October 19, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) — The popular teenage DC superhero Static will soon appear on the silver screen and, in preparation for the big movie, the DC Universe is turning to Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan to usher in the franchise’s next phase.

Jordan will not only serve as the film’s producer, he will also help expand the DC universe to usher in more Black superheroes, says The Hollywood Reporter. 

“I’m proud to be a part of building a new universe centered around black superheroes; our community deserves that,” announced Jordan over the weekend. “Outlier Society is committed to bringing to life diverse comic book content across all platforms and we are excited to partner with Reggie and Warner Bros on this initial step.”

Outlier Society is Jordan’s production banner.

Static, whose civilian name is Virgil Ovid Hawkins, first arrived in comic books in 1993 under Milestone Comics — a Black-founded company that labored to make comics more inclusive — and went onto star in the animated TV series Static Shock that ran between 2000 and 2004 on Kids’ WB.  

The character made cameos in several other DC Universe flicks, such as Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice, as well as in video games and in one direct-to-video movie.

It is unknown when Static Shock — the film — will arrive in theaters.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 19, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney(LOS ANGELES) — Leave it to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to ensure his fans celebrate the best birthday ever, no matter their age.  For one 101-year-old admirer, the Moana star made sure to hook her up with several bottles of his signature tequila.

“HAPPY BEAUTIFUL 101 BIRTHDAY to Grandma Grover,” Johnson cheered on Saturday, posting a photo of his delighted fan clutching her prized possessions. “Good to see you received my gift of @teremana bottles and the card I wrote you!”

Beyond ensuring the centenarian rang in 101 with some amazing mementos, he also imparted some wisdom to Grandma Grover.

“Remember to SIP the Mana, grandma and it’s not time to do shots,” Teased Johnson, noting that his tequila is meant to pack a delicious but potent punch.

Regardless, the Jumanji star was extremely touched to have earned Grandma Grover’s respect.  “Happiest of birthdays – what an amazing and blessed life,” he wrote her. “Enjoy your mana, Marie!”

He ended his heartfelt shoutout with the humorous hashtag #GrandmaGettingHerGrooveBack.

As for Johnson’s appreciative fan, she is now the proud owner of the actor’s Blanco and Reposado small batch tequila.

That’s not all that Grandma Grover received from “My Rock,” as an earlier video shows that the actor sent her a personalized message of him singing an over-the-top version of “Happy Birthday.  Of course, her adorable reaction was caught on video. 

This also isn’t the first time the former wrestler honored his fan.  Last year, he helped ring in her 100th birthday after a friend of the family contacted him on Twitter.

“What?? First I’m hearing of this! Who’s turning 100? Beautiful age! What do you need,” Johnson wrote in response and, since then, forged a beautiful friendship.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 19, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Photo by: Will Heath/NBC(NEW YORK) — It was a hilarious tale of two competing town halls as Saturday Night Live‘s cold open took aim at Thursday’s drastically different events featuring Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.

The two events were a topic of discussion even before the two contenders took their respective stages, with NBC facing a backlash for scheduling its town hall with President Trump opposite Biden’s previously planned town hall, moderated by George Stephanopoulos — played by Mikey Day.

Kate McKinnon, playing Today anchor and “surprise bad**s” Savannah Guthrie, who moderated the NBC event, declaring, “If you are angry at NBC for doing this town hall, just let me get a few questions in, and I think you will thank me.”

The bit poked fun at the candidates’ contrasting styles: a long-winded Biden — played once again by Jim Carrey — singing “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” the theme from Fred Rogers’ long-running PBS kids show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and even donning a sweater, as Rogers was famous for doing.

Alec Baldwin’s Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly mispronouncing Guthries name, while hurling a barrage of accusations aimed at Biden and former president Barack Obama.

Recalling a viral moment from Trump’s town hall, McKinnon’s Guthrie chastises Baldwin’s Trump over his penchant for re-tweeting conspiracy theories, saying, “You can’t just do things like that. You are not just someone’s crazy uncle.”

Baldwin responds with “Right now is a preview of Thanksgiving dinner, and a lot of American households have crazy uncles.  Stand back and stand by.”

Maya Rudolph also made an appearance as Senator Kamala Harris.

Saturday’s show was hosted by Issa Rae with musical guest Justin Bieber.

October 16, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Richard Cartwright(LOS ANGELES) — When Who Wants to Be a Millionaire returns to ABC Sunday for its second-season premiere, it’ll pay tribute to its former host: the late TV legend Regis Philbin.

Philbin hosted the primetime version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire from its 1999 debut and for all of its primetime run and limited returns and specials through 2009. ABC will remember Regis with a nearly two-minute video retrospective of his time on the show, that includes current host Jimmy Kimmel remembering having Regis on the set of the current Millionaire incarnation, which debuted last year.

“It was exciting to just have him there,” Kimmel says.  “Because I’m hosting this show, but this is his show.”

Later in the video, Kimmel tells Philbin during a visit to the new Who Wants to Be a Millionaire set: “No one will ever be better at doing this than you.  No one.  Never.  And I’m not just being false humble by saying that.  It’s true.  You’re the best.”

“And that’s why people love this game,” Kimmel goes on.  “It’s a great game, but Regis is the reason.”

Philbin died of natural causes July 25, one month shy of his 89th birthday.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire returns Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT on ABC.

By Christopher Watson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 16, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

CBS(NEW YORK) — Well, that certainly didn’t take long.  Just one day after the third season premiered, Star Trek: Discovery has been renewed for a fourth season.

Debuting September of 2017 on CBS All Access after nearly a year of production delays, the seventh live-action spinoff of the 54-year-old Star Trek franchise has become the anchor show for CBS’ fast-expanding Star Trek universe, which has since grown to include the Patrick Stewart-fronted Star Trek: Picard and the recently-launched animated comedy Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Still to come is Section 31, a promised darker take on the Star Trek universe starring Michelle Yeoh, as well as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, staring Anson Mount reprising his fan-favorite role as Christopher Pike, captain of the USS Enterprise just before James T. Kirk assumed command.

Production on season four of Star Trek: Discovery, starring Sonequa Martin-Green and Doug Jones, will reportedly begin November 2 for a likely late 2021 debut.

By Christopher Watson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.