It took a few weeks but finally Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle made it to the number one spot at the box office. The action comedy starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan opened domestically on December 20, 2017 and has been playing second fiddle to Star Wars: The Last Jedi since its release. The first weekend of 2018 found a shift in positions, with the Jumanji sequel finally overcoming Star Wars. The latest installment in the Insidious film franchise, Insidious: The Last Key, was also able to outperform The Last Jedi, taking second place and sending Star Wars into third.
Insidious: The Last Key, the fourth film of the horror franchise, outperformed all but the second film of the series. Insidious: The Last Key grossed $29 million over its opening weekend while the first film, released in 2011, rang up $13 million and 2015’s Insidious Chapter 3 raked in $22.6 million.
The Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Plot: In the brand new adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the tables are turned as four teenagers in detention are sucked into the world of Jumanji. When they discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of, they are immediately thrust into the game’s jungle setting, into the bodies of their avatars, played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan. What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji – Jumanji plays you. They’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, or they’ll be stuck in the game forever…
Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper are reuniting for a 22 date 2018 tour following the success of their 2017 collaboration. The 2018 tour will kick off on June 25th at the Hollywood Bowl and will stop in cities including Orlando, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and San Diego before finishing up its summer run on September 1st in Seattle, Washington.
Live Nation is producing the tour and ticket sales to the general public begin on Friday, January 12th at 10am local time.
More on Rod Stewart, Courtesy of Live Nation: “Sir Rod Stewart is one of the best selling artists in the history of recorded music with 200 million records sold worldwide. With his signature voice, narrative songwriting, trendsetting style and passionate live performances he’s transcended all genres of popular music, from rock, folk, soul, R&B, new wave, and even the Great American Song Book; making him one of the few stars to enjoy chart-topping albums throughout every decade of his five decade-long career. As a singer and songwriter his hits include ‘Gasoline Alley,’ ‘Every Picture Tells a Story,’ ‘Mandolin Wind,’ ‘You Wear It Well,’ ‘The Killing of Georgie,’ ‘Tonight’s the Night,’ ‘You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim),’ ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?,’ ‘Young Turks,’ ‘Forever Young,’ ‘Hot Legs,’ ‘Infatuation’ and the indelible, ‘Maggie May.’
Stewart’s performed for millions of fans on all seven continents, even holding the record for the largest-ever free concert, for an estimated 4.2 million in Rio de Janeiro on New Year’s Eve in 1996. In addition to touring, his Las Vegas residency, ‘Rod Stewart: The Hits,’ at The Coloseum at Caesars Palace has remained one of the hottest tickets and best reviewed shows since its launch in 2011. He’s earned countless of the industry’s highest awards, among them; two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, New York Times bestselling author, Grammy™ Living Legend, and in 2016 he officially became ‘Sir Rod Stewart’ after being knighted by Britain’s Prince William at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity.”
Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper Tour Dates:
JUNE
25 Hollywood, CA — Hollywood Bowl
JULY
24 Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Event Center
26 Orlando, FL — Amway Arena
28 Charlotte, NC — Spectrum Center
29 Louisville, KY — KFC YUM! Arena
AUGUST
1 Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
3 Allentown, PA — PPL Center
4 Atlantic City, NJ — Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
7 New York, NY — Madison Square Garden
10 Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
11 Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena
14 Kansas City, MO — Sprint Center
15 St. Paul, MN — Xcel Energy Center
18 Indianapolis, IN — Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
19 St. Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
22 Denver, CO — Pepsi Center Arena
24 Phoenix, AZ — Talking Stick Resort Arena
26 San Diego, CA — Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
28 Reno, NV — Event Center
29 San Francisco, CA — Shoreline Amphitheatre
31 Portland, OR — Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre
SEPTEMBER
Sat 1 Seattle, WA — White River Amphitheater
More on Cyndi Lauper: Cyndi Lauper is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning artist who, after 30 sterling years and global record sales in excess of 50 million albums, has proven that she has the heart and soul to keep her legion of fans compelled by her every creative move. With her first album, She’s So Unusual, Lauper won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and became the first female in history to have four top-five singles from a debut album. With a string of unique follow-ups, Lauper has continued to push her own boundaries, exploring electronic dance music, American standards, the Memphis blues and, with her latest studio album Detour, country classics from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s which features collaborations with some of country music’s most-celebrated artists including Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and Alison Kraus. In recognition of her ongoing contribution to music, Lauper was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.
