BBC America officially announced Alex Kingston will be reprising her role as Professor River Song for this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special. The Christmas special will air on December 25, 2015 on BBC America with filming expected to start on the 11th Doctor Who Christmas event this week. Executive Producer Steven Moffat wrote the special, Douglas Mackinnon is directing, and Nikki Wilson is producing.
The character first appeared back in 2008 and the upcoming Christmas special marks River Song’s 16th appearance on Doctor Who.
Here’s BBC America’s description of the special: “It’s Christmas Day in the future and the TARDIS is parked on a snowy village street, covered in icicles, awaiting its next adventure. Time traveller River Song meets her husband’s new incarnation, in the form of Peter Capaldi, for the first time this Christmas.”
“To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show, but here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special. Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humor and surprise guest castings,” said Kingston. “I met Peter for the first time at Monday’s read-through, we had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the Doctor Who team. Christmas in September?, why not!”
“Another Christmas, another special for Doctor Who – and what could be more special than the return of Alex Kingston as Professor River Song. The last time the Doctor saw her she was a ghost,” stated Moffat. “The first time he met her, she died. So how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it’s a matter of time …”
Doctor Who will kick off the new 12 episode season on BBC America on September 19th.
PAULA DEEN, TAMAR BRAXTON, ALEX SKARLATOS, HAYES GREER, BINDI IRWIN, CHAKA KHAN, KIM ZOLCIAK, CARLOS PENAVEGA, ALEXA PENAVEGA, and VICTOR ESPINOZA (Photo by Ida Mae Astute / ABC)
Season 21 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars kicks off on September 14, 2015 at 8pm ET/PT with a married couple, an Oscar nominee, a couple of musicians, and a true American hero as the celebrity dancers. The cast of this season, which was revealed on Good Morning America, will find the following talented dancers teaming up with celebrity wannabe dancers:
Alek Skarlatos partnered with Lindsay Arnold
Alexa PenaVega partnered with Mark Ballas
Andy Grammer partnered with Allison Holker
Bindi Irwin partnered with Derek Hough
Carlos PenaVega partnered with Witney Carson
Chaka Khan partnered with Keo Motsepe
Gary Busey partnered with Anna Trebunskaya
Hayes Grier partnered with Emma Slater
Kim Zolciak Biermann partnered with Tony Dovolani
Nick Carter partnered with Sharna Burgess
Paula Deen partnered with Louis van Amstel
Tamar Braxton partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Victor Espinoza partnered with Karina Smirnoff
ALEK SKARLATOS – Alek is an Army National Guard Specialist from Sacramento, CA. Alek and his two childhood friends, Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler, made headlines around the world on August 2015 when they heroically overpowered a man that opened fire on a train from Amsterdam to Paris. This true American hero was recently awarded France’s highest honor by President François Hollande. Alek is partnered with Lindsay Arnold.
Follow Lindsay@lindsayarnold
ALEXA PENAVEGA – Alexa is known worldwide for her role as Carmen Cortez in four blockbuster Spy Kids films, as well as Machette Kills and From Prada to Nada. PenaVega made her Broadway debut in 2007 when she played Penny Pingleton in the Tony Award winning Broadway version of Hairspray. Fans of the ABC hit drama Nashville also know her for her turn as Kiley Brenner. Alexa is married to actor/singer Carlos PenaVega, who will also compete in Season 21 of Dancing with the Stars. Alexa is partnered with Mark Ballas.
Follow Alexa @alexavega
Follow Mark @MarkBallas
ANDY GRAMMER – Los Angeles-born, New York-raised pop star Andy Grammer has gone from hustling street performer on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to platinum-selling recording artist. With his 2011 self-titled debut album, Andy became the first male pop star in a decade, since John Mayer in 2002, to reach the Top 10 at Adult Pop Radio on his first two singles, “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me,” certified platinum and gold respectively. Andy’s second album, 2014’s critically acclaimed Magazines or Novels, continues his disarming success with his huge hit “Honey, I’m Good.” Over the course of the last year, Andy’s double platinum-selling song became ubiquitous, topping sales, hitting #1 on adult pop radio for the first time and top 10 across 3 radio formats, garnering over 70 million views on YouTube and 60 million streams on Spotify, broadcasting on national TV everywhere and most recently became a country collaboration with Eli Young Band.
