In Brief: ‘Frasier’ reboot getting off the ground this fall, and more

In Brief: ‘Frasier’ reboot getting off the ground this fall, and more
In Brief: ‘Frasier’ reboot getting off the ground this fall, and more

That long-awaited Frasier revival could begin shooting this fall. During an appearance on CBS’ The Talk on Monday, Kelsey Grammer, who played the titular psychologist and radio show host on the NBC sitcom, which ran from 1993-2004, revealed they were “in the final stages of the final script for the first episode of the Frasier reboot and it looks pretty good.” He added, “I’ve had a couple of runs through it, and I cried, so you know, I’m happy. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but Grammer said last year last year that the character, who moved from Boston to Seattle for the original series, “thinks he’s gonna go off and do one thing, and sure enough, his life takes him in another direction…And he ends up rich beyond his dreams”…

Avatar director James Cameron previously revealed his vision to follow up the original 2009 blockbuster with an epic four-film saga, but with the first of them, Avatar: The Way of Water, set to hit theaters in December and a third already in the can, the legendary filmmaker tells Empire he may be ready to “pass the baton” to another director. “The Avatar films themselves are kind of all-consuming,” he explains. “I’ve got some other things I’m developing as well that are exciting. I think eventually over time — I don’t know if that’s after three or after four — I’ll want to pass the baton to a director that I trust to take over, so I can go do some other stuff that I’m also interested in. Or maybe not. I don’t know”…

After leaving the NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives in 2020 after a 37-year stint, Kristian Alfonso is reprising her role of Hope Williams Brady in the Days spinoff Beyond Salem — seeming to contradict an earlier statement. However, Alfonso insists it’s not a return, telling Soap Opera Digest, “[Beyond Salem] is, I feel, a branch of it…I have seen online where viewers have stated that I said, ‘Never’ regarding [returning someday] — I never said never. I said that I will not be popping in and out like other actors have done in the past. I didn’t say I’m never, ever coming back. I was not absolute.” Beyond Salem premieres July 11 on Peacock…

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‘Mrs. Maisel’ star Rachel Brosnahan responds to Highland Park mass shooting “I’m sick to my stomach”

‘Mrs. Maisel’ star Rachel Brosnahan responds to Highland Park mass shooting “I’m sick to my stomach”
‘Mrs. Maisel’ star Rachel Brosnahan responds to Highland Park mass shooting “I’m sick to my stomach”
Amazon Studios/Andy Kropa

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan took to Twitter to express her frustration about the mass shooting that occurred at the July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois on Monday.

“I grew up in Highland Park and this parade is a highlight of the year for so many families. I’m sick to my stomach every time news like this comes out,” the actress tweeted. “But I don’t wish the pit in your stomach as you call your family and friends to make sure everyone is okay on anyone. No words.”

The tweet comes after a gunman opened fire on a Fourth of July parade in the Midwest city on Monday, killing at least six people and injuring over 30, including children. Five of the victims died at the scene of the shooting while one died at a hospital, according to officials.

Robert “Bobby” Crimo III was arrested in connection with the shooting and described as a person of interest following a vehicular pursuit Monday evening after an hours-long manhunt, police said. As of Monday night he has not been charged in connection with the shooting.

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Harry Styles cancels Danish concert after nearby mass shooting

Harry Styles cancels Danish concert after nearby mass shooting
Harry Styles cancels Danish concert after nearby mass shooting
Handout/Helene Marie Pambrun via Getty Images

Harry Styles was set to perform in Denmark Sunday as part of his Love on Tour gig, but canceled after there was a mass shooting at a nearby mall. 

“I’m heartbroken along with the people of Copenhagen,” Harry tweeted Sunday night. “I adore this city. The people are so warm and full of love.”

“I’m devastated for the victims, their families, and everyone hurting,” he continued. “I’m sorry we couldn’t be together. Please look after each other. H.”

Hours before Harry was supposed to take the stage at Denmark’s Royal Arena, a mass shooting occurred at a Copenhagen mall that left three dead and many others injured, according to ABC News. The arena was subsequently shut down by order of police, which led to the cancellation of the former One Direction member’s concert. 

On Snapchat, Styles wrote: “My team and I pray for everyone involved in the Copenhagen shopping mall shooting. I am shocked. Love H.”

A 22-year-old Danish man was arrested after the shooting, police told reporters, adding there was no indication that anyone else was involved in the attack, though police are still investigating.

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Granger Smith’s wife Amber recalls their son’s drowning death + urges parents to be vigilant on water safety

Granger Smith’s wife Amber recalls their son’s drowning death + urges parents to be vigilant on water safety
Granger Smith’s wife Amber recalls their son’s drowning death + urges parents to be vigilant on water safety
Rick Kern/Getty Images

It’s summer, and lots of families are heading to the pool, lake or beach. But amid all the festivities, it’s also important to keep safety first: According to the CDC, aside from birth defects, drowning is the leading cause of death in children under age four.

For Granger Smith and his wife, Amber, that statistic is personal. Their three-year-old son, River, died in a drowning accident at home in June of 2019.

