like WandaVision, Cobra Kai, and The Boys taking their places next to shows that were expected to be nominated, including Ted Lasso, This Is Us and Mare of Easttown.

Emmy-winning father-daughter team Ron Cephas Jones from This Is Us and Blindspotting‘s Jasmine Cephas Jones read the nominees separately, but together via video — with some audio delay interrupting their cute father-daughter banter.

Here’s a list of the nominees in the major categories. Find the full list at Emmys.com.

The 73rd Emmys will be held live and in person from on Sunday, September 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

Outstanding Drama Series
The Boys (Amazon Prime Video)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Pose (FX)
This Is Us (NBC)

Outstanding Comedy Series
black-ish (ABC)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
Hacks (HBO Max)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Pen15 (Hulu)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
I May Destroy You (HBO)
Mare of Easttown (HBO)
The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)
WandaVision (Disney+)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us
Jonathan Majors – Lovecraft Country
Josh O’Connor – The Crown
Regé-Jean Page – Bridgerton
Billy Porter – Pose
Matthew Rhys – Perry Mason

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Uzo Aduba – In Treatment
Olivia Colman – The Crown
Emma Corrin – The Crown
Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid’s Tale
Mj Rodriguez – Pose
Jurnee Smollett – Lovecraft Country

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – black-ish
Michael Douglas – The Kominsky Method
William H. Macy – Shameless
Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso
Kenan Thompson – Kenan

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Aidy Bryant – Shrill
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant
Allison Janney – Mom
Tracee Ellis Ross – black-ish
Jean Smart – Hacks

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Paul Bettany – WandaVision
Hugh Grant – The Undoing
Ewan McGregor – Halston
Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton
Leslie Odom Jr – Hamilton

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You
Cynthia Erivo – Genius: Aretha
Elizabeth Olsen – WandaVision
Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit
Kate Winslet – Mare of Easttown

Outstanding Variety Talk Series
Conan
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Outstanding Competition Program
The Amazing Race
Nailed It
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice

Zendaya spills on possibility of starring in fourth ‘Spider-Man’ movie

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ahead of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming third Spider-Man movie, Zendaya is weighing in on the possibility of a fourth installment.

Speaking recently with E! News, the 24-year-old actress — who stars as Spider-Man’s, a.k.a. Peter Parker’s, love interest, Michelle “MJ” Jones — admitted she has no idea what’s next.

Confirming that the third movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, recently wrapped filming, Zendaya expressed, “It was so much fun. It was just kind of bittersweet.”

The upcoming Space Jam: A New Legacy star added that neither she nor the cast “know if we’re going to do another one, like, is it just going to be three and done?”

“Normally you do three movies and that’s pretty much it,” Zendaya explained. “I think we just were all absorbing and taking the time to just enjoy the moment being with each other and being so grateful for that experience.”

Noting she did the first movie when she was 19, the actress continued, “It’s pretty special to have grown up all together and be apart of another legacy.”

“There’s been so many different Spideys before us,” Zendaya added, referencing the past Spider-Man incarnations played by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. She feels “very, very lucky” to have been part of the latest Spider-Man franchise, which stars her rumored boyfriend Tom Holland as the webslinger.

Spider-Man: No Way Home swings into theaters December 17.

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Tyrese says Rihanna should play his girlfriend & Denzel his daddy in upcoming ‘FF’ sequels

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It’s all about the family, right? Well, Fast & Furious franchise star Tyrese Gibson is taking the film’s tagline to heart by offering his ideas on who should play his character Roman’s real-life “family” in the upcoming FF sequels.

“Roman needs a girlfriend — so I’ve put it out there that Rihanna would be perfect for Roman,” Gibson tells ABC Audio. “She a bad girl, a lot of attitude, a lot of swag…Just seeing her standing next to Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster and Charlize Theron, like… I feel like she would fall right in to the swag and the bad girl energy that’s happening with these other female leads.”

Of course, outside of Rihanna, Gibson says another amazing catch would be getting Oscar-winner Denzel Washington to play his father.

“Denzel Washington would be perfect,” Tyrese says, noting that Washington is also a “fellow Capricorn [and] super intense.”

“[But he] would probably look at this franchise and be like, “‘Nah, I’m cool… I make real movies.'”

However, Gibson assures that he wouldn’t let Washington off that easy without a fight.

“‘Denzel, come on, have a little fun,” he continues. “We got Oscar award winners in this franchise, too. We got the Helen [Mirren]s and Charlize Theron, who’s won an Oscar. And they take their acting very serious[ly] and they’re very intense.’ I think it would be amazing to see a Denzel Washington come in and have a little fun with us.”

Oh, and if that wasn’t enough for FF fans, let’s not forget Matt Damon. He’s family, too.

