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41 years ago, HBO, then the most subscribed-to pay cable network in the United States, decided to expand its original programming (which consisted largely of stand-up comedy specials and boxing) with the uplifting, based-on-real-life film "The Terry Fox Story." Though it didn't set the world on fire, the movie did receive decent reviews, which gave competing premium cable channels the itch to try their hand at making movies of their own.

And so, in 1984, Showtime took a crack at film production with a zany comedy called "The Ratings Game." While this film was notable at the time for being the channel's first original movie, it's now most significant for being Danny DeVito's directorial debut. If this is the first you're hearing of "The Ratings Game," there's a good reason for that. It's a sporadically funny film based around a dated Nielsen ratings scam that's basically Mel Brooks' "The Producers" for television.

Kreskin (aka The Amazing Kreskin), the renowned mentalist who had his own TV programs in the 1970s, has died. He was 89.

Kreskin’s family announced the news in a statement posted on social media on Tuesday. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of The Amazing Kreskin, born George Kresge, at the age of 89,” the statement reads. “Performing for all of you brought immense joy to his life, and it was something he deeply cherished. The family kindly asks for privacy during this difficult time.”

From 1972 to 1975, Kreskin hosted the television series “The Amazing World of Kreskin,” which was broadcast in Canada on CTV and distributed in syndication in the U.S. He then entertained studio audiences with “The New Kreskin Show” from 1975 to 1977.

In his 1991 book “Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin,” he explained that he is “not a psychic, an occultist or fortune teller. I am not a mind reader,...

The Amazing Kreskin, the mentalist who became a popular television fixture in the 1970s, died Monday, his family announced. He was 89; his cause of death has not been made public.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of The Amazing Kreskin, born George Kresge, at the age of 89. Performing for all of you brought immense joy to his life, and it was something he deeply cherished. The family kindly asks for privacy during this difficult time,” his family said in a statement posted on social media.

Born George Kresge in Montclair, New Jersey in 1935, he died at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey, according to his manager.

When creating his act as a young man, he was inspired by the comic strip “Mandrake the Magician,” about a crime fighting illusionist. He would always insist that what he did involved no supernatural powers or real magic. “I am not a psychic,...

And the best part? You don’t even have to sign up to watch everything Xumo Play has to offer.

Lots of people sleep on free streaming services. There’s that old saying that you get what you pay for. Well with Xumo Play, you get what you don’t have to pay for – and it’s pretty good! From live TV channels to movies and binge-worthy TV shows, Xumo Play delivers a surprisingly rich mix of entertainment without the price tag. Whether you’re flipping through its live TV channels, diving into a holiday movie, or catching up on your reality TV backlog, Xumo Play has something for everyone. Best of all, you won’t need to worry about adding yet another subscription to your budget. Here’s everything you need to know about Xumo Play.

Watch Now Free play.xumo.com Everything you need to know about ‘Xumo...

"Seinfeld" might've gone out on top of the Nielsen ratings in the spring of 1998, but it took the show five seasons to crack the top ten, in part because its network, NBC, couldn't make heads or tails of the series.

Jerry Seinfeld, who co-created the show with his stand-up comedy pal Larry David, was anything but edgy. He was an observational comic with a gently absurdist bent, pointing out all of humanity's little quirks and peccadilloes. He stopped by "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" frequently, and gradually became a mainstream-friendly stand-out amid the crowded 1980s stand-up scene.

So why did NBC struggle to identify its ratings-topping potential?

Because "Seinfeld" was edgy, mean even, and its serrated comedy was primarily the invention of David, whose shamelessness permeated the character of George Costanza (Jason Alexander). All four major characters on Seinfeld — Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer — were deeply selfish and generally unpleasant people.

Legendary comedic actress Teri Garr, known for her memorable supporting turns in films such as Young Frankenstein, Tootsie and Mr. Mom, died Tuesday following a long battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 79.

Garr died “surrounded by family and friends,” her spokesperson told People.

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Garr’s work in 1982’s Tootsie, which starred Dustin Hoffman, earned her an Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She lost to co-star Jessica Lange.

Other notable...

Teri Garr, the comic actress and singer who brought her buoyant personality to “Young Frankenstein” and was Oscar-nominated for “Tootsie,” died on Tuesday in Los Angeles after a long battle with Ms. She was 79.

An influential performer to comedians including Tina Fey, Garr was a familiar face in dozens of TV shows and films of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. The actress revealed in 2002 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and she suffered an aneurysm in 2006.

After starting her career as a dancer, Garr first gained attention as Inga, the saucy assistant in Mel Brooks’ 1974 “Young Frankenstein,” who greeted Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein with the memorable “Vould you like to have a roll in ze hay?”

On “Friends,” she played Phoebe Abbot in three episodes in 1997 and 1998.

In Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Garr was the wife of Richard Dreyfuss’ character. She...

"Seinfeld" was famously a grower in terms of popularity. The sitcom struggled in the Nielsen ratings throughout its first three seasons before rising in season 4 and, finally, becoming the juggernaut that it would continue to be until the gang called it quits at the end of season 9.

To get there, Seinfeld and co-creator Larry David had to tweak the formula a little to set the show apart from more amiable hit sitcoms like "Cheers" and "The Cosby Show." For folks familiar with Seinfeld's stand-up through his appearances on HBO comedy specials or "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," this irascibility was surprising. Sometimes, the show got downright mean — never nastier than the dispatching of George's bride-to-be Susan (Heidi Swedberg) in the classic episode "The Invitations."

Seinfeld himself got more acerbic than he had been in his act, but, because he was not and has yet to be a versatile actor,...

‘General Hospital’ (Gh) spoilers reveal that Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) has had two significant relationships in her life for years: her ride-or-die Bff, Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), and her ex-husband, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard).

‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: Sonny Coerced Carly Into Helping Him With An Alibi

Sonny recently shot and killed Agent John “Jagger” Cates (Adam Harrington) and coerced Carly into providing him with a less-than-believable alibi.

Sonny had the bright idea to pretend he and Carly hit the sheets in Tracy Quartermaine’s (Jane Elliot) bed during the murder.

When Sonny and Carly went downstairs, he pretended to adjust his clothes so everyone would think they had slept together.

Carly felt she had no choice but to go along with it. If she’s caught lying, she could get into serious trouble. To make matters worse, Killer Miller informed the pair that if they wanted to make this alibi look real,...

General Hospital (Gh) spoilers tease that Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) caused a scene at the Q mansion when they acted as if they did the deed in Tracy Quartermaine’s (Jane Eliott) bed. Which has by now been burned to the ground.

The act was all for show, but let’s break down what happened and why, and where this eye-opening act could lead. There’s never a dull moment in Port Chuck!

General Hospital spoilers – CarSon Fans Enthused

Sonny needed an alibi for John Cates’ (Adam J. Harrington) murder and Carly was his best bet. It was a dark and stormy night when Sonny dispensed some vigilante justice into Cates’ chest. Michael Corinthos (Chad Duell) stumbled upon the morbid scene and eventually his mom Carly agreed to be her ex’s alibi.

Carly was in the main house when Sonny shot his enemy at the Q.

This past weekend, Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night premiered at the Telluride film festival, and has been mostly earning praise from critics, including some rumblings of possible Oscar contention. Although at least one review wasn’t so kind, calling it “109 minutes of tedious SNL cosplay.”

While much of the movie is being heralded for its apparent authenticity, as Vulture’s review revealed, there are a few moments that seem out of step with the historical record, including a scene in which Lorne Michaels receives a threatening phone call from Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, who calls the SNL producer a “benchwarmer” and “a stalking horse.”

Rolling Stone also noted in their review that the movie version of Michaels only landed the 11:30 p.m. Saturday night time slot “because NBC was beefing with Johnny Carson, and this was supposed to be the network’s way of gaining leverage in their negotiations with him.

With the exception of a few soap operas and public affairs programs, no TV show has been on the air longer than NBC’s Saturday Night Live, which will embark on its 50th season Sept. 28. And as we approach the 76th Emmys, which will take place just a few weeks before that, it is the most celebrated show in the history of that event. Indeed, SNL holds the records for most Emmy nominations with 341 (Game of Thrones is second with 159) and wins with 89 (GoT is second with 59). And Lorne Michaels, its creator and overseer for all but five of its seasons, holds the record for most Emmy noms for an individual with 106 (Sheila Nevins is second with 77) and has racked up the second most wins for an individual with 21 (behind only Nevins’ 31).

Given that history, it may be hard to feel sorry for SNL and Michaels when it comes to the Emmys — but this year,...

‘General Hospital’ (Gh) spoilers suggest that when it comes to soap opera couples, fans can sometimes be divided over who belongs with whom.

‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: Carson Fans Want To See Them Reunite Pronto

Truer words were never spoken when it came to femme fatale Carly Spencer (Laura Wright). She would probably have chemistry with a cucumber if given a chance.

Carly is just one of those characters whom fans tend to root for despite her shortcomings. While some want to see Carly with her former flame, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), others swear Carly deserves better and should be with her ride-or-die bestie, Jason Morgan (Steve Burton).

With Sonny and Carly, one could argue that fans have been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt. However, there is also a reason they always seem to find their way back to each other.

No matter how much cheating, lying, and deception between them,...

