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Joy Reid dedicated her final MSNBC episode on Monday to America’s history with successful resistance campaigns.

“We begin tonight with what I think is the question when you are in the midst of a crisis, and specifically a crisis of democracy: How do you resist when fascism isn’t just coming, it’s already here?” Reid said. “What, if anything, can you do about it? For one thing, you can try to learn from history, from what people in this situation, in countries around the world and in America, have done before. As my friend Rachel Maddow always says, History is here to help.”

News broke on Sunday morning that Reid’s show was canceled, along with many other MSNBC shakeups.

Reid went on to list several examples of resistance from the 19th and 20th centuries, including Harriet Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad and “taking up arms during the Civil War,...

Last week, CBS properly hyped up its brand-new daytime drama with a five-part Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood extravaganza. Each episode took viewers behind the scenes of Beyond the Gates, providing tons of information and fun looks. It also spread the good word about the show, which is making its big debut on Monday, February 24.

A Fun and Informative Introduction Female Forces of Nature

It took four years to make this soap dream a reality. Some of the show’s biggest pluses involve who helped bring this baby to fruition. Head writer and Showrunner Michele Val Jean and NAACP’s Sheila Ducksworth are the two women responsible for leading the Gates to air. In fact, they are the first two black female executive producers of a daytime soap opera ever.

Julie Carruthers, who previously worked on daytime soaps General Hospital, Port Charles, Santa Barbara, and All My Children,...

Cynthia Erivo will host the 78th annual Tony Awards this June.

This marks the first time hosting the ceremony for Erivo, who is a Tony Award winner for her starring role in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple, which also led to Emmy and Grammy Awards. Erivo is nominated for an Academy Award at this year’s Oscars ceremony for her role as Elphaba in Wicked.

“I am so proud and excited to take on this glorious honor,” Erivo said. “I am looking forward to ushering the theatre community at large through a night that celebrates the wonderful performances we have witnessed throughout the year. I hope I can rise to the occasion.”

The Tony Awards will be held on Sun. June 8 at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast live to both coasts on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Erivo rose to fame playing Celie in...

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced Cynthia Erivo will be honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 27th.

GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzak Award is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues. It is named in honor of the Los Angeles casting director who devoted the last part of his life to fighting homophobia and HIV stigma within the entertainment industry. Previous recipients of the Stephen F. Kolzak Award include: Niecy Nash-Betts, Jeremy Pope, Laverne Cox, Wanda Sykes, Jim Parsons, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Melissa Etheridge, Ellen DeGeneres, Michaela Jae Rodriguez and more.

Cynthia Erivo is a multi-talented artist whose work transcends boundaries in theater, television, and film. As a graduate...

Cynthia Erivo is wicked good, and GLAAD knows it.

The advocacy group said Wednesday that the Wicked star will receive its Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues. The singer, actor and force for equity and inclusion will be lauded at the 36th annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 27 in Los Angeles.

Erivo’s much-honored career includes a Tony, Grammy and Daytime Emmy for 2016’s The Color Purple to go with a Primetime Emmy nomination and three Oscar noms. She is vying again in this year’s stacked Best Actress Oscar race for Wicked, and reprises her Elphaba role in the upcoming bookender Wicked: For Good, which hits theaters November 21.

Related: Breaking Baz: ‘Wicked’s Jon M. Chu On Unlocking The Musical For The Big Screen And How...

The GLAAD Awards are delivering good news for Oscar-nominated Wicked star Cynthia Erivo.

The LGBTQ media advocacy organization will be honoring the star of stage and screen with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 36th GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 27. The prize, named for the late casting director, is doled out to “a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.” She’ll join a list of recipients that includes Niecy Nash-Betts, Jeremy Pope, Laverne Cox, Wanda Sykes, Jim Parsons, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Melissa Etheridge, Ellen DeGeneres, Michaela Jae Rodriguez and more.

“From an outspoken ally to a trailblazing member of the community, Cynthia Erivo’s one-of-a-kind voice has been an integral part of accelerating acceptance for LGBTQ people since she came on the scene over a decade ago. Her legacy is defined...

Tommy Oliver’s Confluential Films is partnering with comic book creator David Crownson for an adaptation of his upcoming graphic novel Killer Bee with DeWanda Wise set to star. Indie comic book fans know Crownson’s name from the page-turning action comic series Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer, written by Crownson with art by Courtland Ellis. Killer Bee adapts Crownson’s latest assassin story about “a retiring assassin who takes on an underground criminal network after being tasked to kill the man she’s recently fallen in love with.”