The CW’s Riverdale returns from its midseason break with season two episode 10 airing on January 17, 2018. The new episode titled “The Blackboard Jungle” was directed by Tim Hunter from a script by Britta Lundin and Brian E. Paterson.
The season two cast includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick as Alice Cooper, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge, and Skeet Ulrich as FP Jones.
The “Chapter Twenty-Three: The Blackboard Jungle” Plot: NEW YEAR, NEW DRAMA — Tensions mount when the sudden shut down of Southside High forces Jughead (Sprouse) and his fellow serpents to transfer to Riverdale High. Veronica (Mendes) ensures Hiram (Consuelos) and Hermoine (Nichols) that she’s still on board with their plans for SoDale. Archie (Apa) is conflicted when he is asked to gather some information on Hiram’s suspicious business dealings. Betty (Reinhart) sets out on a quest to find her long-lost brother, Chic (guest star Hart Denton).
Seth Meyers kicked off the 2018 Golden Globes by taking on sexual harassment in the entertainment industry, going as far as to joke that in 20 years Harvey Weinstein’s will be the first In Memoriam segment that’s booed. This year’s Golden Globes airing on NBC on January 7th found the majority of celebrity attendees dressed in black in a show of solidarity with the #MeToo movement. And, winners and presenters alike took swipes at targets including the lack of female directors and the fact men are still being paid more for doing the same jobs as women.
The big winners of the 75th Golden Globes were HBO’s Big Little Lies and Fox Searchlight’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Each took home four Golden Globes, with Big Little Lies scoring wins for Nicole Kidman as Best Actress, Laura Dern as Supporting Actress, Alexander Skarsgard for Supporting Actor, and an overall win in the Best Limited Series category. On the movie side, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri earned wins in the Best Actress (Frances McDormand), Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell), Best Screenplay, and Best Drama categories.
In a night full of terrific acceptance speeches, it was Oprah Winfrey who stood head and shoulders above the rest. Her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award at this year’s Golden Globes will go down in history as one of the best ever awards show speeches.
NBC provided the following transcript of Oprah Winfrey’s incredible speech:
“In 1964 I was a little girl sitting on the linoleum floor of my mother’s house in Milwaukee watching Anne Bancroft present the Oscar for Best Actor at the 36th Academy Awards. She opened the envelope, and said five words that literally made history: ‘The winner is Sidney Poitier.’ Up to the stage came the most elegant man I had ever seen. I remember his tie was white and, of course, his skin was black. And I’d never seen a black man being celebrated like that. And I have tried many, many, many times to explain what a moment like that means to a little girl, a kid watching from the cheap seats as my mom came through the door, bone tired from cleaning other people’s houses. But all I can do is quote and say that the explanation in Sidney’s performance in Lilies of the Field, ‘Amen, amen. Amen, amen.’
In 1982 Sidney received the Cecil B. DeMille Award right here at the Golden Globes, and it is not lost on me that at this moment, there are some little girls watching as I become the first black woman to be given this same award.
It is an honor and it is a privilege to share the evening with all of them and also with the incredible men and women who inspire me, who challenge me, who sustain me, and made my journey to this stage possible. Dennis Swanson, who took a chance on me for AM Chicago. Quincy Jones, who saw me on that show and said to Steven Spielberg, ‘Yes, she is Sofia in The Color Purple.’ Gayle, who has been the definition of what a friend is. And Stedman, who has been my rock. Just a few to name.
I’d like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association because we all know that the press is under siege these days, but we also know that it is the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice. To tyrants and victims and secrets and lies. I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times, which brings me to this: What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I’m especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories. Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell. And this year we became the story. But it’s not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It’s one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace. So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue.