The euphoria of the year’s successes sparked an undeniable new emotion for the artist, so on a short stop in Los Angeles recently, Andy swiftly penned a new gem “Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah).” The song was just released on iTunes. “Life has so many ups and downs and this is about that pure bliss you feel when things are finally going your way,” explains Grammer. “The lyrics ‘good to be alive right about now’ convey something that I think anyone who’s felt like they had a breakthrough can relate to.” Andy is partnered with Allison Holker.
Follow Andy @andygrammer
Follow Allison @AllisonHolker
BINDI IRWIN – The 17 year-old Australian has continued the legacy of her parents, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and Terri Irwin, starring in a series of wildlife shows, including Bindi: The Jungle Girl, Bindi’s Bootcamp, and Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors. As an actress, Bindi starred in the films Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove and Return to Nim’s Island. In 2014, Bindi was awarded the prestigious Australian Geographic Society’s Young Conservationist of the Year, an honor that she dedicated to her late father, Steve Irwin. Bindi is partnered with Derek Hough.
Follow Bindi @BindiIrwin
Follow Derek @derekhough
CARLOS PENAVEGA – Actor/singer Carlos PenaVega shot to fame and cult status after starring on the highly successful Nickelodeon musical comedy Big Time Rush as Carlos Garcia, which also took to the road and toured with the ensemble cast around the globe. Having studied musical theater at the Boston Conservatory, Carlos recently released his first solo single in Spanish, “Electrico,” which charted in the Top 10 on the Latin iTunes songs charts. Carlos is married to actress Alex PenaVega, who will also compete in Season 21 of Dancing with the Stars. Carlos is partnered with Witney Carson.
Follow Carlos @TheCarlosPena
Follow Witney @WitneyCarson
CHAKA KHAN – Chaka is an international music icon who has influenced multiple generations of artists and continues to do so as a singer, songwriter, producer, visual artist, author, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, activist and mother. A ten-time Grammy® Award winner who has the rare ability to sing in eight music genres, Chaka has released 22 albums and racked up ten #1 Billboard magazine charted songs. She is currently at work on a series of mixed media visual works with a planned gallery exhibition in 2016, as well as a new CD, set for release later in 2015. Chaka is partnered with Keo Motsepe.
Follow Chaka @ChakaKhan
Follow Keo @keodancer
GARY BUSEY – Gary celebrates his 45th anniversary in show business during 2015. Gary rose to fame in Hollywood when he became an Academy Award® nominee for ‘Best Actor’ for his performance in the title role of Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story. His other feature film credits include memorable roles in The Firm, Under Siege, Point Break, Big Wednesday, Straight Time, and Lethal Weapon.
Gary became a household name and ratings sensation with TV audiences, too, in Celebrity Wife Swap, Celebrity Apprentice, and All Star Celebrity Apprentice. His other memorable TV roles of note are his multiple appearances on HBO’s Entourage as well as a recurring role on the hit syndicated sit-com, Mr. Box Office. He also had a special guest-star role on Two and a Half Men when he played himself. Additionally, Gary became the first American to win Celebrity Big Brother U.K. in 2014.
Gary can also be seen in his comical TV commercials for Amazon as well as Entourage: The Movie and in his starring role in the upcoming critically acclaimed feature film, CANDiLAND. Gary is partnered with Anna Trebunskaya.
Follow Gary @THEGaryBusey
Follow Anna @atrebunskaya
HAYES GRIER – At just 15 years old, Hayes Grier is a rising star in the social media world, with more than 3.5 million followers on Vine and more than 2 million Twitter follows. The North Carolina teen shot to fame with his personal videos and is currently on a live tour across the United States. Hayes is partnered with Emma Slater.
Follow Hayes @HayesGrier
Follow Emma @EmmaSlaterDance
KIM ZOLCIAK BIERMANN – Known for her blonde wigs, catchy pop songs and her vivacious personality, Kim Zolciak is also the mother of Brielle, Ariana, KJ, Kash Kade, Kaia and Kane. Her socialite status amongst Atlanta’s elite snagged her the reality spot on Bravo’s hit show, Real Housewives of Atlanta. After meeting NFL Falcons player Kroy Biermann in 2010 at a charity event, Kim fell in love and the two began a whirlwind romance. The Zolciak-Biermann family lives in their dream home in the Alpharetta, GA.
