Entertainment news through January 2022

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I’m seriously behind on entertainment news. This blog will cover roughly December 2021. I will then start another blog covering January and February. Or maybe 2 blogs one for each month.

I went to see the Steven Spielberg remake of “West Side Story” which was excellent. They added deeper back stories for several of the characters. They also plugged the biggest plot hole in America musical theater history. The most unbelievable moment in Broadway occurs when Tony goes running down the street in Spanish Harlem shouting “Maria” and only one girl sticks her head out the window. In the new version, several other Maria’s respond but they are all the wrong one. Eventually gets the right one. All joking aside… It’s an amazing production and I highly recommend it. It is now streaming on Disney+ along with a 40 minute documentary about the film.

I also saw “Dune” and there are not enough words to say how spectacular it was. I can’t wait for the second part. Although it’s best if you have read the classic sci-fi novel by Frank Herbert I think you can probably follow the story okay if you haven’t. In preparation for watching movie, I re-watched the old David Lynch version of the film and I reread the novel. I was surprised how much the Lynch version influenced by memory of the story. Things that I thought were in the book were actually added by Lynch. Anyway highly recommended.

I also have to recommend the Marvel series “Hawkeye” about one of the least famous members of the Avengers. Great story of a young woman who is a fan of the hero and follows in his footsteps.

Amazon fantasy series “Wheel of Time” was worth my time to watch. Fans of the books are upset about changes but having never read the books I thought it was okay. Not on the level of Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings but still not bad.

I also have to HIGHLY recommend “Station Eleven” on HBO Max. A 10 part miniseries about a viral pandemic that leaves only one out of 1000 to survive. I can’t remember the TV series where I got more invested in the characters than this one. I binged the fi press Windows right rst seven episodes over about three days and then realized I didn’t want it to end. I slowly watched 8, 9 and 10 taking a couple of days break in between. The final episode left me in tears with a very satisfying ending. I found myself able to let go of the characters there was such a deep sense of closure. Maybe everyone will not respond as strongly as I did but I still encourage you to check it out.

That’s all of the miscellaneous commentary. Now onto the usual tidbits and links.

Pandemic News

  • The Grammy awards which were originally scheduled for January have now been moved to April 3.

Renewals, Coming Soon, and Casting News

  • Outlander season 6 will premier March 6.
  • AMC announced “Kevin Can F**k Himself” will end with the upcoming season 2
  • “Fear the Walking Dead” is returning for season 8 with Kim Dickens returning as Madison. Producers confirm she’s really back and it’s not a flashback or dream sequence.
  • Peacock has canceled “AP Bio”.
  • Power Book II has been renewed for season 3
  • IMDb TV has renewed “Leverage: Redemption” for season 2.
  • Netflix has canceled Cowboy Bebop after just one season.
  • Controversy of syndicated “The Dr. Oz Show” will end in early 2022.
  • Apple TV+ has renewed “Servant” for a fourth and final season.
  • Paramount+ has renewed “Why Women Kill” for season 3
  • CSI: Vegas has been renewed for season 2.
  • Chris Noth has been dropped from CBS drama “The Equalizer” following allegations of sexual assault.
  • Michael Keaton is returning as Batman in the upcoming HBO Max Movie “Batgirl”.
  • David Tennant will star in an eight episode adaptation of “Around the World and Eighty Days”. I have to think the TARDIS would’ve been faster 🙂
  • Apple TV+ has renewed “The Morning Show” for season 3 with a new showrunner.
  • ABC has renewed “Station 19” for season 6.
  • FX has ordered a sequel to “Justified” starring Timothy Oliphant.
  • Chris Wallace is leaving Fox news after 18 years to join CNN’s upcoming streaming service.
  • Paramount+ has announced “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” starring Anson Mount as Capt. Christopher Pike will premier May 5 and has already been renewed for season 2. Also Star Trek: Discovery has been renewed for season 5. And Star Trek: Lower Decks has been renewed for season 3. All of them 10 episodes each.
  • NBC has canceled Ellen’s Game of Games after 4 seasons.
  • CBS is ending “Bull “ after 6 seasons which is a no-brainer considering Michael Weatherly decided to quit.
  • CBS has renewed “Ghosts”, “The Neighborhood”, and “Bob Hearts Abishola”
  • Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol has been canceled by Peacock after one season
  • “American Rust” by Showtime for after 1 season
  • Disney+ has approved “Peter Jackson & The Olympians” to series.
  • HBO has renewed “The Righteous Gemstones” for season 3.
  • Both NBC and Fox will simulcast the season opener of USFL on April 16.

Politics and Showbiz

  • CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was fired for supporting his brother Andrew Cuomo who was accused of sexual misconduct with her workers.
  • DirecTV is dropping far right channel “One America News Network”.

Miscellaneous News

  • Kevin Spacey has been ordered to pay nearly $31 million to the production company of “House of Cards” after he was let go for allegations of sexual misconduct.
  • Nicolas Cage says he’s not an actor. Okay so what’s new? Oh he wants to be known as a “thespian”. Okay sigh.
  • “Baby Shark” has become the first YouTube video to hit 10 billion views.
  • Jon Stewart will receive the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. April 24.
  • CW has renewed “Penn & Teller : Fool Us”, “Masters of Illusion” and “World’s Funniest Animals”
  • Peter Robbins child actor who voiced Charlie Brown age 65

In Memoriam

  • Betty White actress, comedian, pop-culture icon age 99.
  • Sydney Poitner , first black man to win an Oscar for best actor. Age 94.
  • Stephen Sondheim musical theater icon age 91.
  • Eddie Mekka who played Carmine on “Laverne & Shirley” age 69
  • Bob Dole former US Sen. and presidential nominee age 98
  • Michael Nesmith singer, guitarist for 60s group “The Monkeys” age 78.
  • Author Anne Rice known for “Interview with the Vampire” and sequels. Age 80… Or did she really die?
  • John Madden legendary NFL coach and sports broadcaster. Age 85
  • Marvin Lee Aday a.k.a. “Meat Loaf” rockstar and actor. Age 74.
  • Louie Anderson comedian, game show. Age 68.
  • Robert Bruce cast member of Kevin Smith’s AMC reality TV series “Comic Book Men” age 62.
  • Peter Bogdanovich director of “Paper Moon” and “The Last Picture Show” age 82.
  • Ronnie Spector of the 60s girl group “The Ronettes” age 78
  • Ralph Emery country music radio and TV broadcaster age 88
  • Yvette Mimieux actress who starred in “The Time Machine” opposite Rod Taylor. Age 80
  • Gaspard Ulliel French actor who will appear in upcoming “Moon Knight “ on Disney+. Age 37 skiing accident.
  • Don Wilson cofounder of the rock group “The Ventures” age 88
  • Howard Hesseman , actor who appeared in WKRP in Cincinnati. Age 81
  • Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019 and correspondence for “Extra”. Age 30. Suicide.

Links of Interest

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