LGBTQ+ actor Cynthia Erivo will star in a film adaptation of the theater sensation Prime Facie, Variety noted. Oscar nominee Erivo will take on the role originated on the West End (and, currently, on Broadway) by actor Jodie Comer. Prima Facie deals with a criminal defense attorney who is raped by a colleagueand discovers that the law does not deliver justice along the boundaries of consent.
In the season finale of the Fox show Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef, queer chef Tucker Ricchio won the $250,000 grand prize along with a one-year mentorship under Ramsay and the show's other judges, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais, People noted. Talking with People, Ricchio revealed the secret to her success: ""I just gave myself a five-word mantra: protein, starch, veg, sauce, garnish. Because, in my opinion, if you run to the platform with a plan, what if the stuff that you need isn't there?"
On May 11, Netflix and Equal Pride hosted "All Out: A Night of Pride"a special pre-Pride event to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ family and shows, featuring live performances and culinary delights at Heart in West Hollywood, California, a press release noted. Guests enjoyed an evening of revelry, dancing and drag with emcee Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 and special DJ sets by Mike Taylor, Kittens and The Muses. Guests included Hannah Gadsby, Eugene Lee Yang, Sean Palmieri, the Queer Eye cast, Chris Colfer, Stephanie Beatriz, Daniel Franzese and many others.
Prints of photographs from Madonna's 1992 coffee-table book Sex will be available for purchase for the first time at Christie's New York this fallpart of ongoing projects to mark the 30th anniversary of the controversial publication, CNN noted. In October, more than 40 prints first published in Sex will go up for sale as part of a special standalone auction. Each print will be an edition of one and signed by Madonna and fashion photographer Steven Meisel, who shot the book, with prices ranging from $50,000 on the low end up to $300,000.
Queer Spanish actor Omar Ayuso shared a first-look image of his upcoming film On the Go, per Out. According to a film summary, Jonathan (played by Ayuso) is a 24-year-old man trying to overcome abandonment issues by engaging in hookup culture on Grindr. Also, Ayuso was part of the cast of the Netflix show Elite for five seasonsand it's been revealed that he's returning for the show's seventh season, which will also include singer Anitta.
LGBTQ+ actors Luke Evans and Callum Scott Howells (who will portray Holly Johnson in the forthcoming Frankie Goes to Hollywood biographical film, Relax) are among the stars of upcoming BBC drama The Way, from Michael Sheen, James Graham and Adam Curtis, Deadline noted. Sheen, who is also directing, will also star in The Way, along with Steffan Rhodri and Mali Harries. The Way follows the Driscoll family, who are forced to escape their small hometown when it becomes ground zero of a civil uprising.
Bachelor alum and Coming Out Colton star Colton Underwood married Jordan C. Brown in front of 200 guests at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, People Magazine exclusively revealed. The ceremony was part of a three-day wedding celebration that included a performance by Stanford University's Artistic Swimmers and a disco-themed pool party. The full story is at people.com/tv/colton-underwood-marries-jordan-c-brown-exclusive/ .
The Tony Awards will move forward with an unscripted, televised broadcast on CBS on June 11 in the wake of the writers' strike, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. Queer actress Ariana DeBose is still expected to host the ceremony in some capacity. The Tony Awards are scheduled to take place at the United Palace in New York's Washington Heights. The Writers Guild of America said that the union would not grant the ceremony a waiver or exception, but would not picket the event.
The Peabody Awards cancelled this year's eventwhich would have been the first in-person Peabody ceremony since 2019 (before the pandemic)because of the writers strike, according to Variety. Originally set to be held on Sunday, June 11, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, this also would have been the first Peabody Awards to be held in Southern California.
The SAG Awards announced that the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will take place Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, per a press release. The two-hour ceremony will be streamed live on Netflix from the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 10.
