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Tom Bergeron and Yvette Nicole Brown are ready to say Lights, Camera, Take Action!

The two are back on board to host and produce MPTF’s fundraising telethon as it returns for a third straight year to help Hollywood crew members in need of assistance. The two-hour telecast — set to air live on Ktla in Los Angeles from 7-9 p.m. on Dec. 8 — will feature stories, songs and celebrity guests in a quest to raise emergency funds for entertainment workers.

The inaugural telecast garnered more than $850,000, while last year’s raised more than $750,000. The MPTF team has set a goal of $750,000 for the December outing.

“I can truly say the industry is in a unique and challenging position right now as we find our footing for the future, and it’s up to all of us to band together and help those who might be hurting along the way,” Brown said in a statement,...

Remember When Matthew Perry & Matt LeBlanc Pulled a Series-Long Prank on Friends? You Won’t Believe What Happened! (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Long before TikTok pranks and viral challenges, Friends co-stars Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc were the undisputed prank kings. As fans worldwide rewatch Friends in memory of Perry, who passed on October 28, 2023, one story keeps popping up—a laugh-out-loud series-long prank Perry and LeBlanc played on their show’s co-creator, David Crane.

Here’s the setup: Crane, one of the masterminds behind the series, had a particular…aversion to toilet humor. Just the idea of it made him squirm. And that’s all Perry and LeBlanc needed to know. They egged him on for ten years, pitching bathroom jokes with deadpan seriousness. And they did it all without Crane catching on—at least, not right away. According to LeBlanc in David Wild’s 2005 book Friends…’ Til the End: The One With All Ten Years,...

In the world of sitcom legends, pranks are as common as laugh tracks, but Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc took their mischief to a whole new level on the set of Friends. Imagine pulling off a joke so sneaky that even the show’s co-creator didn’t catch on for multiple seasons! And here’s the kicker: this wasn’t just any prank—it was one with a hilarious twist, involving ultra-conservative behavior that left everyone wondering how they managed to keep straight faces.

Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc in Friends | Credits: Warner Bros. Television

Dive into the story of how these two comedic masterminds got away with it for so long, and prepare to be both amused and amazed by their on-set antics!

Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc Pulled a Decade-Long Toilet Prank on Friends Creator David Crane Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc in Friends | Credits: Warner Bros. Television...

Friends was a gift of the 90s era, a sitcom that would go on to define television comedy for decades. And Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing stood out from the rest of the characters due to his quirky humor.

Friends intro| HBO Max

Chandler was a character who often hid his true feelings of sadness and embarrassment under inappropriate jokes, a trait that would become his signature for the rest of the series. And more often than not, some of his tragedies were inspired by Perry’s life itself.

When Matthew Perry’s dating life seeped into Friends Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing in Friends | Warner Bros. Television

Fans of the popular sitcom are still reeling from the loss of Matthew Perry, who died last year. In the book Friends ’til the End: The Official Celebration of All Ten Years by David Wild, the cast and the crew shared several...

Following two days of star-studded conversations about climate change, Hillary Clinton closed out the Environmental Media Association Impact Summit on Wednesday with a chat about kids and the planet — and a dig at Donald Trump’s recent guilty verdicts.

Clinton joined showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett and Good Energy founder Anna Jane Joyner at the Pendry West Hollywood for a panel on how climate change is affecting children’s development. The Clinton Foundation is putting a particular focus on the issue via its Too Small to Fail program, and is pushing for it to be highlighted in Hollywood projects to increase awareness.

“There’s been a lot of really, really great efforts to convince people about climate change and a lot of really dramatic information and even dramatic movies about the consequences that we are facing,” Clinton told the crowd. “And so we know that part of the message of kind...

The Environmental Media Association has officially announced the speakers and panelists for its 8th annual Ema Impact Summit, which will feature a closing conversation with Hillary Clinton.

Taking place June 4 and 5 at the Pendry West Hollywood, the event unites Hollywood environmentalists with a wide range of innovators, entrepreneurs, creatives and corporations to discuss bringing sustainability to the forefront. Secretary Clinton will join Ema to dive into the devastating effects of climate change on early childhood development and how her work through the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative is advancing new solutions. She will also focus on climate storytelling from a new frame, expanding on the silent crisis impacting pregnant women and young children.

Other big-name participants include Rainn Wilson, who will moderate a chat with representatives from Tony’s Chocoloney and Rodney Strong Vineyards about their organic products and practices; True Detective creator Issa Lopez and director Eli Roth,...

