Television Academy Foundation Receives NEH Grant to Preserve Interview Archives

Holiday getaways aren’t always easy.

NEW YORK -- The traditional broadcast television season doesn't end until later this month, but that hasn't stopped CBS from declaring victory.CBS issued a statement on Tuesday saying it would end the 2021-22 season as the most-watched television network in prime-time for the 14th straight time, and 19th time out of the past 20, according to figures provided by the Nielsen company.The early victory dance coincided with CBS' parent company, Paramount Global, announcing its earnings on Tuesday. Although CBS' lead over second-place NBC (6.35 million to 6.25 million) isn't large, there was no pushback from NBC.

Juice WRLD‘s Live Free 999 foundation has launched a new mental health campaign to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month.Following the rapper’s death in December 2019 after suffering a drug-induced seizure at Chicago’s Midway airport, his mother, Carmela Wallace, launched the foundation to honour her son’s life.Now, the non-profit initiative has launched the 999 Stories of Mental Health campaign, which it hopes will encourage people to share their stories on social media using the hashtag #999Stories.“We have launched a testimonial awareness campaign called 999 Stories of Mental Health, to encourage and inspire people to share their personal stories about mental health,” the foundation wrote on Instagram.It added: “We are hoping to work with the many other foundations to continue to reduce the stigma around having honest conversations about Mental Health.”A post shared by Live Free 999 (@live.free.999)Speaking about Juice WRLD’s “special way of connecting with his fans”, Wallace said she thinks it’s because of “how open and honest his lyrics are”.“My goal for Live Free 999 and 999 Stories of Mental Health is to create a safe space for people to share their stories so they know they aren’t alone,” she said in a statement (via HipHopDX).An exclusive merchandise collection designed by Eli Hollens will also be released, with all proceeds being donated to organisations that benefit mental health.

It looks like Katie Holmes has a new man in her life!

Bruce Greenwood, one of the stars of Fox’s The Resident, is joining Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorSearchlight Pictures’ queer romantic comedy “Fire Island” will have its world premiere on June 2 during NewFest’s NewFest Pride series.“We are thrilled to kick off our annual Pride month event with the world premiere of Andrew Ahn’s ‘Fire Island,’” NewFest executive director David Hatkoff said in statement on Thursday morning. “This joyful film captures the sexy, romantic, celebratory energy of the iconic NY gay enclave, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the film’s cast and creative team with a blow-out, prideful event in the heart of NYC.”Set in Fire Island, New York’s popular gay getaway Pines neighborhood and inspired by Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” the film stars Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang as best friends who are determined to have the ultimate summer adventure.

The 15th annual Television Academy Honors list is out, recognizing seven exceptional TV programs and their producers who used powerful and innovative storytelling to advance social change.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeComedies “Insecure” and “Reservation Dogs,” as well as limited series “Dopesick” and “It’s a Sin,” are among the seven programs set to be recognized this year by the Television Academy as part of its 15th Television Academy Honors. The award showcases “exceptional television programs and their producers who have leveraged the immense power of television to fuel social change.”This year’s honorees also include documentary/nonfiction series “Black and Missing” and “Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition,” as well as the documentary special “The Year Earth Changed.” Among the topics this year’s honorees tackle: racism, law enforcement, addiction, AIDS, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on nature, immigration, Native American representation, anti-Asian American hate, and the issues facing Black women.

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are hitting the road!

Wilson Chapman editorHulu has released the first trailer for the new queer rom-com “Fire Island,” starring Joel Kim Booster and “Saturday Night Live” star Bowen Yang.A modern take on the classic Jane Austen novel “Pride and Prejudice,” “Fire Island” focuses on two gay best friends, Noah (Booster) and Howie (Yang), who take a trip to the Pines, a hamlet on New York’s Fire Island that’s a hotspot for queer culture. Over the course of their vacation, they party with friends and develop flirtations with two other, significantly wealthier vacationers, Will (Conrad Ricamora) and Charlie (James Scully).

If you live on the East Coast and are remotely queer-friendly or gay-savvy, you know that Fire Island outside of New York is a destination for gay culture in the summers. And that vacation setting is exactly the environment for “Fire Island,” a new Searchlight Pictures rom-com arriving on Hulu this summer.

Amyl and the Sniffers have made their US television debut with an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, delivering a raw, blistering rendition of their song ‘Hertz’.The track is lifted from the band’s second studio album, last year’s ‘Comfort To Me’, serving as its final single. Upon its release, frontwoman Amy Taylor called the song “a daydream about being repulsed by confinement, and frustrated over being stuck in one place”.Watch Amyl and the Sniffers perform ‘Hertz’ on Seth Meyers below:Amyl and the Sniffers are currently in the midst of a North American tour that includes appearances at Coachella and headline shows in Texas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, New York and more.Next month, the band will embark on a UK and European run that will include a slot at Wide Awake Festival in London, plus headline dates at O2 Academy Brixton, Bristol and Oxford.

EXCLUSIVE: Jenna Bush Hager, co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna, has hired seasoned development executive Ben Spector as President of Film and Television as part of her first-look deal with Universal Studio Group, which was announced in February.

In 2020, the rights to the New York Times best-selling novel, “The Water Dancer” were sold to MGM, Plan B, Maceo-Lyn, and Harpo Films with the intention of making a big-screen adaptation. Now we’ve learned that Nia DaCosta, known for the indie “Little Woods” and the “Candyman” remake, has been named the director for the project.

Prince Harry has revealed that he feels Santa Barbara is “home now” after exiting the UK to move to California in 2020.The 37 year old sat down with US news anchor Hoda Kotb from the Today Show as he discussed his attachment to the States now after living there for over a year with wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. Harry’s latest interview was filmed during his time over in The Hague, Netherlands, where he is currently hosting the Invictus Games, and it appeared he was quite candid as he spoke about the personal changes in his life after moving with his family across the pond. In a preview clip of his discussion with anchor Hoda released on Wednesday, the Royal mentioned how he felt he had been welcomed warmly in the US and shared his happiness living there compared to the UK.

Nia DaCosta (Candyman) has been tapped to direct an adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ 2019 debut novel The Water Dancer for MGM, Plan B, Harpo Films and Maceo-Lyn.

“Candyman” director Nia DaCosta has found her next film and has been set to direct an adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book “The Water Dancer” for MGM. Coates adapted the script based on his #1 New York Times Bestselling Novel of the same name. The film adaptation is being produced by Maceo-Lyn, Brad Pitt’s Plan B and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films.