NBC Sports said Thursday that Maria Taylor will be the new host of Football Night in America , NBC’s weekly studio show that leads into the network’s Sunday Night Football . Taylor, who joined NBC from ESPN less than a year ago, had been a co-host of the Sunday primetime program alongside Mike Tirico, who is joining the SNF booth this upcoming season alongside Cris Collinsworth. He replaces Al Michaels, who exited after the end of this past season and is moving to Amazon to call its nascent slate of Thursday night NFL games alongside Kirk Herbstreit. In addition to the FNA role, Taylor executive producing an eight-part documentary series on the history of the Black quarterback in the NFL. It eventually will stream on Peacock. Since joining NBC, Taylor has had roles including hosting the Tokyo and Beijing Olympics and the Super Bowl LVI Pregame Show. “Maria is the perfect choice to carry the legacy forward of anchoring the most-watched studio show in … [Read more...] about Maria Taylor Named New Host Of NBC’s ‘Football Night In America’
Upfronts 2022: McG Goes 3-For-3 Pilot-To-Series In Return To Broadcast TV
McG , who has been busy producing movies for Netflix, returned to broadcast television this season with three pilots on three different networks for his Wonderland Sound and Vision banner, True Lies , based on James Cameron’s 1994 movie, on CBS; Not Dead Yet starring Gina Rodriguez on ABC; and the Jensen Ackles-produced Supernatural prequel The Winchesters on the CW. Over the last couple of days, all three were picked up to series. Additionally, BET+ just picked up Wonderland’s series Average Joe , created by Robb Cullen and starring Deon Cole. The slate of four series on the air harkens back to Wonderland’s most prolific time in television a decade ago when the company also had four series with Supernatural, Nikita, Chuck and Human Target. The company’s executive team includes McG’s longtime partner, Mary Viola, who serves as President, and EVP Corey Marsh. True Lies, whose pilot was written/exec produced by Matt Nix and directed/exec produced by … [Read more...] about Upfronts 2022: McG Goes 3-For-3 Pilot-To-Series In Return To Broadcast TV
ABC’s New Series ‘Rookie: Feds’ & ‘Not Dead Yet’ Undergo Casting Changes As Part Of Creative Tweaks
EXCLUSIVE : TV pilots’ role is to serve as a prototype for a series. Sometimes, networks make changes to that prototype when they proceed to mass production with a series order, which unfortunately affects talent. Two of ABC ’s newly picked-up series, The Rookie ‘s Feds spinoff, headlined by Niecy Nash, and the Gina Rodriguez-starring comedy Not Dead Yet , are going though the process this year. Nash was one of four actors who guest starred in the two-episode arc on The Rookie, which served as backdoor pilot for The Rookie: Feds. Three of them, Nash, who plays the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy, Frankie Faison and Felix Solis, will continue on the new series. The fourth, Kat Foster , will not as her role, Special Agent Casey Fox, will not be moving forward. The changes are more significant on ABC’s new comedy series Not Dead Yet where only half of the six series regulars in the pilot will continue in that capacity on the series: star and executive producer … [Read more...] about ABC’s New Series ‘Rookie: Feds’ & ‘Not Dead Yet’ Undergo Casting Changes As Part Of Creative Tweaks
New Broadcast Series For 2022-23 Season: Photo Gallery
The broadcast networks have largely made their new series pickups for next season. The picks include several IP-based shows, ABC ’s Rookie spinoff, Quantum Leap for NBC , True Lies for CBS , Supernatural spinoff The Winchesters, Walker: Independence and Gotham Knights . There are also a couple of starring vehicles, ABC’s drama Alaska , which had been set up originally with Hilary Swank as the lead, Max Thieriot’s CBS drama Fire Country, The Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash, and NBC comedy Lopez vs. Lopez with George Lopez. Pending is Fox ’s straight-to-series order to John Eisendrath’s missing person procedural drama Alert , which is expected by Monday . (Fox also has on tap for fall country music dynasty series Monarch left over from this season as well as straight-to-series anthology drama Accused , originally ordered last May.) This is not the full list of new series for next season; there are a slew of off-cycle pilots — mostly … [Read more...] about New Broadcast Series For 2022-23 Season: Photo Gallery
Amber Heard, Elon Musk, and A Multimillion-Dollar Mystery
In 2016, Amber Heard scored a major PR win in her fledgling battle with her ex-husband Johnny Depp when she announced that she would be donating her entire $7 million divorce settlement to the ACLU and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. At the time, the move was widely hailed as altruistic — but if it ever came even close to fruition, there’s no evidence for it. Years later, the donation is a point of contention in the actors’ bitter defamation trial unfolding in Virginia, as Depp’s lawyers attempt to undermine Heard’s credibility by proving not just that she never made anywhere near the full donation, but that she lied under oath about having done so in a separate U.K. trial involving the couple in 2020. In the process, new information is coming to light about Elon Musk ’s involvement in the donation controversy — and the ACLU’s desire to keep everything under wraps. On June 29, 2020, Rolling Stone has learned, Depp’s legal team sent the first of six subpoenas to … [Read more...] about Amber Heard, Elon Musk, and A Multimillion-Dollar Mystery
The Music Industry Gives Morgan Wallen Another Big Stage With Billboard Music Awards Performance
