Maren Morris performs on ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’ (Photo Credit: 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
The 55th Academy of Country Music Awards announced a batch of artists set to perform during the 2020 awards show. Kelsea Ballerini, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, and Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi have been added to the list of confirmed performers.
15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban – 2019’s ACM Entertainer of the Year – is hosting this year’s show which will be broadcast live from Nashville on Wednesday, September 16th at 8pm ET/PT (tape-delayed on the West Coast). The Academy of Country Music Awards will air on CBS and will be available to stream on demand and CBS All Access.
On August 20th, Keith Urban surprised Riley Green and Tenille Townes with the announcement they were this year’s New Male Artist of the Year and New Female Artist of the Year winners, respectively. Both will also be performing during the live broadcast.
“When we had to come off the road back in March, I wasn’t sure what the rest of 2020 would look like,” said Green. “So much has happened in the world since then, and I’m really excited to have a moment to play music again. My grandfathers’ love for country music is what led me to this moment, and I have to dedicate this award to them. Thank you to everyone who believes in my music enough to let this boy from Alabama get to share his songs like this.”
“I’ll always remember this feeling, standing here as a new artist,” said Townes. “I feel so honored and incredibly grateful just to be a part of this country music community that inspires me. Receiving this ACM Award feels like belief from that community, and that means so much to me.”
The 55th ACM Awards mark the first time the show is taking place in Nashville using the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and The Bluebird Cafe. According to CBS, Kelsea Ballerini will perform “Hole in the Bottle,” Gabby Barrett will sing “I Hope,” and Maren Morris is set to perform “To Hell & Back” at the Ryman Auditorium. Also performing from Ryman are Tenille Townes, Riley Green, Old Dominion, and Thomas Rhett, featuring Jon Pardi.
Jimmie Allen, Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, and Miranda Lambert will take the stage at The Bluebird Cafe.
CBS All Access’ new docuseries That Animal Rescue Show focuses on Austin, Texas’ animal rescue community. The series comes from five-time Oscar nominee Richard Linklater and two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag and is set to premiere on the subscription service on Thursday, October 29, 2020.
All 10 episodes of the season will be available on October 29th for binge-watching.
Linklater, Guttentag, Nayeema Raza, Phil McGraw, Jay McGraw, and Julia Eisenman executive produce.
“I come to this project hoping to shine a light on the folks I’ve met who are making a difference every day in the lives of unwanted, abused and disabled animals. What strikes me most is the joy and discovery on both sides of the relationship between the animals and their human caregivers. These are inspirational stories that I believe will be a positive force in the world.” said Richard Linklater. “I’m grateful to CBS All Access for their support in this adventure.”
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Richard, one of the most creative and ambitious artists of our time,” stated Julie McNamara, Executive Vice President, Original Content, CBS All Access. “His profound passion for animals – and the humans devoted to them – is apparent, as he reveals rich, nuanced stories, nowhere more emotional, hilarious, or revealing of character than through these dynamic, and sometimes unconventional, relationships. Richard’s unique brand and keen eye will make an excellent addition to CBS All Access’s early expansion into unscripted programming.”
That Animal Rescue Show Details, Courtesy of CBS All Access:
The series follows the animal rescue community in and around Austin, Texas, where Linklater lives. The docuseries provides a window into this captivating world through moving, humorous and powerful stories of animals and the humans who love them.
The episodes transport audiences to a ranch where humans heal alongside goats, a pioneering no-kill shelter that has saved the lives of 80,000 dogs and cats, an arena where children with disabilities learn to walk with the help of horses and a program in which female prisoners find second chances alongside rescue puppies. They feature extraordinary characters including a volunteer wildlife veterinarian who rehabilitates squirrels and eagles, a homeless woman who dedicates herself to three cows she tows along with her and young couples who have opened their homes to abandoned 200-pound pigs.
Throughout, the series captures the inspiring, life-changing bond that occurs between people who have dedicated their lives to rescue and the animals who rescue them right back.
Selena Gomez stars in ‘Selena + Chef’ (Photo Courtesy of HBO Max)
Selena Gomez is going to continue to hone her culinary skills with season two of HBO Max’s Selena + Chef. “Learning from some of the best chefs in the world has vastly improved my cooking skills but I have a lot more to learn. I am looking forward to challenging myself in the kitchen on the next season,” said executive producer and budding cook Selena Gomez.