Returning for its second year, MPTF's fundraising telethon, Lights, Camera, Take Action! Caring for Hollywood’s Crews raised $786,512 on Saturday night to benefit the 100-year-old charity’s support of entertainment industry members in need, exceeding the original goal of $750K.

Tom Bergeron and Yvette Nicole Brown attend MPTF's Lights, Camera, Take Action! Caring for Hollywood's Crews Telethon

Credit/Copyright: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for MPTF

Lights, Camera, Take Action! Caring for Hollywood’s Crews aired live on Ktla (Channel 5 in Los Angeles) on December 9, with presenting sponsors City National Bank and UCLA Health leading the charge on the philanthropic endeavor. Yvette Nicole Brown and Tom Bergeron returned as hosts of the evening and served as two of the producers along with the return of producers Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond and Somebody Feed Phil) and David Wild (Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince and The 63rd...

The Motion Picture & Television Fund’s second annual Lights, Camera, Take Action! Caring for Hollywood’s Crews telethon exceeded its fundraising goal by raising $786,512 on Saturday night, the nonprofit said.

The telethon, co-hosted and co-produced by Yvette Nicole Brown and Tom Bergeron, aired live on Ktla in Los Angeles, aiming to raise relief funds for entertainment industry members impacted by the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes this year.

It had set a goal of raising $750,000 this year after raising $865,000 a year ago.

Performances during the two-hour telecast included from Annette O’Toole and Michael McKean, Chris Mann, Darren Criss, Harry Northup, Lalah Hathaway, Leslie Odom Jr, Musyca Children’s Choir, Tausha with The Boxmasters, and Wendy Liebman. Special guests included Awkwafina, Billy Bob Thornton, Camilla Belle, Clark Gregg, Colin Farrell, Colman Domingo, Cristo Fernández, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Ike Barinholtz, Jay Ellis, Jeff Bridges, Jimmy Jam, Jodie Foster, John Stamos,...

MPTF's fundraising telethon for crew members in need will return for its second time. Lights, Camera, Take Action! Caring for Hollywood’s Crews will air live on Ktla (Channel 5 in Los Angeles) on December 9, 7-9 pm Pt.

Yvette Nicole Brown and Tom Bergeron return as hosts and serve as two of the producers for this uplifting, entertaining evening of stories, songs, and celebrities— all to raise emergency relief funds for workers in need. MPTF’s first telethon last December received an LA Area Emmy nomination and raised over $850K to provide for the entertainment industry’s most vulnerable community members. Now the need is even more urgent with tens of thousands of industry workers impacted by the two strikes in 2023, which will have major personal financial ramifications well into next year. A goal of $750K has been set for the two-hour broadcast.

This live televised event sees the return...

The Motion Picture & Television Fund said Tuesday that the Lights, Camera, Take Action! Caring for Hollywood’s Crews fundraising telethon will return for its second edition December 9, airing live on Ktla-Los Angeles from 7-9 p.m. Pt.

It will also stream on the MPTF’s website.

Yvette Nicole Brown and Tom Bergeron are back to host after doing the same last year, when the telethon raised more than $850,000 and was nominated for an L.A. Area Emmy.

A goal of $750,000 has been set for this year’s broadcast, which so far is expected to include appearances by Camilla Belle, Kyle Bornheimer, Jeff Bridges, Darren Criss, Lena Dunham, Colin Farrell, Jason George, Clark Gregg, Lalah Hathaway, Jodie Foster, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Wendy Liebman, Michael McKean, Leslie Odom Jr, Annette O’Toole, Phil Rosenthal, Daniela Ruah, Tiffany Smith, John Stamos, Billy Bob Thornton, Wilmer Valderrama, Ming-Na Wen and David Wild.

The entertainment world is still reeling from the sudden loss of Matthew Perry, the affable charmer who rose to fame as Chandler Bing on "Friends." The loss is greater considering that Perry was only 54 years old at the time of his passing, and how much closer fans felt towards him after his incredibly honest memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," came out just last year. Perry's autobiography received most of its press due to Perry revealing, in great detail, his severe problems with alcohol and substance abuse. The book helped make the man behind the curtain, so to speak, just as likable as the onscreen persona that he'll be most remembered for. 

It's hard to imagine anyone else playing Chandler Bing at this point, and Perry wound up bringing a lot of his personal life to the part. As the show was ramping up for its first season,...