When Bob Newhart died July 19 at the age of 94, the world lost one of the last remaining comedians of a certain era. Predating “Saturday Night Live” and more contemporary avenues for comedy, the Chicago-born master of dry, deadpan wit came up through stand-up sets in his city, growing into a familiar face in the ’60s with appearances on variety series such as “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” His debut live album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” was what shot him into full superstar status, becoming the first comedy album to receive the Grammy for Album of the Year; a feat most comedians ever seem unlikely to repeat today.

Of course, nowadays Newhart is remembered most vividly not for his live work but as one of the great stars of the sitcom genre. He had two short-lived series (“Bob” and “George and Leo”) that sputtered after...

General Hospital (Gh) spoilers note that while Jack Brennan is a bonafide villain in the land of Port Charles, it’s hard for fans not to utterly adore the charming and handsome former Wsb head and Pikeman criminal.

While he’s in prison right now, everyone knows that anything is possible in daytime drama, and the prisoner could easily get an early release in the days and weeks to come.

Actor Charles Mesure recently spoke with Soap Opera Digest (Sod) to talk all things Jack Brennan, and the character’s love life came up.

General Hospital Spoilers – Possible Romantic Options For Jack Brennan

While talking to Sod, Mesure offered some hints as to who Jack could end up with, should a romantic opportunity come knocking.

Sparks flew between him and Anna Devane (Finola Hughes), as well as Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) during Pentonville visits, and fans have felt the chemistry...

Comic legend Bob Newhart has passed away at the age of 94. His longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that Newhart died in his Los Angeles home on Thursday, July 18, following a series of short illnesses. As a young man, Newhart served in the Korean War and briefly worked as an accountant, before switching careers and becoming the famous stand-up comedian and actor we've come to know and love.

He first came to prominence in 1960 with his comedy album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," which he followed up with "The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back." His most famous recurring stand-up schtick was playing the straight man to an implied funny man, often pretend-talking on the phone and letting us imagine what the other person was saying. You can see this clearly in his famous routine, "Nobody Will Ever Play Baseball," where he plays a games manufacturer listening to Abner Doubleday,...

It’s a fine line between genius and madness, and an even thinner, barely visible gossamer thread that demarcates genius and being categorized as difficult. Faye Dunaway has been labeled both, though in a competition between those two descriptives, “difficult” often had a three-to-one lead. Most documentaries about legendary stars would sand off its subject’s rough edges and try to present the most hagiography-friendly version imaginable. Faye, much like the force of nature (note that we did not say maelstrom) at the center of this movie, takes a bumpier road less traveled.

Ruth Westheimer, who brought frank talk about sex into America’s living rooms for the first time as radio and television talk show host Dr. Ruth, has died. She was 96.

Westheimer died on Friday at her home in New York City, a spokesperson told the New York Times.

The diminutive educator with a thick German accent was known for dispensing explicit, down-to-earth advice on matters that weren’t previously discussed on-air.

Westheimer hosted at least five shows on Lifetime and other cable stations from 1984 to 1993, and wrote dozens of books on sex.

The college professor was already in her 50s when she started her radio show on New York radio station Wyny in 1980. She later said that being middle-aged probably helped her be accepted as an expert rather than a sex object, as discussing erotic pleasure was largely taboo on radio and television before her show.

Debuting as a 15-minute segment at midnight on Saturdays,...

Explore Steve Martin’s Life and Career The Road to Stardom: How Steve Martin Became Famous 10. The Jerk (1979) – 83% Score 9. All of Me (1984) – 85% Score 8. Roxanne (1987) – 88% Score 7. The Spanish Prisoner (1997) – 89% Score 6. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) – 89% Score 5. Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – 90% Score 4. L.A. Story (1991) – 91% Score 3. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) – 92% Score 2. Parenthood (1989) – 92% Score 1. Only Murders in the Building (2021-Current) – 99% Score

Steve Martin has donned many hats in the entertainment industry throughout his prolific career.

As a writer, comedian, musician, actor, and so much more, this extremely talented creator has always made us smile. At 78 years old, Steve Martin hasn’t let his age hold him back and has continued to flex his comedic acting muscles without slowing down.

As this beloved actor’s birthday passes and we continue to laugh at his outrageous performances, we thought it’d be a joy to look back at this masterful amuser’s career so far.

With such a...

Grab your quiver of trick arrows and prep a boxed Macaroni and Cheese pot because Kate Bishop and Clint Barton could return for Hawkeye Season 2. A target with a rumor at its bullseye is making the rounds today, with whispers of Marvel developing a follow-up to 2021’s Hawkeye series on Disney+. The rumor comes from industry scooper @MyTimeToShineH, who says Marvel plans to put Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop and Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton at the center of an outrageous plot with The Raid-like elements.

