Jessica Walter, the award-winning actress whose career spanned six decades, passed away in her sleep at home in New York City on Wednesday, March 24. She was 80.
Walter’s career included everything from a standout turn in Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut, Play Misty for Me, to The Flamingo Kid and her Emmy-nominated turns on Trapper John M..D. and Streets of San Francisco. For her performance as Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development, Walter earned yet another Emmy nomination and two SAG nominations.
Walter won an Emmy starring in Amy Prentiss, an Ironside spinoff in the mid-1970s about a young San Francisco police detective. She also voiced Malory Archer on FXX’s animated series Archer.
Briana Smith started on the job last week at KDKA-TV, taking over weekend morning anchor duties. She’ll also report some weekdays and serve as a fill-in anchor as needed.
Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime talk show has dropped dramatically in viewership following the star’s toxic workplace scandal that dominated headlines last year.
Citing Nielsen ratings, the New York Times reports that “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has lost over 1 million viewers over the course of the show’s 18th season.
The program’s latest season kicked off in September 2020 with an apology from the comedian about claims of a toxic workplace that marred the show over the summer.
“I learned that things happen here that never should have happened,” DeGeneres said on the show at the time. “I take that very seriously. And I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.”
According to the Times, the season 18 premiere had the highest ratings of any season opener in the last four years for “Ellen.” However, over the last six months, the show has averaged 1.5 million viewers.
(CNN)Yaphet Kotto, an actor known for bringing gravitas to his roles across television and film, has died, according to his agent, Ryan Goldhar. He was 81.
Kotto died on March 14 at 10:30 p.m. local time in the Philippines, where he lived with his wife, Goldhar said. Information on the cause of death was not provided.
Kotto’s on-screen body of work began in the late ’60s and remained steady through the ’90s. In that time, he amassed an array of memorable roles that spoke to his transformative talent.
His notable film work includes roles in “Alien,” “The Running Man,” “Midnight Run” and “Live and Let Die,” in which he played iconic Bond villain Mr. Big.
A staple of CBS, NBC and PBS, he was best known for his interview with Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 1979, when he asked a simple question: “Why do you want to be president?”
During more than 30 years on network television, starting with CBS in 1961, Mudd covered Congress, elections and political conventions and was a frequent anchor and contributor to various specials. His career coincided with the flowering of television news, the pre-cable, pre-Internet days when the big three networks and their powerhouse ranks of reporters were the main source of news for millions of Americans.
Besides work at CBS and NBC, he did stints on PBS’s “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour” and the History Channel.
When he joined Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer’s show in 1987, Mudd told The Associated Press: “I think they regard news and information and fact and opinion with a reverence and respect that really is admirable.”
The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, was the subject of a series of barbs from comedian Bill Maher during his HBO show on Friday night while Maher dicussed him with Charlamagne Tha God.
The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, was the subject of a series of barbs from comedian Bill Maher during his HBO show on Friday night
Three women, including two former aides, have come forward recently to say that Cuomo had sexually harassed them or made inappropriate remarks
Maher had a heated debate with radio presenter Charlamagne Tha God who likened Cuomo’s allegations to those against Joe Biden
Tara Reade, who was previously a staffer for then-Senator Biden, claimed her former boss sexually assaulted her
Biden and his presidential campaign repeatedly denied her allegations
The hit 90s sitcom “Frasier” is set to return to screens, with Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as radio psychiatrist Frasier Crane in the reboot, ViacomCBS confirmed Wednesday.
“Saturday Night Live” called out New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a Republican, in the show’s cold open this weekend in a segment where the politicians were supposed to apologize for their separate scandals.
Both were welcomed on a show called “Oops, You Did It Again,” hosted by Britney Spears, played by “SNL” cast member Chloe Fineman. The premise of the show: Allow guests to give “lame” apologies — such as the decades’-late mea culpas the real-life Spears has received from celebrities like ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake after the recent documentary “Framing Britney Spears.”
Cuomo, played in New York tough-guy style by Staten Island-born cast member Pete Davidson, seemed a bit reluctant to take responsibility over allegations his administration withheld data about nursing home coronavirus deaths and that he threatened people who spoke out about it.
Dustin Diamond, known for playing the lovable geek Samuel “Screech” Powers on the hit sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” died due to carcinoma on Monday morning in a Florida hospital. He was 44.
