“Irresistible” is the second film written and directed by Jon Stewart, but unlike the first, the deadly serious and surprisingly accomplished true-life Iranian prison drama “Rosewater” (2014), this one comes straight out of Stewart’s satirical-political wheelhouse. 22 more words
Organizers of the SAG Awards will not act in the near future on calls to abolish gender-specific categories. In a letter published this month by Variety, “Billions” star Asia Kate Dillon wrote that the SAG Awards categories need to change because they “erase non-binary identities by limiting performers to identifying as male or female /…
NBC has made the decision to stagger production on the 12 pilots it currently has in the works due to coronavirus disruptions. The network still plans to shoot multiple pilots, including that for drama “Langdon” which centers around the character made famous by from Dan Brown’s novels and Tom Hanks, later this year once they…
“30 Rock” creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, along with the show’s owner NBCUniversal, have asked that four episodes of the series in which characters appear in blackface be removed from streaming and syndication. 24 more words
I’ll never forget the one time I got to talk to Joel Schumacher, the fluky, baroquely skilled, stylishly protean Hollywood filmmaker who died Monday at 80. 34 more words
via Remembering Joel Schumacher: A Stylish Director Who Was Always Willing to Take Chances — Variety
Steve Bing, a producer, philanthropist and screenwriter, has died by suicide in Los Angeles. He was 55. Police and the coroner’s office said a man fitting his age jumped from a Century City apartment building on Monday. 20 more words
via Steve Bing, Producer and ‘Kangaroo Jack’ Writer, Dies by Suicide at 55 — Variety
Apple, which has been the target of sharp criticism over its App Store policies and the power the company holds over developers, says it’s establishing a new process to hear the complaints of developers who disagree with its app-approval policies. 17 more words
via Apple Says It Will Let Developers Challenge App Store Rules — Variety
In response to Joel Schumacher’s death on Monday, Matthew McConaughey says his career wouldn’t have taken off if the late director hadn’t cast him as the lead in the 1996 film “A Time to Kill.” McConaughey was relatively unknown before starring as Jake Brigance in the courtroom crime drama. 9 more words
via Matthew McConaughey Says He Owes His Career to Joel Schumacher (EXCLUSIVE) — Variety
U.K. public service broadcaster BBC has set out a ‘Creative Diversity Commitment’ that will see the corporation spend £100 million ($124 million) of its existing commissioning budget over three years on diverse and inclusive content. 23 more words
via BBC to Invest $124 Million of Content Spend on Diverse Productions, Talent — Variety
In the early ’90s, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow met for the first time at the table read for “Friends.” They didn’t know it at the time, but the two characters that they were be playing — Aniston’s Rachel Green and Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay — would become two of the most beloved in TV history.…
via Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow Recall Their Favorite ‘Friends’ Memories — Variety
