I started to put together this installment of entertainment news in late November 2021 and then got tied up with other things and did not get back to it until late February 2022. I’m going to go ahead and post this as is even though much of it may be far out of date. I’m starting work on a new blog post to try to catch up.
Pandemic News
- Megan Hilty will replace Jane Krukowski in the upcoming NBC “Annie Live!” after Krukowski contracted a breakthrough case of Covid.
- Rockmond Dunbar is leaving “911” after failing to get a medical and religious exemption from the requirement to have a Covid vaccine.
- Derek Hough missed judging of the season finale of Dancing with the Stars because he contracted a breakthrough case of Covid.
Renewals, Coming Soon, and Casting News
- The next “Transformers” movie has been from June 2022 until June 2023 and the new Star Trek movie has been pushed June 2023 until December 2023.
- Paramount+ has ordered a TV series “Fatal Attraction” based on the 1987 movie starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close. The series will star Lizzie Caplan.
- Disney+ has announced a WandaVision spinoff titled “Agatha: House of Harkness” to star Katherine Hahn reprising her role as Agatha Harkness.
- Disney+ has ordered a spinoff series from “Hawkeye” titled “Echo” which will star Alaqua Cox as “Echo” a.k.a. Maya Lopez which will be introduced in the “Hawkeye” series which just premiered .
- I guess the people in the La Brea sinkhole won’t be getting rescued the season. The series has been renewed for season 2 by NBC.
- Mel Gibson will direct a new sequel in the “Lethal Weapon” series of films.
- The cast of Harry Potter will reunite for a 20th anniversary special on HBO Max to air January 1.
- LeVar Burton will be hosting a “Trivial Pursuit” game show in development.
- USA Network has announced the current season 4 of “The Sinner” will be its last.
- Netflix has renewed animated series “Arcane” for season 2.
Politics and Showbiz
Miscellaneous News
- Helen Mirren will receive a lifetime achievement award from SAG.
- NBC Universal extends its rights to Premier League soccer through 2028
In Memoriam
- Peter Aykroyd Emmy nominated writer for SNL and younger brother of Dan Aykroyd. Age 66. Infection from untreated hernia.
- Winter the Dolphin the star of the film “Dolphin Tale”
- Jerry Douglas who played patriarch John Abbott on “The Young and the Restless” for over 30 years, age 88
- Glen de Vries businessman who flew in the Blue Origin New Shepherd rocket with William Shatner. Age 49 in a private plane crash.
- Heath Freeman who played serial killer Howard Epps in “Bones” age 41. No cause given.
- Dave Frishberg jazz musician who wrote Schoolhouse Rock song “I’m Just a Bill”. Age 88.
- Art LaFleur character actor who played Babe Ruth in “The Sandlot” as well as “Field of Dreams” and numerous guest roles on TV. Age 78 Atypical Parkinson’s.