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Stars Pay Tribute to Florence Henderson Via Social Media
3 hours ago
The news of Florence Henderson’s passing spread quickly throughout Hollywood.
Stars took to Twitter to express their grief over the loss of the beloved “Brady Bunch” mom, who died Thursday at the age of 82.
Henderson was best known for the ’70s family sitcom and its various spin-off series and specials, but stayed in the public eye, participating on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2010. She was even at Monday night’s “DWTS” finale cheering on her TV daughter Maureen McCormick, who competed this season.
Read some of the tributes below.
Maureen McCormick lovingly tweeted, “Florence Henderson was a dear friend for so very many years & in my <3 forever. Love & hugs to her family. I’ll miss u dearly.”
Florence Henderson was a dear friend for so very many years & in my <3 forever. Love & hugs to her family. I'll miss u dearly #RIPFlorence
— Maureen McCormick (@MoMcCormick7) November 25, 2016
Carrie Ann Inaba, who judged Florence on “DWTS” added, “She »
- Lawrence Yee
Florence Henderson, ‘Brady Bunch’ Mom and TV Icon, Dies at 82
4 hours ago
Florence Henderson, the actress who defined the television mom of the modern era with her starring role in “The Brady Bunch,” died Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 82.
Henderson’s manager, Kayla Pressman, said Henderson died on Thanksgiving night surrounded by family and friends. She’d been hospitalized the day before
Henderson seen was on camera as recently as Monday when she attended the taping of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” Her one-time TV daughter, Maureen McCormick of “Brady Bunch” fame, was a contestant on the show this season. Henderson herself was a contender on the show in 2010.
Henderson had a busy career on Broadway in the 1950s and ’60s, but it was “The Brady Bunch” that turned her into a household name and face. The ABC sitcom created by the prolific Sherwood Schwartz ran from 1969 to 1974, presenting a G-rated image of an typical American family, albeit »
- Cynthia Littleton and Whitney Friedlander
‘Gilmore Girls’: 7 Must-Watch Episodes of the Original Series
12 hours ago
Sometimes the best way to de-stress after those stressful Thanksgiving dinner conversations is by watching some wholesome, feel-good TV with a mug of spiked cocoa. With the premiere of Netflix’s “Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life” coming Friday (read our review here), the original series is essentially comfort food for the mind, chock-full of intelligence and sharp-tongued wit.
For those who have yet to watch the original and need a crash course, here are the best episodes from each season to get you started. Netflix has all seven seasons available.
Note: This is not a favorites list — these are the episodes that best represent the series as a whole.
Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2 — “Pilot” & “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton”
Though technically two episodes, it’s imperative to watch the first two episodes in succession to grasp the show’s true grit. Set in the fictional Connecticut town of Stars Hollow, the »
- Arya Roshanian
Andy Grammer’s NFL Halftime Show Ripped To Shreds on Twitter
12 hours ago
The NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings has been trending all Thanksgiving afternoon, first thanks to Aretha Franklin’s lengthy national anthem and now Andy Grammer’s halftime show.
And while most viewers respected the Queen of Soul’s performance, they absolutely ripped the pop singer to shreds.
“Hair model grabs microphone and delivers forgettable halftime performance,” a Sports Illustrated blog headline wrote, in reference to Grammer’s perfectly styled coif.
The singer laid down midfield with the Lions cheerleaders doing a routine that seemed better suited for the synchronized swimming pool.
The Twitterverse was not having it. Check out some of the harshest burns below.
John Barchard posted a screengrab of Grammer lying midfield with the caption, “When you get done with your 3rd plate of food but you have to sing…”
When you get done with your 3rd plate of food but you have to sing… pic »
- Lawrence Yee
Biggest Turkeys of 2016: Film, TV and Celebrity
13 hours ago
Along with films and TV shows that knocked the stuffing out of us in a good way, 2016 had its fair share of turkeys that never should have been basted and put in the oven.
In honor of Thanksgiving, Variety’s staff have picked the biggest financial, critical and celebrity turkeys from the past year.
The big budget “Ben Hur” ended up being a big flop for Paramount.
Another historical production, “Of Kings and Prophets,” didn’t turn out to be profitable for ABC. The expensive series was canceled after just two episodes.
Ryan Lochte entered the 2016 Summer Olympics as a medal hopeful and left as a national disgrace after he and his teammates lied about being robbed at a Rio gas station. The fallout was so bad that he was suspended from swimming and an apology stint on “Dancing With the Stars” was disrupted by protestors.
We can’t think of another media figure whose had a »
- Will Thorne
The Best Twitter Reactions to Aretha Franklin’s Long National Anthem
14 hours ago
Aretha Franklin took center field to perform the national anthem at the Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings game on Thanksgiving Thursday.