If you, like me, were someone who watched and loved "Friends" -- even with its many flaws -- you're probably doing a rewatch right now. The world lost Matthew Perry on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, and it's pretty hard for fans to process. Perry, who played loveable goof Chandler Bing, struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs during his time on the hit NBC series and afterward, according to his 2022 book, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir." Though it will be some time before we know the cause of death for my favorite Friend, viewers are recalling their favorite episodes and Chandler moments, and remembering the show for what it was. 

The cast put out a statement recently, calling themselves "family," something we saw on display during the 2021 "Friends" reunion show on HBO. From some of the stories from the set that came out during that event,...

In the wake of Matthew Perry's recent tragic passing at the age of 54, it's worth remembering that Perry was very much the heart of "Friends" throughout all 10 seasons. He had a specific brand of delivery and a unique role in the group. He wasn't as over-the-top as other sitcom staples, but he was the one who made the show what it was, raising it above the other sitcoms of its time. As /Film senior editor Jacob Hall noted, "Ross and Rachel got the headlines. But Chandler was the soul of 'Friends.'"

He didn't just help put the show on the map, but also helped keep it going strong long after most sitcoms would've run out of steam. Chandler's relationship with Courteney Cox's Monica, which came seemingly out of nowhere in the Season 4 finale, quickly escalated to become one of the show's central storylines. Part of why...

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Matthew Perry delighted millions upon millions of people playing the sarcastic chatterbox Chandler Bing on all 10 seasons of "Friends." Every group of friends needs a wise-ass, and most wise-asses wish that they had the delivery that Perry did. Of course, very few of them actually do. While the show for so many people was a reliable source of good times, the same was not true for the actor himself.

Before his recent untimely passing, Perry had been very open about his drug and alcohol addiction issues in interviews, the "Friends: The Reunion" special, and in his recent memoir "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing." Addiction for anyone is terrible thing, but fame and success in the industry has a way of exacerbating those issues to an even greater degree. At the height of the popularity of "Friends," while performing his signature role,...

The tragic death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry has brought to the surface a plethora of fan-favorite on-screen moments, as well as his struggles, successes, and connections to different cast members. In fact, Perry's onscreen mother in "Friends" -- Morgan Fairchild, who played Nora Tyler Bing -- had actually met him many years before they worked together.

In David Wild's "Friends ... 'til the End: The One With All Ten Years," Fairchild recounted how she came to be on the show: "When they first called I thought 'Oh my God, I'm too young to play this guy's mother.' But I had seen the show and it's such a good show, so I thought it would be fun to do."

When the two first encountered each other on set, Perry revealed that he already knew her. "I got on the set and Matthew said, 'You don't remember me but...

The late Sinéad O’Connor was “one of the most incredible women of modern times,” Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson says in the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now, praising her as a “monster musician” who was a major influence on her own work — and on the entire Nineties. “Up until that point, aside from Madonna, there were no really outspoken women in music, because you couldn’t afford to be outspoken,” adds Manson. “You would get squashed. And Sinéad kind of heralded in this amazing decade of rebellion.”

In the episode,...

Kacey Musgraves will take the 65th Annual Grammy Awards stage to perform “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in tribute to Loretta Lynn during the show’s In Memoriam segment. The 2023 Grammy Awards In Memoriam segment will also include Mick Fleetwood, Sheryl Crow, and Bonnie Raitt honoring Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie with “Songbird.” Quavo and Maverick City Music will team up on “Without You” in memory of Takeoff.

The Recording Academy also announced First Lady Jill Biden, Grammy winner Cardi B, James Corden, current Grammy nominee Billy Crystal, and current Grammy nominee Viola Davis will present awards. Dwayne Johnson, three-time Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo, and five-time Grammy winner Shania Twain are also confirmed as presenters.

Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy, Lizzo, Kim Petras, Sam Smith, and Harry Styles will perform during the live broadcast on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 5pm Pt/8pm Et on CBS. This year...

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 5, with the ceremony to be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+. The event will be hosted for the third year in a row by comedian and former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah. So who’s performing at the event, which the Recording Academy dubs “music’s biggest night”? Click above for the full gallery of Grammy performers, updating as new names are announced.

See Grammy nominations: Full list of contenders

The first wave of performers includes nominees Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy, Lizzo, Kim Petras, and Sam Smith. Two-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny is up for three nominations: Album of the Year (“Un Verano Sin Ti”), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Moscow Mule”) and Best Música Urbana Album (“Un Verano Sin Ti”).

