“One World: Together at Home,” the two-hour star-studded virtual concert featuring Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson and numerous other artists, drew in nearly 21 million viewers across the 26 networks on which it aired live on Saturday night, according to Nielsen data. The musical event, organized by Global Citizen and the World Health Organization,
Retired baseball star Alex Rodriguez and his fiancé, recording artist and actor Jennifer Lopez, have retained JPMorgan Chase to raise capital for a possible bid on the New York Mets, people familiar with the matter said. The superstar couple is working with Managing Director Eric Menell, the bank’s co-head of North American media investment banking,
In today’s film news roundup, Netflix dates “The Lovebirds,” Goldcrest Post hires a veteran executive and the documentaries “American Heretics” and “Anthropocene: The Human Epoch” are getting free showings. RELEASE DATE Streaming giant Netflix has set a May 22 launch date for its Issa Rae–Kumail Nanjiani romantic comedy “The Lovebirds,” directed by Michael Showalter. “The Lovebirds”
“I’m not a scientist, but …” That’s how an awful lot of opining is framed these days, as columnists, pundits and sources offer a quick disclaimer before proceeding to predict how the coronavirus crisis will play out. As CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta repeats mantra-like in his daily podcast, “We’re all in this together.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will allow movie theaters to reopen starting April 27, but exhibition insiders stress that it would be nearly impossible for most major chains to start business back up by next week. Movie theater circuits believe that it re-opening won’t just be like flicking a switch. AMC Theaters, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark and
Between the Beastie Boys’ retrospective book (“Beastie Boys Book”), their 2018 “event tour” (featuring readings and Q&A) and “Beastie Boys Story” documentary — which comes out Friday on Apple TV+ — one might wonder what’s left to talk about. But Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Mike “D” Diamond — the third Beastie Boy, Adam “MCA” Yauch,”
Herb Stott, a trailblazing director and producer of TV commercials, died Feb. 8 in Hollywood. He was 85. The cause of death has not been made public. Through his two production companies, Spungbuggy Works Inc. and Herb Stott Films, he produced both live-action and animated commercials. Stott’s live-action clients included McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Little Debbie, Doritos,
An average of 6.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the first two episodes of the much-anticipated documentary series “Last Dance” across ESPN and ESPN 2, a boon to the Walt Disney-owned sports networks as they scramble to maneuver in a climate where nearly all live sports have been canceled. Citing data from Nielsen, ESPN
“Never Have I Ever” has a keen awareness of the teen comedies that came before it. Its plucky heroine has an overbearing mother, two meeker best friends, a nemesis, and a debilitating crush on a popular jock with a secret heart of gold. All she wants is to stride through her sophomore year of high
Collections of films by iconic directors such as François Truffaut and Charlie Chaplin are heading to Netflix as part of a wide-ranging deal struck with distributor MK2 Films. The titles will be available only in France for now. Twelve of Truffaut’s seminal films, including “Jules and Jim” and “The 400 Blows” (pictured), will launch on
If Billie Joe Armstrong’s solo version of the somber “Wake Me Up When September Ends” on Saturday night’s “One World: Together at Home” broadcast left you at all down in the mouth, he’s got the immediate antidote for that. On Monday the Green Day singer released his cover version of the theme song for the
The surviving members of Fountains of Wayne will reunite Wednesday — joined by Sharon Van Etten on bass and backing vocals — to perform in tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger on “Jersey 4 Jersey,” a benefit live-stream taking place Wednesday night. Said Chris Collingwood, the band’s co-founder and lead singer, “Brian (Young), Jody (Porter)
Boss Baby Brody, a breakout toddler Instagram dance star, has signed with talent agency WME — along with his mom, Dani Schaffer. Brody (full name: Brody Schaffer), who lives in San Diego with his family, has 270,000 followers for his Instagram account that features dance videos captured by his parents. His dance video to “The
Tom Lester, best known for his role as the smart-aleck farmhand Eb Dawson on the ’60s sitcom “Green Acres,” died Monday in Nashville, Tenn. from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Lester, who was 81, was the last surviving actor of the original “Green Acres” cast. His death was confirmed by his brother Michael on Facebook
Dwayne Johnson, Issa Rae, and Dany Garcia are set to executive produce a half-hour series in development at HBO about the creation of a backyard wrestling promotion, Variety has learned exclusively. The project is currently titled “TRE CNT” (a.k.a “TRE COUNT”) and hails from writer Mohamad El Masri. The series focuses on Cassius Jones, a