They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories, and they work in restaurants, and they’re in academia and engineering and medicine and science. They’re part of the word of tech and politics and business. They are athletes in the Olympics, and they are soldiers in the military. And there’s someone else: Recy Taylor, a name I know and I think you should know too. In 1944 Recy Taylor was a young wife and a mother. She was just walking home from the church service she’d attended in Abbeville, Alabama, when she was abducted by six armed white men, raped, and left blindfolded by the side of the road coming home from church. They threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone, but her story was reported to the NAACP, where a young worker by the name of Rosa Parks became the lead investigator on her case. And together they sought justice. But justice wasn’t an option in the era of Jim Crow. The men who tried to destroy her were never persecuted. Recy Taylor died 10 days ago, just shy of her 98th birthday. She lived as we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men. For too long women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men, but their time is up.
Their time is up. Their time is up. I just hope that Recy Taylor died knowing that her truth, like the truth of so many other women who were tormented in those years and even now tormented, goes marching on. It was somewhere in Rosa Parks’s heart almost 11 years later when she made the decision to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery. And it’s here with every woman who chooses to say, “Me too” and every man, every man who chooses to listen. In my career what I’ve always tried my best to do, whether on television or through film, is to say something about how men and women really behave, to say how we experience shame, how we love and how we rage, how we fail, how we retreat, persevere, and how we overcome. I’ve interviewed and portrayed people who have withstood some of the ugliest things life can throw at you, but the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights. So I want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon.
And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say, ‘Me too’ again. Thank you.”
The ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ team accepts the Best Drama award at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards (Photo by Paul Drinkwater / NBC)
2018 Golden Globes Nominees and Winners:
BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
DUNKIRK
THE POST
THE SHAPE OF WATER WINNER: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
THE DISASTER ARTIST
GET OUT
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
I, TONYA WINNER: LADY BIRD
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
WINNER: GUILLERMO DEL TORO, THE SHAPE OF WATER
MARTIN MCDONAGH, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, DUNKIRK
RIDLEY SCOTT, ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
STEVEN SPIELBERG, THE POST
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
JESSICA CHASTAIN, MOLLY’S GAME
SALLY HAWKINS, THE SHAPE OF WATER WINNER: FRANCES MCDORMAND, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
MERYL STREEP, THE POST
MICHELLE WILLIAMS, ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, PHANTOM THREAD
TOM HANKS, THE POST WINNER: GARY OLDMAN, DARKEST HOUR
DENZEL WASHINGTON, ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
JUDI DENCH, VICTORIA & ABDUL
HELEN MIRREN, THE LEISURE SEEKER
MARGOT ROBBIE, I, TONYA WINNER: SAOIRSE RONAN, LADY BIRD
EMMA STONE, BATTLE OF THE SEXES
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
STEVE CARELL, BATTLE OF THE SEXES
ANSEL ELGORT, BABY DRIVER WINNER: JAMES FRANCO, THE DISASTER ARTIST
HUGH JACKMAN, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
DANIEL KALUUYA, GET OUT
BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED
THE BOSS BABY
THE BREADWINNER WINNER: COCO
FERDINAND
LOVING VINCENT
BEST MOTION PICTURE – FOREIGN LANGUAGE
A FANTASTIC WOMAN (CHILE)
FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER (CAMBODIA) WINNER: IN THE FADE (GERMANY / FRANCE)
LOVELESS (RUSSIA)
THE SQUARE (SWEDEN / GERMANY / FRANCE)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
MARY J. BLIGE, MUDBOUND
HONG CHAU, DOWNSIZING WINNER: ALLISON JANNEY, I, TONYA
LAURIE METCALF, LADY BIRD
OCTAVIA SPENCER, THE SHAPE OF WATER
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
WILLEM DAFOE, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
ARMIE HAMMER, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
RICHARD JENKINS, THE SHAPE OF WATER
