Tag Archives: television

China Bans Effeminate “Sissy Men” From Television

The Associated Press reports: China’s government banned effeminate men on TV and told broadcasters Thursday to promote “revolutionary culture,” broadening a campaign to tighten control over business and society and enforce official morality. President Xi Jinping has called for a “national rejuvenation,” with tighter Communist Party control of business, education, culture and religion. Broadcasters must “resolutely put an end to …

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Sony Fires Would-Be Jeopardy Host From All Roles

Variety reports: Sony has fired Mike Richards as the executive producer of “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Michael Davies, the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” executive producer whose Embassy Row shingle is based at Sony, will take over production duties in the interim. The news comes a little more than a week after Mike Richards was forced to step …

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Seven-Time Emmy Winner Ed Asner Dies At Age 91

Deadline Hollywood reports: Ed Asner, legendary actor, activist and philanthropist, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, surrounded by family. He was 91. Asner, former president of the Screen Actors Guild, is best known for his role as Lou Grant during the 1970s and early 1980s, on both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spinoff series Lou Grant, making him one …

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Mayim Bailik To Step In For Deposed Jeopardy Host

The Associated Press reports: “Jeopardy!” is back to guest hosts after the resignation of Mike Richards, and actor Mayim Bialik will return as the first one up. Sony Pictures Television announced Monday that Bialik will take the podium long occupied by the late Alex Trebek for three weeks of episodes. When Richards was announced as the new host on Aug. …

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Jeopardy! Host Quits After Offensive Comments Surface

Variety reports: Mike Richards is out as “Jeopardy!” host, just nine days after he was tapped to succeed the legendary Alex Trebek as the face of the beloved quiz show. Richards, who is also executive producer of “Jeopardy!,” saw his hold on the job undone with astonishing speed after unflattering and downright ugly details surfaced about his past conduct and …

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Jeopardy! Names Two Hosts To Succeed Alex Trebek

NPR reports: After weeks of celebrity tryouts, leaks and heated speculation by game show fans, current executive producer, Mike Richards and actor Mayim Bialik have been named permanent co-hosts of Jeopardy!, marking the first time two people will host one of television’s most popular game show. Richards will host the daily syndicated program while Bialik hosts the primetime series and …

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Comedian Kathy Griffin Reveals Lung Cancer Diagnosis

CNN reports: Years after Kathy Griffin shaved her head in solidarity with her sister who was undergoing chemotherapy, the comedian and actress has announced she has lung cancer. “I’ve got to tell you guys something. I have cancer,” Griffin began a note posted Monday on her verified Instagram account. “I’m about to go into surgery to have half of my …

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As Seen On TV: Pitchman Ron Popeil Dies At Age 86

The Wrap reports: Ron Popeil, the prolific infomercial spokesman behind “as seen on TV” products like the Showtime Rotisserie and Hair in a Can, has died. He was 86. Popeil died early Wednesday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following a “severe medical emergency” on Tuesday, Popeil’s family told TMZ. Popeil was best known for the “Set it and forget it” …

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Shatner Battles Critics Of His Russian State TV Show

The Daily Beast reports: Star Trek star William Shatner has taken to Twitter to trade blows with journalists who called him out for hosting a new show on the Kremlin’s notorious state-funded network, RT. Earlier this week, the 90-year-old Canadian actor—known for taking on the legendary role Captain James Kirk in the Star Trek saga—announced he would be hosting a …

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REPORT: Co-Host Meghan McCain To Exit “The View”

Page Six reports: Meghan McCain is bidding farewell to “The View,” according to a new report. The conservative co-host is set to announce her resignation on Thursday morning’s show, ending her four-season run at the end of July, according to the Daily Mail. “We have tried to keep her, but she is adamant that now is the right time for …

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William Shatner Launches Show On Russian State TV

From the Russian state media outlet RT: RT America is proud to announce the premiere of I Don’t Understand, hosted by world-famous actor and author William Shatner. I Don’t Understand will see Shatner seeking to answer fascinating and timely questions that pique the natural interest of everyone, but that the establishment media all too often hesitates to tackle. From “should …

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EU To Reduce UK Film/TV Content In Brexit Backlash

The Guardian reports: The EU is preparing to act against the “disproportionate” amount of British television and film content shown in Europe in the wake of Brexit, in a blow to the UK entertainment industry and the country’s “soft power” abroad. The UK is Europe’s biggest producer of film and TV programming, buoyed up by £1.4bn from the sale of …

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Sesame Street Episode Introduces Gay Dads [VIDEO]

Yahoo News reports: Sesame Street is celebrating Pride Month by going where it’s never gone before. This week, the iconic children’s show dropped a very special episode called “Family Day,” introducing two gay dads, Frank (Alex Weisman) and Dave (the brother of Nina, played by Chris Costa, who works as a bike store owner on the street), and their daughter, …

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Nielsen Unveils New Metric To Measure Streaming

The New York Times reports: Nielsen, the 98-year-old research firm that for decades has had an effective monopoly on measuring TV ratings in the United States, has a new metric that it says allows it to make an apples-to-apples comparison, on a percentage basis, of how many people are streaming shows and films on their TVs versus how many are …

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Major US Media Group Hit With Ransomware Attack

From the web security site The Record: Live streams for radio and TV stations owned by the Cox Media Group, one of the largest media conglomerates in the US, have gone down earlier today in what multiple sources have described as a ransomware attack. The incident took place earlier this morning and impacted the internal networks and live streaming capabilities …

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“Rugrats” Reboot Features Lesbian Mom Character

The Christian Post reports: The reboot of a children’s cartoon series will feature a lesbian single mom, making it one of several modern interpretations of children’s shows making overtures to the LGBT community. “Rugrats,” a children’s cartoon which aired on Nickelodeon for more than a decade before concluding in 2004, was relaunched Thursday in the form of a new series …

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Sitcom Actor Gavin MacLeod Dies At Age 90 [VIDEO]

Variety reports: Gavin MacLeod, a sitcom veteran who played seaman “Happy” Haines on “McHale’s Navy,” Murray on “Mary Tyler Moore” and the very different, vaguely patrician Captain Stubing on “The Love Boat,” has died. He was 90. MacLeod’s nephew, Mark See, confirmed his death to Variety. MacLeod died in the early morning on May 29. No cause of death was …

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Amazon Closes $8.45 Billion “Mega Deal” To Buy MGM

The Hollywood Reporter reports: In a landmark mega deal, Amazon is acquiring MGM Holdings — whose storied studio boasts one of the largest film and TV libraries — in a bid to turbocharge its Prime membership offering to customers and potentially mine intellectual property of franchises such as James Bond and Rocky. The deal, pending regulatory approval, values the studio …

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Emmy Winning Actor Charles Grodin Dies At Age 86

Entertainment Tonight reports: Charles Grodin, who famously starred in The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, and Beethoven, died on Tuesday from bone marrow cancer, EW has confirmed. He was 86. Although Grodin was mostly known for his work on the big screen, throughout his long career he also appeared on television, dazzled on Broadway, authored multiple books, and was a political …

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Kornacki Inks Major Multi-Year Deal With NBCUniversal

The Hill reports: Political correspondent Steve Kornacki has signed a four-year, multimillion dollar deal with NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC and MSNBC the company announced Thursday. In addition to politics, Kornacki will bring his analytical stills to the “entertainment, sports and streaming networks of NBCUniversal,” the company said. NBCUniversal’s Television and Streaming Entertainment group is also developing a game …

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