And the Daytime Emmys' June awards ceremony has been postponed because of the writers' strike, per Deadline. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced that the organization is postponing the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards, scheduled for June 16 on CBS, as well as the Creative Arts & Lifestyle ceremony, scheduled for June 17, pending a strike resolution.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) unveiled the nominees for the fifth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. A press release noted that RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars lead this year's nominations, earning five combined nods for the franchise across four categories. Some of the other nominees include The Amazing Race, Jeopardy!, The Big Brunch, Shark Tank, Making the Cut, Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty, Queer Eye, Selena Gomez and Padma Lakshmi. Due to the writers; strike, the CCA will forego an in-person ceremony and announce this year's winners on June 15.
On the May 22 episode of NBC's The Voice, Broadway will be featured for the first timewith the spotlight on queer actor Alex Newell (of the production Shucked), Variety noted. The song is "Independently Owned," a major nightly showcase for Newell. Recently, the publication noted that Newell was in an unusual position: whether to contend for best supporting actor or supporting actress at the Tonys. (Newell portrays a cis woman character but is gender non-conforming in real life.) Ultimately, Newell decided to be considered in the supporting actor category.
Nico Tortorella and Juan Pablo Di Pace star in the queer dramedy film The Mattachine Family, about a gay man who grapples with modern fatherhood, Instinct noted. Tortorella plays Thomas, who is left wanting to have a child after his foster child returns and quickly leaves his life; Di Pace is Thomas' rising-star husband, Oscar. After his foster son leaves, Thomas "is left torn on his feelings toward fatherhood and his relationship" with his husband, according to Tortorella. The movie's principal cast also includes Emily Hampshire, Heather Matarazzo and Carl Clemons-Hopkins.
And Just Like That showrunner Michael Patrick King revealed to Entertainment Weekly that non-binary singer Sam Smith is one of the guest stars lined up for the show's second season, according to Out. Smith (who is on tour) is coming off of a huge year when they had a global number-one hit and Grammy winner in "Unholy," a duet with Kim Petras. King also mentioned that Candice Bergen will return to her role of Vogue Editor Enid Frick this season, and feminist icon Gloria Steinem will appear as herself.
And speaking of which, the 11-episode second season of the Max Original series And Just Like That… will debut with two episodes on Thursday, June 22 on Max, per a press release. Returning series regulars include Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sara Ramírez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker and Mario Cantone, among others.
Dolly Parton famously twice declined an invitation to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trumpbut she also rejected a similar overture from President Joe Biden, Consequence noted. While the singer didn't discuss her decision not to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom on camera, The Today Show's Jacob Soborof told colleagues that it stemmed from her desire not to be associated with any particular party. "I just don't want even the appearance of being partisan in any way," he recalled her saying.
Stevie Nicks announced 13 additional dates for her 2023 headlining tour, according to Consequence. Further filling in the gaps of Nicks' "Two Icons, One Night" trek with Billy Joel, the additional performances begin Aug. 8 in Milwaukee and include stops in Austin, New York City, Detroit, San Diego and more. (She's stopping at Chicago's United Center on June 23.)
Actress Anne Heche was laid to rest on Mother's Daynine months after her untimely death, Extra noted. The star's rep told TMZ that Heche's final resting place is located at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Cathedral Mausoleum among other high-profile stars. The plaque for Hechewho died in a car crash last Augustreads, "Anne Celeste Heche," with the description, "Mother, Actress, Writer, Director, Creator, Believer," and the message, "Live in Love."
Film Forum will present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Nancy Buirski's Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy on June 23. John Schlesinger's legendary Midnight Cowboyreleased in 1969 with an X rating, and starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voightwon three Oscars, including Best Picture.
Beyonce was accused of throwing shade at Childish Gambino during the opening show of her Renaissance World Tour, according to HipHopDX. At one point during her show, Beyonce donned a bee costume to show some support for her Beyhive fan base. However, some fans speculated that the "Cuff It" singer may have thrown some shade at Donald Glover and his Amazon Prime series Swarm, which was inspired by Beyonce's cult-like fanbase. Glover made headlines in March after he admitted that he intentionally did not prepare Dominique Fishback for her role in Swarm as a young serial killer obsessed with a pop star who many presumed to be a Beyonce-type singer.
