News

Mitzi McCall, whose five-decade resume in entertainment included 11 films, 14 TV shows and many animated series voice-overs, died August 8 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank at age 93. No details on cause were immediately available.

Her husband and comedy partner, Charlie Brill, confirmed her death in a Facebook post. “I lost my Mitzi last night. Rest in peace my one and only love…Rest in peace and laughter.”

McCall and Brill appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, better known as the U.S. television debut of The Beatles; the pair’s act can be seen on the DVD of the Beatles’ appearance on the show. They were interviewed in 2005 for Public Radio International’s “Big Break” episode of This American Life regarding their Beatles-Sullivan experience, including a dressing room encounter with John Lennon.

McCall started her entertainment career on the Kiddie Castle program on Kdka-tv in Pittsburgh.

Global superstar Adele says she plans to take a “big break” from music after her Weekends With Adele Las Vegas residency ends on Nov. 23.

In an interview with Germany’s Zdf public broadcast service, Adele said, “I don’t have any plans for new music at all,” adding, “I want a big break after this and I think I want to do other creative things, just for a little while.”

Prior to her return to Vegas this November, Adele has a scheduled series of concerts in Munich at a venue specialty built for her. Those dates are: August 2, 3, 9, 10, 14, 16, 23, 24, 30 and 31.

Adele began her November Weekends with Adele Vegas residency in 2022 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. She told Zdf that more than 100 Vegas shows have left her feeling her “tank is quite empty.”

Adele has recently said that she’d like to pivot to movies for a bit, and that she...

Terry Carter, best known for his portrayal of Sgt. Joe Broadhurst on NBC’s McCloud from 1970 to 1977, has died, his son confirms to The New York Times. He was 95 years old.

A cause of death was not given, but according to his son, Carter passed on Tuesday at his apartment in Manhattan.

More from TVLineMeg Bennett, Daytime Emmy-Winning Young & Restless Alum, Dead at 75Stephanie Sparks, Host of the Golf Channel's Big Break, Dead at 50Mandisa, Grammy Award-Winning American Idol Alum, Dead at 47

Carter’s big break on the small screen came in 1955 when he was cast as Private Sugarman on The Phil Silvers Show,...

Meg Bennett, a Daytime Emmy Award-winning soap actress and writer whose credits included Santa Barbara and The Young and the Restless, has died. She was 75.

According to her obituary, Bennett passed away of cancer on April 11.

More from TVLineStephanie Sparks, Host of the Golf Channel's Big Break, Dead at 50Mandisa, Grammy Award-Winning American Idol Alum, Dead at 47New Daytime Soap The Gates Officially Ordered at CBS - When Will It Premiere?

Bennett played Megan Richardson in 1989 on NBC’s Santa Barbara, a soap centered on the Capwells, a wealthy Californian family. Bennett’s Richardson was an author tasked with writing a biography about C.

Stephanie Sparks, who was best known for co-hosting the Golf Channel’s Big Break reality series, died on April 13 at the age of 50. A cause of death has not been disclosed. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Sparks emerged as an exceptional amateur golf player, securing victory at the esteemed North and South Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst in 1992. The following year, she continued her winning streak at the Women’s Western Amateur, Women’s Eastern Amateur and the West Virginia State Amateur. Sparks represented the U.S. in the 1994 Curtis Cup team and earned recognition as an All-America selection at Duke University. Her professional career was short-lived, with her chronic back pain being the reason she had to step away from the sport after only one season on the Lgpa in 2000. She ultimately found her new calling on television, working as the host of multiple shows at Golf Channel, including Big Break,...

Exclusive: The Black List and Wif have announced the participants of the 2024 Episodic Lab, which focuses on preparing women writers and writers of underrepresented genders for a career in television writing.

“Coming out of an incredibly challenging year for our industry, the Black List and Wif are dedicated to ensuring talented writers of all genders still have the opportunities they need to be discovered, supported, and most importantly hired in the world of television,” said Megan Halpern, Senior Vice President at the Black List.

