Earlier we told you about the reboot of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey hosted by astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, which begins airing tonight at 9p/8c on Fox and other Fox Networks Group channels including National Geographic, FX and Nat Geo Mundo.
President Obama will help launch the show with a video message at the beginning of the first broadcast tonight. The president, according to a release, will be inviting “a new generation to embrace the spirit of discovery and inspires viewers to explore new frontiers and imagine limitless possibilities for the future.”
A screening of the series was held on February 28 at the White House as part of the first-ever White House Student Film Festival.
The launch of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a reboot of Carl Sagan’s is the first multi-network effort for Fox Networks Group, which includes Fox International Channels and National Geographic Channels International, which means that the President’s introduction and the series premiere will be available on 220 channels in 181 countries, which is more than half a billion homes, reports TheWrap.
Viewers have a second chance to catch each episode at 10pm Monday on National Geographic, with added behind-the-scenes and other bonus footage.
article via eurweb.com
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Bill Whitaker, a veteran CBS News reporter, has been named a 60 Minutes correspondent, becoming only the second African-American correspondent in the show’s history, after Ed Bradley, who died in 2006.
In a statement, Jeff Fager, 60 Minutes executive producer and chairman of CBS News said, “Bill Whitaker is one of the great veterans of CBS News. He has had a distinguished career covering just about every kind of story all over the world. Bill is a natural fit at ’60 Minutes’ and it’s exciting that he has agreed to join us.”
A Philadelphia native, Whitaker joined CBS in 1984, later reporting from Atlanta, and then in the network’s Tokyo bureau where he covered the uprising at Tiananmen Square. He was later lead reporter on George Bush’s 2000 campaign, and Mitt Romney’s 2008 run. Based in Los Angeles since 1992, he has also been a frequent contributor to Sunday Morning.
Bradley, another Philadelphia native, and a 26-year veteran of 60, was among television news’ respected and honored correspondents over his long run at CBS.
(By the way, this question may come up so just to answer: Byron Pitts, who has appeared on 60 Minutes numerous times, was not officially a “correspondent” for the show, but a contributor – the difference is considerable. There have been many “contributors” to 60 over the years, but very very few 60 Minutes correspondents.)
article by Verne Gay via newsday.com
Grammy Award-winner Tim “Timbaland” Mosley has signed on to write and produce the music for the Fox pilot, Empire. The family drama, which is written by Daniels and Danny Strong and directed by Daniels, is set in the world of the hip-hop industry and stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. It’s executive-produced by Daniels, Strong, Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo. It will feature original and current music.
This world is something Mosley understands well. In 2013 alone, the sought-after producer, songwriter and rapper produced and co-wrote multiple tracks on four of the year’s biggest selling multi-platinum-albums: Magna Carta Holy Grail, The 20/20 Experience Part I and Part II, and Beyoncé. While he has worked with movie productions before, this endeavor marks the first time Mosley has worked so closely on a drama pilot.
article by Whitney Frielander via Variety.com
This world is something Mosley understands well. In 2013 alone, the sought-after producer, songwriter and rapper produced and co-wrote multiple tracks on four of the year’s biggest selling multi-platinum-albums: Magna Carta Holy Grail, The 20/20 Experience Part I and Part II, and Beyoncé. While he has worked with movie productions before, this endeavor marks the first time Mosley has worked so closely on a drama pilot.
article by Whitney Frielander via Variety.com
Coming off HBO’s Treme, Rob Brown (Finding Forrester, Coach Carter) has joined NBC’s drama pilot Salvation. In the project, written by Elizabeth Heldens and directed by Jeffrey Reiner, mega-church Pastor Daniel Strickland suddenly dies, and his loyal wife, Jennifer Strickland (Ashley Judd), must rally to keep their family together and save the church. Brown, repped by WME, Industry Entertainment and Jeff Endlich, will play Miles Strickland, the adopted son of Jennifer and Daniel Strickland who returns home after a 6-year absence out of a sense of loyalty to the family but does not share in their beliefs. He most recently seen in Joseph Gordon Levitt’s directorial debut Don Jon.