The actor was diagnosed with the cancer and hospitalized just three weeks ago.
“In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution,” the actor’s agent, Roger Paul, said in a statement. “Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”
Cloris Leachman, the decorated actress of stage and screen best known for her role as the annoyingly perfect landlady Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died. She was 94.
Leachman’s manager, Juliet Green, confirms to PEOPLE that the actress died Wednesday of natural causes.
“It’s been my privilege to work with Cloris Leachman, one of the most fearless actresses of our time. There was no one like Cloris. With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh till the tears ran down your face. You never knew what Cloris was going to say or do and that unpredictable quality was part of her unparalleled magic,” says Green.
“She loved her children and her grandchildren ferociously. A lifelong vegetarian, she was a passionate advocate for animal rights. The family requests that any donations in her name be made to PETA or Last Chance for Animals,”
According to TMZ, which first reported the news, she passed away at her home in Encinitas, California, with her daughter, Dinah, beside her. The actress had a Hollywood career for the history books. Seven decades in the business. One of the original members of the famed Actors Studio in New York City. An Oscar. A Golden Globe. And over 20 Emmys nominations and nine wins — more trophies than any other television performer in history.
Born on April 30, 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa, as the eldest of three sisters, Leachman was bit by the acting bug at an early age — appearing in children’s plays at Drake University when she was just 8. Her mother, also named Cloris, encouraged her daughter’s early interest in entertaining and served as an inspiration for Leachman’s sense of humor throughout her career.
If you’re not sure what electronics you can recycle at Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling, the Unity-based nonprofit has a video for you.
As Westmoreland Cleanways Executive Director Ellen Keefe notes in one of four new informational videos posted on the organization’s website, among the most frequent calls received at its center near Pleasant Unity are inquiries about recycling televisions and computers.
Keefe points out that Pennsylvania law prohibits landfill disposal of computers, computer printers and keyboards, televisions and any other electronic device with a screen measuring more than 5 inches. But those items are accepted at the Cleanways center.
“We’re one of the very few places that will take them,” Keefe said. “People don’t think about how to get rid of this stuff until they have to. It’s a constant question and a constant educational necessity.”
“There’s no limit on size or quantity that you bring in,” Keefe says of the television sets accepted at Cleanways.
She noted there’s no charge for recycling a TV as long as it’s intact. If the TV has been disassembled or its casing is broken open, a handling fee will apply because of the potential for release of toxic materials in the sets — the reason why they can’t be placed in landfills.
“I was driving home and saw a TV sitting out on the curb with someone’s garbage,” she said, despite the law banning the sets from landfills.
There are some electronics Cleanways won’t accept, such as stereo speakers and music CDs. A complete list of the various items that can be dropped off at the center for recycling can be found on the nonprofit’s website at westmorelandcleanways.org.
One pandemic, two Bachelorettes, three months: We finally made it to the beginning of the end of “The Bachelorette’s” 16th Season.
Tayshia wasn’t in love at the start of this episode, part 1 of this week’s finale. She’s falling but doesn’t know which perfect guy to pick: Ivan, Zac or Brendan.
It’s getting harder and harder for the guys to ignore that they’re all dating the same gal, especially because they’re actually good friends.
Zac put it best. “I want my sister dating them, not my girlfriend,” he said.
Monday night’s episode brought the highly-anticipated fantasy suite dates, when Tayshia can spend an overnight, cameras-free date with each of the men. It usually means sex and make-or-break conversations.
Tuesday night, someone will get down on one knee and propose to her. Here’s how the first part of the finale went down.
The comedian is ending his run as a late-night talk show host after nearly three decades.
O’Brien, 57, announced Tuesday that he’ll finish his TBS series “Conan” at the completion of its 10th season in June 2021. However, he has signed on for a new, weekly variety series on HBO Max. No specific details were released about the upcoming show.
“In 1993, Johnny Carson gave me the best advice of my career: ‘As soon as possible, get to a streaming platform,’ ” the flop-topped redhead joked in a statement released by WarnerMedia. “I’m thrilled that I get to continue doing whatever the hell it is I do on HBO Max, and I look forward to a free subscription.”