Kim’s ambitions are as big as her blonde hair. As chronicled on the first season of Housewives, Kim began pursuing her music career in 2009. Her debut single, “Tardy for the Party,” reached the number three spot on iTunes. The hit was produced alongside fellow housewife, Grammy Award winning artist Kandi Burruss. In 2012, Kim released her second single “Google Me.”
In April 2012, Kim’s spin off Don’t be Tardy for the Wedding, debuted on Bravo. The series revolved around Kim’s extravagant wedding and was a huge hit for Bravo, currently on air for its 4Th season. Kim is partnered with Tony Dovolani.
Follow Kim @Kimzolciak
Follow Tony @TonyDovolani
NICK CARTER – The singer, songwriter and actor sparked his career at the tender age of 12 as the youngest member of the iconic boy band Backstreet Boys. Since taking the world by storm in 1995, the band has sold over 130 million records worldwide and has earned five Grammy® nominations, countless awards, and an honorary star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. As a standout member of the Backstreet Boys, Carter was named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” In 2002, Nick released his debut solo album Now or Never and released his second solo album, “I’m Taking Off,” in 2012. In 2014, Nick and longtime girlfriend Lauren Kitt made their TV debut as a couple in the VH1 reality series, I Heart Nick Carter. Nick is partnered with Sharna Burgess.
Follow Nick @nickcarter
Follow Sharna @SharnaBurgess
PAULA DEEN – Paula was living the American dream—married to her high school sweetheart, raising two adorable boys when tragedy struck. Her parents died, her marriage failed and she began a prolonged battle with agoraphobia. With her boys in their teens and her family near homelessness, Paula took her last $200, reached deep inside her soul and started “The Bag Lady,” a home-based catering company that marked the start of Deen’s professional cooking. With sons Jamie and Bobby delivering “lunch-and-love-in-a-bag,” beginning in June 1989, Paula turned around her life by sharing what she knew best, traditional Southern cooking.
Overcoming poverty, self-doubt and health challenges to achieve success and acclaim, Paula has become one of the best-known personalities in the world of cooking. Yet the most remarkable part of Paula Deen’s journey from her kitchen to fame is that Paula has remained every bit as genuine, real and full of love as she was the day the first meals left her kitchen.
She moved her catering company to a small restaurant at a Best Western motel in Savannah and finally opened her first restaurant, The Lady and Sons, with Bobby and Jamie five years later. The restaurant was a hit and the popularity of Paula and her cooking led to her first cookbook, 1998’s The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook. This gave her fans the opportunity to try Paula’s recipes at home, and led to her first television appearance on QVC. Paula’s genuine warmth and folksy personality made her a natural for television. In 1999, USA Today food critic Jerry Shriver named The Lady and Sons “International Meal of the Year.”
In 2014, Paula launched her nationwide live tour, Paula Deen Live!, and her own digital lifestyle network, the Paula Deen Network where each day, Paula provides viewers with cooking tips, new recipes and step-by-step instruction on how to cook her signature Southern dishes in an unscripted format.
In 2015, Paula launched her first free mobile game, “Paula Deen’s Recipe Quest,” premiered her first show on EVINE Live, launched her podcast and radio show, and opened her new restaurant, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. On September 8, 2015, Paula will release her new cookbook, Paula Deen Cutsthe Fat: 250 Favorite Recipes All Lightened Up.
Ever grateful for all she has been blessed with, Paula and her family continue to give back to the community. Paula, a board member of the Bethesda Home for Boys, also works tirelessly for America’s Second Harvest. In 2012, Paula launched The Bag Lady Foundation, supporting issues of hunger that affect women and families across the country. Paula is partnered with Louis van Amstel.
Follow Paula @Paula_Deen
Follow Louis @LouisVanAmstel
TAMAR BRAXTON – Tamar Braxton is a Grammy® nominated singer, reality TV personality, and talk show host. A veteran performer who began singing backup vocals for her older sister Toni at age 12, Tamar was also a founding member of R&B group The Braxtons with Toni and their siblings Traci, Towanda and Trina. She is married to music executive Vince Herbert, the couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in June 2013.
