- EntertainmentVariety
Album Review: Leonard Cohen’s ‘Thanks for the Dance’
“But wait — there’s more!” can be a good news/bad news thing when it comes to posthumous album releases. No one, or almost no one, likes the idea of scraps from a late artist’s cutting room floor slowly being dribbled out over time, as happened with Tupac Shakur, who somehow released more studio albums
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
‘The Underlying Chris’ Theater Review: Will Eno Goes Full Hallmark
In his 2014 comedy “The Open House,” Will Eno offered up a real coup de theatre when he had a bickering family slowly replaced on stage by characters interested in buying their house. As one family member after another left the house to go on an errand, the actor playing that role would soon reappear
- EntertainmentVariety
Film News Roundup: Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Teams With Gary Lucchesi for Production Venture
In today's film news roundup, Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary and Gary Lucchesi are teaming up; Zolee Griggs, Sara Rue and Ed Quinn are cast; and "Clementine" finds a home. JOINT VENTURE Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary's Revelations Entertainment is teaming with former Lakeshore Entertainment
- EntertainmentVariety
‘Frozen 2’ Stars Talk Possible $100 Million Debut, Which Disney Princess Could Be Bisexual (Watch)
Welcome to a special edition of “The Big Ticket,” Variety and iHeart’s movie podcast. I’m calling it “Frozen 2” Day because the new episode features interviews with the stars of the Disney sequel, Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff and Evan Rachel Wood as well as co-directors Jennifer
- EntertainmentVariety
‘The Crown’ Has Not Cast Imelda Staunton for Seasons 5 and 6, Netflix Says
Netflix is shooting down reports that Imelda Staunton is joining "The Crown." "We are currently filming season 4 of 'The Crown' but have not commissioned any further seasons as yet, therefore any news on casting remains pure speculation," a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement
- EntertainmentVariety
Baby Yoda Merchandise to Debut Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season
Purchase Baby Yoda toys, you will. Fans of the breakout character from the Disney Plus series "The Mandalorian" have been surprised that there was no merchandise pegged to the character available upon the launch of the show, given that the Christmas shopping season is rapidly approaching. But
- EntertainmentVariety
Film Review: ‘When Lambs Become Lions’
"For us, ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants," says Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta in a televised statement, shortly before several vast hauls of severed elephant tusks — ornately piled like sacred shrines — is ceremoniously set ablaze. It's a confiscated collection that,
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
Pharrell Williams Wrote a Song About a Music Legend He’d Never Even Met for ‘The Black Godfather’
A version of this story about Pharrell Williams and “The Black Godfather” first appeared in The Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s Oscar magazine.Music-business executive Clarence Avant may have helped launch or sustain the careers of a long list of luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and athletes
- EntertainmentVariety
Mike Bloomberg Aiming to Launch TV Ads on Monday (EXCLUSIVE)
Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign is in the process of reserving TV ad time in the states that will vote on March 3, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The sources said the campaign is planning to begin the ad blitz on Monday. One source said the campaign was looking to book
- EntertainmentVariety
Live Nation Productions Boards Danny Clinch-Helmed Blind Melon Doc ‘All I Can Say’
Live Nation Productions and Double E Entertainment have signed on as executive producers of "All I Can Say," the documentary film featuring footage shot entirely by the late Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon. The film’s title is taken from the opening lines of Blind Melon’s instantly recognizable
- EntertainmentVariety
How Mr. Rogers Influenced the Pacing of ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’
Fred Rogers was an icon to many. Everyone who met him and knew him says, "He really was like that." He spoke in a soft voice and he was kind. He believed in doing good to others. He spoke to children in "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" in a soft voice, helping them to process complicated
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
Republican National Committee Spent $94,800 for Copies of Donald Trump Jr’s Book ‘Triggered’
The Republican National Committee spent $94,800 on copies of Donald Trump Jr.’s book, “Triggered,” according to new filings with the Federal Elections Commission.On Oct. 29, a week before the release of Trump Jr.’s book, the RNC paid that amount to the bookseller website Books A Million. The expenditure
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
Midseason TV 2020: Complete List of Premiere Dates for New and Returning Broadcast Shows
