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“It is a privilege to lead ’60 Minutes’ and its formidable team of journalists,” Simon said in a prepared statement. “’60’ is in a class of its own, upholding a legacy of extraordinary and thought-provoking journalism for more than half a century. I’m deeply committed to this level of excellence and I look forward to delivering an exciting season of signature ’60’ stories that cover a wide range of subjects for a broad audience and engage viewers with their world.”
How Simon — daughter of late great “60 Minutes” correspondent Bob Simon — will deal with the new owners of CBS after the embarrassing lawsuit settlement with Donald Trump remains to be seen. Will the show pull punches or forge ahead in its exposes of Trump, Epstein etc?
Tonight, “South Park” — a Paramount TV show on Comedy Central– returned with a new season opener that has already caused an avalanche of press since its debut at 10pm Eastern.
They eviscerated Donald Trump in short order, including mocking his penis size.
The trailer gives some evidence of the episode, which peels paint off the walls. The whole episode will be on Paramount Plus later today, we hope.
“South Park” lampoons the CBS Paramount settlement, the cancellation of Colbert, and about two dozen other things including a naked Trump in bed with his lover, Satan, who complains that Trump is worse than his previous lover, Saddam Hussein.
There’s a lot of talk lampooning “60 Minutes” and Paramount settling the lawsuit with Trump. But what viewers may find more shocking is Jesus himself telling the people of South Park that he’s being sued by Trump for failing to get religion into schools.
Also, two of the South Park kids attempt suicide (a gas hose in a car) because they fear Woke is dead and not coming back.
It’s just a matter of time before Trump threatens to sue Paramount again.
How Trey Parker and Matt Stone got this on the air is a wonderment. They just signed a $1.5 billion contract with the company.
A decision has finally been made about the Michael Jackson biopic.
Lionsgate has set a release for April 24, 2026.
“Michael” will be one film, not two. It will likely be a celebration of Jackson’s music and avoid the legal troubles that plagued him starting in 1993.
The Antoine Fuqua directed film will cover the beginnings of the Jackson Five through Michael’s triumphs with “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad.”
The movie has been delayed as everyone involved debated what to release — a two parter, a film that covered allegations against Michael, etc.
But the best thing for fans and the Estate is to not address any of that. Michael’s music has overcome the craziness. As time passes, the legal difficulties fade from memory. If you’re interested in what came later, watch a decent documentary (not “Leaving Neverland”).
Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew (Jermaine’s son) plays the King of Pop. The great John Logan wrote the screenplay. Other actors include Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Michael’s parents, plus Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, and Derek Luke.
Jimmy Olsen — aka Skyler Gisondo — was quite the ladies man in the new “Superman.”
Now he’s going to bring Ariana Grande home to “Meet the Parents” in the 4th installment of the comedy series. The other chapters are “Meet the Fockers” and “Little Fockers.”
The Insneider newsletter reports the Gisondo has been hired to play Ben Stiller and Teri Polo’s son. Is that even possible? Wasn’t the first movie like a week ago?
Anyway, what’s shaping up is that Skyler will bring his girlfriend, played by Ariana Grande, to meet Stiller, Robert De Niro and so on. Will she outwit them and prove she’s worthy of their son and grandson?
Blythe Danner also stars as Ben’s mom. No word yet on whether Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand will reprise their roles as the Fockers, parents of Stiller’s character. The budget may not be big enough for all these stars.
Will Ariana sing a new song for the movie? She should. John Hamburg, hilariously talented, writes and directs for November 2026.
Ben Stiller’s documentary about growing up with his famous parents is ready.
“Stiller and Meara” will tell the story of comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, their rise to fame while raising Ben and his sister, and then becoming even more famous after that.
Jerry and Anne were two of my favorite people in the world, and had legions of fans. Late in his career, Jerry became known for “Seinfeld” and “King of Queens.” Anne was a distinguished playwright and character actress in demand.
But before all that, they were a comedy duo who made many appearances on “Ed Sullivan.” They were also known for their Blue Nun wine commercials. They appeared live all around the world to sold out audiences and were in the highest echelons of show business.
At one point, Ben became famous, reigniting interest in his parents. It’s a very talented family. I can’t wait to see Ben’s film and relive all those golden Stiller and Meara clips.
This is a film I’ve been working on for a while. It is coming out Oct. 17th. It’s about (our) family and parents and kids and creativity and other stuff too. pic.twitter.com/WO1WWO1aze
Is this the end for “Only Murders in the Building”?
The comedy mystery returns September 9th for a fifth season. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and the criminally under-awarded Selena Gomez star along with Meryl Streep, who’s still there, and Michael Cyril Creighton.
How about Amy Ryan? Huh?
The show has gotten more and more top heavy with guest stars. This season, Renee Zellweger leads the list. Also: Bobby Cannavale, Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz, Téa Leoni, Keegan-Michael Key, Beanie Feldstein, Dianne Wiest, Jermaine Fowler.
Plus Richard Kind and Nathan Lane return, as does Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
Here’s a description of the season:
After their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia. The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them — one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge.
Liza Minnelli is one of our premier artists in the world.
