April 7, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

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.

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

April 7, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

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).”

By Hayley FitzPatrick
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

April 7, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

L-R – Grace, Souza — ABC/Temma Hankin(NEW YORK) — Actor Topher Grace has logged some impressive big-screen credits since That ’70s Show, starring in films like Interstellar for director Christopher Nolan and Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning drama BlacKkKlansman.  But tonight, he returns to small-screen comedy in ABC’s new show, Home Economics.

Grace plays Tom, the eldest sibling of the Hayworth family, who finds himself in a financial bind after his once-promising career as a novelist hits the skids.  Along with his wife, Marina, played by Karla Souza, and their kids, they head off to visit the palatial mansion of Tom’s rich investor younger brother, Connor — American Vandal‘s Jimmy Teatro — with the hidden agenda of swallowing his pride and asking him for a loan.

Unbeknownst to Tom, however, their sister, Sarah, played by Caitlin McGee, and her wife, played by SNL alumna Sasheer Zamata, also pack up their kids for a visit with their hat in hand.

Making it even more awkward, Tom is secretly writing a book about the family’s dysfunctional dynamics.

Grace tells ABC Audio the Home Economics cast is key. “That kind of chemistry is just luck. I’ve been on dream teams and I’ve been on not dream teams, and…it’s acting sometimes you’ve got to fake it,” he says. “But sadly, you can’t actually fake it when it comes to no matter how good an actor you are.”

Unlike That ’70s Show, Home Economics isn’t filmed in front of a live audience, but it wasn’t as much of an adjustment for the actor. 

“I’ll always be very grateful to that, to do like seven, eight years, where if you tell a joke and it doesn’t work, there’s nothing like three hundred people not laughing,” Grace quips. “But then really, I’ve only done films in-between, so I got very used to not having that audience there.”  

Home Economics debuts tonight at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

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

April 7, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

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.

By Candice Williams
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

April 7, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

JORAS/GC Images(LONDON) — Piers Morgan is, as usual, not standing quietly by after he left Good Morning Britain in the wake of his reaction to the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

He’s revealed to Extra that he and his family have weathered “disgusting” death threats after his exit, and received support from the Royals he defended.

Morgan had challenged the claims Markle made in the much-hyped CBS sit-down, like her saying she had to Google Prince Harry because she didn’t know anything about him, and that she was so depressed about the abuse she said she suffered as duchess that she contemplated suicide.

Morgan’s opinions led to Sharon Osbourne leaving The Talk for defending his right to make them, as co-host Sheryl Underwood said they had “racist implications.”

To Extra‘s Billy Bush Tuesday night, Morgan reiterated of Markle, “I don’t give a damn about her skin color, I do care about the veracity of what she was saying. And I do believe Sheryl Underwood should be the one leaving The Talk, for falsely accusing me of racism.”

He called “disgusting” the death threats his family has received from “so-called liberals,” and revealed he’s gotten messages of support from Osbourne and also “on behalf of the Royal Family.” 

He added, “I’m not going to go into who it was, but I would say there was gratitude that somebody was standing up for them.” 

Morgan also said if he could have done anything differently, he wouldn’t have walked off the Good Morning Britain set, adding most Americans didn’t realize he actually returned to finish his segments before quitting.

“Nothing I said about Meghan Markle is either racist or racially motivated,” Piers said. “I’ve been very critical of Prince Harry, and last time I checked, he is white. I find this narrative deeply offensive.”

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