Clad in her trademark fur coat and wearing a Detroit beanie (her hometown), the Queen of Soul sat down at the piano and embarked on a soulful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner”
A soulful, but long, rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
When she played her last note, the song clocked in at 4 minutes and 35 seconds.
Twitter had a field day with song’s length, as did the game’s broadcaster, CBS, who put up the following graphic.
The graphic showed not only the Vikings’ and Lions’ time of possession, but also Aretha Franklin’s.
Check out some of the funniest Twitter replies:
Sports anchor Rich Eisen simply wrote, “Aretha, for the win.”
Aretha, for the win.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 24, 2016
Dan Graziano also showed his respect, posting, “Aretha Franklin is pretty far up at the top »
- Lawrence Yee
‘Girls’ Streams All Five Seasons Over Thanksgiving, Sets Final Season Premiere Date
16 hours ago
With the premiere of the sixth and last season of HBO’s “Girls” now set for Feb. 12, Thanksgiving weekend is a good time to catch up on the groundbreaking Lena Dunham show.
HBONow is streaming all five seasons throughout the holiday weekend, for viewers who could use a refresher course on Hannah’s fraught relationship with Adam in its early days, her doomed trip to Iowa, her dad’s big announcement, and Jessa’s charming and manipulative ups and downs.
The first official teaser for Season 6 was recently released, and it shows the cast in a wistful yet optimistic mood. City girl Hannah is going to try surfing, Jessa and Adam look happy and healthy, Marnie is as annoying as ever, and as Elijah tells Hannah that in her time in Manhattan, at least “You’ve made so many great friendships,” they both knowingly cackle at the irony of it all.
As »
- Pat Saperstein
14 Shows to Binge Watch Over Thanksgiving Weekend
18 hours ago
For many, the holidays are a time for family bonding, feasting… and binge-watching. The long Thanksgiving weekend provides a perfect excuse to catch up on some TV. As you nurse your turkey food coma, consider gobbling down some of our recommendations, all of which are available to stream over the holiday weekend.
Where to watch: Netflix
Time commitment: 10 hours
Reason to binge: This drama follows the rivalries and romances that shaped Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Fans of “Doctor Who” will enjoy seeing Matt Smith back on the small screen — portraying Phillip opposite Claire Foy’s Elizabeth.
Where to watch: Hulu, Yahoo
Time commitment: 8 hours
Reason to binge: The NBC series is only halfway through its freshman season, but it’s one of the most powerful dramas on TV. Be warned though — it’s heavy, and might bring down the holiday festivities.
Where to watch: Netflix
Time commitment: 8 hours
Reason »
- Variety Staff
Anil Ambani’s Reliance Ada Group Sells TV and Radio Businesses to Zee
23 November 2016 10:12 PM, PST
Anil Ambani’s Reliance Ada Group is to further cut back its involvement in the Indian media and entertainment industry.
In two transactions with a total value of some $283 million, Reliance Capital will sell the entirety of its remaining TV business to Zee Entertainment and a 49% stake in FM radio operations to Zee Media.
The TV businesses under Reliance Big Broadcasting, Big Magic and Azalia Television include two general entertainment channels and four specialty channels.
The radio group includes 45 radio stations currently in operation as well as a further 14 which have licenses but are not yet functioning. License provisions mean that Reliance must hold the business a while longer and Zee has an option to buy the remaining 51% after each station has been on air for three years.
“This acquisition which further adds to our expanding universe of general entertainment channels. Big Magic gives us access to comedy genre enhancing our customer offerings. Big »
- Patrick Frater
‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Finds First Cast Member in Michelle Yeoh
23 November 2016 4:54 PM, PST
“Star Trek: Discovery” has welcomed its first cast member aboard — actress Michelle Yeoh.
Sources tell Variety the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” star will be a recurring character on the upcoming CBS All Access sci-fi drama.
CBS declined to comment on any casting inquiries.
The Malaysian-born Yeoh is best known to U.S. audiences for her work in director Ang Lee’s 2000 martial-arts film. Her other credits include “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Sunshine,” and this year’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny.” Her series credits include Netflix’s “Marco Polo” and Showtime’s “Strike Back.”
Though the blog ComingSoon.net reports that Yeoh has “likely” been cast in “Discovery” as the lead female Lieutenant Commander, Variety sources say she is absolutely not the lead, and that role is still open. Our insiders say while casting has been underway, CBS has been looking for a younger, African-American or Latina actress. The »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister and Daniel Holloway
Student Loses ‘Jeopardy! Teen Tournament’ by a Single Dollar (Watch)
23 November 2016 4:33 PM, PST
Oh, the agony of defeat!
