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    in Television

    Serena Williams Develops New Docuseries About Her Life and Career

    Instagram

    The female tennis champion has signed a deal with Amazon to work on projects including a new multi-part documentary that chronicles her personal and professional life.

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Tennis superstar Serena Williams is inviting cameras into her life both on and off the court for a new Amazon docuseries.

    The 23-time Grand Slam champ and businesswoman will lay bare her personal and professional life for the as-yet-untitled project, which she will executive produce alongside her longtime coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

    The show is part of a new first-look TV deal Williams has signed with Amazon officials, with whom she will collaborate on both scripted and unscripted content.

    “I’m very excited to be partnering with Amazon Studios – they are developing some of the most inspiring and important content for a global audience,” the mother-of-one, who is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, shared in a statement.

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    “I have a lot of stories I’m eager to tell, including a continuation of my own, and I look forward to sharing those with the world.”

    Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, added, “Serena has transformed her sport and become one of the most inspiring athletes, entrepreneurs and women of her generation, admired not only for her unmatched prowess on the court but for her dedication to advocacy as well.”

    “We’re incredibly excited to share her journey in this new series, and to work with her to create new original content for our Prime Video customers worldwide.”

    A launch date for the docuseries has yet to be announced.

    It won’t be the first time Williams has opened up on camera – she released the HBO documentary, “Being Serena”, in 2018.

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    Wyatt Pike Happy to Be Home After Abrupt 'American Idol' Exit

    Instagram

    The 20-year-old singing hopeful, who made it to the top 16 on the singing competition show, touches on why he had to leave via a social media post, thanking fans for their outpouring ‘support.’

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Wyatt Pike has broken his silence on his abrupt exit from “American Idol”. Just two days after his departure was announced by host Ryan Seacrest, the singer took to social media to inform his fans that he is happy “to be home.”

    Making use of Instagram Story on Wednesday, April 14, the 20-year-old shared a picture of a car covered with snow. Alongside the snap, he raved, “good to be home! also rather snowy… love you all! [blue heart emoji].”

    Wyatt Pike said he was happy ‘to be home’ following ‘American Idol’ exit.

    A few hours earlier, Wyatt turned to his Instagram feed to reveal why he left the singing competition show. Putting out a picture of himself, he penned, “I had to leave the @AmericanIdol competition for personal reasons but am so thankful I get to play music for the rest of my life. Fellow contestants – miss you all, good luck!”

    The Utah native went on to express his gratitude to those who have supported him on his journey. He stated, “Thank you to everyone for your support… do stick around for more musical things soon!”

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    Many of Wyatt’s followers were saddened by his decision. However, some others left supportive comments for him. One fan assured, “You are going to do big things!! I’ll always be rooting for you.” Another added, “Can’t wait to see what comes next Wyatt.” A third chimed in, “so happy that you’re okay. so excited for the future!!!! :)”

    Wyatt, who had been competing on “American Idol” since late 2020, made it to the top 16. When viewers were waiting to see whether he was in the season’s top 12, Ryan divulged in the Monday, April 12 episode, “Before we get to the results, I have to tell you that finalist Wyatt Pike will not be competing in the competition. He had to drop out, but we wish him the very best.”

    Wyatt sang a cover of “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon in his last appearance, which gained praise from judges. One in particular was Katy Perry who gushed, “I think you do have a little bit of an angle in this competition that you’re an authentic singer-songwriter… I think whatever happens, you’re it.”

    Also complimenting Wyatt was Luke Bryan who said, “I remember one of the coolest things ever happened to me is the day I realized that I get to do music forever, under any circumstance.” He continued, “I’m telling you, Wyatt, you are going to be able to do music for the rest of your life.”

    “You have a style on stage that we like to watch,” Lionel Richie pointed out. “And to watch you take that song and make it your song, you’re on your way to something big, my friend.”

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    Harry Connick Jr. Returning to 'American Idol' as Musical Guest

    Instagram

    The former ‘Idol’ judge is set to return to the singing television competition as a performer along with ex-contestant Lauren Daigle for a faith-themed episode.

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Former “American Idol” judge Harry Connick Jr. will be returning to the show next week (19Apr21) for a faith-based episode with ex-contestant Lauren Daigle.

    He will perform two songs from his new Christian album, “Alone with My Faith”, which he recorded during lockdown, while Daigle will sing her 2019 hit “Look Up Child”.

    Connick, Jr., who was a judge on Idol alongside Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban from 2013 to 2016, tells Billboard he cannot wait to get back to the TV talent contest.

    “It’s really nice to be back,” he says. “I had such a good time when I was a judge, and before that, a mentor. So any chance I get to see those folks again, I welcome. I have a lot of friends there.”

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    Daigle adds, “I’m excited to be back with people that I so enjoy. We did rehearsals and the Idol team, like the band, is insane. We had a ball. The band nailed it… It’s also really refreshing how kind they are.”

    Daigle auditioned for the show in 2010 and 2012 when she just missed out on making it to the top 10.