In season one, Gomez teamed up with chefs Angelo Sosa, Antonia Lofaso, Candice Kumai, Daniel Holzman, Jon & Vinny, Ludo Lefebvre, Nancy Silverton, Nyesha Arrington, Roy Choi, and Tonya Holland. Season two’s 10 episodes will bring in new all-star chefs to help the actress/singer improve her cooking skills.
“We are thrilled to continue the culinary fun of watching Selena in the kitchen on HBO Max. From her chemistry with each master chef to those colorful knives in the first season, we can’t wait to see what delicious surprises she has in store for season two,” said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max.
Selena + Chef is a July Moon Productions and Industrial Media’s The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) production. In addition to Gomez, the cooking series is executive produced by Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, and Leah Hariton.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be back in the kitchen with Selena and HBO Max for another entertaining and delightful season of this unscripted, unrehearsed and very unpredictable culinary adventure,” said IPC’s Saidman.
Selena + Chef Details, Courtesy of HBO Max:
Since social distancing at home, Selena has been spending more time in the kitchen than she ever imagined. In each episode of this unapologetically authentic cook-along, Selena, with the support of her Quaranteam, will be joined remotely by a different master chef. Together, they’ll tackle cuisines of every variety, share invaluable tips and tricks, and deal with everything from smoking ovens to missing ingredients.
In season one, they tackled everything from cooking with raw octopus, learning how to properly locate the correct oven controls, deveining shrimp at record speed, honest on-the-spot reviews from her Grandparents and best friends, and narrowly avoiding a sliced finger or two. Each episode will highlight a food-related charity, and this casual, funny, and informative series will embrace both the struggle and the joy of learning to cook — while inviting audiences to follow along at home.
Walt Disney Animation Studios announced a change in casting for the lead role in the animated fantasy adventure, Raya and the Last Dragon. Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘s Kelly Marie Tran will now take on the job of bringing Raya to life on the screen. Cassie Steele had previously been cast in the voice role.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tran described Raya as a real fighter. “She is someone who is technically a princess but I think that what’s really cool about this project, about this character, specifically is that everyone’s trying to flip the narrative on what it means to be a princess,” said Tran. “Raya is totally a warrior. When she was a kid, she was excited to get her sword. And she grows up to be a really badass, gritty warrior and can really take care of herself.”
Awkwafina was previously announced to voice Sisu the dragon.
The Walt Disney Animation Studios project has four directors credited: Don Hall (Big Hero 6) and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting) as well as co-directors Paul Briggs and John Ripa. The film marks Briggs and Ripa’s feature film directorial debuts. Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim wrote the screenplay and Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho are producing.
Walt Disney Animation Studios is aiming for a March 12, 2021 theatrical release.
The Plot:
Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the last dragon in order to finally stop the Druun for good. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than dragon magic to save the world—it’s going to take trust as well.
Elizabeth Banks hosts ‘Press Your Luck’ (ABC/Eric McCandless)
ABC’s normal fall primetime lineup of dramas has been interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic which closed down productions and made safely shooting television shows a challenge. Instead of kicking off the fall 2020 season with scripted series such as Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, September and October’s primetime lineup will consist of an assortment of unscripted fare.
“We’re fortunate to have such a strong unscripted slate to launch our first wave of programming this fall,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment. “Presenting the new Supermarket Sweep with Leslie Jones alongside fresh, original episodes of returning shows that viewers have come to know and love is invigorating. And with our scripted series ramping up production, we look forward to announcing more premiere dates very soon.”
SUNDAY, OCT. 18
7:00-8:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Supermarket Sweep” (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Card Sharks”
DANCING WITH THE STARS (SEASON 29) – Dancing with the Stars is the hit series in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts and voted upon by viewers at home. The competition begins with an all-new cast of celebrities paired up with the show’s pro dancers, braving the dance floor together for the very first time. Each week these celebrities will endure hours of grueling rehearsals to master new dance styles and technical choreography to perform a dance. In the end, only one star will rise above the rest to be crowned champion and win the coveted Mirrorball trophy.
CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD (SEASON 6) – Celebrity Family Feud, the iconic game show hosted by stand-up comedian, actor, author and Emmy Award winner Steve Harvey, features celebrities, along with their immediate family members or their extended TV families, going head-to-head in a contest to name the most popular responses to survey-type questions posed to 100 people for a chance to win money for a charity of their choice. This season’s high-energy matchups continue with Ray Romano vs. Brad Garrett, Kathie Lee Gifford vs. Ricki Lake, Joel McHale vs. Ben Feldman, NFLPA Legends vs. NFLPA Pro-Bowlers, and Fall Out Boy vs. Weezer, among others.
