News

For many parents, Mo Willems has become a household name. Over a two-decade career, Willems has authored dozens of children’s books, introducing kids to whimsical characters like the pigeon who wants to drive the bus and the Knuffle Bunny. Along the way, he has received a Caldecott Honor on three separate occasions.

Willems has a lot of cred in the world of children’s literature, but the era of Gen Alpha presents a unique challenge for the veteran author. How do you get kids with infamously short attention spans to enjoy stories that were meant to be read one page at a time?

For Willems, the answer is simple: You go online and meet today’s kids where they are. Through his firm Hidden Pigeon Company, Willems has cultivated a YouTube presence that includes 100,000 subscribers and nearly 30 million views — and it’s all happened over an 11-month period.

The Mo Willems Workshop,...

Exclusive: Former UTA agent Anna Berthold-Zuk has joined Stampede Ventures as Executive Vice President of Animation and Kids & Family, the company’s President Chris Bosco announced on Thursday.

In her new role, Berthold-Zuk will guide Stampede’s existing kids & family initiatives and oversee expansion in this space as she continues to build out additional creator-driven ventures aimed at launching new franchises. Additionally, she will work to find ways to overcome current hurdles in the kids & family business by building out strategic ventures necessary to support the launch of said franchises in the wake of continual constriction within the industry.

Berthold-Zuk’s appointment bolsters Stampede’s ability to expand its Kids & Family reach in tandem with their existing ventures including Mo Willems’s Hidden Pigeon Company with RedBird Capital Partners and HappyNest Entertainment, a co-venture with UTA, which Berthold-Zuk helped put together. Looking ahead, she will work closely with Sadaf Cohen Muncy,...

RedBird Imi, the media and entertainment investment company headed by ex-CNN chief Jeff Zucker, announced the completion of its $1.45 billion takeover of All3Media, the U.K.’s largest independent TV production company.

With the deal closed, Zucker, CEO of RedBird Imi, has become the chairman of the All3Media board. All3Media CEO Jane Turton and COO Sara Geater will continue to lead the media company for RedBird Imi.

The All3Media acquisition, announced in February, is RedBird Imi’s largest completed transaction to date and its fifth since the investment company was formed in late 2022. RedBird Imi’s other holdings are L.A.-based scripted production company Media Res, the studio behind Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show”; unscripted production company EverWonder Studios; children’s entertainment company Hidden Pigeon Co., founded by author-illustrator Mo Willems; and digital news outlet Front Office Sports.

RedBird Imi acquired All3Media from its two owners,...

The former 15-year UTA exec and partner Jim Meenaghan has been tapped as COO of Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures.

Meenaghan, who served as co-head of independent film and head of MP business affairs at UTA, will oversee day-to-day operations at the studio under founder and CEO Silverman. “Stampede Ventures is the perfect opportunity for me, the timing could not be better. I’m very excited to join such an ambitious company committed to making great, commercial content with a remarkable executive team and culture already in place,” Meenaghan said in a statement on Wednesday.

In 2018, UTA promoted Meenaghan to co-head the independent film group with partner Rena Ronson after he had been with the agency for nine years and leading the motion picture business affairs group. Having stepped down from UTA at the end of 2023, Meenaghan joins Stampede after it unveiled a partnership with Film AlUla studios, while also...

RedBird Imi, the media investment firm headed by ex-CNN chief Jeff Zucker, has made an investment in Media Res, the studio behind Apple TV+’s hit series “The Morning Show.”

Financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed. It’s the first investment by RedBird Imi into scripted entertainment. Media Res founder and CEO Michael Ellenberg will retain a majority ownership and continue to run day-to-day operations of the company, while Zucker will take a seat on the board.

Media Res, based in L.A., said it will use the investment to “strike new strategic partnerships” and to continue its mission of “championing artists’ original ideas and sourcing projects from exceptional IP.”

Season 3 of “The Morning Show,” starring and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, last month became the most-watched drama to date on Apple TV+. Media Res’ current slate includes the second season of the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,...

Author Mo Willems, Stampede Ventures, and RedBird Capital Partners have formed Hidden Pigeon Company, a multiplatform kids and family content venture that will leverage Willems’ best-selling catalogue of children’s books and intellectual property across all entertainment platforms.

Willems is a an award-winning author and illustrator. His work includes the Elephant and Piggie book series, as well as The Pigeon, star of his own book series, including the recently-published The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! (September 2022). Willems has been awarded three Caldecott Honors for his books Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity.