“But I also have been saying that Matt Damon would be ideal because he’s a part of the Bourne franchise, which is also a Universal Studios movie,” Gibson adds.

Makes perfect sense.

F9: The Fast Saga is out in theaters.

Drake Bell sings with son on Instagram after sentencing for child endangerment case

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Drake Bell is spending some quality time with his son after being sentenced Monday to two years probation and 200 hours of community service for improper conduct with an underage girl.

Shortly after the virtual sentencing, the 35-year-old former star of Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh went on Instagram Live and played the piano and sang while his son sat on his lap, ETOnline reports.

“Father Son jam sesh,” he captioned the video, which appears to have been deleted.

Bell, whose birth name is Jared Drake Bell, was indicted in May on charges stemming from an interaction with a then-15-year-old girl in December of 2017. He initially entered a not guilty plea before deciding to take a deal, pleading guilty to attempted endangering children, a fourth-degree felony, and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Following Monday’s sentencing, Bell’s attorney’s issued a statement on his behalf.

“Today’s plea and sentence reflect conduct for which Mr. Bell did accept responsibility,” the statement reads. “The victim’s allegations that went beyond that which all parties agreed, not only lack supporting evidence but are contradicted by the facts learned through extensive investigation. As the court made clear, this plea was never about sexual misconduct or sexual relations with any person, let alone a minor. Sexual registration was not imposed as Mr. Bell did not plead guilty to any such offense.”

The statement concludes, “Drake and his family are relieved and grateful to have this matter behind them. He looks forward to, once again, performing for all his supportive fans around the world.”

Eli Roth calls the shark conservation documentary ‘Fin’ the “scariest movie” he’s ever made

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Eli Roth is known for his horror films like Hostel and Knock Knock, but he tells ABC Audio the “scariest” film he’s ever done is the new documentary Fin.

Co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and released today as part of Discovery’s Shark Week, Fin took Roth behind the scenes of the environmentally disastrous commercial shark fishing industry.

The documentary maintains that 100,000,000 sharks are slaughtered every year, for use in products from shark fin soup to lipstick. “I didn’t want to be another kind of Hollywood person with a cause,” he insists to ABC Audio. “I just couldn’t believe what was happening.”

He explains it was, “a chance for me to make the scariest movie I’ve ever made because it’s real…you don’t even have to try and make it scary,” Roth insists. “You just have to show what’s happening.”

Roth found that out straightaway, in a scene reminiscent of one his most famous characters, who dispatched Nazis with a baseball bat. “When I got out on the sea the first day of shooting, they killed a Mako shark with a bat. I thought, ‘Wow, this is crazy because I’m so known for that scene in Inglourious Basterds and now I’m watching a shark get beaten to death with a bat…”

A swim with sharks to confront his fears changed his life. “You’re coming from this place of ‘This thing wants to eat me,’ to, ‘Oh, my God, this thing reminds me of my dog.”

The movie fan says, “You know, the most famous horror film of all time is Jaws. And it’s certainly time to show the other side. And I really wanted to make a film that just put into context just how necessary sharks are and how what we’re doing to them is so completely insane.”

Roth urges those who want to seek an end to the global shark trade to visit FinTheMovie.com, where they can find information to contact their representatives in government.

Report: Kyle Massey hit with $100,000 arrest warrant after failing to appear in court

July 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kyle Massey, known for playing Cory Baxter in Disney Channel shows That’s So Raven and Cory in the House, has been hit with an arrest warrant stemming from a case where he stands accused of sending pornographic material to an underage girl.

TMZ reports that Massey, 29, failed to appear at his scheduled court date in King County, WA, on Monday. Because the actor missed his court date and allegedly did not respond to the summons, a judge signed a $100,000 warrant for his arrest.

This is the second arraignment Massey missed, as he also was absent from the first court appearance set for late June.

Massey’s lawyer, Lee Hutton, spoke with TMZ and said that the actor’s team tried to communicate with the court, but did not hear back. The claim was denied by a member of the King’s County, Washington, District Attorney’s Office.

The representative said, not only did Massey fail to communicate with the court, “Mr. Massey, nor any representatives of him, have filed anything in the Court docket.”

The D.A.’s rep added, “It is possible that Mr. Massey’s attorney is calling the wrong office. It’s also worth noting that Mr. Massey previously acknowledged the filing of the case in past media articles since the first arraignment date, which also included today’s new arraignment date. There’s no misrepresentation here. Quite simply, Mr. Massey did not appear in court.”

Massey, who maintains his innocence, faces 1 charge of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

The alleged victim said she was 13 when she reached out to the former Disney star in November 2018 after learning of a potential Cory in the House reboot and wanted to audition. She claims he texted her explicit material in the form of images, videos and written communications.

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