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Anderson Cooper will host a new Sunday primetime series for CNN , The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper , as the network works to revitalize its nighttime lineup. The new series, which will be a recurring weekly series, will feature single subject episodes from the network’s longform storytelling team. That will include special interviews, profiles and investigations. The debut is set for April 16 at 8 PM ET. Among the planned episodes will be Sara Sidner’s look at San Francisco and the social issues plaguing the city; Pamala Brown’s examination of claims that Johnson & Johnson’s now discontinued baby powder caused cancer; David Culver’s Magic Mushrooms , looking at the medicine and the money surrounding the psychedelic plant; Erica Hill’s look at the upcoming coronation of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla; and Nick Paton Walsh’s embed with a group of migrants from Central American on their way to seek asylum in the United States. Susan Chun is the … [Read more...] about Anderson Cooper To Host New CNN Sunday Primetime Series ‘The Whole Story’

EXCLUSIVE : Actor-filmmaker Zach Braff has signed with Range Media Partners ahead of the MGM theatrical release of his newest directorial effort A Good Person , starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman. The film hitting screens this Friday, March 24th, which Braff also wrote and produced, tells the story of Allison (Pugh), whose life falls apart after her involvement in a fatal accident. In the following years, it is the unlikely relationship she forms with her would-be father-in-law (Freeman) that helps her inevitably live a life worth living. Braff landed Emmy and DGA Award nominations for his directing on Ted Lasso Season 1 and also recently reteamed with that series’ co-creator Bill Lawrence as a director on his Apple series Shrinking , with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, which has been renewed for a second season . He kicked off his career behind the camera with 2004’s Garden State — a drama that had him starring opposite Natalie Portman which … [Read more...] about ‘A Good Person’ Filmmaker Zach Braff Inks With Range Media Partners

EXCLUSIVE: Saturday Night Live ’s editorial crew has said yes in a big way to its first-ever union contract at the Lorne Michaels -led NBC late-night show. Five days after the Editors Guild and NBCUniversal reached a tentative deal to advert an April 1 strike, the 20-plus SNL editorial crew unanimously voted last night to ratify the agreement. The post-production team and guild reps met virtually Wednesday for the vote, I hear. “The solidarity and bravery of this crew are just so impressive,” Cathy Repola , National Executive Director of the Editors Guild, said of the vote and the team upon ratification of the inaugural deal. “They fought not just to improve their own working lives; they have also set a standard that will benefit all those who follow in their footsteps at this TV comedy institution.” “It was an honor to work with them on reaching this significant agreement.” Unveiled on March 17 after about a week of last-ditch and sometimes tense … [Read more...] about ‘SNL’ Editorial Crew Ratify Deal To Avert Strike; Late-Night Show Will Go On With Inaugural  Contract

Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson are joining Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr in the latter pair’s CBS family comedy. The untitled project, which picked up a pilot order in February , has also set Andy Ackerman as director and exec producer of the pilot. It centers on a legendary talk radio host and happily divorced “Poppa” (Wayans) who has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son (Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband. Atkins plays Dr. Ivy Reed, an intelligent, savvy and bold, Ivy is the host of the “Ask Doctor Reed” radio show where she gives helpful advice to listeners with a modern approach on life. When the network wants to modernize Poppa’s outdated routine, Ivy joins him as a co-host; she quickly dismantles his old-school arguments, and a new rivalry is instantly born. Jackson plays … [Read more...] about Essence Atkins & Tetona Jackson To Star In Wayans’ Family Comedy Pilot At CBS

EXCLUSIVE : Dan Taberski , the man behind podcasts including Missing Richard Simmons and 9/12 , has struck a multi-show deal with Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios . The move will see Taberski create four new podcasts for the studio, which is behind many of his previous hits. It comes as the podcasting world begins to evolve with an increasing number of talent deals, ala the television and film world. Campside Media, the company behind the Chameleon franchise, struck a trio of first-look deals with Believe Her creator Justine van der Leun, Sam Mullins, who is behind Wild Boys and Dr. Dante , and Sean Flynn, the man behing The Bering , earlier this year. Taberski previously created Andrew WK-hosted series Destroy Build Destroy for Cartoon Network and was a producer on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart before moving into audio. He started working with Pineapple in 2017 on six-part series Missing Richard Simmons , which became a breakout hit with … [Read more...] about ‘Missing Richard Simmons’ Creator Dan Taberski Strikes Multi-Show Deal With Pineapple Street Studios, Plots Four New Podcasts

The 2023 Oscars drew another million viewers in the week following the live telecast. According to ABC , the 95th annual Academy Awards drew an average audience of 19.9M total viewers after seven days of viewing across linear and digital platforms. It also scored a 4.43 rating among the key 18-49 demographic. That’s up 8% from the 18.8M viewers that tuned in live on March 12 . It marks the second year in a row that the Oscars grew its audience in the days after the live ceremony. While 8% may not seem like a huge jump, most live ceremonies draw little to no delayed viewers, unless something significant occurs. ABC also says the Academy’s digital content views of the 95th Oscars increased year-over-year by 359%, up to 109.2M vs. last year’s 23.8M. The Academy also accumulated more than 760,000 new followers between January and March, leading up to this year’s ceremony. This year’s live audience was already a positive sign for the Oscars, having increased its … [Read more...] about 2023 Oscars Inch Toward Audience Of 20M After 7 Days Of Multiplatform Viewing

Jeffrey Vandergrift , a longtime and beloved San Francisco radio host and disc jockey known as DJ JV , has been confirmed dead after going missing last month. A body found yesterday in San Francisco Bay near Pier 39 has been identified by the medical examiner as the 55-year-old Vandergrift. Police do not suspect foul play. A statement released by radio station Wild 94.9 today reads, “With a heavy heart, we must confirm that the body found near Pier 39 on Wednesday afternoon has been identified as our dear friend, family member & colleague, JV. We are devastated to know that JV is gone. Please keep his wife Natasha, his family, and close friends in your thoughts and prayers.” Since Vandergrift was last seen alive on Feb. 23, the search for him captivated San Franciscans, especially the fanbase he built over a three-decade radio career. Earlier this month, his wife Natasha Vandergrift tweeted a statement expressing gratitude to i-HeartRadio and its listeners while … [Read more...] about Body In San Francisco Bay Identified As Longtime Radio Disc Jockey Jeffrey “JV” Vandergrift

The BBC has confirmed that Top Gear has been put on hold following the Andrew Flintoff crash, with a decision on the show’s future set to be made “later this year.” The BBC said it would be “inappropriate” to continue filming on the latest season of one of its most popular shows after a crash last December in which the former England cricketer had to be airlifted to hospital. “We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery,” said a BBC statement. “We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year.” The Times has reported that Flintoff is quitting the show he has presented with Paddy McGuinness since 2019. Producer BBC Studios also said it had concluded an investigation into the accident that happened at Top Gear’s test track in Surrey and that the production team were being supported. A further healthy and safety … [Read more...] about BBC Confirms ‘Top Gear’ On Hold After Andrew Flintoff Crash