article by Nellie Andreeva via Deadline.com
According to Deadline.com, Viola Davis (The Help, Doubt) has been cast as the lead of ABC‘s drama pilot How To Get Away With Murder, from ABC Studios and Shonda Rhimes‘ (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal) Shondaland. This marks the first series regular role in over a decade for the Oscar-nominated actress (her last was on CBS’ Century City). In making her foray into television pilot season, Davis joins The Help co-star Octavia Spencer, who recently signed to star in the Fox drama pilot The Red Band Society.
Written by Peter Nowalk, How To Get Away With Murder is described as a sexy, suspense-driven legal thriller that centers on ambitious law students and their brilliant and mysterious criminal defense professor (Davis) who become entangled in a murder plot that could rock their entire university and change the course of their lives. Nowalk is executive producing alongside Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.
This is the second consecutive drama pilot in which Rhimes has booked an A-list black actress for the lead, following Scandal and Kerry Washington. Though primarily a feature film actress now, in the past few years, Davis had recurring roles on Law & Order and The United States Of Tara. She recently wrapped production on the independent film Lila & Eve opposite Jennifer Lopez, which was produced by Davis’ JuVee Prods. company.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson; story contributed by Becky Schonbrun
The Dog Pound is safe to keep on barking. According to Shadow and Act, The Arsenio Hall Show has been renewed for a second season. Tribune Broadcasting, a partner in production of the syndicated, late-night talk show, will continue to be the anchor station group, airing the show on 17 stations, including in the three largest markets on WPIX, New York, at 11 p.m.; KTLA, Los Angeles, at 11 p.m.; and WGN, Chicago, at 10 p.m.
“Since 9/9/13, I’ve been waking up without an alarm clock,” said Arsenio Hall. “Producing and hosting my late-night talk show brings me great joy. I’m back where I belong! Thanks to my partners at CBS Television Distribution and Tribune.”
“Arsenio is an incredibly talented host who has connected with his viewers; we look forward to watching the show grow and develop in year two,” said Sean Compton, President Strategic Programming and Acquisitions, Tribune Company.
The Arsenio Hall Show is produced by CBS Television Distribution, in association with Arsenio Hall Communications Ltd. and Octagon Entertainment Productions.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
Hustle & Flow co-stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard will be reuniting to headline Empire, the Fox TV pilot helmed by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. The drama takes place in the midst of a family-run hip-hop empire. Howard will be playing Lucious Lyon, who runs a record label. Henson will be playing Lucious’ ex-wife, Cookie Lyon, an ex-con who has just been released after serving 17 years in prison for dealing drugs to fund Lucious’ then-struggling record label. After being released for good behavior, naturally, Cookie is looking to reclaim what’s hers.
As if all of that isn’t enough, it turns out that Cookie was the driving force behind Lucious’ rise to super stardom and now she’s looking to do the same with the couple’s homosexual son, Jamal, who will be played by Jussie Smollet. This puts Cookie at odds with Lucious, who has rejected and shunned his son since childhood because of his sexuality. Jamal is actually the couple’s middle son of three and is described as “a sensitive soul and musical prodigy who could easily rise to superstardom if he desires.”
See more at: http://madamenoire.com/405376/taraji-p-henson-terrence-howard-star-fox-hip-hop-pilot-empire/#sthash.xol28g52.dpuf
WASHINGTON (AP) — NBC’s Parks and Recreation is getting a stunning new cast member for a night: First Lady Michelle Obama. According to the Associated Press, the first lady’s office says Mrs. Obama will appear on the show’s April 24th season finale. The show’s Twitter account said it’s “time to get real about Pawnee’s obesity,” which is a reference to Pawnee, Indiana, the fictional town where Parks and Recreation takes place, and the first lady’s campaign against child obesity. Obama recently appeared in a comedy sketch on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon with Fallon and Will Ferrell also designed to promote “Let’s Move.”
Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler helped the campaign earlier this week when she appeared at a “Let’s Move” event in Miami, where Mrs. Obama joked that she and Poehler are best friends. Mrs. Obama won’t be the first White House figure to appear on the show. Vice President Joe Biden made a cameo on the show in 2012.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler helped the campaign earlier this week when she appeared at a “Let’s Move” event in Miami, where Mrs. Obama joked that she and Poehler are best friends. Mrs. Obama won’t be the first White House figure to appear on the show. Vice President Joe Biden made a cameo on the show in 2012.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
CBS Entertainment and CBS Television Studios have signed talent holding deals with three performers featured in the network’s annual Diversity Comedy Showcase event held in January. Drew Tarver has been cast in CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother” spinoff “How I Met Your Dad.” Tarver has appeared on “Animal Practice,” “Newreaders” and has created and starred in several “Funny or Die” videos.
Nico Santos and Haneefah Wood have also landed holding deals.
CBS’ annual talent showcase aims to open doors for actors and writers from a range of backgrounds, not only at CBS but with casting directors and executives in the business. This year’s event, held Jan. 22-23 at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, featured 22 actors and writers selected from more than 2,500 audiences. Santos has appeared as a recurring panelist on “Chelsea Lately’s” round table and as a co-star on “Ground Floor.” He is also known in the stand-up comedy circuit having performed at the Improv, Laugh Factory and Comedy Store in Hollywood.
Wood comes from a theater background and has had roles in the Broadway productions of “Rent,” “Avenue Q,” and “Brooklyn.”
article by Nikara Johns via Variety.com
Nico Santos and Haneefah Wood have also landed holding deals.
CBS’ annual talent showcase aims to open doors for actors and writers from a range of backgrounds, not only at CBS but with casting directors and executives in the business. This year’s event, held Jan. 22-23 at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, featured 22 actors and writers selected from more than 2,500 audiences. Santos has appeared as a recurring panelist on “Chelsea Lately’s” round table and as a co-star on “Ground Floor.” He is also known in the stand-up comedy circuit having performed at the Improv, Laugh Factory and Comedy Store in Hollywood.
Wood comes from a theater background and has had roles in the Broadway productions of “Rent,” “Avenue Q,” and “Brooklyn.”
article by Nikara Johns via Variety.com
When Mickalene Thomas, 42, describes her short film, Happy Birthday to a Beautiful Girl, as a “moving portrait of my mother,” it’s meant both literally and figuratively. The 30-minute feature on Thomas’s mother, Sandra Bush, a beautiful statuesque preacher’s daughter from Camden, New Jersey, who has appeared in many of Thomas’s paintings, is rich in detail, provocative and endearing. It chronicles Bush’s life in her own words as she becomes a young mother and wife, a survivor of abuse and addiction, the reigning “mother of the art-world” and ultimately a warrior for her waning health.
“What I love about my mother is that she had a never give up spirit. Even when she was really sick and dying, you can see in the film that she didn’t want to die. She had hope and faith that she was going to survive,” says Thomas. Sandra Bush passed on November 7, 2012, shortly after Thomas’ first solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, where the Happy Birthday film debuted.
“The reason why I say this is a portrait of my mother is because for me it’s like looking at a painting—you don’t always have all of the answers, instead there’s lots of questions. It’s very open ended and that’s what makes life beautiful and mysterious and exhilirating and exciting and adventurous because it’s so tangible and intangible at the same time.”
Happy Birthday to a Beautiful Girl airs starting today on HBO.
article by Norell Giancana via bet.com
“The reason why I say this is a portrait of my mother is because for me it’s like looking at a painting—you don’t always have all of the answers, instead there’s lots of questions. It’s very open ended and that’s what makes life beautiful and mysterious and exhilirating and exciting and adventurous because it’s so tangible and intangible at the same time.”
Happy Birthday to a Beautiful Girl airs starting today on HBO.
article by Norell Giancana via bet.com