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SHOWBIZ Sarah Paulson, The B-52s, NBA player, Issa Rae, Ryan Reynolds
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2020-08-10

This article shared 5613 times since Mon Aug 10, 2020
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Actress Sarah Paulson will be involved on Ryan Murphy's new spinoff series American Horror Stories—but not necessarily on-screen, Deadline noted. "What can I say?," said the Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress at a TCA Netflix panel for her new Murphy series Ratched, "I'll be directing something." Sources have described "Horror Stories" as a companion anthology series to American Horror Story where each episode is a standalone ghost story.

The B-52s: Live at the US Festival—which features the band's performance from Labor Day weekend in 1982—comes to DVD and digital platforms Friday, Sept. 4, from Shout! Factory, a press release noted. The performance features all five founding band members, and the film is dedicated to Ricky Wilson, who passed away five years after the US Festival performance. In brand-new interviews included in The B-52s: Live At The US Festival, band members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson talk about Ricky and what he meant to their unique sound, along with memories of performing at the US Festival. Songs performed include "Rock Lobster," "Lava" and "Dance This Mess Around," among others.

Five-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard wore rainbow-colored shoes during a recent game against the Boston Celtics to show his allegiance with the LGBTQ+ community, Out.com noted. The rainbow-colored sneakers are an official Pride style from Lillard's Dame 6 line of shoes from Adidas. The styles are currently available for $180 on the Adidas site. The athlete isn't the only one to have a Pride style though, as Dwyane Wade has a similar rainbow-hued shoe in support of his daughter Zaya Wade.

Insecure star Issa Rae is to executive-produce a two-part documentary for HBO exploring the history of Black television, Deadline noted. Seen & Heard, which is currently in production, will look at the issue through the eyes of those who wrote, produced, created and starred in groundbreaking series of the past and present. "Black people have such a rich, but often unacknowledged history in Hollywood," said Rae. "We have defined American culture and influenced generations time and time again across the globe."

Ryan Reynolds is apologizing about his wedding to Blake Lively, which took place at a former plantation, People.com noted. The actor addressed the controversy in a new interview with Fast Company, in which he expressed regret for their actions and how they decided upon the former plantation as their wedding venue in 2012. "It's something we'll always be deeply and unreservedly sorry for," Reynolds said. Reynolds, 43, and Lively, 32, married in 2012 at Boone Hall, a former slave plantation in South Carolina.

The CW released seven new season posters for CW's slate of Arrowverse shows ( Supergirl, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Black Lightning, DC's Stargirl, and Superman & Lois ) sporting a timely, coronavirus-themed look, Deadline noted. All character posters feature their main stars wearing face masks in an effort to raise public awareness on the efficacy of facial coverings preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Queer comedian Lauren LoGiudice has released the book Inside Melania: What I Know About Melania Trump by Impersonating Her, a press release noted. "When you're queer, you feel outside the world around you and that gave me a vantage point with which to view Melania's life and motives. You see her operating in a system in which she was determined to trump, so to speak," LoGiudice said. The book is available through Eckhartz Press, while the eBook is available on Amazon.

Speaking with Netflix, filmmaker Lilly Wachowski reflected on the beloved films and their special place in the hearts and minds of trans geeks, NewNowNext.com noted. "I'm glad that people are talking about The Matrix movies with a trans narrative," Lilly told the streaming service. "I love how meaningful those films are to trans people and the way that they come up to me and say, 'These movies saved my life.' Because when you talk about transformation—specifically in the world of sci-fi, which is just about imagination and world-building, and the idea of the seemingly impossible becoming possible—that's why it speaks to them so much." Although she and her sister, Lana Wachowski, were closeted when the first Matrix movie premiered in 1999, both have since come out as trans—Lana in 2012 and Lilly in 2016.

Lady Gaga has launched her "Gaga Radio" show on Apple Music, a press release announced. Every Friday, she promotes dance music by speaking with the DJs, divas, and producers who inspired her and who helped bring her latest album, Chromatica, to life. "The last few weeks I've been figuring out different ways at home that I can be of service to what I would call the singular global community, one that I believe to be kind in nature, one that I believe to be very special to my heart and I believe to the hearts of many," Gaga said. "And so I've been thinking of all the ways that I can be someone that contributes to the society and the world. I'm super-thrilled, excited to have this show and this opportunity to play an incredible mix of music every week."

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the British composer behind Cats, called the 2019 movie version of one of the longest-running Broadway shows "ridiculous," NBC News noted. "The problem with the film was that Tom Hooper decided that he didn't want anybody involved in it who was involved in the original show," Lloyd Webber said of the movie's director in a recent interview with The Sunday Times. Lloyd Webber—who adapted T.S. Eliot's poetry collection "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" into a musical in 1981—previously criticized James Corden's performance in the movie, calling it "absolutely un-Eliot."

