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Yo Gabba Gabba! will gab again: On August 9th, Yo Gabba GabbaLand!, a spin-off of the popular music-centric kids TV show that ran from 2007 to 2015, will premiere on Apple TV+.

The 10-episode series was announced back in April, but the show’s extensive list of guest stars have been revealed today. Apple TV+ confirms that Anderson .Paak, The Linda Lindas, Portugal. The Man, Kurt Vile, Betty Who, The Drums, The Interrupters, Thundercat, Vulfpeck collaborators Antuwan Stanley and Corey Wong, and more will appear as musical guests.

Meanwhile, Flea, Diplo, Big Daddy Kane, Paul Williams, Reggie Watts, and actor/comedians Lauren Lapkus, Sam Richardson, Chelsea Peretti, Gillian Jacobs, and Utkarsh Ambudkar will make appearances on the show. The show is created by original Yo Gabba Gabba! helmers Christian Jacob and Scott Schultz, who are also known for their work with the ska-rock band The Aquabats.

“Yo Gabba GabbaLand! invites audiences to...

Today, May 31st, 2024, marks 30 years since Beastie Boys released their fourth studio album, Ill Communication. To mark the anniversary, a new deluxe reissue of the record has been announced.

Due on July 26th via Grand Royal, Capitol Records, and UMe, Ill Communication 30th Anniversary will be available in two unique formats: a 3xLP vinyl package with 12 bonus tracks, and a cassette of the original album (marking the first time it’ll be available in the format in decades).

When it first arrived in 1994, Ill Communication became Beastie Boys’ second No. 1 hit, and has since been certified triple platinum. Highlight tracks include the hit “Sabotage,” as well as “Flute Loop,” “Sure Shot,” and more. Q-Tip and Biz Markie both have features, with Money Mark, Eric Bobo, and producer Mario Caldato Jr. making contributions as well.

Among the bonus tracks on the upcoming 3xLP edition will be remixes, B-sides, and rarities, like...

Yo, did you hear the good news? Yo Gabba Gabba! is coming back to TV.

A revival of the beloved Nickelodeon kids’ show titled Yo Gabba GabbaLand! will premiere Friday, Aug. 9 on Apple TV+, the streamer announced on Wednesday. The new series brings back original characters Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Toodee and Plex and also introduces a new host: Kammy Kam, played by 12-year-old Kamryn Smith. (The original Yo Gabba Gabba! was hosted by DJ Lance Rock, played by Lance Robertson.)

More from TVLineThe Beach Boys Docu Trailer Recounts Decades of 'Fun, Fun, Fun' and Turmoil - Watch and Get Disney...

On Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 10:01 Pm, A&e will broadcast Season 1, Episode 6 of “Hip Hop Treasures” titled “Biz Markie/Master P.”

In this episode, Ice-t takes the lead in the quest to uncover items associated with the late Biz Markie, a beloved figure in the world of Hip Hop. Additionally, field collector Cipha Sounds pays a visit to Hip Hop mogul Master P, aiming to find the iconic gold tank featured in his “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” music video.

During “Biz Markie/Master P,” viewers can expect to follow Ice-t and Cipha Sounds as they search for these treasured items, each with its own connection to Hip Hop history.

Release Date & Time: 10:01 Pm Saturday 16 September 2023 on A&e

Hip Hop Treasures Biz Markie/Master P Cast – Season 1 Episode 6 Main Cast LL Cool J

Ice-t...

Image Source: Everett Collection

Hip-hop has transformed music, and the world at large, since it was conceived 50 years ago. In a relatively short time, it's made a massive impact on every aspect of pop culture - and fortunately, there are a lot of great documentaries that chronicle the unforgettable, twists, turns, and triumphs that made hip-hop what it is today.