Three-time champ Lizzo is nominated for five awards this year:...

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 5, with the CBS ceremony to be broadcast live and hosted for the third year in a row by comedian and former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah. So who’s performing at the event, which the Recording Academy dubs “music’s biggest night”? Scroll down for the complete list of Grammy performers, updating as new names are announced.

Beyonce leads this year’s Grammy nominations with nine bids. That includes Album of the Year for her critically acclaimed dance collection “Renaissance,” plus Record of the Year and Song of the Year for her number-one single “Break My Soul.” She’s followed by Kendrick Lamar with eight nominations; his “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” is also up for Album of the Year. Rounding out that category are Harry Styles (“Harry’s House“), Abba (“Voyage”), Brandi Carlile (“In These...

Bad Bunny, Lizzo and Brandi Carlile are among the first round of performers slated to take the stage as part of the 2023 Grammys celebration.

Mary J. Blige, Kim Petras and Sam Smith, Luke Combs and Steve Lacy are also slated to appear for the 65th iteration of the annual music awards show, produced by Fulwell 73 Productions. The Recording Academy announced the initial list of performing artists for the 65th annual awards show Wednesday. Additional performers are expected to be announced in the coming days.

The initial group of performers share a combined 30 nominations between them. Bad Bunny has three nominations, including album of the year, while Mary J. Blige is up for both album and record of the year for a total of six nominations. Lizzo has racked up five nominations, including record of the year, album of the year (Special) and song of the year.

Carlile’s seven nods...

Nominees Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Lizzo and Sam Smith are among those set to perform at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. The Trevor Noah-hosted show will be broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 5.

Luke Combs, along with Steve Lac and Kim Petras are also scheduled to perform on the telecast that will air 8-11:30 pm Et. More performers are expected to be announced soon.

Bad Bunny is up for three nominations: Album of the Year (Un Verano Sin Ti), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Moscow Mule”) and Best Música Urbana Album (Un Verano Sin Ti). Blige is nominated for six including Record of the Year (“Good Morning Gorgeous”) and Album of the Year; Carlile is up for seven, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year; Combs is up for three; Lacy for four; and Lizzo for five.

The MPTF “Lights, Camera, Take Action!” telethon raised 867,986 on Saturday night to benefit the 100-year old charity’s support of entertainment industry members in need.

Cast and Crew of MPTF Telethon

The telethon aired live on Ktla 5, with presenting sponsors City National Bank and UCLA Health leading the philanthropic charge. Acclaimed Emmy-nominated actress and writer Yvette Nicole Brown, currently seen in Disenchanted, and beloved game show host and Emmy winner Tom Bergeron co-hosted the show on-air, with Ktla’s Sam Rubin hosting the in-studio phone bank. Writer-producer Phil Rosenthal, who also appeared during the program, and David Wild produced the show. The telethon celebrated MPTF’s significant safety net support to the entertainment community and offered viewers a night of unforgettable musical performances and appearances by special guests. Industry celebrities including Spencer Garrett, Clark Gregg, Annette O’Toole, Michael McKean, Rob Morrow, Jessica Rothe, and Adrienne Visnic took donations on a phone bank throughout the event.

Tonight’s MPTF’s telethon on Ktla raised 858,493 for Hollywood’s 101-year-old charitable organization – exceeding the 750,000 that it had targeted. Jeff Bridges, who was one of the many stars who appeared on the show, noted that the MPTF is in “dire straits” due to the extraordinary Covid expenses it’s racked up over the last three years.

MPTF said in October that it’s facing its “imminent demise” unless it raises 10 million-12 million in cash donations by the end of this year in order to meet its bank line compliance and continue ongoing operations.

Related: MPTF To Hold Telethon December 10 On Ktla As Charity Struggles To Meet Fundraising Goals To Stay Afloat

MPTF president and CEO Bob Beitcher said last week that the current fundraising campaign has only raised about half of that. Tonight’s telethon – called Lights, Camera, Take Action! – gets them nearly 1 million closer to meeting its fundraising needs.

The Motion Picture & Television Fund’s star-packed telethon Lights, Camera, Take Action! airs live Saturday on Ktla beginning at 7 p.m. It hopes to raise at least 750,000 to defray some of the 9 million in direct Covid expenses it’s racked up over the past three years – and to help keep more than 250 residents of the retirement village from having to move out.

If you can’t watch it on Ktla, you can watch the livestream above.

