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Back in September, we lost a giant. A king. A lion of stage and screen. James Earl Jones touched not only cinema’s history, but all those who will continue on celebrating it, including fellow thespian André Holland. While taking a stop in the Criterion Closet, Holland took a few moments to honor the gifts Jones bestowed upon him and others.

“See this man right here, James Earl Jones?” said Holland pointing to Jones’ face on the cover of “Claudine” Criterion. “That’s my hero. Amazing, amazing actor. And Diahann Carroll. I mean, come on. She just was everything. It’s such a beautiful film, so complex and so lovely and sexy. I was like, ‘Oh, my God. Who are these two?’ I’m sorry that we don’t have James Earl anymore, but he has left quite a legacy.”

Reflecting on his connection to Jones, Holland recounted his time...

Breast cancer is a topic that hits close to home for many. It is one of the most common cancers in women and while it is as overwhelming as it can get, humanity’s biggest weapon against it is awareness and education. Routine check-ups and self-assessments help in early detection of cancer which is the second-most ideal situation in the scenario.

Jenna Fischer | Credits: Image by The Heart Truth, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

We are well into October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The month is more than wearing pink ribbons; it is about the countless women who have been affected by breast cancer and the countless who will be in the future. It is important to learn stories about brave women who have battled the disease in order to be aware of the dos and don’ts. Here are a few celebrities who either lost in battle or emerged victorious.

I’m 80 years old and this is my 60th year in the entertainment business. It’s hard to believe even as I write it. Most of my career was in public relations, working with the biggest stars of the day. There were too many secrets in Hollywood back then, but I sometimes miss the mystery of icons like Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Ali MacGraw, Diahann Carroll, Charlton Heston and so many others. They spoke to the audience mainly through their work and carefully controlled press to promote their latest film. That mystery allowed me to pull off one of my most unusual achievements for a client when I accompanied actress and photojournalist Gina Lollobrigida to Cuba in 1974 for an exclusive photo essay and interview with Fidel Castro. As I watched Castro playing 5 on 5 basketball in an empty arena, I asked myself how a girl from a small town in Virginia ended up here.

Another member of the White Collar crimes unit is on board for the upcoming revival.

Sharif Atkins, who played FBI Special Agent Clinton Jones throughout the USA Network drama’s six seasons, reveals to TVLine that his character is a part of the potential new series. (TVLine has reached out to 20th Television for comment.)

More from TVLine<em>White Collar</em> Creator Reveals Title for Potential Revival, Offers Status Update<em>White Collar</em> Trio Confirm Revival Involvement, Tout ‘Fantastic Script’The Buccaneers: Leighton Meester Joins Season 2 Cast

“I’ve talked to [creator] Jeff Eastin a bit here and there, and yeah, Jones is still in the world,...

A White Collar revival now has a title and a status update from creator, writer and executive producer Jeff Eastin. “It’s coming together,” Eastin wrote in a post on X, along with a screenshot of the script and the title White Collar Renaissance. The pilot episode also is titled “Masquerade.”

There have long been talks of the potential revival series. Star Matt Bomer told Deadline’s Pete Hammond in an interview earlier this year that a revival series is “technically in the works,” adding ‘it’s moving in the right direction and seems it could be a very real thing in the next year or two.” Eastin then confirmed in June that an updated version of the police procedural is finally in development.

“We’re gonna reboot. I’m writing the script,” Eastin said, as quoted by Variety. He appeared at the trade’s TV festival with stars Bomer,...

The latest White Collar revival update: The series has officially been named!

“Can report the studio is very happy with the new White Collar script,” creator, writer and executive producer Jeff Eastin wrote on X early Wednesday morning. He then posted a screenshot of the script with the title White Collar Renaissance emblazoned at the top.

More from TVLineModern Family's Eric Stonestreet Says It Was 'Hurtful' When ABC Passed on Cam-Mitchell Spinoff: 'It Would Have Been a Slam Dunk'Cold Case Reboot Not Moving Forward at CBSWeeds Creator Calls Long-Gestating Sequel a 'Money Grab,' Says Subject Matter 'Is Not as...

Medical dramas are a popular genre, but NBC’s Brilliant Minds differs from the rest because it’s based on the life and work of the real Dr. Oliver Sacks and his longtime friend, Dr. Carol Burnett.

The series focuses on a larger-than-life neurologist, Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto), who isn’t afraid to break the rules to help his patients live their lives.

While many stories focus on him, the series wouldn’t have worked without his oldest friend, Dr. Carol Pierce, recruiting him to Bronx Hospital. Together, they run the dream neuropsychology team to help many patients others have given up on.

