‘City on Fire’ Series at Apple Casts Chase Sui Wonders (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered the dark comedy series “Sunny” with Rashida Jones set to star, Variety has confirmed.The 10-episode series is based on the book “Dark Manual” by Colin O’Sullivan. In the half-hour show, Jones stars as Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan, whose life is upended when her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash. As “consolation” she’s given Sunny, one of a new class of domestic robots made by her husband’s electronics company.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming FX limited series “The Patient” has cast Alex Rich in a recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively.Rich joins previously announced series leads Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson as well as cast members Linda Emond, Laura Niemi, and Andrew Leeds in the series, which hails from “The Americans” duo Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields.In the half-hour series, a psychotherapist (Carell) finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer (Gleeson) with an unusual request: curb his homicidal urges. But unwinding the mind of this man while also dealing with the waves of his own repressed troubles creates a journey perhaps as treacherous as his captivity.Rich previously appeared in the critically-acclaimed Netflix series “GLOW” in the role of Florian, the butler and best friend of Sebastian “Bash” Howard.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCatherine Zeta-Jones has been cast in the upcoming “National Treasure” series at Disney Plus, Variety has learned.Zeta-Jones joins previously announced cast members Lisette Alexis, Zuri Reed, Jordan Rodrigues, Antonio Cipriano, and Jake Austin Walker, and Lyndon Smith in the series continuation of the film franchise of the same name. Production is set to begin this month in Baton Rouge, LA.The series focuses on a young heroine, Jess (Alexis), a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about her family’s mysterious past and save a lost Pan-American treasure.Zeta-Jones will portray Billie, described as a badass billionaire, black-market antiquities expert, and treasure hunter who lives by her own code.

As a stand-up comedian, Pete Davidson has not doubt felt what it’s like to bomb on stage. Hopefully, the experience lessened the blow when he was reportedly booed at a Syracuse University basketball game. The 28-year-old entertainer received the not-so-friendly welcome when he showed up for the match between Syracuse Orange and Louisville Cardinals at the Carrier Dome on Saturday (Feb. 6), according to Page Six. The harsh hello came three years after Pete called the city of Syracuse “trash” during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show.

Apparently, some people in Syracuse, New York, are still holding a grudge against Pete Davidson!

Awkward welcome? Nearly three years after Pete Davidson publicly dissed the city of Syracuse, New York, he was greeted with a less than warm welcome while attending a college basketball game this weekend.

Pete Davidson did not receive a warm welcome when he attended a basketball game in Syracuse, New York.

Pete Davidson asked fans in Syracuse, “Orange you glad to have me here?”

EXCLUSIVE: Jason Schwartzman, the award-winning actor, writer, director, producer and musician who will next be seen as the lead in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City opposite Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie and many more, has signed with UTA for representation in all areas.

Jeff Bezos’ superyacht to pass through.The city of Rotterdam will temporarily break down the historic Koningshavenbrug Bridge because the billionaire’s yacht, which is 417 ft long, won’t fit, according to the Agence France-Presse.The superyacht is being built by the Oceano shipyard in Alblasserdam, Netherlands and will have to pass through the port city. According to Dutch News, in order to make room for the yacht, the middle section of the huge steel bridge will be removed. Bezos will reportedly be the one to pay for the deconstruction of the bridge.Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos rock ‘Brady’ hoodies to congratulate Tom Brady on his retirementDid Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Jeff Bezos, and Lauren Sanchez, have a double date?Lauren Sanchez introduces her new cute co-pilot and, it’s not Jeff BezosAccording to the mayor’s office told AFP that dismantling the bridge has created several jobs for the community.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “LA Law” sequel series pilot at ABC has added John Harlan Kim to its cast, Variety has learned exclusively.The new iteration of the Emmy-winning series features familiar characters working alongside new ones on the most hot button issues of the day.Kim joins previously announced returning original series cast members Blair Underwood and Corbin Bernsen. Kim will star as Chad Park, an up-and-coming attorney at the firm described as a “shark-in-training” whose ambition sometimes gets ahead of his ethical standards.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to the drama “Presumed Innocent” from David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams, and Dustin Thomason.Inspired by the Scott Turow novel of the same name, the courtroom thriller series tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.

