Open Thread

Deadline reports: The Broadway League has announced that while the owners and operators of all 41 Broadway venues will require audiences to mask up at least through May 31, many theaters will no longer check vaccination status after April 30. By Friday, most theater owners on Broadway had reported that they will drop the vaccination requirement on May 1, including …

Variety reports: Liz Sheridan, the actor best know for her role as Jerry Seinfeld’s mother Helen in the classic sitcom “Seinfeld,” died on Friday, a representative confirmed to Variety. She was 93. Born in 1929, Sheridan got her start as a nightclub act, earning a living by dancing and playing in both New York City and Caribbean clubs. During her …

Deadline reports: The world’s richest man has the funds to buy Twitter. But if he can’t clinch a deal for some reason, he told a TED Talk Thursday, he’ll bring along as many shareholders as he can to reform the social media giant that’s become America’s “public square.” “I could technically afford it. But this [deal] is not a way …

NBC News reports: A new documentary based on a vast collection of old photos featuring gay men in love going back to the mid-1800s has made its television debut. “100 Years of Men in Love: The Accidental Collection,” directed by Emmy-winning producer David Millbern, is based on the photo book “Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s — …

Deadline Hollywood reports: The Adam Project, starring Ryan Reynolds, is now Netflix’s fourth most-watched English-language film of all time, the streamer announced today, having garnered 233,150,000 views in its first 28 days on the platform. Reynolds also currently has the globe-trotting action-comedy Red Notice and action-thriller 6 Underground on the list, at #1 and #9, respectively. Other titles on the …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: Three years after The CW passed on Glamorous, Netflix has picked up the redeveloped series about a young gender non-conforming queer man. The streaming giant has handed out a 10-episode, straight-to-series order for the series from CBS Studios and writer Jordon Nardino, with Miss Benny set to star. Glamorous continues to tell the story of Marco …

Variety reports: U.K. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has sharply criticized detractors of her plan to sell broadcaster Channel 4. The plan was decried by several leading media industry unions and filmmakers. In a strongly worded column in The Mail on Sunday, Dorries wrote that the reaction to her plan was “as predictable as it was inflammatory.” “Let’s dump the lazy, …

Variety reports: As the box office opens two films featuring high-octane speedsters this weekend, one has emerged a clear victor. Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” looks to top the charts this weekend with an impressive opening in the neighborhood of $67 million to $69 million, while Universal’s R-rated actioner “Ambulance” will likely fail to clear double digits. “Sonic” unleashed on …

Variety reports: “Dancing With the Stars” is moving to Disney Plus after airing for 30 seasons airing on ABC, Variety has confirmed. The show has received a two-season renewal at the Disney-owned streaming service for Seasons 31 and 32, with the new season to debut in the fall. “DWTS” will be the first live series to stream on Disney Plus. …

Deadline Hollywood reports: The Walt Disney Co. initially took heat for not taking a public position on Florida’s so-called “don’t say gay” bill — and now they are under fire for doing just that. Others studios, though, have largely steered clear of the furor in the Sunshine State. NBCUniversal, with its rival theme park presence in Orlando, has had no …

Deadline reports: Attorney General Merrick Garland is the latest attendee of last week’s Gridiron Dinner to test positive for Covid-19, in what may be an outbreak at a D.C. A-list gathering that draws cabinet members, media personalities and Capitol Hill lawmakers. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who spoke at the event, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) …

Variety reports: Bobby Rydell, the epitome of the early ’60s “teen idol,” who parlayed that fame into a starring role opposite Ann-Margret in the 1963 film “Bye Bye Birdie,” died today at age 79. The cause of death was pneumonia. Rydell’s fame as the epitome of an American teen pop star in the days just prior to rock’s British Invasion …

Variety reports: Lady Gaga took the stage at the 64th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, performing “Love for Sale” and “Do I Love You” from her album “Love for Sale,” which she recorded with long-time friend and duet partner Tony Bennett. Bennett offered a videotaped introduction for his duet partner, offering a simple and sincere, “Hi everyone, please welcome Lady …

Variety reports: Estelle Harris, who memorably played George’s mother Estelle Costanza on “Seinfeld” and was the indelible voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, died on April 2 of natural causes at 93 years old, her representative Michael Eisenstadt confirmed to Variety. Harris was best known for her distinctive voice and comedic timing, forever cemented by her …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Apple TV+ has revealed a glimpse of its highly-anticipated natural history series Prehistoric Planet ahead of its premiere on May 23. The week-long event, with one episode being released per day, will transport viewers 66 million years in the past to discover our world, including roaming dinosaurs and other inhabitants of ancient earth. The creative team behind …

Variety reports: Comedian Jerrod Carmichael — who is hosting “Saturday Night Live” on April 2 — has officially come out in his new HBO special, which premieres Friday night. “Rothaniel,” which was taped in February at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, weaves stories of Carmichael’s family history in with his own coming out process. At times …

The Daily Mail reports: Alison Moyet was made an MBE by Anne, Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The singer, 60, real name Geneviève Ballard, cut a stylish figure as she posed for pictures while holding her red lapel pin. It was announced Alison would receive an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours last year. She has now joined …

Variety reports: The Targaryens are returning to HBO. “House of the Dragon,” HBO’s first spin-off series of its record-breaking juggernaut “Game of Thrones,” will premiere on Aug. 21, the network announced Wednesday. HBO also revealed a new poster for the series and additional images from the show. Set two centuries before the events of “Game of Thrones,” the ten-episode prequel …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Elliot Page’s character Vanya Hargreeves will come out as transgender in the upcoming third season of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, and will be known as Viktor Hargreeves, Page revealed Tuesday on Twitter. “Meet Viktor Hargreeves,” Page wrote, along with a first-look photo. Based on the comic book series by Gerard Way, The Umbrella Academy revolves around a …

Variety reports: The organization behind the annual film awards show initially said it condemned violence without mentioning Smith by name, but now it is making its displeasure over the incident more explicit. “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,” a spokesperson for the organization said. “We have officially started a formal review around the incident …