Sam Neill has special memories of Robin Williams, who worked with him in 1999’s Bicentennial Man. Neill, 75, looked back on their time together in his new March 21-released memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?
07.03.2023 - 20:43 / variety.com
Antonio Ferme editor More than 1,600 books were banned during the 2021-22 school year — and 41% of them featured LGBTQ content. At PFLAG’s 50th anniversary gala on Friday night, host Amber Ruffin encouraged the audience to belt out thunderous boos while she read off statistics about school book bans. An actor playing a drunk teacher with an exaggerated Southern accent stumbled into the middle of Ruffin’s monologue. Waiving a pile of banned books in her arms, she declared her mission to eliminate LGBTQ content from her school library. “I’m a public school teacher in Florida and I won’t stop until I’ve had every single book banned that has LGBTQ content in it,” the actor proclaimed before sifting through her pile of books with “inappropriate” content. “‘Frog and Toad.’ Two male frogs who hang out all the time and they’re just friends? I don’t think so!”
Earlier in the night, Ruffin told Variety on the red carpet that these book bans are one of the most “scary and sad” ongoing political issues in America today. “The book bans are making me sick to my stomach,” Ruffin said at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. “It encompasses so many marginalized groups. They even went as far as to ban a book about Roberto Clemente — the baseball star! It makes no earthly sense. It’s a free-for-all [in red states]. Somebody needs to hurt some feelings — and I’m glad to do it.” Since March 1973, PFLAG has worked to ensure the rights of LGBTQ Americans. During the gala, the organization honored rapper Big Freedia with the Breaking Barriers Award and Olympic diver Tom Daley with the George Takei Advocate Award. “We are becoming more visible in every field out there,” Big Freedia told Variety. “More TV shows, more documentaries, just
Sam Neill has special memories of Robin Williams, who worked with him in 1999’s Bicentennial Man. Neill, 75, looked back on their time together in his new March 21-released memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?
Selome Hailu Robin Thede, creator and star of “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” has set a new comedy series for development at HBO. The half-hour project is titled “Disengagement,” and centers on the prestigious Cole family after a very public and embarrassing business implosion shatters their perfect Midwest image. Per the logline, it was just an image, because behind closed doors, even their dysfunction has dysfunction, proving family is the ultimate pyramid scheme. Thede serves as writer and executive producer of the series, which she is developing via the overall deal she signed with HBO in 2022. Meghan Cheek produces on behalf of For Better or Words, Inc.
HBO is developing the new comedy series Disengagement from writer and executive producer Robin Thede (A Black Lady Sketch Show).
Did I Ever Tell You This?, the actor recalls how they had “great chats” together while visiting each other’s trailers on the set of 1999 film Bicentennial Man.“We would talk about this and that, sometimes even about the work we were about to do,” Neill wrote (via People), adding that Williams was “irresistibly, outrageously, irrepressibly, gigantically funny”.Neill describes the late actor as simultaneously the “funniest person” he ever worked with and “the saddest person I ever met”.He added: “He had fame, he was rich, people loved him, great kids – the world was his oyster. And yet I felt more sorry for him than I can express.
Sam Neill thinks Robin Williams was the "saddest person" he's ever met. The comedy star committed suicide in August 2014, and Sam - who worked alongside him on the 1999 movie 'Bicentennial Man' - has now opened up about their friendship, describing Robin as the "funniest person" he ever worked with. In his new memoir, 'Did I Ever Tell You This?', he writes: "He had fame, he was rich, people loved him, great kids - the world was his oyster.
Pulse Music Group has signed punk band Turnstile to a worldwide publishing deal via a creative joint venture with Rick Rubin’s American Songs. The agreement covers Turnstile’s entire song catalog, including their 2021 record “Glow On,” which boasts Grammy-nominated singles “Blackout” and “Holiday.” “We have been waiting a very long time for the next great rock band to emerge and feel very fortunate that we will get to work with Brendan and the band,” commented Scott Cutler, co-CEO of Pulse Music Group. “Welcoming Turnstile to our Pulse Music Group roster is a great example of what we set out to do creatively when we formed our joint venture with Rick Rubin. We’re proud to welcome Turnstile to our roster and to partner with American Songs to publish culturally impactful talent.”
The Only Way Is Essex star Amber Turner has also been hitting the gym in preparation for being back on TV screens in her bikini. "I train really hard because I think you have to feel confident in yourself," the 29 year old told OK!. "You are on a show where people try to knock your confidence make you feel s**t.