Kevin Arbouet and Terry Rossio will write the screenplay for Killer Bee. Rossio’s credits include action blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

David Crownson’s Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer is poised to become an original Disney+ television series. According to Massive Publishing, the story blends elements of Django Unchained with Buffy the Vampire Slayer,...

The Sundance Film Festival chose well in selecting the honorees for tonight’s Gala fundraiser at the newly opened Grand Hyatt Deer Valley.

Beyond freshly minted Oscar nominees Cynthia Erivo and James Mangold in the house to receive the Visionary Award and Trailblazer Award respectively, it was Michelle Satter — the Founding Senior Director of Artists Program for the Sundance Institute — whose stirring speech unified the high-profile packed ballroom.

Satter was recognized for her decades-long commitment to nurturing artists and cultivating independent film through the Sundance Labs. As many in the room knew and as Satter mentioned, she and her husband David Latt were among the thousands who lost their homes in the wildfires that scorched LA. Horribly, this tragedy came after Satter and Latt’s youngest son Michael, an advocate in the industry for social justice, was fatally shot in November 2023 at his Miracle Mile home in a senseless murder.

The 2025 Oscar nominations were revealed bright and early Thursday morning, with Spanish-language “Emilia Pérez” topping all nominees with 13, including Best Picture.

Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the film’s title character, lands herself in the Oscar history books as the first out trans actress to receive a nomination. Coralie Fargeat is this year’s only woman to break into the male-dominated Best Director category, for her body-horror shocker “The Substance.”

Here are notable highlights from this year’s Oscar nominations.

Landmark Day for LGBTQ+ Community

Karla Sofía Gascón solidifies her place in Oscar history as the first out transgender woman to land an acting nomination. The “Emilia Pérez” star, who received a Best Actress nod, isn’t the first trans actor to be recognized by the Academy. Elliot Page, who came out as trans in 2020, was nominated for an Oscar for their lead role in “Juno” back in 2008.

Colman Domingo and Cynthia Erivo,...

Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 will be coming out in a little over a month, and it is the perfect opportunity for the franchise to take one of Civilization 6's best mods and make it official. There are a ton of great mods available for the Civilization series on places like the Steam Workshop that can change how players interact with the games. These mods can introduce minor changes like new policies, or major changes like custom leaders and maps from fictional universes like The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.

While not all mods would make sense for Civilization 7 to include as new gameplay features, there is at least one that would be perfect. The concept for the mod itself is relatively simple, and it’s actually somewhat surprising no Civilization game has added it as an option yet. However, despite its simplicity, the mod can also have...

As a new entry in the series, Sid Meier's Civilization VII has a wonderful opportunity to introduce new leaders that can serve as ways to educate players about even more historical figures. Civilization games have been incredible tools for people to learn about past civilizations, the history of our world, and the people who changed it. Gameplay blends facts with player decisions and customizations to make learning fun and engaging. Lafayette, the newest leader to be announced for the game, adds a lot of cultural history to the experience for both France and America, but also comes at a cost.

Perhaps because the developer is based in America, Sid Meier's Civilization games do a good job of teaching much of American history and Civ 7 even brings in leaders such as Harriet Tubman to further expand on that learning experience. Of course, with the changes for the upcoming Civ 7, players...

The best Cynthia Erivo movies and TV shows feature a strong mix of releases that take advantage of her singing and acting talents. Erivo got her start as a singer and she worked in theater before she ever took on roles in movies and TV shows. It was her early role as Celie Harris in The Color Purple that earned her first major attention, and it even led to her Broadway debut when she took the role to the revival in 2015.

This led to her film debut in 2016 when she signed on for the neo-noir thriller Bad Times at the El Royale as part of that film’s ensemble cast. This led to even bigger things, such as the Steve McQueen-directed film Widows, and then enjoyed her breakout in the historical drama Harriet, where she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman. However, she enjoyed her biggest breakthrough when she signed on...

At the age of 37, Cynthia Erivo has already had a richly varied career, winning a Tony, an Emmy and a Grammy and channeling Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” and Aretha Franklin in “Genius: Aretha.”

So why does it seem as if she might have been born to play the iconic Wicked Witch of the West in “Wicked,” Jon M. Chu’s musical movie adaptation of author Gregory Maguire’s 1995 “Wizard of Oz” prequel novel and its 2003 Broadway musical?

As Elphaba, the name the witch had before she became known simply as wicked, Erivo uses the film to take a dramatic turn that has landed her both at the top of the box-office charts and in the awards picture. Beyond her renditions of Stephen Schwartz’s beloved “Defying Gravity,” “The Wizard and I,” “I’m Not That Girl” and other numbers, she illuminates a richly textured emotional landscape within the west-bound witch everyone thinks they know.

