Jackson Browne has tested positive for coronavirus, he told Rolling Stone. Although the 71-year-old singer-songwriter would seem to be part of a vulnerable demographic, he reports that his symptoms have been mild and he has not required hospitalization or medication. “I feel lucky that I’m not really badly affected. I guess I’ve got a really
The Michael Jackson Estate today announced that it is donating $300,000 to coronavirus response efforts to help three communities that have been severely impacted by the Covid 19 virus. Broadway Cares, Three Square Food Bank (Southern Nevada’s largest hunger-relief organization) and MusicCares will each receive a $100,000 donation. “This virus strikes at the heart of
Wild Bunch TV-sold “Albatros,” Turner Latin America’s banner title “Amarres” and REInvent Studios’ globe-trotting “Peacemaker” will feature at a 54 series-strong Buyers Showcase, which launches today March 25 as a backbone of Series Mania’s online Digital Forum, Europe’s first big festival experiment in a virtual marketplace. Also featuring a powerful Co-Pro Pitching lineup, packed by
The Sundance Institute has postponed the 2020 editions of its London and Hong Kong festivals due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. New dates are yet to be announced. In a statement issued Tuesday, organizers said: “We have made the decision to reimagine the 58 live programs we had planned through August 2020,” and that these
Mister Rogers, meet Dr. Dre. Memphis Minnie, meet “Dusty in Memphis.” “Wichita Lineman,” wave hello to the “Fiddler on the Roof.” “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” say hi to Whitney Houston. And perhaps in the time of coronavirus, all these classic records can help — in the words of Eddy Arnold — “Make the World Go
Stuart Gordon, best known as the filmmaker behind such cult classics as “Re-Animator” and “From Beyond,” has died, his family confirmed to Variety Tuesday night. He was 72. Although best known for his seminal work in independent horror, Gordon had a varied career that included founding the Organic Theater Company with his wife, Carolyn Purdy-Gordon. The
Senate leaders and the White House have reached a deal on a $2 trillion stimulus package, which includes a large increase in unemployment insurance and hundreds of billions of dollars to aid companies harmed by the coronavirus pandemic. Shortly before 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on the Senate floor
March 24, 2020 10:22PM PT Veteran Japanese comedian Ken Shimura, who was hospitalized for pneumonia on Monday, tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, his agency Izawa Office announced Wednesday. His condition is not currently critical. Shimura is the first prominent entertainment world figure in Japan to test positive for the virus. He was
March 24, 2020 9:41PM PT Annabelle Sheehan, CEO of the New Zealand Film Commission, has been confirmed as diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus. An announcement was made Wednesday by the organization. It said that Sheehan’s symptoms are currently minor, and that she is recovering in isolation at home in Wellington. New Zealand currently has relatively
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched “Strangers: Part Two,” the finale episode of the fourth season of “This Is Us.” As Season 4 of “This Is Us” comes to an end with another shocking (and tear-jerking) finale, Sterling K. Brown is reflecting on his character Randall Pearson’s struggle with mental health
Citing the coronavirus pandemic, SAG-AFTRA’s 80-member board of directors has delegated its authority to its 38-member executive committee. The union announced Tuesday that it had taken the action due to the impossibility of holding in-person meetings during the coronavirus pandemic and the impracticality of holding large meetings even electronically. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said, “This
In today’s film news roundup, Olivia Wilde’s “Perfect” gets sold, Music Box StreamLocal launches and the American Black Film Festival, Fantaspoa, Greenwich and TCM Classic festivals are all making adjustments to the coronavirus pandemic. ACQUISITION Searchlight Pictures has closed a deal for global rights for $15 million to the gymnastics movie “Perfect,” with Olivia Wilde attached
Bill Rieflin, a remarkably versatile drummer whose work over the past 30 years spanned Ministry, R.E.M., Swans, Nine Inch Nails and King Crimson, among many others, has died after a battle with cancer, according to friends and social-media posts from several artists he performed with. He was 59. A common thread throughout his career was
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched the sixth episode of “Better Call Saul” Season 5, titled “Wexler v. Goodman.” Selling the dramatic cliffhanger at the end of Monday night’s episode of “Better Call Saul,” titled “Wexler v. Goodman,” proved a challenge for even star Bob Odenkirk. In a lively chat on
March 24, 2020 4:09PM PT The Shawn Mendes Foundation made a donation of $175,000 to the SickKids Foundation this week. The money will assist in the purchase of equipment and supplies for coronavirus preparedness for the community at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. “Through The Shawn Mendes Foundation, we have been working
