Television
A 79-Year-Old Doing Hip-Hop? ‘The Simpsons’ Is Where Free Speech Battles Age Bias Claims
As the old saying goes, no business is like show business. For one thing, show business is speech business. But what acts by an entertainment producer are legitimately free speech, and what acts are plain ol’ discrimination? That’s not always clear. Just look at the ongoing case of Alf Clausen, the 79-year-old who was fired as Simpsons composer after 27 years of celebrated work on the animated classic. As his lawsuit heads toward an important hearing next week, Clausen looks to undercut Fox’s positioning that this dispute relates to an important First Amendment issue. Clausen is suing Disney and its Fox divisions with the claim that his termination was due to age and disability discrimination. The musician says he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and he o...
HBO’s Latest Sneak Peek Of ‘Lovecraft Country’ Has Us Shooketh
Source: Eli Joshua Ade / HBO / Courtesy of HBO When HBO announced its new thriller Lovecraft Country in May, fans were excited because J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele were associated with the project. However, this latest Comic-Con sneak peek allows us to see what the sci-fi juggernauts have in store for us this summer. The 10-episode series is based on Matt Ruff’s horror novel of the same name. To summarize, the story follows three Black characters as they embark on a road trip across then-segregated America in the 1950s in search of a missing family member. The trio eventually discovers themselves battling supernatural monsters and rampant racism which, in itself, is a horrific theme to explore. The latest sneak peek sets us up for what’s to come. V...
Akwa Ibom governor confirms seven deaths from coronavirus
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has said that seven persons have died in the state from COVID-19 since the ravaging virus started in the country. Emmanuel who made this known on Saturday evening during a routine interactive session with the citizens aired by State-owned Radio and television stations urged the citizens and residents to protect themselves and their families from contracting the virus by complying with the preventive and safety measures put in place. His words, “Since COVID-19 started in Nigeria, we have lost seven (7) who had tested positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately, almost all of them came for treatment when they were at a helpless point. “And what we are experiencing nowadays in the state is the high degree of diabetic conditions of people. People don’t check ...
Regis Philbin, TV Host With the Most Congenial Demeanor, Dies at 88
Regis Philbin, the indefatigable and downright neighborly host of talk shows and game shows who spent more time in front of a television camera than anyone else, has died. He was 88. Philbin died of natural causes according to a family statement, People reported on Saturday (July 25). The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Philbin’s representatives for comment. Unfailingly perky and personable during his 60-plus years in show business, Philbin hosted live morning programs from Los Angeles and New York from the early 1970s through 2011, sharing cups of coffee and flipping through the morning papers alongside the likes of Ruta Lee, Sarah Purcell, Cyndy Garvey, Mary Hart, Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa. Like Jack Paar before him, Philbin engaged his audience with tales about his p...
R.I.P. Regis Philbin, Beloved Television Personality Dies at 88
Regis Philbin, beloved television personality and game show host, has died at the age of 88 “His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him – for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about. We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss,” the Philbin family said in a statement to PEOPLE. TMZ reports that Philbin passed away after suffering from a heart attack. A native of The Bronx, Philbin got his start in showbiz working as a page at The Tonight Show in 1955. After a stint writing for Los Angeles talk show host Tom Duggan and briefly hosting his own show in San Diego, Philbin landed a network TV gig i...
Shea Couleé’s 5 Best Musical Moments on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’
Spoilers ahead for the finale of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 5’ At long last, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 5 has come to an end — after a smashing performance to RuPaul’s new song “Clap Back,” and one final lip sync to Janelle Monáe’s “Make Me Feel,” RuPaul declared the winner … season 9’s Shea Couleé! Considered a favorite to win from the moment she entered the work room, the 31-year-old drag star proved each episode why that was the case. Snatching two challenge wins, and winning every lip sync she performed in, Couleé was considered such a threat that there was even a plotline about queens potentially conspiring to eliminate her as the biggest threat in the competition. “My drag, in its purest form, is a love letter to black women,” Couleé explained on the main stage...