The highly anticipated “Wicked” movie is here. After a tear-filled press tour, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda took audiences by storm, and now the film is available to watch at home digitally.

The two leading ladies have become true sisters in the rollout of the film, even revealing several matching tattoos together. While the duo seem picture perfect for the musical adaptation, a list of stars admitted to being in the running for the powerhouses, including Dove Cameron, Renee Rapp and Amanda Seyfried for Glinda.

Jon M. Chu’s adaptation is chalked full of musical theatre trained actors, here’s your guide to the “Wicked” cast.

Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked” (Credit: Universal Pictures) Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

Erivo leads the larger-than-life film adaptation as Elphaba. The witch (who was born green) attends Shiz University and is randomly paired with popular girl Galinda (Ariana Grande) as her freshman year roommate.

In Marc Forster's 2001 drama "Monster's Ball," Halle Berry plays Leticia Musgrove, a woman at the end of her rope. Her husband has been convicted of murder and is executed by the state of Georgia early in the film. Leticia is trying to put her life back together when her son Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun) is hit by a car and dies. Leticia can only find comfort in the arms of a gruff prison warden named Hank (Billy Bob Thornton), whose own son (Heath Ledger) recently died by suicide. What Leticia doesn't know, however, is that Hank oversaw her husband's execution. It's all very complicated, but handled tactfully and with the utmost sensitivity. "Monster's Ball" is a pretty great film.

Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress for playing Leticia at the 2002 Academy Awards ceremony, beating out Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Sissy Spacek, and Renée Zellweger. Her victory was well-deserved.

She...

The upcoming strategy game Civilization 7 has revealed a new surprise leader: American abolitionist Harriet Tubman. In the Civilization series, leaders primarily determine playstyle. Each one comes with distinct advantages, disadvantages, perks, and skills that color the way they build strength, interact with other civs/leaders, and more. Choosing the right leader is the first step to victory in a game of Civ, although certainly not the last - and that'll likely work much the same in Civ 7 as it has in 1-6.

Announced today in a first-look trailer on YouTube, Harriet Tubman is now confirmed to be a playable leader in Civ 7. She's one of two characters representing the United States, the other being Ben Franklin. Here's how she'll work in Civ 7.

Harriet Tubman Is A Surprise Modern Age Leader A Landmark Inclusion For Civ 7

Firaxis Games

Born in 1822, Tubman was a lifelong activist, but is best known for her...

In the past 96 years of the Academy Awards, there have only been two years in which two Black women were nominated for Best Actress in the same year. That ignominious statistic could very well change for the better this year, as performers Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”) are both closing in on nominations.

Erivo’s star turn as Elphaba, a role which won the Best Musical Actress trophy at the 2004 Tony Awards for Idina Menzel, currently ranks fifth in our combined Oscar odds. It would mark her second nomination in the category, following her breakout film role as Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” (2019). The actress earned two nominations that year, also receiving recognition for the song “Stand Up,” which she wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell. The Tony winner for “The Color Purple” currently has 80% of experts and 40% of Gold Derby editors predicting her for the nom.

See Oscar...

Cynthia Erivo warned of “dangerous” social media, in response to a question about online abuse of her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande.

“It’s easy to be behind a computer typing words about a person you don’t know, and not getting to know a person and learning about them in their being,” said Erivo, speaking in an in-conversation session at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival. The way to counter that, the actress said, “is really to try and be the counterpoint to whatever is coming back at a person.

”If it is something to with looks, if...

Cynthia Erivo has much to celebrate, including the box office records and critical success of Wicked, but on Friday also shared insight into how she works, including her special relationship with Ariana Grande, and spoke out against the cyberbullying against her co-star. Appearing at an “In Conversation With” session at the Red Sea International Film Festival in the old town Al-Balad in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the English star called the reaction to the movie “a really wonderful experience to watch,” adding that nobody could have predicted the huge success even though “we all knew it was really, really special.”

After she arrived on stage to a rousing ovation and “Cynthia!” chants from fans in the audience, she said that she went into Wicked as a big believer. “I was aware of how special it was, and I was a fan at the beginning as well. So to see it translate...

1000-Lb Sisters star Amy Slaton has made many people laugh with her silly jokes over the years. Even though her sister, Tammy, doesn’t often appreciate her silly personality, a lot of fans can’t help but laugh at her actions. TLC also released a new clip featuring Amy confessing about a huge royalty crush. Keep reading to see who it was.