Tamar executive produces and stars in the WE TV reality hit Braxton Family Values, currently in its 4th season. Originally created and spearheaded by Tamar and sisters, the show soared as the cable network’s highest-rated television show. She is also co-host and producer of FOX-TV’s The Real, now going into its 2nd season. Tamar reveals, “The Real is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I get to chat with a group of women and its feels like happy hour in the middle of the day.”
Tamar’s third studio LP, Calling All Lovers, is due September 11 on Epic/Streamline Records. Tamar is partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Follow Tamar @TamarBraxtonHer
Follow Val @iamValC
VICTOR ESPINOZA – After coming close twice, Victor earned the famous Triple Crown earlier this year, winning the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and The Belmont Stakes aboard speedy American Pharoah. It was the first time in 37 years the feat had been accomplished. The first Hispanic jockey to ever win the Triple Crown, Victor has won over 3000 races in his career and donates 10% of his weekly winnings to The City of Hope for childhood cancer research. Before becoming a jockey, Victor drove a city bus in Mexico and says, “It’s a lot easier riding horses than driving in that traffic in Mexico City.” Victor is partnered with Karina Smirnoff.
Follow Victor @EspinozasVictor
Follow Karina @Karina_Smirnoff
Emily Bett Rickards and Paul Blackthorne (Photo by Richard Chavez)
Paul Blackthorne is more than ready/actively campaigning for his character on The CW’s Arrow to get a girlfriend. Talking about season four of the hit series during roundtable interviews at Comic Con, Blackthorne was asked if this upcoming season is the one in which Quentin Lance will finally meet Donna Smoak. Laughing, he replied, “I thought you were going to say is Quentin going to finally get laid this year. #GetLanceLaid, if we could start that off please. Yes, I would like to. I really hope so. I really hope so. The boy needs some love, let’s face it. In an off-screen backstory I gave him one sort of little moment but obviously on the screen there’s been nothing for him. I think for the man’s sanity let’s get him laid.”
Fortunately for fans of Blackthorne, Quentin’s somehow managed to make it through all three of the show’s seasons and Blackthorne’s definitely thankful for that even if it has been without a love interest thus far. He doesn’t live in constant fear of having his character killed off, but he knows it’s always a possibility. “When you’re lucky enough to become a part of a television show, then one thing – especially if it’s an action show of sorts – is that you realize the landscape entails potentially not being a part of the television show in order to keep that good old thing called story running along in a very interesting fashion. So, if one is philosophical about it, if you’re fortunate to be in season one, ‘Great!’ Season two, ‘Okay, lovely!’ Season three, ‘Wow, this is good. I’m still in it.’ Season four, ‘I’m counting my lucky stars.’ I think we can all realize that Arrow the show is probably going to run for quite a long time but personally my approach is season by season, in terms of your own participation. But while it’s happening, thank you very much.”
So, while Quentin’s still on the show will he continue trying to bring Arrow down? “I think if he did that it would be a bit of a waste of energy of sorts,” replied Blackthorne. “Once the stuff starts hitting the fan in Starling City, the city is the most important thing to him and if Arrow in whatever guise he is in this year, whatever form he is in, is around to help it, then he’ll get over. Also, Laurel would have talked him through some of that stuff. She would have been the first. She would have been like, ‘Look, it wasn’t the Arrow’s idea. Roy, he was the one who did it,’ so that certainly helps Lance with that. Laurel would have talked him out of the idea that the Arrow was behind that, that Oliver Queen was behind that.”
How would Quentin react if Sarah returned from the dead for a second time? “‘Are you dead or are you alive? Make up your mind!’ I don’t know,” said Blackthorne, laughing. “It would be a very interesting moment. If that plays out I look forward to that scene because it would be interesting.”
Season five of ABC’s addictive fantasy series Once Upon a Time will premiere on September 27, 2015 and with it comes the new darker version of Emma Swan (played by Jennifer Morrison). Teaming up with Emilie de Ravin (‘Belle’) at Comic-Con to talk about the upcoming season, Robert Carlyle said that even though the darkness has passed to Emma, that doesn’t mean Rumple will find any redemption.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think you can. Anyone who knows anything about the show knows that Rumplestiltskin is in the middle of everything. If you take a maleficence away from that character or that character away from the story, the whole thing crumbles. So I think that no one would be surprised to see that Rumplestiltskin is again in the middle of everything you’re about to see,” said Carlyle, adding, “Everyone’s assuming that he’s lost all of the power and he’s no longer the Dark One. Just because Emma has this thing happening doesn’t mean he’s saved.”