Kygo and OneRepublic Perform Iso-Rendition of ‘Lose Somebody’ for ‘Tonight Show’: Watch
To label Kygo as an EDM DJ is underselling him. The Norwegian artist does spin discs, and produce electronic music. And during his appearance Wednesday on The Tonight Show, he showcased his talents on a grand piano. Kygo (real name Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll) performed an iso-version of “Lose Somebody” with OneRepublic, a collaboration lifted from Golden Hour, the multi-talented European musician’s latest LP. The Nordic wonder is in the mix with another collaboration doing big things on sales charts around the globe. His remix of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” is on target to give the soul legend her first U.K. top 40 hit in more than a decade. Golden Hour peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 in June. Watch the performance below. [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Even W...
Netflix Drops The Official Trailer For Sam Jay’s ‘3 In The Morning’
Source: Netflix / Netflix Saturday Night Live writer Sam Jay is coming to Netflix with her own special and we are here for it. Source: Netflix / Netflix The hilarious queer comedian, who’s earned her comedy stripes by garnering an Emmy nod for her writing for the iconic late-night comedy showcase, is showcasing her own talent with her first-ever hourlong comedy special, 3 In The Morning. Filmed prior to the pandemic, the Netflix special features the Boston-bred comedian delivers the witty, candid, and raw style of comedy that is perfect for the current sociopolitical climate. “With everything that’s going on it’s hard to laugh at anything these days and I get that,” Jay said in a statement. “I just hope this special provides a little break from the insanity.” Breaking the news to fans, Sam...
Nick Cannon Apologizes for Anti-Semitic Comments: ‘I Feel Ashamed’
Nick Cannon posted an apology message via Twitter on Wednesday after he received criticism for anti-Semitic language used in a recent podcast episode. He was dropped by ViacomCBS earlier this week after the podcast surfaced and received wide visibility. “First and foremost I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth during my interview with Richard Griffin,” Cannon wrote. “They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naïve place that these words came from. The video of this interview has since been removed.” Cannon will also remain as host of Fox’s hit The Masked Singer, the network said Wednesday...
REVOLT TV CEO Roma Khanna Stepping Down After Three Years
Colin McIntosh and Detavio Samuels will step in as co-heads. Roma Khanna, CEO of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ REVOLT TV, is stepping down from her role at the cable network after nearly three years on the job. Going forward, she will serve as an advisor to REVOLT TV’s senior team and shareholders. With Khanna departing, REVOLT TV executive vp and head of finance & operations Colin McIntosh and COO and head of content Detavio Samuels will step in as co-heads, taking over day-to-day leadership of the company. Both will report to Combs Enterprises COO Tarik Brooks. Named CEO in September 2017, Khanna has launched such programing as State of the Culture and REVOLT Black News, in addition to the multi-city, multi-platform REVOLT Summit x AT&T. Under her tenure, REVOLT has also grown its distribu...
CBS, NAACP Ink Sprawling Content Partnership Deal
Days after CBS committed to expanding development from BIPOC, the company is teaming with the NAACP for a wide-ranging content partnership. As part of a new, multiple-year agreement, CBS TV Studios and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will team to develop and produce scripted, unscripted and documentary content for linear and streaming platforms. Under the deal, creative leaders from CBS TV Studios will work with the civil rights group to establish a dedicated team of executives and an infrastructure to acquire, develop and produce programming. The goal will be to produce premium content while also expanding the number of diverse voices telling inclusive stories that increase the visibility and impact of Black artists. Included in the deal is a commi...
Masked Singer Sheldon Riley Shines With Billie Eilish Cover on ‘AGT’: Watch
Sheldon Riley doesn’t waste his voice on trifling matters. Like speaking, with America’s Got Talent judges. During Tuesday night’s auditions, the Sydney, Australia hopeful initially played the silent type, before revealing a voice which had Simon Cowell and Co. in raptures. Performing in an exotic black gown and a shimmering mask which could have been been lifted from Prince’s vault, Riley lit the torch with a dramatic rendition of Billie Eilish’s “idontwannabeyouanymore”. Riley later explained his quiet start. He’d rather let his performance do all the talking. Afterwards, Cowell praises Riley’s mystery and originality. “You have an amazing voice,” Howie Mandel enthused. “And the fact that I don’t know what you ...
