Month: December 2024

Actress Linda Lavin has died at the age of 87. Lavin’s representative announced that the Tony and Golden Globe Award winner had died unexpectedly Sunday due to complications from her recently diagnosed lung cancer.

Lavin was working at the time of her death, and had even promoted her role in the new Netflix limited comedy series No Good Deed on Instagram just days ago.  Lavin attended the premiere of series at the streamer’s Tudum Theater in Hollywood as recently as Dec. 4.

Lavin was also currently filming the first season of the new Hulu comedy ‘Mid-Century Modern’ alongside Matt Bomer – from ‘Will & Grace’ creators/executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick and director-producer James Burrows. Kohan, Mutchnick and Burrows said in a joint statement: “Working with Linda was one of the highlights of our careers. She was a magnificent actress, singer, musician and a heat seeking missile with a joke. But more significantly, she was a beautiful soul. Deep, joyful, generous and loving. She made our days better. The entire staff and crew will miss her beyond measure. We are better for having known her.”

Hulu and 20th Television also paid tribute to Lavin in a joint statement: “Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go to Linda Lavin’s family and loved ones. She was a legend in our industry, bringing her tremendous talent to audiences for over seven decades. She will be forever missed by her ‘Mid-Century Modern’ family, as we mourn this  incredible loss together.”

Lavin won two Golden Globes for her performance in the popular sitcom Alice in 1979 and 1980, and earned a Tony Award for her work in 1987’s Broadway Bound. Other credits include Barney Miller, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Room for Two, Conrad Bloom, Sean Saves the World, Elsbeth, Being the Ricardos, Brockmire, Santa Clarita Diet, Madam Secretary, Mom, The Good Wife, Bones, The O.C., The Sopranos, Room 104, Girls Weekend, How to Be a Latin Lover and The Back-Up Plan.

Lavin was married to actor Ron Liebman from 1969-81, and actor Kip Niven from 1982-92.  She is survived by her third husband, actor-drummer Steve Bakunas.

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Dunkin has teamed up with Sabrina Carpenter to introduce ‘Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso’, a limited-time speciality drink described as ‘handcrafted iced beverage combining Dunkin’s bold espresso, brown sugar notes, and oat milk, shaken to perfection.’ Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso will be available at Dunkin’ stores nationwide starting Tuesday, Dec. 31. The cost of the drink will vary per market.

The drink is (obviously) inspired by Carpenter’s smash-hit single, “Espresso,” Billboard’s No. 1 Global Song of the Summer for 2024.  Dunkin’s ad campaign for the specialty drink, dubbed ‘Shake That Ess,’ was created in partnership with Artists Equity (Ben Affleck’s and Matt Damon’s company) and directed by Dave Meyers. As the beat of “Espresso” plays in the background, a room filled with an eccentric cast of characters are all showed enthusiastically shaking their ess’.

You can check out Carpenter’s commercial for the new Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso – HERE.

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Will Ferrell is set to star in a new comedy feature from 20th Century Studios, based on an original idea by Dave Callaham, directed by Peter Atencio.  Atencio helmed the features Keanu (2016) and The Machine (2023) and is known for television work on such projects as Key & Peele, The Last Man on Earth, and The Afterparty.

The film, titled Street Justice, sees Ferrell playing a Dirty Harry type who goes about taking justice into his own hands. Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum of Gloria Sanchez serve as producers alongside David Koplan, with Callaham serving as an executive producer.

Ferrell will next be seen in the Amazon feature You’re Cordially Invited opposite Reese Witherspoon, and on the Netflix series Golf co-starring Ramy Youssef.

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Television personality Jeannie Mai and retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski have been added as co-hosts on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”

Mai is presiding over festivities in Los Angeles and Gronkowski will co-host from Las Vegas from the Fountains at the Bellagio Resort. The West Coast party hosted by Mai will include performers such as Alanis Morissette, with special guest Reneé Rapp, Dasha and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!, a performance that includes stars like Ja Rule, Kesha, Natasha Bedingfield, T-Pain and more.

Ryan Seacrest is slated to host the broadcast for the 20th time alongside co-host Rita Ora in NYC’s Times Square, featuring previously-announced musical performers The Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Megan Moroney and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, taking the stage before the ball drops in Times Square at midnight.

Set to take the stage in Las Vegas are Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett and Lenny Kravitz; and Jungle will perform from London, playing songs including their hit song “Back On 74.” The network said in a press release: “In his 20th year as host of America’s most-watched New Year’s Eve special, Ryan Seacrest will lead the countdown to midnight alongside global superstar Rita Ora live from Times Square, Dayanara Torres returns as co-host in Puerto Rico.”

The coverage of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” will air on ABC on Dec. 31, starting at 8 p.m. ET and streaming the next day on Hulu.

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Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, will be available for purchase on Prime Video and other streamers beginning on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31st.)

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shared a clip promoting the release, with Erivo (who plays Elphaba) saying: “It’s time to relive the experience together,” while Grande, who portrays Galinda, adding: “Let’s watch Wicked at home”

The release will contain three extra hours of footage comprised of cast commentary, and additional scenes. The film will be available to both purchase and rent, with fans able to get a bonus Sing-Along version and three hours of bonus content, including deleted and extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more.  In addition to Prime Video, viewers will be able to buy or rent the film on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Comcast Xfinity, Cox and Microsoft Movies & TV.  Fans will also be able to get a hard copy shortly thereafter, with “Wicked” debuting on 4K UHD, Blu-ray

“Wicked” is in theaters now; with Part 2 – titled “Wicked: For Good” — hitting theaters on November 21, 2025.

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The Hollywood Reporter shared that director Zack Snyder has a new project lined up at Netflix centering on the Los Angeles Police Department.

Snyder will co-write the feature with Kurt Johnstad, whom he previously collaborated with on the 300 and Rebel Moon movies; while Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller will produce under their Stone Quarry banner.

Deadline reported that the as-yet untitled film takes place in “a high-stakes world of life and death,” following an elite LAPD unit as it is “relentlessly confronted with the unforgiving collision of law and morality.”

Snyder said in a statement: “Years ago, Dan Lin and I had a conversation about our shared interest in telling a compelling and visceral character-driven story set within the intense, complex and captivating landscape of the LAPD. It’s a conversation that has stuck with me. So, as you would expect, I’m very excited to now have the opportunity to partner with Dan, along with the rest of my amazing partners at Netflix, in developing this story.”

Snyder’s other Netflix projects include the animated series Twilight of the Gods, which premiered in September.
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Zack Snyder is set to direct a new feature film for Netflix, centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. He is co-writing the script for the currently untitled action film with frequent collaborator Kurt Johnstad (“300,” “Atomic Blonde”).

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com