Month: December 2022

The 2022 People’s Choice Awards was held on Tuesday, December 6, hosted by Kenan Thompson and airing on NBC and E! The fan-voted awards show was held at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, featuring nominees from over 40 categories. The ceremony honored some of the biggest stars of the year with Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Selena Gomez, Adam Sandler, and Lizzo taking home top prizes.

Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness won The Movie of 2022, with star Elizabeth Olsen taking home the awards for Female Movie Star and Action Movie Star. Sandler was named Comedy Movie Star and Styles Male Artist of 2022. Gomez received the Comedy TV Star award for her work in Only Murders in the Building, as well as the award for Social Celebrity of the year. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift won the Female Artist, the Album of 2022 for Midnights, and the Music Video of the year for “Anti-Hero.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar presented Selma Blair the award for Competition Contestant of the year for her appearance on Dancing With the Stars.  Honorary awards went to Ryan Reynolds, recipient of the ‘People’s Icon Award;’ Lizzo, who received the ‘People’s Champion Award’ (and also won the Song of 2022 for “About Damn Time”); and Shania Twain, who was honored with the ‘Music Icon Award’ and performed a medley of some of her biggest hits.

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The ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary” leads the nominations for the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards, announced on Tuesday morning by the Critics Choice Association.  The Emmy-winning show nabbed six nominations overall, including best comedy series and acting nods for stars Quinta Brunson, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti and Tyler James Williams. In the drama category, the final season of AMC’s “Better Call Saul” led with 5 nominations including best drama series and acting nods for stars Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Giancarlo Esposito and Carol Burnett.

Other series with multiple nominations included “Gaslit” (Starz), “Reservation Dogs” (FX), and “The Good Fight” (Paramount+), tied with four nominations each.  This year the CCA categorized “The White Lotus” as a drama series, with leading star Jennifer Coolidge nominated for drama supporting actress. Other notable mentions include posthumous nods for Leslie Jordan (“Call Me Kat”), Ray Liotta (“Black Bird”) and Norm Macdonald (“Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special”)

Nominations for the Critics Choice Awards film categories will be announced on December 14 at 9 a.m. PT.  The 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony will take  place Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023 at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel. The CW will broadcast the ceremony at 7 pm. ET.

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‘GMA3’ co-hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes were benched from their anchoring duties while the ABC news division weighs the effect their recent disclosure of a romantic relationship might have on the program and the company.  ABC News President Kim Godwin informed staffers Monday during an editorial call that Robach and Holmes had not violated any company policy, but indicated ABC News felt the matter had become “an internal and external disruption,” and “wanted to do what’s best for the organization.”

The duo have made headlines since the revelation last week that they had been involved romantically for some time, even though it is believed they were each still in committed marriages. The pair has been the focus of tabloid reports, with viewers analyzing their every word on camera to see if either was making reference to the discovery of the relationship.

Gio Benitez and Stephanie Ramos co-hosted Monday’s broadcast, merely noting that “T.J. and Amy were off for the day.” There is no official word on how the program will be staffed for the rest of the week, or when Robach and Holmes might return. Last week, Robach and Holmes were on-air serving up news and banter that are a regular part of the afternoon showcase.

“GMA3,” an afternoon extension of “Good Morning America,” has been successful for the network. In 2021, the program generated nearly $43.4 million in advertising, a jump of 26.1% from the nearly $34.4 million it captured in the previous year.  The show was originally created for light celebrity news and conversation, hosted by Michael Strahan and Sara Haines. However, when the coronavirus pandemic hit the program moved more toward news, with Robach (a veteran of “Good Morning America” and “20/20”), along with medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, co-hosting the hour-long program.

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Actress Kirstie Alley has died at age 71 after a battle with cancer.

Alley’s family and her manager announced the news Monday night, with Alley’s children True and Lillie Parker writing a statement on Alley’s social media pages: “To all our friends, far and wide around the world…We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered. She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead. As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother. We are grateful to the incredible team of doctors and nurses at the Moffitt Cancer Center for their care. Our mother’s zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did. We thank you for your love and prayers and ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time. With love always, True and Lillie Parker“

Alley first appeared in the 1982 film “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” playing the Vulcan Starfleet officer Lieutenant Saavik. Then in 1987 Alley landed her breakout role, joining the cast of the sitcom “Cheers” to replace Shelley Long, where she remained until the series finale in 1993. Alley’s performance as Rebecca Howe earned her an Emmy Award in 1991 for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. The actress also starred in 1989’s Look Who’s Talking as well as two sequels, opposite her close friend John Travolta. The 68-year-old Travolta honored his friend on Instagram following the news of her passing, sharing a photo of himself with Alley along with the caption: “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had. I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”

Alley is survived by grandson Waylon, 6, as well as her two children, William True Stevenson, 30, and Lillie Stevenson, 28, who she shared with ex-husband Parker Stevenson.

Kirstie Alley Dead at 71 After Cancer Battle

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Actress Keke Palmer announced she is pregnant with her first child while guest hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend. Palmer hosted SNL for the first time on the Dec. 3 episode, alongside musical guest SZA. After taking the stage for her monologue wearing a tight-fitting blazer, she surprised the audience by sharing her baby news:  “There’s some rumors going around, people have been in my comments saying: ‘Keke’s having a baby. Keke’s pregnant.’ And I want to set the record straight: I am!” the 29-year-old Palmer said while opening her coat to reveal her baby bump.

Palmer added: “I gotta say, though, it is bad when people on the internet spread rumors about you y’all, but it’s even worse when they’re correct. I mean, like, I was trying so hard to keep it on the down low, cause I got a lot of stuff going on, you know?  But, honestly, this has been the biggest blessing, and I am so excited. Guys, I’m going to be a mom  Even though some people feel a little weird about me having a baby cause I was a child actor, I just wanna say, ‘Look, I’m 29, I’m grown, I have sex, I own a home, I stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. You know? Things adults do.’ I’m kidding. Y’all know I’m the same person I’ve always been and I’m proud of that!”

The notoriously private Palmer has been linked to Darius Jackson, also known as Darius Daulton, the younger brother of Insecure and Good Trouble star Sarunas J. Jackson.  The couple went public with their romance when Jackson dedicated a sweet birthday post to Palmer on Instagram. Palmer subsequently shared a photo of the duo on her Instagram account.

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Scarlett Johansson is taking on her first lead role in a TV series, starring and serving as executive producer on Amazon’s Prime Video’s limited series ‘Just Cause’, based on a 1992 novel by John Katzenbach.

The novel was previously adapted for a 1995 feature film starring Sean Connery, and Johansson, in one of her first movie roles, played the daughter of Connery’s character.The series version of Just Cause will center on Madison “Madi” Cowart (Johansson), a reporter for a Florida newspaper who’s assigned to cover the final days of a death row inmate and comes to believe the prisoner’s claims of innocence.

Johansson is currently filming Project Artemis for Apple TV+ and also has Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City and Kristin Scott Thomas’ My Mother’s Wedding coming soon.

Scarlett Johansson To Headline & EP ‘Just Cause’ In TV Debut; Amazon Orders Limited Series Penned By Christy Hall

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