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Bryan Cranston said he'd play Walter White again in 'Better Call Saul' "in a second"

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC(LOS ANGELES) — Fans of Breaking Bad have been champing at the bit to see Walter White appear in his show’s Emmy-winning prequel spin-off, Better Call Saul, since its first episode. 

One of those fans is apparently Walter White himself, Bryan Cranston. The Emmy winner makes it plain in a new interview with Collider that he’d “do it in a second.” 

“I would be in it if Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, who are co-executive producers on it, wanted me to be in it,” Cranston says. “I would do it in a second. But it hasn’t happened yet, I can tell you, and we’ll see. I don’t know. There’s one more season to go and we’ll see what happens!”

The actor also expressed that he’s still very interested in getting behind the camera for Better Call Saul.

“I have been asked to direct an episode every single season and it just didn’t work out because of a commitment to doing a play or doing a movie or something, so I wasn’t able to section out the times available,” Cranston declared. “But I do love the show. I think it’s a fantastic show.”

Bryan Cranston will be seen next on August 14 in the Disney+ movie The One and Only Ivan.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

2020 may be 'one of the busiest' hurricane seasons on record: NOAA

• No Comments • National News

Zenobillis/iStockBy DANIEL MANZO and EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News

(SILVER SPRING, Md.) — The U.S. could be in for an “extremely active” Atlantic hurricane season this year, possibly “one of the busiest on record,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Thursday.

2020 is forecast to see 19 to 25 named storms, of which seven to 11 will become hurricanes. Out of those, three to six are forecast to become major hurricanes, NOAA said in its updated season outlook.

An average season brings three major hurricanes (Hurricanes that reach Category 3, 4, or 5 qualify as major).

There have already been nine named storms this season. Historically, there are only two named storms on average by early August, NOAA said.

NOAA has never before forecasted up to 25 named storms.

But 2020 is not forecast to be the most active season on record. In 2005, there were 28 named storms including Hurricane Katrina.

Just this week, the East Coast was pummeled by deadly Tropical Storm Isaias.

The storm made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane late Monday before charging up the East Coast on Tuesday as a tropical storm, delivering torrential rain and ferocious winds to the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

Hurricane season ends Nov. 30.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Luke Bryan “sat up at night” after hearing from Black fans who’ve felt uncomfortable at his shows

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Gavin BondAmid growing nationwide protests against racism and police brutality, country music has had to confront and question some of its own Southern symbols in recent months.

Lady A opted to drop “Antebellum” from their name, The Chicks scrapped “Dixie,” and Mississippi native Faith Hill called for the removal of the Confederate emblem from her home state’s flag — a measure that state’s governor signed into law June 30.

Luke Bryan says that the conversation has been a sobering educational experience, especially when he hears from fans who feel unwelcome at his concerts because of the color of their skin.

“I have sat up at night after hearing from African American audience members who say they’ve felt uncomfortable at my shows through the years,” the singer admits during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

As a high-profile performer, Luke acknowledges that he always chooses his words carefully before speaking out about issues he believes in.

“I’m always gonna walk a smart line, but I’m not scared,” he reflects, citing his 2018 hit “Most People Are Good.” That song contains the line “I believe you love who you love / It ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of,” which stood out to many as a statement of support for the LGBTQ community.

“I had a lot of people ask me, ‘Well, does that mean you want to plant a flag and support the gay and lesbian community?’ I’m like, ‘I’m not saying I’m gonna go fly that flag…but I’m not saying I’m not, either.’”

Although Luke errs on the side of remaining diplomatic, he’s glad to see that conversations surrounding race and equality are taking place in country music.

“It’s a delicate conversation, and do I think we may take a little longer in country to have it? Probably,” he adds. “But it’s the conversation we’re having more and more.”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Dolly Parton is sharing the stories behind her best-loved songs, in her own words, in new audiobook

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAFor over six decades, Dolly Parton has shared the story of her life through her songs. Now, the country superstar has announced the release of a new audiobook, called Dolly Parton, Storyteller: My Life in Lyrics.

In her own words, Dolly will share some of the stories that inspired beloved hits like “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and nearly 100 more country classics. Along the way, the singer also offers memories of her extraordinary career and life, beginning with her childhood growing up in a one-bedroom log cabin with 11 siblings.

“Across my life, I’ve written thousands of songs. This fall, for the first time ever, we’re spotlighting 100 of my favorites in my new audiobook,” Dolly notes. “…Not only will you be able to revisit my life in lyrics, but I’ll tell you never-before-heard stories behind the songs.”

Dolly Parton, Songwriter: My Life in Lyrics will be released on RBMedia, produced by flagship publishing brand Recording Books. The audiobook will be available on November 17 as both a CD and in digital audiobook form, and it’s available for preorder now ahead of the release date.

An illustrated book of the same name is also being released as a companion to the project.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jussie Smollett's sister Jurnee defends his innocence in Chicago assault claim

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Essence(NOTE LANGUAGE) Jussie Smollett’s sister, Jurnee, for the first time publicly, addressed the ongoing investigation into whether her brother paid two men to stage an attack against him in January 2019, and staunchly defended the Empire actor.

“It’s been f****** painful…one of the most painful things my family’s ever experienced — to love someone as much as we love my brother, and to watch someone who you love that much go through something like this, that is so public, has been devastating,” the actress who stars in Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams’ HBO series Lovecraft Country told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Wednesday.

“I was already in a very dark space for a number of reasons, and I’ve tried to not let it make me pessimistic,” she continued.  “But everyone who knows me knows that I love my brother and I believe my brother.”

Jussie, 37, is being sued by the city of Chicago for $130,000 to recoup the costs of doing an investigation for what authorities believe was staged attack on the actor.  He was previously charged for the alleged fake hate crime, however, those charges were dropped before he was then hit with a six-count indictment claiming that he lied to police.

Despite the city’s claim, Smollett’s attorney remained steadfast that he was truthful, adding, “the City and CPD knew Mr. Smollett was innocent, and that the City has relentlessly pursued Mr. Smollett even after the charges against Mr. Smollett were dismissed.”

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.