Amber Davies has shared her frustration after coming face-to-face with Kim Kardashian while sporting her frumpy Back To The Future costume in London.The former Love Island star, 26, is currently starring in the musical version of the hit 1985 movie as Marty McFly's mum Lorraine Baines, and was left shocked when Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Kim, 42, took a trip to the West End recently to watch the show. Once the musical had come to an end, Kim and her son Saint, seven, who she shares with ex-husband Kanye West, headed backstage to meet the cast and pose for photographs. Amber, dressed in a blue midi skirt and knitted cardigan, could be seen standing side-by-side with Kim in the fun photograph, which included two of her co-stars and seven year old Saint.
Amber Gill cosied up to her footballer girlfriend Jen Beattie as they made their red carpet debut at Radio 1's Big Weekend Launch Party on Wednesday. After having been rumoured to be dating the Arsenal footballer since last year, the former Love Island star Amber, 25, made her red carpet debut with her girlfriend Jen Beattie, 31, on Wednesday.They attended the launch party for Radio 1's Big Weekend at The Londoner Hotel in London, where they posed together publicly for the first time. Amber was wearing a cream corset top which she matched with a pair of jeans which featured some striped cutouts.
Robin Roberts and her partner Amber Laign are due to walk down the aisle this year after finally "saying yes to marriage" after 18 years together. The Good Morning America star recently shared an update on the couple's wedding plans and became emotional as she discussed her big day with Amber, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. While she didn't give any specific details about their wedding day away, Robin did joke that Amber has turned into a "bridezilla".
Amber Gill is “happier than ever” with her footballer girlfriend Jen Beattie, after going public with their romance – but she wants to keep things as private as possible, pals have told us. Former Love Island star Amber, 25, was first linked to Arsenal player Jen, 31, in December, and the pair sealed it with a kiss last week as they celebrated her match win. Now, a source has revealed, “Things are still fairly new but Amber is really smitten with Jen.
Robin Roberts is sharing an update on her longtime love Amber Laign‘s cancer battle.
Robin Roberts has some important updates for her fans! The veteran TV journalist spoke to ET's Rachel Smith ahead of the highly anticipated second season of her Emmy-winning talk series, , where she opened up about her partner's breast cancer battle, their wedding plans and the new installment.Roberts, who has been with Laign since 2005, first shared that her partner had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and struggled with chemotherapy complications last April. Laign ended her radiation treatment in July, which Roberts took to Instagram to celebrate with fans. «It was a rough year; her journey with breast cancer took some unexpected twists and turns but she is doing really really well,» Roberts tells ET now.
EXCLUSIVE: Kelly Park has been tapped to direct the pilot for Non-Evil Twin while Ruben Fleischer will helm the pilot for St. Denis Medical, both for NBC.
The Fabelmans, The Banshees of Inisherin, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical were among the big film winners Thursday at the Casting Society’s 38th annual Artios Awards.
Raven Ross has a new man in her life, but fans will have to wait a while before she introduces him to the world. During her Amazon Live! «Workout Essentials» stream, the 30-year-old reality star and Pilates Body by Raven founder was asked about her new relationship following her very public breakup from Sikiru «SK» Alagbada, whom she met on the Netflix series. «Girl, I am traumatized. No, just kidding. Eventually, down the line,» she said of going public with her new guy. «We’re figuring it out. He is such a great human, and I’m literally so obsessed.
The Met Office today issued an amber weather warning covering parts of the north west with heavy snow forecast to 'cause significant disruption' tomorrow.
Hong Chau (“The Whale,” “The Menu”), Anna Camp (“Pitch Perfect”), Melanie Lynskey (“The Last of Us”) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) are among the presenters for its 38th Artios Awards taking place in both Los Angeles and New York City. Also presenting at the Los Angeles gala alongside host Yvette Nicole Brown are Utkarsh Ambudkar, Paul Walter Hauser, Andrew Leeds, Sam Richardson, Britt Robertson, Glynn Turman and Tuc Watkins. Sarita Choudhury, Jordan E. Cooper, Rory Culkin, Khris Davis, Alex Edelman, Raúl Esparza, Katie Finneran,Katrina Lenk, Nicole Ari Parker, Peppermint, Morgan Spector, Celia Rose Goodin, Chris Sullivan and Kuhoo Verma will present at the New York ceremony, with Amber Ruffin as host.
If you have ever found yourself hoping to sit in an empty row on a flight, one jet setter has shared her booking tip that can help you do just that.
Amber Gill was in the stands to support girlfriend Jen Beattie at her cup final. Jen plays for Arsenal Women’s team and yesterday, Sunday 5 March, they faced Chelsea in a bid to win the Conti Cup. Jen and her team proved victorious with the match ending 3 - 1.