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER, ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD WINNER: SAM ROCKWELL, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
GUILLERMO DEL TORO, VANESSA TAYLOR, THE SHAPE OF WATER
GRETA GERWIG, LADY BIRD
LIZ HANNAH, JOSH SINGER, THE POST WINNER: MARTIN MCDONAGH, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
AARON SORKIN, MOLLY’S GAME
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
CARTER BURWELL, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI WINNER: ALEXANDRE DESPLAT, THE SHAPE OF WATER
JONNY GREENWOOD, PHANTOM THREAD
JOHN WILLIAMS, THE POST
HANS ZIMMER, DUNKIRK
BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“HOME” — FERDINAND
Music by: Nick Jonas, Justin Tranter, Nick Monson
Lyrics by: Nick Jonas, Justin Tranter
“MIGHTY RIVER” — MUDBOUND
Music by: Raphael Saadiq
Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson
“REMEMBER ME” — COCO
Music by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
Lyrics by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“THE STAR” — THE STAR
Music by: Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by: Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman
WINNER: “THIS IS ME” — THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Music by: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul
Lyrics by: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul
The ‘Big Little Lies’ group on stage at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards (Photo by Paul Drinkwater / NBC)
TV CATEGORIES
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
THE CROWN, NETFLIX
GAME OF THRONES, HBO WINNER: THE HANDMAID’S TALE, HULU
STRANGER THINGS, NETFLIX
THIS IS US, NBC
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
BLACK-ISH, ABC WINNER: THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, AMAZON
MASTER OF NONE, NETFLIX
SMILF, SHOWTIME
WILL & GRACE, NBC
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
CAITRIONA BALFE, OUTLANDER
CLAIRE FOY, THE CROWN
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, THE DEUCE
KATHERINE LANGFORD, 13 REASONS WHY WINNER: ELISABETH MOSS, THE HANDMAID’S TALE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
JASON BATEMAN, OZARK WINNER: STERLING K. BROWN, THIS IS US
FREDDIE HIGHMORE, THE GOOD DOCTOR
BOB ODENKIRK, BETTER CALL SAUL
LIEV SCHREIBER, RAY DONOVAN
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
PAMELA ADLON, BETTER THINGS
ALISON BRIE, GLOW WINNER: RACHEL BROSNAHAN, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
ISSA RAE, INSECURE
FRANKIE SHAW, SMILF
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
ANTHONY ANDERSON, BLACK-ISH WINNER: AZIZ ANSARI, MASTER OF NONE
KEVIN BACON, I LOVE DICK
WILLIAM H. MACY, SHAMELESS
ERIC MCCORMACK, WILL & GRACE
BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
WINNER: BIG LITTLE LIES, HBO
FARGO, FX
FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN, FX
THE SINNER, USA NETWORK
TOP OF THE LAKE: CHINA GIRL, SUNDANCETV
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
JESSICA BIEL, THE SINNER WINNER: NICOLE KIDMAN, BIG LITTLE LIES
JESSICA LANGE, FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
SUSAN SARANDON, FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
REESE WITHERSPOON, BIG LITTLE LIES
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
ROBERT DE NIRO, THE WIZARD OF LIES
JUDE LAW, THE YOUNG POPE
KYLE MACLACHLAN, TWIN PEAKS WINNER: EWAN MCGREGOR, FARGO
GEOFFREY RUSH, GENIUS
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
WINNER: LAURA DERN, BIG LITTLE LIES
ANN DOWD, THE HANDMAID’S TALE
CHRISSY METZ, THIS IS US
MICHELLE PFEIFFER, THE WIZARD OF LIES
SHAILENE WOODLEY, BIG LITTLE LIES
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
DAVID HARBOUR, STRANGER THINGS
ALFRED MOLINA, FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
CHRISTIAN SLATER, MR. ROBOT WINNER: ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD, BIG LITTLE LIES
DAVID THEWLIS, FARGO
Showtime just announced Billions will return to kick off its third season on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT. The critically acclaimed dramatic series also unveiled a two-minute teaser trailer for the upcoming third season starring Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis and Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti.
Season two ranked as the number two drama on Showtime, averaging five million viewers, with only Homeland ranking higher in viewership. Billions season two gained viewers as the season went on, with the finale improving 35% over the season premiere’s numbers.
Billions was created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Koppelman and Levien serve as executive producers and showrunners.