Maikiko James, Senior Program Director at Wif, added, “We’re thrilled about this year’s class of Episodic writers and the stories they have to share and we’re excited for them to join the rich community we’ve cultivated over the last eight years of this Lab.”

Mentors for this year include Glen Mazzara (The Dark Towter), Liz Hannah (The Girl From Plainville), Andy Siara...

Get ready for an exciting new episode of “90 Day: The Single Life” airing on TLC at 8:00 Pm on Saturday, February 24th, 2024. In Season 4, titled “More to Love: Natalie’s Big Break,” viewers will be treated to bonus scenes and captivating storylines that delve deeper into the lives of their favorite cast members.

In this episode, Chantel is eager to take her relationship with Giannis to the next level, while Veronica finds herself caught in the middle of a heated argument between her boyfriend and Tim. Meanwhile, Natalie hosts a dinner party in her new apartment, where she auditions for a role over dinner, showcasing her talent and ambition.

Additionally, Tyray embarks on a boys’ trip to New Orleans, adding a touch of adventure and excitement to the mix. With plenty of drama, romance, and unexpected twists, “More to Love: Natalie’s Big Break” promises to keep viewers on...

This Monday at 8:00 Pm on TLC, “90 Day: The Single Life” unveils Season 4 Episode 5, titled “Natalie’s Big Break.” The episode brings a whirlwind of relationship dynamics and personal journeys for the cast.

Chantel finds herself at a crossroads as she contemplates the next steps with Giannis, adding a layer of anticipation to their evolving connection. Meanwhile, Veronica faces relationship challenges, as her boyfriend clashes with Tim in a dramatic confrontation. Natalie takes center stage as she not only hosts a dinner party in her new apartment but also auditions for a significant role, showcasing her aspirations beyond the dating world.

Adding a touch of adventure, Tyray embarks on a boys trip to New Orleans, promising a blend of camaraderie and unexpected twists. Don’t miss the drama and revelations in “Natalie’s Big Break,” airing at 8:00 Pm on TLC. “90 Day: The Single Life” continues to unravel the complexities of love,...

Searching for a list of the best up and coming screenwriters? Coverfly has curated a list of lists that brings together a raft of rising writers.

The company, which is a platform of unproduced IP and writing programs, has put together the Best Unrepped Writers, Best Unproduced Projects and The Next List as well as aggregating writing network fellowships such as NBC Launch + Sony Diverse Writers Program, writing competitions like The Academy Nicholl Fellowship and Final Draft’s Big Break, and other annual lists such as Village Roadshow’s Blood List.

Previous iterations of these lists have featured writers that have gone on to write for series such as Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Beef.

The Next List is compiled by nominations from the thousands of managers, agents, and executives on The Coverfly and Tracking Board platforms. It features 35 selections including 31 individuals and four writing teams from film, television, and playwriting backgrounds.

The star-studded field of celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment competing in the first annual Drive Fore Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament was announced today.

Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman was on hand for the announcement at the Falmouth Country Club. Swayman is one of nearly three dozen athletes, actors and TV personalities who will be at the Falmouth Country Club June 21 – 24, 2023 vying for a $250,000 prize purse and helping raise funds for tournament beneficiary, The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.

“We cannot wait to welcome this talented field to our beautiful state,” said Brian Corcoran, Chief Engagement Officer of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment and Executive Director of Drive Fore Kids. “We expect a big crowd of fans to give them a warm welcome as we bring the largest celebrity tournament in New England to Maine and raise significant funds for The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.”

Confirmed celebrities include:

Rondé Barber,...

NBC’s golf-centric streaming platform GolfPass is expanding its reach this week. The service will now offer a free, ad-supported tier that will provide many of the benefits of GolfPass+, including thousands of hours of curated, top-tier golf instruction series, original entertainment, and much more.