Okay. The last time someone told me something would feel like The Raid, we got 2021’s Mortal Kombat, which was fun, but saying it’s like The Raid is crazy talk. So, pardon me if I’m skeptical. Anyway, @MyTimeToShineH says Hawkeye has been renewed for a second season, with Clint’s brother, Barney, playing a significant role. “The season will be inspired by The Raid,...

General Hospital predictions wonder which lady Sonny Corinthos will wind up with after he recovers from his bipolar breakdown on the ABC soap opera.

Sonny Corinthos Out of Control on General Hospital

Currently, on Gh, Sonny Corinthos is in the middle of a bipolar spiral and getting worse by the day. He thinks he’s fine because he’s taking his medication as he should. However, he’s unaware that Valentin Cassadine is strong-arming his doctor into cutting his dosage down significantly.

Valentin needs Sonny to be erratic and irrational. That way, he can get him out of the way and take over his territory to move merchandise for Pikeman. So, Sonny is spiraling out and the people that know him best are suspicious. But, of course, he’s pushing them away on General Hospital.

Gh | ABC

Eventually, something so terrible is going to happen that he will be forced to get help.

Exclusive: Shout! Studios has re-acquired the previously held worldwide home entertainment, broadcast and digital distribution rights for Paul Reubens’ Pee-wee’s Playhouse. In addition, the studio has newly acquired AVOD (advertising supported video on demand) rights, bringing the show to AVOD and the streaming service Shout! TV for the first time as part of the deal. Shout! TV channels include Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Carol Burnett Show, Johnny Carson TV, TokuSHOUTsu, Alf, Farscape, Non-Stop ’90s, and Wild West TV.

Under the pact, Shout! Studios now has extensive distribution rights to all 45 episodes of Pee-wee’s Playhouse as well as Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special. You can watch a promo below.

Since its initial premiere on CBS in 1986, the multiple Emmy-winning Pee-wee’s Playhouse became Saturday morning appointment viewing for kids in the ’80s and ’90s and has been a staple in the pop culture zeitgeist ever since.

Pee-wee’s Playhouse is an educational, artistic, and...

Exclusive: Sofia Carson (Purple Hearts), Kyle Allen (A Haunting in Venice), Sebastian De Souza (Fair Play), and Connie Britton (The White Lotus) have signed on to star in The Life List, a new Netflix rom-com from writer-director Adam Brooks.

Based on the 2013 novel by Lori Nelson Spielman, The Life List‘s logline is as follows: When Alex Rose’s (Carson) mother sends her on a quest to complete her childhood bucket list, it takes her on a journey that will make you both laugh and cry as she uncovers family secrets, finds romance, and discovers herself along the way.

Liza Chasin is producing for 3dot Productions. The film falls under Chasin’s first-look deal with the streamer, announced in 2019, which also covers her upcoming Morocco-set love story Lonely Planet starring Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth, and Diana Silvers. Exec producers of The Life List include Hutch Parker,...

Richard Lewis, the wild, eccentric, ultra-neurotic stand-up comedian and comic actor who most recently served as a semi-regular alongside Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” is dead. He was 76. Lewis suffered a fatal heart attack Tuesday night less than a year after announcing in April 2023 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from performing stand-up comedy. Lewis’ death was confirmed by his publicist Jeff Abraham, who noted, “His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for the love, friendship and support and asks everyone for privacy at this time.”

He appeared this month on the 12th and final season of “Curb” after begging off of the show in its 11th season while recovering from a series of surgeries. But he wound up shooting a scene in an episode that year, anyway.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2024: In Memoriam Gallery

A beloved and respected comedian known to be the kind...

Although it may be difficult to believe (especially since it feels like I just saw it in theaters yesterday), this summer will mark five years since Lars Klevberg's Child's Play remake was released in theaters, and Scream Factory is commemorating the occasion on March 19th with a Collector's Edition 4K Uhd / Blu-ray release that's brimming with bonus features, including new interviews with the cast and crew:

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA - Are we having fun now?... Everyone’s friend ‘til the end is here for more fun as the Child’s Play 2019 remake becomes available in a 4K Uhd + Blu-Ray™ Collector’s Edition this March 19 from Scream Factory™. Chucky’s fans and friends will be treated to a wealth of bonus features including a new 4K restoration from the original master in Dolby Vision.

Fans looking to add this campy horror to their entertainment shelves can now pre-order their copy on ShoutFactory.

Hank Bradford, head writer for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers,” died Jan. 18 in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, his family said. He was 88.

Bradford served as Carson’s head writer from 1970-75.

“As head writer on The Tonight Show, he was admired and beloved by his fellow writers for both his pitch-perfect sense of humor and his relatively-sane leadership style in a job (and profession) which tended toward the weird and chaotic,” Bradford’s family said in a prepared obituary. “Above his desk at The Tonight Show was a sign that read: ‘It left here funny.’”

