Lindsay Wagner Joins UTA as Chief Diversity Officer

Naman Ramachandran Leading entertainment format producer Claire O’Donohoe has joined Banijay U.K. as director of programs.O’Donohoe will work closely with her long-time creative collaborator Natalka Znak, the newly appointed CEO of group companies Remarkable, Initial, and ZnakTV, a company Znak set up in 2021 after departing Sky-backed outfit Znak & Co.O’Donohoe has some two decades of TV experience in the U.S. and U.K.

The return of the irreverent MTV stunt series has opened well below the $50 million start earned by “Jackass 3D” in 2010, though that was to be expected given the ongoing impact of the pandemic on most box office receipts. As with pretty much every film that has found box office success this past year despite the adversity, “Jackass Forever” has relied on turnout from younger male audiences with theaters in Los Angeles accounting for 27 of the top 40 highest grossing locations. “Jackass Forever” also has something that its predecessors did not: strong word of mouth.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicThe road to UTA was a circuitous one for Mike Guirguis, better known as Mike G, one of the top agents working in music today with a roster that includes Young Thug, The Kid Laroi, Burna Boy and Wizkid, among others. The Los Angeles-born and -bred industry veteran, who’s of Egyptian descent, started out in radio, segued to management and landed at UTA in 2017, where he capitalized on relationships built over his 20-plus years in the business. The diversity of his experiences, from doing sales at L.A.

Lindsay Lohan is on a path to health and wellness! Or so it appears in the latest Super Bowl LVI commercial from Planet Fitness. The Mean Girls vet is at the center of the new spot for the gym franchise, which is advertising during the annual sports spectacular for the first time. The premise is that Lindsay’s life, which has been filled with legal and personal troubles in the past, is much better now that she works out on the regular.

Alan Ritchson is hitting the red carpet for the premiere of his new Amazon Prime Video series!

“Rifkin’s Festival” is bombing at the box office.The comedy flick starring Gina Gershon and Wallace Shawn has the lowest opening of the 86-year-old filmmaker’s long career, which tanked after he was accused of molesting his his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow.“Rifkin’s Festival” is Allen’s 49th film to date and only made $24,000 on Friday and Saturday from 26 theaters, according to the Wrap. Landmark Theaters owns many of the cinemas that the movie is being screened at.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicA new but familiar voice is coming to Los Angeles’ Alt 98.7. Starting Feb. 1, KROQ veteran Stryker is joining the station’s Chris Booker for “ALT Afternoons with Booker and Stryker,” airing weekdays from 3 p.m.

Party Down. , which became a cult hit over a decade ago, is being revived for six episodes with original cast members Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, and Megan Mullally.

Most of the theaters screening the film are owned by Landmark Theaters, whose flagship Los Angeles location posted the highest single theater total for the film with $2,300. Other theaters outside of Landmark’s circuit screening the film include the Quad Theatre in New York City, where the film grossed $1,600 over two days.By comparison, Allen’s previous film “Wonder Wheel” earned approximately $125,000 from five screens on its 3-day opening weekend in 2017, when the rise of the #MeToo movement brought long-standing allegations by actress Dylan Farrow against Allen — her adoptive father — returned to the public eye.

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group has brought on Sydnie Karras in the newly-created position of Chief Accounting Officer.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran talent agent Melisa Spamer, who most recently ran Domain Talent, is joining the talent department of Innovative Artists. She will be based at Innovative Artists’ Los Angeles office.

Jana Duggar has been joined by her mom Michelle and brothers Jason and James for a fun family trip to Los Angeles. The four flew into California to visit Jinger, who has been living outside the city for several years with her husband Jeremy Vuolo.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorFashion designer, creative director and activist Aurora James has signed with UTA.The CFDA award-winning James is the founder and creative director of the luxury accessory brand Brother Vellies, which has been worn by Pres. Barack Obama, Beyoncé, Meghan Markle, Rihanna, Zendaya, Serena Williams, Lady Gaga and Rep.

EXCLUSIVE: Anirudh Pisharody (9-1-1, The Goldbergs) has been tapped for a recurring role in the third season of Never Have I Ever, which is currently in production in Los Angeles.

UTA has named Lindsay Wagner as its first chief diversity officer, the agency announced Tuesday.Wagner comes to UTA from a position as SVP and head of diversity & inclusion, North America, at global communications consulting firm Ketchum. In her new post, she will expand strategy for the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.“Entertainment sits at the cross-section of culture, storytelling and influence and therefore it’s critical that we collectively continue to identify and amplify authentic representation inside and outside of the organization,” said Wagner in a statement.

Summer fever is about to hit “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series“!

!Disney+'s teen musical comedy officially began production on season 3 in Los Angeles on Tuesday. To kick off the latest chapter, the streaming service announced the in-show musical that will be taking center stage: Frozen.