Tag Archives: television

NBC News reports: “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett on Tuesday appeared at a hearing in Chicago on whether cameras would be allowed in court for the criminal case alleging he staged a racist, homophobic attack on himself. He was not required to appear, but a representative told NBC News that Smollett chose to do so “to show confidence in his innocence.” …

Reuters reports: Apple Inc on Monday invited media to a March 25 event at the Steve Jobs Theater on its campus in Cupertino, California, where it is expected to launch a television and video service. Sources previously told Reuters that the company is targeting April for the launch of a streaming television service that will likely include subscription TV service. …

CBS News Chicago reports: Jussie Smollett is now facing deeper legal troubles after a grand jury returned 16 federal counts against the actor for falsely reporting a hate crime attack against him in January. The grand jury returned the indictment on Thursday. Last month, Smollett was charged with a disorderly conduct count for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack …

Slate reports: The Simpsons is pulling an episode featuring Michael Jackson’s voice, co-creator James L. Brooks said. “Stark Raving Dad,” which featured Jackson as the voice of a mental patient who believes that he is actually Michael Jackson, is, or has been, one of the show’s most beloved installments, coming in 10th in the Ringer’s 2017 ranking of its best …

Variety reports: Jan-Michael Vincent, best known for playing the lead role in the 1980s CBS series “Airwolf,” died on Feb. 10 after suffering cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by several outlets. His death, first reported by TMZ, has only now come to light. He was 73. His image as a baby-faced blonde heartthrob was at odds with …

Inside Edition reports: Beloved “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Beloved “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. n the video message, Trebek said he wanted the news about his health to come directly from him and wanted to be “open and transparent” with his viewers about his diagnosis. …

Pink News reports: According to a biography of Mister Rogers which came out last year, the children’s TV presenter told his openly gay friend Dr William Hirsch that if sexuality was a spectrum, “well, you know, I must be smack in the middle, because I have found women attractive, and I have found men attractive.” The book, The Good Neighbor: …

Entertainment Tonight reports: Luke Perry, best known for his roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale, has died. He was 52. His rep confirmed his death on Monday. “Actor Luke Perry, 52, passed away today after suffering a massive stroke,” the statement reads. “He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Katherine Helmond, the seven-time Emmy-nominated Texas actress who played the feisty, man-crazy mother Mona Robinson on the long-running ABC sitcom Who’s the Boss?, has died. She was 89. Helmond, who earlier starred as the wide-eyed socialite sister Jessica Tate on another popular ABC comedy, Susan Harris’ daytime-serial spoof Soap, died Saturday of complications from Alzheimer’s disease …

USA Today reports: Fox announced on Friday Jussie Smollett was suspended from the hit show “Empire” after the actor was accused of paying two men to attack him last month in what police say was a ploy to raise his profile because he was unhappy with his salary. “The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for …

Chicago’s ABC affiliate reports: When Jussie Smollett called the cast and crew of the television show “Empire” together Thursday night, they were expecting the actor to come clean about what really happened, a person at the meeting told CNN. Smollett did apologize to his coworkers for any embarrassment they might have felt since the story began. But then, to the …

The Washington Post reports: Peter Tork, a blues and folk musician who became a teeny-bopper sensation as a member of the Monkees, the wisecracking, made-for-TV pop group that imitated and briefly outsold the Beatles, died Feb. 21. He was 77. His death was confirmed by his sister Anne Thorkelson, who did not say where or how he died. Mr. Tork …

CBS News Chicago reports: Sources told CBS 2 News that Smollett paid the two men $3,500 to stage the attack in Streeterville. The brothers, seen on surveillance video near the scene of the alleged attack, told investigators Smollett directed them to buy the rope used in the incident, and paid for the purchase at Crafty Beaver Hardware Store in Ravenswood …

Chicago’s ABC News affiliate reports: Chicago police confirmed Thursday that detectives are talking to two persons of interest in connection with the alleged attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett. Multiple sources have told ABC7 Eyewitness News that police are investigating whether Smollett and the two men staged the attack allegedly because Smollett was being written off of “Empire.” A source …

NBC News reports: Telemundo in June will become the first Spanish-language network to host a Democratic presidential debate. The network will co-host the first Democratic 2020 presidential debate with NBC News and MSNBC, and it will be broadcast live in English and Spanish over TV and digital platforms. NBC News, MSNBC and Telemundo will broadcast the debate simultaneously on back-to-back …

The Associated Press reports: Jussie Smollett was blunt, emotional and defiantly determined Saturday night at a Southern California concert some urged him not to play, telling the crowd before singing a note that he had to go on with the show because he couldn’t let his attackers win. “The most important thing I can say is ’thank you so much, …

Variety reports: The Chicago Police Department has released two images from surveillance video of “potential persons of interest” in the alleged attack of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett. Smollett’s music manager also confirmed that he was on the phone with the actor at the time he was attacked in Chicago early on Tuesday morning, and that he heard some of what …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Empire star Jussie Smollett was attacked early this morning in Chicago in what police are saying is a possible hate crime, Deadline has confirmed. Chicago PD released the following statement on Twitter: “Overnight the Chicago Police Department received a report of a possible racially charged assault and battery against a cast member of the television show Empire. …

The New York Daily News reports: Alec Baldwin won’t fight his latest legal woe. The perpetually-peeved actor agreed Wednesday to complete a one-day anger management program after copping a plea to charges in a Greenwich Village scuffle over a parking space. Baldwin appeared before Judge Herbert Moses in black thick-rimmed glasses, a dark purple scarf and a black blazer to …

Palm Springs’ The Desert Sun reports: Kaye Ballard had a contented smile on her face as she watched herself, larger than life, at the Palm Springs International Film Festival screening of her documentary, “Kaye Ballard: The Show Goes On,” this month at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. But there was one more celebration. A film festival official called her Saturday …