Taye Diggs to Host Hulu Reality Dating Series ‘Back in the Groove’

EXCLUSIVE: Former MGM and Sony Pictures exec Eric Paquette’s film and TV company Meridian Pictures has struck a partnership deal with Saudi Arabian production house and literary management company Hakawati Entertainment.

HBO Max has given an eight-episode straight-to-series order to How To Be a Bookie, the first comedy for the streamer from one of Warner Bros. Television’s top showrunners, Chuck Lorre, co-creator/exec producer of HBO Max’s most watched off-network series, The Big Bang Theory. Actor-comedian Sebastian Maniscalco (The Irishman) is set to star in the single-camera series, which Lorre is co-writing with one of his close associates over the past decade, Nick Bakay. It is comedy king Lorre’s first sale since the start of the pandemic.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter HBO Max has given a straight-to-series order to a new comedy series from Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay with Sebastian Maniscalco set for the lead role, Variety has learned. The single-camera show is titled “How to Be a Bookie.” HBO Max has given it an eight-episode order. Per the official logline, “A veteran bookie (Maniscalco) struggles to survive the impending legalization of sports gambling, increasingly unstable clients, family, co-workers, and a lifestyle that bounces him around every corner of Los Angeles, high and low.” Lorre and Bakay serve as co-writers and executive producers on the show. Maniscalco will executive produce in addition to starring, with Judi Marmel also executive producing. Warner Bros. Television is the studio. Chuck Lorre productions is currently under an overall deal at WBTV. The show marks Lorre’s first series at HBO Max.

Lance Bass is "so happy" for Britney Spears. The 40-year-old pop star - who regained control of her multimillion-dollar fortune and various aspects of her life when a conservatorship governed by her family was terminated back in 2021 - returned to music with fellow legend Sir Elton John back in August with 'Hold Me Closer', and NSYNC star Lance, 43, admitted that he is so "glad" to see Britney back in the charts. He told ExtraTV: "As soon as I heard the new duet, I loved it and I was so happy to hear to back on the radio.

Michelle Obama has shared how 'humbled" she is to add extra book dates to her tour, with husband Barack Obama resharing the news with his fans.MORE: Malia Obama looks so much like her famous mother, Michelle, in remarkable throwback photoThe former First Lady is set to release The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, on November 15, 2022 and she will be heading out across the US to promote the "collection of stories and practices that have helped me sort through all the challenges and questions that keep us up at night: How do I know I’m good enough? How do I bring my whole self to the table? How can I overcome my fears?"WATCH: Michelle Obama sparkles in surprising fashion choice for festive appearanceBut after selling out several venues, Mchelle has added extra dates. "I’m so humbled by your response to my upcoming book tour for #TheLightWeCarry!" she shared."We’ve added a couple of new dates, and tickets are on sale now at michelleobamabooks.com.

Picture perfect, they don’t need no filter. Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber stepped out in Los Angeles two days after the model made headlines for her intimate discussion about their sex life and more on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.

Justin Bieber holds hands with wife Hailey Bieber while out on a coffee run in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon (September 30).

Actors’ Equity has endorsed Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles, marking the first time the union’s National Council has ever voted to endorse an L.A. mayoral candidate. The 51,000-member union has more than 7,000 living in Los Angeles. If elected, Bass would be the city’s first female mayor. Polls show her leading real estate developer Rick Caruso.

Anna Marie de la Fuente “Money Heist” star Alvaro Morte is attached to star in “Talkies,” from “Luis Miguel” producer Gato Grande, which will be presented at the Iberseries inaugural Co-Production & Financing Forum on Sept. 28. “Talkies” covers the period between 1930 and 1934, an unusual time when foreign-language versions were shot on the same sets where the original English-language films were shot before dubbing or sub-titling technology existed.  Helmed by “Money Heist” director Alex Rodrigo and co-developed with Catalonia’s Veranda (“Merli”), the 8 x 45” series centers on the making of Spanish-language ‘talkies’ some of which, like the Spanish version of Bela Lugosi’s “Dracula,” were considered far superior. Morte will play the actor Carlos Villarias, who took on the Dracula role in the Spanish version.

Olivia Rodrigo hailed Alanis Morissette as the “most incredible human being” at the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame at the weekend.The 19-year-old pop star took to the stage at Massey Hall in Toronto on Saturday (September 24) to induct Morissette.Referring to how the latter’s 1995 album ‘Jagged Little Pill’ changed Rodrigo’s life at 13, the former said (via ET Canada): “My life was completely changed. Alanis’ songwriting was unlike anything I’d ever heard before and I haven’t heard anything quite like it since.

The hunt for a host continues. Chris Rock turned down an offer to host the 2023 Golden Globe Awards when they return to NBC in January, multiple outlets report.

William Earl Variety and Pixel United will host the first-ever Leaders in Gaming & Entertainment Breakfast on Oct. 4. The in-person breakfast, held in Los Angeles, will bring together some of the biggest names in the gaming industry. Marc Merrill, co-founder and president of games for Riot Games, and Shauna Spenley, president of Riot Games Entertainment, will participate in a keynote conversation, moderated by Andrew Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform, about the successful screen crossovers of Riot’s video games, such as their Emmy-winning animated series “Arcane: League of Legends.” Michael Lang, CEO of Pixel United, will be in conversation with Variety Co-Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Littleton about his vision for the mobile games industry, identifying opportunities for the wider entertainment industry to align with the passionate gaming community.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Korean film producer Baek Jaeho has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Choon-yun Award, a prize set up in honor of Lee Choon-yun, the late chairman of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry. The award, worth KRW10 million ($7,100), will be presented on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 6 in conjunction with IOK Company. Baek participated in the production of 2021 title “Snowball” and was previously involved in indie films “Jane” in 2016 and last year’s “Role.” He also acts and directs. Veteran director Kang Je-kyu praised Baek as ”a filmmaker who maintains his values and outspreads his potential in the insufficient independent film environment.”

Los Angeles’ homeless problem, the lack of affordable housing, and public safety dominated the first and only televised mayoral debate Wednesday between billionaire developer Rick Caruso and Congresswoman Karen Bass.Both candidates agreed that homelessness is wrecking the city, and when asked to describe the state of the city in one word, Bass chose the word “crisis.” Caruso said: “We’re beyond crisis.” Caruso said he would “call a state of emergency” to help get people off the street and into shelters. “We have people living and dying on the streets,” he said. “The premise is to get them into shelters and get them safe.

Hulu is getting into the love business with a new unscripted show hosted by Taye Diggs.