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Imagine Entertainment co-founders, Oscar winners and USC School of Cinematic Arts alums Brian Grazer and Ron Howard will deliver the school’s commencement address in May, the university said Thursday. Grazer, who also serves on the School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors, received a BA in Psychology at USC in 1974. Howard attended courses at the School of Cinematic Arts. Both received honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees from USC in 2022. The pair, who have teamed on the likes of Oscar Best Picture winner A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 , 8 Mile and 24, Parenthood and Friday Night Lights among other hits join a list of previous commencement addressees that includes Matt Reeves last year along with Ryan Coogler, Jon M. Chu, Donna Langley, Ron Meyer, Paul Feig and more. The ceremony, to be held Friday, May 12 at the Shrine Auditorium, will also see producer-writer-director Tracy Oliver honored with the Mary Pickford Alumni Award, an award Grazer also has … [Read more...] about Imagine That: Ron Howard And Brian Grazer To Give This Year’s USC School Of Cinematic Arts’ Commencement Address

The rare tornado that hit the Los Angeles area Wednesday was the strongest to hit the region in 40 years, officials said today. The National Weather Service rated the Montebello twister as EF1, with winds of 110 mph. That made it the strongest tornado recorded in the area since an F2 caused major damage in March 1983. The last time an EF1 tornado occurred in the area was in January 1998 in Long Beach, NWS said. The tornado that touched down in Montebello, about 12 miles southeast of downtown L.A., tore the roofs off buildings, damaged vehicles and wiped out trees. County fire officials said one person was injured and that nearly a dozen of the 17 businesses examined by inspectors were red-tagged, meaning they are no longer suitable for occupation. You can scroll through a gallery of images from Montebello by clicking on the photo above. The F2 tornado on March 1, 1983, ripped through the area then known as South-Central Los Angeles as drivers were commuting to work. It … [Read more...] about Los Angeles-Area Tornado Was Region’s Strongest In 40 Years

France Télévisions boss Delphine Ernotte Cunci is looking to “debunk” and tackle major societal issues such as sexual violence via the public broadcaster’s shows. Addressing Series Mania , Ernotte Cunci said she wants to be “free of constraints” in order to make meaningful programing. She used sexual violence as an example, which she said France Télévisions will spotlight with dramas, documentaries and news. “I want to debunk [major societal issues] like sexual violence and keep tackling them,” she added, citing documentaries the network made about the #MeToo scandal several years ago. Ernotte Cunci, who is also chair of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), praised TV writers for having “a sixth sense” for these topics, which helps with France Télévisions’ dramatic content. She backed TV drama to help build “a common imagination.” “Sometimes as individuals we experience emotions and we don’t know how to analyze them,” she added. “Building a common imagination … [Read more...] about France Télévisions Boss Delphine Ernotte Cunci Talks Debunking Major Societal Issues & “Building A Common Imagination” – Series Mania

EXCLUSIVE: Justin Johnson Cortez , series regular on the CW period drama Walker : Independence , is crossing over into the future as a guest star on Walker . He will play a potentially recurring new role, which could eventually have ties to Calian, the Indigenous character he plays on Walker: Independence . Cortez will appear on the contemporary Walker as Detective Sonny Alcala, a shrewd Homicide Detective who got his start working closely with Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki) and Captain James (Coby Bell) on a case years ago. The Detective initially calls Walker as a courtesy to let him know of a death relating to a case, but something doesn’t quite add up. The Walker origin series Walker Independence is set in the 1800s and follows Abigail Walker, the ancestor of Padalecki’s Cordell Walker. Cortez plays Calian, a member of an Indigenous scouting party outside Independence, Texas. In the midseason finale, Calian left Independence after he was put on … [Read more...] about ‘Walker: Independence’s Justin Johnson Cortez To Appear On Mothership ‘Walker’ Series At The CW

Bravo Jax Taylor is offering up his thoughts on Tom Sandoval 's affair with Raquel Leviss ... saying he believes Tom's been cheating on Ariana Madix for years -- and Tom's famous business partner knew all about it. The former "Vanderpump Rules" star spilled the tea with his wife Brittany Cartwright on Wednesday's "Watch What Happens Live" -- telling Andy Cohen he wasn't shocked at all when the Scandoval drama came to light. He also claims he was practically a witness for the infamous Miami incident years ago. Gallery Launch Gallery Fans of the show remember the long-standing rumor that Tom cheated on Ariana with a girl in Florida at the very beginning of their relationship ... and Jax says he was in the next room when it went down. He's certain this has been a frequent thing with Tom, but still won't go into specifics on what he knows. Jax also talks to Tom's business partner Tom Schwartz on the daily, … [Read more...] about ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Jax Taylor Claims Tom Sandoval Cheated On Ariana Multiple Times