The Season 3 Plot: Season three of Billions finds Chuck Rhoades (Giamatti) and Bobby Axelrod (Lewis) in a world that has shifted on its axis. Both men are still determined to destroy the other, but must also battle for their own survival amid new forces and powerful enemies. Wendy Rhoades (Maggie Siff) Chuck’s wife and Axe’s performance coach, is all in for both of them, an uneasy and dangerous position for her, and one that ultimately puts her to a decision that could alter the direction of her life irrevocably.
Money, power, justice and revenge are all on the line for each of these characters as well as for the rest of the stellar cast, including Malin Akerman, Toby Leonard Moore, David Costabile, Condola Rashad, Asia Kate Dillon, and Jeffrey DeMunn. Clancy Brown guest stars this season as Waylon “Jock” Jeffcoat, the new Attorney General who has a compelling portfolio of accomplishments, a wicked intellect, and a serious interest in both Chuck and Bobby Axe.
A Look Back at Season 2: Season two picked up immediately after the season one finale, as hard-charging U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Giamatti) squared off against billionaire hedge fund king Bobby “Axe” Axelrod (Lewis), scorching the earth in a costly war for personal domination. It was law versus money, with power, sex, and the soul of New York in the balance. Season two found the characters vying for control in a changing world that presented an existential threat. For all of them, it was a choice between evolution and extinction.
David Costabile, Asia Kate Dillon, Malin Akerman, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Paul Giamatti, Condola Rashad, Jeffrey DeMunn, and Toby Leonard Moore in ‘Billions’ season 3 (Photo: Jim Fiscus / Showtime)
Sara Bareilles to star in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert’ (Photo by Shervin Lainez / Photo Courtesy of Epic Records)
NBC announced Grammy and Tony Award nominee Sara Bareilles has joined the cast of the live musical event, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. Bareilles is confirmed to play Mary Magdalene in the musical special set to air live on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018.
NBC previously confirmed Oscar, Tony, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award winner John Legend will take on the titular role. Alice Cooper is on board to play King Herod. British theatre director David Leveaux will be helming the live musical which will be filmed in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York at the Marcy Armory.
“We’re overjoyed to have Sara Bareilles play Mary Magdalene and I can guarantee that her interpretation of the standard ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’ will become an instant classic,” stated Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “I was lucky enough to see Sara in Waitress and she gave as moving and as beautifully sung a performance as I’ve seen on a Broadway stage in a long time.”
“To say I’m excited about this performance is the understatement of the century,” Bareilles said. “This score and this musical have been a part of me from a very young age and it will be one of the great thrills of my life to sing these iconic songs. It’s incredible to see the beloved medium of musical theatre being embraced by television audiences, and this cast and creative team is extraordinary. I feel extremely lucky to be a part of the project!”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, John Legend, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius, and Alex Rudzinski are executive producing.
“It’s an absolute thrill to have a Tony-nominated composer as our Mary Magdalene,” said Lloyd Webber. “Not only is Sara Bareilles a brilliant songwriter and lyricist, she commanded the Broadway stage in her show Waitress. Being able to write a successful musical isn’t easy. Being able to write AND star in the leading role in that musical, on Broadway, twice, is something very few people can say they have on their CV. Couple that with her emotionally charged live Oscar and Grammy performances and America can rest easy knowing that Bareilles is going to nail it when we go live April 1 on NBC.”
Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) stars in Showtime’s new limited series, Patrick Melrose, which is set to debut later this year. Although the network hasn’t confirmed a premiere date, it has released the first official trailer for the five-part limited series based on Edward St. Aubyn’s semi-autobiographical novels.
According to Showtime, each episode of the limited series is devoted to a single novel in St. Aubyn’s five novel series: Never Mind, Bad News, Some Hope, Mother’s Milk, and At Last. BAFTA Award nominee David Nicholls (Far from the Madding Crowd, One Day) adapted the books for the series, with Edward Berger (Deutchland 83, Jack) directing. The Patrick Melrose limited series is a co-production between Showtime and Sky Atlantic.
