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Tapings of Wendy Williams’ and Nick Cannon’s talk shows are canceled due to COVID-19 surge

Tapings of episodes of The Wendy Williams Show and Nick Cannon have been canceled because of the rise in cases of COVID-19 in New York City. Williams has been off the show since September as she focuses on her health issues — the talk show host has Graves disease. Guest hosts have been filling in for her while she is away.

The talk show’s Instagram account posted: “Due to the growing number of new COVID-19 cases and to ensure a safe return for our crew members and staff, “The Wendy Williams Show” will now return with new live episodes on Monday, January 10, rather than Monday, January 3, as previously scheduled. @MichaelRapaport, @KymWhitley & @FinesseMitchell and @sherrieshepherd will guest host the shows as previously announced. We continue to observe all relevant New York City health and safety protocols, and wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.”

Cannon posted on Instagram: “Due to the growing number of new COVID-19 cases and to ensure a safe return for our crew members and staff, “Nick Cannon” will now return with new episodes on Monday, January 10, instead of Monday, January 3, as previously scheduled. We continue to observe all relevant New York City health and safety protocols, and wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.”

FOX also announced it has canceled its planned live broadcast of the New Year’s special, Toast & Roast 2022 starring former Community castmates Ken Jeong and Joel McHale.  Six and The Lion King were the latest Broadway shows to cancel performances until after Christmas because of COVID-19. They join a list that includes Dear Evan Hansen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Ain’t Too Proud and Hadestown.

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Entertainment Daypop

Take a look at the trailer for “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts”

HBO Max has shared the trailer for the new special ‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” featuring Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

The preview shows Radcliffe, Watson, Grint and other cast members reflect and reminisce on the Harry Potter film series and the franchise’s legacy. Says Radcliffe: “The thing that scared me the most was the implication that the most meaningful thing in our life was done, and there’s something so joyous about seeing everyone and be like, ‘It wasn’t, though.’”  Adds Watson: “When things get really dark, and times are really hard, there’s something about Harry Potter that makes life richer.”

Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltranr, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch will also take part in the special, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first film, ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.’  The special will “tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new, in-depth interviews and cast conversations.”

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will premiere Jan. 1, 2022, on HBO Max.  Take a look at the trailer – here.

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Rock Daypop

Ringo Starr to release coffee-table photo book to benefit charity

Ringo Starr will release a new hardcover coffee table book, titled “Lifted – Fab Images and Memories in My Life With the Beatles From Across the Universe,” on February 14.  The book’s proceeds will benefit the Lotus Foundation charity, and will be available exclusively online at Julien’s Auctions.

Starr said in a statement: “I am not writing this book as a Beatle historian. I’m writing this book as a Beatle — and there’s only a couple of us who can do that,”  He added: “These fantastic images came back to me in recent years from here, there and everywhere — online and off — and have somehow helped me get back to seeing my life with the Fab Four through fresh eyes. A lot of the photos in this book I spotted on my phone and on my computer, and ‘lifted’ them because they brought back so many fabulous memories. In recent years, I’d gather these Beatles photos that I sometimes barely remembered.”

Starr has enjoyed revisiting the Beatles era in photographic form, saying: “But along with great projects like Get Back, seeing so many of these amazing Beatles images has really brought back those days to me, and all the love and friendship that we four shared back then. So this is a book full of Beatle images that many people haven’t seen and stories that I’m sharing with a little help from my longtime writer friend David Wild. We’ve all been through a pretty tough time for a lot of people who’ve been locked down, and this book has really lifted my spirits and took me back to where I once belonged in a whole new way. And in the end, that’s why this new book is called Lifted. The Beatles changed my life forever. So it’s about getting back and giving back.”

Head to Julien’s Auctions official website for more information.

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Rock Daypop

Soulfly announces U.S. Tour with support from 200 Stab Wounds

Soulfly will hit the road starting February 2022 with support from 200 Stab Wounds and a currently-unannounced second opener. Soulfly’s lineup will consist of Max Cavalera and his son Zyon, along with Mike Leon on bass and Fear Factory’s Dino Cazares on guitar.

The band returned to touring in August 2021, after the dismissal of longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo. Soulfly will kick off their North American tour on Feb. 7 in Las Vegas, running throughout the U.S. and finish up March 19 in Gallup, New Mexico.

Tickets for the tour are currently on sale here. Check out the full list of dates below.

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Entertainment Daypop

Apple TV+ shares animated claymation short featuring the Ted Lasso cast in ‘The Missing Christmas Mustache’

Apple TV+ has released an animated short film featuring the voice talents of the Ted Lasso cast in “The Missing Christmas Mustache.”

In the four-minute piece, the AFC Richmond team, along with Rebecca and Keeley, help Ted search for a lost item that ultimately leads him to realize the meaning of the holiday season. The short features the voices of Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster, and Nick Mohammed.

The special comes on the heels of Ted Lasso winning multiple Emmy Awards and being named an AFI Television Program of the Year. Two seasons of Ted Lasso are available on Apple TV+, and the third season is set to be in production in February.

Take a look at the animated short The Missing Christmas Mustachehere.