EXCLUSIVE: Adult Material star Siena Kelly has boarded BBC Three witch drama Domino Day , as the show’s EP Laurence Bowen spotlights his indie Dancing Ledge ’s work with new writers. Domino Day, which comes from first-time writer and Dancing Ledge Writer in Residence (WIR) Lauren Sequeira, is an irreverent drama about modern dating in which the protagonist uses dating apps to hunt, rather than find love. Kelly, who was BAFTA nominated for her role in Channel 4’s Adult Material, will play Domino, a powerful young witch who is haunted by her need to feed on the energy of others, a hunger that only grows, despite her attempt to start her life over in Manchester. She is desperately seeking a community who can help her understand her feelings but, unbeknownst to her, she is being tracked by a coven of witches. Kelly is joined by up-and-comers Babirye Bukilwa ( We Hunt Together ), Poppy Lee Friar ( In My Skin ), Alisha Bailey ( Call the Midwife ), Molly … [Read more...] about BBC Three Witch Drama ‘Domino Day’ Sets Cast

It looks like Bravo dodged a bullet with its planned Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion that’s taping today and whether it would run into problems by having stars Raquel Leviss and Scheana Shay in the same room. Leviss’s attendance at the reunion came into question after she filed a restraining order against Shay following an alleged physical altercation. But a seating chart tweeted out by Bravo shows that the women will participate in separate segments. Deadline also confirmed that the women will have separate dressing rooms and trailers (which is typical for reunions like this, anyway, because of, well , those Bravo women being Bravo women and all). Earlier today, Shay’s attorney, Neama Rahmani, gave a statement to Page Six saying “Scheana will be present at today’s filming in person. Scheana intends to follow the law, but she wants to be part of the reunion. If Rachel attends, Scheana and Vanderpump Rules will make sure that Scheana remains 100 yards away to … [Read more...] about ‘Vanderpump Rules’: Raquel Leviss And Scheana Shay Will Film Reunion Separately

Hundreds of WGA East members employed at Hearst Magazines Media staged a half-day walkout and rally today to demand a fair contract. The walkout at four of the company’s offices – in New York City, Easton, PA, Ann Arbor, MI, and Birmingham, AL – comes after more than two years of negotiations for a first-time contract. The last scheduled day of negotiations is March 28. According to the guild, they’re seeking “fair wage increases, better severance and strong anti-harassment protections,” among other demands. Watch some video of the walkout below. The guild represents some 500 of the publishing giant’s editorial, video, design and photo staff at more than 25 brands including Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Popular Mechanics, Car & Driver, Oprah Daily, Seventeen, Elle, Redbook and Woman’s Day . “We’re walking out today because more than two years is too long to wait for a fair union contract,” said Joey Capparella, … [Read more...] about Hundreds Of WGA East Members Stage Walkout At Hearst Magazines Media: “So Many Of Us Pour Our Heart And Soul Into These Brands”

EXCLUSIVE: The ViX original series Montecristo starring William Levy is set to premiere on April 14, with the release of all 6 episodes to hit the streamer. Watch the first official trailer above. Based on the literary classic The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, the series tells the story of Alejandro Montecristo (Levy), an enigmatic figure who bursts into the public eye and raises concerns amongst the world’s elite because the origin of his fortune and his past are unknown. Montecristo is the founder and CEO of a new technology company that has incited the envy and interest of many, among those is Fernando Alvarez Mondego – a businessman connected to the Spanish aristocracy who wants to acquire the Montecristo startup. What Fernando doesn’t know is that Montecristo is someone he knew decades ago and the reason for his emergence is fueled purely by revenge. “I have always loved this story and wanted to tell it,” Levy tells Deadline exclusively of … [Read more...] about William Levy-Led Vix Series ‘Montecristo’ Sets Premiere Date; Drops Official Trailer

A.O. Scott this week ends his 23-year run as film critic for the New York Times and most movie people are glad to see him go. So is he. “If the film world is to become relevant again, it needs critics whose work reflects passion and advocacy, and that’s the opposite of Scott,” observes one important filmmaker who fears being quoted. Besides, he notes, Scott didn’t leave the movies; the movies left Scott. When cinema was “hot,” a critic like Pauline Kael could stir anger or applause in Hollywood simply by walking into a restaurant. Contentious reviews of movies like Midnight Cowboy or Bonnie & Clyde stirred as much noise as did the movies themselves. Quentin Tarantino tells friends he’s even making a film titled The Movie Critic about a Kael-like presence. That would likely be the final movie from the filmmaker, who believes that directors should “hang ‘em up” at the age of 60 (his 60th birthday is this month). So should critics follow suit? Kael’s … [Read more...] about Peter Bart: Quentin Tarantino’s Movie About A Film Critic May Be A Parting Shot To A Fading Species