NY Cop Drama ‘East New York’ Lands Pilot Order At CBS

Tensions have been high between Jesse Williams and his ex-wife Aryn Drake-Lee in the years following their divorce.

NEW YORK -- Daisy Hernández's “The Kissing Bug,” a memoir about a lethal illness that killed her aunt, has received a $75,000 prize from PEN America.The literary and free expression organization announced Monday that Hernández had won the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award for a work of any genre demonstrating “originality, merit and impact, with Joy Williams' “Harrow” and Percival Everett's “The Trees” among the finalists.Other winners included Yoon Choi’s “Skinship,” which received the $25,000 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for best debut story collection, and Margaret Renkl’s “Graceland, at Last,” presented the $15,000 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay.

Prince Andrew may not be out of the woods yet…

William Earl “Saturday Night Live” paid tribute to Ukraine in its cold open by featuring a folk chorus singing a traditional anthem from the embattled Eastern European nation while a cluster of candles spelled out “Kyiv.”The 13th episode of the late-night mainstay’s 47th season opened with stars Kate McKinnon and Cicely Strong introducing members of Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York. A group of male and female singers, wearing intricately embroidered traditional outfits, sang the rousing choral selection “Prayer for Ukraine,” reflecting the resilient spirit of the nation that has been under attack from Russian on multiple fronts since earlier this week.The somber setting on the “SNL” stage featured a cluster of candles and bouquets of yellow flowers, evoking Ukraine’s national colors of yellow and blue.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentHulu has acquired U.S. rights to “Fireheart,” Anton’s ambitious animated family feature directed by Laurent Zeitoun (“Leap!”) and Theodore Ty (“Kung Fu Panda”) with a voice cast headlined by Olivia Cooke, William Shatner, Laurie Holden and Kenneth Branagh.The deal was negotiated with Hulu by CAA Media Finance and Anton’s Cécile Gaget on behalf of the producers. “Fireheart” will debut on Hulu’s streaming platform in the U.S.

Cirque du Soleil is planning a brand new, eye-popping show on the Las Vegas Strip this spring that appropriately flips its typical script.

Gerald “Jerry” Rubin, who went from the William Morris Agency to become VP Business Affairs at CBS and was an influential longtime entertainment lawyer, has died. He was 93.

health-related absence and be replaced this fall with a show hosted by Sherri Shepherd, the producer of both TV programs said Tuesday.The new daytime show, crisply titled “Sherri,” will “inherit” the time slots on Fox owned-and-operated stations that have been the backbone of Williams’ nationally syndicated talk show since 2008, producer and distributor Debmar-Mercury said.“Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now,” company co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said in a statement.“We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery,” the executives said. They also expressed their "great love and affinity for Wendy” and admiration for her success.The company declined to comment further on her recent health issues, which Williams herself has not discussed other than in generalities.

Wendy Williams looked nearly ready to get back to work on her show in a new video posted on Wednesday February 16. The 57-year-old talk show host swore to her fans that she was going to return to her show “stronger,” amid her extended hiatus from The Wendy Williams Show. Wendy walked along a Florida beach with her son Kevin Hunter, Jr. as she addressed her fans and followers.

Wendy Williams is looking happy and healthy in a brand new video.

Wendy Williams gives an update on her health in a new video.

he Los Angeles Times in 1991. He was also a stand-in for  Robert DeNiro in “Taxi Driver” and Frank Sinatra in “The First Deadly Sin.”He had a small part in the first “Rocky” movie and formed a lifelong friendship with Sylvester Stallone.In 1991, he wrote the screenplay for the movie “29th Street,” about an Italian-American who wins more than $6 million in the first New York State Lottery, which he claimed was autobiographical.

William Earl Brent Lang has been promoted to Executive Editor of Variety.In his new role, Lang will help guide the venerable showbiz brand’s editorial operations across digital and print platforms. He will continue to oversee Variety’s film, media and theater coverage, and he serves as leader of the New York bureau. “There’s an infinite number of words I would use to describe Brent Lang and my admiration for his breadth of genius, talent and skills as a journalist,” said Claudia Eller, Variety Editor-in-Chief. “He is also one of the most trustworthy, thoughtful and collegial people I’ve ever worked with and it’s a joy to watch him continue to flourish.”Lang most recently served as Executive Editor of Film and Media and New York Bureau Chief.

Wendy Williams had a big smile on her face in rare new photos of the 57-year-old talk show host. The pics, which were shared by The Shade Room on Feb. 14, and can be seen HERE, show the New Jersey native “spending time with the fam and enjoying festivities,” a source told the outlet. Wendy rocked a black crop top, a pair of daisy dukes, and fishnet leggings as she beamed with happiness in the photos. We’re so happy that Wendy looks happy.

Wendy Williams, 57, is an “incapacitated person” who needs a guardianship, her bank claimed on Feb. 10. Wells Fargo sent a letter to the New York Supreme Court asking for a hearing to determine whether Wendy, who has been absent from her daytime talk show since July 2021 due to ongoing health issues, needs a professional to intervene in her affairs, according to court documents obtained by HollywoodLife.

Selome Hailu CBS has given a pilot order to “East New York,” a drama series written by William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn.The series follows Regina Haywood, the newly promoted police captain of East New York, an impoverished, working class neighborhood at the eastern edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting during the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification.Finkelstein is best known for his writing and producing work on a number of police and legal dramas.