(Brendan Meadows/NBC)

TV Fanatic chatted with Tamberla Perry about playing Dr. Carol Pierce, working with Zachary Quinto, and why Brilliant Minds differs from other medical dramas.

She was charming to talk to, and after speaking with her, I’m even more excited to see where this series is headed.

Halle Berry has been very careful about the film roles she pursued ever since her Jungle Fever days. But there was one type of film role she used to reject for the sake of all her fans who’d look up to her. Soon, however, Berry discovered doing so might’ve just been limiting her career.

Halle Berry wondered how many great film scripts she was trying to turn down for the sake of being a role model Halle Berry | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Berry knew the importance of having a role model as much as anyone. She’s been very candid about the identity issues she experienced growing up with interracial parents. Since her mother was white, the X-Men star turned to television to find powerful and positive images of black women. One of the actors she discovered, Diahann Carroll, set Berry on the path to becoming an actor herself.

James Earl Jones in ‘Coming 2 America’ (Photo Courtesy of Amazon Studios)

On September 9, 2024, we lost one of the great ones: James Earl Jones. Jones is one of the few people to achieve the Egot, but more important than awards was the passion, commitment, craft, and just sheer scale he brought to every role whether it was as the leading man, a supporting character, or just a voice. And he brought all that to the table whether he was doing Shakespeare or Sesame Street. He was truly a rare talent.

James Earl Jones made his Broadway debut in 1957 but gained acclaim for his work with the New York Shakespeare Festival taking on the Bard’s tragic heroes of Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear. He would win a Tony Award for Best Actor for The Great White Hope (1968), a role that he reprised for the 1970 film adaptation, earning him his...

Lee Daniels is anything but typical. He’s made sobering character studies (“Precious”), historical and political epics (“The Butler”), and even supernatural horror films (“The Deliverance”), so when it comes to his choices in the Criterion Closet, it’s not surprising to learn his range of influence would be so eclectic. Daniels himself calls the space a “candy store” at the top of his video, signaling a visit that will see him lean into his varied taste and take home selections that encompass Italian surrealism, the work of John Waters, and 1950s noir. First in the bag for Daniels was Essential Fellini, a box set that features 14 of the beloved filmmaker’s work.

“Fellini is my god, my hero,” said Daniels. “Fellini made it possible for me to think that I was a filmmaker because none of his stuff makes sense really, at the end of the day, but it does make sense.

James Earl Jones, a commanding presence onscreen who nonetheless gained greater fame off-camera as the sonorous voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and Mufasa, the benevolent leader in The Lion King, died Monday. He was 93.

Jones, who burst into national prominence in 1970 with his powerful Oscar-nominated performance as America’s first Black heavyweight champion in The Great White Hope, died at his home in Dutchess County, New York, Independent Artist Group announced.

The distinguished star made his big-screen debut in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) and was noteworthy in many other films, including Claudine (1974) opposite Diahann Carroll; Field of Dreams (1989), as the reclusive author Terence Mann; and The Sandlot (1993), as the intimidating neighborhood guy Mr. Mertle.

For his work on the stage, Jones earned two best actor Tony Awards: for originating the role of Jack Jefferson — who was...

James Earl Jones, the Egot-winning actor known for voicing Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise for four decades, has died at age 93.

Jones passed away at his home in Dutchess County, New York, on Monday, September 9th, according to the actor’s representatives.

The son of actor and boxer Robert Earl Jones, James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi on January 17th, 1931. His father left the family shortly after his birth, and Jones was raised by his maternal grandparents in Michigan from the age of five. Jones found the transition to living with his grandparents so traumatic that he developed a stutter and spent his time in school mute. He credited his high school English teacher, Donald Crouch, for helping him with his stutter; Crouch discovered Jones had a talent for poetry, and encouraged him to read his work aloud in class.

After graduating high school in 1949, Jones attended the University of Michigan,...

A White Collar revival is possibly coming, and one of the leads has some “fantastic news.” Matt Bomer has spoken up about the revival and explained what fans can expect from the possible upcoming series.

Here is what you need to know about the White Collar revival.

Matt Bomer Talks White Collar Revival Series

While the White Collar revival is not a sure thing yet, it sounds like there is a good chance it could end up getting made. Not only that, but Matt Bomer said that he had read the reboot script, and he called it “fantastic.”

White Collar – YouTube

“It’s fantastic, and it’s completely in line and in keeping with the show that we were able to do six seasons of,” Bomer said (via People). “It really just feels like he was able to pick up the right where we left off.”

