Month: March 2024

Eugene Levy will appear in Season 4 of “Only Murders in the Building” at Hulu in a recurring role, joining previously announced Season 4 cast members Eva Longoria and Molly Shannon in the comedy series, alongside leads Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Meryl Streep is also set to reprise her role from Season 3.

Exact details of Levy’s role are being kept under wraps and plot details are also scarce for the new season, aside from the fact it is known the three main characters will make a trip to Los Angeles before returning to New York.

Levy won two Emmys for his work on the hit series “Schitt’s Creek,” which he co-created with son Dan Levy. He is also known for his work in the films of Christopher Guest like “Best in Show” and “A Mighty Wind” and for the “American Pie” film franchise. Levy currently hosts the Apple TV+ travel series “The Reluctant Traveler.”

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik will reprise their roles as Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler in the series finale of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ prequel series, ‘Young Sheldon.’

Parsons, who executive produces and provides voiceover for ‘Young Sheldon’, and Bialik last appeared onscreen together in the May 2019 series finale of The Big Bang Theory.  Additional details about the onscreen couple’s appearance are being kept under wraps ahead of the series finale of the CBS comedy.

Young Sheldon has featured a number of references to ‘Big Bang’, with series stars Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Simon Helberg (Howard) and Bialik all previously appearing via voiceover. News of Bialik and Parsons’ onscreen reunion comes shortly after CBS officially confirmed that the franchise would continue with a ‘Young Sheldon’ spinoff series following Emily Osment and Montana Jordan’s characters, Mandy and Georgie.

The series finale for Young Sheldon will air Thursday, May 16, on CBS.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Olivia Munn, 43, revealed on social media that she has been privately battling breast cancer, and underwent a double mastectomy last year. Munn posted a series of photos and videos on Instagram from when she was undergoing treatment in the hospital after learning of her diagnosis, with the short caption: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I hope by sharing this it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.”

Munn said she was diagnosed with Luminal B breast cancer in April 2023 and has since undergone several surgeries, including a double mastectomy. In her statement posted to her Instagram, Munn explained the importance of detecting the disease early: “In February of 2023, in an effort to be proactive about my health, I took a genetic test that checks you for 90 different cancer genes. I tested negative for all, including BRCA (the most well-known breast cancer gene). My sister Sara had just tested negative as well. We called each other and high-fived over the phone. That same winter I also had a normal mammogram. Two months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the past ten months I have had four surgeries, so many days spent in bed I can’t even count and have learned more about cancer, cancer treatment and hormones than I ever could have imagined. Surprisingly, I’ve only cried twice. I guess I haven’t felt like there was time to cry. My focus narrowed and I tabled any emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to stay clearheaded.”

The actress said she wouldn’t have found her cancer if it weren’t for her  OB/GYN Dr. Thais Aliabadi, saying that Aliabadi decided to calculate her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. Said Munn: “The fact that she did saved my life. Dr. Aliabadi looked at factors like my age, familial breast cancer history, and the fact that I had my first child after the age of 30. She discovered my lifetime risk was at 37%. Because of that score I was sent to get an MRI, which led to an ultrasound, which then led to a biopsy. The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive, fast moving cancer.”

Munn acknowledged the staff at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and Saint John’s in Santa Monica for their help during her treatment, and ended her statement thanking her loved ones for their support throughout her cancer battle, specifically her boyfriend, John Mulaney with whom she shares 2-year-old son, Malcolm: “I’m so thankful to my friends and family for loving me through this. I’m so thankful to [John Mulaney] for the nights he spent researching what every operation and medication meant and what side effects and recovery I could expect. For being there before I went into each surgery and being there when I woke up, always placing framed photos of our little boy Malcolm so it would be the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. Thank you to the friends who’ve had breast cancer and the friends who connected me to friends who’ve had breast cancer for guiding me through some of my most uncertain and overwhelming moments.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

CBS, in partnership with civil rights organization NAACP, announced the development of “The Gates,” a soap centered on a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community. The network currently airs the long-running daytime soaps The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful

‘The Gates’ will be written by Emmy winner Michele Val Jean, whose credits include more than 2,000 episodes of iconic soaps including “The Bold & The Beautiful” and “General Hospital.” The 72-year-old daytime veteran served as a script writer for the Black-led “Generations,” which aired on NBC from 1989-1991. Val Jean will also serve as showrunner on ‘The Gates’.

CBS Studios/NAACP president Sheila Ducksworth said in a statement: “The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective. This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, ‘The Gates’ will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture.”

CBS Studios’ development deal with the NAACP was “established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape.” If The Gates comes to fruition, it would mark broadcast television’s first new daytime soap opera since the launch of NBC’s now-defunct ‘Passions’ 25 years ago.

Editorial credit: kyiv-top / Shutterstock.com

Beyoncé revealed artwork and the title of her new country album — ‘Act II: Cowboy Carter,’ set for release on March 29.

The superstar shared the news on her Instagram Story, adding the title and release date to her Instagram bio and posting a shot of a saddle with a red, white and blue sash that reads “Cowboy Carter”; the image is also prominently displayed on the homepage of Beyoncé’s website.  Additionally, fans can head to the ‘Shop’ section of Queens Bey’s website to pre-order merchandise and the new record, which also reveals alternate artwork to feature close-up photos of Beyoncé’s face as she dons a black cowboy hat with a white snake over her eye, and her blonde hair feathered-cut and braided.

Beyoncé first surprised fans by announcing her new country-themed album during the Super Bowl this past February. Shortly after the viral announcement, the superstar dropped two country-inspired songs, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” After Texas Hold ‘Em started being played by country radio, it went on to hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, with Beyoncé making history as the first Black female artist to ever reach the top spot on the chart.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com