1000-Lb Sisters: Amy Slaton Upsets Sister Tammy

The previous episode of 1000-Lb Sisters featured another fallout between Amy and Tammy. Their supposed fun night out turned into a huge fight after Tammy criticized her sister for her disgusting behavior during their limousine bonding time. This wasn’t the first time Tammy threw tantrums at her sister.

Amy Slaton From 1000-Lb Sisters, TLC, Sourced From TLC YouTube

Fighting has been common between the two. Some of their fights even turned physical. But despite all their chaos, the two...

Amy Slaton and Chris Combs are about to find out some secrets, according to a preview clip from 1000-Lb Sisters. Amy and Chris have undergone extraordinary weight loss journeys in recent years. Chris isn't very active on social media, but when he does post an update, fans always love seeing how much progress he has made, both on and off the show. Amy has faced her share of scandals, particularly lately, outside of 1000-Lb Sisters season 6, but her weight loss accomplishments have rightly been praised. Their sister, Tammy Slaton, has seen the biggest transformation out of them all.

In the next episode of 1000-Lb Sisters season 6, Amy and Chris attempt to learn secrets about their family.

E! News shared a preview clip from the next episode of 1000-Lb Sisters season 6, in which Amy and Chris attempt to figure out if they are related in some way to the British royal family.

Actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are both starring in the film adaptation of Wicked and have been promoting the project with a press tour. During one such recent interview, Erivo’s response ended up going viral. Fans, and even the reporter who interviewed the actresses, has commented on the meme.

The Press Tour Has Become Known For Being An Emotional One

Erivo first came to prominence after appearing in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple in 2015. She would then transition into films, notably playing Harriet Tubman in the 2019 biopic Harriet.

The actress has gained further recognition playing Elphaba in the film adaptation of Wicked. Based on the Broadway musical and the Gregory Maguire book of the same name, the story explores the early life of the Wicked Witch of the West, who Erivo’s character is set to become, from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Ariana Grande – YouTube...

When Viola Davis Advocated For Equal Pay (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Viola Davis has never been one to back down. She made it clear regarding equal pay: you pay me what I’m worth during a candid chat with Tina Brown at the Women in the World salon; the Oscar, Emmy, and Tony-winning powerhouse didn’t hold back. She spilled the harsh truth about the pay disparity in Hollywood, especially for women of color. And she didn’t mince words.

“We won’t talk about gender inequality of pay,” Davis said. “Because… what [some women] are getting paid, which is half of what a man is getting paid…well, we get probably a tenth of what a Caucasian woman gets.” Yeah, she said a tenth. And mind you, this comes from a star who’s often top-billing. Despite her decades of experience across film, TV, and theater, she’s still had to hustle—hard.

After years of delays and anticipation, the first half of Jon M. Chu's sprawling, two-part movie adaptation of "Wicked" — the massively popular Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire's retelling of "The Wizard of Oz" — is finally hitting theaters, and Chu has assembled an all-star cast to bring Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's Broadway hit to the big screen. "Wicked" flips the script on L. Frank Baum's original story about Dorothy (Judy Garland in the classic 1939 "Wizard of Oz" film) exploring the magical land of Oz by focusing on Elphaba, a young girl born with green skin who struggles to fit in at the prestigious Shiz University and ultimately becomes the legendary pop culture villain The Wicked Witch of the West (memorably portrayed by Margaret Hamilton in the '39 movie).

So, who's in Chu's "Wicked" movie, decades after Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated the lead roles of Elphaba and Galinda on stage?...

Universal Pictures has entered a first-look deal with Edith’s Daughter, Cynthia Erivo’s production company.

This new pact expands upon the creative relationship between the Oscar nominated and Tony, Emmy and Grammy winning actress and Universal following her starring role as Elphaba in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked which is set to take the world by storm this weekend with a $175M global opening.

“Cynthia’s world-class talent is matched only by her unwavering commitment to authenticity, representation, and empathy as a storyteller,” said Peter Cramer, President of Universal Pictures. “She has inspired us all throughout the making of Wicked, and we are so honored that she has chosen to partner with Universal to help amplify her mission at Edith’s Daughter. We couldn’t be more excited for the road ahead.”

“Having spent the last 3 years collaborating with Donna Langley, Peter Cramer and the team at Universal on Wicked,...

“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo’s production company, Edith’s Daughter, has signed a first-look deal with Universal Pictures.