PRESS YOUR LUCK (SEASON 2) – Press Your Luck is a game of wits and strategy hosted by Elizabeth Banks. The stakes have never been higher as contestants try to avoid the iconic and devilish WHAMMY for a chance at life-changing cash and prizes. During each game of Press Your Luck, three contestants compete against each other answering questions to earn spins on the Big Board. Contestants then use their spins to win cash and prizes while trying to avoid the WHAMMY, who could take all of their winnings and leave them with nothing. The winning contestant moves on to the bonus game to face the WHAMMY in a final battle for the opportunity to win $1 million.
MATCH GAME (SEASON 5) – Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to BLANK! Match Game returns for the fall run of season five with Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin at the helm, his famous skinny microphone in hand and a lineup of hilarious celebrity panelists. Produced by Fremantle, the bawdy panel game features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000, as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-blank.
THE BACHELORETTE (SEASON 16) – Bachelor Nation, the wait is finally over! Clare Crawley will finally embark on her journey to find true love as The Bachelorette returns for its sizzling 16th season on a new night. Clare had women across America cheering from their living rooms when she famously stood up to controversial Bachelor Juan Pablo during the memorable 18th season finale of The Bachelor. Clare left the season with a new sense of self-worth and a determination to never settle for anything less than the unconditional love and respect that she deserved. Follow her passionate, wild ride to find her soul mate and the explosive turn of events that will have all of Bachelor Nation talking.
SHARK TANK (SEASON 12) – The recipient of the 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program, Shark Tank features The Sharks – tough, self-made, multimillionaire and billionaire tycoons – as they invest in America’s best businesses and products. The Sharks will give people from all walks of life the chance to chase the American dream and potentially secure business deals that could make them millionaires.
AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS (SEASON 31) – Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, America’s Funniest Home Videos is the longest-running primetime entertainment show in the history of ABC. Each week, the AFV team evaluates thousands of user-submitted home videos to bring you America’s real-life funny moments captured on video.
SUPERMARKET SWEEP (SERIES PREMIERE) – The classic TV game show Supermarket Sweep, hosted and executive produced by Emmy Award-nominated comedienne and actress Leslie Jones, is a fast-paced and energetic series following three teams of two as they battle it out using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win big cash prizes. The original format aired on ABC from 1965-1967 and went on to become a global sensation, including runs in the 1990s and early 2000s.
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE (SEASON 2) – Hosted by late-night’s Jimmy Kimmel, this season will feature both celebrity contestants playing for the charity of their choice and frontline heroes trying their hand at a $1 million prize. In addition to lifelines, “Ask the Host,” “50/50” and “Phone a Friend,” contestants playing on Millionaire can invite an expert guest to help them answer questions. It could be a relative, a beloved teacher or a famed trivia expert – anyone they want – to help them win as much money as they can.
CARD SHARKS (SEASON 2) – Card Sharks is a suspenseful game where a fortune can be won on the turn of a single playing card! The road to glory and riches begins with two players who face off in a head-to-head elimination game with the goal of one player making it to the life-changing money card round. In the money card round, the winning player has to make gut-wrenching decisions and risk it all to win it all. Ultimately, players can either take their earned cash and quit or continue wagering for a chance to take home a major cash prize.
After taking out his babysitter and her satantic cult in 2017’s The Babysitter, Cole’s still dealing with the trauma years later. The Babysitter: Killer Queen picks up the story two years after the events in the first film, and the trailer reveals the cult members have returned from the dead.
The sequel’s cast includes Judah Lewis, Emily Alyn Lind, Jenna Ortega, Robbie Amell, and Andrew Bachelor. Leslie Bibb, Hana Mae Lee, Bella Thorne, Ken Marino, Chris Wylde, Carl McDowell, Juliocesar Chavez, Maximilian Acevedo, Jennifer Foster, and Helen Hong also star in the horror-comedy.
McG returned to direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Dan Lagana, Brad Morris, and Jimmy Warden. McG, Mary Viola, and Zack Schiller served as producers.