He was the inaugural Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence (2019-2022) and continues to collaborate in classical music, opera, comedy concerts, dance, and digital works with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Ben Folds, Renée Fleming, and others.

He began his...

Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners and Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures have teamed with popular kids author Mo Willems to launch Hidden Pigeon Company as a kids and family content producer.

Former Lightstorm Entertainment exec Kathy Franklin will head up the new venture as CEO as Hidden Pigeon Company looks to adapt and leverage the Willems library of books for cross-platform content. That includes product for TV, film, digital, gaming, live events, location-based entertainment, publishing and consumer products.

“It is my hope to create a similar bit of surprise and delight in the fabric of everything we make or do. I am thrilled to have found wonderful collaborative partners to make that hope a reality,” Willems said in a statement.

Willems has written and illustrated more than 50 books for children, including the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny and Gerald and Piggie series. He began his career as a writer and animator...

Mo Willems is stepping further into the multimedia entertainment world.

The globally best-selling and award-winning children’s book author will team with Stampede Ventures and RedBird Capital to form Hidden Pigeon Company. Hpc will be a multiplatform kids and family content company which will use Willems’ catalog of books and IP for film, television, digital media, gaming, live events, location-based experiences, publishing, merchandising and more.

“The Hidden Pigeon Company takes its name from how kids and former kids delight in finding The Pigeon hidden in every one of my books,” Willems said. “It is my hope to create a similar bit of surprise and delight in the fabric of everything we make or do. I am thrilled to have found wonderful collaborative partners to make that hope a reality.”

This follows Willems’ existing producing partnership with Stampede Ventures, including two HBO Max specials “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience...

Veteran animation executive Nate Hopper has joined Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures as the executive in charge of adapting the work of bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems.

Willems in the award-winning creator of iconic oddball children’s characters, including the “Elephant and Piggie” book series and the “Pigeon” franchise, which just released the New York Times-bestselling “The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!”

Nate Hopper

Hopper will report to Stampede CEO Silverman, who said, “as we continue to expand and world-build Mo’s beloved characters into new forms of entertainment, we need someone with an eye for fresh content who thinks outside the box. Nate knows what resonates for this demographic better than anyone and we’re thrilled to have him aboard.”

Stampede has already produced two specials based on the author’s properties, both distributed by HBO Max. “Storytime All-Stars Presents: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime...

Private equity investors in indie movies “might as well throw their money down a rat hole.” Those words of warning from the late Jake Eberts (“Driving Miss Daisy”) continue to send a shudder down the spines of the unrecouped. Indeed, the industry motto that “you never get net” remains as prescient as ever.

As industryites takes meetings and nosh in Santa Monica during the AFM, they acknowledge three key factors that have dented the prospects of recouping equity: The first is the demise of previously semi-reliable ancillary revenues via DVD and free TV since the financial crisis of 2009. The second is the disappearance of any back-end sharing of platform profits given the SVOD business model; and the third is less choice due to the steamroller of original commissioning by the streamers. Talent is being signed up at such speed and scale that slim pickings remain for indie producers to put their best packages forward,...

Exclusive: Emma Roberts (Madame Web) will exec produce and star in Space Cadet, a new rom-com from Stampede Ventures, which enters production this month. Also now aboard the film from writer-director Liz W. Garcia (The Lifeguard) is Prime Video, which will distribute it internationally.

Space Cadet follows the Florida party girl Rex (Roberts), who turns out to be the only hope for the NASA space program, after a fluke puts her in training with other candidates who may have better resumes, but don’t have her smarts, heart and moxie.

Greg Silverman and Jon Berg will produce on behalf of Stampede Ventures, with Stampede’s Gideon Yu and Chris Bosco exec producing alongside Roberts, Garcia and Michael Tadross. Stampede Ventures will finance the pic, licensed by Prime Video in territories outside of the U.S. and Japan, with CAA’s Sarah Schweitzman co-repping additional territories alongside Stampede’s Bosco.

“Emma...