Amber remembers telling her two other children, Lincoln and London — who were five and seven at the time — the devastating news.

“We went home with that intention of being very honest…” she recounts to People. “We said, ‘River was without oxygen for too long. They did everything they could but Bubbie died…And then we let them process their emotions and told them whatever they’re feeling…it’s OK.”

In 2021, Granger and Amber welcomed baby boy Maverick, and the couple put their infant son in ISR (infant swim rescue) lessons in order to help him learn how to stay afloat if he should ever fall into the water.

“He can barely crawl, but now he knows how to hold his breath, twist his body , find the air, float on his back and cry,” she wrote on socials, posting a video of his 10th lesson. “…He has the skills to float until help comes.”

Amber has also been a staunch advocate for water safety awareness for all families. “Thinking that adult supervision is enough is a DEADLY miscalculation,” she says. “Hear me. I used to think that too.”

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“It’s a song about triumph”: Lainey Wilson shares message behind new single, “Heart Like a Truck”

“It’s a song about triumph”: Lainey Wilson shares message behind new single, “Heart Like a Truck”
“It’s a song about triumph”: Lainey Wilson shares message behind new single, “Heart Like a Truck”
ABC

Lainey Wilson tells a story of resilience in her new single, “Heart Like a Truck,” with lyrics that reflect on the tough times that help shape a person into who they’re supposed to be.

“‘Heart Like a Truck’ is a song about finding freedom and strength, and not being scared of the scars and the dents and the bumps along the way,” she says. “At the end of the day, that’s what builds character.”

Lainey knows firsthand how hard times help build strength. When she first moved to Nashville, she spent three years living in a camper and struggling to make ends meet as she chased her dream. Of course, those lean times paid off: Lainey is now a bona fide country star, with two #1 country singles to her name.

But she tells a different side of that story in the music video for her song. Instead of being centered around a country music hopeful in Nashville, the clip takes Lainey to a ranch, where she plays the role of a young woman struggling to find her way as a horse handler.

“It’s telling a story about a ranch girl who’s got a lot to prove to herself and everybody else,” the singer details. “And in the end, she does it. It’s a song about triumph. It’s a video about triumph.”

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Leah Kate’s “10 Things I Hate About You” inspired by loser ex, not movie of the same name

Leah Kate’s “10 Things I Hate About You” inspired by loser ex, not movie of the same name
Leah Kate’s “10 Things I Hate About You” inspired by loser ex, not movie of the same name
Dominique Falcone

Leah Kate’s the latest artist to see her viral TikTok song turn into a bona fide radio hit. After she posted a snippet of her song “10 Things I Hate About You” on the app, it went viral, then blew up on digital service providers and is now on radio stations nationwide. And that’s something that Leah says she just can’t get her head around.

“I don’t believe it. I’m just like, ‘What?'” she laughs. “In my head, I’m so, like, ‘Please listen to my music. I’ll do anything … stream my song!’ … so it hasn’t connected in my brain. Like, reality hasn’t caught up with what the truth is, in my head. So every time I hear it on the radio, I’m like, ‘Oh, how is this possible?'”

And no, despite the song’s title, it was not inspired by the 1999 rom-com starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. “I love the movie, but it actually had nothing to do with the creation of the song,” Leah tells ABC Audio.

She explains, “I was not over this guy and I was like, ‘I need to get over him.’ [But] I could only really remember the good parts of our relationship, [so] I was like, ‘OK, Leah, time to remember the bad parts,’ because there are way more bad parts than good!”

Leah adds, “I started writing this list of everything I hated about him, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is kind of a fun song idea.’… It started out as, like, 100 things, and then I narrowed it down to 10 things.”

You’ll hear Leah performing that song and more as she kicks off a tour with Australian band Chase Atlantic on Wednesday.

“You can expect, like, so much new music in the set,” she promises, teasing “crazy things and visuals.” “It’s going to be really fun. I’m so excited!”

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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From rock to techno to classical, Måneskin breaks down band’s many influences: “That’s the cool thing about us”

From rock to techno to classical, Måneskin breaks down band’s many influences: “That’s the cool thing about us”
From rock to techno to classical, Måneskin breaks down band’s many influences: “That’s the cool thing about us”
ABC

Being a band that can cover The Four Seasons, Iggy Pop and Britney Spears in the same set, Måneskin is clearly inspired by many different types of music. As frontman Damiano David tells ABC Audio, each of the band members has their own specific influences that they bring to the Måneskin sound.

“[Guitarist] Thomas [Raggi] is very into ’70s and ’80s rock ‘n’ roll, so the more classic, milestone bands,” David explains. “And I’m more into the [2000s], Strokes and Arctic [Monkeys] and stuff like that.”

Meanwhile, bassist Victoria De Angelis‘ tastes range from U.K. punk to techno, while drummer Ethan Torchio is the “mad dog in this conversation.”

“Ethan is f***ing crazy and listens to instrumental songs … classical music,” David laughs.

