CAA Names Joanna Popper Chief Metaverse Officer

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor David P. Gelles, a longtime CNN producer who most recently had a hand in the creation of programs for the streaming hub CNN+, is returning to NBC News, where he will serve as executive producer of the Sunday flagship “Meet The Press.” He starts in the new role on Thursday. September 1. Before tackling the assignment of developing programs for CNN+, Gelles supervised all of CNN’s political and special-events programming. “This mix of Washington savvy and dedication to finding unique ways to reach new audiences is why I know he’ll be a terrific next partner for Chuck and leader for the Sunday team on the road ahead,” said Carrie Budoff Brown, the NBC News senior vice president who oversees all “Meet The Press” content, in a memo to staffers.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has announced he’s stepping down as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and as chief medical officer to President Joe Biden.

K.J. Yossman New York and London-based American-European entertainment fund APX Group has appointed Andy Capper as chief operating officer and head of North American operations.He will oversee strategic and financial coordination of APX’s North America activity as well as business activities across the European divisions.

Michelle Pfeiffer had a difficult weekend as she remembered her beloved late mother on what would have been her birthday.MORE: Michelle Pfeiffer's transformation is like nothing you've ever seenThe Hollywood star took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to her mom Donna, who passed away in 2018.She shared a photo of herself as a baby sitting on Donna's lap, and wrote: "Donna Jean Pfeiffer. Today is her birthday.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCNN has enlisted a new executive to help it generate programming ideas.Ryan Kadro, a veteran of “CBS This Morning” and several digital ventures, is set to join CNN as a senior vice president of content strategy, overseeing the development of new programming such as a revamped morning show and other new concepts,  according to a spokesperson for the network and two other people familiar with the matter.Kadro is a former lieutenant to Chris Licht, the CEO of CNN, and succeeded him as executive producer after he left the CBS morning program to work with Stephen Colbert on CBS’ “Late Show.”His hire puts a trusted executive in place to create programming in which Licht is said to have a strong interest.  Licht, who helped launch “Morning Joe” and the most recent iteration of “CBS This Morning,” is said to be eager to revamp to play more robustly against the A.M. competition and to find a new program to fill CNN’s 9 p.m, hour.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorBobby Flay plans to introduce a new recipe for cooking completions.Food Networjk will launch “Bobby’s Triple Threat,” a six-episode primetime series that has one hopeful chef compete against a trio of culinary titans picked by Flay himself. The show debuts Tuesday, September 27 at 9 p.m.

Carson Burton Gwyneth Paltrow is set to make her first-time appearance as a guest Shark in Season 14 of ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Doordash CEO and co-founder Tony Xu will also mark his first guest appearance this season.The famed actor in films such as “Iron Man,” “Shakespeare in Love” and “Se7en,” Paltrow’s guest role will mark her first TV appearance in the business realm. In 2008, Paltrow founded the lifestyle brand known as Goop.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThere’s a new resident making a home in Fox Nation alongside Nancy Grace and the police from “Cops.”Amanda Whittier is a widow trying to make new friends in a small seaside town after the death of her husband. Unlike Grace and the police, Whittier is fictional, a character in a new original movie meant to pluck the heartstrings and continue to broaden the audience on the streaming outlet, which is part of Fox News Media.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorMark Hoffman, the longtime chief of NBCUniversal’s business-news outlet CNBC will step down from the role after a 17-year tenure, the company revealed Tuesday.In a memo to staffers, Hoffman said his last day at the helm would be September 12.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentFollowing a vibrant 2022 edition in a three-year cycle dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean which she oversaw in an interim capacity, Zsuzsi Bánkuti has been appointed the new head of Locarno’s Open Doors. She replaces long-time Open Doors chief Sophie Bourdon, who stepped down earlier this year. The key to this year’s Open Doors was its inspired choice of a focus on smaller territories in Latin America which are often home to first-class directors – one director this year, Dominican Yanillys Pérez scooped a Discovery Award at the Toronto Festival with her doc-feature “Jeffrey,” for example – but, apart from the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, lack robust state subsidy systems enabling producers to produce movies easily out of their own countries.  The obvious solution is international co-production.

After expressing his outrage over James Franco being cast as Fidel Castro in the independent feature drama Alina of Cuba, Primetime Emmy winner John Leguizamo has expounded on his stance regarding Hollywood casting non-Latinos in Latino roles. Specifically, in an Instagram post earlier today, he says “Alright, look, I got no problems with James Franco, yo, OK?” while explaining, “I grew up in a era where Latin people couldn’t play Latin people on film.”

John Leguizamo is taking Hollywood to task for its latest casting choice.

John Leguizamo is tired of the way his community is treated in Hollywood — and he’s speaking out about this ridiculous casting!

John Leguizamo thinks the casting of James Franco as Cuban revolution leader Fidel Castro is no bueno.

James Franco has been cast as Fidel Castro in an upcoming movie and his casting is being slammed by John Leguizamo.

James Franco has been cast as former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in upcoming film Alina Of Cuba.Directed by Miguel Bardem, Alina Of Cuba is centred around the story of Alina Fernandez (played by Ana Villafañe), the daughter of Castro and Natalia ‘Naty’ Revuelta (Mia Maestro) after they had an affair.Fernandez discovered Castro was her biological father aged 10. She went onto become one of Castro’s most outspoken critics and was arrested multiple times for trying to leave Cuba.

John Leguizamo is calling for the boycott of the upcoming film, after James Franco was reportedly cast as Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro.The star took to Instagram on Friday and blasted reports that the embattled actor landed the role even though «he ain't Latino!» The 62-year-old actor and comedian wondered how the Latinx community continues to be invisible when Hollywood has supposedly made so much progress since he first broke into the business.«How is this still going on?» he asked. «How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well? No more appropriation Hollywood and streamers! Boycott! This F’d up! Plus seriously difficult story to tell without aggrandizement which would b wrong! I don’t got a prob with Franco but he ain’t Latino!» tells the story of Alina Fernandez, Castro's illegitimate daughter who was critical of Castro's reign in Cuba.

James Franco is stirring up controversy yet again, with news that he has been cast to play former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in a new film, "Alina of Cuba," according to Deadline.This will be one of Franco's first acting roles since he was sued for sexual misconduct in 2019. But the sexual scandal is not the only reason people are upset with the casting news.