In its young life, Amazon Studios has proven unafraid of splashy premieres for its theatrical and streaming titles. They staged a fun run through the streets of Hollywood from the screening to the after party of the festival darling “Brittany Runs a Marathon.” They shut down Pasadena’s Rose Bowl and erected a world’s fair, complete
Gabrielle Chanel was barely ten years old when the first commercial film debuted in 1895. The then new technology would leave an indelible imprint on her mind. Movement was key to Chanel’s vision, with the designer freeing women from their previous sartorial constraints through her use of silk jersey and borrowed-from-the-boys silhouettes. And the Chanel
Yves ForestierGetty Images When the photographer Peter Beard approached Iman on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, to ask if she had ever modeled, the future supermodel thought he was trying out a pickup line on her. Instead, Beard helped kickstart Iman’s long career. In an Instagram post following the news that the photographer had passed
Veteran Metro Goldwyn Mayer executive Peter Oillataguerre has been named president of production for Spyglass Media Group. Spyglass chairman and chief executive officer Gary Barber made the announcement Monday. Oillataguerre will report to Barber and run theatrical production including creative development, physical production and post production. “Peter and I have worked together for nearly 20 years
Amblin Partners has acquired film rights to the life story of Jutta Kleinschmidt – the first and only woman to win the brutal off-road endurance race The Dakar Rally – as well as rights to her self-penned book “My Victory at Dakar.” “Hobbs and Shaw” director David Leitch and his producing partner Kelly McCormick brought
This week’s music live-streams start not with a bang but a bong: Willie Nelson and Wiz Khalifa are fronting two different 4/20 multi-artist online potfests Monday. For those who prefer to drink in the greenery only with thine eyes, a star-studded, two-day Earth Day celebration is coming later in the week. Also on tap: a
NBCUniversal’s Fandango division clinched a pact to buy Vudu, the digital movie and TV streaming platform, from retailing giant Walmart. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Fandango plans to maintain a Vudu office in the Sunnyvale, Calif., area and Fandango will be making job offers to the majority of Vudu employees. Fandango has
As Avril Lavigne’s “What the Hell” blares, Charli D’Amelio and three Prada models stride toward the camera. The tune, from 2011, probably qualifies as a golden oldie for D’Amelio, who was about six when it hit the airwaves. The 15-year-old TikTok star was a front-row guest this season at Prada, posting several videos of herself
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pled with Thomas Markle to stop blabbing to the media before their Royal wedding … according to text messages sent by the Sussexes. Meghan and Harry’s pleas to Thomas leading up to their nuptials have just been made public in Meghan’s lawsuit against an English tabloid, and the text messages
Even in an era of hip-hop that saw future classics released on an almost monthly basis, Mobb Deep’s “The Infamous,” released 25 years ago this week, has always had a special aura. Notorious B.I.G. might have had bigger hits; Nas might have had more dazzling technique; the Wu-Tang Clan might have had a more distinctive
As the music and marijuana industries deal with the coronavirus, Cypress Hill’s chief smokesman B-Real is also feeling the pandemic’s impact. The 4/20 holiday was meant to coincide with the launch his solo album, a Cypress Hill tour and the opening of a new dispensary in outside of Palm Springs (he has five Dr. Greenthumb
Warner Bros. has shaken up the release calendar for many of its upcoming films — including “The Batman” and “The Sopranos” prequel, titled “The Many Saints of Newark.” “The Batman,” starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Matt Reeves, was originally expected to debut June 25, 2021, and will now launch in theaters on Oct. 1,
Ashleigh Banfield is having a reunion of sorts with Court TV. Banfield, who rose to fame covering the 9/11 tragedy and war zones around the world for MSNBC, will appear as a special contributor on Court TV’s live primetime programming each night at 8 p.m. eastern, starting this evening. She will join anchors Vinnie Politan,
Tamar Braxton is adding to her reality TV resume with hosting a new beauty series entitled “To Catch a Beautician” for VH1, Variety has learned exclusively. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter is partnering with celebrity hairstylist Johnny Wright on the series that debut May 25. The duo will help clients confront the beautician who damaged their hair; Wright then
When “American Idol” returns with new episodes next Sunday, it will adapt to these coronavirus quarantine times by taking place for the first time in the homes of the show’s contestants, musicians, judges, mentors and host. After two weeks of airing clip specials — giving producers enough time to rethink and readjust “Idol” to our