Many of these documentaries offer fascinating insights into hip-hop's exponential growth, such as 1995's "The Show" and 2016's "Hip-Hop Evolution," which both examine exactly how the genre became a worldwide, multibillion-dollar industry. Some of them also focus on individual artists, like 2003's "Tupac: Resurrection," a documentary narrated entirely by Tupac Shakur himself. Others focus on specific music scenes, like Ava DuVernay's "This Is the Life," which centers Los Angeles's alternative rap scene in the 1990s, while others delve into the technical aspects of hip-hop and rap, like Ice-t's...

Blue BeetlePhoto: Warner Bros.

August 1: When Girls Ride - Samantha leaves the south for a fresh start, but gets caught up in the world of biker girls. Starring Alfred E. Rutherford, Deja Blaise, and Steven Strickland.

August 4: The Meg 2: The Trench - A research team encounters...

Blue Beetle Photo: Warner Bros. August 1: When Girls Ride - Samantha leaves the south for a fresh start, but gets caught up in the world of biker girls. Starring Alfred E. Rutherford, Deja Blaise, and Steven Strickland.August 4: The Meg 2: The Trench - A research team...

A new documentary, All Up in the Biz, will examine the life of the late rapper, Biz Markie, who was known as the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” thanks to lighthearted songs like “Just a Friend.” A clip from the film, which premieres Aug. 11 on Showtime, focuses on Biz’s sense of humor.

In between shots of the rapper dunking on audience members and his friends with “your mother” and “you’re so bald” jokes, comedian Tracy Morgan, who was friends with Biz, explains the roots of the hip-hop artist’s comic sense.

Biz Markie was a hip-hop legend. There are just no two ways around it. And unlike many other legendary rappers, there hasn’t really been anyone to really mimic what Biz Markie was able to do, especially when you think about a song like “Just a Friend.” Now, it appears Biz Markie is getting the documentary treatment in the upcoming film, “All Up in the Biz.”

Read More: ‘Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues’ Review: Sacha Jenkins Honors Pops’ Legacy As A Jazz Founding Father

As seen in the trailer for “All Up in the Biz,” the doc aims to shine a light on Biz Markie and his importance in the history of hip-hop.

Continue reading ‘All Up In The Biz’ Trailer: New Showtime Doc Gives Late Hip-Hop Legend Biz Markie The Mic at The Playlist.

The 2023 BET Awards honored the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with dozens of performances that played like a musical family reunion as pioneers of the genre blazed the stage during a hostless but party-filled show held during the writers strike.

The Sugarhill Gang, Big Daddy Kane, Mc Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Erick Sermon and Keith Murray performed Sunday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, celebrating rap music and honoring its roots as well as its domination in pop culture.

Ja Rule, Red Man, E-40, Master P, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Styles P, T.I., Fabolous, Trick Daddy, Trina, Uncle Luke and Skillz hit the stage, helping the four-hour-show flow during the writers strike, which several presenters acknowledged before giving out awards, including Grammy-winning singer Muni Long.

“Let’s take a moment to acknowledge and stand in solidarity with the artists who make us laugh, cry and, most important, think — our Writers Guild of America family.

The BET Awards ceremony went without a host for its performance-heavy telecast Sunday on BET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Coco Jones, Burna Boy, Latto and Beyoncé Knowles were among the artists who scored wins at this year’s celebration of music, film, television and sports.

This year’s awards show packed the broadcast with music performances honoring the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, along with highlighting the year’s top talent. Only a fraction of the awards were announced during the live show.

Performer Lil Uzi Bert opened the show alongside hip-hop legends The Sugarhill Gang, who performed their hit “Rapper’s Delight.” Other highlights included tributes to Tupac Shakur and Biz Markie, along with Migos collaborators Quavo and Offset reuniting onstage to pay tribute to their late bandmate Takeoff (who died in November). Warren G. performed “Regulate” and Tyga went back to his hit song “Rack City.

New documentaries about Biz Markie and Milli Vanilli are among the films set to screen at 2023 Tribeca Festival, which takes place June 7 through 18 in New York City.

