James Brown To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At Sports Emmys

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large If TV is all about football these days, so are the Sports Emmys. The New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences revealed the nominations for its 45th annual Sports Emmy Awards, and the NFL Network’s “NFL 360” led the pack with 11 nods — followed closely by the CBS and Nickelodeon coverage of Super Bowl LVIII, with ten. Also in the hunt: ESPN’s “E60” doc series and Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football, with nine each.

James Bond was pitched before 1962’s Dr. No was made, according to a new book.Lashana Lynch became the first woman in the long-running franchise to be given a 007 title in the last Bond outing, No Time To Die, but a woman hasn’t yet taken the titular lead singularly in the series.Now, in Nicholas Shakespeare’s upcoming biography of Bond author Ian Fleming, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, it’s revealed that the idea of having a female Bond was first pitched over 60 years ago (via Variety).The book claims that producer Gregory Ratoff suggested the idea of casting five-time Oscar nominee Susan Hayward in a film adaptation of Fleming’s first Bond novel Casino Royale. In the book, Hayward writes (via IndieWire): “Since the mid-1950s, many well-known actors had been approached [to play Bond].“Gregory Ratoff had the arresting idea of having Bond played by a woman, Susan Hayward.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Lashana Lynch became the first woman to own the 007 title in the 2021 James Bond tentpole “No Time to Die,” but it turns out a plan to make James Bond a woman was actually pitched over 60 years prior. In Nicholas Shakespeare’s upcoming biography of Bond author Ian Fleming, titled “Ian Fleming: The Complete Man,” it’s confirmed that producer Gregory Ratoff floated the idea of casting Susan Hayward in a film adaptation of Fleming’s first Bond novel “Casino Royale.” Shakespeare writes in the biography (via IndieWire): “Since the mid-1950s, many well-known actors had been approached [to play Bond].

California love!

Eiza González has revealed her pick for the part.Eiza González celebrates ‘3 Body Problem’ stunning debutEiza González explains ‘conscious dating’ and why she practices it“It’s hard not to look at Henry Cavill and think of James Bond, to be really honest,” said González to Entertainment Weekly. “Obviously, I’m part of the group of people that are rooting for him to get it hopefully, if that was a possibility.”González and Cavill recently starred in “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” an action film that’s based on the real life story of the Special Operations Executive.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor U.S.-based global distributor PBS Intl. is bringing a squad of sports-themed documentaries to MipTV to tie in with the Olympic Games that’ll run this summer in Paris. “Olympic Dreams” travels to Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest nations, as it struggles to recover from its 11-year civil war.

An SNP minister has warned of "hysteria" gripping Scots over new hate crime laws after it emerged police received 3,000 complaints in just two days.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Veteran Chinese director Zhang Yimou will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming edition of the Festival of Far East Film in Italy’s Udine (April 24 – May 2). The lineup will include three films by Zhang: his 2023 political thriller “Under the Light” in its competition section; as well as “To Live” and “Raise the Red Lantern” in its restored classics section. The festival’s total lineup includes 74 films in total – 47 in competition and 28 out of competition) from 11 countries.

The parents of the late Deborah James have sent a special message to Kate Middleton and her parents following the announcement that she has been diagnosed with cancer. Heather and Alistair James have praised the Princess of Wales for her brave words which could encourage more people to get checked for cancer.They have shared that Kate's honest talk about her diagnosis will give hope to others battling cancer and their families. Heather and Alistair's daughter Deborah was 40 when she sadly passed away in June 2022, after bravely battling Stage 4 bowel cancer for over five years.

Garrison Brown has been honored in the most touching way following his death.

Christine Brown is coping with the tragic death of Garrison Brown in her own way.

Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has been seen for the first time after reportedly splitting from his girlfriend, as he enjoyed a boys' night out in Mayfair, London.The 33 year old professional dancer was spotted with a group of male pals, including TOWIE's James Lock at celebrity hotspot, Sheesh. Giovanni, who is said to have split from his short-term girlfriend, Molly Brown, looked dashing as he flashed a smile whilst wearing a pale blue shirt under a dark jacket.

Walter Hill, who wrote and/or directed and produced such films as 48 Hrs., The Warriors, The Getaway and many more, will receive the WGA West‘s 2024 Laurel Award. He will be presented with the career achievement honor April 14 during the strike-delayed Writers Guild Awards‘ L.A. ceremony.

Jack Dunn Wanda Sykes will be honored with the Writers Guild of America East’s Herb Sargent Award at the 76th annual Writers Guild Awards, set for April 14 at the Edison Ballroom in New York. Sykes, the long-established comedy multihyphenate, is the co-creator, co-showrunner and star of the Netflix family comedy series “The Upshaws,” which is heading into its sixth season later this year. She’s also coming off a busy year of guest shots (“The Other Two,” “History of the World: Part II”) and last year’s successful Netflix standup special “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer.” In 2022, she was one of three hosts (with Regina Hall and Amy Schumer) of ABC’s Academy Awards telecast.

Happy Valley's James Norton is starring in new Netflix IVF drama 'JOY', which tells the true story of Louise Joy Brown, the first person born through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in Oldham.

Netflix has shared the first teaser for Joy, the historical drama starring James Norton, Bill Nighy, and Thomasin McKenzie about the birth of IVF treatments. 

William Earl Variety will present Tom Hiddleston with the Variety Virtuoso Award at the Miami Film Festival on Tuesday, April 9. The award will be for his career achievements across film, theater and television. “From screens large and small to the Broadway stage, Tom Hiddleston is one of our most versatile and engaging actors,” said Jenelle Riley, Variety Focus Awards and Features Editor.

K.J. Yossman The Curtis Brown Group has launched a new unscripted and entertainment talent division, tapping former YMU agent Martha Atack to lead it. The division will offer artists across entertainment, comedy, factual and digital multi-hyphenate representation across the agency with the aim of launching them globally.

The Curtis Brown Group is pushing into the UK unscripted space.

Days after Garrison Brown tragically died, the Brown family laid him to rest with lots of love and poignant words.