It’s been four years since Nicki Minaj took to the MTV Video Music Awards stage, and she’s come back to sit on her throne.
12.08.2022 - 03:07 / variety.com
Wilson Chapman editorGrab your glass slippers — “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” is coming back to TV.In celebration of the beloved fairytale musical’s 25th anniversary, ABC will air a special edition of the news program “20/20” that will reunite the cast of the television film, set to air on Aug. 23.
The film’s entire surviving cast — including Brandy as the titular princess, Paolo Montalban as the prince, Jason Alexander as his valet Lionel, Whoopi Goldberg as the queen, Victor Garber as the king, Bernadette Peters as the wicked stepmother and Veanne Cox as one of the stepsisters — will return for the special, which will be followed by the first broadcast airing of the original film in two decades. The third televised version of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s 1957 musical — which initially starred Julie Andrews in the title role — “Cinderella” first premiered on ABC in November 1997.
The film received mixed reviews at the time, but was a ratings success, airing to 60 million viewers in its original broadcast. Over time, the film has become regarded as a classic, and has been noted for the groundbreaking diversity of its cast, including Brandy as a Black Cinderella and Montalban as a Filipino prince.
The film was released on Disney+ last year during Black History Month, after Brandy herself campaigned for it to be added to the service.In addition to reuniting the original cast, the “20/20” special will also feature behind-the-scenes footage with the late Houston and interviews with producers Debra Martin Chase and Neil Meron and costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. The special will explore how the original film’s diverse casting influenced representation in Hollywood via interviews with figures such as
.It’s been four years since Nicki Minaj took to the MTV Video Music Awards stage, and she’s come back to sit on her throne.
Rapper Nicki Minaj shouted out Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston in her Video Vanguard Award acceptance speech at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.After a small hiccup of not having her phone — which had her typed-out speech — on stage, Minaj read off what she wrote about her opportunities, collaborators and more.“Let me tell you something,” she began after performing a medley of her hits. “I don’t want to miss out rolling the music on me but I never ever in my life have written a speech, and today I jotted something down on my phone, and I gave it — I gave my phone to Joe and he’s not up here with it.
Follow the 2022 VMAs with our up-to-the-minute coverage:Whether you count it a comeback or a catastrophe, Johnny Depp’s eye-popping portrayal of MTV’s Moon Person astronaut sent VMAs viewers into a tizzy. Resurfacing for the first time since winning his defamation suit against ex-wife Amber Heard in June, Depp, 59, donned a silvery spacesuit to mimic the look of the network’s trademark trophy figurine.
Nicki Minaj is the latest recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award!
Nicki Minaj took the stage at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards to accept the Vanguard Award. The rapper thanked many of the people that have influenced her career and mentioned the likes of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. Minaj also called for more mental health awareness during her acceptance speech.
Nicki Minaj took to the MTV Video Music Awards stage, and she's come back to sit on her throne. Before accepting the most prestigious award of the night — the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award -- the 17-time VMA nominee and five-time winner celebrated her return with a show-stopping medley of her biggest hits.The rapper donned a pink wig and a matching outfit as she performed snippets from tracks including «Monster,» «Beez in the Trap,» «Moment 4 Life» and «Super Bass» all against a Barbie Dreamhouse backdrop, complete with several rooms and a slide.When it came time to perform «Super Freaky Girl,» Minaj leaned into the sexy nature of the song as she danced on a pole and with male dancers wearing leather outfits.Following the epic performance, videos from fans praising Minaj played, before she was introduced back to the stage by several members of the Barbz.After giving each of her fans a hug, the 39-year-old performer stepped up to the mic to thank them, as well as her family, fans, and peers for supporting her throughout her career.She began by acknowledging «all of the key people who inspired me,» a list that included Lil Wayne, JAY-Z and Lauryn Hill. Next, were the «people who gave me huge opportunities that I'll never forget,» including Kanye West, Beyonce, Britney Spears and Rihanna.After thanking her label and others involved in the production of her music, Minaj spoke about people she wishes were still here.«I wish that Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson were here.
A big win for the Barbs! Nicki Minaj was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 MTV VMAs — and her show-stopping performance proved exactly why she deserves it.
EXCLUSIVE: Kirill Sokolov set to direct TriStar Pictures’ thriller Ultra, with script penned by Colin Bannon. TriStar Pictures preemptively purchased the spec amid significant buzz in November 2021, just before it placed in the Top Ten on the Black List in December. Plot details are being kept under wraps.
Jonathan Cohen Todd Fancey’s vocals have been heard by millions, as the multi-instrumentalist for the New Pornographers and as the balladeer behind “That One Night,” the song that’s central to what is arguably the most cringe episode of “The Office,” 2008’s “Dinner Party.” The hilarious, earnestly yearning delivery isn’t all that true to Fancey’s artistry, though his new album, “Star Dreams” (out today), nods to the year 1980, which also saw the release of Benny Mardones’ “Into the Night,” a Yacht Rock classic not dissimilar in sentiment. The 10-track album under the banner Fancey was co-produced by Vancouver music veteran Allan Rodger and sports contributions from vocalist Micae and New Pornographers drummer Joe Seiders, who traded his sticks for the Yamaha DX-7 electric piano/synthesizer. That instrument’s preset sounds found their way into some of the ‘80s biggest songs by Whitney Houston, Kenny Loggins and Luther Vandross, a vibe enhanced on “Star Dreams” by the use of the Korg Poly synth and the Oberheim drum machine.“This album probably still sounds ‘70s-ish because I can’t really help myself,” Fancey confesses to Variety.
A 25th anniversary celebration of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella will air with a news special cast reunion and presentation of the original film as part of Disney Princess Week.
The cast of the 1997 live-action “Cinderella” film is reuniting! Brandy and Whoopi Goldberg will join cast mates Paolo Montalban, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander and Veanne Cox for a 25th anniversary celebration titled “Cinderella: The Reunion, A Special Edition of 20/20.”The special, which will air Aug. 23 on ABC, will feature interviews with original cast members, as well as rare behind-the-scenes footage with Whitney Houston, who played the feature’s iconic fairy godmother.