The Sacha Jenkins-directed All Up in the Biz, a documentary on the late New York hip-hop legend Biz Markie — featuring celebrity interviews, rare film, reenactments, and animation — will get its world premiere at Tribeca. Milli Vanilli also makes its world premiere. Directed by Luke Korem, the film traces the origins and downfall of singers Rob & Fab.

Other music-oriented documentaries include the Jake Sumner-directed Ron Delsener Presents,...

The 2023 Tribeca Festival feature film lineup has been unveiled.

This year’s festival takes place June 7 — 18 and includes a range of feature narrative, documentary, and animated films. The 2023 Tribeca Festival launches 109 feature films from 127 filmmakers across 36 countries, with 93 world premieres, one international premiere, eight North American premieres, one U.S. premiere, and six New York premieres.

There are 43 first-time directors and 29 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects. A total of 41 percent of all feature films are directed by women and, for the first time, more than half of competition feature films are directed by women at 68 percent. Additionally, 36 percent of feature films are directed by Bipoc filmmakers, including two Indigenous filmmakers.

This season, it’s all about the actor-director, with films from a slew of A-list stars behind the camera. Highlights include the world premieres of Chelsea Peretti’s meta-comedy “First Time Female Director” and John Slattery’s...

Tribeca Festival has announced the lineup of its 2023 festival, which includes new films from actors Chelsea Peretti and David Duchovny and documentaries about Rock Hudson and news anchor Dan Rather.

This year’s event, which takes place from June 7-18, will feature 109 feature films from 127 filmmakers across 36 countries. There will be 93 world premieres, one international premiere, eight North American premieres, one U.S. premiere and six New York premieres.

Among the lineup, there are offerings from 43 first-time directors and 29 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects. For the first time, more than half of feature films in competition (68%) are directed by women, while 41% (45) of all feature films are directed by women. Additionally, 36% (39) of feature films are directed by Bipoc filmmakers, including two indigenous filmmakers.

This year’s festival also spotlights a number of films directed by actors, such as “First Time Female Director” by Peretti; “Maggie Moore(s)” by...

The 22nd edition of NYC’s Tribeca Film Festival appears to have star power to spare, with Michael Shannon, John Slattery, Chelsea Peretti, David Duchovny, Jennifer Esposito, Randall Park, real-life couple Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe and Steve Buscemi among those with new films premiering among the 100-plus features screening this year from June 7 through June 18.

A few interesting stats: There are 43 first-time directors and 29 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects. 41% of all feature films are directed by women and, for the first time, more than half of competition feature films are directed by women. And 39 of the feature films represented are directed by Bipoc filmmakers, including two indigenous filmmakers.

For the third year, the Tribeca Fest will include the “Expressions of Black Freedom” program, including a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, which will highight the world premiere of “All Up in the Biz,” a documentary about hip-hop legend Biz Markie,...

The 2023 Tribeca Festival has revealed its feature narrative, documentary and animated film lineups.

The selection consists of a number of actor-directed titles, including the world premieres of David Duchovny’s Bucky F*cking Dent, Michael Shannon’s Eric Larue, Chelsea Peretti’s First Time Female Director, John Slattery’s Maggie Moore(s), Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater’s Downtown Owl and Jennifer Esposito’s First Kill; the North American premiere of Steve Buscemi’s The Listener; and New York premiere of Randall Park’s Shortcomings.

The documentary lineup features films about Stan Lee, Biz Markie and Dan Rather, with a conversation with Rather and director Frank Marshall following the world premiere of the Rather documentary. The Rather talk is just one of the live events set to take place following screenings, which also include a performance from Gloria Gaynor after the world premiere of Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, a...

Rapper Coolio, who reached the height of his fame in the 90s with tracks like “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “C U When U Get There,” died in Los Angeles at the age of 59.

He died at the home of a friend, who said the cause was likely a heart attack, though that hasn’t been confirmed by investigators.