Netflix has set a September 10, 2020 release date.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Two years after defeating a satanic cult led by his babysitter Bee, Cole continues to be haunted by the horrific events of that night. Everyone in his life thinks he has lost his mind since Bee and all of her friends disappeared, making Cole’s story hard to believe. He is still hopelessly smitten with his best friend and next-door neighbor Melanie – the only one who believes his story – who convinces him to forget the past and come to a party thrown at a nearby lake. But when old enemies unexpectedly return, Cole will once again have to outsmart the forces of evil and survive the night.
Netflix just released details on the upcoming limited series The Queen’s Gambit including a short teaser video which tantalizes without giving anything away. The streaming service announced a Friday, October 23, 2020 premiere date and revealed cast and character descriptions along with dropping a batch of photos.
Anya Taylor-Joy, Marielle Heller, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Moses Ingram, Harry Melling, and Bill Camp lead the cast of the television adaptation of Walter Tevis’ novel.
Two-time Oscar nominee Scott Frank (Logan, Out of Sight) and Allan Scott (Don’t Look Now) co-created the series and serve as executive producers along with William Horberg. Frank also writes, directs, and is the limited series’ showrunner.
The Plot:
The Netflix limited series drama The Queen’s Gambit is a coming-of-age story that explores the true cost of genius. Abandoned and entrusted to a Kentucky orphanage in the late 1950s, a young Beth Harmon (Taylor-Joy) discovers an astonishing talent for chess while developing an addiction to tranquilizers provided by the state as a sedative for the children. Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, Beth transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast while determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.
The Queen’s Gambit Characters:
ANYA TAYLOR-JOY is Elizabeth (Beth) Harmon: An orphaned girl in Kentucky who realizes an incredible talent for chess while developing a dependency on tranquilizers at an early age. As she grows into a young woman, Beth is fueled by her addictions, jeopardizing herself and those around her in her determined pursuit of becoming champion.
MARIELLE HELLER (Director, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) is Mrs. Alma Wheatley: A lonely housewife with an absent husband and her own vices, Alma welcomes Beth as both her adopted daughter and much needed companion.
THOMAS BRODIE-SANGSTER (Game of Thrones) is Benny Watts: Arrogant, confident and calm, Benny Watts, a young chess talent himself, becomes one of Beth’s greatest opponents as well as one of her closest allies.
MOSES INGRAM (Joel’s Coen’s upcoming Macbeth) is Jolene: Fellow orphan, and host to new resident, Jolene, quickly befriends Beth and helps her navigate the rules and regulations of orphan life.
HARRY MELLING (Harry Potter) is Harry Beltik: A traditional learner and one of the best chess players in the state of Kentucky, Harry is in awe of Beth’s talent and enters her life when she is at a low point.
BILL CAMP (The Night of) is Mr. Shaibel: A janitor who introduces Beth to the game of chess and is quickly humbled by her natural ability at the game. Mr. Shaibel opens new doors for the young prodigy.
Additional cast includes:
• Isla Johnston is young Beth Harmon
• Marcin Doroncinski is Vasily Borgov
• Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is Townes
• Chloe Pirrie is Alice Harmon
• Christiane Seidel is Mrs. Deardorff
• Matthew Dennis Lewis is Matt
• Russell Dennis Lewis is Mike
The first ‘Resident Evil’ series script (Photo Courtesy of NXonNetflix)
Netflix has given the go-ahead to a live-action Resident Evil series inspired by Capcom’s popular video game franchise. Season one of the just-announced series will consist of eight one-hour episodes.
There’s no word yet as to when we can expect the series to premiere. Netflix also hasn’t made any casting announcements.
Andrew Dabb (Supernatural) is on board as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Bronwen Hughes (The Walking Dead) is confirmed to direct and executive produce episodes one and two. Mary Leah Sutton and Constantin Film’s Robert Kulzer and Oliver Berben are also executive producing. CEO Martin Moszkowicz of Constantin Film is producing.
“Resident Evil is my favorite game of all time. I’m incredibly excited to tell a new chapter in this amazing story and bring the first-ever Resident Evil series to Netflix members around the world,” explained Dabb. “For every type of Resident Evil fan, including those joining us for the first time, the series will be complete with a lot of old friends, and some things (bloodthirsty, insane things) people have never seen before.”
The popular Capcom video game franchise spawned a film franchise starring Milla Jovovich. The six-film series has taken in more than $1.2 billion and currently stands as the largest grossing film franchise based on a video game in history.