VH1 announced that “Wild ‘N Out” will premiere its 300th episode on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. Et. The premiere will kick off the comedy show’s next season, with new episodes airing on the following Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Hosted by Nick Cannon, this season’s guest stars and performances include Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, Tommy Davidson, Saucy Santana, Miles Brown, G-Eazy and Kossiko, Dreamdoll, Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby, Jimmy Allen, Lisa Raye, Kid ‘N Play and Mariah the Scientist. “Wild ‘N Out” is also partnering with Super League Gaming this season to produce live streams for three weeks. Each week within Minehut, Super League’s Minecraft community, players will be able to freestyle rap, discuss the new “Wild ‘N Out” episodes and more on “Wild ‘N Out: Metaverse Remix” at 9 p.m. Et beginning Feb. 22.

“Wild ‘N Out” features improvisational comedy games and celebrity guests that lead teams in a series of challenges.

Cartoonito, WarnerMedia Kids & Family’s new preschool programming block, launched Monday on HBO Max and Cartoon Network and used the occasion to reveal that it has set casts for a pair of animated projects — a Batwheels series that will feature Ethan Hawke as the voice of Batman and its Mo Willems one-hour rock opera Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience. It also greenlighted the first preschool animated series starring Tom and Jerry.

The news came today as part of a live virtual event celebrating the new block, which features a fall slate of 20 new series. Within two years, the company said, the slate of originals will reach 50 shows.

Warner Bros Animation’s Batwheels will feature the voices of Hawke as Batman, Aj Hudson as Duke Thomas/Robin, Leah Lewis as Cassandra Cain/Batgirl and Cobra Kai‘s Jacob Bertrand as Bam the Batmobile in the action-adventure comedy...

Mark Hamill and Lupita Nyong’o were among the winners on Saturday night as the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced the winners of the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the children’s and animation categories. The show represented the second of three Daytime Emmy ceremonies this year; the third will be live streamed on Sunday.

Nyong’o won the limited performance in a children’s program Emmy for playing the Storyteller, in Netflix’s “Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. Hammil was named outstanding performer in a preschool animated program for Disney Channel’s “Elena of Avalor.”

This represented the first year that all children’s programming, regardless of timeslot, shifted to the Daytime Emmys, under a new agreement between New York-based NATAS and L.A.-based Television Academy.

The children’s and animation Daytime Emmy winners were announced via NATAS’ Emmy Ott platform, featuring more than 30 categories. Daytime...

The 2021 Daytime Emmys were presented on Friday night, June 25 … but not all of them. Awards have already gone out to the best in soap operas, game shows, talk shows, and a few other fields. But on June 28 the national television academy revealed their second round of nominations focusing on animated, nonfiction, children’s, and daytime fiction programming. These winners will be announced on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18. Scroll down for the complete list.

SEE2021 Daytime Emmy winners list: Who won at the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 25?

“Sesame Street” is on top with 14 nominations if you count the main HBO series (which has seven) and its specials “The Power of We,” “The Monster at the End of This Story,” and “CNN/Sesame Street Town Halls.” Perennial digital drama champ “The Bay” is next in line with 12 noms; it was up for Best Limited Drama Series at the June 25 broadcast,...

Ben Folds has launched a new podcast, Lightning Bugs, in which he discusses creativity with guests from the worlds of art, science, public policy, and music — and writes a song with each guest at the end of every episode.

Lightning Bugs premieres Thursday, April 8th, and the first episode features anthropologist and author Augustín Fuentes. The show is available on all podcast providers, while a special video simulcast of the premiere is also streaming on YouTube. New episodes of Lightning Bugs will be released on Thursday.

Lightning Bugs was inspired...

Norton Juster, the children’s book author best known for his 1961 classic The Phantom Tollbooth, has died. He was 91.

A representative from Random House confirmed Juster’s death to Rolling Stone. Per The New York Times, Juster’s daughter, Emily Juster, issued a statement saying the cause of death was complications from a recent stroke.

Author, animator, and friend of Juster’s, Mo Willems, posted about his death on Twitter, writing, “My lunch partner, Norton Juster, ran out of stories and passed peacefully last night. Best known for The Phantom Tollbooth...

Norton Juster, the celebrated children’s author who fashioned a world of his own in the classic The Phantom Tollbooth and went on to write such favorites as The Dot and the Line and Stark Naked, has died at 91.

Juster’s death was confirmed Tuesday by a spokesperson for Random House Children’s Books, who did not immediately provide details. Juster’s friend and fellow author Mo Willems tweeted Tuesday that Juster “ran out of stories” and died “peacefully” the night before.

“Norton’s greatest work was himself: a tapestry of delightful tales,” Willems wrote.

As Juster wrote in the introduction ...

