Variety

  • Chuck Lorre Salutes Former WBTV Chief Peter Roth: ‘Our Happy Hugging Hero’
    by Cynthia Littleton on 2021-04-23 in News, Chuck Lorre, Peter Roth, Warner Bros.

    Producer Chuck Lorre paid tribute to former Warner Bros. TV Group chief Peter Roth as “our happy hugging hero” in a message featured on his custom vanity card that aired tonight at the end of the four Lorre-produced comedies on CBS’ Thursday lineup. For vanity card No. 669, the prolific producer penned a cheeky poem

  • ‘Midnight Sun’ Shines Again as K-Pop Stage Musical Aimed at Cinemas
    by Patrick Frater on 2021-04-23 in Asia, Global, News, K-pop, Midnight Sun

    Alternative content for cinema screening is getting a K-pop spin, giving it a chance of success in parts of Asia, even as distributors and audiences remain hesitant about movies’ return to theaters. Hong Kong’s Megaton Entertainment will be holding a series of screenings in early May of the tear-jerking tale “Midnight Sun,” which has been

  • Did the Indie Spirit Awards Just Foreshadow a Best Actor Oscar Upset?
    by Clayton Davis on 2021-04-23 in News, Carey Mulligan, Independent Spirit Awards, Nomadland, Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

    In this strange year of the global pandemic, the Independent Spirit Awards seemed to fall in line with what the upcoming Academy Awards are predicted to reward this Sunday, including showing love to frontrunners like “Nomadland” and “Promising Young Woman.” Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” cast member Melissa Villaseñor, the virtual ceremony, with some winners

  • The Weeknd and Ariana Grande Drop Wildly Animated ‘Save Your Tears’ Video
    by Jem Aswad on 2021-04-23 in News, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd

    As teased earlier this week, the Weeknd has dropped a remix and video of “Save Your Tears,” one of the standout tracks from his blockbuster “After Hours” album, featuring Ariana Grande. The video is an eye-popping and surreal animated treatment with renderings of both artists that was directed by Jack Brown and produced by Blinkink.

  • Independent Spirit Awards Define What’s ‘Indie TV’: ‘I May Destroy You’ and ‘Unorthodox,’ for Starters
    by varietyschneider on 2021-04-23 in Awards, News, I May Destroy You, Independent Spirit Awards, Spirit Awards

    Heading into Thursday’s Spirit Awards, Film Independent’s inaugural foray into recognizing television had already passed the so-called “smell test.” That’s because, at the very least, HBO’s “I May Destroy You” had already been recognized as best ensemble cast in a new scripted series. And if there was any TV show that embraces the independent spirit,

  • ‘Bat Out of Hell’ Star Lena Hall on the Genius of Jim Steinman, a Writer Who Saw No Distinction Between Stage Music and Rock
    by Chris Willman on 2021-04-23 in News, Obituaries, People News, Bat Out of Hell, Jim Steinman, Lena Hall, Meat Loaf

    Jim Steinman was an ultimate officiant in the marriage of rock ‘n’ roll and theater. The songwriter, who died April 19, only had a handful of productions play out on the legit stage, including “Dance of the Vampires,” “Whistle Down the Wind” and, finally, “Bat Out of Hell: The Musical.” But it really wouldn’t have

  • Indie Spirit Awards Give ‘Nomadland’ a Key Win and Award Carey Mulligan in Best Actress Nail-Biter
    by varietymattdonnelly on 2021-04-23 in News, Carey Mulligan, Chloe Zhao, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Minari, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Nomadland

    The 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards, held virtually on Thursday evening, marked another big night for “Nomadland” and more of this year’s indie gems. Usually a casual, day-drinking affair on the beach in Santa Monica, the digital ceremony marked the final stop before Sunday’s Academy Awards. The evening’s top prize of best feature went to

  • Shock G, ‘Humpty Hump’ of Digital Underground, Dies at 57
    by Jem Aswad on 2021-04-23 in News, Digital Underground

    Shock G, producer and frontman of the 1990s hip-hop group Digital Underground and widely known for his alter-ego “Humpty Hump,” has died, according to a statement from his family. The artist, whose real name was Gregory Jacobs, was 57; no cause of death has been confirmed. “Our son, brother and friend, Gregory Jacobs, also known

  • Independent Spirit Awards 2021: Full Winners List
    by Antonio Ferme on 2021-04-23 in News, Independent Spirit Awards, Spirit Awards

    The 36th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, which recognizes the best work in the independent space, held a virtual awards show on April 22, with “Nomadland” taking home the most honors of the night with four statues. Television was also celebrated for the first time at the ceremony, with “I May Destroy You” and “Unorthodox”

  • Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers Discuss Finding Happiness in ‘Las Culturistas’ and Working With Will Ferrell
    by Ethan Shanfeld on 2021-04-23 in News, Bowen Yang, Las Culturistas, Matt Rogers, Will Ferrell

    “The podcast is a true source of joy,” according to Bowen Yang, co-creator of podcast “Las Culturistas.” At the Variety Entertainment Marketing Summit, presented by Deloitte, Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia’s digital audio group, sat down virtually with Yang with co-host Matt Rogers to discuss working with Will Ferrell and finding happiness in their fifth