Month: November 2024

Halle Bailey and Smokey Robinson have signed on to host NBC’s 2-hour holiday special, “A Motown Christmas.” The show will premiere on the broadcast network Dec. 11, and will be available to stream on Peacock Dec. 12.

The network announced on social media: “we’re bringing the magic of motown to your holiday season! celebrate with motown legends and today’s hottest stars in #AMotownChristmas December 11 on nbc and streaming next day on @peacock”

NBC said in a press release that “the special will include performances featuring more than 25 Motown hits, performed by Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations.”

Bailey will perform a medley of Diana Ross’ hits, while Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx will celebrate the music of Stevie Wonder alongside Bebe Winans, Jordin Sparks and Andra Day. The lineup of performers also includes Ashanti, JoJo, mgk, October London, Pentatonix, and the Broadway company of MJ the Musical, with an 11-piece live band led by Emmy-winning musical director Rickey Minor.

Jen Neal, executive vice president of live events and specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement: “Motown’s timeless hits have played as a soundtrack for American families for the last eight decades. NBC is honored to spotlight the iconic legacy of Motown with a festive celebration for the holiday season.”

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Beyoncé and the NFL announced that she will be performing the halftime show for the Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens game taking place on Christmas Day in her hometown of Houston, and set to stream on Netflix.    Beyoncé previously performed at the Super Bowls in 2013 and 2016.

The streaming service released a teaser video which shows the Grammy-winning performer catching a football while standing on top of a red vintage car and singing “American Requiem” – the opening song of her latest album, Cowboy Carter.   They added in a press release: “Your early Christmas wish has been granted as Beyoncé will perform during Netflix’s first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday.”  Netflix added that details of the superstar’s performance are “under wraps” but she is “expected to feature some special guests” who are featured on her recent “COWBOY CARTER” album.

Beyoncé was just nominated for 11 Grammy awards on Nov. 8, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year — making her the most-nominated artist in Grammy history.

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Prime Video‘s reboot of Cruel Intentions will premiere with all eight episodes on Thursday, Nov. 21, with the streaming service also releasing the first trailer for the series.

Cruel Intentions reimagines the 1999 film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair. Both are modern adaptations of the 18th-century novel ‘Dangerous Liaisons.’

The Amazon reboot “follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless stepsiblings, Caroline Merteuil (First Kill’s Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (One Night’s Zac Burgess), will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek Life system, they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover (the Gossip Girl reboot’s Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. Hearts will be broken, loyalties will be tested, and secrets will be revealed in this modern-day royal court that is Manchester College.”

The cast includes Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline, Zac Burgess as Lucien, Savannah Lee Smith as Annie, and Sara Silva as Cece Carroway, with John Harlan Kim, Khobe Clarke, Sean Patrick Thomas and Brooke Lena Johnson also starting.

The series will premiere Nov. 21 on Prime Video; see the Cruel Intentions trailer: HERE.

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Conan O’Brien will host the 2025 Academy Awards in March, marking his first time hosting the awards show.  O’Brien takes over hosting duties from Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the last two Oscar ceremonies.

The 61-year-old O’Brien jokingly said in a statement: “America demanded it, and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”  O’Brien is no stranger to hosting award shows; he previously hosted the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006, in addition to serving as host of the 2014 MTV Movie Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang shared: “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year. He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise. His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best—honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”

Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan added: “Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host — he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven himself to be a master of live event television. We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”

O’Brien is best known for hosting “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” from 1993-2009 after David Letterman’s departure, and served as host of “Conan” from 2010 to 2021. Most recently, he starred in the travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go” on Max, and he currently hosts the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.

The 97th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PT on ABC.

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CBS will present The Making of Gladiator II, a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of Paramount Pictures’ feature film, Gladiator II, from director Ridley Scott.

Gladiator II is the sequel to the iconic Oscar Best Picture-winning 2000 film Gladiator, with the sequel led by a cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen reprising her role from the original film, and Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington.

An official synopsis for the sequel film reads:  “Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.”

The special will give fans a never-before-seen look at the making of the film. This inside look offers unprecedented access encompassing all aspects of production, from the grand scope of the set – including reconstructing Ancient Rome – to characters, combat training, costumes, historical accuracy, scoring, and more.

The Making of Gladiator II will air on Monday, Nov. 18 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

Gladiator II will open in theaters on November 22.

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NBC News anchor and broadcast journalist Craig Melvin will replace Hoda Kotb as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, taking over for Kotb following her departure on Jan. 10. Melvin, 45, will co-anchor the program alongside Savannah Guthrie.

Today’s senior vice president, Libby Leist, in a statement: “He’s been an integral and beloved part of our family. From breaking news coverage in the field, to presidential interviews, to multiple Olympics and Super Bowls, Craig’s shown he has the talent and the range to cover all that we do here at Today. And he does it without ever losing that Southern charm.”

The 14-year NBC veteran said after the on-air announcement: “I am beyond excited and grateful. I’ve had a lot of conversations yesterday with a lot of people who mean a lot to me. I want to thank NBC and the folks who deemed me worthy, but I’ve got to start by thanking the man upstairs, the Lord above and his son, Jesus. I’ve enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”

Melvin has co-anchored the weekend edition of Today and currently co-hosts the third hour of the Today show, in addition to news-anchoring earlier broadcasts of the show.  He will co-host the Today show with Guthrie for the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. hours (beginning Jan. 13) and will remain a co-host during the third hour. Today’s fourth hour, which is currently co-hosted by Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, will be rebranded as ‘Today with Jenna & Friends’ beginning Jan. 13.   The show will welcome a rotating cast of personalities to helm the show with Bush Hager until a permanent cohost is found.

Kotb announced she was leaving the Today Show in September, releasing a statement confirming that she’d step down from the show to spend more time with her family: “as I write this, my heart is all over the map,” she wrote in a letter to the show’s staff. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”

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