Coolio Cause Of Death

Coolio also had a healthy independent music career after his most prominent years, and also worked extensively as a film and TV actor beginning with roles in Martin and The Parent ‘Hood in 1995.

In Memoriam 2022: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died This Year!

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania and later moved to Compton, California. He attended Compton Community College, and worked odd jobs including one at Lax Airport before committing to music full-time.

His first success as a rapper came from his involvement in the...

The In Memoriam segment at the 64th Grammy Awards on Sunday, April 3, kicked off with a fast-paced montage of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in action, honoring the 50-year-old rocker who died just days before he would have performed with his bandmates at the awards show. But then the In Memoriam segment shifted gears to honor another late music legend, Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, the towering talent who died at age 91 last November. Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt took the stage first, singing “Not a Day Goes By” from the musical Merrily We Roll Along. Meanwhile, a slideshow of photos behind the performers honored other music stars we lost in the past year, including Biz Markie, Charlie Watts, Meat Loaf, and Young Dolph. Grammys 2022 – Such a Beautiful “In Memoriam” pic.twitter.com/VJBjKuCu5g — SSerrario (@SoniaSerrario) April 4, 2022 Then Hamilton alum Leslie Odom Jr. took up the...

Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Platt, and Rachel Zegler joined forces for a rousing tribute to Stephen Sondheim during the 2022 Grammy awards ceremony on Sunday. The iconic Broadway composer and lyricist died on Nov. 26 at age 91 and led the In Memoriam segment of the Grammys.

The segment opened with a tribute to Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died last month at the age of 50. The tribute blended interviews and backstage home movies with live footage, ending in an audience singalong of the group’s “My Hero.”

For the live portion,...

Sunday’s SAG Awards ceremony will return to its normal two-hour live format on TNT and TBS. One of the highlights each year is the special In Memoriam segment. It’s been a particularly rough year with over 100 deaths of prominent actors and actresses who were likely members of SAG/AFTRA. Show producers typically are able to include approximately 40-50 people in a tribute. The 2021 segment saluted 55 people because they had responsibility for 14 months instead of 12.

Among that group will certainly be previous SAG president Ed Asner, who was also a life achievement award recipient. That honorary award was also presented to Sidney Poitier and Betty White, who both died this past year.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2022: In Memoriam Gallery

Who else might be featured in the 2022 tribute? Look for Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, Oscar nominees Ned Beatty, Peter Bogdanovich and Dean Stockwell, plus Emmy champs Louie Anderson, Michael Constantine, Charles Grodin,...

It was another Year of Covid in 2021, and the sadness extended to many beloved and groundbreaking people in the show business and media worlds who died during the past 12 months.

Scroll through a photo gallery above.

The acting world lost such giants as Betty White who died on New Year’s Eve eve, Ed Asner, Cicely Tyson, Charles Grodin, Jessica Walter, Christopher Plummer, Michael K. Williams, Hal Holbrook, George Segal, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Powell and Ned Beatty.

We also pay tribute to filmmakers including Melvin Van Peebles, Jean-Marc Vallée, Bertrand Travernier, Richard Donner, Michael Apted and Roger Michell.

The executive and producing worlds lost the likes of Jamie Tarses, Chuck Fries and public television’s Pete Noyes and Bill Kobin.

Musicians who left us this past year include Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, Don Everly, Vicente Fernandez, Dmx, Chick Corea, Biz Markie, B.J. Thomas, the Monkees’ Mike Nesmith, the Supremes’ Mary Wilson,...

One of the biggest all-star lineups ever will celebrate the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees this weekend. The ceremony filmed October 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, and now airs this Saturday, November 20, on HBO and HBO Max.

The event clocking in at 3 hour and16 minutes honors Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Jay-Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner in the performer category. Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron were chosen for early influence induction. LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads were honored in the musical excellence category. Clarence Avant received the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

King had been previously inducted as a songwriter. Turner is now a solo artist inductee after going in with Ike Turner the first time around.

