Rajiv Joseph Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Ethan Shanfeld For Chris Perfetti, “Abbott Elementary” was not just another pandemic-era script on his desk. “I first read the pilot in the spring of 2020, and it was in no small way a profound moment,” he tells Variety. The actor, who plays the enthusiastic, delightfully corny BFF to Quinta Brunson’s Janine in the hit ABC sitcom about public school teachers, was sitting on a park bench in Atlanta, laughing to himself. “I remember chuckling out loud and looking around me and being very aware of if I was making anyone uncomfortable,” says Perfetti. “I had a strong feeling that if anybody had the guts to make this thing and make it right, it would be great.”

It’s actually a true-crime drama, not another tale about hot male strippers.

Carson Burton The Chippendales are strip-teasing their way to Hulu.“Welcome to Chippendales,” the streamer’s eight-episode upcoming limited series based on the story of Chippendales founder Somen “Steve” Banerjee, stars Kumail Nanjiani in a story of dark comedy and crime. It follows Banerjee’s journey as an Indian-American immigrant creating the wildly popular male revue show known as Chippendales.The upcoming series also stars Spencer Boldman (“Lab Rats,” “21 Jump Street”) as Lance McCrae, who is described as “the ultimate specimen” and the hottest Chippendales dancer of them all. Murray Bartlett of “White Lotus” fame also stars in the series as choreographer Nick De Noia. Rounding out the supporting cast is Andrew Rannells, Dan Stevens, Juliette Lewis, Robin De Jesús, Annaleigh Ashford, Quentin Plair and Nicola Peltz. Robert Siegel serves as writer, executive producer and co-showrunner on the series.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic“King James,” a new dramedy at the Mark Taper Forum, is a two-hander about a love triangle of sorts. The unseen third point in this romance, per the title: basketball legend LeBron James, whose on-again, off-again status as a hometown hero with the Cleveland Cavaliers over a period of 12 years is the catalyst and constant trigger for a friendship between a couple of true believers in Northeast Ohio.

Spencer Boldman (Lab Rats) has been tapped for a recurring role opposite Kumail Nanjiani and Murray Bartlett in the Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.

Selome Hailu Spencer Boldman has been cast in the recurring role of Lance McCrae in “Immigrant,” Hulu’s upcoming limited series based on the story of Chippendales founder Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani).The series, which is written, executive produced and co-showrun by Robert Siegel, follows Banerjee’s darkly comedic, crime-ridden journey as an Indian-American immigrant creating what became a wildly popular male revue show.Lance McCrae is described as “the ultimate specimen” and the hottest Chippendales dancer of them all. He is also the inspiration and star of choreographer Nick De Noia’s (Murray Bartlett) greatest, most ambitious routine yet.Along with Nanjiani and Bartlett, previously announced cast members include Andrew Rannells, Dan Stevens, Juliette Lewis, Robin De Jesús, Annaleigh Ashford, Quentin Plair and Nicola Peltz.

EXCLUSIVE: While most Covid restrictions have been lifted around the country, we get daily reminders that the pandemic has not gone away, with Kenneth Branagh, Hillary Clinton and Jen Psaki among the big names who have announced infections in the past few days.

Juliette Lewis has been tapped for a key role opposite Kumail Nanjiani and Murray Bartlett in the Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.

Three-time Tony-nominated actor Robin De Jesús has joined the cast of Hulu’s Immigrant in a recurring role.

EXCLUSIVE: Dan Stevens (Legion, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga) has been tapped for a key role in the Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), starring and executive produced by Kumail Nanjiani, from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.

Andrew Rannells has been tapped for a recurring role in Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), starring Kumail Nanjiani, Annaleigh Ashford and Murray Bartlett, from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.

EXCLUSIVE: Quentin Plair (The Good Lord Bird) is set to recur opposite Kumail Nanjiani and Nicola Peltz (Transformers: Age of Extinction) will guest star in Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel. Additionally, WandaVision and The Great director/executive producer Matt Shakman has joined as director and executive producer. He replaces originally announced Ramin Bahrani ahead of the series’ start of production.

Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford has been tapped to star opposite Kumail Nanjiani in Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.

The White Lotus star and SAG Award nominee Murray Bartlett has boarded Hulu’s limited series Immigrant, which hails from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel. He joins star and executive producer Kumail Nanjiani.