Will Smith has signed a deal to host an hour-long Variety show on Netflix.
Smith will host and executive producer the unnamed special but promises “surprise celebrity guests, noteworthy conversation, fresh comedic sketches, huge musical performances and more.”
Smith showed off his hosting abilities in the Fresh Prince of Bell Air reunion special on HBO Max.
Smith’s production studios, Westbrook Studios, will produce the special. The Netflix special will air later this year.
CBS has announced that their daytime talk show The Talk has been renewed for a 12th season.
The show saw season 11 surrounded with controversy. Longtime host, Sharon Osbourne, was fired from the show after a controversial conversation where she stood up for Piers Morgan.
Osbourne was let go on March 26.
A replacement for Osbourne has yet to be named.
After 19 years as host, Chris Harrison has been relieved of his duties from ABC’s The Bachelor franchises.
Harrison exited the show earlier this year with the hopes of being reinstated as host. He exited the show after Rachel Kirkconnel was “outed” as for attending an antebellum themed party in college. Harrison said the public needed to give her some grace.
Harrison is expected to receive and eight-figure payday on his way out. It has been announced that Bachelor in Paradise will be guest hosted by the likes of David Spade and others.
Harrison will not be able to speak publically on the breakup between ABC Network and himself. A new host has yet to be named.
Netflix has launched an online store where fans of their shows can buy merchandise.
Last week, the streaming powerhouse launched Netflix.shop, a store where fans can buy exclusive items from their favorite shows. The shop includes collections designed by Nathalie Nguyen, Kristopher Kites, and Jordan Bentley.
The store has hats, shirts, and hoodies. Prices start at $30 and run up to $135. Netflix plans to release more merchandise from different shows.
Netflix’s Vice President of Consumer Products John Simon says the company plans to expand the store into more markets. Currently, the store is only available in the United States.
“We’re always looking at how we can extend the world of our stories for fans, from apparel and toys to immersive events and games,” Simon said. “We’re thrilled to give fans a new way to connect with their favorite stories, and to introduce them to the next wave of artists and designers who embrace the power of storytelling in all its forms.”
Conan O’Brien is late night TVs longest running host. His self titled show is coming to an end at TBS.
The network announced in November of 2020 that conan’s show was going off the air. Today, Warnermedia announced more details
Read the press release:
LOS ANGELES – May 3, 2021 – Conan O’Brien’s long-running late-night show on TBS, “CONAN,” to end on June 24th, 2021. The final weeks of shows will include a lineup of special guests as well as an extended hour-long finale with a look back on the past 11 years of this iteration of O’Brien’s lengthy late-night career. Post June, O’Brien will turn his focus to his deal with WarnerMedia and development on his new show for HBO Max, which will be a departure from his current traditional talk-show format.
O’Brien is the longest serving current late-night talk show host in the U.S., who began his late-night career in 1993 when NBC tapped him to take over as host of Late Night. His late-night career has since spanned three shows over 28 years as well as four Emmy® Awards and six Writers Guild Awards. His Emmy® award-winning “CONAN: Without Borders”has visited 13 countries and his award-winning podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” currently has amassed over 185 million downloads since it launched in 2018.
O’Brien also sits at the helm of his production company, Conaco, and Emmy®-winning digital brand, Team Coco, through which he’s successfully expanded into branded content, live events, merchandise, expertly produced comedy specials and a rapidly flourishing podcast empire
Saturday Night Live is set to have billionaire Elon Musk as host of the show. After the news broke, the cast of SNL and fans had a major meltdown that Musk will be hosting the show.
Now, the New York Post is reporting that cast members who are unhappy with Musk being on the show will not be forced to appear on camera with the Tesla CEO.
“Speaking historically, if a cast member has been that unhappy, they don’t have to do it,” a source told us. “[‘SNL’ boss Lorne Michaels] won’t ever make them do anything they don’t want to do.”
Musk will be hosting on the May 8th episode of SNL. In a Tweet, Musk says he wants to find out “How live SNL really is.”
Miley Cyrus has been announced as the musical guest during the same episode and has been blasted for doing so. Fans have taken to Twitter to air their displeasure in Cyrus for performing alongside Musk. Many have claimed that Cyrus is “signing off” on Musk’s stances.
The claims against Musk is that he is “destroying our planet” and “doesn’t like women.”
New Unscripted Series Goes Behind-the-Scenes of AEW
LOS ANGELES (March 24, 2021) – Tonight’s action-packed episode of “AEW DYNAMITE” delivered another special announcement for soon-to-be parents Cody and Brandi Rhodes. TNT has ordered a new unscripted series, “Rhodes to the Top,” from Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Shed Media, that will go inside the lives of Cody and Brandi as they navigate their growing family while building AEW’s global wrestling empire.