Michael Jackson and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Rachael Horovitz (Moneyball, Grey Gardens) executive produce. Cumberbatch is also involved as an executive producer along with Adam Ackland and Helen Flint.
The Plot and Cast: This gripping and humorous saga encompasses the South of France in the 1960s, New York in the 1980s and Britain in the early 2000s. In a tour de force role, Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular character who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by a horribly abusive father and the mother who tacitly condoned his behavior.
Academy Award nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) and Screen Actors Guild winner Hugo Weaving (The Matrix trilogy) also star as the parents of Patrick Melrose. Rounding out this accomplished cast are Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Girls), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (Bonnie & Clyde), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Baby).
Anna Madeley as Mary Melrose and Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose in ‘Patrick Melrose’ season one episode four (Photo: Ollie Upton / Showtime )
CBS is so pleased with Young Sheldon that they’ve given the comedy series an early season two renewal order. Young Sheldon has the distinction of being the network’s first renewal for the 2018-2019 primetime season.
Per CBS, Young Sheldon hit the #1 spot in the new comedy rankings by pulling in 16.17 million viewers. The Big Bang Theory prequel also ranks as the #2 comedy among all network comedies, behind only the series that spawned it. CBS also reports Young Sheldon is the most-watched new comedy series on any network in 18 years.
“Young Sheldon has made a huge impact on our schedule in the short time it’s been on the air,” stated Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “While the show’s DNA is clearly rooted in The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon has staked out its own place in the TV universe with a unique creative tone, brilliant writing and a gifted multi-generational cast. We can’t wait to see Chuck, Steve, Jim and Todd’s vision for how the Cooper family deals with Sheldon growing a year older…and smarter.”
The cast of the half-hour single camera series is led by Iain Armitage and includes Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Annie Potts, Raegan Revord, Montana Jordan, and the voice of Jim Parsons. Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Jim Parsons, and Todd Spiewak are the show’s executive producers.
The Plot: For 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper it isn’t easy growing up in East Texas. Being a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science isn’t always helpful in a land where church and football are king. And while the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him. His father, George, is struggling to find his way as a high school football coach and as father to a boy he doesn’t understand.
Sheldon’s mother, Mary, fiercely protects and nurtures her son in a town where he just doesn’t fit in. Sheldon’s older brother, Georgie, does the best he can in high school, but it’s tough to be cool when you’re in the same classes with your odd 9-year-old brother. Sheldon’s twin sister, Missy, sometimes resents all the attention Sheldon gets, but also remains the one person who can reliably tell Sheldon the truth.
Finally, there’s Sheldon’s beloved Meemaw, his foul-mouthed, hard-drinking Texas grandmother who is very supportive of her grandson and his unique gifts. For 10 years on The Big Bang Theory, audiences have come to know the iconic, eccentric and extraordinary Sheldon Cooper. This single-camera, half-hour comedy gives us the chance to meet him in childhood, as he embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become.
Kiernan Shipka stars in ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix has found their Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Kiernan Shipka has been cast as Sabrina Spellman in Netflix’s Untitled Sabrina Project. The upcoming series will be based on the Archie Comics graphic novel The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, with season one set to consist of 20 one-hour episodes.
Per Netflix, Sabrina Spellman is described as an empowered young woman, half-human, half-witch. “Sabrina is just beginning her dark education as a sorceress, even as she tries to maintain a normal life as a sophomore at Baxter High. Intelligent, compassionate and brave to the point of recklessness, Sabrina is all that stands between us and the forces of darkness that threaten our world.”
Commenting on Kiernan Shipka’s casting, writer/executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale) said, “We’re all such huge fans of Kiernan’s work that when we started talking about who this new incarnation of Sabrina could be, her name was on everyone’s wish list. This is a darker, more macabre version of Sabrina, and we’re incredibly excited for people to see Kiernan make this iconic character her own.”
Executive producer and Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater added, “I am thrilled that Kiernan is playing Sabrina and have no doubt that she will embody the strength, courage and boldness that has made the character a fan favorite.”
The Untitled Sabrina Project will also be executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Lee Toland Krieger. Krieger is also confirmed to direct.