Bradford later served as head writer for “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers” between 1986 and 1987. He also wrote episodes for “Mash” and “Three’s Company.”

Before becoming a staff writer, Bradford began his career as a comic. He appeared at nightclubs and opened the show for...

While Midnight Pulp and TokuSHOUTsu are joining forces for the 3rd annual “Monster Bowl” this Sunday, Shout! TV has put together their own Super Bowl alternative.

Shout! TV proudly presents the “Wolf Bowl,” a supernatural streaming event broadcasting 24 hours of werewolf movies on Shout! TV and Scream Factory TV on Sunday, February 11.

The 24-hour “Wolf Bowl” 2024 marathon features classic werewolf films including Dog Soldiers, Bad Moon, Brotherhood of the Wolf and The Beast Must Die, as well as werewolf episodes of Elvira’s Movie Macabre and Hammer House of Horror.

The “Wolf Bowl Marathon” can be viewed on Shout! TV (edited for broadcast) and Scream Factory TV (uncensored); as well as the Shout! TV app on Roku, Android, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV; and the following digital streaming platforms – Amazon Freevee, Amazon Prime Channels, Local Now, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Roku Premium Subscriptions, Samsung TV Plus, Sling TV,...

Shecky Greene, the legendary standup comedian known for his long tenure as a Las Vegas headliner and for working with Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, died Dec. 31 at his home in the city. He was 97.

Greene’s wife of 41 years, Marie Musso Greene, confirmed his death to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Greene was a regular on the TV talk show and guest star circuit in his 1960s and ’70s heyday, when he often sported a comb-over haircut and wide-lapel suits. Earlier in his career, he came to represent the epitome of the Rat Pack-adjacent comedian in a tux, delivering lightly risque or edgy anecdotal stories and zingers on stage.

Greene was known for his many appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and for working as the opening act for Sinatra in Miami and Presley in Las Vegas. During the 1962-63 season, he played a recurring character on the...

When Byron Allen was just 14, he started doing stand-up comedy. Four years later, in 1979, he became the youngest comedian to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” It was a launching pad for an entertainment career that included a stint on “Real People,” a lead role in “Case Closed,” a TV movie he co-wrote and a syndicated late-night show bearing his name.

But all along, Allen had his eyes on a much bigger prize. “Growing up in Detroit, I was fascinated by Berry Gordy and Henry Ford,” says Allen. “I read about them and about John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. They were my heroes. I studied them and knew I wanted to build something big and iconic. That was always my desire.”

That something proved to be Allen Media Group, which encompasses Entertainment Studios (founded 30 years ago as Cf Entertainment) and its expanding portfolio — the company owns 10 cable networks,...

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel were always known for their brutal honesty when it came to film criticism. But the time they bashed “The Three Amigos” to Chevy Chase’s face once led to an unexpected realization about why people were drawn to their show.

This latest story appears in Matt Singer’s new book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever.” Ebert and Siskel appeared on the December 12 episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1986. Chase was also a guest on the episode to promote his new Christmas comedy, “The Three Amigos.”

During the show, Carson asked the film critics to pick a movie “that is really so bad.” Ebert didn’t hesitate before slamming the very movie Chase was there to promote.

“I can’t really recommend ‘Three Amigos,'” Ebert said at the time, eliciting a round of boos from the audience. “It...

Chicago – When a smart and ambitious California girl moves from her “one horse town” to early 1970s Los Angeles, what better way to break into the show business than being an NBC-tv Studio Page for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and other programs of the era. Author Shelley Herman tells “My Peacock Tale.”

Ms. Herman recalls the almost impossible-to-imagine situations behind the scenes amidst a “who’s who” of 1970s entertainment culture. From a trip to see Elvis in Las Vegas that led to Shelley getting into the NBC-tv Page program to literally “breaking a leg” in an encounter that brought her an indelible moment with a musical hero, she also had an insider’s perspective on the historic feud between Joan Rivers and Johnny Carson (when Rivers left her “Tonight Show” gig for her own talk show). “My Peacock Tale” tells all in the interpersonal, professional, and emotional...

 Marvel Studios live-action Original TV series "Hawkeye", follows crime-fighting archer 'Clint Barton' aka 'Hawkeye' (Jeremy Renner) and his protégé 'Kate Bishop' (Hailee Steinfeld), now streaming on Disney+:

"...Disney+ and Marvel Studios invite you on an unexpected holiday getaway with 'Hawkeye', a new series set in post-blip New York City. Former 'Avenger Clint Barton' has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible?  "Maybe with the help of 'Kate Bishop', a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a superhero  The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton's past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.   "Starring Jeremy Renner as 'Clint Barton'/'Hawkeye' and Hailee Steinfeld as 'Kate Bishop', 'Hawkeye' also features Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d'Arcy James and Alaqua Cox as 'Maya Lopez'. Helmed by Rhys Thomas...

