YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual graduation event — livestreamed on Sunday, June 7, over more than four hours — set a new record for the video service. 29 more words

via YouTube Says ‘Dear Class of 2020’ Special With Obamas, BTS, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga & More Breaks Viewing Record — Variety

By now, most Americans watching late-night TV have gotten used to seeing bands performing in their houses, studios, or even their bathrooms. Needless to say, it hasn’t been the most exciting experience for viewers, but “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” struck socially-distanced gold this week when the Flaming Lips came on to play their…

via Flaming Lips Perform Inside Plastic Bubbles on ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ (Watch) — Variety

Steve Kloves, “Harry Potter” screenwriter and “Fantastic Beasts” producer, has broken his silence on “Potter” author J.K. Rowling’s controversial statements about transgender identity. “Our diversity is our strength,” Kloves says in an exclusive statement to Variety. 24 more words

via ‘Harry Potter’ Screenwriter Steve Kloves Speaks Out on J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views (EXCLUSIVE) — Variety

ViacomCBS is cutting ties with Big Fish Entertainment, the MGM-owned shingle behind A&E’s recently canceled “Live PD.” A&E is not a ViacomCBS network, but ViacomCBS did run shows from Big Fish including VH1’s “Cartel Crew,” “Black Ink Crew,” “Black Ink Crew: Chicago,” “Love & Hip Hop Miami,” “Love & Hip Hop: New York” and “Love…

via ViacomCBS Ends Relationship with ‘Live PD’ Producer Big Fish Entertainment — Variety

Taylor Swift, who recently took the president to task for his response to the George Floyd killing and resulting social upheaval, is not wanting to go lightly on legislators in her home state, either, as she has joined a chorus of activists in urging the removal of monuments to racist leaders in Tennessee and elsewhere.…

via Taylor Swift Says Racist Monuments ‘Make Me Sick,’ Demands Tennessee Remove KKK Leader’s Statue — Variety

The nation’s moviegoing business is coming back to life following a three-month hiatus imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of locations open in North America as of Friday totals 714, including 275 drive-ins, according to Comscore. 21 more words

via Nearly 40% More Movie Theaters Open This Week, Including 15 in California — Variety

U.K.-based Cineworld Group has backed out of a deal to acquire Canada’s Cineplex Inc. for $2.1 billion, citing breaches in the agreement for the transaction. Cineworld, parent of the Regal Cinema chain in the U.S., made the announcement Friday, saying it had become aware of certain breaches by Cineplex Inc. 8 more words

via Cineworld Backs Away From $2.1 Billion Deal for Canada’s Cineplex — Variety

Warner Bros. is moving its untitled fourth “Matrix” film back nearly a year to the spring of 2022. The move comes as the Hollywood studios are scrambling their release schedules due to the theater shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 19 more words

via Fourth ‘Matrix’ Film Moves to Spring of 2022 — Variety

The Wallflowers’ 1996 hit “One Headlight” wasn’t just a song choice that set a mood for the trailer of “The King of Staten Island.” It appears in the film itself, in a quick but telling barroom scene that gets at how near-strangers can bond over music… even if it’s music they don’t quite remember well…

via Judd Apatow Tells How the Wallflowers’ ‘One Headlight’ Came to Illuminate ‘King of Staten Island’: It’s Personal — Variety

Universal Pictures has moved the Tom Hanks post-apocalypse movie “Bios” back to 2021 in the latest of an array of release date changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 37 more words

via Universal Moves Tom Hanks Post-Apocalypse Movie ‘Bios’ Back to 2021 — Variety