He called it “a really intelligent,...

While the White Collar revival hasn’t officially been greenlit yet, there is a script and, according to star Matt Bomer, it’s “fantastic.”

The Emmy-nominated Fellow Travelers star spoke to People about the reboot and his hopes for it coming to life.

“[The script is] completely in line and in keeping with the show that we were able to do six seasons of,” Bomer told the publication. “It really just feels like he was able to pick up the right where we left off.”

He continued, “It’s a really intelligent, fun, organic way to bring all the characters back together to pay tribute to Willie Garson, Diahann Carroll and folks we’ve lost since the show ended, which was really important to me. It’s something that if you enjoyed the show, you really will have a good time watching it.”

The decision to move forward with the revival is above Bomer’s pay grade,...

Matt Bomer is reflecting on White Collar.

The 46-year-old actor addressed the reboot script written by co-creator Jeff Eastin in an interview with People.

Keep reading to find out more…

“It’s fantastic, and it’s completely in line and in keeping with the show that we were able to do six seasons of,” he said, adding: “It really just feels like he was able to pick up the right where we left off.”

“It’s a really intelligent, fun, organic way to bring all the characters back together to pay tribute to Willie Garson, Diahann Carroll and folks we’ve lost since the show ended, which was really important to me,” he went on to say.

“It’s something that if you enjoyed the show, you really will have a good time watching it.”

As far as whether the reboot is definitely moving forward, he said: “Many of those...

Only Murders in the Building, which John Hoffman created with Steve Martin, received 21 Emmy noms this year, including one for best comedy series — a feat Hoffman, a six-time Emmy nominee, tells The Hollywood Reporter is “affirming.”

***

How did the story at the center of season three come together?

For me to have any confidence in leading a writers room and building a season of a show like this with a cast like this, I have to feel I know this story in my bones. I based Oliver [Martin Short’s character] on an old theater professor of mine I was very close with until he passed away, Dr. Richard Mason — he was known as “The Mayor of Charles Street” down in Greenwich Village. The pursuit of a theatrical endeavor through the mind of Oliver, I knew, would require a big swing, especially when we decided that it made sense for...

Shonda Lynn Rhimes is one of the most creative, impactful, and unapologetic producers and screenwriters in television history. She made history as the first African-American woman to create and executive produce a Top 10 network series with ‘Grey's Anatomy.’ Additionally, Rhimes is the only creator with three TV dramas— ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Scandal,’ and ‘Private Practice’—surpassing 100 episodes. In 2017, she became the third Black woman, following Oprah Winfrey and Diahann Carroll, to be inducted into the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. Her accolades include awards such as the Golden Globe, Directors Guild of America Award, and Writers Guild of America Award. Beyond her accolades, Rhimes is the visionary behind Shondaland, a groundbreaking storytelling company that has redefined television. She also serves as the creative director for Dove’s #RealBeauty campaign, authored the New York Times bestseller "Year of Yes," and developed a masterclass course on TV writing. Rhimes'...

Who is the best female TV star of all time? Our new photo gallery above takes on the tough task of ranking the 30 greatest actresses and performers. Agree or disagree with our choices?

With over 70 years of television to consider, we had to provide ourselves with a few rules to help simplify things. One of those was that every woman in our gallery must have been an ongoing leading lady at some point, preferably more often than not. That’s why you will not see such classic supporting actresses as Vivian Vance, Doris Roberts or Rhea Perlman.

In order to place them in the rankings, we were looking at a combination of quality (top rated shows with the public or critics), quantity (number of shows and TV appearances), Emmy wins and nominations, plus overall legacy and iconic nature. They also needed to be on television regularly for at least the last 15 years or more.

Quite a few of your favorite television performers have plenty of Emmy Awards on their shelves… Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Allison Janney, Cloris Leachman, Tina Fey. Other TV legends like Henry Winkler and Bob Newhart just picked up their first and only statuettes in recent years. But how about the many others still waiting for their trophy? Tour through our photo gallery above featuring the Top 30 greatest TV stars who have never won an Emmy (arranged in alphabetical order). We only chose people with long-running television careers without reaching this one singular achievement. Congratulations to Jason Bateman for finally getting off of our list in 2019!

