Fox News Media made a bid Monday to quash a massive $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit that has called into question segments delivered on at least three of its programs, saying the legal case presented by voting-technology firm Smartmatic is “meritless” and would “chill First Amendment activities.” Smartmatic, a maker of software that helps in elections,
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Stars ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Timothee Chalamet to Michael B. Jordan to Daveed Diggs to Matthew McConaughey all appeared in Super Bowl ads this past Sunday. But other than the obvious financial benefits, what motivation is there for a major celebrity to appear in an ad during the biggest football game of the year
The current season of “The Bachelor” hasn’t even come to an end, but ABC is so impressed with one of Matt James’ current contestants, the network is nearly set on its next star of “The Bachelorette.” Katie Thurston is all-but-sure to be the next “Bachelorette,” sources close to the dating show tell Variety. While the
The wait to find out how many people watched the Super Bowl is proving to be as interminable as the game itself. Nielsen on Monday night confirmed that ratings for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night were unlikely to be released until at least Tuesday morning. The data
Exclusive Offset seems to have misplaced not just the keys to a new car, but the whole damn ride itself — at least that’s what a car company’s claiming in court. Platinum Transportation Group — an L.A.-based luxury rental service — is suing the Migos rapper over what it says is the shady disappearance of
Exclusive Details YFN Lucci is back on the outside after being arrested for murder — but a judge is imposing limitations to keep him from booking it outta town, or hurting anyone. Photos and video emerged Monday of the Atlanta rapper getting sprung from jail — where he’d been in custody since turning himself in
WGA West president David Goodman knew taking on Hollywood’s largest talent agencies would be an uphill battle from the start. But the veteran showrunner who led the guild’s campaign to reform its agency franchise rules was heartened at key junctures during the three-year fight by the strong sense of solidarity and unanimity among WGA members
Billy Brown, the patriarch in the reality-documentary series “Alaskan Bush People,” which follows an isolated Alaskan family, died Sunday night after suffering a seizure. He was 68. “We are devastated to hear of Billy Brown’s sudden passing,” a Discovery spokesperson said in a statement to Variety. “He has been part of the Discovery family for years
In today’s TV news roundup, Fox announced the premiere dates for “The Masked Singer” Season 5 and “Game of Talents,” and Variety obtained an exclusive first look at Christopher Meloni on “Finding Your Roots.” DATES HBO Max will debut its new reality competition series, “The Bridge,” on Feb. 11. With James McAvoy as host, 12 strangers
Talent and entertainment company UTA has signed one of the most iconic music venues in the world, Harlem’s Apollo Theater, in all areas. According to the announcement, UTA will help expand the 87-year-old theater’s cultural influence, representation, and programming across TV, film, podcasts, publishing and events through its IP. The Apollo’s legendary stage has hosted
Black excellence in filmmaking should be celebrated every month — but Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max and Disney Plus have created special sections curating their offerings and highlighting Black History Month. Given we’ve been without live music for nearly a year, it would be a good time to watch Beyonce’s Coachella concert-movie “Homecoming.” Sure,
Mon. Feb 8. Universal Pictures Moves Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Marry Me’ to 2022 Universal Pictures has announced Jennifer Lopez’s “Marry Me” is moving from May 14, 2021 to Feb. 11, 2022. Lopez stars as musical superstar Kat Valdez and Owen Wilson as Charlie Gilbert, a math teacher—total strangers who agree to marry and then get to
Jean-Claude Carriere, the prolific French screenwriter and novelist who was Oscar-nominated for “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” “That Obscure Object of Desire” and “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie,” died Monday at his home in Paris. He was 89. His family confirmed his death, of natural causes, to AFP. Carriere was a frequent collaborator with
Video-game giant Electronic Arts said it will acquire Glu Mobile, developer and publisher of mobile games including “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood,” “Design Home,” “Covet Fashion” and “MLB Tap Sports Baseball,” in a deal worth $2.1 billion. The boards of directors of both companies have approved the deal, under which Glu’s shareholders will receive $12.50 in cash
“My child, Shiloh brought the book to me, she had read it and she loved it,” Angelina Jolie says recalling the first time she had seen “The One and Only Ivan,” written by Katherine Applegate. Exploring why her child was affected by the book, why she loved Ivan, a silverback gorilla, and why he spoke
ICM Partners political specialist Travis Merriweather has been promoted to senior political strategist, the talent and literary agency announced today. Since Merriweather joined ICM Politics at the start of 2020, he has focused heavily on the issues of racial equality, voter mobilization and education, and political engagement for ICM’s clients and employees (partisan and non-partisan).