The 101-year-old charitable organization said in October it’s facing its “imminent demise” unless it raises 10 million-12 million in cash donations by the end of the year in order to meet its bank line compliance and continue ongoing operations.

MPTF president and CEO Bob Beitcher said a week ago that the current fundraising campaign has only raised about half of what’s needed. MPTF officials hope tonight’s two-hour telethon will get them a little closer.

MPTF is proud to announce the “Lights, Camera, Take Action!” telethon, airing live in primetime on Los Angeles’ Ktla 5 on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 7:00 Pm to 9:00 Pm local time and also available across the country via Ktla.com and MPTF.com.

Acclaimed Emmy-nominated actress and writer Yvette Nicole Brown, currently seen in Disenchanted, and beloved game show host and Emmy winner Tom Bergeron are slated to host the fundraising event, while writer-producer Phil Rosenthal, who will also appear during the program, and David Wild will produce the show whose presenting sponsors include City National Bank and UCLA Health. The telethon will celebrate MPTF’s significant safety net support to the entertainment community and offer viewers a night of unforgettable musical performances and appearances by special guests. Industry celebrities will be taking donations on a phone bank throughout the event. All funds raised from the Ktla telethon will benefit MPTF.

Jimmy Kimmel refused his network’s request to lighten up on mocking Donald Trump, and threatened to quit hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Kimmel appeared on the latest edition of Sticher’s “Naked Lunch” podcast, hosted by “Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal and Rolling Stone writer David Wild, where he revealed that he balked when ABC executives asked him to lighten up on his vicious Trump jokes so as not to offend Republican viewers.

“There was one time, right around the beginning of this whole Trump thing… maybe not quite [eight years ago],” Kimmel said, as reported by Variety. “I said listen, I get it, you’re right. I have lost half of my fanbase, maybe more. Ten years ago, among Republicans I was the most popular talk show. At least according to the research they did.”

Read More: Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Dr. Oz Getting Donald Trump’s Endorsement: ‘That’s Not Something...

Jimmy Kimmel said that his barrage of jokes on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” aimed at former President Donald Trump cut his audience in half over the last 10 years — and that ABC was not happy about it.

Speaking on Stitcher’s Naked Lunch podcast on Thursday, guest Kimmel remembered acknowledging his dwindling audience, telling the network, “I have lost half of my fan[base], maybe more than that.”

As he told hosts Phil Rosenthal and David Wild, “10 years ago, among Republicans, I was the most popular talk show host, at least according to the research that they did.”

Also Read:

Kimmel Knows Trump Won’t Testify on Jan. 6: Only Way He’s Putting Hand on Bible ‘Is if They Hide It Up a Waitress’ Skirt’ (Video)

When asked if the network ever asked him to lay off Trump, he said there was one discussion about it, but he offered to quit. “If...

Click here to read the full article.

Jimmy Kimmel says he knows his fan base has shrunk due to his criticisms of former President Donald Trump.

While appearing on the latest episode of the Naked Lunch podcast, hosted by Phil Rosenthal and David Wild, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host opened up about why he’s remained so outspoken about the former president on his late night show and what that has cost him. He addressed the topic after Rosenthal asked whether the show’s network, ABC, had ever asked, “Could you not just attack this side and lay off a little bit, because we’re going to lose those people?”

“There was at one time, maybe, I don’t know, right around the beginning of this whole Trump thing where … that was kind of hinted at, but I just said, ‘Listen, I get it. I don’t disagree. I mean,...

Rolling Stone‘s interview series King for a Day features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and singers who had the difficult job of fronting major rock bands after the departure of an iconic vocalist. Some of them stayed in their bands for years, while others lasted just a few months. In the end, however, they all found out that replacement singers can themselves be replaced. This edition features former Genesis singer Ray Wilson.

Replacing one superstar singer in a band is quite difficult, but groups like Van Halen,...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Emmys Collective

Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Emmys Hub

To see old predictions and commentary,...

Click here to read the full article.

On Sunday, July 3, NBC will air a primetime special hoping to raise money to benefit victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The special, Ukraine: Answering the Call, will run on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC at 7 pm Sunday, with guest appearances scheduled from Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish, Sheryl Crow, Jon Batiste, Alicia Keys, Simu Liu and others. Ben Stiller, who was recently in Ukraine, will make an appearance. Ukraine’s president Zelensky will also appear.