Several people in our gallery are still actively working, with some of them on this year’s Emmy ballot seeking another shot at the gold. Those names include Tim Allen (“Last Man Standing”), Kristen Bell (“The Good Place”), Steve Carell, Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”), Lauren Graham (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist...

by Cláudio Alves

Last weekend, on Mother's Day of all days, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore celebrated its 50th anniversary. The occasion calls for some acknowledgment here at The Film Experience, where actressexual Oscar obsessives abound. After all, Ellen Burstyn won the Best Actress race at the 47th Academy Awards, triumphing over what could be described as the greatest lineup in the category's history. Along with the eventual victor, AMPAS nominated Diahann Carroll in Claudine, Faye Dunaway in Chinatown, Valerie Perrine in Lenny, and Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence. They might have also nominated Liv Ullmann in Scenes from a Marriage had she been eligible, but we'll get there in time.

As Faye Dunaway presents a new doc at Cannes, the stars have aligned to relitigate the 1974 Best Actress race. Are you ready? Let's go…...

This Sunday night, tune in to TV One for an inspiring episode of “Unsung” as they present “Best in Black: Trailblazers” in Season 17 Episode 21. Get ready to be moved as the show shines a spotlight on influential TV pioneers who have left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and beyond.

From trailblazers like Diahann Carroll and Nat King Cole to groundbreaking figures such as Arsenio Hall and RuPaul, this episode celebrates those who not only changed the game but also helped change the world. Viewers will be treated to insightful portraits of these remarkable individuals, highlighting their contributions and the challenges they faced along the way.

Tune in at 9:00 Pm this Sunday, May 5th, 2024, and join “Unsung” as they honor the legacy of these cultural icons. With powerful storytelling and compelling interviews, this episode promises to be a poignant reminder of the impact that trailblazers can have on society.

Kim Gwizdala and Nikka Markarian have driven four hours to be here today. They’ve dressed in Dallas-style outfits (cropped jackets and black suede cowboy boots) and are sporting Reagan-era ’dos (blown out and heavily feathered). And now, these best friends from Las Vegas, both 32, will spend several more hours in line at a hotel in Burbank, waiting to meet the 83-year-old actress who, decades ago ­— before Gwizdala and Markarian were even born — played J.R. Ewing’s long-suffering wife. The character who tried to buy a baby on the black market, spent the better part of a season locked away in a sanitarium and whose sister shot her husband.

“Linda Gray!” they chime in unison, as if reciting a holy incantation.

And those are just two of the more than 2,500 rabid fans who have converged at the Burbank Marriott on this hazy weekend in March for The Hollywood Show,...

Aimée Croysdill

Clients: Alison Oliver (Saltburn), Nicola Coughlan (Barbie, Bridgerton)

“I assisted Avigail and Damian Collins — they were styling all the coolest music acts, including Rihanna, as part of Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn’s team,” says the U.K. stylist, who crossed over from the pop world to Hollywood. Croysdill is gearing up for Bridgerton season three with Nicola Coughlan, whose character, Penelope Featherington, will be the focus. The stylist will simultaneously be working on premieres for the Back to Black Amy Winehouse biopic with lead star Marisa Abela. “Of course, we’ll have some subtle nods to Amy. Oh, and we love black,” says Croysdill, who recently dressed Abela in black and red Moschino inspired by Winehouse’s 2007 performance of “Rehab” at the Brit Awards.

Danyul Brown

Client: Lisa Rinna

“Lisa [Rinna] and I crossed paths a little over a year ago in NYC during fashion week. I fell in love with her energy.

On March 15, 2024 Netflix released “Shirley” in limited theaters before the movie officially launches on the streamer March 22. Oscar winner Regina King stars as Shirley Chisholm, the trailblazing politician who ran for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination after becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress.

The film has received predominantly positive reviews from critics, earning early awards buzz for King. As of this writing it holds fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 79% rating from critics and an even more impressive 100% score from everyday moviegoers. The ensemble cast includes Lance Reddick, Terrence Howard, Lucas Hedges and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Read our full review round-up below.

See ‘Shirley’ trailer: Oscar winner Regina King stars as historic Black politician Shirley Chisholm [Watch]

Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times praises the film, stating, “Regina King does great justice to the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, delivering a performance filled with power, humor, warmth and grace.” Concluding, “The late...

One of 2024’s obsessions is “Feud: “Capote vs. the Swans.” The FX on Hulu limited series revolves around the best-selling novelist Truman Capote‘s friendship with several of the highest of New York’s society women include Babe Paley, Slim Keith and Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The women treat him as a sort of father confessor, but when he publishes an excerpt from what he considers his will be his masterwork “Answered Prayers” in Esquire — a thinly veiled account of their lives and secrets –they feel betrayed and turn their back on their once trusted friend. He spends the rest of his life trying to get back into their good graces.