SEEThe Go-Go’s, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, Jay-Z among 16 artists eligible for 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

While the order of inductions was different during filming, here...

Rita Wilson surprised Emmy viewers by rapping during the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Wilson rapped to the beat of Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend,” but changed the lyrics to be about television. “Who knew, who knew they had so much TV?” she rapped, proceeding to shoutout to Sesame Street. “So many characters I love. In […]

The post Rita Wilson Breaks The Internet With Rap Performance At The Emmys appeared first on uInterview.

The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS rebounded from last year’s all-time low ratings, reversing steady declines with a 16% gain of viewership to 7.4 million, compared to approximately 6.37 million viewers in 2020.

Per the accurate Nielsen Live+Same Day time-zone adjusted fast nationals for Sunday night, the ceremony averaged the total time spent across linear and digital platforms was over 1.4 billion minutes.

Even before the pandemic, the Emmys were struggling to stay on our collective radars, plummeting to a historic viewership drop-off in 2020 of approximately 12% compared to 2019’s host-less ceremony on Fox. The 7.4 million score for Sunday night’s show does not include “out of home” viewing and CBS estimates that it will likely increase upwards to 7.9 million when final numbers are released by Nielsen tomorrow.

The last Emmy telecast to outpace last night’s showing was in 2018, when the Emmy telecast drew a 2.4 rating in adults 18-49 and attracted 10.2 million viewers on NBC.

The first in-person Emmys Awards show since the dawn of the pandemic was almost certainly going to be a celebration no matter the quality of the show. Thankfully, CBS and the show’s producers put together an event that brought a truly welcome sense of awards ceremony normalcy — warts and all — that has been conspicuously missing in recent years.

See 2021 Primetime Emmy winners list in all 27 categories

There were laughs. There were moments of genuine emotion. And there were those bits that left you wondering what audience the writers were targeting. There were also missteps and moments that just plain didn’t work. In other words, it was just like almost every other Emmys ceremony … complete with Conan O’Brien.

The show opened with host Cedric the Entertainer performing a rousing and lyrically altered version of the late Biz Markie’s classic “Just a Friend,” with assistance from a plethora of...

The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards are over. The winners have been announced, the speeches have been given, and now it's time for the afterparties. But how was the show?

The opening musical number was a fun tribute to late rapper Biz Markie, while also showing us how great it is now that the stars can all be in one room again. It was a fun, warm moment that seemed kind of informal and genuine. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the night felt stodgy and too-tightly cut, with bad skits that took up valuable acceptance speech time. 

Last year's Emmy's was a purely digital, distanced affair, so this was their...

The post The 2021 Emmys in Review: Not Great, Bob appeared first on /Film.

It was CBS’ turn to broadcast the Emmys this year, but maybe it should have stuck to the script of the mainly virtual 2020 ceremony on ABC.

73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards: Deadline’s Full Coverage

Not perfect, but the Jimmy Kimmel-hosted 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards was and remains the most successful trophy show effort of the Covid epoch. In fact, it is the best awards show in years even in a pre-pandemic world. That certainly could not be said of the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards tonight, even if there was an audience of nominees this time.

As Amy Poehler said so well right near the end of the long show, “What time is it, and how do we get out of here?”

The executive producers of Sunday’s more three-hour-plus show — hosted by Cedric the Entertainer for the first time — promised “fun” and a “celebration.” Ian Stewart and Reginald Hudlin...

Producers of the 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony honored almost all of the expected people who died this past year. Who was not featured during the emotional In Memoriam segment Sunday night on CBS? Prominent performers and character actors such as Frank Bonner, Sean Connery, Michael Constantine, Abby Dalton, James Hampton, Bruce Kirby, Norman Lloyd, Helen Reddy and Jane Withers were not part of the 49 people included.