Those influences are not limited to Måneskin’s wide array of covers, but apply to the group’s original material, as well.

“Every time you hear our songs, you can hear many different things, and all of that will be correct,” David says. “Maybe there’s more of my influence in a song, and in another there’s more of Thomas’ influence.”

“I think that that’s the cool thing about us,” he adds. “We kind of always manage to mix all our different tastes together.”

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Tinashe takes pride in her sexuality

Tinashe takes pride in her sexuality
Tinashe takes pride in her sexuality
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SHEIN Together Fest 2021

After coming out as bisexual, Tinashe proudly celebrated Pride Month in June. She says loved performing at a recent benefit for the New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project.

“It’s great to be a part of something that obviously gives back to a cause that I am passionate about. I am a supporter of LGBTQ+ community in New York and anti-violence, I think, is so important,” the singer told People.

“It’s something that I’m 100% behind,” she continued. “So, it’s really important to me from that aspect. And then, aside from that, it’s really fun just to be involved in Pride for New York and to celebrate.”

The 29-year-old singer/actress released her fifth studio album, 333, in August 2021 on her own label, Tinashe Music. She tells fans on social media asking about a follow-up to have patience. 

“I think it’s going to take me a second to really get my footing on what direction I want to go next,” says Tinashe. “But I definitely always want to try something new.”

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Jon Anderson says ‘Close to the Edge’ tribute tour with Paul Green Rock Academy will be “wonderful chaos”

Jon Anderson says ‘Close to the Edge’ tribute tour with Paul Green Rock Academy will be “wonderful chaos”
Jon Anderson says ‘Close to the Edge’ tribute tour with Paul Green Rock Academy will be “wonderful chaos”
Courtesy of Paul Green

Founding Yes frontman Jon Anderson kicks off a U.S. summer tour with the Paul Green Rock Academy this Thursday, July 7, in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

Anderson will be joined by over 20 talented young musicians at the concerts, which will feature a performance of Yes’ entire 1972 album Close to the Edge in honor of its 50th anniversary, as well as renditions of other songs by the legendary prog-rock band, tunes from Jon’s solo catalog, mash-ups and more.

“If you come you’re gonna to have a great time,” Anderson tells ABC Audio about the upcoming concerts. “I mean, seriously, these teenagers, ranging from 14 to 17, are just brilliant musicians.”

Released in September 1972, Close to the Edge peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200. The album features three long musical pieces — the title track, “And You and I” and “Siberian Khatru.”

Anderson explains that before his latest tour with the Paul Green Rock Academy, he’d already performed “And You and I” with the teens, and for his trek with them earlier this year, they added the epic “Close to the Edge” to the set.

“They had a ball doing it. I loved it,” Jon notes. “So, we thought, ‘Okay, we’re gonna do some shows this summer, so why don’t we celebrate the fact that it was 50 years ago that we did the album Close to the Edge?’ So they learned ‘Siberian Khatru.’ So we’re doing the whole album, which will be…wonderful chaos.”

Anderson says the shows also will feature a performance of “So Limitless,” a song he co-wrote with and recorded last year with members of the Rock Academy, as well as mashups including a Lenny Kravitz tune and Led Zeppelin‘s “Kashmir.”

The tour runs through an August 6 show in Albany, New York.

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‘Minions 2: The Rise of Gru’ opens with record-breaking $125.1 million July 4th weekend

‘Minions 2: The Rise of Gru’ opens with record-breaking 5.1 million July 4th weekend
‘Minions 2: The Rise of Gru’ opens with record-breaking 5.1 million July 4th weekend
Universal Pictures

Minions 2: The Rise of Gru is now the July 4 holiday box office record holder, earning an estimated 125.1 million dollars from Friday through Monday. That’s also the second-best debut for a Despicable Me/Minions movie, about three-and-a half million less than the first standalone Minions movie earned in 2015.

The Rise of Gru — featuring the voices of Steve CarellTaraji P. Henson and Michelle Yeoh — did pretty well overseas too, scooping up an estimated $93.7 million, for a worldwide total of $202.2 million between Friday and Monday.

Top Gun: Maverick held on to second place, delivering an estimated $25.5 million over the three-day weekend and $33.3 through Monday. The Top Gun sequel has earned a total of $544.5 million overseas, bringing its six-week global tally to upwards of $1.1 billion worldwide.

Dropping to third place was Elvis, which collected an estimated $19 million in its second week of release. The biopic has collected a total of $70 million in North America. Thus far, Elvis has earned $113 million worldwide.

Pulling up in fourth place was Jurassic World: Dominion with just under $15.7 million. Adding Monday’s estimated totals, that figure swells to roughly $19.7 million. After four weeks, Dominion has raked in $331.8 million domestically to go with $492.7 million internationally, where it opened a week earlier. Its new worldwide total currently sits at $824.5 million.

Rounding out the top five was the horror film The Black Phone, taking in an estimated $12.3 million between Friday and Sunday and $14.4 million through Monday. The film has grabbed a total of $49.7 million in North America and $74.4 million globally after two weeks.

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