The pact expands on the Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winning star’s relationship with the studio after Erivo starred as Elphaba in the highly-anticipated film adaptation of Broadway musical “Wicked.” Part 1 of the Jon M. Chu-directed film will be released on Friday, with the second chapter to follow next year. Erivo also starred as Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” from Universal’s specialty studio Focus Features, earning two Academy Award nominations — one for best actress and another for co-writing the film’s original song, “Stand Up.”

“Having spent the last three years collaborating with Donna Langley, Peter Cramer and the team at Universal on ‘Wicked,’ I’ve experienced first-hand the love and fearlessness with which they tell stories and uplift storytellers,” said Erivo in a statement announcing the news. “I’m absolutely overjoyed...

When Warner Bros.’ 2023 movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “The Color Purple” began casting and production, many fans of the 2015 revival — and its Tony-winning lead actress, Cynthia Erivo — were surprised that its star would not reprise the role that made her famous for the big screen. After all, her Tony-nominated co-star Danielle Brooks got the gig to again play Sofia, with producer Oprah Winfrey’s personal blessing.

Instead, the original original star of the Broadway musical from 2005, “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino, landed the coveted (and demanding) role of Celie.

Now in the midst of her press rounds for her highly anticipated starring role as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of “Wicked,” the actress appeared on Marc Maron’s “Wtf” podcast on Monday and acknowledged, for what appears to be the first time, standing tensions with the players behind the “Color Purple” movie.

The filmmakers behind Harriet were tasked with securing a Harriet cast talented enough to bring the real-life figures behind Harriet Tubmans story to life alongside some fictional and composite characters. The 2019 film, directed by Kasi Lemmons, follows the events of Tubman's life, focusing on her escape from slavery and subsequent rescue missions as part of the Underground Railroad, which cemented her legacy as an American icon. Harriet takes some creative liberties, including inventing and amalgamating characters for the sake of narrative efficiency, but the broad strokes stay true to history.

Harriet saw a long journey to the screen, with co-writer Gregory Allen Howard first pitching the biopic under the title Freedom Fire in 1994. Howard recalls that one studio executive wanted Julia Roberts to play Harriet Tubman. Thankfully, the final film is more respectful when it comes to casting Harriets real-life figures. That paid off, as the films talented ensemble is a highlight,...

Harriet tells the true story of abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman, but how much did the film get right about this remarkable figure? Directed and co-written by Kasi Lemmons (with fellow co-writer Gregory Allen Howard), Harriet stars Cynthia Erivo in the titular role, headlining a cast that also includes Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Mone, Joe Alwyn, and Clarke Peters. This crew of exceptional talent came together to bring Tubman's extraordinary life and deeds to the screen. Still, like all biopics, creative liberties were necessary to fill in the cracks of the true story.

The story of Araminta Ross, later called Harriet Tubman, is one that took far too long to be adapted to the screen. However, the time it took to begin filming Harriet was entirely worth it, as the film did beautiful justice to the historical figure and her works to free slaves leading up...

The Harriet ending reveals the abolitionist and former enslaved person would go on to lead troops in the Civil War and free hundreds of additional slaves. Based on the true story of Harriet Tubman, Harriet is about one of the most successful "conductors" of the Underground Railroad. Written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, Harriet features performances from Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Mone, and more. Harriet was nominated for two Academy Awards, both for Cynthia Erivo, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Best Achievement in Music for her song "Stand Up."

After the death of her owner, Edward Brodess (Edward Brodess), his son Gideon (Joe Alwyn) plans to sell Araminta "Minty" Ross, Aka Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo), so she leaves her husband and flees to freedom in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania. Before long, she decides to return to Maryland to free her family and other slaves.

Despite being 23 years his senior, prolific producer No ID has a much more childlike air than ­Chicago indie rapper Saba, who is quietly pensive, if not a tad guarded. When we meet at No ID’s Los Angeles studio in October, the pair sit next to each other at a long desk. No ID, 53, swivels toward us when he’s amused, making animated faces and cracking mischievous smiles. And even as the person who molded a young Kanye West and oversaw the production of Jay-Z’s most introspective album, 2017’s...

As the 2024 year starts to close out, Hulu is bringing even more cinematic goodies to its slate for November.

And TheWrap is here to give a list of the best of the best of what’s to come on the streamer and what’s already added that you can enjoy. From thought-provoking dramas to fresh, animated flicks that will warm your heart and more, we’ve got it all here for you.

Check out the seven best new movies on Hulu this month.