While over 100 celebrated television people died since last year’s event in mid-September of 2020, the segment generally only makes room for less than 50. Among those featured Sunday night: TV Academy Hall of Fame members actor Ed Asner, production designer Roy Christopher, actress Cloris Leachman, writer/producer William Link and actress Cicely Tyson. Current nominee Michael K. Williams (“Lovecraft Country”) and “Saturday Night Live” veteran Norm Macdonald sadly passed away this month as well.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2021: In Memoriam Gallery

The 49 people featured...

It took around five minutes for Sunday night’s Emmy Awards telecast to get awkward.

We’d made it through the fairly arbitrary tribute to television scored to the late Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend.” Maybe you were amused by Rita Wilson rapping and by the TV Academy making room for Lil Dicky onstage despite ignoring Dave completely, but even if you weren’t amused, it was over quickly and it appeared that host Cedric the Entertainer wasn’t even going to do a monologue and we went straight to Seth Rogen presenting the night’s first award.

“There are ...

It took around five minutes for Sunday night’s Emmy Awards telecast to get awkward.

We’d made it through the fairly arbitrary tribute to television scored to the late Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend.” Maybe you were amused by Rita Wilson rapping and by the TV Academy making room for Lil Dicky onstage despite ignoring Dave completely, but even if you weren’t amused, it was over quickly and it appeared that host Cedric the Entertainer wasn’t even going to do a monologue and we went straight to Seth Rogen presenting the night’s first award.

“There are ...

Cedric the Entertainer opened the 2021 Emmy Awards with a salute to the late Biz Markie’s classic track “Just a Friend” — with some reworked lyrics sprinkled with nods to HBO Max, Sesame Street, and Black-ish. LL Cool J, Rita Wilson, and rapper/Dave star Lil Dicky joined in for the high-energy performance, each contributing a verse that both gently skewered and celebrated television in the pandemic era. It was a loose start to the night that got the crowd dancing and swaying at their tables.

Opening the segment, the comic...

The opening number for the 73rd Emmy Awards was a group sing-along led by Cedric the Entertainer and a man with a TV for a head. The song? "Just a Friend," by the late, great rapper Biz Markie. Cedric, Billy Porter, Daveed Diggs, LL Cool J and more all joined in to pay tribute to Markie while also celebrating how much fun it was to all be in the same room together again. 

"Just a Friend" was released in September 1989 as the lead single from Markie's sophomore album, "The Biz Never Sleeps". It was Markie's most successful single, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in...

The post The 2021 Emmys Opening Number: The Gang Sings 'Just A Friend' appeared first on /Film.

After a heartwarming tribute to the television industry and the late rapper Biz Markie, Cedric the Entertainer brought the funny to the beginning of the 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards with a few jokes about the Covid-19 pandemic, diversity in the Television Academy’s 2021 nominees and the royal family.

“The Neighborhood” star Cedric the Entertainer is hosting the show for his home network, CBS, from L.A. Live’s Event Deck.

See some of his best opening quips below.

“So many talented people in this room. Matter of fact, lock the doors. We’re not leaving until we find a new host for ‘Jeopardy!'”

“We all vaxxed. We had to get vaxxed to come here. I got vaxxed. I did not have a reaction like Nicki Minaj’s cousin’s friend, Ok.”

“I got Pfizer, because I’m boujee. Pfizer, that’s the Neiman Marcus of vaccines. Moderna, that’s Macy’s.

If the Internet has taught us anything, it's that sometimes it's easier to speak our minds anonymously...and that Seth Rogen should probably watch Ted Lasso.  After the 2021 Emmys kicked off celeb-filled rendition of the late Biz Markie's hit, "Just a Friend," Rogen took the stage to present the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The only hitch? He mispronounced the winner's name, just a tad. Fans were quick to call out the Console Wars producer's mistake, citing they heard "Hannah Waddington" as opposed to Ted Lasso winner Hannah Waddingham.  "Did Seth Rogen really call her 'Hannah...