Resident Evil Series Details, Courtesy of Netflix:
Building on one of the most popular, best-selling survival horror video games of all time, Resident Evil will tell a brand new story across two timelines:
In the first timeline, fourteen-year-old sisters Jade and Billie Wesker are moved to New Raccoon City. A manufactured, corporate town, forced on them right as adolescence is in full swing. But the more time they spend there, the more they come to realize that the town is more than it seems and their father may be concealing dark secrets. Secrets that could destroy the world.
Cut to the second timeline, well over a decade into the future: there are less than fifteen million people left on Earth. And more than six billion monsters — people and animals infected with the T-virus. Jade, now thirty, struggles to survive in this New World, while the secrets from her past – about her sister, her father and herself – continue to haunt her.
Teens randomly exploding? That’s the premise of an actual movie based on an actual book. How have I never heard of this before? Paramount Home Entertainment’s just shared a new trailer for Spontaneous which is – you guessed it – about spontaneous combustion.
The trailer’s hilarious and even includes a little homage to E.T., so it definitely has that going for it. Plus, it has Cursed and 13 Reasons Why‘s Katherine Langford in a lead role.
Spontaneous also stars Charlie Plummer (Words on Bathroom Walls), Yvonne Orji (Insecure), Hayley Law (Riverdale), Rob Huebel (Transparent), and Piper Perabo (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels).
Brian Duffield (The Divergent Series: Insurgent) adapted Aaron Starmer’s book for the screen and directed.
The R-rated comedy will be released in select theaters on October 2, 2020 and at home on October 6th.
The Plot:
When students in their high school begin inexplicably exploding (literally…), seniors Mara (Langford) and Dylan (Plummer) struggle to survive in a world where each moment may be their last. As an unexpected romance blossoms between them, Mara and Dylan discover that when tomorrow is no longer promised, they can finally start living for today!
Cinemax’s riveting action drama Warrior will return for season two on October 2, 2020. The 10 episode second season will air on Fridays at 10pm ET/PT on Cinemax and will also be available on demand and MaxGo.com.
Reprising their roles as season two regulars are Andrew Koji as Ah Sahm, Dianne Doan as Mai Ling, Olivia Cheng as Ah Toy, Jason Tobin as Young Jun, Joe Taslim as Li Yong, Hoon Lee as Wang Chao, Kieran Bew as Bill O’Hara, and Dean Jagger as Dylan Leary. Langley Kirkwood is Walter Buckley, Christian McKay is Mayor Samuel Blake, Joanna Vanderham is Penelope Blake, Tom Weston-Jones is Richard Lee, and Perry Yung is back as Father Jun.
Celine Buckens, Dustin Nguyen (also directing episode 6), Chen Tang, and Miranda Raison are new season two regulars. Maria Elena Laas is a recurring series regular.
The critically acclaimed drama is based on writings by martial arts icon Bruce Lee. Banshee‘s Jonathan Tropper (of Tropper Ink Productions) created the series and serves as an executive producer with Perfect Storm Entertainment’s Justin Lin (director, Fast & Furious 9) and Andrew Schneider. Brad Kane, Richard Sharkey, and Bruce Lee Entertainment’s Shannon Lee also executive produce. Kenneth Lin, Evan Endicott, and Josh Stoddard co-executive produce.
The Plot, Courtesy of Cinemax:
Warrior is a gritty, action-packed crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 19th century. The series follows Ah Sahm (Koji), a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances. After proving his worth as a fighter, Ah Sahm becomes a hatchet man for the Hop Wei, one of Chinatown’s most powerful Tongs (Chinese organized crime family).
Season two follows rival Chinatown Tongs as they fight for dominance amidst the growing anti-Chinese fervor that threatens to destroy them all.
Andrew Koji stars in ‘Warrior’ season 2 (Photo by David Bloomer/Cinemax)Joe Taslim and Dustin Nguyen in season 2 episode 2 (Photo by David Bloomer/Cinemax)Tom Weston-Jones, Kieran Bew, and Hoon Lee in season 2 episode 1 (Photo by David Bloomer/Cinemax)Jenny Umbhau, Olivia Cheng, and Andrew Koji in season 2 episode 1 (Photo by David Bloomer/Cinemax)Jason Tobin and Andrew Koji season 2 episode 2 (Photo by David Bloomer/Cinemax)Dianne Doan in Season 2 Episode 2 (Photo by David Bloomer/Cinemax)