“Conan” premiered on TBS in November 2010. He had hosted his namesake NYC-based “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” from 1993 to 2009, when he relocated to Los Angeles to take over hosting NBC’s “The Tonight Show” from Jay Leno. But he lasted for less than a year on the job and handed the reins back to Leno in 2010 following an acrimonious departure from the network.
He has signed on for a new, weekly variety series on HBO Max.
Trailblazing Pittsburgh news anchor and host Eleanor Schano has died of COVID-19, according to her daughter.
Schano’s career in broadcasting spanned over five decades, including at WTAE Channel 4, where she was Pittsburgh’s first female general assignment reporter, starting in the late 1950s.
Schano also went on to become the first woman to solo anchor TV news in Pittsburgh.
Schano was Pittsburgh’s first female commercial announcer and the first female weathercaster.
Alex Trebek, the genial “Jeopardy!” host with all the answers and a reassuring presence in the TV game-show landscape for five decades, has died. He was 80 years old.
“Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends,” said a statement shared on the show’s Twitter account Sunday. “Thank you, Alex.”
“Jeopardy!” contestant Ken Jennings tweeted Sunday he was thinking of Trebek’s family and the “Jeopardy!” family, “which, in a way, included millions of us,” he said.
“Alex wasn’t just the best ever at what he did,” Jennings wrote. “He was also a lovely and deeply decent man, and I’m grateful for every minute I got to spend with him.”
Trebek is survived by his wife, Jean, whom he married in 1990, and his three children.
The 41-year-old actor was eliminated Monday from season 29 of Dancing With The Stars after performing a tango with pro partner Sharna Burgess, 35, during ’80s Night.
The actress was joined by her new castmates Saturday to tease season 2 and playing a bisexual superhero.
New BatwomanJavicia Leslieknew immediately she had to play Ryan Wilder, the new character who takes over the mantle from Ruby Rose‘s Kate Kane as Gotham’s protector in the show’s upcoming second season.
“When I read the character description, it was definitely me. I love the idea that it’s goofy meets bada** meets a person who doesn’t like to be told what to do. A person who does not like to follow the rules. I loved the fact that Ryan was just who I am, just a hot mess!” Leslie joked during Saturday’s Batwoman panel at DC FanDome.
The timing of Leslie’s casting in July couldn’t have come at a better time. The God Friended Me alum shared during the panel that, in an interview just weeks prior, she mentioned that one of her biggest career goals was “to become a superhero.” (Leslie is the first Black actress to play Batwoman in a live-action TV series or film.)
Q: Why is the daytime serial “General Hospital” now showing repeats on Fridays, calling them “Friday Flashbacks”? Are they rationing episodes due to the pandemic until they are able to shoot on a regular basis again or is it something else entirely?
-JOE VIA EMAIL
Rob: Soaps record their episodes months in advance, but even some of them have exhausted their pre-taped inventory during the COVID-19 pandemic with the ABC show expected to run out of original episodes by the end of May.
So, yes, the Friday reruns of “General Hospital” are an effort to stretch out new episodes longer. TheWrap.com reports “GH” is also adding flashbacks to new episodes in another effort to stretch out the run of original episodes.CBS soaps “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” went into reruns on April 25 and are now airing theme weeks of reruns. This week “Y&R” features episodes dating back to 1981 for “Victor and Nikki: A Lifetime of Love,” while “B&B” reaches back to 1991 for its “Epic Weddings Week.”NBC’s “Days of our Lives” is in better shape with enough original episodes stockpiled to see the show through to October.
Roseanne’s ratings riches keep climbing, hitting a record haul for Nielsen’s live-plus-3 ratings growth.The new totals for the Mar. 27 premiere have the ABC comedy totaling 25 million viewers and a massive 7.3 rating among adults 18-49. Looking at just the audience, the 6.6 million viewer add-on from the premiere night is a time-shifting record. And that doesn’t even include the additional 4.3 million viewers who tuned into an encore telecast on Sunday night — or the growth it will see from Hulu and ABC streaming.
Steven Bochco, who wrote and produced some of the most memorable shows in television history, died Sunday after a lengthy battle with leukemia.
Though best-known for his cop dramas, Bochco was also behind the more comic “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and the high-profile flop “Cop Rock,” which attempted to marry gritty police work with Broadway show tunes.
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