Norton Juster, the celebrated children’s author who fashioned a world of his own in the classic The Phantom Tollbooth and went on to write such favorites as The Dot and the Line and Stark Naked, has died at 91.

Juster’s death was confirmed Tuesday by a spokesperson for Random House Children’s Books, who did not immediately provide details. Juster’s friend and fellow author Mo Willems tweeted Tuesday that Juster “ran out of stories” and died “peacefully” the night before.

“Norton’s greatest work was himself: a tapestry of delightful tales,” Willems wrote.

As Juster wrote in the introduction ...

HBO Max and Cartoon Network have ordered a new project from Emmy-award winning creator and animator Genndy Tartakovsky. The network greenlit Tartakovsky’s Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, a supernatural animated series inspired by myths and lore from across the globe.

Unicorn: Warriors Eternal is one of several new series ordered by HBO Max following a restructuring, with Tom Ascheim, President of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, now also overseeing kids programming for HBO Max. The list also includes Tiny Toons Looniversity and three projects from Mo Willems.

“Welcoming Genndy back to Cartoon Network, and now HBO Max was the perfect opportunity to introduce a new generation of fans to his visionary work and this one-of-a-kind series that offers something for everyone in the family,” said Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (Gkyac). “Genndy is a deeply respected creator whose visceral storytelling has inspired...

Babs, Buster Bunny and the rest of the Acme Acres gang are back and headed to college. HBO Max and Cartoon Network have handed a two-season, straight-to-series order for Tiny Toons Looniversity from Warner Bros. Animation, Amblin Television and returning executive producer Steven Spielberg.

Tiny Toons Looniversity is one of several new series ordered by HBO Max following a restructuring, with Tom Ascheim, President of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, now also overseeing kids programming for HBO Max. The list also includes Unicorn: Warriors Eternal from Genndy Tartakovsky and three projects from Mo Willems.

The Tiny Toons Adventures reboot follow the characters’ comedic ambitions all the way to Acme Looniversity, the esteemed institution of higher high-jinks learning, where young dreamers become professional toons. Here they form long-lasting friendships with one another and perfect their cartoony craft while studying under the greatest cartoon characters in history, the Looney Tunes.

HBO Max and Cartoon Network are expanding their partnership with bestselling children’s book author, illustrator and playwright Mo Willems with a greenlight for three new projects. They are animated series Unlimited Squirrels!; CGI animated rock special Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Special; and a pilot order for a live-action immersive series, Cat the Cat’s Show the Show Show with You the You! The projects, all aimed at encouraging kids to feel comfortable in their own skin, will be executive produced by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures, and fall under Willems’ multi-year deal with HBO Max.

The Mo Willems projects are among several new series ordered by HBO Max following a restructuring, with Tom Ascheim, President of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, now also overseeing kids programming for HBO Max. The list also includes Unicorn: Warriors Eternal from Genndy Tartakovsky and Tiny Toons Looniversit.

A reboot of “Tiny Toon Adventures” is among a number of new series order at HBO Max and Cartoon Network, Variety has learned.

The new series is titled “Tiny Toons Loonversity.” The half-hour animated show will feature characters from the original series, which aired from 1990-1992. The show has received a two-season order, with Steven Spielberg attached to return as an executive producer. Erin Gibson will serve as showrunner and co-executive producer, while Nate Cash will also co-executive produce. Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, will also executive produce along with Amblin Television co-presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank

“Tiny Toons Looniversity” is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation. Clint Lavigne, vice president of television at Amblin Television, and Audrey Diehl, senior vice president of series at Warner Bros. Animation, will oversee day-to-day creative affairs of the series.

In addition, HBO...

The top-to-bottom restructuring of WarnerMedia’s TV and streaming units includes a shift in the oversight of kids and family programming for HBO Max.

The responsibility for developing children’s and family-friendly programs has moved from the content group led by HBO and HBO Max content chief Casey Bloys to the group headed by Tom Ascheim, the Disney veteran who joined Warner Bros. as president of Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics in June.

Ascheim came to Warner Bros. from Disney’s Freeform to head a newly created content division designed to make the studio and characters from its vault bigger players in the kidvid universe. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Tom & Jerry and others in the WB menagerie are under-exploited in the modern era compared to Disney and other classic toons.

Ascheim’s portfolio includes linear cablers Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies. He also...