Everyone knows Capote wrote “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and his superb “In Cold Blood” and was a witty albeit inebriated guest on countless talk shows, but how much do you really know about him?

Capote was...

Netflix’s Shirley is in so many ways a companion piece to the streaming platform’s recent Rustin that the two films could be entries in the same anthology series. Both shed light on influential Black political figures too long undervalued in historical accounts of their era. Both are driven by commanding performances from first-rate actors in the title roles. Both focus on specific chapters of the lives they depict, mostly skirting the clichés of cradle-to-grave biopics. But both also struggle to frame their subjects in the forceful dramatic terms they merit, getting stuck in too much expository talk and at times nudging reclamation into hagiography.

There’s a moment late in the film, where after long resisting the notion of campaigning in California as a waste of time and resources in her run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (Regina King) finally agrees to make a play...

There’s no doubt that John Ridley’s Shirley is trying to make a statement about marginalized peoples’ role in shaping America and their power when it comes to making their presence known to those who would never see them otherwise. But the film also uses one of our greatest and most complex Black leaders to make that statement, and it’s cheaper for it, reducing the arc of Shirley Chisholm’s life to a handful of easy platitudes and inspirational movie clichés. In the end, this sub-Sorkin-esque political potboiler sidelines her most meaningful community work to the fact that she tried and failed to run for president.

The film’s first scenes speed run through roughly a decade of Chisholm’s political life, largely glossing over her time as a teacher and years of activism for equal rights. Much of that time saw her struggling to be heard as a woman of color.

“Abbott Elementary” star and creator Quinta Brunson took home the Emmy for best actress in a comedy series on Monday night.

“I don’t even know why I’m so emotional. I think, like, the Carol Burnett of it all,” Brunson said, beginning to choke up at the top of her acceptance speech. Burnett, smiling at the remark, had presented the award — the second major prize of the evening.

“Thank you so much. I love making ‘Abbott Elementary’ so much. And I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy. I say that every time. I just love comedy so much. I’m so happy to be able to get this. I didn’t prepare anything, because I just didn’t think — oh god,” Brunson said, before continuing. “I love my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brothers, my entire family so much. I love my husband.

Reggie Wells, who served as Oprah Winfrey’s personal makeup artist for nearly three decades, died Monday of natural causes in his hometown of Baltimore, The Baltimore Banner reported. He was 76.

Wells’ clients also included Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Joan Rivers, Whitney Houston, Halle Berry, Diahann Carroll, Robin Givens and Lauryn Hill.

Wells received five Daytime Emmy nominations for his work on The Oprah Winfrey Show, winning in 1995. He also appeared on her talk show and traveled all around the world with her, including to South Africa when she opened a school for girls.

“Reggie Wells was an artist who used his palette of talent to create beauty no matter the canvas,” Winfrey said in a statement. “For many years he was my makeup artist. He called me and everyone he considered a friend ‘Mary.’ He always made me feel beautiful. Ooh my, how we’d laugh and laugh during the process.

Colman Domingo and Shonda Rhimes are among the special honorees for the 2024 Black Reel Awards and set to accept prizes named for the late Chadwick Boseman and Diahann Caroll, respectively.

The annual Black Reel Awards, which salute the excellence of African Americans and the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora in the global entertainment industry, as assessed by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African Americans in Film’s (Faaaf) voting membership. Joining Domingo and Rhimes as special honorees are costume designer Ruth E. Carter, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Samuel L. Jackson.

The 24th annual Black Reel Awards will be broadcast on January 16, 2024, with this year’s film and TV honors ceremonies combined in a temporary change due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Domingo, who is already a two-time Black Reel Award winner, will accept the inaugural Chadwick Boseman Vanguard award for his performances in “Rustin” and “The Color Purple.

"Star Wars" fans of a certain age sat through it on television. Younger fans had to hunt for it on the Internet. It was the debut of Boba Fett, and there was an excruciatingly long Wookiee domestic scene without any dialogue but plenty of grunts and groans. Yes, friends, I'm talking about the "Star Wars Holiday Special." Carrie Fisher sings while high as a kite, Mark Hamill wears an astonishing amount of makeup, and Harrison Ford is clearly unhappy to be there. 

It's full of all sorts of weirdness, like Chewbacca's (Peter Mayhew) wife Malla watching a cooking show while her hairy paws cook food without gloves (eww), and Chewie's father Itchy watches soft porn in the form of a VR recording of a singing Diahann Carroll. His kid Lumpy watches some sort of variety show acrobats ... it's a mess. 

It wasn't just a disaster to watch. It was actually...