Viola Davis will be recognized as best actress at the African American Film Critics Association's second-annual TV Honors on Saturday, Aug. 22, Page Six noted. The virtual event will include a special homage to Davis for her run on the show How To Get Away With Murder. Kenya Barris and Sterling K. Brown are also among the honorees. Aida Rodriguez will host an invite-only stream that will later be available on the association's YouTube channel.

Ghostlight Records announced that In the Heights: Original Broadway Cast Recording will be released as a special red, white and blue vinyl three-LP box set on Friday, Sept. 4, a press release noted. The announcement coincided with the Aug. 7 broadcast of the documentary In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams as part of PBS-TV's new summer series "Great Performances: Broadway at Home." In the Heights ( which Lin-Manuel Miranda created ) will be released as a features film in June 2021 from Warner Bros. Pictures.

Lifetime announced its first-ever LGBTQ+ Christmas movie for the 2020 holiday season, beating its rival Hallmark, PinkNews noted. The network featured its first holiday movie same-sex kiss in 2019's Twinkle All The Way, and this year it will be stepping up its representation game. The Christmas Set Up, written by Michael J. Murray, is currently in the process of casting; production is slated to begin next month.

Jurnee Smollett has spoken out for the first time about the ongoing scandal surrounding brother Jussie Smollett, EW.com noted. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said, "It's been f—-ing painful." She also defended Jussie, adding, "Everyone who knows me knows that I love my brother and I believe my brother."

Sony's TriStar Pictures won an intense auction for I Wanna Dance With Somebody—the feature film on the life and music of iconic songstress Whitney Houston, Deadline reported. The studio has already staked out a Thanksgiving 2022 release date for the film, which has The Whitney Houston Estate, Primary Wave and Grammy-winning music producer and Houston's mentor Clive Davis all aboard.

Lionsgate announced that the motion picture Antebellum—starring Janelle Monae—will premiere as a Premium On-Demand release, debuting on all platforms Friday, Sept. 18, a press release noted. In Antebellum, successful author Veronica Henley ( Monae ) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality that forces her to confront the past, present and future—before it's too late. The movie also stars Eric Lange, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons, Gabourey Sidibe and Tongayi Chirisa.

Samuel Goldwyn acquired the North American rights to the film Dating Amber, from filmmaker David Freyne, Deadline noted. The LGBTQ+ teen comedy is slated to debut on-demand and digital at a to-be-announced date in November.

Amazon Studios has struck a first-look deal with "Good As Hell" singer Lizzo, according to Deadline. Lizzo ( real name: Melissa Viviane Jefferson ) is to work with the streamer to develop and produce TV series. Lizzo starred in feature film Hustlers and voiced a character in UglyDolls, but this marks her first major move in television.

Also, Amazon Studios picked up a feature musical film project about iconic Shakespearean character Lady Macbeth, WhatsOnStage.com noted, citing The Hollywood Reporter. The film will be directed by John McPhail, who recently helmed the musical film Anna and the Apocalypse. Producers featured on the project include Scooter Braun and Channing Tatum, with the project hoping to resonate with the young adult demographic in a story about a teenage girl who has to grapple with the consequences of her ambitions.

Deadline reported that Nia DaCosta, who directed the anticipated reboot of Candyman, has been tapped as director on Marvel's sequel to Captain Marvel. DaCosta takes over for Anna Bodn and Ryan Fleck, who directed the first pic to massive box-office success. Marvel is known for switching up its directors on its popular franchises like Thor, Iron Man and Captain America to give the next installment a fresh voice.

The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards won't be an indoors event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., after health warnings were issued, Deadline noted. Instead, it will stage a series of outdoor performances in various NYC boroughs. The show will still be held on Aug. 30, and the outdoors shows will take place in front of limited or no audiences. Keke Palmer will host the show, with performances scheduled from K-pop group BTS, Doja Cat and J Balvin. Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga have the most nominations with nine apiece, followed by Billie Eilish and The Weeknd, who each have six nods.

Art Without Borders New York—a nonprofit organization with goals to inspire and expand imagination through the arts—is offering an exclusive mentorship program for students pursuing a career in the performing arts, a press release noted. The program provides a unique experience connecting students with world renowned industry professionals in the United States, including current and former company members from the New York City Ballet and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Broadway. See ArtWithoutBordersNYC.org .

The 2020 edition of the 16th annual New York Comedy Festival has been canceled over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, Deadline noted. The next comedy fest is now set for Nov. 8-14, 2021. Taking the stages over the years have been such comedians as Judd Apatow, Hannibal Buress, Bill Burr, Margaret Cho, Billy Crystal, Larry David, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin and more.

Variety confirmed that a sequel series to the classic sitcom Who's the Boss? is in the works at Sony Pictures Television, with original stars Tony Danza and Alyssa Milano onboard to reprise their roles. The new show will take place 30 years after the events of the original series and be centered around former major-league baseball player and retired housekeeper Tony Micelli ( Danza ) and his relationship with daughter Samantha Micelli ( Milano ). Original cast members Judith Light and Danny Pintauro are not currently involved with the series, but could become so.