At the top of Mo Willems’ first special for HBO Max, he tells the kids in the audience that if their parents have done their jobs, they shouldn’t recognize any of the performers — including Anthony Anderson, Tony Hale and Yvette Nicole Brown — he’s about to welcome on stage.

Similarly, adults (especially those without young kids) may be vaguely aware, at best, of who Willems is. But to the under-8 set, the author and illustrator of the Pigeon, Elephant and Piggie and Knuffle Bunny books is a rock star.

Willems signed a multi-year deal with HBO Max in February to ...

HBO Max has renewed Selena Gomez’s cooking show “Selena + Chef” for a second season.

The final four episode of the first season debuted today, featuring recipes for Baja-style fried rice, buttermilk fried chicken, fried gnocchi and meatballs with brown butter sauce, pan-seared Branzino with spiced tomato-coconut sauce, and Ginger’s peanut butter bacon dog biscuits.

In Season 2, the “Lose You to Love Me” singer will continue cooking at home with a new roster of all-star chefs who will show her how to whip up new dishes remotely via video-chat. Like in Season 1, Gomez will highlight a different food-related charity in each episode.

Also Read: Mo Willems Sets First HBO Max Special With Some Famous Friends - and the Animated Ones, Too (Video)

“Learning from some of the best chefs in the world has vastly improved my cooking skills but I have a lot more to learn. I am...

New York Times best-selling children’s book author and illustrator Mo Willems is coming to HBO Max in new special “Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!”

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!” was shot at the Kennedy Center. In addition to the writer/drawer and his darn pigeon, Willems’ initial special under his exclusive, multiyear HBO Max deal will feature live readings and sketch comedy by Anthony Anderson, Yvette Nicole Brown, Rachel Dratch, Cameron Esposito, Tony Hale, Greta Lee, Tom Lennon, Natalie Morales and Oscar Nunez.

The kids don’t know who the humans are, of course, but the parents probably appreciated the star power.

Watch the trailer for “Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!” via the video above.

Also Read: 'The West Wing' Cast, Aaron Sorkin to Reunite for HBO Max Stage Performance of 'Hartsfield's Landing' Episode

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!

Although it still has a long way to go to catch up to Netflix, HBO Max is gradually building a reputation for both an impressive library of content and its own original programming. As well as reportedly working on a number of Batman-focused series, the WarnerMedia streamer is also absorbing shows from DC Universe, and funding the Snyder Cut of Justice League. We now know what’s coming to HBO Max in September, and there’s plenty there for subscribers to sink their teeth into.

The big original series highlight next month is the Ridley Scott-produced Raised by Wolves, which explores two androids raising human children. Created by Adam Guzikowski, the program could be one of HBO Max’s first big hits with critics and audiences, and is set to arrive on September 3rd. Other notable originals include comedy Unpregnant, wherein a pregnant teenager travels to Mexico with her...

WarnerMedia’s grand streaming experiment continues apace with HBO Max’s list of new releases for September 2020.

This month, HBO Max is bring some serious dramatic heat with the Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi series Raised by Wolves arriving on Sept. 3. And if science fiction isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, then HBO Max has identified something that is: true crime. The Murders at White House Farm will arrive at a date to be determined in September.

In addition to those intriguing original offerings, HBO Max is making the best of its WarnerMedia library this month. Doctor Who season 12 makes its long-awaited streaming debut on Sept. 1. Also arriving on the first of the month are Clerks, Election, and the hopefully-not-too-timely V for Vendetta.

Recent horror hit The Invisible Man arrives on Sept. 19. It is complemented by HBO Max original comedy Unpregnant on Sept. 10.

Here is everything else coming to HBO Max this month.

From Broadway in New York City to the Hollywood studios of Los Angeles, families are self-quarantining in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus. That means mommies and daddies all across America are looking to their television sets and the web for unique ways to keep their kids busy — especially the little ones who have no virtual school and a limited capacity to self-entertain.

Over here, the Maglios are getting desperate for ways to keep our 3-year-old daughter busy. All of this extra screen time has meant lots of Disney+, but how many “Doc McStuffins” episodes can one kid watch, and how often do we need to replay “The Little Mermaid”? (The realistic answer to both questions is “a lot.”)

As much of a Godsend as the Disney streaming service has been, contrary to popular (kids’) belief, that “Puppy Dog Pals” theme song actually can become irritating. Plus, and...

Mo Willems has joined the ranks of good-spirited celebrities who are trying to keep many of us entertained, while we get to grips with self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. The children’s book author has stepped up with an excellent idea for keeping kids entertained, and most importantly, for parents, keeping them quiet. As schools have shuttered their doors across the...