The new year is fast approaching and so is midseason TV.While fall brought with it the returns of your favorite broadcast shows — and the debuts of several new ones — the colder months mark the time when many of those shows go into hibernation and fresh programming wakes up.Because the broadcast networks
- EntertainmentVariety
Sean Combs Slams ‘Illusion of Economic Inclusion’ at Comcast Amid Byron Allen Fight
Sean Combs has come out swinging against Comcast in a lengthy statement prompted by the cable giant's legal battle with Entertainment Studios chief Byron Allen. Combs accused Comcast of maintaining "the illusion of economic inclusion" in its handling of a carriage agreement with Combs'
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Isn’t Happening This Year, CFO of Parent Company Says
There will be no Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year. The chief financial officer for L Brands, which owns the lingerie company, announced the news in a conference call with analysts on Thursday.“We think it’s important to evolve the messaging of Victoria’s Secret,” said L Brands CFO Stuart Burgdoerfer
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
Why ‘Harriet’ Star Cynthia Erivo Insisted on Writing a Song for the Film Too
A version of this story about Cynthia Erivo and “Harriet” first appeared in The Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s Oscar magazine.Cynthia Erivo’s first and biggest job on “Harriet” was unquestionably to play the title role of Harriet Tubman. But when director Kasi Lemmons decided that the end credits needed
- EntertainmentVariety
Bon Iver, Tanya Tucker, Thom Yorke Lead Indie Labels to 44% of Grammy Nominations
Ever since Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” won Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards, independent labels have seen their star rise on “Music’s Biggest Night,” and that looks set to continue at the 2020 ceremony, where Bon Iver, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Elvis Costello
- EntertainmentVariety
TV News Roundup: OWN Orders Celebrity Relationship Series ‘#LoveGoals’
In today's TV news roundup, OWN orders a new unscripted relationship series and Disney Channel orders new seasons of "The Owl House" and "Sydney to the Max." DATES ABC will live broadcast the "2020 NCAA Gymnastics Championship Final" on April 18. The semi finals will
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
‘And Then We Danced’ Filmmaker Levan Akin on Russia’s Protest of His Historic Gay Love Story
Just days before the Georgian premiere of Swedish filmmaker Levan Akin’s new love story between two young dancers, copies of the film were leaked on Russian websites.It was “exactly timed to ruin our screenings in Georgia,” Akin told TheWrap.The Georgian premiere of “And Then We Danced” was met with
- EntertainmentVariety
Black Keys Enlist Fellow Ohioan Joe Walsh for Jam at L.A. Show
"Cuyahoga River Way" doesn't have quite the same ring as "Rocky Mountain Way," but some of northeast Ohio's most famous rock heroes met up (and celebrated another, lesser known one) in Los Angeles Tuesday night, when the Black Keys were joined on stage at the Forum by Joe
- EntertainmentVariety
The Dowdle Brothers Tackle New ‘Friday Night Lights’ Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
John Erick and Drew Dowdle, aka the Dowdle brothers, have boarded Universal Pictures’ reimagining of “Friday Night Lights." Both will do a polish on the script, with John Erick directing and Drew exec producing. Sources tell Variety that the movie is not a sequel to Universal’s 2004 film starring
- EntertainmentThe Wrap
Does ‘Frozen II’ Have a Post-Credits Scene?
It’s been six years since the release of “Frozen,” an original, animated Disney movie so big that it became a pop cultural sensation. If you don’t count the “live-action” remake of “The Lion King” from this year, “Frozen” is the highest grossing animated movie of all time, snowballing to $1.27 billion
- EntertainmentVariety
Roman Polanski’s New Accuser Reached Out to L.A. Prosecutors in Early 2017
Valentine Monnier, the former actor who recently went public with her accusation that Roman Polanski raped her 44 years ago, sent an anonymous letter to L.A. prosecutors in early 2017 detailing those allegations, sources tell Variety. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has confirmed
- EntertainmentVariety
Showtime to Develop Series Based on Jacob Tobia Memoir ‘Sissy’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Showtime is developing a half-hour dramedy based on Jacob Tobia's memoir, Variety has learned exclusively. Tobia is a non-binary LGBTQ rights activist, actor, producer, and author. Their memoir, "Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story," was published earlier this year by Putnam Books at Penguin
- EntertainmentVariety
Singapore Festival: HBO Asia Tells ‘Invisible Stories’
HBO Asia has expanded its burgeoning production slate with six-episode half-hour series “Invisible Stories.” The first two episodes of the show, “Lian” and “Chuan,” play at the Singapore International Film Festival on Nov. 28. The series is by writer and director Ler Jiyuan, who previously directed part
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