“Higher Learning” (Columbia Pictures) “Higher Learning” (1995)

In “Higher Learning,” late writer-director John Singleton takes viewers to class at Columbia University in 1990s Los Angeles, where incoming freshmen — Malik Williams (Omar Epps), Remy (Michael Rapaport) and (Kristy Swanson) strive to find their identities on the campus. But when Remy starts hanging with a group of neo-Nazis, the already broken unity at the institution reaches an all-time high.

Available on Hulu Nov.

In Wizard Of Oz spin-off Wicked, Cynthia Erivo plays ostracised outcast Elphaba. Being off-kilter, though, says the actor, has always been a badge of honour

There was no yellow brick road laid out for Cynthia Erivo to follow.

Instead, the British-Nigerian has found her own way, from a show-stealing solo in her south London primary’s nativity play (‘Silent Night’; not a dry eye in the house), to a multi-hyphenate, multi-award-winning career, spanning stage, screen and latterly, the recording studio. This month, 37-year-old Erivo stars as Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh, in the big-screen adaptation of Wicked, the Wizard Of Oz spin-off and hit Broadway musical. It’s a role she feels she’s “innately understood” even before being offered it, from experiencing the musical, and there have been plenty more sing-along adventures en route to this dream-come-true.

Throughout,...

Universal’s “Wicked” has finally been unveiled to members of the film press, who are praising Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The film’s leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, are also earning raves across the board as the musical launches them into Oscar season as acting contenders.

Variety’s Katcy Stephen hailed the “Wicked” movie as a “masterpiece,” adding: “Ariana Grande makes Glinda sparkle: she milks every moment with gusto, humor and hair flips. Jon M. Chu added so much new life to the story that I can see why it needed to be 2 parts! Well worth the 20-year wait.”

I was 'pessimistical' going in, but…Wicked is a masterpiece. Ariana Grande makes Glinda sparkle: she milks every moment with gusto, humor and hair flips. Jon M. Chu added so much new life to the story that I can see why it needed to be 2 parts!

Corpse Bride Corpse Bride, streaming now on Itvx

We're firmly in the Halloween season at this point and this is a good choice for family viewing. Tim Burton may be a bit hit and miss when it comes to live action films - where his visual inventiveness often fails to be matched by substance - but his stop-animation films are a delight. In this slice of gothic goodness, a nervous young man (Johnny Depp) finds himself accidentally married to a corpse (Helena Bonham Carter). Despite the death in the title and its release on Netflix ahead of Halloween, this is a dark comedy with romance at its heart and considerably less scary for little ones than A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Harriet, 11.05pm, BBC2, Monday, October 21

Jennie Kermode writes: Harriet Tubman is a legendary American figure - daring escapee and rescuer, military heroine, philosopher and political reformer - so there was.

It’s not rare for celebs to garner controversy over their social media presence, as back in 2018, James Gunn was briefly fired from Marvel after one of his past tweets resurfaced. Cynthia Erivo too found herself in a similar boat after she was cast in the biopic of abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

Cynthia Erivo in Harriet | Credit: Universal Pictures

While the film proved to be a breakthrough project for her, whose upcoming release, Wicked, is set to premiere next month, one of her past tweets landed Erivo in heavy controversy among the black community.

Cynthia Erivo Claimed Her Comments Were Taken Out of Context Harriet | Credit: Universal Pictures

After it was announced that Cynthia Erivo was set to lead Harriet Tubman’s biopic, some weren’t thrilled by the casting choice, given her Nigerian ancestry rather than being an American descendant of enslaved people. But these weren’t the lone rebuttals against the actress,...

Gold Derby’s Oscar predictions in the below-the-line races opened last week, and “Wicked” leads the early odds to win Best Costume Design. That should come as no surprise to anyone who’s seen the popular Broadway musical, which won various costume awards races two decades ago (including at the 2004 Tonys) for its eye-popping looks for good witches, bad witches, deceitful wizards and everyone in between.

The Universal Pictures film adaptation, which will begin defying gravity in theaters on November 22, 2024, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland, aka Glinda the Good Witch, Michelle Yeoh as headmistress Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the iconic Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Jonathan Bailey as young prince Fiyero Tigelaar. Jon M. Chu directs the movie from a script co-written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox.

“Wicked’s” costume designer is Paul Tazewell, a...

The fourth episode of Agatha All Along put our coven of witches through a true trial by fire. In the previous episode, Jennifer Kale showcased her potion-crafting skills to pass the trial, while the latest episode challenges the coven’s resolve by confronting Alice with an old family curse.

This musically-themed episode revealed the fate and backstory of Alice’s mother and welcomed Rio Vidal back as a full-fledged member of the coven. Additionally, it confirmed the existence of one of the most beloved all-female teams from the comics—the Daughters of Liberty—in the MCU.