Each 30-minute episode will take viewers behind-the-scenes as the powerhouse couple manage their ever-busier lives inside and outside the ring, all the while surrounded by a colorful and often hilarious motley crew of wrestlers, family and friends who both support and test them at every turn. Married in 2013, Cody and Brandi have been on an unprecedented path to wrestling greatness, but will now face their newest and possibly biggest challenge yet.
“I’ve witnessed firsthand the passion and dedication that Cody and Brandi put into every facet of their life and know how much that plays an instrumental role in the success and expansion of AEW,” said Sam Linsky, Co-Head of Scripted for TBS, TNT and truTV. “Now the world will get an inside look at how they balance their personal wrestling careers, their training center, and their executive roles at AEW as they venture into one of the most intimidating chapters of life, parenthood.”
Corie Henson, EVP, Head of Unscripted for TBS, TNT and truTV added: “AEW fans know Brandi and Cody inside the ring, and ‘Rhodes to the Top’ will peel back the curtain of their lives off the mat. Running a business together as the stars of ‘Dynamite,’ juggling friends and family, and introducing a new baby into the Rhodes dynasty is sure to be a wild ride.”
“Since the late 1960s, the Rhodes family has been in one spotlight or another,” said Cody and Brandi Rhodes. “People think they know us, but this show is the first true look behind the curtain and beyond the ring. They’ll see us fail and succeed, but most importantly, they’ll see us bet on ourselves as we travel the Rhodes to the top.”
“I’m thrilled to expand AEW’s relationship with WarnerMedia and TNT, and Rhodes To The Top will represent a new outlet in which our fans can further connect with characters they already
love, and new viewers can discover these personalities for the first time,” said Tony Khan, Founder, CEO, GM & Head of Creative of AEW. “With our flagship show Dynamite and now Rhodes To The Top, in addition to our third hour of wrestling programming coming to TNT later this year, 2021 will be a historic year for AEW and our partnership with WarnerMedia.”
As the son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, and brother to Dustin Rhodes, Cody has been at the epicenter of wrestling royalty since birth. In addition to serving as EVP at AEW, Cody is a two- time TNT Champion, and has been involved in some of the most spectacular matches in AEW history. This includes Cody’s larger-than-life bout against Shaquille O’Neal and his jaw-dropping moonsault from the top of a steel cage against Wardlow. In addition to serving as EVP at AEW, Cody is also a judge on TBS’ most extreme reality competition series “Go-Big Show.”
AEW’s Chief Brand Officer and soon-to-be mom Brandi Rhodes is also a professional wrestler, actor, former competitive figure skater, and host of her own cooking show “A Shot of Brandi.” Brandi is also the first Black woman to hold an executive position in a professional wrestling company.
“Starting a family is one of the most rewarding challenges that a couple encounters, and we’re excited that ‘Rhodes to the Top’ will give us a glimpse at Cody and Brandi beyond their success in the AEW ring,” said Dan Peirson and Lisa Shannon, Senior Vice Presidents of Programming and Development, Shed Media. “We’re thrilled to be working alongside our amazing partners at AEW and TNT, who have built a top-notch, must-see destination for wrestling fans which has allowed us to help expand the league’s universe.”
“Rhodes to the Top” is a production of Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Shed Media. The series executive produced by Dan Peirson and Lisa Shannon of Shed Media, Bernie Cahill and Jon Kanak of Activist Artists Management, and Tony Khan, CEO, GM and Head of Creative of AEW. Cody and Brandi Rhodes are repped by Hyperion, Activist Artists Management, and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.
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About TNT:
TNT, a WarnerMedia brand, is watched by more people than any other cable network and known for big, lean-forward television that gives viewers the best seat in the house for electrifying stories, dynamic characters and thrilling events. TNT is home to some of television’s most popular original series including “Snowpiercer,” “The Alienist: The Angel of Darkness,” “Animal Kingdom” and “Claws. TNT is expanding its programming to include premium unscripted with the docuseries “ShaqLife.” TNT also presents popular shows such as “Bones” and “Castle,” in addition to primetime specials and sports coverage, including the NBA and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships and the professional wrestling league All Elite Wrestling (AEW), which has exploded onto the scene with “AEW Dynamite,” premiering as the night’s #1 wrestling show. Website: www.tntdrama.com
TMZ is reporting that that Matt James, the first ever black Bachelor in history of the ABC franchise, broke up with the woman he chose over old social media posts.
In the middle of production for the latest season of The Bachelor, photos surfaced of contestant Rachel Kirkconnell attending an antebellum themed party and pro-Trump materials and the internet instantly called for her cancellation. Chris Harrison is reportedly not hosting the next season of The Bachelorette over asking the audience to give Kirkconell some “grace.”
James says the two are no longer a couple, even though Kirkconnell apologized for the old photos.