A home belonging to celebrity cook Rachael Ray was ablaze in upstate New York, Page Six reported. A spokesperson for Ray said that she was not injured in the blaze. Ray has been producing live cooking segments for her daytime talk show during the pandemic from the upstate home.

Robin Williams fans will get a deep look into his final days with the documentary Robin's Wish, ET Canada noted. The brand new trailer for the movie features interviews with the actor's widow, Susan Schneider Williams, as well as his friends and colleagues Shawn Levy, John R. Montgomery and David E. Kelley. Robin's Wish will also explore the actor's fight against Lewy Body Dementia. The late icon died in 2014.

Keanu Reeves is back in the back-to-back sequels game with John Wick 4 and 5 aiming to film consecutively next year, Deadline reported. Liongate CEO John Feltheimer said, "We're also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of our John Wick action franchise, with John Wick 4 slated to hit theaters Memorial Day weekend 2022. We hope to shoot both John Wick 4 and 5 back to back when Keanu becomes available early next year." Currently, Reeves is shooting Matrix 4 for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow in Berlin.

High Fidelity star Zoe Kravitz called out Hulu's lack of diversity in its programming after the streaming service canceled the series, EW.com reported. Actress Tessa Thompson commented on Kravitz's Instagram post thanking the cast, crew, and viewers, with Thompson writing, "I will miss you alllllllllllll so much." Kravitz replied, "It's cool. At least Hulu has a ton of other shows starring women of color we can watch. Oh wait." The TV series was based on Nick Hornby's 1995 novel and the 2000 John Cusack movie.

Selena Gomez will be the co-lead opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short in Hulu's comedy series Only Murders in the Building, Deadline noted. Co-created and written by Martin and Hoffman based on an idea by Martin, Only Murders In The Building follows three strangers ( Martin, Short and Gomez ) who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. This marks Gomez's acting return to television, where she first rose to fame as the star of Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place.

In a conversation with Gwyneth Paltrow, which streamed live on YouTube, Cameron Diaz discussed her life and what made her decide to step back from acting, USA Today noted. According to Diaz, leaving the Hollywood spotlight helped her find peace. Diaz also described the pressures of the public eye, saying she felt "overwhelming energy" from all the attention she was receiving.

In late July, former child actor Blake McIver Ewing ( the 1994 feature film The Little Rascals ) tweeted, "So is Pose just Glee with a viral load now?"—and elicited backlash, NewNowNext.com noted. Ewing not only took down the tweet, but his entire profile as well. "I had a severe manic depressive episode last night and although it's not an excuse for what was said publicly and privately, it's a reason," he later tweeted.

CBS' The Young and the Restless started rolling out new episodes Aug. 10, Deadline noted. The soap joined CBS companion The Bold and the Beautiful, which has been in originals since July 20; ABC's General Hospital, which started fresh episodes Aug. 3; and NBC's Days of Our Lives, which has continued airing first-run episodes throughout the pandemic. All suspended production in mid-March amid an industrywide production shutdown due to the pandemic.

Less than six months after CBS and Rebel Entertainment Partners settled their long-running legal battle over big bucks in missed contractually obliged payments from the show Judge Judy, a new lawsuit is on the docket, Deadline noted. Rebel is now suing former Manhattan family court judge Judy Sheindlin and the ViacomCBS division for more than $5 million over a seemingly sleight of hand $95-million sale of the show's rich library.

Glee actor Kevin McHale accidentally gave his boyfriend salmonella, NewNowNext.com noted. McHale tweeted that he ( unintentionally ) served his BF, fellow actor Austin McKenzie, some undercooked chicken sausage, resulting in a bad bout of salmonella—although the couple initally thought McKenzie was "superrrrr sick" with COVID-19. McHale came out as gay and confirmed his relationship with McKenzie in 2018.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the US Open tennis tournament because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting on hold his bid to equal Roger Federer's men's record for Grand Slam titles, ESPN.com noted. "The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don't have control of it," Nadal tweeted.

Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly wanted to recruit Paris Hilton for pal Jeffrey Epstein when she spotted the then-teen in New York in the early 2000s, Page Six noted. When Maxwell saw Hilton at a party, she was stunned by her good looks and told a friend that the 19-year-old Hilton would be "perfect for Jeffrey," DailyMail.com reported. The scene was recounted by British journalist and longtime Maxwell friend Christopher Mason in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.

DJ/songwriter Erick Morillo wasn arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in Miami Beach, Florida, after the results of a rape kit reportedly came back positive for his DNA, The Daily Mail stated. He turned himself in to authorities and was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with sexual battery, according to Local 10 News. Morillo has denied the assault accusations made against him by a fellow female DJ.

Last year's American Ninja Warrior champion has been accused of attempting to have sex with an underage girl and manufacturing child pornography, People.com reported. Drew Drechsel, 31, was arrested at his home in Florida, the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of New Jersey announced. Drechsel's lawyer, Frank Riccio, said in a statement that the TV competitor plans on pleading not guilty. The show has severed all ties with Drechsel, Deadline noted.


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