GolfPass was co-founded by PGA star Rory McIlroy, as a place for lovers of the game to hone their skills. Users of GolfNow, GolfNow Complete, and TeeOff — which are tee time-booking services operated by NBC — will have automatic access to the new, ad-supported tier of GolfPass. The service is the perfect complement to the live PGA Tournament coverage frequently available on NBC’s streaming service Peacock.

Sign Up $4.99+ / month peacocktv.com

“As one of our ambassadors, Rory recognizes that GolfPass harnesses the ways golfers today want to connect with their favorite sport – anywhere, anytime and on any device,” NBC Sports’ SVP Justin Tupper said. “Now,...

Many titles disappear from Netflix without warning every day.

This explains why you might have noticed some films and TV shows have been removed while flicking through your watchlist.

In an attempt to avoid a surprise, here is a compilation of everything being removed in March, including several titles labelled as a Netflix Original.

The removals also includes Arrested Development, which has thrown the future availability of its final season into question. Find the full list below.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 March

The Associate

Balto

Barb Wire

Beethoven

Beethoven’s Big Break

The Blues Brothers

The Boy Next Door

Bridget Jones’s Baby

The Brothers Grimm

Clear and Present Danger

Confusion Na Wa

Connected

Cop Car

The Debt

Disconnect

Doomsday

Escape from Alcatraz

The Expendables

The Expendables 2

The Expendables 3

47 Ronin

Gold Statue

Halloween H20

Hell on the Border...

Many titles disappear from Netflix without warning every day.

This explains why you might have noticed some films and TV shows have been removed while flicking through your watchlist.

In an attempt to avoid a surprise, here is a compilation of everything being removed in March, including several titles labelled as a Netflix Original.

The removals also includes Arrested Development, which has thrown the future availability of its final season into question. Find the full list below.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 March

The Associate

Balto

Barb Wire

Beethoven

Beethoven’s Big Break

The Blues Brothers

The Boy Next Door

Bridget Jones’s Baby

The Brothers Grimm

Clear and Present Danger

Confusion Na Wa

Connected

Cop Car

The Debt

Disconnect

Doomsday

Escape from Alcatraz

The Expendables

The Expendables 2

The Expendables 3

47 Ronin

Gold Statue

Halloween H20

Hell on the Border...

Many titles disappear from Netflix without warning every day.

This explains why you might have noticed some films and TV shows have been removed while flicking through your watchlist.

In an attempt to avoid a surprise, here is a compilation of everything being removed in March, including several titles labelled as a Netflix Original.

The removals also includes Arrested Development, which has thrown the future availability of its final season into question. Find the full list below.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 March

The Associate

Balto

Barb Wire

Beethoven

Beethoven’s Big Break

The Blues Brothers

The Boy Next Door

Bridget Jones’s Baby

The Brothers Grimm

Clear and Present Danger

Confusion Na Wa

Connected

Cop Car

The Debt

Disconnect

Doomsday

Escape from Alcatraz

The Expendables

The Expendables 2

The Expendables 3

47 Ronin

Gold Statue

Halloween H20

Hell on the Border...

Many titles disappear from Netflix without warning every day.

This explains why you might have noticed some films and TV shows have been removed while flicking through your watchlist.

In an attempt to avoid a surprise, here is a compilation of everything being removed in March, including several titles labelled as a Netflix Original.

The removals also includes Arrested Development, which has thrown the future availability of its final season into question. Find the full list below.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 March

The Associate

Balto

Barb Wire

Beethoven

Beethoven’s Big Break

The Blues Brothers

The Boy Next Door

Bridget Jones’s Baby

The Brothers Grimm

Clear and Present Danger

Confusion Na Wa

Connected

Cop Car

The Debt

Disconnect

Doomsday

Escape from Alcatraz

The Expendables

The Expendables 2

The Expendables 3

47 Ronin

Gold Statue

Halloween H20

Hell on the Border...

Many titles disappear from Netflix without warning every day.

This explains why you might have noticed some films and TV shows have been removed while flicking through your watchlist.