“Regardless of the force and the hold of the dagger and the power of the dagger and being the Dark One or being influenced to be, as she is currently, not the Dark One but trying to fight off that desperately…we’ll have to wait and see if she can fight off the darkness. Will goodness prevail or will evil, or will it be some sort of amalgamation of both? Apart from that, there’s good and evil in everyone anyway,” said de Ravin. “I’m really interested to see see what you’ve learned from this power that’s had a hold of you, that’s changed you as a person. Everyone has that darkness in them.”
And Carlyle pointed out that Rumple’s been around for hundreds of years and he’s addicted to the darkness. “Even though he loves Belle more than anything that still wasn’t enough to prevent him from doing dark work. So the idea that he has lost that and will never do that again seems to be unlikely,” explained Carlyle. “See, you need to separate Gold and Rumple because even though they are the same, they’re also like a separate entity. Gold might have been cleansed of this thing, but there’s another person in there, and he isn’t going anywhere.”
Emilie de Ravin and Robert Carlyle at Comic Con 2015 (Photo by Richard Chavez)
As for Belle, de Ravin agrees that her character is getting stronger each season. “I think trials and tribulations in life make one stronger, though it depends on how you deal with them. You know, trauma in your life and things happening, you can let yourself be really brought down and just emotionally hide away, or you can use that to develop into a stronger, better person – more of a person that you know you can be,” said de Ravin.
She added: “She’s always been a strong individual, but I think this is definitely a point in her life that she’s come to a realization that as hard as all she’s had to do recently and the decisions that she’s had to make, that if she’s not making those decisions for herself, she’s not going to be herself anymore. She’s not going to be there for anyone else if she can’t be herself physically, emotionally, and mentally. She’s not going to be there to try and help the man. As much as she loves him, it’s not going to work.”
And speaking of being there for someone, de Ravin said it will take a village to help Emma refrain from completely embracing the darkness. “I imagine from the little I do know everyone has their own part that they’re bringing to that party, so to speak. That’s a pretty big thing they’re taking on, to try to deal with, so anybody’s strong points and talents and everything they can do [to help]. It’s cool. It’s everybody coming together and uniting.”
More so than any of her Gotham co-stars, Camren Bicondova was extremely careful about giving away any potential season two spoilers while discussing the new season. Her answers were very short and she didn’t elaborate, but you could easily tell by the smile on her face that Bicondova’s not only eagerly looking forward to filming all of season two but also to Gotham fans getting to explore more of Selina Kyle’s backstory.
“She’s come very far from her first kill to her first time going to a ball. Everything is kind of happening for her, and in season two, because of everything that happened in season one, she’s going to be trying to figure out where she is,” said Bicondova at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. “Actually, I’m really excited I’m going to reveal a part of her backstory, so I’m really excited about that.”
But, she added, we shouldn’t expect the backstory to involve cats at this point.
As for where we’ll pick up with Selina’s story at the beginning of season two, Bicondova didn’t reveal much. “I’m allowed to say where it begins, so you have to tune in to that, but she’s definitely going to be figuring out where she stands, whether she’s good or evil. So, she’ll be hanging out with some different people.”
Will one of those people be Bruce Wayne (played by David Mazouz)? “Where it starts [in season two] is they haven’t seen each other in months. We’re going to be seeing what’s going on in that relationship, so I’m really excited about that too.”
Toward the end of season one, Selina became close to Fish Mooney, but we know that relationship ended abruptly. So, will Selina be feeling a sense of loss or freedom now that Fish is no longer around? “I don’t know. There’s definitely obviously a feeling of loss because she did like Fish, but we haven’t really dug deep into that yet,” replied Bicondova.
Selina’s involvement with Fish Mooney’s gang in season one changed her perspective as well as affected her hair style. Can we expect to see that influence carry through in season two? “It’s pretty close to the usual hair,” revealed Bicondova. “It’s still a little different because after she joined forces with Fish, she kind of found a new fit. Fish was kind of a motherly figure for her, so has a new thing going on.”
Isaiah Washington at Comic Con 2015 (Photo by Richard Chavez)
Isaiah Washington says when we catch up with his The 100 character Chancellor Thelonious Jaha in season three of The CW series, fans of the sci-fi action drama can expect to see he’s even more obsessed with saving his people than in previous seasons. During the 2015 San Diego Comic Con, Washington said that Jaha is totally committed to that goal.
