CBS’ Mitch Graham Continues Unscripted Oversight, Mackenzie Mitchell Takes Specials As Jack Sussman Exits

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Joni Mitchell will perform on the Grammys telecast for the first time ever on Feb. 4, the Recording Academy and CBS announced Sunday.

Joni Mitchell is hitting the Grammys stage for the first time to perform.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Comedian Bert Kreischer is sticking with Netflix, signing with the streamer to film two more stand-up comedy specials. This reps the fourth and fifth specials for Kreischer at Netflix, following “Razzle Dazzle” (2023), “Hey Big Boy” (2020), and “Secret Time” (2018). The first of the two specials will be filmed by Kreischer at the Mahaffey Theater in St.

Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, in an upcoming biopic based on the King of Pop.According to a Variety report, Domingo will play Joe Jackson in the upcoming film alongside Michael’s nephew Jaafar and 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi – both of whom will play an adult and child version of Michael respectively.Domingo said of his casting via Variety: “It’s exciting to do it with Jaafar. Jermaine Jackson’s son is playing Michael, and he is breathtaking, and I think Graham King, the producer, has assembled an incredible cast.”He added: “I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon.

Colman Domingo is the latest star to join the cast of the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic!

Coming off of his first career Best Actor Oscar nomination for Netflix’s Rustin, Colman Domingo has more to celebrate: He just landed the role of Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson in Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Fresh off receiving his first Oscar nomination, Colman Domingo has been cast as Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson, in the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic “Michael.” The casting announcement comes after the news Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar would portray the King of Pop, with 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi tackling the singer during his early days. “It’s exciting to do it with Jaafar,” Domingo tells Variety exclusively during an upcoming episode of the Awards Circuit Podcast.

BBC EastEnders legend Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Watts, has wowed fans with her amazing weight loss journey.The actress managed to drop four dress sizes in just four months, going from 10st 4lbs to 8st 3lbs. Letitia achieved this incredible transformation by making changes to her diet and cutting out junk food. She now enjoys a healthy diet filled with "grilled skinless chicken" and "lots of greens".

Elizabeth Taylor “Big Little Lies” Season 3 is coming along nicely. “We’re at work on it,” Nicole Kidman told Variety Sunday night at the New York premiere of her new series “Expats.” Kidman says she and Reese Witherspoon are “texting every day” about the third season. “And there’s a timeline and we’re doing it.” She laughed when asked for more details.

Apparently, some people do not want this show to go on! Those behind a tribute act to Michael Jackson in Las Vegas claimed the late singer’s estate has been trying to cancel their show — so they’re taking them to court to battle it out now!

Nine-year old Juliano Krue Valdi has won the role to play young Michael Jackson in Lionsgate and UIP’s Antoine Fuqua’s directed Michael.

Margaret Qualley is showing off her dance moves in Bleachers‘ new music video!

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large CBS gave its new late night series “After Midnight” a bit of a soft launch on Tuesday night, premiering the show with minimal fanfare in its 12:37 a.m. timeslot behind “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Comedian Taylor Tomlinson hosts the series, which tapes on the Paramount lot in Hollywood. The decision to keep the “After Midnight” premiere lowkey is by design: Allow the new show to find its voice over the next few weeks, prior to the Super Bowl and return of first-run scripted series in February, when more eyeballs will be back at the broadcast networks.

Michael Jackson is about to begin principal photography, with a release date now locked in.The film will be titled Michael, and it will star the musician’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, 27, in the title role.The production company behind the film, Lionsgate, has confirmed that the film will receive a theatrical release in the United States on April 18, 2025.Michael will be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is known for films including Training Day, The Equalizer and Brooklyn’s Finest. It will also be written by John Logan, who has previously written on films including Gladiator, The Aviator, Skyfall and Spectre.Given the connection to the Jackson estate, it is unclear whether the film will explore the most controversial aspects of his life, including the allegations of child sexual abuse.In other Michael Jackson news, in December, it was announced that the audio from Jackson’s first ever studio session would be released as part of a limited-edition package.The recording was made 56 years ago, when Jackson was aged just nine and entered the One-derful studios in Chicago for the very first time with his brothers.In the session – which took place on July 13, 1967 – The Jackson Five produced a song titled ‘Big Boy’, and it has been confirmed that this was the first time that the iconic singer’s voice was put on tape.Visit here for more information and to purchase the track.

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic finally has a release date!

Michael Jackson’s story will make its way to the big screen in 2025. Titled “Michael,” the film will be directed by Antoine Fuqua and will star Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. It’s the biggest role in Jafaar’s career and a personal one, as he’ll be portraying his uncle on screen.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Young Sheldon” may be ending its run, but that’s not the end of the line for “The Big Bang Theory” universe. According to insiders, CBS is nearing a deal with Warner Bros. TV for a direct-to-series order on a “Young Sheldon” spinoff that focuses on the characters of Georgie and Mandy.

Angelique Jackson Michael Jackson will be back on the big screen on April 18, 2025 with “Michael,” a biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring the late King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in his first major role. Lionsgate is releasing the movie domestically, while Universal is handling overseas distribution. The film will begin production on Jan.

Boy George has written that he’s “never gonna be friends” with Janet Jackson, calling her “unfriendly” in his new memoir, Karma: The Definitive Autobiography.The Culture Club singer, whose autobiography was released in November 2023, wrote about his first encounter with contemporary Janet Jackson. The pair met backstage while taping an episode for the American music variety show, Solid Gold, in 1983.Recounting that he approached her “without [his] face on”, George stated that Jackson did not return his congeniality.

CBS has unveiled its new structure for unscripted and specials following the departure of Jack Sussman.