Producers of this year’s Emmy Awards promised the opening musical number would be short and sweet, and they kept their word. With Cedric the Entertainer offering a very brief opening monologue about the central role TV has played in his life – he gave a shout-out to his grandmother and their time spent watching “our programs together” – the host then launched into a celebrity rap-along to a rewritten version of the late Biz Markie‘s “Just a Friend.”

With lyrics adjusted to portray TV as an old friend – “Oh TV you, you got what I need” – the opening number made reference to Seinfeld, Ted Lasso, Sesame Street and seemingly everything in between. In addition to Cedric, the guest rappers included Billy Porter, LL Cool J, Rita Wilson, Dave “Lil Dicky” Burd, Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Mj Rodriguez, among others. Some took to the stage, others...

Cedric the Entertainer emceed this year’s Primetime Emmys: Did he live up to his name?

The answer to that, in part, depends on your opinion of familiar faces taking on late ’80s rap. The Neighborhood star opened the 73rd Emmy Awards by rapping about TV to the tune of Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend.” He was soon joined by NCIS: Los Angeles‘ LL Cool J, This Is Us‘ Mandy Moore and Susan Kelechi Watson, Ted Lasso‘s Brendan Hunt, Dave‘s Lil Dicky, black-ish‘s Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, Hamilton‘s Jonathan Groff, Pose‘s...

Cedric The Entertainer opened the 2021 Emmys with a TV industry-themed tribute to Biz Markie, recruiting multiple nominees and other stars to join him in singing a television-centric cover of the late rapper’s “Just a Friend.”

The 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards’ host sang, “Oh TV, you, you got what I need, but you say he’s just a friend,” in honor of his “best friend,” television. Cedric did the bit standing next to a dancer wearing a TV set for a head, along with the help of Lil Dicky, LL Cool J, Rita Wilson, Mandy Moore, Brendan Hunt and more Emmys guests in the theater.

Watch the performance here and via the video above.

You can find the full list of tonight’s Emmy winners here, which TheWrap is updating live.

Biz Markie, the legendary rap pioneer known as “the clown prince of hip hop” and for his 1989 hit single “Just a Friend,...

Now that's the way to open an awards show! The 2021 Emmys kicked off in musical fashion, with stars like This Is Us' Mandy Moore and Susan Kelechi Watson, Black-ish's Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, and Pose's Billy Porter joining host Cedric The Entertainer for a rousing performance that served as a love letter to television, a.k.a. Cedric's "best friend." After starting off rapping solo, LL Cool J joined the comedian on stage before cutting to famous audience members singing along to Biz Markie's classic "Just A Friend."  But it was Rita Wilson, who showed off her rapping prowess earlier in the night during her interview on E!: Live...

Cedric the Entertainer kicked off the 2021 Emmy Awards with a nostalgic vibe, using Biz Markie’s classic “Just A Friend” to pay homage to this year’s nominees, mixing in references to nominated shows Ted Lasso and The Crown with rapping help from LL Cool J, Lil Dicky and, perhaps most surprisingly, Rita Wilson.

With the refrain “TV, you’ve got what I need,” the actor and comedian got nominees like Brendan Hunt, Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson singing along to the chorus of the classic rap song, changing the lyrics to reflect TV’s biggest night. The opening ...

Cedric the Entertainer kicked off the 2021 Emmy Awards with a nostalgic vibe, using Biz Markie’s classic “Just a Friend” to pay homage to this year’s nominees, mixing in references to nominated shows Ted Lasso and The Crown with rapping help from LL Cool J, Lil Dicky and, perhaps most surprisingly, Rita Wilson.

With the refrain “TV, you’ve got what I need,” the actor and comedian got nominees like Brendan Hunt, Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson singing along to the chorus of the classic rap song, changing the lyrics to reflect TV’s biggest night. The opening ...

Axl Rose honored the late Biz Markie Thursday at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium by singing an extended portion of his 1989 classic “Just a Friend” during the intro to “November Rain.” He then returned to the “oh, baby, you, you got what I need” refrain just before Slash’s guitar solo, and yet again as the song came to an end. Check out fan-shot footage above.

