ABC News/Stephen Iervolino(ATLANTA) — The quarantine bubble at Tyler Perry’s studios is coming to an end.
About a year ago, the mogul enacted a strict protocol that allowed crews to safely return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Now ET confirms that it will come to an end on April 11.
Additionally, Perry has set up a vaccination site on the Atlanta studio lot so that production crews, as well as their friends and families, can receive the vaccine. The mogul worked with the city’s Grady Memorial Hospital to administer doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which was not mandatory for staff but simply available to those that wanted it.
Even with these latest updates to operations, productions on the lot will reportedly still follow COVID-19 safety protocols.
Photo by 52nd NAACP Image Awards via Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Will Smith and Martin Lawrence transformed into their detective characters Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett to celebrate the 26th anniversary of their classic film, Bad Boys.
In a video shared on Instagram Wednesday, 52-year-old Will dons his signature sunglasses as 55-year-old Martin put on his police badge, mirroring the film’s poster.
“When we say FOR LIFE we mean it. Bad Boys came out 26 years ago today! @martinlawrence,” Smith wrote in the caption.
Sharing the video on his Instagram page, Martin Lawrence wrote, “…And we still riding strong. Bad Boys for life. #teammartymar.”
The original Bad Boys movie came out in 1995. Smith and Lawrence played Miami narcotics detectives in the action comedy, on the hunt for a dangerous Cuban drug smuggler. They reprised their roles in 2003’s Bad Boys II and last year’s box office smash, Bad Boys for Life, which won Outstanding Motion Picture at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards in March. In their acceptance speech, Smith and Lawrence hinted they’re developing a fourth and final installment in the franchise.
ABC/Image Group LADolly Parton is mourning the loss of a beloved family member who also worked tirelessly to further her musical career. The singer shared on Wednesday that her uncle Bill Owens has died.
“I’ll start this eulogy by saying that I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t been there,” the country legend wrote on Facebook. “He was there…in my young years to encourage me to keep playing my guitar, to keep writing my songs, to keep practicing my singing.”
Owens’ impact on his future superstar niece wasn’t limited to those early days, either. He also helped her get her first music industry jobs in Nashville, and wrote a number of songs with Dolly throughout her career, including “Put it Off Until Tomorrow.” That song was included on the singer’s 1967 studio debut, Hello, I’m Dolly, and was named BMI Song of the Year.
In her eulogy, Dolly also noted that Owens had an impressive songwriting career of his own, penning songs for Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagoner, Ricky Skaggs, Kris Kristofferson and others.
She also pointed to his involvement with her Dollywood theme park, and offered her sympathies to her uncle’s friends and fans, as well as his wife, children, grandkids and great-grandkids.
“It’s really hard to say or to know for sure what all you owe somebody for your success,” Dolly reflected. “But I can tell you for sure I owe Uncle Billy an awful lot.”
“The greatest thing he ever did for me was to help me see my dreams come true and for that I will be forever grateful,” she writes. “Rest in peace, Uncle Bill.”
Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images(OHIO) — Jack Hanna, the former director of Ohio’s Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, who became famous for his live animal demonstrations on TV talk shows, has been diagnosed with dementia, his family announced Wednesday.
The wildlife expert’s family shared a letter on his official Twitter account detailing that his condition, which they said is “now believed to be Alzheimer’s,” has “progressed much faster in the last few months” than they expected.
Because of this, Hanna, who announced his retirement from the Columbus Zoo in June 2020, is now stepping away from the spotlight.
“Sadly, Dad is no longer able to participate in public life as he used to, where people all over the world watched, learned and laughed alongside him,” the letter read.
“A passion for wildlife conservation and education has been at the core of who our dad is and everything he has accomplished with the help of so many,” the note continued. “He has spent his life connecting people and wildlife, because he has always believed that having people see and experience animals is key to engaging them in more impactful conservation efforts.”
“He’s always said, ‘You have to touch the heart to teach the mind,'” they wrote. “Even though Dad is no longer able to travel and work in the same way, we know that his infectious enthusiasm has touched many hearts and will continue to be his legacy.”
Hanna’s three daughters also highlighted his “impactful” contributions to wildlife conversation efforts through his media appearances and advocacy efforts, and added that they are “abundantly proud to be his daughters.”
The trio also praised their mother, who wed Hanna in 1968.
“Our mom — Suzi — has been by his side for 53 years in every corner of the world,” they wrote. “She continues to be his rock (and ours, too).”
Hopper Stone/Netflix(NEW YORK) — Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer have teamed up for the Netflix action comedy Thunder Force.
The film, which is the fifth collaboration between McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone, follows McCarthy and Spencer as two childhood besties who reunite to become crime-fighting superheroes.
McCarthy tells ABC Audio that after the tumultuous year we’ve had, it feels great putting out a project that centers on “real people fighting [and] standing up against the bad guys.”
“If 2020 doesn’t give us a need for that, I don’t know what does,” McCarthy quips. “So, I love that this movie’s coming out at this time and… I hope people really enjoy it.”
Aside from perfect timing, McCarthy’s co-star and real life bestie, Octavia Spencer, believes the film is also very “empowering.”
“It is empowering to see ordinary people go from being ordinary to having superpowers that change their world and their community — and have such an impact,” she explains. “And I think we’re seeing that now in real life with our front line workers, our essential workers. Everyday people being superheroes. This movie feels like a bit of a love letter to the everyday people out there who are changing the world. “
In addition to acknowledging the everyday person, Spencer says her action-comedy is the perfect unifier.
“And you know what? It’s also a fun family film,” she notes. “You’re going to laugh and you’re going to cry [and] you’re going to root for certain things to happen. And that’s what entertainment is about.”
“But, I got to tell you, there is nothing more special than getting to do it with two people that you love and admire.” Spencer adds, referring to McCarthy and Falcone, who also serve as producers.
Thunder Force, also starring Taylor Mosby, premieres on Netflix Friday.
ABC News/Stephen Iervolino(ATLANTA) — The quarantine bubble at Tyler Perry’s studios is coming to an end.