 Marvel Studios live-action Original TV series "Hawkeye", follows crime-fighter 'Clint Barton' aka 'Hawkeye' (Jeremy Renner) and his protégé 'Kate Bishop' (Hailee Steinfeld), now streaming on Disney+:

"...Disney+ and Marvel Studios invite you on an unexpected holiday getaway with 'Hawkeye', a new series set in post-blip New York City. Former 'Avenger Clint Barton' has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible?  "Maybe with the help of 'Kate Bishop', a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a superhero  The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton's past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.   "Starring Jeremy Renner as 'Clint Barton'/'Hawkeye' and Hailee Steinfeld as 'Kate Bishop', 'Hawkeye' also features Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d'Arcy James and Alaqua Cox as 'Maya Lopez'. Helmed by Rhys Thomas and directing duo Bert and Bertie,...

Kelly Carlin’s involvement in the HBO documentary “George Carlin’s American Dream” was essential to the entire project getting made. Her participation helped to get a lot of personal material of her father’s included in the final cut and also netted her credit as an executive producer of the project. If it ends up winning Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special at Saturday’s Creative Arts ceremony, she’ll be one of the people collecting an Emmy and in doing it will have done something her dad was never able to do.

While George Carlin did receive six career Emmy nominations for his stand-up specials, it took the TV Academy many years to nominate him in the first place. His first HBO special, “On Location: George Carlin at USC,” premiered on the pay network in 1977 but his first nomination wouldn’t come until 15 years later in 1992 with his eighth HBO special,...

The teenage comedian who built an empire; the media mogul who became an activist. Byron Allen, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group (Amg) and Entertainment Studios, is a big thinker who takes his cues from the likes of Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller.

But it isn’t blind ambition that has pushed Allen to acquire 27 ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox network affiliate broadcast stations, 12 24-hour HD television networks, The Weather Channel, Black News Channel (which he folded into network and website The Grio), digital network HBCUGo and a number of online destinations. His professional conquests have always aligned with his personal goal of promoting racial equality. To enact change, you have to be at the top of the food chain.

“Don’t just play the game, own the game,” Allen told TheWrap for this week’s Office With a View.

Also Read:

Black News Channel Acquired...

NBC is considering handing over its 10 p.m. primetime programming hour to local stations, Variety has confirmed.

Insiders say that this conversation has happened multiple times over the past 10 years, and emphasize this is not the first time the option of ceding time to affiliates has been discussed at the broadcaster. Instead, this is just the most recent in ongoing explorations and it could lead to no changes at all.

Additionally, sources say NBCU is not mulling this as a cost-cutting move that would lead to less programming, but one that might be made to best utilize the broadcast brand and relationship with affiliates vs. its streaming and cable options.

It’s important to note that new speculation surrounding a 10 p.m. hour change, which comes just ahead of NBC launching its fall lineup Sept. 19, does not impact any new and returning series airing during that time period, at least for now.

With a resurgence of game shows on primetime television, “To Tell the Truth” made a fantastic comeback with ABC in 2016. Its latest reimagination, hosted by the beloved “Black-ish” star Anthony Anderson alongside Mama Doris, has captivated audiences.

If you’re looking for an entertaining game show to tune in to with your family or friends, you can enjoy the revival of this classic on ABC on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. Alternatively, if you prefer streaming online, you can find the latest seasons and episodes on ABC and Hulu. Finally, if you’re interested in watching some of the initial seasons, you can buy them on Amazon Prime Video.

The show features a panel of four celebrities and three contestants. Of the three contestants, one plays the real character while the other two play impostors. Before the game begins, the host reads aloud something unusual about the real character that makes them identifiable.

Cinedigm’s Digital Media Rights announced on Tuesday its relaunch of free ad-supported (Fast) streaming site Cinehouse with third-party channels via partnerships with Estv (Esports TV) and Shout! Factory.

Following a soft launch and rebranding, Cinehouse officially debuted with 12 channels and thousands of hours on demand including several “Digimon Adventure tri.” movies and “Godzilla films” from Shout! Factory.

“For more than a decade, we have acquired a unique understanding of how to engage with and create streaming channels for superfans that are not only interested in a particular genre but who are part of loyal communities that live and breathe this content,” said Dmr president and co-founder David Chu. “Cinehouse gives us an opportunity to take this knowledge and offer a curated lineup that features an array of channels that young, diverse and enthusiastic audiences will enjoy.”

“Shout! Factory has been successfully applying its expertise in presenting cult classic movies...

Paul Reiser has joined the cast of the upcoming Hulu comedy series “Reboot” from Steven Levitan.