In an attempt to avoid a surprise, here is a compilation of everything being removed in March, including several titles labelled as a Netflix Original.

The removals also includes Arrested Development, which has thrown the future availability of its final season into question. Find the full list below.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 March

The Associate

Balto

Barb Wire

Beethoven

Beethoven’s Big Break

The Blues Brothers

The Boy Next Door

Bridget Jones’s Baby

The Brothers Grimm

Clear and Present Danger

Confusion Na Wa

Connected

Cop Car

The Debt

Disconnect

Doomsday

Escape from Alcatraz

The Expendables

The Expendables 2

The Expendables 3

47 Ronin

Gold Statue

Halloween H20

Hell on the Border...

Many titles disappear from Netflix without warning every day.

This explains why you might have noticed some films and TV shows have been removed while flicking through your watchlist.

In an attempt to avoid a surprise, here is a compilation of everything being removed in March, including several titles labelled as a Netflix Original.

The removals also includes Arrested Development, which has thrown the future availability of its final season into question. Find the full list below.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 March

The Associate

Balto

Barb Wire

Beethoven

Beethoven’s Big Break

The Blues Brothers

The Boy Next Door

Bridget Jones’s Baby

The Brothers Grimm

Clear and Present Danger

Confusion Na Wa

Connected

Cop Car

The Debt

Disconnect

Doomsday

Escape from Alcatraz

The Expendables

The Expendables 2

The Expendables 3

47 Ronin

Gold Statue

Halloween H20

Hell on the Border...

In order to make it big in Hollywood, sometimes talent alone isn't enough. Michael Caine, one of the industry's most celebrated movie stars, understands this. Caine has had a remarkably robust acting career that has spanned decades of his life. Perhaps most recognizable to modern audiences for his role as Batman's faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth in Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy, Caine has also starred in major films like Brian De Palma's eerie 1980 masterpiece "Dressed to Kill" and Alfonso Cuarôn's 2006 dystopian thriller "Children of Men." More recently, he's made appearances in Nolan's 2020 film "Tenet," and the just-released historical drama "Medieval." 

When looking over his filmography, there is no doubt that Caine is a talented and prolific actor, but if it hadn't been for two very specific career moves, it's possible we may never have gotten to see his rise to fame. 

Goodbye, Maurice. Hello, Michael Caine.

R Kelly is standing trial on child pornography and obstruction of justice charges.

The “Bump N’ Grind” singer’s child pornography trial began in Chicago on Wednesday (17 August). Kelly is already serving a 30-year sentence in New York on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

The singer – real name Robert Sylvester Kelly – found fame after he performed on the talent TV show Big Break as part of the group MGM in 1989. He went on to launch his solo career in 1993 and in 1998 won multiple Grammy awards for his song “I Believe I Can Fly”.

He has faced consistent allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct throughout his career, which he has denied.

In 1994, then aged 27, Kelly married 15-year-old singer Aaliyah at a secret ceremony in Chicago. The marriage was later annulled after the teenager was found to have lied about her age on the marriage certificate.

Kelly faced further accusations of...

Jenny Morrill Jun 12, 2017

Jenny has a few tips for successfully rebooting some classic gameshows...

Game shows are one of the few formats that can withstand being rebooted. Some people might even argue that game show reboots are becoming necessary, given the calibre of new ideas being farted out onto the screen. For every Pointless, there's Dale's All Star Celebrity Family Kerplunk On Fire (actually I'd watch that).

See related Doctor Who: Moffat on budget issues, advice for Chibnall Doctor Who: Phoebe Waller-Bridge is now the joint favourite

There are certain shows that could make up a stellar, unbeatable game show line-up, and they should all be brought back immediately. Some brave souls have tried to bring some of these shows back, with varying degrees of success. In some cases perhaps the execution needed a bit of tweaking, but the decision to reboot was the right one.

When a...

Jim Davidson has criticised the BBC for having a left-wing bias and said that there isn't enough working class comedy on TV anymore.

