March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Photo courtesy Funko, Castle Rock Entertainment, WBEI(NEW YORK) — The beloved “show about nothing,” Seinfeld, is coming to the world of Funko toys. 

The bobble-headed pop culture collectibles line that has immortalized seemingly everything and everyone, from Transformers to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, has has unveiled an upcoming Seinfeld line. 

Not only will fans soon be able to get their hands on toy versions of Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer, plus other characters from the sitcom phenomenon — like The Soup Nazi and Newman — but there will also be little playsets for them that you can assemble to recreate Jerry’s apartment. 

Funko has apparently gone all-in on everything Seinfeld, from key chains, purses, backpacks and even t-shirts, all featuring the Funko-ized version of the characters, with some emblazoned with the show’s catchphrases, like “No soup for you!”

You can pre-order the toys now.  If history’s any guide, they’ll sell out fast.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC(LOS ANGELES) — It’s been six years since Zendaya wore locs when walking the red carpet at the 2015 Academy Awards and the Spider-Man: Far From Home star still reflects on the “change” her hairstyle sparked.

Television personality Giuliana Rancic found herself in hot water when talking about Zendaya’s hair, saying, “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil and weed. Maybe weed.”

The Disney Channel star, who was 18 at the time, later took to Instagram to call out Rancic’s “disrespectful” and “offensive” comments.

“There is already a harsh criticism of African-American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair,” she wrote at the time.

Looking back at her remarks in a recent W Magazine interview, Zendaya is proud of the way she handled the controversy.

“That’s how change happens,” the 24-year-old actress stated. “And it made me think, ‘How could I always have a lasting impact on what people saw and associated with people of color?'”

Although the controversy started with a negative light, Zendaya is glad she was able to turn it into a meaningful conversation about inclusivity and breaking down stereotypes.

“My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of. color that our hair is good enough,” Zendaya wrote in 2015. “To me locs are a symbol of strength and beauty, almost like a lion’s mane.”

Rancic later apologized for her remarks, saying at the time, “This incident has taught me to be a lot more aware of cliches and stereotypes, how much damage they can do.”

When accepting the apology, Zendaya noted, “I’m glad it was a learning experience for you and for the network.”

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC News/Stephen Iervolino(LOS ANGELES) — Priyanka Chopra reminded a critic that she was qualified to announce the 93rd Oscars nominations, which she and husband Nick Jonas read off on Monday.

After the two wrapped the livestream and went home to enjoy a celebratory cheeseburger and pizza for a job well done, Australian entertainment reporter Peter Ford attempted to rain on their parade.

“No disrespect to these two but I’m not sure their contribution to the movies qualifies them to be announcing Oscar nominees,” he tweeted and shared a promotional photo of the married couple holding up an oversized Oscar statuette.

Apparently, Ford was unaware that Chopra was already a global Bollywood superstar and recording artist even before she stepped foot in Hollywood.

Chopra, 38, took his snide remark as an opportunity to flex her acting chops and responded Tuesday, “Would love your thoughts on what qualifies someone. Here are my 60+ film credentials for your adept consideration.”

She enclosed a video of her scrolling through her lengthy IMDb page, which lists her 78 acting credits, 59 award wins and 39 nominations.

While fans commended Chopra’s response, Ford doubled down on his initial belief that she and her husband were unqualified for the honor.

“Thank you. They are certainly more considerable than I realized and I accept your guidance. However this doesn’t change my opinion of your selection or that of your husband for this particular exercise,” he responded.

The White Tiger actress nor her husband have yet to entertained his follow up.

John Cho and Issa Rae announced last year’s Oscar nominees and, in 2019 Tracee Ellis Ross and Kumail Nanjiani revealed the 91st Academy Awards nominees.  Other recent announcers include Tiffany Haddish and Andy Serkis in 2018 and, in 2016, Guillermo del Toro and Ang Lee.

The 93rd Academy Awards air Sunday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Monty Brinton/CBS @2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.(LOS ANGELES) — With CBS extending The Talk‘s hiatus to further “investigate” the explosive segment between Sharon Osbourne and co-host Sheryl Underwood regarding Piers Morgan, Osbourne spoke to Entertainment Tonight Tuesday about the situation. 

Osbourne blamed the fallout from the segment on the network, claiming she was deliberately ambushed by Underwood at the direction of CBS executives, because CBS produced the Oprah Winfrey interview with Megan Markle and Prince Harry.

Morgan quit Good Morning Britain after an on-air flap in which he dismissed Markle’s comments during the Oprah chat as unbelievable.  Afterward on The Talk, Sharon said of Morgan, “just because he doesn’t like her doesn’t make him racist.” She later apologized on Twitter.

Osbourne recalled to ET‘s Kevin Frazier, “Sheryl…asks me this question and….she was reading it off a card. It wasn’t on my cards. And then [co-host] Elaine [Welteroth]’s reading her questions and I’m like, ‘I’ve been set up.’ They’re setting me up…”

That said, Sharon said she was sorry for how the situation played out. “I got too personal with Sheryl. I should’ve never said ‘stop her tears.’ She was hurting as I was hurting.”

She added, “I should never have dismissed her feelings on national TV, ever. But…I have to own it.”

Osbourne said she’s since reached out to Underwood, but that she hasn’t responded. “I can understand,” she said. “Sheryl needs her time.”

As for her future with The Talk, Sharon said, “…I don’t know whether I even want to go back. … I don’t know whether I’m wanted there.”

The conversation with ET came as former co-host Leah Remini leveled new accusations against Osbourne, claiming she used gay slurs regarding former co-host Sara Gilbert’s sexuality, and made bigoted comments about former co-host Julie Chen, who is Asian.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

HFPA(LOS ANGELES) — Amid fallout from a New York Times exposé revealing the lack of Black members in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — the organization behind the Golden Globes — and a demand from more than 100 PR firms to provide “explicit plans” for “transformational change,” the organization is assuring people it has gotten the message.

In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the HFPA, whose membership consists of 87 Los Angeles-based journalists, none of whom are Black, on Tuesday wrote in part that they are “committed to making necessary changes within our organization and in our industry as a whole, adding, “We also acknowledge that we should have done more, and sooner.”

“As a demonstration of our commitment, the board has unanimously approved a plan to increase membership to a minimum of 100 members this year, with a requirement that at least 13 percent of the membership be Black journalists,” the statement continued.

“While we recognize this is a long-term process, we will continue to be transparent, provide updates, and have confidence in our ability to change and restore trust in our organization and the Golden Globes,” added the statement. “As we do so, we invite others in the Hollywood community to join us in advancing racial equity in our industry.

Meanwhile, Black creators, including Shonda Rhimes, continued to attack the HFPA’s “ignorance.”

In response a story from The Wrap alleging the organization “rejected requests to hold press conferences for major projects with Black-led casts in recent years,” Rhimes tweeted her claim that the HFPA rejected her press conferences, yet “they STILL asked me to show up in person to present at the Globes.”

“This is why HFPA’s house is on fire. They lit the flame w/their own ignorance,” she added.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.