Kiernan Shipka’s credits include Mad Men, Feud: Bette and Joan, The Legend of Korra, and Very Good Girls.
The Plot: The Untitled Sabrina Project imagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this adaptation finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature — half-witch, half-mortal — while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit.
Matthew Rhys as Philip Jennings and Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings in ‘The Americans’ season 5 (Photo by Patrick Harbron/FX)
FX Networks has revealed the upcoming new season premiere dates for The Americans, Atlanta, and Trust. The Americans‘ sixth and final season will premiere on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT. The second season of Atlanta, titled Atlanta Robbin’ Season, will debut on Thursday, March 1st, at 10pm ET/PT. And, season one of the dramatic series Trust has a confirmed March 25th at 10pm ET/PT premiere time slot.
In addition to announcing the new season premiere dates, FX Networks also released details including plot descriptions and cast information on the upcoming seasons:
The Americans Details:The Americans is a period drama about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. during the Reagan administration. The arranged marriage of Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but as the pressures and demands of the job grow heavier, the personal toll becomes almost too exhausting to bear. Having revealed their true identities to their teenage daughter Paige (Holly Taylor), Philip and Elizabeth’s ability to protect their cover and their family’s safety deteriorates.
After a particularly fraught mission, Philip and Elizabeth decide to end their tour and take their family home to Russia. However, a game-changing development in one of their ongoing cases forces them to abandon those plans for the sake of the motherland. Now, Paige delves deeper into the family business, even as Philip takes a step back from it. The Jennings struggle to maintain a smokescreen of normalcy, especially around their son, Henry (Keidrich Sellati), who remains blissfully ignorant of the spies in his midst. Their neighbor and Philip’s best friend, FBI Agent Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich), has also yet to discover their true identities. Although he’s transferred divisions, Stan remains their greatest threat since his friend and former partner, Agent Dennis Aderholt (Brandon J. Dirden), leads the force tasked with uncovering the Soviet Illegals hiding in plain sight.
With Gorbachev in power in the Soviet Union, the winds of change are sweeping through both Russia and America, creating new perils. A growing rift within the KGB draws disillusioned former officer Oleg Burov (Costa Ronin) back into the fray, and may set Philip and Elizabeth on opposing sides as the Cold War reaches its boiling point.
Atlanta Robbin’ Season Details: In Atlanta Robbin’ Season, two cousins work through the Atlanta music scene in order to better their lives and the lives of their families. Earn Marks (Donald Glover) is a young manager trying to get his cousin’s career off the ground. Alfred Miles (Brian Tyree Henry) is a new hot rapper trying to understand the line between real life and street life. Darius (Lakeith Lee Stanfield) is Alfred’s right-hand man and visionary. Van (Zazie Beetz) is Earn’s best friend and the mother of Earn’s daughter.
Trust Details: Inspired by actual events, Trust delves into the trials and triumphs of one of America’s wealthiest and unhappiest families, the Gettys. Equal parts family history, dynastic saga and an examination of the corrosive power of money, Trust explores the complexities at the heart of every family, rich or poor.
Told over multiple seasons and spanning the twentieth century, the series begins in 1973 with the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III (Harris Dickinson), an heir to the Getty oil fortune, by the Italian mafia in Rome. His captors banked on a multi-million-dollar ransom. After all, what rich family wouldn’t pay for the return of a loved one? Paul’s grandfather, J. Paul Getty Sr. (Donald Sutherland), an enigmatic oil tycoon and possibly the richest man in the world, is marooned in a Tudor mansion in the English countryside surrounded by a harem of mistresses and a pet lion. He’s busy. Paul’s father, J. Paul Getty Jr. (Michael Esper), is lost in a daze in London and refuses to answer the phone. Only Paul’s mother, Gail Getty (Hilary Swank), is left to negotiate with the increasingly desperate kidnappers. Unfortunately, she’s broke.
Trust charts the teenage grandson’s nightmare ordeal at the hands of kidnappers who cannot understand why nobody seems to want their captive back. The cast also includes Brendan Fraser, Anna Chancellor, Norbert Leo Butz, Charlotte Riley and Luca Marinelli.