Jimmy Fallon is continuing his makeshift version of The Tonight Show — this time with a video visit from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

On Wednesday night, the comedian shared the second installment of his at-home edition of the late-night show amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Joining him for the new episode was the famous composer and playwright, best known for creating the popular Broadway musical, Hamilton.

Sitting behind a piano, Miranda, 40, asked Fallon, “What would The Roots play on my entrance?” (The Roots are the official house band on The Tonight Show.).

After Miranda played a quick tune, Fallon, 45, clapped and virtually welcomed him on the show,...

In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix released the trailer for “Self Made: Inspired By the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” and HBO announced a premiere date for “Betty.”

First Looks

Netflix released the official trailer “Self Made: Inspired By the Life of Madam C.J. Walker.” Executive produced by and starring Octavia Spencer, the four-part limited series details the life of America’s first self-made millionaire — how she fought for social change and simultaneously overcame post-slavery racial and gender biases, personal betrayals, and business rivalries to build a ground-breaking brand that revolutionized black haircare. Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Garrett Morris, Kevin Carroll, Bill Bellamy star alongside Spencer. Janine Sherman Barrois, Elle Johnson, Maverick Carter, LeBron James, Mark Holder, Christine Holder, Kasi Lemmons, and Jamal Henderson also serve as executive producers. The series will launch March 20.

Netflix also unveiled the trailer for Season 2 of “Ugly Delicious.” Hosted by chef David Chang...

Emmy-writing writer Mo Willems is bringing his work to the small screen. In a competitive situation, HBO Max has signed an exclusive, multi-year deal with Willems, establishing the beloved children’s author as HBO Max’s first artist in residence. As part of the two-year deal, HBO Max has acquired streaming rights to Willems’ first live-action special Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! from Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures, who will produce all additional content under the deal. HBO Max has committed to additional live-action Storytime specials, as well as multiple animated specials based on Willems’ wildly popular children’s books. The first animated special will be based on New York Times bestseller, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.

“Mo is a special talent with a profound ability to connect with children and families alike. We are so happy Mo and Stampede Ventures chose to partner with us at HBO Max,...

HBO Max has made a big commitment to its kids and family programming business, signing beloved children's author Mo Willems to an exclusive multiyear deal.

The streamer won out in a competitive negotiation and will make Willems the first artist in residence at HBO Max — meaning that in addition to his work as a producer, he'll put his talents as a writer, illustrator and personality to use for the company. The WarnerMedia platform, set to launch in May, will be the exclusive home to the live-action special Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! from Stampede ...

Anthony Anderson (Black-ish), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), Cameron Esposito (Take My Wife), and Tony Hale (Veep) have joined the all-star line-up for the upcoming live one-hour special, Mo Willems & the Storytime All-Stars present Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Greg Silverman’s Stampede is producing the family comedy special, which marks the start of Willems’ two-year residency as the Kennedy Center’s first ever Education Artist-In-Residence. Also joining Willems on stage will be Greta Lee (Russian Doll), Tom Lennon (The Odd Couple), Natalie Morales (Abby’s), Oscar Nunez (The Office), puppeteer Joey Mazzarino (Sesame Street) and foley and sound effects artist Fred Newman (A Prairie Home Companion).

Willems is the author and illustrator of over 60 books for children, with millions of copies in print worldwide. The special will include performances of live readings of...

Exclusive: Entertainment media company Stampede, founded by former Warner Bros. Pictures president Greg Silverman, announced today that they are producing the live one-hour special of Mo Willems & the Storytime All-Stars present Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Actor-comedian-director Bobcat Goldthwait will helm the live one-of-a-kind family special that will take place in Washington, D.C. on July 13.

Best-selling author, illustrator and six-time Emmy winner Willems of Sesame Street fame is the Kennedy Center’s first ever Education Artist-In-Residence. This special marks the start of Willems’ two-year residency and will feature actors, comedians, and celebrity guests performing live readings of Willems’ work and musical numbers inspired by his world. The performances will invite audiences of all ages to laugh, sing, and draw along.

“Mo has created a world of characters which generations of children and parents alike will never forget.