But what viewers at home may not realize is that the special was cooked up by MSNBC Deadline: White House anchor Nicolle Wallace while in line at a Chick-fil-a drive-through. Wallace serves as an executive producer on the special.

Wallace had been covering the invasion on her show every day, and she had developed sources in the country, including Igor Novikov, a former aide to Zelensky, who had...

To raise funds and awareness for the war in Ukraine, NBC will air primetime special “Ukraine: Answering the Call” featuring an address from president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 3 at 7 p.m.

“Ukraine: Answering the Call” aims to respond to previous comments from Zelenskyy, who has challenged Americans to speak up about the war. The hour-long special will also feature appearances from José Andrés, Jon Batiste, Kristen Bell, Brandi Carlile, Brian Cox, Jeff Daniels, Vera Farmiga, Lena Headey, Alicia Keys, Simu Liu, Julianne Moore, Brad Paisley and Rosie Perez. Additionally, Broadway stars Rachel Bay Jones, Brenda Braxton, Liz Callaway, Lilla Crawford, Juwan Crawley, José Llana, Beth Malone, Andrea McArdle, Bonnie Milligan, Orfeh, Krysta Rodriguez, Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley and NaTasha Yvette Williams will perform a rendition of “What the World Needs Now is Love,” which was oft-used as a message of peace during the Vietnam War.

Along with Zelenskyy, Ukrainian head...

NBC has set Ukraine: Answering The Call, a one-hour primetime special aimed at education and raising funds for those whose lives have been shattered by the escalating war in the country.

The special, said to be an answer to the call from President Volodymyr Zelensky who has challenged Americans to use their voices to reach those who want peace, will air Sunday, July 3 at 7 pm Et/Pt on NBC.

Ukraine: Answering The Call will feature appearances by José Andrés, Jon Batiste, Kristen Bell, Brandi Carlile, Brian Cox, Jeff Daniels, Vera Farmiga, Lena Headey, Alicia Keys, Simu Liu, Julianne Moore, Brad Paisley, Rosie Perez, among others. Broadway stars also appearing include Rachel Bay Jones, Brenda Braxton, Liz Callaway, Lilla Crawford, Juwan Crawley, José Llana, Beth Malone, Andrea McArdle, Bonnie Milligan, Orfeh, Krysta Rodriguez, Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley and NaTasha Yvette Williams will come together for a special rendition of “What the World Needs Now is Love.

“Somebody Feed Phil” has been renewed for Season 6 at Netflix ahead of its fifth season premiere, Variety has learned exclusively.

The five-episode “Somebody Feed Phil” Season 5, which debuts May 25, was filmed back to back with Season 6, which also consists of five episodes.

“We filmed 10 episodes in the sweet spot between Delta and Omicron. Remember that? So from August to January, we pretty much filmed everything,” Rosenthal told Variety. “We only had to postpone one location because of Omicron, but we swapped in another one in the United States for that. And we’ll go back to [that other location eventually].”

For Season 5, episodes will feature Rosenthal heading to Oaxaca, Portland (Maine), Helsinki, Portland (Oregon) and Madrid.

Rosenthal says Netflix is targeting a fall premiere for Season 6, though no official date has been set for those already taped episodes to be released.

“Somebody Feed Phil” is produced by Lucky Bastards and Zero Point Zero Production,...

Brad Paisley’s first new release of 2022 is here, and it’s… a very short, very silly, very catchy song about eating lunch in the nude.

Like pretty much everyone else, Paisley is pivoting to podcasts, but only briefly in his case. As the title suggests, “Theme Song for Naked Lunch” will kick off every episode of the new pod Naked Lunch, in which David Wild, the longtime Rolling Stone feature writer who now writes for television — including the annual Grammys ceremony — teams up with Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal...

Exclusive: Naked Lunch, the first podcast hosted by Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond) and from SiriusXM’s Stitcher, has lined up its inaugural set of guests. Former Raymond stars Brad Garrett and Ray Romano will join Rosenthal and co-host David Wild, along with Brad Paisley, Elaine May, Jimmy Kimmel, Nancy Silverton, Paul Reiser, Roy Choi, and others.

Episodes of Naked Lunch will be recorded at Rosenthal’s home, where he and Wild, a journalist and best-selling author, will speak to guests about their lives. Naturally, lunch will be served from local restaurants. “With no agenda except the promise of a well-spent afternoon in excellent company, the show will be an informal meeting of wits, minds, and hearts,” according to Stitcher.