The Celebrity Big Brother winner and stand-up comic, who hosted primetime BBC shows such as The Generation Game and Big Break in the '90s, said that modern TV is dominated by university-educated talent.

Watch Jim Davidson talk about political correctness, the BBC and Dappy:

"The BBC are all lefties really. If you sliced the BBC in half, the Guardian newspaper would fall out," he told Digital Spy.

"There was a time when I was growing up, when comedy came from the working class streets of the big cities. Billy Connolly, me, Jasper Carrott, Jethro. All working class lads. And now, they all come from universities and all us old guys are old hat."

Davidson added: "And who is the worst? Me. Since Bernard Manning died,...

It's game show heaven on television right now. Not only do we have all sorts of new formats making their way to screen, but some old favourites are getting a second lease of life, too - from Fifteen to One (airing daily on Channel 4) to the second series of the revived Catchphrase (Sundays on ITV.) But it got us thinking - what other game shows would we like to see return to our living rooms?

Well, we asked that very question to Fifteen to One's Sandi Toksvig and Catchphrase's Stephen Mulhern - and then had a bit of office debate about our own favourites...

You Bet! - Stephen Mulhern (Host, Catchphrase)

"This is an easy question: You Bet! It was one of my favourite TV shows and Matthew Kelly was one of my favourite presenters. I love it.

"I can give you some great examples that still amaze me to this day.

Jim Davidson is in talks to relaunch his '90s game show 'Big Break'. The 60-year-old comedian could be set to bring back the Saturday night snooker-themed series nearly 12 years after it first went off the air in 2002, but instead of returning to BBC One it could move to Channel 5 following his 'Celebrity Big Brother' victory in January. He told The Sun newspaper: ''Channel 5 are keen to work with me and build on the success of 'Big Brother'. We are discussing a couple of formats. The favourite is 'Big Break' and I'd be up for that.'' Jim has also...

Katie Hopkins has blasted the contestants on Celebrity Big Brother, claiming that she thinks Linda Nolan "probably smells of wee".

During an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side to be aired tonight (January 7) on Channel 5, Hopkins slates every housemate apart from controversial comic Jim Davidson.

In the episode, Hopkins says of Linda: "Boring old woman! Probably smells of wee. She is revolting. Her knockers are somewhere near her ankles."

Meanwhile, Blue's Lee Ryan is labelled "out of shape, not beautiful" and "unfit and greasy", while Dappy is supposedly "'just revolting". Hopkins adds of the N-Dubz singer: "I'm not one for short people, ginger people or fat people."

The Daily Mail's Liz Jones has "a very flat face" and "looks like she's walked into patio doors" according to Hopkins, who is joined by The Xtra Factor's Matt Richardson and 5ive star and former housemate Abz Love on the show.

The rumour mill has closed down, we now know the full lineup for the latest Celebrity Big Brother, and we at Digital Spy are rather chuffed, as we got quite a few of them right in our predictions!

There are a couple of surprises in amongst the usual dose of models you'd never heard of, American stars who have probably never heard of Big Brother, and talent from yesteryear desperate for some kind of comeback.

While the celebs get used to their new surroundings, here follows a quick guide to your new friends for the next couple of weeks.

Casey Batchelor

Say it with me now. 'Whooooo?' Here's your token glamour model that you're totally forgiven for never having heard of, unless you're a regular reader of Nuts or Zoo magazine.

Apparently, according to the Channel 5 press release, Casey is "most known for her 34GGs". Most likely in there...

There's only one more day to go before we can all sit down in front of the telly and shout, 'Who's that?' and, 'Never heard of them!'. Yes, Celebrity Big Brother returns on Friday night (January 3) and a fresh batch of (so-called) celebrities are getting ready to head into the famous Elstree compound.

But who exactly will be heading in tomorrow evening? Reality Bites has looked at the most likely list from rumours online and here are the 12 people we suspect may be taking part.