Oscar-winning actress/director/activist Angelina Jolie shared that she is launching Atelier Joliea space for creative types in the design field, per The Daily Mail. "Atelier Jolie is a place for creative people to collaborate with a skilled and diverse family of expert tailors, pattern makers and artisans from around the world," she has stated. "It stems from my appreciation and deep respect for the many tailors and makers I've worked with over the years, a desire to make use of the high-quality vintage material and deadstock [leftover] fabric already available, and also to be part of a movement to cultivate more self-expression."
The new Netflix documentary Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me unleashes new bombshellsincluding that Smith was in a lesbian relationship, according to Extra. Director Ursula Macfarlane said, "We have a woman in the film who was one of her closest friends and also her lover, and I would say that Missy knows her pretty well." When asked if she believed Missy, Macfarlane replied, "Oh, absolutely! [Smith] was free-spirited, sexually; we know that. She had relationships with men and women."
The life, legacy and journey of tennis superstar Serena Williams will be revealed in the upcoming ESPN docuseries In the Arena: Serena Williams, Variety noted. Williams won 23 Grand Slam titles, making her one of the most decorated tennis players of all time. An icon in tennis, Williams has collected numerous winsbut has also faced numerous personal challenges.
Martha Stewart made history as the oldest-ever cover star of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, according to Extra. "I like that picture," she said on Today. "I'm sort of shaking because it's odd to go to an island and then get changed into nine different bathing suits in one day in front of all those people. … It turned out okay." Standing next to the glamorous cover shot, the mogul also said that the idea of the cover was proposed to her last November, with an end-of-January deadline to be ready to pose.
However, Stewart was not the only Sports Illustrated of note, as two trans icons are among the 28 subjects as well, according to Queerty. Germany's Grammy-winning Kim Petras, who hit the top of the Billboard charts last year with her track with Sam Smith, "Unholy," posed for photographer Yu Tsai in Los Angelesand is one of the magazine's four cover stars. Also, Leyna Bloom posed for the issue, for the third consecutive year.
Australian dance-music superstar Kylie (formerly known as Kylie Minogue) will release her newest album, Tension, on Sept. 22, per a press release. Discussing Tension, Kylie said, "I started this album with an open mind and a blank page. Unlike my last two albums there wasn't a 'theme,' it was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of that moment and always trying to service the song. I wanted to celebrate each song's individuality and to dive into that freedom. I would say it's a blend of personal reflection, club abandon and melancholic high."
A grand jury indicted a man on charges of stealing a pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, according to Fox8. Terry Martin was indicted with one count of theft of a major artwork, prosecutors announced. The slippers were on loan to the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota (from Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw) when someone climbed through a window and broke the display case.
JoJo Siwa shared security-video footage of thieves breaking into her LA-area home, Page Six noted. "We were robbed last night at 2:40(ish)AM… It was an armed robbery which is very scary," Siwa told her 11.3 million Instagram followers. The 19-year-old was away on a cruise when the break-in took place, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Kelly Clarkson's fans were reportedly disappointed that she chose to promote new music shortly after news broke that her talk show is an allegedly "toxic" work environmentbut she later responded, Today noted. One current and 10 former staffers of the Grammy winner's daytime program spoke to Rolling Stone, claiming they were "bullied and intimidated" by the show's "monster" producers, "overworked," "underpaid" and overall "traumatized" by the experience. But in a statement posted to social media, Clarkson said, "I love my team at 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' and to find out that anyone is feeling unheard and or disrespected on this show is unacceptable." She added that as the show prepares to move to the East Coast, she is "more committed than ever" to making sure that her staff, both new and old, is the "best and kindest in the business."
ABC renewed The Connors for a sixth season, Deadline noted. The Roseanne spinoffwhich stars Sara Gilbert, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf and Lecy Goranson, who all recently closed new deals for next seasonhas continued to be one of the network's highest-rated sitcoms. ABC also renewed Not Dead Yet, The Bachelor and American Idol.
On a related note, ABC finally approved its long-awaited senior citizen season of The Bachelor, per Variety. The new series will be called The Golden Bachelor. The leading man has yet to be announced, and his cast of female suitors will be announced at a late date.
