‘Homecoming’s’ Kyle Patrick Alvarez On The Brilliance Of Joan Cusack & Embracing The 30-Minute Thriller Format [Interview]

Ted Johnson John Legend is executive producing a series of four virtual fundraising events over the next month aimed at helping House Speaker Nancy Pelosi maintain Democratic control of the chamber, with a lineup of celebrity participants that includes Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Harry Belafonte, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lawrence.The events, called Hold the House, will be a virtual event series to raise money for the House Victory Fund, with tickets starting at $1,000 per person and

Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Hilary Swank will soon be handing over their Instagram pages to black writers, businesswomen, and activists as part of a new social media campaign.On Wednesday, for one day only, a host of white women with large online followings, including the Hollywood stars, will use their platforms to amplify the work of black women they are partnering with as part of the #ShareTheMicNow initiative.

“To have a Black woman and an Asian woman in a relationship on TV is the type of representation that we need,” Janelle Monáe says when discussing her role on Homecoming in Variety’s 2020 Power of Women Issue. On the Amazon psychological thriller, Janelle portrays a character who’s in a romantic relationship with Hong Chau’s character Audrey.

Jill Goldsmith A new social media campaign launching Wednesday called #ShareTheMicNow will have Black women speak from the Instagram accounts of white women who have large platforms from Julia Roberts to Gwenyth Paltrow, Hilary Swank, Alex Morgan and Kourtney Kardashian.

Kate Aurthur editorFor the 2020 Power of Women issue, Variety spoke with several women in the entertainment industry who are using their voices to benefit worthy causes. For more, click here. Janelle Monáe, the musician and actor, has always been political, and during this dreadful year she has been further ignited.

George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and subsequent protests have further ignited a passion in artists inspired to use their music as a sounding board for change.  Check below for 10 protest songs that highlight the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement.1. Trey Songz — “2020 Riots: How Many Times” Trey Songz sheds light on the injustices faced by the black community at the hands of police brutality and institutionalized racism on the compelling new single, “2020 Riots: How Many Times.” Songz

John Cusack shared a video of himself being screamed at by a police officer in Chicago as he allegedly hit his bicycle with a baton. The actor, 53, shared a video on his Twitter showing the altercation.

High Fidelity star John Cusack was hit with pepper spray during a Black Lives Matter protest in his native Chicago, Illinois on Saturday night.

John Cusack is revealing a scary incident with the police that occurred while he was at the Black Lives Matter protest in Chicago.

High Fidelity star John Cusack was hit with pepper spray during a Black Lives Matter protest in his native Chicago, Illinois on Saturday night. The masked actor found himself in the middle of a stand-off between activists and police in the city and he was targeted by cops trying to disperse the crowds.

By Bruce Haring

Cardi B has spoken out in support of looters targeting stores in Minnesota following the death of African-American man George Floyd on Monday night.

Janelle Monáe is poised to have a big 2020. She’s the star of Season 2 of Amazon’s acclaimed mystery series, “Homecoming,” which is expected to hit the Prime Video streaming service this month, and she’s also the star of the upcoming thriller, “Antebellum,” which could be a breakout hit film in a year that has been without features on the big screen for months.

Janelle Monae is more than just an incredible singer, dancer, songwriter and actor. She’s an activist and a community leader.

Welcome to the strangest summer movie season ever. The days of flocking to the cinema for the latest superhero movie or seasonal indie hit are gone — or at least, put on hold — but just because you aren't taking your seat with your bucket of popcorn in a theater full of strangers doesn't mean Hollywood has nothing to offer. We'll be seeing movies this summer, one way or another.

"Why have they not been charged?"

For the uninitiated, Homecoming, Amazon's tense thriller that has Janelle Monáe leading Season 2, takes place in a somewhat spooky realm where things aren't what they seem and people have a hard time remembering things. As this season starts, Jackie (Monáe) wakes up in a canoe with no recollection of who she is or how she got there — and she's not the only one who's completely disoriented either.

When, the half-hour drama about a caseworker working at a mysterious facility that helps soldiers transition back to civilian life, debuted in 2018, it marked Julia Roberts’ first starring TV role three decades into her celebrated career. Not long after the Amazon original premiered, it was revealed that the star would not be returning as Heidi Bergman despite the show’s initial two-season order. 

During the current pandemic crisis, Red Nose Day USA looked a little bit different than usual.