Reiser is taking over the role of Gordon in the series from Michael McKean. He joins previously announced cast members Judy Greer, Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy, and Krista Marie Yu. This is now the second recasting on the series, with Greer taking over the role played by Leslie Bibb in the pilot.

In the show, Hulu decides to reboot the beloved family sitcom “Step Right Up” from the late 90’s/early 2000s, forcing its dysfunctional cast back together. Now they must deal with their unresolved issues in today’s fast-changing world. Gordon is described as the hacky creator of the original sitcom, who never understood why everybody loved “Seinfeld” and “Frasier.”

Reiser is best known for his starring role in the sitcom “Mad About You,” which he also co-developed. The...

David Letterman celebrates his 40th anniversary as a late night talk show host today. His first episode of “Late Night with David Letterman” aired on February 1, 1982, following “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” for the next decade (plus an 11th year after Jay Leno‘s show). Letterman returns to his former NBC home tonight to visit “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”

He departed NBC in 1993 for a 22-year run as host of “Late Show with David Letterman” on CBS. His combined 33+ years on both NBC and CBS make him the longest-running late night talk show host in American history.

That remarkable length of service and his influence on younger hosts like Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and others should make him a lock for induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. But they’ve never asked him to join. Several of his...

Louie Anderson, the iconic Emmy-winning comedian, actor and game show host, died Friday in Las Vegas after battling cancer, his publicist confirmed to Variety. He was 68.

A seasoned stand-up with a career spanning over four decades, Anderson broke through as a comedian in 1984 when he performed a set on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” From there, he performed a comedy special on Showtime in 1987, made regular TV appearances on late-night shows and appeared in movies such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in 1986 and “Coming to America” in 1988.

In 1995, Anderson produced, created and starred in the Fox original animated series “Life With Louie.” Like much of Anderson’s stand-up, “Life With Louie” was based heavily on his experiences growing up in Saint Paul, Minn., in a large family of 11 children. The comic voiced a fictionalized version of his eight-year-old self in the show, winning two Daytime Emmys for performer in an animated program.

Dick Carson, a TV director who worked on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and was the younger brother to the show’s host, died on Dec. 19, 2021 following a brief illness. He was 92 years old.

Carson’s death was announced by his family through publicist Charlie Barrett.

Born on June 4, 1929 in Clarinda, Iowa, Richard Charles Carson was the youngest of three children to Homer Lloyd and Ruth Hook Carson.

Carson began his career working in Nebraska radio before relocating to San Diego to serve at the NBC affiliate Kogo TV. Beginning work as a “floor man,” Carson worked his way up to directing commercials and local news and sports shows. Carson moved to Los Angeles in 1960 to take on a position directing children’s television programs like “Chucko the Birthday Clown” and “The Soupy Sales Show.”

Dick Carson was recommended by his brother, Johnny Carson, to join the N.Y.

Five-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, game show panelist and prolific actress Betty White has passed away at the age of 99. Long the subject of internet death hoaxes, the actress’ death was confirmed by her her agent and close friend Jeff Witjas.

White was the last living member of “The Golden Girls,” which ran from 1985 to 1992. She played good girl Rose Nylund opposite Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. The popular sitcom, which has continued to run on various channels in syndication, spawned a one-season spin-off starring White called “The Golden Palace” in 1992.

Working well into her late 90s, White had memorable supporting roles in feature films like “Lake Placid” and “The Proposal,” and starred in the sitcom “Hot in Cleveland” from 2010-2015. She most recently lent her voice to the Disney+ streaming series of shorts “Forky Asks a Question,” as the character Bitey White opposite colleagues Carol Burnett, Carl Reiner,...

Marvel Studios live-action Original Series "Hawkeye", picking up from the feature "Avengers: Endgame", follows champion archer, crime-fighter 'Clint Barton' aka 'Hawkeye' (Jeremy Renner) and his protégé 'Kate Bishop' (Hailee Steinfeld), now streaming on Disney+:

"...Disney+ and Marvel Studios invite you on an unexpected holiday getaway with 'Hawkeye', a new series set in post-blip New York City. Former 'Avenger Clint Barton' has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible?  "Maybe with the help of 'Kate Bishop', a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a superhero  The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton's past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.   "Starring Jeremy Renner as 'Clint Barton'/'Hawkeye' and Hailee Steinfeld as 'Kate Bishop', 'Hawkeye' also features Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d'Arcy James and Alaqua Cox as 'Maya Lopez'.