Morgan Wallen took the stage at the Performing on the show’s center stage surrounded by his backing band, Wallen opened with the reflective “Don’t Think Jesus” before ditching his guitar to give an emotive performance of the chart-topping “Wasted on You.” “Wasted on You” appears on Wallen’s 2021 album, Dangerous: The Double Album , which was one of the biggest commercial hits of last year, despite the controversy that enveloped the country artist. The track was officially released as a single in March and has since hit Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and peaked at Number Nine on the Hot 100. MRC Live and Alternative, which produces the BBMAs, previously explained the decision to book Wallen in an internal memo shared via Billboard . Per the memo, the decision came about after both internal discussions, as well as discussions between MRC and Wallen’s team; MRC staffers were reportedly convinced that Wallen had committed to bettering himself and … [Read more...] about The Music Industry Gives Morgan Wallen Another Big Stage With Billboard Music Awards Performance
Travis Scott Debuts New Song at Billboard Music Awards in First TV Performance Post-Astroworld
A week after Travis Scott performed his first public concert since the Astroworld tragedy, the rapper found himself on an even bigger stage Sunday as he appeared at the 2022 The award show was also the rapper’s first televised performance since a crowd rush at his Astroworld Fest in Houston on Nov. 5, 2021 killed 10 people — and, as a new lawsuit claims , a pregnant woman’s unborn child — and injured nearly 5,000 others . Scott and the festival’s organizers still face dozens of lawsuits from the hundreds of victims. Scott isn’t the only artist seeking some sort of redemption at the Billboard Music Awards: Morgan Wallen, whose chart-topping rise was temporarily halted due to an N-word scandal, was also invited to take the stage at the Sean “Diddy” Combs-hosted event. “I am uncanceling the canceled,” Combs said on social media of Scott performing at the BBMAs. “There will be no canceling on my watch. Love is about forgiveness… so that was why it was important for me to … [Read more...] about Travis Scott Debuts New Song at Billboard Music Awards in First TV Performance Post-Astroworld
Becky G Brings the World of ‘Esquemas’ to BBMAs with Debut Performance
Latinos, stand up! Becky G just slayed the Esquemas album, which dropped on Friday. Becky took the stage in a black leather jacket — which she later ditched to reveal a lace bodysuit — to perform “ Mamiii ,” her viral song with Karol G, and “ Bailé Con Mi Ex ,” which was released as a single on Friday, in a high-energy performance featuring a crew of backup dancers. This is Becky’s first time hitting the BBMAs stage. Her track “Mayores” with Bad Bunny was nominated for top Latin song in 2018. She was also up for top Latin female artist last year. The Inglewood-born singer spoke to Rolling Stone about her ascent to access and being a “reverse crossover” artist. “I feel like the test dummy that’s been in I don’t know how many vehicles to make the best one,” she said with a laugh. “I’m just like, ‘I’ve got a broken arm on this side, I’ve got one eyeball falling out on the other side, but I’m here, and I’m only going to get stronger.’ ” Esquemas included … [Read more...] about Becky G Brings the World of ‘Esquemas’ to BBMAs with Debut Performance
Billboard Music Awards 2022 Complete Winners List: BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake & Taylor Swift Win Big
The Billboard Music Awards 2022 on Sunday night (May 15) honoured artists across genres and 60 categories. Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and hosted by Sean "Diddy" Combs, the award show also saw performances by Travis Scott, Ed Sheeran, Machine Gun Kelly, Silk Sonic and more. The Weeknd lead the nominations in 17 categories, followed by Doja Cat who had 14 nods, and Justin Bieber, Kanye "Ye" West, and Olivia Rodrigo each with 13 nominations. However, the biggest winners of the night included BTS who made a historic win with three trophies, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, Taylor Swift and others Check out the list of winners below: Top Artist WINNER: Drake Top New Artist WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo Top Male Artist WINNER: Drake Top Female Artist WINNER:Doja Cat Top Duo/Group WINNER: BTS Top Billboard 200 Artist WINNER: Taylor Swift Top Hot 100 Artist WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo Top Streaming Songs Artist WINNER: … [Read more...] about Billboard Music Awards 2022 Complete Winners List: BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake & Taylor Swift Win Big
Watch: Shawn Mendes, Avril Lavigne, Simu Liu Take the Stage at 2022 Juno Awards
Montreal-born Charlotte Cardin was the big winner at 2022 Juno Awards Sunday, as the electro-pop singer took home “Artist of the Year” and “Album of the Year” honors for her critically-acclaimed debut album, Phoenix . Cardin also performed her single, “Meaningless,” at the Junos — which are often dubbed the “Canadian Grammys,” as the show honors the top recording artists in Canada. Cardin led all nominees with six nods for this year’s ceremony, and the 27-year-old snagged four trophies in total over the two-night ceremony (only Sunday night’s festivities were televised). The Weeknd was the other big winner of the weekend, earning Junos for “Songwriter of the Year” and “Best Contemporary R&B Recording” for “Take My Breath,” off his latest album, Dawn FM . And while Shawn Mendes didn’t have an eligible album release in 2021, he nevertheless picked up two trophies on the night, snagging the Juno “Fan Choice” award — fittingly voted on by fans viz TikTok — and a … [Read more...] about Watch: Shawn Mendes, Avril Lavigne, Simu Liu Take the Stage at 2022 Juno Awards