Suits isn’t the only USA Network series looking to make a comeback.

There is “very legitimate talk” about a revival of fellow “blue skies” drama White Collar, star Matt Bomer told TVLine on Friday while promoting his Showtime limited series Fellow Travelers.

More from TVLineNew <em>Suits</em> Series Eyed Amid Franchise’s Exploding PopularityMatt Bomer Remembers <i>White Collar</i> Co-Star Willie Garson on 1-Year Anniversary of His DeathUpside-Down NCIS: Sydney Promos Will Turn Heads - Exclusive First Look

“There has been talk. It’s actually very legitimate talk, it’s in conversation,” said Bomer, who played White Collar con man Neal Caffrey for six seasons.

Star Wars fans will truly get to feel A Disturbance in the Force when a documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special — which debuted 45 years ago today, on CBS — is released.

Having premiered back in March at the SXSW Film Festival, A Disturbance in the Force will be released on digital and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Dec. 5, our sister site Variety reports. The 86-minute docu will also play in select theaters across the U.S. ahead of its digital release.

More from TVLineThe Late Ray Stevenson Was Terrific on Disney+'s Ahsoka Series - But Now His Role Should Be...

“Let’s just triple down here and go for something of scale that we haven’t tried to hit before and be a bit ambitious,” declares John Hoffman about going all-out for the third season of multiple Emmy-nominated “Only Murders in the Building.” For our recent webchat he adds, “everything about the setup was was theatrical in its nature. So, a heightened ambition felt of a piece with what I was hoping to make happen with the story and with the execution of the season for sure.” We talked with Hoffman as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2023/2024 awards contenders. Watch our exclusive video interview above.

See ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 3 reviews: Meryl Streep is ‘one of the most inspired casting decisions of all time’

Hoffman co-created “Only Murders in the Building” with comedy legend Steve Martin, who stars in the...

In the 54 years since Diahann Carroll (“Julia”) blazed a trail as the first Black female recipient of a TV Golden Globe, the list of small screen Black actresses who have won the favor of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has grown to include 12 more names, including 2023 comedic and dramatic champs Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”) and Zendaya (“Euphoria”). While this roster has long since covered TV movies and both continuing program genres, no Black woman has yet been awarded a Golden Globe for a limited series performance. There is a decent chance of that soon changing, however, given the winning potential of possible 2024 Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress contenders Uzo Aduba (“Painkiller”) and Dominique Fishback (“Swarm”).

Possible Golden Globes newcomer Fishback stars on Amazon Prime Video’s “Swarm” as Dre Greene, a mentally unstable young woman whose unhealthy obsession with a Beyoncé-esque pop star drives a wedge between her and her foster sister,...

The Williams sisters are getting back into the producing game.

Serena and Venus Williams, along with their sister Isha Price, have joined documentary Between Starshine and Clay: The Hidden Diary of Diahann Carroll as executive producers alongside Katy Barksdale and Valerie Gamache. The project, currently in production, is being co-directed by Susanne Rostock and Carroll’s daughter, Suzanne Kay, who are producing alongside Color Farm Media’s Erika Alexander and Ben Arnon.

“After my mother’s passing in October 2019, I discovered her hidden diary,” Kay said in a statement. “Our relationship was challenging. I think she intended for me to find it. So, as her only child, this is also a personal journey to gain a deeper understanding about who my mother was.”

In her career, Carroll broke through multiple color barriers for Black women, becoming the first to star in her own television series (Julia) and the first to...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan, ‘Go Forward’.. photo: Philippe Antonello / ©Amazon /Courtesy Everett Collection

Weekly Commentary: Quinta Brunson is the front-runner to win her first acting Emmy for her charming turn as Janine Teagues, the optimistic 2nd-grade teacher from ABC’s hit mockumentary.

This post contains spoilers for "Only Murders in the Building."

Of the main additions to the cast of "Only Murders in the Building" season 3, Loretta (Meryl Streep) is perhaps the most compelling. She's a talented actress who has nevertheless gone her whole life without booking a part, not until Oliver (Martin Short) notices her for his new play. When Oliver asks her that long-awaited question, "Where have you been?" her reaction is one of the show's most heartwarming, beautiful moments. Throughout the first two episodes, Streep is deeply sympathetic in her role as an underdog actress trying desperately not to blow her first big shot; it's just a shame she might have killed a dude.

But regardless of whether adult Loretta is a murderer, we at least know child Loretta was innocent. The opening scene where child Loretta goes to a Broadway musical and falls in love with the theater is still pure and wholesome,...

Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers from the first two episodes of “Only Murders in the Building” Season 3, “The Show Must…” and “The Beat Goes On,” now streaming on Hulu.

When “Only Murders in the Building” picks up at the start of Season 3, fans aren’t greeted with the familiar faces of crime-solving trio Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short) and Charles (Steve Martin). Instead, they’re dropped into a 1962 production of “No Strings” on Broadway, seen through the eyes of a pigtailed 10-year-old later revealed to be actor (and murder suspect) Loretta Durkin, portrayed as an adult by Meryl Streep.

For series co-creator and writer John Hoffman, who also directed the first two episodes of the new season, meeting Streep for the first time was daunting — until she revealed a surprising connection to her character that put him immediately at ease.

“My nerves were off the charts,” Hoffman recalls...

The question asked back in the ’80s and ’90s was never, “Have you seen The Star Wars Holiday Special?” It was always, “Have you heard of The Star Wars Holiday Special?”

We’re talking about a 1978 air date, after all. Someone must have owned a Vcr, since bootleg copies of the maligned variety show do exist on the Internet (George Lucas has vehemently denounced the project and even Disney has refused to release a “clean” copy beyond putting the animated segment “The Story of the Faithful Wookiee” on Disney+.) But its existence was akin to legend back then. Just knowing was enough to be cool with details being learned rather than experienced.

So it’s shocking that it’s taken until 2023 to finally receive a “definitive” look at its creation and eventual lambasting. Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s A Disturbance in the Force thus seems almost like a miracle...

The Primetime Emmys are not necessarily known for honoring projects featuring casts that are primarily minority/people of color. The TV academy has never, for instance, given the Best Drama Series trophy to such a show. The statuette for Best Comedy Series has been won by a series featuring a largely minority cast precisely once: “The Cosby Show” in 1985. But the category of top limited/anthology/miniseries has paid golden tribute to programs with mostly minority casts a handful of times before, helping give Netflix’s “Beef” with its predominantly Asian American lineup a genuine shot to take home the biggest prize.

“Beef” tied with “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” for the most nominations among all non-regular series programs with 13. It’s presently in the lead among Gold Derby voters in the limited series race with 16/5 combined odds. Its star Ali Wong is also in first place among limited lead actresses,...

Netflix’s “The Perfect Find” director Numa Perrier collected generational references in her film adaptation of Tia Williams’ novel.

The story follows Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) and Eric Combs (Keith Powers) who gravitate toward each other despite a substantial age gap and the fact that Eric is the son of Jenna’s boss Darcy (Gina Torres).

The two pair up for a creative project for Darzine, Darcy’s fashion magazine. The project, which eventually becomes “The Perfect Find” highlights fashions inspired by Black starlets of Hollywood’s past. Jenna and Eric also bond over their love for old Hollywood — like Nina Mae McKinney, who pops up throughout the film with clips from “Hallelujah!,” a Greta Garbo clip from “The Flesh and Devil” and Spike Lee’s “School Daze,” featured at a drive-in movie date.

Perrier explained the process behind making references to classic Black Hollywood, first during Jenna’s swap meet browsing,...

Judith James, a film, TV and Broadway producer who was Richard Dreyfuss’ producing partner for many years and worked on such projects as Quiz Show, Mr. Holland’s Opus and Eleanor: In Her Own Words, has died July 14 of cancer in Santa Barbara, CA. She was 86.

Her son, Jackson James, revealed the news.

“From the minute I met Judy James at the Mark Taper Forum [in Los Angeles], I knew I had found someone who had the same passion for storytelling that I did,” The Goodbye Girl Oscar winner Dreyfuss said in a statement. “In all the years we were producing partners, we were of like mind, not gender, and we always found a way to agree and wouldn’t have done anything without each others’ approval. She was a wonderful woman and a great friend.”

Born Judith Rutherford, James moved to New York after college to pursue a career in theater. She...

Judith James, the longtime producing partner of Richard Dreyfuss who worked with the Oscar winner on films including Mr. Holland’s Opus, Quiz Show and Mad Dog Time, has died. She was 86.

James died Friday at her home in Santa Barbara after a bout with cancer, according to her son, Jackson James.

James and Dreyfuss worked together for 35 years, and their partnership also included the telefilms Funny, You Don’t Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville and the Prisoner of Honor, which aired in 1987 and 1991, respectively, and The Lightkeepers (2009). They were co-writers on You Don’t Look 200 as well.

“From the minute I met Judy James at the Mark Taper Forum, I knew I had found someone who had the same passion for storytelling that I did,” Dreyfuss said in a statement. “In all the years we were producing partners, we were of like mind, not gender, and we always found...