“He’s not letting that go for anything in the world, not any artificial intelligence, not anyone is going to distract him from coming back to free his people,” explained Washington. “That’s in his mind; that’s what he believes. I’m not so sure it’s about being Chancellor again. It’s about that he witnessed the horrible conditions. If you remember, the fight broke out when Kane and he were having this conversation and they had Adina Porter’s character come in and it all fell apart. It was very disturbing and he broke off. He says, ‘I can do this. I can find something better.’ He’s still very much on that trajectory except that the lady in red, she’s in possession of a nuclear warhead. Now, I guess it’s about who has the most gold wins. But also it’s about who has the bigger gun wins. Right now Jaha’s in possession of the bigger gun.”
Should fans of The 100 expect to see warring factions arise again? “When you add us all up chemically, human beings we’re not worth much on the market. Gold, copper, it’s really worth more than if you put up what we’re made of in carbons. We’re not worth it. And when I say that I mean maybe we’re so human we’re destined to maybe never get it right. But, with forgiveness and remorse and those that have consciousness, there’s going to be always hope,” said Washington.
“In our culture today, what I love about our show is that you have so many people killing each other in the name of something. A greater good, some people say God. What? People are fighting for peace. These are oxymorons that we are just okay with. It looks like in the conversations with Jason [Rothenberg] that Jaha really gets to put a face on it. Even when someone is really working hard to do that right thing it doesn’t look right. What’s different? How did we get here? How do we get out of this, or do we ever? Because if you’re a fan of the show you clearly see where the character started. Even when he sacrificed after the loss of his son what he wanted to do, but now he’s in possession of a bigger gun.”
Washington not only stars in The 100 but is a huge fan of the series and the complex world Rothenberg has created. “I’ve always believed that it’s smart,” said Washington. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy because of the legacy of The CW and all of that jazz, but I trusted Jason. I embarrass him all the time.”
“This show challenges me as an artist, as a global citizen. I get a chance to be paid to create something for you to think about, hopefully. That’s exciting to me and I’m grateful for it. And in my opinion I think it’s smart and it’s getting smarter. I really feel that it’s going to get smarter. What I like about Jason is that he takes those risks that I like to take in the films I’ve been producing myself. They don’t make Jurassic Park numbers, but they’re smart,” said Washington. “We’re operating off that through-line where the choices we’re going to make this season are 50/50. Either it’s going to really, really work well or it’s not. That’s how high the stakes are in terms of the storytelling that he’s choosing to tell.”
Reginald Hudlin (photo by Ingrid C Hertfelder) and David Hill (photo by Chuck Gardner)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has tapped Emmy winner David Hill and Oscar nominated producer-director Reginald Hudlin to produce the 2016 Oscars. The 88th Oscar telecast will take place on February 28th and will air live on ABC. The awards ceremony will once again be held at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA.
The 2016 Oscars will be both Hudlin and Hill’s first time producing the show which is seen by more than 40 million people.
“We’re delighted to have this talented team on board,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “David is a true innovator with a dynamic personality. His vast experience as a live events producer, coupled with Reggie’s energy, creativity and talent as a filmmaker, is sure to make this year’s Oscar telecast a memorable one.”
“What a great and exciting honor! The quest is to honor the year in film, honor the art, and above all, make it fun,” commented Hill.
“I’m looking forward to working with the Academy again,” added Hudlin. “I love every kind of film and this year’s awards will be a celebration of the total range of cinema.”
Details on Reginald Hudlin and David Hill, Courtesy of the Academy:
An executive with the Fox group of companies for more than 25 years, Hill most recently served as the senior executive vice president of 21st Century Fox, overseeing programming, digital initiatives, and other opportunities on five continents. He was previously the chairman and CEO of Fox Sports Media Group, during which time he spearheaded the integration of new technologies and multiplatform programming services across the U.S. Hill began his career with parent company News Corporation in Great Britain, where he helped launch Sky Television, introduced the multilingual sports channel Eurosport, and created the hugely popular subscription channel Sky Sports. While he has contributed to hundreds of Emmy nominations and awards for the network, Hill received an individual Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Special as an executive producer of the 2011 World Series broadcast. He also served as an executive producer on the last two seasons of American Idol. He recently left Fox to start his own production company, Hilly, focusing on live and reality television.