The podcast is available on Stitcher, SiriusXM’s mobile app, along with all major podcast platforms. It will drop May 12.

Naked Lunch is executive produced by Chris Bannon (Conan O’Brien...

Look who’s joining the fun at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas? CBS announced today that Lady Gaga will perform Sunday at the 64th Annual Grammys.

Gaga, a 12-time Grammy winner, is up for five awards this year, including record of the year and best pop/duo group performance.

Make some noise, monsters…@ladygaga is performing on the #GRAMMYs stage this Sunday on CBS.

Just because the Grammys is a far different show than the Oscars doesn’t mean the producers and suits behind it think they’re immune to the kind of incident that happened Sunday with Will Smith. So says Jack Sussman, CBS’ head of specials who’s preparing for the 64th Annual Grammys this Sunday in Las Vegas.

“I think you go into every live show with the understanding that anything could happen, and it usually does,” says Sussman, who quips that he still has Ptsd from working the infamous Super Bowl Xxxviii halftime show with Janet Jackson. “If you surround yourself with really talented people behind the scenes, you’re in a position to handle it, knowing that it might not be a perfect outcome, but it’s gonna be an okay outcome, at least as far as making television is concerned.”

The Grammys have had their share of surprises on camera,...

The Recording Academy has unveiled a second round of performers for the 64th annual Grammy Awards: nominees Jon Batiste, Foo Fighters, H.E.R., Nas, and Chris Stapleton, and, as revealed by Variety Wednesday night, a special In Memoriam performance featuring songs of Stephen Sondheim by Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler.

The Grammys, again hosted by Trevor Noah, will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Previously announced performers include Brothers Osborne, BTS, Brandi Carlile, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, and Olivia Rodrigo.

This year’s leading nominee Jon Batiste received 11 nominations including Record Of The Year (“Freedom”), Album Of The Year (“We Are”), Best Traditional R&b Performance (“I Need You”), Best...

The Recording Academy has announced the first slate of artists to perform at this year’s show: Taking the stage on Music’s proverbial Biggest Night will be current nominees Brothers Osborne, BTS, Brandi Carlile, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Taking place live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas and hosted by Trevor Noah, the 64th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Brothers Osborne received two Grammy nominations this year for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Younger Me”) and Best Country Album (“Skeletons”).

Current nominees BTS are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Butter”).

Six-time Grammy winner Brandi Carlile is nominated for Record of the Year (“Right On Time”), two nods for Song of the Year,...

The 64th annual Grammy Awards, which had to pull off its original January date in Los Angeles, will now take place Sunday, April 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, will air live on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt. The new date was revealed Tuesday by the Recording Academy and CBS along with CMT, which as a result of the shift will now move its CMT Music Awards from its originally scheduled April 3 to later in April.

This year’s Grammys were set to be held January 31 at Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles but was postponed on January 5 amid the wave of Covid infections fueled by the Omicron variant.

CBS and Grammy organizer the Recording Academy did not immediately set a new date, and with the L.A. venue booked out with NBA and NHL games,...

Less than a month away from its airdate, CMA Awards producers have put an end to the speculation among country fans about who would host the 2021 show by announcing Luke Bryan would take over duties for the show, to be broadcast live Nov. 10 on ABC.

This marks the third year in a row that the network and the Country Music Association have changed up the hosting approach, after Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood had an 11-year run, from 2008 to 2018. Two years ago, Underwood returned to co-host with Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, and last year McEntire came back to share the stage with Darius Rucker. Earlier this month. McEntire told Billboard she was not coming back “to my knowledge.”

For the CMA and ABC, putting Bryan in the role is a virtually no-risk gambit, as the singer not only remains one of the most reliable ticket-sellers in the industry but...

Chris Stapleton and Eric Church lead the crop of nominations for the 55th annual CMA Awards with five apiece, the Country Music Association announced Thursday, with newcomer Gabby Barrett moving in close behind with a surprise four nods,

The Country Music Association announced the 2021 crop of nominations Thursday morning as the run-up to the Nov. 10 telecast on CBS begins.

Church and Stapleton are each nominated in the same five categories, topped by entertainer of the year, followed with nods for male vocalist of the year, album of the year (Church: “Heart”; Stapleton: “Starting Over”) and single and song of the year (for Church’s “Hell of a View” and Stapleton’s “Starting Over” in both categories).

Last year, Miranda Lambert led the nominations, with seven. This year, without a new album in contention, her total drops to three nods, but she still remains the most nominated woman in the history of the CMAs,...