Marvel Studios live-action Original Series "Hawkeye", picking up from the feature "Avengers: Endgame", follows champion archer, crime-fighter 'Clint Barton' aka 'Hawkeye' (Jeremy Renner) and his protégé 'Kate Bishop' (Hailee Steinfeld), now streaming on Disney+:

"...Disney+ and Marvel Studios invite you on an unexpected holiday getaway with 'Hawkeye', a new series set in post-blip New York City. Former 'Avenger Clint Barton' has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible?  "Maybe with the help of 'Kate Bishop', a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a superhero  The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton's past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.   "Starring Jeremy Renner as 'Clint Barton'/'Hawkeye' and Hailee Steinfeld as 'Kate Bishop', 'Hawkeye' also features Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d'Arcy James and Alaqua Cox as 'Maya Lopez'.

Marvel Studios live-action Original Series "Hawkeye", based on the Marvel Comics characters, follows champion archer, crime-fighter 'Clint Barton' aka 'Hawkeye' (Jeremy Renner) and his protégé 'Kate Bishop' (Hailee Steinfeld), streaming November 24, 2021 on Disney+:

"...Disney+ and Marvel Studios invite you on an unexpected holiday getaway with 'Hawkeye', a new series set in post-blip New York City. Former 'Avenger Clint Barton' has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible?  "Maybe with the help of 'Kate Bishop', a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a superhero  The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton's past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.   "Starring Jeremy Renner as 'Clint Barton'/'Hawkeye' and Hailee Steinfeld as 'Kate Bishop', 'Hawkeye' also features Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d'Arcy James and Alaqua Cox as 'Maya Lopez'.

Marvel Studios live-action Original Series "Hawkeye", based on the Marvel Comics characters, follows champion archer, crime-fighter 'Clint Barton' aka 'Hawkeye' (Jeremy Renner) and his protégé 'Kate Bishop' (Hailee Steinfeld), with Florence Pugh as 'Yelena Belova' from the "Black Widow" movie, streaming November 24, 2021 on Disney+:

Created by writer Stan Lee and illustrator Don Heck for Marvel Comics, 'Hawkeye' debuted as a villain in Marvel's "Tales of Suspense" #57 (Sept. 1964). 

Hawkeye joined the "Avengers" in Marvel's "The Avengers" #16 (May 1965).

Renner has portrayed the character in the 'Marvel Cinematic Universe' films "Thor", "The Avengers" (2012), "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015), "Captain America: Civil War" and "Avengers: Endgame" (2019).

"...'Clint Barton', at a young age, lost both of his parents in a car accident. After six years in an orphanage, Clint and his brother 'Barney Barton' ran away to join the 'Carson Carnival of Traveling Wonders'. 

"Clint soon caught the eye of the 'Swordsman',...

The year of 1969 saw the moon landing of the Apollo 11’s Eagle module, Richard Nixon sworn in as the 37th president of the United States, the Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village ushering in the gay rights movement, the Tate-La Bianca murders by the Manson Family, the landmark Woodstock Music and Arts Fair which attracts 400,000, the tragic and violent Rolling Stones concert at the Altamont Speedway and even Tiny Tim marrying Miss Vicki on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

But one major event was basically ignored by the mainstream media: the Harlem Cultural Arts Festival which took place June 29-August 24 at the Mount Morris Park. Founded by Tony Lawrence, the festival celebrating Black pride, music and culture features such landmark performers as Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie Wonder, The Fifth Dimension and Mahalia Jackson. And when the NYPD refused to supply security,...

There is a heartbreaking scene near the end of episode three of HBO Max’s acclaimed comedy series “Hacks.” Young writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbender), who has been hired to create new material for veteran stand-up comic Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), is watching an old VHS tape of a young Deborah’s unaired TV pilot for a late-night talk show. She is fresh-faced, funny and hopeful. She thanks her husband, her sister and her young daughter.

If the show had succeeded, Deborah would have been the first woman to headline late-night. But it didn’t happen. Her ex-husband ran off with her sister and she has a less than wonderful relationship with her daughter. Instead of challenging herself, she has had a longtime residency at a Las Vegas casino. But she’s been told that her dates are being cut back to make way for new talent.

Despite the fact...

Romy Walthall, an actor known for her roles in “Face/Off” and “The House of Usher,” died on May 19 in Los Angeles after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. She was 57.

Walthall’s son, actor and director Morgan Krantz, confirmed her death to Variety.

Born on Sept. 16, 1963 in Pasadena, Texas, Walthall got her start in the entertainment industry by winning the Mother/Daughter USA pageant in 1980. At age 17, Walthall was signed to Ford Models and began modeling in Europe. She eventually moved back to Los Angeles and dipped her toes into the acting world, sometimes going by her stage name, Romy Windsor.

She landed her first major role in Jerry Bruckheimer’s 1984 thriller “Thief of Hearts,” and played Bobbi in 1985’s “A Bunny’s Tale,” which was based on Gloria Steinem’s investigation of Playboy Bunnies’ working conditions. Walthall also starred in the cult horror films “Howling IV: The Original Nightmare” in 1988 and...