Coolest parents ever? Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth went above and beyond for their son's kindergarten class. The Oscar winner and her talent agent husband were the mystery readers for six-year-old Tennessee Toth's class this week. The couple, who read Mo Willems' book I Really Like Slop! to the class, decided to really make it a mystery by dressing up in disguise. Witherspoon posted photos and videos from before, after and during the book event, showing her and Toth dressed up as Elephant and Piggie, characters from Willems' books. "It's a big day, we've got something very exciting that we're heading to do," Witherspoon, who dressed up as Piggie, told her Instagram followers in a...

Fox Theatre rocks the block this Sunday; Avenue Q heads outdoors; and “Knuffle Bunny” is a stirring cautionary tale for all toddlers. It’s this week’s Atlanta Events Roundup. Fox Theatre's Rock the Block PartyTo celebrate those who saved the historic theater from what seemed like certain demise 40 years ago, the Fox Theatre is hosting a “Rock the Block” party on Sunday, June 7 from noon to 6 pm on Peachtree Street Ne and Ponce de Leon Avenue. There will be live entertainment on two stages, with performances by the DejaBlue Grass Band, Dad’s Garage, and an Allman Brothers tribute band. Avenue QHorizon Theatre brings the popular puppet play for grown-ups, “Avenue Q” outdoors through June 7. See Princeton, Gary Coleman, Christmas Eve, and friends try and find their way on their own kind of Sesame Street. Playing at Piedmont Park, this production will be a slightly toned-down, PG-13 version, but no less entertaining.

New mom Chelsea Clinton talks about bonding with her baby Charlotte - "I'm so happy being a mom" - and shares why she's so passionate about talking, reading and singing to her baby, in an exclusive interview with People and video featuring the former first daughter and Elmo. "I have a beautiful baby daughter named Charlotte," a beaming Clinton tells Elmo, later sharing, "I try really hard to be a good mommy. I think it's the most important job in the world." "My husband Marc and I read to Charlotte every night, and when her grandparents come over, they read to her as well,...

The following is a list of all comic books, graphic novels and specialty items that will be available this week and shipped to comic book stores who have placed orders for them.

AC Comics

Crypt Of Horror Volume 18 Tp, $29.95

Alternative Comics

Alternative Comics #4 (not verified by Diamond), $5.99

Failure Gn, $21.95

Antarctic Press

Gearhearts Steampunk Glamor Revue #7, $3.99

Gold Digger #201, $3.99

Last Zombie The End #2 (Of 5), $3.99

Ape Entertainment

Sesame Street I Is For Imagination #1 (Amy Mebberson Super Power Variant Cover), Ar

Archie Comic Publications

Betty And Veronica #266 (Dan Parent Regular Cover), $2.99

Betty And Veronica #266 (Jill Thompson Variant Cover), $2.99

Betty And Veronica Friends Double Digest #234, $3.99

Life With Archie #30 (Bob Smith Regular Cover), $3.99

Life With Archie #30 (Phil Jimenez Variant Cover), $3.99

Sonic Saga Volume 3 Eggman Empire Tp, $11.99

Sonic Universe #53 (Patrick Spaziante Evil Friends Forever Variant Cover), $2.99

Sonic Universe #53 (Patrick Spaziante Regular Cover), $2.99

World Of Archie Double Digest #30, $5.99

Aspen Comics

Executive Assistant Iris Volume 3 #4 (Cover A Alex Lei...

DVD Playhouse – May 2012

By Allen Gardner

Shame (20th Century Fox) Director Steve McQueen’s harrowing portrait of a Manhattan sex addict (Michael Fassbender, in the year’s most riveting performance) whose psyche goes into overload when his equally-troubled sister (Carey Mulligan) visits unexpectedly. Exquisitely-made on every level, save for the screenplay, which makes its point after about thirty minutes. While it tries hard to be a modern-day Last Tango in Paris, this fatal flaw makes it fall somewhat short. The much- ballyhooed sex scenes and frontal nudity are the least-interesting things about the film, incidentally, which is still a must-see for discriminating adults who seek out challenging material. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.

Being John Malkovich (Criterion) Spike Jonze’s madcap film of Charlie Kaufman’s script, regarding a socially-disenfranchised puppeteer (John Cusack) who finds a portal into the mind of actor...

This Valentine’s Day, give children living in poverty a lifelong love of reading to help break the lifelong cycle of poverty, one Valentine at a time.

Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and the organization’s artist ambassador Julianne Moore have invited beloved children’s book authors and illustrators Ian Falconer, Kevin Henkes, Leuyen Pham, Brian Selznick and Mo Willems to design limited-edition Valentine’s cards benefiting Save the Children’s U.S. Programs “Love to Read, Read to Live” campaign.