Alec Fischthal fell just one dollar short of winning the $100,000 “Jeopardy! Teen Tournament” prize on Tuesday night.
Fischthal and the two other finalists — Michael Borecki and Sharath Narayan — all answered the Final Jeopardy! question about Early America correctly. Their totals were added to the previous day’s sum to determine the final winner.
Despite wagering nearly all his money, Borecki finished in third because he had zero earnings from the previous day.
Narayan played it safe, wagering $901. Fischthal went for broke, betting his entire $11,600. He doubled his money to $23,200 for a combined total of $39,700.
Sadly, that was just one buck short of Narayan’s two-day total of $39,701. With his safe but smart bet, the high school sophomore took home the top prize.
Watch the agonizing moment that Fischtal learns he lost by the narrowest of margins in the clip above or click here. The high school junior did everything he could; he »
- Lawrence Yee
‘Emerald City’: Watch the Dark New Trailer for ‘Wizard of Oz’ Spinoff
23 November 2016 4:13 PM, PST
Dorothy certainly isn’t in Kansas anymore, and neither is she in a recognizable version of Oz.
In a new trailer for NBC’s “Wizard of Oz” re-imagining “Emerald City,” Dorothy is transported to a land which seems strangely akin to Westeros, with blue-faced tribal people replacing the traditional diminutive munchkins.
The trailer shows a much darker, more action-packed version of the tale, as dark magic mixes with kingdoms locked in a bloody battle for supremacy. Sound familiar?
Also gone is the adorable terrier Toto from the original 1939 movie, and in his place is a bulky K9 police dog who looks like he could do more damage than snapping at someone’s heels.
“True Detective” actress Adria Arjona brings a more street wise, warrior-like update to Dorothy, and the trailer also appears to reveal that Dorothy discovers the new version of the Scarecrow, in this case a crucified man covered in hay played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen, along »
- Will Thorne
Thanksgiving TV Specials 2016: Parades, NFL Football Games, Marathons and More
23 November 2016 2:13 PM, PST
Thanksgiving weekend is a cornucopia of holiday televised content, bingeable marathons and, of course, football games. From festive parades on Thanksgiving morning to Christmas specials over the weekend — and, yes, a “Friends” marathon too — we’ve compiled a list of programming options to help you decide what to watch (and skip).
Thursday, November 24
Specials
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – 9 a.m. on NBC and live stream
Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS – 9 a.m. on CBS
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade – 9 a.m. on Wgn America
National Dog Show – 12 p.m. on NBC
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration – 8 p.m. on ABC
Marathons
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” – 6 a.m. on IFC
“Parks and Recreation” – 7 a.m. on Esquire
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” – 9 a.m. on Comedy Central
John Wayne Western Movie Marathon – 10 a.m. on AMC
“Back to the Future” – 10 a.m. on TNT
“Friends” – 11 a.m. on »
- Seth Kelley
Katy Mixon on Playing Her ‘Opposite’ in ABC’s ‘American Housewife’
23 November 2016 11:00 AM, PST
Katy Mixon, the lead of “American Housewife,” is — like her character, Katie — a ball of energy. The sitcom, which just got a full-season pickup, hinges entirely on Mixon’s presence and charm, a wisecracking sarcastic mom on her last nerve (and wearing her last semi-clean sweater). But Mixon tells Variety, that energy is where the similarities end. While creator and executive producer Sarah Dunn based Katie on herself, Mixon isn’t anything like Katie Otto. Mixon talked to Variety about what Katie’s going through, the importance of staying true to yourself, and what reception from housewives around the country has been to her “firecracker” role.
Do you feel like you identify with Katie Otto?
Katy Mixon: No. I’m nothing like her. I couldn’t be more opposite. I rock and roll in life in a completely different way. That is why I took it! I was looking to do something so very different than »
- Sonia Saraiya
Lack of Cancellations This Season Leaves Slew of New TV Series in Limbo
23 November 2016 10:00 AM, PST
Last season, ABC’s “Wicked City” was the first new broadcast show of the fall to be canceled, yanked after just three episodes. This season, no show looks likely to suffer that same disgrace. This fall’s disappointments instead appear destined to live out their initial episode orders as dead shows walking — not bad enough to cancel outright, not good enough to extend.
With ratings expectations evolving and hits harder to launch, broadcasters are practicing patience with underperformers. But that patience is creating a logjam. Many shows that were picked up to series ahead of upfronts are still waiting to be scheduled or have been pushed from winter to spring. The state of affairs reflects a new reality in broadcast.