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Entertainment Daypop

Actress Alicia Witt’s parents found dead at their home after welfare check

Actress Alicia Witt announced that her parents were found dead in their home, after a relative performed a welfare check on them after Witt hadn’t heard from them ‘for several days.’

Witt, 46, said in a statement: “I reached out to a cousin who lives close to my parents to check on them. Sadly, the outcome was unimaginable. I ask for some privacy at this time to grieve and to wrap my head around this turn of events, and this surreal loss.”  Witt asked the family member to check on her mother, Diane Witt, and her father, Robert Witt, at their Worcester, Massachusetts, home on Monday, December 2oth.  Alicia’s relative called the police to ask for assistance in checking on the Witts. Once officers entered the house, they found the couple deceased but discovered no obvious causes of death. The police listed Robert’s age as 87 and Diane’s as 75.  The fire department also visited the residence to check on the home’s air quality, but firefighters found no evidence of carbon monoxide or other dangerous gases. The Massachusetts medical examiner will perform autopsies to determine the Witts’ cause of death.

Witt made her acting debut at age 7 in 1984’s “Dune”and has also appeared in “Orange Is the New Black,” “Twin Peaks” and “The Walking Dead.”

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Rock Daypop

ZZ Top sells entire music catalog and royalties for $50 Million

Legendary blues-rock group ZZ Top has sold their “entire music interests” to BMG and KKR for $50 million. The deal includes the complete sale of the band’s publishing catalog, their recorded royalties, and their performance royalties.

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said: “This deal is a testament to the success, staying power, and continuing musical relevance of ZZ Top, but also to the power of our partnership with KKR. This agreement furthers our vision of providing artists and songwriters, not just a financial exit, but also a vehicle committed to respecting and treasuring their artistry.”

ZZ Top’s manager, Carl Stubner, said, “We are proud to continue working with and expand our long-standing relationship with BMG. This new deal ensures ZZ Top’s remarkable legacy will endure for generations to come.”

Many artists have recently sold their catalogs; Bob Dylan sold his catalog for an unspecified “nine-figure” number last year, and BMG acquired catalogs from Tina Turner and Motley Crue.  Just this month, Bruce Springsteen made headlines for a $550 million deal selling his catalog to Sony.

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Rock Daypop

‘Beale Street Music Festival 2022’ announces lineup, including Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins & More

Foo Fighters, Lil Wayne, The Smashing Pumpkins and Three 6 Mafia will headline the 2022 lineup of the “Beale Street Music Festival.” The event, which returns after two years off due to the pandemic, will be held at Memphis Fairgrounds April 29 – May 1, 2022 while its usual home of Tom Lee Park is redesigned.

Modest Mouse, Lindsey Buckingham, Moneybagg Yo, DaBaby, and The Glorious Sons are also aboard for Beale Street Music Festival 2022. Toad the Wet Sprocket, Sarkodie, Dirty Honey, Soccer Mommy, Trigger Hippy, Sue Foley and Kenny Brown round out the event’s initial lineup.

The full lineup featuring over 60 artists will be announced in early February. Foo Fighters previously played Beale Street Music Festival in 2000 and 2004. Various Beale Street Music Festival 2021 ticket packages are on sale now here.

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Entertainment Daypop

Ryan Seacrest extends deal to host ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

46-year-old television and radio personality Ryan Seacrest has signed a multi-year deal extension with MRC Live & Alternative to host and executive produce ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve for years to come. 2021 will mark Seacrest’s 17th year as host and the special’s 50th anniversary. This year’s show will air Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.

Seacrest said: “It’s been a privilege to spend the last 17 years ringing in the new year on Times Square with friends in person and at home. I’m looking forward to continuing the traditions and making new memories as we go into this next chapter. I’m grateful I get to do what I love every year and collaborate with the best-in-class teams at MRC and ABC on this annual event.”

Seacrest first joined the special in 2005 after creator and original host Dick Clark had a stroke. Clark served as co-host until his death in 2012. This year, Seacrest will host the New York special in Times Square; and Billy Porter and Ciara will host the New Orleans and Los Angeles celebrations, respectively.

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Entertainment Daypop

‘Jagged Little Pill’ closes permanently on Broadway amid COVID-19 surge

Jagged Little Pill, the Broadway play based on Alanis Morissette’s Grammy-winning album of the same name, is officially closing. The show halted performances due to the sudden surge of Omicron-specific cases on Saturday, December 18, and the following week the producers announced that the show will not reopen.

A statement posted on Jagged Little Pill’s Instagram page read“We are dismayed by what appears to be another substantial public health crisis, and— due to the detection of multiple positive COVID-19 cases within the company—need to prioritize the health and safety of the cast, crew, and entire team working on ‘Jagged Little Pill.’ In light of the extreme uncertainty ahead of us this winter, and forced to choose between continuing performances and protecting our company, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our doors.”

Jagged Little Pill first opened in 2019 and features music and lyrics by Morissette, and a book by Diablo Cody.  Morissette also wrote new songs for the Broadway musical. These songs help tell the story of the Healy family as they encounter topics like addiction and sexual assault. The show won two Tony Awards with 15 nominations, and it also won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

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