“Nearly 1 in 4 children in the U.S. lives in poverty and most of them don’t have any books in their homes,” said Moore, who credits her upbringing as an “Army kid” living all over the country for opening her eyes to the reality of poverty in the United States. “You can see why these kids often fall behind in school, and then in life.”

Read more...

Courtesy Marty Umans

The author of several popular children’s books, Mo Willems was looking for his next challenge when he decided to undertake the development of his first-ever app, Don’t Let The Pigeon Run This App!, now available on the Apple iPad, iPhone and iTouch.

The program allows users to write, illustrate and narrate their own tales, with Willems also providing guidance along the way as the voice of The Pigeon.

To discuss the app’s development and the importance of interactivity in the digital era, the author chatted with People Moms & Babies.

Check out our interview below:...

Continuing to fill out its library of storybooks on DVD, Scholastic has now brought more of Mo Willems’s colorful tales to DVD with his narration accompanying animations based on his words and illustrations. The disc includes three stories to keep kids entertained as they learn about values such as cooperation and improve their problem solving skills. Mo Willems is a great children’s book author, so any issues with the release don’t stem from his work, but rather from the price for a single DVD release with only three stories when Scholastic will inevitably be releasing them as part of a larger set down the road (if they haven’t already) for a better value.

Read more...

We all know Julianne Moore as the scene-stealing, radiant redhead, but she wasn't always so confident in her fiery, freckled self. The Oscar nominated actress just released her third book, "Best Friends Forever," in her Freckleface Strawberry children's series. Here she talks about finally fitting in and keeping her kids close to home.

Were you teased for having red hair?

Freckleface Strawberry was my nickname till I was seven. It’s not mean, but I felt teased by it. I was living in an area in the Midwest where there were very few people who had the kind of freckles I had. I thought it was really embarrassing, but then of course you grow up and it’s cute.

Ever been to Ireland?

Uh huh, where I look like every girl there.

Were you like, ‘Ah, my people’?

Not only did I look like everybody, but I had one child...

Barbara Chai The scene at the Disney Dinner

As final events surrounding BookExpo America came to a close yesterday, I reflected on the whirlwind of activity of the past week – some of it wearying, some of it winning.

The moment I may remember most is when Dave Barry called me an “ignorant slut.”

Yup, he used the same phrase made famous in the “Saturday Night Live” skits of the 1970s. And the same s-word that got MSNBC host Ed Schultz in trouble earlier this week.

Getty Diane Keaton

BookExpo America, the largest trade book fair in North America, gets under way today in New York. Publishers, booksellers, librarians, agents, authors, and readers will gather at the Javits Center for four days of new release promotions, author autograph sessions, rights negotiations, industry panels, and parties.

Jeffrey Eugenides, Anne Enright, Charles Frazier, Erica Jong, Dave Barry, Mo Willems, and Katherine Paterson will appear at book signings or special events. Also: Diane Keaton, Julianne Moore, Jane Lynch, Roger Ebert,...

Courtesy HarperCollins

Before becoming a children’s book author, Mo Willems spent nine seasons working as a writer and animator for Sesame Street — earning six Emmy awards in the process. His 2003 debut, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, became a New York Times best-seller and was awarded a Caldecott Honor in 2004.

Since then, Willems has published numerous picture books — including the Elephant and Piggie series — and has twice received the Theodor Suess Geisel Medal. While on a promotional tour for his latest effort, Amanda & Her Alligator, he chatted with People Moms & Babies about changing careers and connecting with...

A round-up of items from the last few days...

Hugh Jackman heartbroken over 'Wolverine' leak: Jackman said, "Obviously people are seeing an unfinished film. It's like a Ferrari without a paint job." Jackman is on a world tour to promote the movie, making his first stop at Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbor, where much of the film was shot. He arrived at the venue by helicopter before swooping to the ground on a zipline.

  Today is the golden anniversary of the Magnificent Mercury Seven.

  Today is also the first day of Passover, so here's a list of Jewish Superheroes, Villains, and other Comic Book Characters. How they missed Yoda, I'll never know.

  At last. The State will be coming to DVD July 14th. Get your $240 worth of pudding ready. Buy it and make Mo Willems cry.

  And finally, Dave Arneson, who introduced Gary Gygax to the possibility of roleplaying gaming,...