The Clippers organization has reached an agreement to purchase The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. from The Madison Square Garden Company for $400 million cash. The iconic venue will continue to host concerts while plans for a “fan-focused community project” that includes a NBA arena and team headquarters, also move forward. The new NBA project, which is
March 24, 2020 4:00PM PT After a brief hiatus, HBO’s late-night series “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and “Real Time with Bill Maher” are planning their returns next week. Both hosts will tape their shows from their respective homes. “Last Week Tonight” will be back with a new episode on Sunday, March 29, at
March 24, 2020 4:59PM PT It’s the season finale of NBC’s “This Is Us” and Sterling K. Brown is hopping on live with Variety’s Angelique Jackson to discuss tonight’s emotional episode. Watch the interview at 5 p.m. PT on our Instagram account,. Brown will also be taking fan questions. The season finale of “This Is
March 24, 2020 3:45PM PT Classic episodes of “One Day at a Time” are coming to the free TV streaming service Pluto TV, in a special pop-up channel. Pluto TV is launching the new “One Day at a Time” 24-hour streaming channel Tuesday (March 24) at 10 p.m. ET, following the debut of Season 4
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic, the Producers Guild of America has created the Producers Guild of America Members Relief Fund with a lead gift of $100,000 from former PGA president Mark Gordon. The trade group, which has more than 8,000 members, announced the fund Tuesday. It’s being administered by The Actors Fund. PGA members who
March 24, 2020 3:12PM PT Discovery will borrow $500 million under its credit facility to boost its cash position the latest media company to scramble to deal the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The parent of Food Network, TLC and HGTV also withdrew its previous outlook for its fiscal year. “On March 12, 2020, the Company drew
March 24, 2020 3:29PM PT In today’s TV news roundup, Quibi released the trailer for “The Most Dangerous Game,” and Netflix dropped the trailer for “The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show.” FIRST LOOKS Quibi has released the trailer of “The Most Dangerous Game.” The action-thriller stars Liam Hemsworth as Dodge Maynard who accepts an offer to
Leaders of the Writers Guild of America have told members that they may need to extend to current contract beyond its current May 1 expiration due to the coronavirus pandemic. Members received the message on Tuesday afternoon, a day after Variety reported that the WGA was evaluating its options for conducting contract talks with Hollywood’s major
Lil Uzi Vert would have had an easy time staying at No. 1 on the Rolling Stone albums chart for a second week, regardless. But the fact that he released a deluxe version of his album just one week after the standard edition ensured that he really racked up big numbers. The expanded version of
March 24, 2020 2:15PM PT “The Walking Dead” Season 10 finale will not air on April 12 as planned due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Current events have unfortunately made it impossible to complete post-production of ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 10 finale, so the current season will end with its 15th episode on April 5,” AMC
HBO is seeing a burst of viewing as millions of Americans are shut indoors during the coronavirus pandemic. Time spent with the HBO Now streaming service since Saturday, March 14, was up over 40% from the previous four-week average, according to WarnerMedia. The media conglomerate said it’s the highest engagement rates for HBO Now since
During this time of state-mandated social distancing due to the spread of coronavirus, the ex-convicts from We TV’s hit reality show “Life After Lockup” are offering advice from their very specialized field of expertise: How to keep yourself occupied while staying inside. The show, a spinoff of “Love After Lockup,” follows the lives of couples,
Refreshing as a river dip on a hot day, but also mildly melancholic, as though perhaps it is the last swim of the summer, Guillaume Brac’s wise, witty “À l’abordage” is an optimistic portrait of gentle disappointment, the kind a youthful generation has to experience before growing up a little bit. It’s also a delightful
Following TF1’s announcement that it won’t offer financial forecasting this year, France’s second biggest commercial network, M6, said it has also been greatly hit by the drop in advertising revenues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. M6 said “the cancelations and delaying of advertising campaigns will have a significative impact on revenues, notably during the second
A Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for New York City movie theater workers who have been laid off or furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic has reached its goal. The Cinema Workers Solidarity Fund has racked up $74,587 in donations, surpassing the $74,000 it set out to raise. The initiative was launched a