Hulu has picked up 20 additional episodes of the series The Kardashians, Deadline noted. Season three of The Kardashians premieres May 25 on Hulu, with all-new episodes from Fulwell 73 Productions streaming on Thursdays. There have been 10 episodes per season so far, so theoretically the new order could take the show through a fifth season.
The CW's 2023 fall schedule will feature just one scripted series that originated on the network, with the rest filled with foreign acquisitions and unscripted productions (including Penn & Teller: Fool Us and FBoy Island), per Variety. The high-school football drama All American, which was renewed for its sixth season at the network back in January, will air on Monday nights at 7 p.m. CT, leading into the acquired drama series 61st Street.
Jane Fonda revealed to Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen that the late French film director Rene Clement propositioned her while filming 1964 thriller Joy House, per IndieWire. Host Cohen asked Fonda to name "one man in Hollywood that tried to pick you up once that you turned down," to which Fonda replied, "The French director Rene Clement." Natalie Wood was originally set to star before dropping out; Fonda replaced the Rebel Without a Cause actress.
American Idol and The Masked Singer runner-up David Archuleta got emotional on the latter show about a health scare he said left him silent for months, per The New York Post. The queer singer said, in part, "Not a lot of people know this about me, but I had a major injury last year that left me completely silent for three months." On "Singer," Archuleta (as the Macaw) finished second to British entertainer Bishop Briggs, who embodied Medusa.
While actress Salma Hayek celebrated her 24 million followers on Instagram, she accidentally exposed herself in a risque clip, per Yahoo! News. She wrote, "24 million followers, 24 million reasons to smile. Thank you all for joining me on this wild ride!" In the video, Hayek's private areas were blurred while the Magic Mike's Last Dance actress twirled and made some salsa moves.
Actress Lily-Rose Depp (the daughter of Johnny Depp) confirmed her relationship with queer rapper/singer 070 Shake, according to Out. Lily-Rose is starring in the upcoming HBO drama The Idol; in it, she plays an up-and-coming pop star who gets in a complicated relationship with a self-help guru/cult leader played by The Weeknd (real name: Abel Tesfaye). Previously, 070 Shake dated singer Kehlani, who is now with University of Connecticut basketball grad assistant Kiara Russell.
Babyface did not perform at his and legendary soul singer Anita Baker's concert on May 10 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey after he was asked not to play, the Asbury Park Press noted. He posted, "I was asked not to perform in order to give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety. My band and I are extremely saddened we didn't get to perform for y'all tonight." Baker, who took the stage two hours after showtime, blamed the situation on "technical difficulties," according to a fan video.
Following John Ridley's acclaimed run of Black Panther, award-winning author Eve L. Ewing (Ironheart; Monica Rambeau: Photon) and Marvel Stormbreaker artist Chris Allen (Miles Morales: Spider-Man) will launch a brand-new Black Panther ongoing comic series next month, per a press release. A king without a crown and a fugitive in his own homelands, T'Challa journeys deeper into Wakanda than ever before as he finds new purpose striking from the shadows of the Wakandan city that bears his father's name, Birnin T'Chaka.
MJ, the Broadway musical about Michael Jackson that features his many hits, has recouped its initial investment, per Deadline. The $22.5-million production began previews at the Neil Simon Theatre in December 2021 and opened Feb. 1, 2022. In addition to the Broadway production, MJ will launch a national tour this August in Chicago, and the West End premiere is set for March 2024 at London's Prince Edward Theatre.
French luxury fashion house and cosmetics giant Diorwhich stood by Johnny Depp when he had his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heardsigned him to a massive $20-million deal, marking the biggest men's fragrance pact ever, Variety noted. The agreement eclipses Robert Pattinson's $12-million deal to serve as a spokesperson for Dior Homme and Brad Pitt's $7-million pact to promote Chanel No. 5.
Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum country musician Jimmie Allen was suspended by his agency, UTA, and management, The Familie, following a sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed against him, Variety noted. Allen has been accused of rape, sexual assault and harassment by his former day-to-day manager, who sued the singer and his former management firm; she said she was manipulated and groomed by Allen into an abusive sexual relationship while she worked on the singer's management team.