    “I don’t have any disdain or any negativity toward the show,” she explains. “At the time I was so young and naive and I don’t think I knew who I was yet. So I could have been pulled in so many different directions artistically. I feel like it gave me an opportunity to step back… I’m actually really excited that it worked out this way.”

    They aren’t the only former “Idol” favourites returning to the show – original judge Paula Abdul is currently sitting in for Luke Bryan after he tested positive for COVID-19.

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    'Moulin Rouge!' Star Quits Musical as Protest Following Abuse Allegations Against Scott Rudin

    WENN

    Karen Olivo refuses to return to the Tony-nominated musical when Broadway re-opens as she urges the industry to take a stand against the Hollywood producer following abuse claims.

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Tony-nominated “Moulin Rouge!” star Karen Olivo has announced she won’t be returning to the hit musical when Broadway theatres re-open as a protest over workplace harassment.

    She is making a stand against the industry silence over the abuse claims against film and theatre producer Scott Rudin.

    “Social justice is more important than being the sparkling diamond,” she said in an Instagram video. “Building a better industry for my students is more important than me putting money in my pockets.”

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    “For all of ya’ll who don’t hear me, the silence about Scott Rudin – unacceptable (sic). Unacceptable. That’s the easy one, ya’ll (sic). That’s a monster. That should be a no-brainer… What is your integrity saying you should do? You going to protect your pocket book and let people go to the emergency room, so you can go to your next concert?”

    Last week (ends09Apr21), an expose in The Hollywood Reporter detailed allegations of Rudin’s volatile and sometimes violent behaviour. Four employees told the outlet Rudin created a toxic workplace environment, in which he repeatedly berated and verbally abused assistants.

    On top of that, top Hollywood producer and four-time Oscar nominee Megan Ellison, who worked with Rudin on the Coen Brothers’ 2010 Oscar nominated western “True Grit”, added her own scathing comments regarding her former colleague as she shared the damning article about him on her Twitter page.

    “This piece barely scratches the surface of Scott Rudin’s abusive, racist, and sexist behavior”, she wrote. “Similarly to Harvey (Weinstein), too many are afraid to speak out. I support and applaud those who did. There’s good reason to be afraid because he’s vindictive and has no qualms about lying.”

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    Idris Elba's 'Luther' Branded Unauthentic by BBC Diversity Chief

    BBC

    The drama series fronted by the ‘Star Trek Beyond’ actor is criticized for the lack of Black culture by the head of BBC’s creative diversity Miranda Wayland.

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    The BBC’s creative diversity chief has insisted Idris Elba’s hit series “Luther” “doesn’t feel authentic” due to the absence of Black culture in the character’s life.

    The hit crime drama starring Elba as troubled detective chief inspector John Luther and Ruth Wilson as the psychopathic murderer Alice, has run for five seasons since 2010, with a film reportedly in the works.

    Addressing the diversity on the show during a talk at the MIPTV conference, Miranda Wayland, the BBC’s Head of Creative Diversity, is quoted as saying, “When it first came out everybody loved the fact that Idris Elba was in there – a really strong, Black character lead.”

    “We all fell in love with him. Who didn’t, right? But after you got into about the second series, you got kind of like, OK, he doesn’t have any Black friends, he doesn’t eat any Caribbean food, this doesn’t feel authentic,” reported The Times.

    Wayland added, “It’s about making sure that everything around them – their environment, their culture, the set – is absolutely reflective.”

      See also…

    She suggested things would be different if the corporation were developing the drama today, referencing shows such as Michaela Coel’s “I May Destroy You” and a TV adaptation of Vikram Seth novel “A Suitable Boy”.

    “These are stories about a narrative that most of us are very comfortable about, but showed a different premise on it,” she said. “Diversity should not be seen as a risk that makes shows unpalatable to mass audiences, but as an opportunity to bring an edge to storytelling and move away from stereotypes.”

    Neil Cross, who created Luther, has previously addressed the casting of Idris in the lead role and the colour-blind approach to presenting the character.

    “It would have been an act of tremendous arrogance for me to try to write a black character. We would have ended up with a slightly embarrassed, ignorant, middle-class, white writer’s idea of a black character.”

    A BBC spokesperson told The Times, “Luther is a multi-award winning crime drama series and the iconic role of DCI John Luther has become one of TV’s most powerful detective characters of which we are tremendously proud.”

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    Daniel Dae Kim Confronted J.J. Abrams About Asian Stereotypes on 'Lost' Pilot

    WENN

    The ‘Hawaii Five-0’ actor opens up that he had issues with the way his character was portrayed on the very first episode of ‘Lost’ and complained to the creators.

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Actor Daniel Dae Kim confronted the creators of his hit show “Lost” after becoming concerned about the way his character played on Asian stereotypes.

    The star feared how his role as dominant husband Jin-Soo Kwon to his submissive onscreen wife Sun, played by Yunjin Kim, would be perceived by viewers if their characters didn’t evolve beyond the pilot episode in 2004 and took his complaints directly to creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, who assured Kim the parts would be fully developed.