Lee Ryan

The boyband quote machine ("If you go on the internet and type in 'Lee Ryan one-liners', I think I'm on par with Gandhi", "Margaret Thatcher would get it") has been linked to the show numerous times. According to various tabloids, this could finally be the year. All rise for Lee Ryan of Blue-shire.

Evander Holyfield

This year's big American...

Jim Davidson has claimed that he was offered a chance to join Celebrity Big Brother.

The comic was the subject of a £150,000 deal to star in the new Channel 5 reality TV show, reports The Sun.

The offer allegedly arrived soon after it was reported that Operation Yewtree detectives were dropping all sexual abuse allegations against him.

Davidson appeared on stage for the first time since the charges were dropped last night (August 23), the same night that Celebrity Big Brother 12 launched.

The Big Break star was arrested back in January and later in March in relation to historical sexual abuse allegations involving several women.

However, the charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service due to "insufficient evidence".

Jim Davidson was linked to the January edition of Celebrity Big Brother, just before the initial allegations were made public.

Louie Spence and Dustin Diamond are among this year's celebrity housemates.

Celebrity Big Brother...

Mr Chips is back! The cheeky snake-charming, animated golden robot is back on primetime TV for the first time in over a decade this weekend, as ITV revives the classic gameshow Catchphrase.

Roy 'say what you see' Walker is out and Britain's Got More Talent's Stephen Mulhern steps into his hosting shoes, but other than that it's business as usual with the cheesy, fun-for-all-the-family quiz.

Bringing back cheesy TV gameshows is currently on trend for TV execs. Later this year, Keith Lemon will be reviving Through The Keyhole (!) and Sky brought back Blockbusters at the end of last year. But what other classic TV shows from the '80s and '90s do you think deserve a second chance? Here are five of our suggestions:

Supermarket Sweep

Dashing around a fake supermarket to collect a couple of hundred quid and an inflatable banana with Dale Winton watching on was...

Jim Davidson has reportedly signed up for Celebrity Big Brother. The stand-up comedian has agreed a deal to be a housemate in the upcoming series on Channel 5 in January, according to The Sun. If the former Big Break presenter were to appear, it would reunite him with host Brian Dowling, whom he fell out with while both were contestants on Hell's Kitchen in 2007. Davidson caused controversy by calling Dowling a "shirt-lifter" and a "poof" during the show. "Jim often says what he thinks, even if his views are at odds with most people," said an insider. "He got himself (more)...

My dad would love this film. He raised me on a diet of Status Quo, Queen and Gloria Estefan (no really), so this documentary was practically made for him. Naturally, if you’re a fellow Quo fan you’ll love it too.

But what if you’re not? What if you don’t miss long hair, making denim look good, and Brian May talking music instead of badger culls? In short, what if you’re a young person – are the life, times and reunion of this supposedly seminal band really for you?

For legal reasons: absolutely. How else would you discover that Status Quo once sued the BBC after Radio One quit playing their records on the grounds they were “too old”?

In all seriousness, it’s anecdotes like that which make Hello Quo! a treat for anybody. The rags to riches tale – following the band from grimy East End...

Jim Davidson has taken a swipe at the UK comedy scene, describing it as "too safe". The ex-Big Break host and stand-up comic claimed that young comedians are too worried about upsetting people and scared about "telling jokes". "New comedians tend to not [cover] subjects that might be deemed as racist, sexist and homophobic and all those other 'ists'," he told BBC's Newsnight. "I (more)...

Former Big Break presenter Jim Davidson has been fined £130 for speeding. Davidson denied that he was behind the wheel of his black Range Rover when it was spotted doing 96mph on a dual carriageway in Devon last year. However, he accepted the punishment at Newton Abbot Magistrates, claiming that he didn't mind paying because everyone is "having to tuck their belts in" at the moment. Speaking about the filmed footage, he said: "I recognise the bald bloke but, hand on heart, I don't think it's me driving. "Enough is enough, I will pay. I will accept the court is (more)...