Juneteenth, which falls on June 19, commemorates the fall of slavery in the United States.

It celebrates the anniversary of the order made by Major General Gordon Granger on June 1965 that proclaimed freedom for slaves in Texas. The order was actually made two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

In a tweet Monday, former President Obama explained it as the “delayed but welcome news of freedom reaching the enslaved Black folks in Galveston, Texas.” In 2021, President Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Many networks are marking the occasion with Juneteenth TV specials or movie marathons showcasing Black talent and/or excellence. See our viewing guide below:

ABC

ABC is commemorating Juneteenth and Black Music Month with “Hip Hop at 50,” a “Soul of a Nation” presentation airing at 10 p.m. Et. It’ll stream Tuesday on Hulu. It’ll be hosted by Angie Martinez and feature Master P, Mc Lyte,...

ABFF Ventures, the company behind the American Film Festival (ABFF), is rebranding as Nice Crowd.

The company founded by CEO Jeff Friday and president Nicole Friday is kicking off their 27th annual ABFF in Miami Beach this week and is expanding their event offerings to include comedy, health & wellness, food and fine arts.

Launching in October in Washington, D.C., the first event under the Nice Crowd banner will be Because They’re Funny (Btf), a new comedy festival showcasing comedic talent within Bipoc communities.

“We are so thrilled to announce our new comedy festival, Because They’re Funny, which launches in Washington, DC, the hometown of many of today’s most beloved comedians of color,” the Fridays said in a statement. “While we proudly reflect on this festival and the company’s many accomplishments over the years, we look forward to an even brighter future, with even more incredible event offerings,...

I vividly remember the first time I saw a Black woman in a toothpaste ad.

There I sat on our shag carpet, my goldfish behind me and a poster of The Fonz just steps away, taped to my bedroom door. I was watching TV and suddenly a beautiful woman in a short natural filled my screen, her teeth perfect and gleaming. I sat, mesmerized, and watched her shine. When her 30 seconds were up, I raced back to tell my mother: “Mamma, there was a Black woman on TV!”

All Gen X kids timed their day around Saturday morning cartoons, Zoom and Kids Are People Too. After, we rode our bikes till the streetlights came on. For Black Gen X, the jumble of Huffies, Big Wheels and metal skates on someone’s front yard let the little kids know it was time for Fat Albert, What’s Happening! or Good Times.

Jim Brown, the NFL titan who appeared in “The Dirty Dozen,” many Blaxploitation films plus Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday,” “The Running Man,” Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks” and Spike Lee’s “He Got Game,” to name a few, died Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 87.

His wife Monique posted the news of his death on Instagram, saying, “He passed peacefully last night at our L.A. home.”

In nine extraordinary seasons as a fullback with the Cleveland Browns, Brown set an array of NFL records. In 2002, The Sporting News named him the greatest professional football player ever. That phenomenal athleticism and a charismatic personality made him bankable as the first African American action star.

“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Monique and their family,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Jim Brown was a gifted athlete — one of the most dominant players to...

What do the 76th annual Tonys have in common with the 17th annual awards?

Stephen Sondheim.

The late, great influential composer is represented in this year’s Tonys with the acclaimed, popular revivals of his 1979 classic “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Street” earning eight nominations and 1987’s “Into the Woods” receiving six.

Sixty years ago, it was Sondheim’s musical comedy “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” which dominated the Tony Awards with six wins: best musical, best producer for Harold Prince, best director for George Abbott, best author for Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, leading actor for Zero Mostel and featured actor for David Burns. Ironically, Sondheim failed to earn a nomination for best original score (music and/or lyrics) written for the theater. He would not win for his tunes until “Company” in 1971. Vying in that category were “Stop the World I Wanted...

“I am Black woman; hear me roar!”

The hilarity of Black women on television has been sorely missed and ignored by the Television Academy over multiple decades. However, this year’s slate of outstanding lead and supporting comedy actress seem to be the two spots preventing an #EmmysSoWhite moment from occurring.

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Emmy predictions in all categories.

Quinta Brunson is the front-runner to win her first acting Emmy for her charming turn as Janine Teagues, the optimistic 2nd-grade teacher from ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” With a beautiful sophomore season in the books and the added benefit of Jean Smart being out of the competition for “Hacks,” she seems perfectly aligned with the Emmy cosmos to land much-deserved recognition. The possible recognition would be long overdue for Black comedians on television.

Pasadena, CA – September 13: Actress Isabel Sanford attends the 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy...