Be sure to check out recent installments of this blog for reviews of a couple of new primetime game shows that are watchable as well as a new sci-fi show from Fox called “Next”. Also coming soon is my review of Amazon Prime’s “Utopia” which shows great promise. I’m really enjoying it after 2 episodes but I will wait till I finished for my final review. Now on with our regular features.
Pandemic News
- The film version of “Dune” has been moved from December 2020 until October 2021. “The Batman” which was scheduled for that month has been pushed to March 2022. Matrix 4 moved to Christmas 2021. Shazam 2 has been pushed to 2023. “Jurassic World: Dominion” has been moved from June 2021 to June 2022.
- Broadway will remain closed through May 2021.
- Disney plans to lay off 28,000 people from its theme parks because of the pandemic.
- The XFL football league will be skipping the entire 2021 season and will return in 2022.
- The latest James Bond film “No Time to Die” has been delayed yet again from November 20 to April 2, 2021. In response Fast and Furious 9 has moved from that weekend to Memorial Day weekend.
- Cineworld announced that Regal Cinemas in the US and Picturehouse cinemas in the UK will be shut down temporarily because of the pandemic. AMC theaters as well as Cinemark plan to remain open.
- Saturday Night Live has canceled musical guest Morgan Wallen after video surfaced of him partying without a mask. He will we be replaced by Jack White as musical guest.
- Filming of the new Jurassic World movie has been suspended for two weeks because crewmembers tested positive.
- New York Covid rules audience members have to be paid staff or crew. So Saturday Night Live paid its audience members $150 to get around the restrictions.
- California Gov. Newsom says Disneyland will not be reopening anytime soon.
Renewals, Coming Soon, and Casting News
- Agent Johnson is back! Actor stuntman Daniel Barnhart has signed on for the upcoming Matrix 4 sequel.
- Director Barry Levinson is making a scripted film about the making of “The Godfather”. Oscar Isaac will play Francis Ford Coppola and Jake Gyllenhaal will play Robert Evans.
- NBC has renewed run-time game show “The Wall” for season 4
- “Billions” has been renewed at Showtime for season 6.
- Netflix announced its spinoff of “The Karate Kid” Cobra Kai has been renewed for season 4. Season 3 will premier in January 2021.
- Steve Carell will return to Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show” for season 2.
- Sterling K Brown will play Leo McGarry on the HBO Max “West Wing” reunion show October 15. The late John Spencer had the role in the original TV series.
- Netflix has canceled “GLOW” about female wrestlers and will not proceed with its planned fourth and final season. Pandemic is to blame.
- Netflix has canceled “Teenage Bounty Hunters” after 1 season.
- Disney television has renewed syndicated daytime talk show Tamron Hall for a third season.
- Kate Mulgrew will reprise her role as Capt. Janeway for Nickelodeon’s animated “Star Trek: Prodigy” series.
- Benedict Cumberbatch will reprise Doctor Strange in the next Spider-Man movie.
- Disney/Pixar movie “Soul” is skipping theaters and moving to Disney+ on December 25. Unlike its release of “Mulan” it will not cost extra.
- TNT announced that “Snowpiercer” season 2 will premier January 25.
Politics and Showbiz
- The Commission on Presidential Debates announced less than 24 hours after the September 29 debate that they would be proposing format changes for a more orderly discussion.
- Netflix has been indicted on felony charges by a grand jury in Texas over the French movie “Cuties” for promoting “lewd visual material against peace and dignity of the state.”
Miscellaneous News
- Gabrielle Union and NBC have reached a resolution in their dispute over her firing from America’s Got Talent amid allegations of racism and a toxic work environment.
In Memoriam
- Legendary rocker Eddie Van Halen age 65.
- Helen Reddy known for her hip song “I Am Woman” age 78
- Singer-songwriter Mac Davis who also appeared in the film “North Dallas Forty” age 78
- Bonni Lou Kern one of the original Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeers from the 1950s. Age 79.
- Larry Rosen producer of “The Partridge Family” and “The Mike Douglas Show” age 84 pancreatic cancer.
- Thomas Jefferson Byrd actor from roles in Spike Lee films “He Got Game” and “Clockers” age 70. Gunshot wounds.
- Murray Schisgal Broadway playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of “Tootsie” age 93.
- Actor Clark Middleton who played Glenn Carter in “The Blacklist” for 13 episodes. Age 63 West Nile virus.
- Edward S. Feldman Oscar-nominated movie and TV producer who produced “Witness” age 91.
- Singer-songwriter Johnny Nash who wrote “I Can See Clearly Now” age 80
- Tommy Rall dancer who appeared in “Funny Girl” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” age 90.
- William Bernstein cofounder of Orion Pictures age 87