Amid surging COVID-19 transmission rates, California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the closure of dine-in restaurant service and movie theaters in Los Angeles County and 18 other counties for three weeks. 26 more words

via Gavin Newsom Orders Closure of Dine-in Restaurants, Movie Theaters in LA and 18 Other Counties for Three Weeks — Variety

Since late March, Samantha Bee has been filming TBS’ “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” — her topical comedy show — from the woods outside of her house in upstate New York. 26 more words

via Samantha Bee on Making ‘Full Frontal’ From the Woods and Swallowing a Bug — Variety

It turns out many fields have their own Harvey Weinsteins, and in the case of gymnastics, it was Olympics team doctor Larry Nassar. The powerful new documentary “Athlete A,” now streaming on Netflix, tells the story of Nassar’s hundreds of victims and looks at how the abuse continued for decades despite numerous reports made by…

via ‘Athlete A’ Producer on Larry Nassar and the ‘Abusive Culture’ of Gymnastics — Variety

In today’s TV News Roundup, HBO announced the premiere date for “Lovecraft Country,” and Tubi announced it will add 30 seasons of Bob Ross’ “The Joy of Painting” to its streaming library. 27 more words

via TV News Roundup: HBO Announces ‘Lovecraft Country’ Premiere Date — Variety

Music and sports — arguably the two forms of mainstream entertainment hardest hit by the pandemic lockdown — will get some succor on Sunday when ESPN will air its first-ever concert: the Eagles’ “Live from the Forum MMXVIII.” For those whose roman-numeral-translation skills are lacking, the concert dates from 2018, when the group was on…

via Eagles’ ‘Live From the Forum MMXVIII’ to Be First Concert Aired on ESPN — Variety

“When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month/ Or even your year, but/ I’ll be there for you.” It’s safe to say that, for many, those 25-year-old lyrics to the “Friends” theme song have never rung more true. 18 more words

via ‘Friends’ Composer on Giving Theme Song a New Twist Amid Pandemic, Origin of Iconic Hand Claps — Variety

FilmLA is reporting that about 14 film permit applications are being submitted per day since resuming remote operations on June 15 — about 20% of the pre-pandemic level. 32 more words

via FilmLA Is Getting 14 Film Permit Applications a Day — Variety

Paramount Pictures has scooped up the first feature film made by director Lee Daniels in nearly a decade, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” Sold by Endeavor Content in an eight-figure deal out of Cannes’ big-spending virtual market, the project follows the dramatic true story of the Federal Department of Narcotics targeting the jazz legend…

via Paramount Acquires Lee Daniels’ Billie Holiday Drama Starring Andra Day — Variety

The FIRST International Film Festival this week announced that it will occur with in-person screenings from July 26 to August 3 in China’s Qinghai province — implying that cinemas will be open in at least parts of the country by the end of the month. 12 more words

via China’s FIRST Film Festival Set to Run in Late July — Variety

The most obvious point of comparison for “Suzi Q,” a new documentary about the pioneering 1970s rocker Suzi Quatro, is “Bad Reputation,” a two-year-old doc about Joan Jett. 30 more words

via ‘Suzi Q’: Film Review — Variety