EXCLUSIVE : Michael Jackson will be played by the late icon’s 26-year old nephew Jaafar Jackson in the Antoine Fuqua -directed film biopic for Lionsgate . Fuqua just posted a confirmation on Instagram. The singer and songwriter is the son of Jermaine Jackson , who is the brother of Michael and member of The Jackson 5. Jaafar has been singing and dancing since age 12, and has showcased himself singing tunes from Sam Cooke to Marvin Gaye, along with originals. As Deadline revealed last week, the Emancipation helmer signed on to next direct Michael , which has a script by John Logan . The film’s being produced by Graham King , who turned the Freddie Mercury Queen story into the blockbuster Bohemian Rhapsody . GK Films will produce alongside the co-executors of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain. As you can see from the video below, the young man has the voice and moves to do right by his uncle. As an actor, he might well learn more than he … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson Nephew Jaafar Jackson To Play King Of Pop In Antoine Fuqua-Directed Biopic
Bee gees the very best of the bee gees songs
CNN To Show Bill Maher’s ‘Overtime’ Segments As Part Of Friday Night Programming
CNN will start showing the post-show Overtime segments from HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher as part of its Friday edition of CNN Tonight . The segments will start this Friday at 11:30 PM ET. The Overtime segments have up to now been posted online and promoted to viewers of Real Time . They feature Maher and his guests continuing their discussion on a range of topics and answering viewer questions. The scheduling of the segments is the latest move by CNN Worldwide chairman and CEO Chris Licht to bolster the network’s primetime and late-night lineup. He has not yet named a permanent show for the 9 PM ET timeslot, and sources say that one of the ideas considered has been to schedule a non-traditional host, such as a comedian, for that time period. But a range of options have been considered. Licht told the Los Angeles Times, “We are in conversations with culturally relevant individuals from the worlds of entertainment, sports and comedy who can bring fresh and unique … [Read more...] about CNN To Show Bill Maher’s ‘Overtime’ Segments As Part Of Friday Night Programming
Quinta Brunson To Be Honored With 2023 Television Showperson Award at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Luncheon
Award-winning writer, producer, comedian, and actor Quinta Brunson , creator of ABC and Warner Bros. Television’s TV series Abbott Elementary , will receive the ICG Publicists ( International Cinematographers Guild , IATSE Local 600) 2023 Television Showperson Award. The Television Showperson of the Year Award honors a person, persons, or company whose creative accomplishments in the formulation, development, production or presentation of projects for television best represents that special spirit traditionally defined as showmanship. Previous recipients include Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, Ava DuVernay, Greg Berlanti, Ryan Murphy, John Landgraf, Ted Sarandos, Shonda Rhimes, and Chuck Lorre, among others. Brunson will be honored at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Awards luncheon at The Beverly Hilton on Friday, March 10, 2023. The announcement was made today by Tim Menke and Sheryl Main, ICG Publicists Awards Chairs. “As publicists we applaud Quinta … [Read more...] about Quinta Brunson To Be Honored With 2023 Television Showperson Award at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Luncheon
‘Addams Family’ OG Wednesday Addams Lisa Loring Dead at 64
Gallery Launch Gallery Getty Actress Lisa Loring , best known for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the iconic TV show, "The Addams Family," has died. Her daughter, Vanessa , tells TMZ ... Lisa passed away Saturday at a hospital in Burbank, CA, after she suffered a stroke due to high blood pressure. Everett Collection Lisa was just 6 when she landed the role of pig-tailed Wednesday Addams in the 1964 dark comedy sitcom. Although she played the part for only 2 years, her depiction of the character inspired other actresses who portrayed Wednesday in later films based on the TV show. Getty Jenna Ortega , who took on the role of Wednesday in the recent Netflix series, also gave props to Lisa in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. After "The Addams Family," Lisa stayed mostly in TV with appearances in "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.," "Fantasy Island" and "Barnaby Jones." She also played … [Read more...] about ‘Addams Family’ OG Wednesday Addams Lisa Loring Dead at 64
Eagles Fans Party In Streets After Championship Win, Crash Through Bus Stop
Instagram / @janine_ray Greased light poles be damned, Eagles fans hit the streets of Philadelphia in the minutes after the Birds won the NFC Championship -- and, at one point, they went so hard, they crashed through a local bus stop! The hectic scene all went down after Philly handily beat the San Francisco 49ers ... when droves of Eagles supporters took to Broad Street near City Hall to celebrate the big victory. Fans packed into the roadway like sardines -- and, eventually, they climbed onto a bus stop to catch a better view of the party. The streets are wild (via ig/janine_ray) pic.twitter.com/txfrSxHRP2 — Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) January 30, 2023 @BarstoolPhilly Unfortunately for them, the stop couldn't hold the weight of everyone, and it gave way -- sending Philly supporters crashing to the ground. It's unclear if anyone was injured -- or if any arrests were made -- we've reached out to authorities for comment, but so far, no word … [Read more...] about Eagles Fans Party In Streets After Championship Win, Crash Through Bus Stop
Oprah Celebrates 69th Birthday with Kim K, J Lo, Sharon Stone and More
Oprah rang in her 69th birthday with some of the most famous women in Hollywood -- including Jennifer Lopez , Sharon Stone , Priyanka Chopra ... and Kim Kardashian . The get-together Saturday in L.A. served as a two-pronged event ... first, to celebrate O's big day, obviously -- but these ladies also came together to honor Anastasia Beverly Hill's 25th anniversary with a true who's-who guest list. In addition to the above-mentioned names ... other stars in attendance included Sofia Vergara , Heidi Klum , Lori Harvey , Jessica Alba , Rita Wilson and others. So, yeah -- it was a pretty glitzy affair for the iconic cosmetics store ... and especially Oprah. Kim snapped photos of O and her elaborate cake ... and Lori got the moment on video. Of course, everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' at the top of their lungs. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. It was selfies galore too ... KK got some, and so did J Lo. … [Read more...] about Oprah Celebrates 69th Birthday with Kim K, J Lo, Sharon Stone and More
Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group To Launch ‘Equal Justice With Judge Eboni K. Williams’
EXCLUSIVE: Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group is set to launch another court series — Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams . The daily one-hour strip will bow fall 2023 and will be available to broadcast on television stations, as well as global cable, network, and digital distribution platforms. A lawyer, author and television host, Williams is a former guest host on ABC’s The View and a correspondent for CBS News and Fox News. Williams is currently host of her own series on Allen Media Group’s The Grio Television Network – the daily one-hour news program The Grio with Eboni K. Williams . Williams also starred on season 13 of The Real Housewives of New York City. As an attorney, Williams provided legal counsel in family law and civil litigation, and was also a public defender. She also worked in private practice. Williams authored the best-selling book Pretty Powerful , as well as a new book titled Bet on Black: The Good News About Being Black in America … [Read more...] about Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group To Launch ‘Equal Justice With Judge Eboni K. Williams’
‘One Piece’: Netflix Live-Action Pirate Adventure Series Unveils First-Look Key Art Of Cast
Netflix has released the key art for its anticipated One Piece live-action series based on one of the best-selling manga titles of all time. The series is slated to premiere later this year. The key art poster reveals Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, wearing the character’s signature red vest and straw hat. In addition to Luffy, the key art teases the live-action debuts of Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji, the primary Straw Hats, played by Mackenyu (Roronoa Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero Gibson (Usopp) and Taz Skylar (Sanji). See the full image below. Based on the manga title by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece will follow the other-worldly adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew as they explore exotic islands and endless oceans in search for the ultimate treasure “One Piece” to become the next Pirate King. Steven Maeda ( Lost, The X-Files ) is the writer, showrunner and executive producer. Matt Owens ( Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Luke Cage ) is … [Read more...] about ‘One Piece’: Netflix Live-Action Pirate Adventure Series Unveils First-Look Key Art Of Cast
Fisk University, The First HBCU Gymnastics Team To Compete At NCAA Level, Leaps Into Docuseries From Deborah Riley Draper & Wiip
EXCLUSIVE : Fisk University made history earlier this year by becoming the first HBCU gymnastics team to compete at an NCAA event. The Nashville school and its team will now be the subject of a docuseries from filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper and wiip . Flipped (w/t) will follow college gymnastics’ only all BIPOC team as they navigate the pressures of their first season while challenging the stereotypes and norms in women’s athletics. With no university gym of their own, Coach Corrinne Tarver and her gymnastics team at Fisk University, consisting primarily of first-year college students, aim to take on the best in NCAA gymnastics without mitigating or changing who they are as women of color. The series features access to the coaches, student athletes, parents, and administrators at Fisk University and the trials and triumphs of HBCU sports. The team, which included several Division-I athletes who de-committed from high-profile programs, took the mat at the 2023 … [Read more...] about Fisk University, The First HBCU Gymnastics Team To Compete At NCAA Level, Leaps Into Docuseries From Deborah Riley Draper & Wiip
‘Tulsa King’s Jay Will To Topline Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Second Feature ‘Rob Peace’
EXCLUSIVE : Tulsa King ‘s Jay Will has landed the title role in Rob Peace — the second feature from Academy Award-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor , on the heels of the Netflix-acquired The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind , which he’s directing from his own script. The film, first announced in 2019, is based on Jeff Hobbs’ best-selling biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League . It follows Robert Peace, who made his way to Yale on scholarship after growing up in a crime-ridden section of Newark, New Jersey. He’d major during his time there in molecular biophysics and biochemistry, working in a lab researching cancer and infectious diseases, while at the same time making six figures from the sale of marijuana. While Pearce graduated with honors in 2002, the promise of his future crumbled when he was killed in a drug-related shooting in 2011. The film currently in production is being produced by Los … [Read more...] about ‘Tulsa King’s Jay Will To Topline Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Second Feature ‘Rob Peace’