“I want to dedicate this next song to Mr. Biz Markie,” he said right before the band continued the show with “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.

With laughter and tears, songs and stories, friends and family of Biz Markie celebrated his life and legacy at a funeral Monday, remembering the rapper as larger than life and full of love.

“He cared for people, he had a way of making us laugh through our pain,” said Rev. Al Sharpton in his eulogy at the Patchogue Theatre on Long Island, where Biz Markie’s black coffin was placed center stage, an arrangement of white flowers on top.

“He’d come in a room and his presence didn’t have to be announced, it was felt,”...

With laughter and tears, songs and stories, friends and family of Biz Markie celebrated his life and legacy at a funeral Monday, remembering the rapper as larger than life and full of love.

“He cared for people, he had a way of making us laugh through our pain,” said Rev. Al Sharpton in his eulogy at the Patchogue Theatre on Long Island, where Biz Markie’s black coffin was placed center stage, an arrangement of white flowers on top.

“He’d come in a room and his presence didn’t have to be announced, it was felt,”...

By the mid-2000s, Biz Markie was not only a hip-hop legend, but the kind of pop culture personality that seemed to pop up everywhere. And it was always a delight. He was making cameos in movies like Men in Black II, lending his voice to Crank Yankers and cracking jokes on Wild ’N Out. But he could also frequently be found somewhere way more unexpected — the children’s television show Yo Gabba Gabba!

Biz Markie fit the program’s delightfully over-the-top, music-based style perfectly, and during the show’s...

The passing of rap legend Biz Markie has spawned numerous tributes online, from both past collaborators and admiring fans alike. Now, fans are heading online to celebrate the entertainer’s film and TV legacy as well.

In addition to purchasing and downloading the late rapper’s music, which is expected to see a sizable rise in the charts next week, fans are sharing their favorite memories from his guest appearances on popular TV shows and movies.

3 Good Things About Biz Markie

1. We'll always have his music

2. He taught kids how...

Q-Tip, Missy Elliott, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and Bootsy Collins were among the many artists to pay tribute to Biz Markie on social media following the “Just a Friend” rapper’s death Friday at the age of 57.

“All of my love to the one of a kind bringer of love and joy, the great Biz Markie,” Flea tweeted. “I will bang his records til the day I die and my heart will rejoice. I love you Biz.”

Missy Elliott wrote of the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop,” “I can remember...

Biz Markie has died at age 57, his rep confirmed to People. The rapper, whose real name is Marcel Theo Hall, died on July 16. A cause of death has not been revealed at this time. "It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, Hip Hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away. We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time," his rep said in a statement. "Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years. He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter. We respectfully request privacy for his family as they mourn their loved one.

Questlove paid tribute to his friend Biz Markie Friday following the death of the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” at the age of 57.

“He taught me Alot. I’m using All the education he taught me,” the Roots drummer wrote on Instagram.

“Biz built me man. In my early early stages it was Biz who taught me the Real places to cop records….Biz taught me what cities had good digging…..Biz taught me where to collect 45s……Biz taught me where to collect 8Track Tapes!!…. Biz ‘tried’ to get me...

Beastie Boys and Biz Markie were both New York hip-hop pioneers, so it’s natural they spent a lot of time together. The two artists often shared a stage, including a 1988 Madison Square Garden show where Biz performed an inimitable version of Elton John’s “Bennie and The Jets.” (That version later ended up on the Beasties’ Sounds of Science anthology.) As Rob Sheffield notes in his tribute to the rapper, who died Friday night at age 57, Biz even gave the Beasties the name for their label and magazine, Grand Royal.

Biz Markie, the influential New York rapper, singer, and actor behind the 1989 banger “Just a Friend,” has passed away in Baltimore on Friday. He was 57. “It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, hip hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away,” his rep Jenni Izumi said in a statement.…...