Open Thread

Broadway World reports: For the first time ever, a TikTok sensation will be eligible for nomination at the 2021 Emmy Awards – “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical” has been granted eligibility in the music supervision category, alongside music from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Alongside TikTok creator Emily Jacobsen, composer Daniel Mertzlufft spearheaded the viral sensation that was later officially performed by the …

New Music Express reports: Taylor Swift has posted a statement in support of Pride Month, and thrown her support behind LGBTQ+ charity GLAAD’s ‘Summer Of Equality’ campaign. “I want to take a moment to thank the courageous activists, advocates and allies for their dedication to fighting against discrimination and hatred,” Swift said in a social media post. “And as always, …

Variety reports: The movie business is breathing a little easier after Paramount’s “A Quiet Place Part II” roared to $57 million over the Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a sign that cinemas are back after more than a year of pandemic era closures, capacity restrictions, and skittish customers. What makes “A Quiet Place Part II’s” results particularly notable is that they …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Emma Stone is a huge fan of the 1987 John Hughes comedy, Planes, Trains and Automobiles. So much so that she memorized a vulgar and exasperated monologue by the film’s costar, Steve Martin, reciting it during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in a wonderfully tasteful television moment. Known as “the rental car scene,” the original …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Bill Maher unloaded on celebrity candidates for high political office as a “recurring nightmare that we just can’t shake.” In his show-ending “New Rule,” he singled out Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Caitlyn Jenner, Matthew McConaughey and Randy Quaid. All have exactly what it takes to run the country, Maher sneered — “malignant narcissism.” The host wondered: “Did …

Deadline reports: Joe Biden’s $6 trillion budget plan, released on Friday, reverses a policy of his predecessor in that increases, rather than decreases, the federal outlay for the arts and public broadcasting. For four years, President Donald Trump’s White House proposed federal budgets that zeroed out funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and …

Deadline reports: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appears to be in line to be nominated by President Joe Biden for a post as ambassador to India, and although the White House has made no announcements as of yet, it raises the question: Who would be the next mayor? According to the city charter, the City Council could then appoint a …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Some great news heading into Memorial Day weekend when Paramount’s A Quiet Place Part II and Disney’s Cruella are set to kick off the summer season: Fandango reports that in a recent poll of 4K+ ticket buyers, 64% will watch a movie or more movies in a theater, while 96% of all ticket buyers will see “multiple …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Samuel E. Wright, whose vocal portrayal of Sebastian the crab in Disney’s The Little Mermaid included the Oscar-winning “Under the Sea,” died yesterday at his home in the village of Walden, New York, of prostate cancer. He was 74. Wright has an extensive roster of Broadway credits, beginning with his multiple roles (apostle, leper, reporter) in the …

New from our pal Matt Baume: At first glance, Rocko’s Modern Life looks like a sweet kids’ show. A plucky little wallaby and his quirky friends get into comic mischief around their surreal suburb. But in an effort to reflect … well, modern life, the show is loaded with adult humor and double entendres you may have never noticed. But …

Variety reports: Italian metal band Måneskin, winners of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, is under investigation after their off-stage antics went viral during the grand final. Footage shared widely on social media depicts the band drinking and celebrating at their table during the event, with lead singer Damiano David’s head briefly bent over the table. It’s been suggested that the …

NBC News reports: More than 120 years after an infamous police raid rocked Mexican high society, Netflix has released “Dance of the Forty One,” a fictionalized retelling of a major political scandal that has had a lasting impact on the country’s culture and depictions of the LGBTQ community. The film’s title — its original in Spanish is “El Baile de …

Vulture reports: While his “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” music video found Lil Nas X in a devilish “fuck it, I’m going to grind on Satan” frame of mind, his new visual for “Sun Goes Down” features the rapper as his own guardian angel, guiding his high-school self safely past suicidal thoughts, loneliness, and self-loathing about his sexuality. “These …

Variety reports: The Sanderson sisters are officially returning to Salem. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their roles in “Hocus Pocus 2,” a sequel to the 1993 Disney classic. Disney initially revealed plans for a follow-up film in 2019 with the hopes that the trio of actors would return, but Midler, Parker and Najimy hadn’t formally …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: Call it “The One With Actual Footage.” This time it’s the real deal. This is not last week’s brief preview video that merely teased the backs of the Friends cast. This is a full two-minute trailer from HBO Max’s eagerly anticipated Friends: The Reunion special. The special has Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, …

Variety reports: Universal has released the first trailer for the “Dear Evan Hansen” movie, premiering in theaters on Sept. 24. Ben Platt returns in his Tony-winning titular role in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical hit created by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. “Dear Evan Hansen” follows Evan Hansen, an anxious and isolated high school student who writes letters …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Apple TV+ today unveiled the official trailer for The Me You Can’t See, from co-creators and executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. The documentary series offers a glimpse into diverse stories of mental health and emotional well-being. It premieres this Friday, May 21 on Apple TV+. In The Me You Can’t See, …

Deadline reports: Disney World has updated its health and safety guidelines, announcing that as of today, face masks are “optional” to guests on pool decks, and in outdoor common areas. At the moment, masks are still required to be worn by guests ages 2 and older “upon entering and throughout all attractions.” In other words, while masks may be taken …

Variety reports: Don Lemon is getting his name above the title on his late-night program on CNN. The WarnerMedia cable-news outlet will rename the two late-evening hours he has hosted for the past several years “Don Lemon Tonight,” replacing “CNN Tonight with Don Lemon.” CNN spokespersons did not respond immediately to queries seeking comment, but the new show moniker reflects …

Variety reports: The “Joe Exotic” series at Peacock is rounding out its cast with the addition of Brian Van Holt, Variety has learned. Van Holt will star as John Reinke, the zoo manager at Joe’s zoo, a loyal worker and friend until things go too far. Reinke famously appeared as himself in the hit Netflix docuseries “Tiger King.” Van Holt …