A writer, director, producer and executive, Hudlin received a 2012 Best Picture Oscar nomination as a producer of Django Unchained. Hudlin’s film credits include Boomerang, The Great White Hype and the award-winning comedy House Party, which he also wrote. He executive produced the hit television series The Boondocks and The Black Panther; and has directed for Modern Family, Murder in The First, New Girl and The Office. Last year, Hudlin produced the Academy’s 6th Annual Governors Awards ceremony and has been the executive producer of the NAACP Image Awards since 2012. Hudlin was the first President of Entertainment for BET Networks from 2005 to 2009, where he oversaw programming and developed some of the network’s highest rated shows during his tenure. He is a partner in Milestone Media, a multi-ethnic comic book company distributed by DC Comics, as well as New Nation Networks, a premium content provider in partnership with Google. Hudlin is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, Producers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild. He serves on the executive board of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and Wasatch.
Focus Features has released the official trailer for the dramatic film The Danish Girl starring Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander. The Danish Girl is based on the book by David Ebershoff, adapted for the screen by Lucinda Coxon, and directed by Oscar winner Tom Hooper. Prior to hitting theaters on November 27, 2015 (in limited release), The Danish Girl will screen at the Toronto International Film Festival. The cast also includes Ben Whishaw, Sebastian Koch, Amber Heard, and Matthias Schoenaerts.
The Plot:
The Danish Girl is the remarkable love story inspired by the lives of artists Einar and Gerda Wegener (Redmayne and Vikander), whose marriage and work are cast into the unknown when Einar begins a groundbreaking journey to become one of the world’s first transgender women, Lili Elbe.
Aaron Ashmore as John, Hannah John-Kamen as Dutch, and Luke Macfarlane as D’Avin in ‘Killjoys’ (Photo by: Ken Woroner / Temple Street Releasing Limited / Syfy)
Syfy has ordered up second seasons of both Killjoys and Dark Matter as just announced today by the network. Killjoys will be back for a 10 episode season two in 2016 while Dark Matter received a 13 episode renewal. Killjoys was created by Michelle Lovretta who also serves as the series’ writer, executive producer and showrunner. Dark Matter comes the Stargate team of Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie who wrote the Dark Horse Comics graphic novel that serves as source material for the series. Mallozzi, Mullie, Jay Firestone, and Vanessa Piazza executive produce.
Killjoys, which averaged 1.5 million viewers during its first season run, stars Hannah John-Kamen, Luke Macfarlane, and Aaron Ashmore. Commenting on the renewal, Syfy’s Executive Vice President of Original Content Bill McGoldrick said, “With exciting space-based action, deep world building, and a standout cast, Killjoys has struck a nerve with viewers and critics alike. We can’t wait to see what adventures Michelle Lovretta and Temple Street take Dutch, John and D’avin on in season two.”
Dark Matter tells the story of six people who find themselves on a derelict spaceship without any idea how they got there or who they are. The dramatic series averaged 1.8 million viewers and stars Melissa O’Neil, Marc Bendavid, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr, Jodelle Ferland, Roger Cross and Zoie Palmer.
“With its mysterious premise and fascinating characters, Dark Matter has built an incredibly loyal, passionate and engaged fan base,” said Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Program Strategy, Syfy. “We look forward to another out-of-the-world season from this talented creative team.”
Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette and Dominic Cooper in ‘Miss You Already’ (Photo credit: Nick Wall)
Miss You Already will have its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and today a trailer’s arrived to reveal a little of what’s in store. Toni Collette and Drew Barrymore star as BFFs in this dramatic film directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen, Plush) from a script by Morwenna Banks. For those who won’t be making the trek to the festival to catch a screening, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions’ Miss You Already will open in theaters on November 6th.
The Plot:
Miss You Already is an honest and powerful story following two best friends, Milly (Collette) and Jess (Barrymore), as they navigate life’s highs and lows. Inseparable since they were young girls, they can’t remember a time they didn’t share everything – secrets, clothes, even boyfriends – but nothing prepares them for the day Milly is hit with life-altering news. A story for every modern woman, Miss You Already celebrates the bond of true friendship that ultimately can never be broken, even in life’s toughest moments. Dominic Cooper co-stars.