Locke’s “The Teen” was seriously injured during the trial and faced the risk of death until Jennifer once again demonstrated her exceptional healing abilities. While he was recovering, the witches shared stories about their scars.

Agatha had one of the most intriguing tales to tell as she revealed her long elbow scar. She...

‘Agatha All Along’ released its 4th episode and it was truly a trial by fire for our coven of witches. In the last episode, we see Jennifer Kale demonstrating her knowledge of potion craft in order to pass the trial, and 4th episode tests the coven’s resolve by facing Alice with an old family curse.

The musically-themed episode cleared up the fate and the past of Alice’s mother, it brought back Rio Vidal to the show this time as a full-fledged member of the coven, but it also confirmed that one of the most popular all-female teams in the comics exists in the MCU – Daughters of Liberty.

Locke’s “The Teen” has been seriously wounded during the trial and is at risk of dying until Jennifer once again proves just how good of a healer she is. While he was recovering the witches were sharing stories about their scars.

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Agatha All Along episode 4Agatha All Along just debuted a new team of heroes to the MCU. As seen in Agatha All Along episode 4, Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and her new coven continue down the Witches Road and face their next trial. During the episode, a reference is made to the Daughters of Liberty, a group of women from real-life history who also became an impressive team of heroes in the Marvel Comics universe.

In Agatha All Along episode 3, Agatha and her coven faced their first trial, one that resulted in the loss of Mrs. Hart (Debra Jo Rupp). This opens up a vacancy in the coven for a true Green Witch in Agatha All Along episode 4 with Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza) joining the Witches' Road. During the new episode and trial, Agatha references her connections to the Daughters of Liberty. Here's everything you...

The name “Puffy” might sound playful, but its origin’s far from lighthearted. Sean Combs, now globally known as Diddy, once shared the unsettling story behind his iconic nickname. According to Combs, his childhood anger issues earned him the name. Whenever he became upset, his face would puff up in frustration. This habit was so noticeable that a close friend started calling him Puffy.

Diddy in the Closer to God Mv | Credits: YouTube (@Diddy)

The nickname stuck, eventually evolving into his professional identity. While his music career’s glittered with fame and success, the origins of his nickname reveal a more troubling part of his past, one rooted in childhood struggles with controlling his emotions—an aspect that remains less celebrated but equally defining of his early journey.

From Party Prince to Dark Secrets, the Origins of Diddy’s ‘Puffy’ Nickname Diddy | Image by Richard Burdett, licensed under Cc By 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Veteran executive Josh McLaughlin is headed to Nine Stories Productions, the company run by actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

McLaughlin most recently worked at his own shingle, Wink Pictures. Before that, he spent ten years at Focus Features, most recently as president of production, with his projects including Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning BlacKkKlansman, filmmaker Kasi Lemmons’s Harriet Tubman feature Harriet, Joe Wright’s Winston Churchill biopic The Darkest Hour and Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Phantom Thread. He also worked with David Leitch on the Charlize Theron action movie Atomic Blonde and Joel Edgerton on Boy Erased, about a young man sent to gay conversion therapy.

He previously worked at Chernin Entertainment and The Mark Gordon Company.

“I am so excited to join the Nine Stories team under Jake’s leadership,” said McLaughlin. “I’m eager to build on the company’s impressive achievements and momentum, and collaborate with talented filmmakers...

After finding breakout success as Sydney Adamu on The Bear, Ayo Edebiri's best movies and shows have displayed an incredible run of success that has cemented her as one of the most exciting new Hollywood talents. Edebiri seemingly came out of nowhere, parlaying her work as a writer on several shows into on-camera work that led to acclaim and recognition. She has received several awards in recent years, including Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe wins. Even with the fast success, Edebiri's career is clearly just ramping up with plenty more exciting projects to come.

Among Edebiri's upcoming works, she will star in James L. Brooks' return to movies in Ella McCay, and she will appear opposite Julia Roberts in Luca Guadagnino's new thriller After the Hunt. However, while fans are waiting to see what is next in this amazing career, Edebiri has already delivered a lot of great...

“Poker Face” Season 2 is continuing to build out its guest cast with Cynthia Erivo, Margo Martindale, and Bj Novak all joining the next installment of the Peacock series.

The trio will appear alongside series lead Natasha Lyonne in the mystery-of-the-week series. They join previously announced guest stars Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, Gaby Hoffmann, Kumal Nanjiani, Sherry Cola, Kevin Corrigan, Ben Marshall, and Katherine Narducci.