    He said, “My greatest fear was that the pilot of Lost would air, but the series would not – because if you were to see the pilot as the totality of my character, you would have been left with that stereotype.”

    “While we were shooting, I remember sitting down with Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams and saying, ‘Guys, this character cannot progress in the same way.’ They basically said, ‘Trust us.’ I did, and it turned out for the best.”

    Despite his initial reservations, Daniel admitted he signed on for the show with the intention of “working within the system” to make positive changes.

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    He continued, “As an Asian actor, you’re just looking to get hired. It’s about working within the system to try and change it when you have the opportunity. The character grew to a place where I don’t think you’d call him a stereotype by the end.”

    The “Hawaii Five-0” star also opened up about the steps “Lost” bosses took to make sure the Korean dialogue, along with Kim’s accent, was perfect in the show.

    Kim told Vulture, “The way the dialogue was put together was they would write it in English and then I would go to someone in Hawaii and translate it together with that person. Then I would learn it in Korean.”

    “So it was the work of going through the translation process and then thinking about the Korean of it, the pronunciation, and then going back and thinking about the character and his mannerisms as a Korean person as opposed to an American person, which, obviously, I am. I think it would be obvious to most Koreans watching if I didn’t do that work.”

    “I don’t think you can question the positive effect Lost had on representation,” he added.

    “Lost” aired for six seasons until 2010.

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    Colton Underwood Lands New Reality Show After Coming Out as Gay

    WENN

    The former star of ‘The Bachelor’ is expected to be back to reality television soon as he reportedly secures a new show with Netflix about the new chapter of his life.

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Former “The Bachelor” star Colton Underwood is heading back to reality TV for a new series after “coming out” as a gay man.

    Multiple sources have revealed Underwood is working with Netflix bosses to chronicle the new chapter of his life on camera although an official announcement has yet to be made.

    The news emerges hours after the ex-American footballer went public with his lifestyle in a candid interview on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday (14Apr21) when he revealed he “came to terms” with his sexuality earlier this year (21) after trying to fight it for decades.

    “I got to a place where I didn’t think I was ever going to share this…,” he confessed. “I would have rather died than say I’m gay. I think that was sort of my wake-up call.”

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    However, after ending his year-long relationship with his fellow “The Bachelor” co-star Cassie Randolph in May 2020, Underwood decided to embrace his sexuality, and now he is the “happiest and healthiest” he’s ever been.

    Bosses from The Bachelor franchise have since shown their support to Underwood in a statement which reads, “We are so inspired by Colton Underwood’s courage to embrace and pursue his authentic self.”

    “As firm believers in the power of love, we celebrate Colton’s journey in the LGBTQIA+ community every step of the way.”

    Underwood chose Randolph as his partner in 2019’s season 23 although they never got engaged.

    They are currently locked in a bitter feud following their separation. She filed restraining order against him and sued him for allegedly putting tracking device on her car.

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    'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' and 'Promising Young Woman' Win Big at 2021 CDGA Awards

    Netflix/Focus Features

    The drama starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman and the movie fronted by Carey Mulligan lead the winners at this year’s Costume Designers Guild Awards.

    Apr 15, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Promising Young Woman” added to their 2021 trophy haul on Tuesday night (13Apr21) with wins at the Costume Designers Guild Awards.

    “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” designer Ann Roth – an Oscar winner for “The English Patient” – picked up the Period Film prize while the Contemporary honour went to “Promising Young Woman” ‘s Nancy Steiner and Bina Daigeler scored the Sci-Fi/Fantasy trophy for “Mulan”.

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    Among the TV categories, there were wins for Shay Cunliffe (“Westworld”), Debra Hansen (“Schitt’s Creek”), Gabriele Binder (“The Queen’s Gambit”), and Paul Tazewell (“Hamilton”) while Shonda Rhimes and her production partner Betsy Beers were feted with the guild’s Distinguished Collaborator Award at the virtual prizegiving, hosted by actress Lana Condor.

    The full list of winners at the 2021 CDGAs is:

    Excellence in Period Film: “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Ann Roth
    Excellence in Contemporary Film: “Promising Young Woman” – Nancy Steiner
    Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: “Mulan” – Bina Daigeler
    Excellence in Short Form Design: “Apple: Shot on iPhone by Damien Chazelle – Vertical Cinema ‘The Stunt Double’ short film” – April Napier
    Excellence in Variety, Reality-Competition, Live Television: “Hamilton” – Paul Tazewell
    Excellence in Period Television: “The Queen’s Gambit”: “End Game” – Gabriele Binder
    Excellence in Contemporary Television: “Schitt’s Creek”: “Happy Ending” – Debra Hanson
    Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Television: “Westworld”: “Parce Domine” – Shay Cunliffe

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    Courtney Stodden Comes Out as Non-Binary After ‘Hiding’ for Long Time

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