An Oscar winner, along with an Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe — not to mention a Lifetime Achievement statue from the Grammys — Liza also has three Tony Awards plus a special Tony.
Now 79, Liza has often been talked about for a Kennedy Center honor. Indeed, it’s way past the time it should have been offered.
With the Kennedy Center Honors surely to be announced any minute, I asked her former publicist Scott Gorenstein: Would she accept the award under the new regime at the Trump Kennedy Center?
Gorenstein — who pushed for years for Liza to get a Kennedy Center Honor — first emailed me: “Lol” like I was crazy. When I persisted for a quote, Gorenstein replied:
“Nobody is more deserving of any honor than Liza Minnelli. Her body of work stands alone. And the Kennedy Center should have recognized her many years ago. However, the Trump administration has made a mockery of the Kennedy Center, and I doubt Liza’s millions of fans would want to see her standing next to him after the damage he has inflicted upon our country.”
Liza may feel differently since she is almost 80. By the time Trump is out of office she’d be 85. Considering her health over the last few years, that may not be a realistic prospect. But Gorenstein is right — Minnelli is not likely to be photographed with a grinning Trump.
And who would perform in her her honor? “Cabaret” — with its fluid sexual characters and even drag implications — would never be allowed at the Kennedy Center under the new regime.
What’s alternative? How about the Chaplin Award from the New York Film Society next spring? That would be even better!
Kennedy Center Honors, by the way, are supposed to be for people who changed the culture for the better. Liza Minnelli is at the top of that list. Watch this:
“Buckingham Nicks,” the original 1973 album from Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, is coming back.
The pair of ex lovers and friends who later went on to join Fleetwood Mac are issuing the record on new heavyweight vinyl for the first time. It’s been out of print for years.
They’ve been teasing it for a week or so on social media.
Fans were very excited this past week that the new “Buckingham Nicks” would include demo versions of songs long available on bootlegs. But it won’t. It’s just the original 10 tracks.
The tracks have been “sourced” from the original tapes and presumably remastered, but there’s no indication of a remix or anything particularly special.
There will be a limited edition vinyl version made with 5,000 copies available. There’s an insert With new liner notes From David Fricke in conversation with the musicians. That costs $39.98.
A $79.98 version — with just 2,000 copies made — contains the album on vinyl, two 45 rpm singles that don’t appear on the album, and the interview.
There’s no indication of CDs being issued, or if the album will go to streaming. So far it’s not available in either format.
“Buckingham Nicks” was not a hit when it was released. But it was good enough that Mick Fleetwood asked the pair to join Fleetwood Mac in a new incarnation. Their first collaboration came with 1975’s “Fleetwood Mac” album followed by “Rumours.” The rest is history.
I don’t know why this is being done in such an odd and disappointing way. “Buckingham Nicks” is not “Sgt. Pepper.” Once this reissue happens, the window will close on interest for it. But no one asked me, as they say.
The first “new” single is “Crying in the Night,” which like all the other tracks has been available on YouTube for years and sounds just fine.
Donald Trump wants to end the opera component at the Kennedy Center.
He’s trying to push through a plan rename the opera house after First Lady Melania Trump.
If Congress votes for this, there is no doubt many subscribers will exit their plans.
Democrats who was still hanging tough at the Kennedy Center for the operas and symphonies simply will not pay money to sit in a theater named for the mostly absent Melania, a First Lady in name only who is considered complicit with her husband’s policies.
Maybe that’s Trump’s goal with this proposal. The Opera House can be turned into a cow palace for country music. Republicans are not known for their embrace of the finer arts.
Meantime, the wait is on to see who the new Kennedy Center board will offer as inductees for the Kennedy Center Honors. A gasp of horror is almost certain if all the inductees are right wing, Christian right, country performers, etc
Last year the announcement was made on July 18th. We are already past that point. Many artists who’ve been waiting for the Honors — like Liza Minnelli and Denzel Washington — may turn it down until Trump is out of office. One artist who could make the cut is Johnny Mathis, who’s almost 90 and seems to be among Trump’s favorites. Another could be conservative shill Lee Greenwood, whose single hit, “God Bless the USA,” is a MAGA theme song.
PS I’m told country star George Strait could be at the top of the Trump list.
So sad to hear about Ozzy Osbourne. He fought many illnesses including Parkinson’s Disease for years, with laughter and a mordant sense of humor.
Ozzy was the quintessential mad hard rocker. He became an urban legend for biting off the heads of doves or bats or something on stage. Was it true? Did it matter?
When wife Sharon put the Osbournes on MTV in a reality show, Ozzy became accessible in new ways. I had the pleasure of chatting with him quite a bit. Surprise he was a tiny fellow. And frail by the time I knew him. But he was lovely and fun.
I had never seen Black Sabbath perform until they got their Special Merit Grammy Award a few years ago. I was sitting in the front row of the Dolby Theater, and I was nervous the sound of the group performing would be beyond cacaphonous. But it wasn’t. Black Sabbath, in their way, was very musical. That’s what kept them in good stead when most bands had faded away.
Condolences to Sharon and her family. The Osbournes were a soap opera, but they were never boring and Ozzy will never be forgotten.