The role keeps Erivo in the Universal family, as she is set to star in the studio’s upcoming feature adaptation of “Wicked,” due out in theaters on Nov. 22. Erivo previously received two Oscar nominations for the film “Harriet,” based on the life of Harriet Tubman. She got one nod for best actress and another for best original song alongside Joshuah Brian Campbell. Her other credits include “The Outsider,” “Bad Times at the El Royale,” and “Widows.”

She is repped by UTA, Entertainment 360, The Lede Company and Peikoff Mahan.

Changes are starting to happen at Saturday Night Live ahead of its upcoming 50th season.

Punkie Johnson has left the show after four seasons. She revealed the news during a comedy show last night and just confirmed it on Instagram.

“After four seasons, I will not be returning to SNL for the 50th,” she said.

“It’s no bad blood, it’s no bridges burnt, it’s no hard feelings,” she added. “SNL was a dream I didn’t even know I could achieve. I was part of one of the most elite institutions in comedy, and I’m so grateful for it… but my time there has come to an end.” (You can watch a video of her comments below.)

Johnson, whose real name is Jessica Williams, joined the NBC show as a featured player in Season 46 before being promoted to repertory status in 2022 ahead of its 48th season.

School’s out at Clone High, with Max cancelling the revival after two seasons, TVLine has learned exclusively.

“Although Max will not proceed with a third season of Clone High, we will always cherish our creative partnership with Chris Miller, Phil Lord, Bill Lawrence, Erica Rivinoja, Erik Durbin, Judah Miller, Corey Campodonico, Alex Bulkley, and the team at MTV Entertainment Studios,” Max says in a statement obtained by TVLine. “The incredibly talented voice actors, writers, cast and crew provided the opportunity to thaw out these legendary characters.”

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Exclusive: Phoebe Robinson, the actress, producer and stand-up comic behind the HBO series 2 Dope Queens and the podcast on which it’s based, has signed a two-year first look deal with Sony Pictures Television.

Under the deal, Robinson will develop and produce scripted series for cable and streaming platforms through her production banner Tiny Reparations.

In a statement to Deadline on the pact, Sony Pictures Television’s EVP Comedy Development Colin Davis said, “Phoebe can truly do it all. She is an authentic, funny, and brilliant storyteller who brings a freshness and vision to anything she touches. We are proud to partner with her and champion her unique voice.”

Added Robinson, “Ooh, chile, there are few things better than getting a new home – I’m registered at CB2, so somebody get me a nice duvet – and I’m thrilled that Tiny Reparations is joining the Sony family. They’re...

Jiminy Glick, perhaps Bill Maher’s only rival as the most grating celebrity interviewer, showed up on Real Time this weekend to quiz Maher on his new book, What This Comedian Said Will Shock You. The entertaining interview managed to simultaneously roast Maher without mercy while failing to land blows that drew blood.

You can’t say that Glick, the obese, oblivious alter-ego of Martin Short, didn’t get off some good lines, though. Here’s a sample of the insults thrown Maher’s way during their 10-minute conversation:

“This is going to be so exciting for me! I’m used to interviewing celebrities so this is a nice change of pace.”“You’re in wonderful shape, Bill — for someone who’s let himself go.”“Your smile is like an email from grandma: all caps.”“As an author, is this how you, Bill Burr, see yourself?”“Everyone seems to love...

A number of networks, streamers and platforms have programming planned to celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day, the federal holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery in the U.S.

From specials to live events and specially curated movies, Juneteenth programming begins Tuesday and extends through the month.

A rundown:

ABC News: World News Tonight. Good Morning America and GMA3 will feature Opal Lee, the “grandmother of Juneteenth” who advocated for making the date a federal holiday, including a sitdown interview with DeMarco Morgan. Taraji P. Henson and Patti Labelle celebrate Juneteenth on The View, with Kool & the Gang performing. Nightline will focus on the Black male vote in key battleground states, and the show has been featuring interviews with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-fl) and D.L. Hughley. ABC News Live’s Prime with Linsey Davis has a partnership with The 10 Million Names Project, spotlighting ichael Strahan’s ancestry that is...

Howard University is revoking the honorary doctorate it awarded Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2014 and returning his $1 million donation, saying its board of trustees made the unanimous decision Friday after Combs was captured on hotel surveillance video beating his former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.

The move also comes after Rolling Stone published a six-month investigation last week that includes new allegations Combs physically assaulted a woman outside her Howard dorm when he was a student there in the late Eighties. (Combs left the school after his sophomore year.)

Howard’s board...