Remember when James Franco and Anne Hathaway co-hosted the 2011 Oscars? Perhaps not, because you may have voluntarily or involuntarily blocked that disastrous onstage pairing out of your mind. Producers hoped having the actors co-host Hollywood's most prestigious award show would entice a younger audience. But their performance was heavily criticized by viewers, notably due to the stars' lack of chemistry. "It was like the world's most uncomfortable blind date between the cool rocker stoner kid and the adorable theater camp cheerleader," David Wild, one of the 2011 Oscars' four main writers, told The Ringer in comments posted on Wednesday, April 14, a week and a half...

Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift are among the music icons who will take the stage at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards next Sunday.

The music ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, will feature a handful of performances by music’s top artists including BTS, Haim, Harry Styles, Roddy Ricch, Bad Bunny, Cardi B, Dua Lipa and Post Malone. Additional performers are Black Pumas, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Mickey Guyton, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Lil Baby, Chris Martin, John Mayer and Maren Morris.

Additionally, the annual awards show will pay tribute to independent venues, that have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. From bartenders to box office managers, the people who work day-to-day at Los Angeles’ Troubadour and Hotel Café, in New York City’s the Apollo Theater and Nashville’s The Station Inn will present awards for various categories throughout the night.

Leading the nominations is Beyoncé.

Updated: Bad Bunny, Black Pumas, Cardi B, BTS, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Mickey Guyton, Haim, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Lil Baby, Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Megan Thee Stallion, Maren Morris, Post Malone, Roddy Ricch, Harry Styles, and Taylor Swift will perform at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, March 14, the Recording Academy has announced.

Nearly all of the artists are nominees, and several — including Styles, Megan Thee Stallion, Bad Bunny, DaBaby, Doja Cat and Guyton — will be making their debut as Grammy performers.

The ceremony takes place “in and around” the Los Angeles Convention Center, under strict Covid protocol. “Artists will be coming together, while still safely apart, to play music for each other as a community and celebrate the music that unites us all,” according to the announcement. The audience will be limited to performers, nominees and a small number of their guests.

In an interview with Variety,...

Fleetwood Mac’s The Dance gets all the (well-deserved) attention for being Fleetwood Mac’s best live album. But the band’s first live release, 1980’s Fleetwood Mac Live, is overdue for some rightful acclaim of its own. Ahead of an upcoming deluxe reissue, let the band’s live take on “Rhiannon” show you just how raw and mesmerizing this album really is.

Stevie Nicks’ performances of “Rhiannon” in the Seventies have long been legendary. By 1980, when this particular live cut was delivered in London while touring in support of Tusk,...

Fleetwood Mac are revisiting their 1980 live album for a super-deluxe edition out April 9th via Rhino.

Fleetwood Mac Live was mostly recorded mostly during their tour for Tusk, but the super deluxe-edition will contain unreleased live music recorded between 1977 and 1982. The collection comprises a three-cd/two-lp set, as well as a bonus 7-inch single of previously unreleased demos for “Fireflies” and “One More Night.” To accompany the release, the band dropped a raucous version of “The Chain” from the Richfield Coliseum in Cleveland, Ohio, which took place on May 20th,...

Trevor Noah, host of Comedy Central’s Daily Show, will serve as emcee of the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, marking his first time in the spot on the CBS event.

The special is set for live broadcast on both coasts on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 (8 Pm Et/5 Pm Pt) on the CBS Television Network and CBS All Access. Following the live broadcast, the awards show will also be available on-demand on CBS All Access.

This year’s Grammy nominees will be announced later today.

“Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the Grammy’s have refused to have me sing or be nominated for best pop album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event,” said Noah. “I think as a one-time Grammy nominee, I am the best person to provide a shoulder to all the amazing artists who do not win on the night because I too know...

Trevor Noah will host the 2021 Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy announced Tuesday ahead of nominations dropping later this morning.

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards take place on January 31 at 8 p.m. Et on CBS. It will be “The Daily Show” comedian’s first time hosting the ceremony after Alicia Keys did the honors earlier in 2020.

“Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the GRAMMYs® have refused to have me sing or be nominated for best pop album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event,” Noah said in a statement. “I think as a one-time Grammy nominee, I am the best person to provide a shoulder to all the amazing artists who do not win on the night because I too know the pain of not winning the award!. See you at the 63rd Grammys!”

“With a knack for keeping viewers engaged and entertained, Trevor is the...