HEADLINERSBig names, big talent: Headliners bring star power to SXSW, featuring red carpet premieres and gala film events with major and rising names in cinema.Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age ChildhoodDirector/Screenwriter: Richard Linklater, Producers: Tommy Pallotta, Mike Blizzard, Femke Wolting, Bruno FelixA coming-of-age story set in the suburbs of Houston, Texas in the summer of 1969, centered around the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Cast List: Jack Black, Zachary Levi, Glen Powell, Josh Wiggins, Milo Coy, Lee Eddy, Bill Wise, Natalie L’Amoreaux, Jessica Brynn Cohen, Sam Chipman, Danielle Guilbot (World Premiere)AtlantaDirector: Hiro Murai, Producers: Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Hiro Murai, Stefani Robinson, Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigleTaking place almost entirely in Europe, Season 3 of FX’s Atlanta finds Earn, Alfred ‘Paper Boi,’ Darius and Van in the midst of a successful European tour, as the group navigates their new surroundings as outsiders, and struggle to adjust to the newfound success they had aspired to.

After being online over the last two years because of Covid, SXSW’s film lineup returns with a vibrant in-person edition for its 29th 2022 edition, running March 11-20, 2022; teed off with the types of rollercoaster, Hollywood event films that the event is known to spur great national buzz for.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to the drama series “Dear Edward” from Jason Katims, Variety has learned.Based on the Ann Napolitano novel of the same name, the series will star Connie Britton (“The White Lotus,” “Dirty John”), Taylor Schilling (“Pam and Tommy,” “Orange Is the New Black”), and Colin O’Brien (“Wonka,” “Mr. Harrigan’s Place”). The role reunites Britton and Katims, who previously worked together on the series version of “Friday Night Lights.”“Dear Edward” tells the story of Edward Adler (O’Brien), a 12-year-old boy who survives a devastating commercial plane crash that kills every other passenger on the flight, including his family.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has added four new cast members to Peter Tolan’s upcoming comedy pilot “Belated.”Alongside previously announced series lead Kal Penn, the pilot will also star Ellie Taylor, Kaden Kearney, Amir Bageria (“Degrassi: The Next Class” “Grand Army”), and EaeMya ThynGi (“Motherland: Fort Salem,” “Bad Seed 2”).The half-hour series follows an unexpected intergenerational friendship between Sachin (Penn), a recently out man in his 40s, and Clay (Kearney), a 17-year-old trans teen, as Sachin and his ex-wife (Taylor) and children (Bageria and ThynGi) attempt to find their new normal.Tolan will write, direct, and executive produce the “Belated” pilot. Nick Alford of Cloudland will also executive produce. FX Productions is the studio. Variety exclusively reported the pilot had been set up at the basic cabler back in October 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterParamount Plus has announced the cast for the upcoming series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.”The musical series takes place four years before the original “Grease” in 1954. Before rock ‘n’ roll ruled, before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school, four fed-up outcasts dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever.The cast includes: Marisa Davila as Jane, Cheyenne Isabel Wells as Olivia, Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia, Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy, Shanel Bailey as Hazel, Madison Thompson as Susan, Johnathan Nieves as Richie, Jason Schmidt as Buddy, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally and Jackie Hoffman as Asst. Principal McGee.

Why did it take so long for Saturday Night Live to have Willem Dafoe host?!

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Santa Clause” series at Disney Plus has brought on Elizabeth Mitchell to reprise her role from the film franchise, Variety has confirmed.The series, which was announced on Jan. 14, will see Tim Allen once again play Santa Claus/Scott Calvin. Mitchell will play Scott’s wife, Carol Calvin, a.k.a.