Bolstered by the release of its third season on Jan. 8, “Karate Kid” martial arts dramedy spinoff “Cobra Kai” ended up at the top of Nielsen’s regular Weekly Top 10 list for subscription-based streaming platforms with over 2.1 billion viewing minutes for the week of Jan. 4-10. The Netflix action show also ended up in
The HBO Max comedy series being led by Jean Smart is rounding out its main cast. Variety has learned that the show has cast two series regulars and eight recurring guest star roles. The single-camera comedy series explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance (Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled,
FX has ordered a pilot for a series adaptation of Sam Greenlee’s spy novel “The Spook Who Sat by the Door,” Variety has learned. The adaptation of the book will be written by Leigh Dana Jackson, who will also serve as executive producer and showrunner. Lee Daniels and Marc Velez will also executive produce on behalf
In a signal of things to come from the Biden administration, the Justice Department on Monday dropped out of a lawsuit that seeks to block California from enacting its own net neutrality law. The acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel, hailed the decision and said that the FCC is now “charting
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be announcing its shortlist on Tuesday in nine Oscar categories. The categories and number of films to be revealed include documentary feature (15), documentary short subject (10), international feature (15), makeup and hairstyling (10), original score (15), original song (15), animated short film (10), live action
Despite taking place virtually and over a shorter duration, the 2021 Sundance Film Festival nabbed its largest audience ever this year, the Sundance Institute announced Monday. The 2021 festival took place from Jan. 28-Feb. 3 and was hosted online and in-person in 20 cities across the United States. This year’s audience was 2.7 times larger
While many films were being delayed during the summer as a result of the pandemic, Pete Davidson and Judd Apatow decided to release “The King of Staten Island” on VOD in June. “This is kind of about trauma and these types of disasters and first responders so maybe it’s supposed to come out now,” Apatow
When composer and songwriter Lisbeth Scott was working on the end music for Marc Meyers’ romantic film, “All My Life” (now streaming on Netflix), she found herself so immersed in the world of the characters that she ended up writing an end title song. The film is based on a true story and stars Jessica
It may have been a disastrous week for Morgan Wallen in most ways, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the album chart, where country’s newest superstar — and, for now, its most famous pariah — remains at No. 1 for a fourth consecutive week. Wallen’s “Dangerous: The Double Album” remained on top of
A24 has acquired U.S. rights to “Pleasure,” an explicit drama about the adult film industry, following its premiere at the virtual Sundance Film Festival. A24 will release the full uncensored film, as well as an R-rated version, later this year. Directed by Ninja Thyberg, “Pleasure” takes a look at the Los Angeles porn industry through the
The “Top Chef” Quickfire Challenge was about to start filming, and Padma Lakshmi — the Bravo show’s longtime host, judge and executive producer — was being fussed over by people wearing masks and face shields. “This is a lot of copy to get through,” said Lakshmi, who would soon have to describe a complicated “Black
Lou Dobbs’ program is off the schedule at Fox Business Network, and Larry Kudlow’s will soon be on. Fox Business Network will launch a new 4 p.m. program led by Kudlow on Tuesday, February 16, putting the former Trump economic adviser and CNBC personality on screen just as the stock markets close for the day.
Last year, Hollywood glamour came to a halt in the wake of a global pandemic. Gone were the days of couture gracing the elite days after a runway show. Ballgowns made-to-measure for A-listers gliding across the red carpet at a movie premiere ceased to exist. But that didn’t mean dressing up lost its luster—at least
Here’s one way to spin it: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes just got a lot more relatable, reports Variety‘s sister site Sportico. Mahomes made football look easy during his first three years as a starter, becoming the youngest player to win MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors last year before making another big game this