“I have a lot of friends who have a lot of shows that are sort of sitting on deck,” says Peter M. Lenkov, executive producer of CBS’ “MacGyver” and “Hawaii Five-0.” “Nobody »
- Daniel Holloway
TV Ratings: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Finale Down 25% From Last Year
23 November 2016 9:05 AM, PST
“Dancing With the Stars” concluded its 23rd season on Tuesday night, and while it put up numbers in the 10 p.m. hour that would make any executive happy these days, the finale as a whole was down more than 25% compared to 2015’s fall closer in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic, and 19% in total viewers. Tuesday’s win for gymnast Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy drew a 1.8 in the demo and 10.93 million viewers, in Nielsen’s preliminary ratings. (This season’s finale did improve over Season 22, which ended in May with a 1.6 in the demo and 10.5 million viewers.)
Earlier in the evening on ABC, “The Middle” came in steady with a 1.6 demo rating and 6.83 million viewers. “American Housewife” followed with a slightly down 1.4 in the demo and 6.13 million viewers.
The days before Thanksgiving tend to result in lower than usual ratings, and the rest of the channel guide wasn’t immune.
Case in point: “This Is Us” once again »
- Oriana Schwindt
Art Directors Guild Taps Four for Lifetime Achievement Award
23 November 2016 8:48 AM, PST
The Art Directors Guild has named scenic artist Albert Obregon, set designer Cate Bangs, senior illustrator Joseph Musso, and production designer René Lagler as recipients of its lifetime achievement award.
They will be honored at the 21st Annual Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 11 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.
Obregon spent 29 years at NBC from 1958 to 1987, heading the studio.’s scenic art department with credits on “The Bob Hope Show,” “Hollywood Squares,” “Sanford and Son,” and “The Tonight Show.” After leaving NBC, he started his own company, Premiere Scenery, and began working on the Golden Globes, American Music Awards, “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” and concerts for Madonna, Gloria Estefan, and Ringo Starr. He later joined ABC.
Bangs has worked in the industry for more than 35 years and received an Emmy and Art Directors Guild nomination for the ABC series “Nothing Sacred.” She worked as an art director on “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” “Life »
- Dave McNary
‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’: Scott Patterson Says Luke Is Lorelai’s Gibraltar
23 November 2016 7:53 AM, PST
Gilmore Girls” is returning to TV via Netflix on Nov. 25, with four new 90-minute episodes titled “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.” Variety spoke with the cast about their favorite “Gilmore” memories and what we can expect from the new episodes.
Scott Patterson has been there from the beginning. Literally — he appears within the first minute of the “Gilmore Girls” pilot.
“My first day I walked into the rear of the set of Luke’s Diner and was watching the two girls having a scene in the diner, and it was a cold day, but it all just felt right,” Patterson tells Variety. “After I finished shooting that first scene I knew it was going to work. That tuning fork goes on in your soul.”
For the next seven seasons, that tuning fork hummed. Patterson was one of the earliest agitators for a revival. “I just thought the fans got a little stiffed there at the »
- Oriana Schwindt
BBC Orders Three More Seasons of Neal Street’s ‘Call the Midwife’
23 November 2016 6:29 AM, PST
The BBC has ordered three further seasons of medical drama series “Call the Midwife” from Neal Street Productions, which is about to deliver the show’s sixth season.
The new seasons, commissioned by Charlotte Moore, director of BBC Content, and Piers Wenger, director of BBC Drama Commissioning, will consist of eight hour-long episodes each, plus three Christmas specials. The new seasons will take the nuns and midwives into the mid-1960s.
Heidi Thomas, creator, writer and executive producer, said: “In the 1960s Britain was a country fizzing with change and challenge, and there is so much rich material — medical, social, and emotional — to be explored. We have now delivered well over 100 babies on screen, and like those babies, the stories keep on coming.”
“Call the Midwife” has been one of Britain’s most popular drama series since it launched in 2012, and it continues to be the most watched drama series in the U.K »
- Leo Barraclough
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Reveals Season 23 Winner
22 November 2016 7:59 PM, PST
Spoiler Alert: Do not read on unless you’ve seen the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 23 finale, which aired Nov. 22 on ABC.
Another couple has danced their way to the Mirror Ball trophy.
“Dancing With The Stars” unveiled its Season 23 winner on Tuesday night, and it was Laurie Hernandez who won alongside her pro dancer partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
The other finalists were Calvin Johnson and Lindsay Arnold and James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess.
The big reveal came after a two-night live finale that began Monday when country singer Jana Kramer was eliminated with her partner Gleb Savchenko, who was battling the flu, leading up to the finals. Monday night’s episode saw a ratings increase, bringing in 11.98 million viewers for part one of the always-anticipated finale.
Throughout the season, Hernandez was the front-runner. The pint-sized 16-year-old Olympic gymnast came in with obvious advantages on the dance floor, and worked hard to repeatedly wow the judges with her »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister
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