The Weeknd’s HBO series The Idol will debut in June

Emily Longeretta The days of fall TV being the time for new shows to premiere are long gone. This summer, prep for bingeing per usual with a slew of unscripted and scripted series coming to both streamers and network TV. Likely the most-anticipated series of the year, HBO’s “The Idol,” will premiere in July after a great deal of delays and reshoots.

A.D. Amorosi Famous since the top of the 1990s for bold, old-school, synth-rich productions of hardcore rappers (Scarface), multi-hyphenate hip-hop magnates (Kanye West, Travis Scott) and symphonically scored R&B vocalists (Beyoncé, the Weeknd), Mike Dean always sounds as if he’s having the most fun on his chill solo excursions. Take the surprise drop this past weekend of “4:23,” another of Dean’s schmoked-up stoner efforts that, like 2020’s buoyant instrumental album “4:20,” is equal parts steely sci-fi epic soundtrack and spaced-out dream-pop.“4:23” is occasionally reminiscent of Dean’s home-recorded, souped-up synth-works, full of proggy impromptu noodling carved from larger ice block suites. But this new album mostly features tracks more succinct and cutting — actual songs. For such freshly anointed precision, we can likely credit Dean’s steadfast collaborator, tour partner and streaming network co-star, the Weeknd, who takes on a role here as the executive producer of “4:23.”

The Weeknd has once again paired up with producer Mike Dean for four new tracks that appear on the latter’s new album ‘4:23’ – check them out below.‘4:23’ was released yesterday (April 28) and is Dean’s fourth studio album, following on from 2020’s ‘4:22’.The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) served as executive producer on the album and features on four tracks: ‘Artificial Intelligence’, ‘Defame Moi’, ‘More Coke!!’, and ‘Emotionless’ (which he also co-wrote).Check it out below. Dean and Tesfaye have worked together on numerous projects including The Weeknd’s 2015 album ‘Beauty Behind The Madness’ as well as ‘Where You Belong’, which was written for the Fifty Shades Of Grey soundtrack.More recently, the pair collaborated on ‘Double Fantasy’, the Future-led track lifted from upcoming HBO series The Idol, which both Dean and Tesfaye will star in.Album “4:23” @therealmikedean, co-produced by @theweeknd TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/9mJU9qGg3N— The Weeknd News (@NewsWeeknd) April 27, 2023The Idol also features Lily-Rose Depp, Moses Sumney, Hank Azaria, and Jennie of BLACKPINK.Rolling Stone did a report on the series mid-production and wrote that The Idol was “torture porn”. 13 anonymous sources from the show’s cast and crew have spoken out on the production of the anticipated series, calling it “a shitshow”.Tesfaye, Depp and HBO all responded to the claims, with The Weeknd tweeting, “Did we upset you?” alongside a clip from the show of him and Depp’s characters denouncing the magazine..@RollingStone did we upset you? pic.twitter.com/Uyx06lyRgx— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) March 1, 2023The series will premiere at this year’s Festival De Cannes and is set to be released on June 4.

NPR’s podcast “Code Switch.” Apu is a recurring Indian-American character in the show who runs the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store, which often keeps him from his wife and eight children. Azaria was first publicly called out in 2017 when comedian Hari Kondabolu, 40, who’s of Indian descent, expressed his anger over the character and Hollywood’s decades-long depictions of South Asians in the documentary “The Problem with Apu.” Azaria, who no longer voices Apu, and Kondabolu finally sat down and had their first public conversation to address the controversy in a podcast episode titled “The Fallout of a Callout.”Kondabolu described Azaria’s voicing of Apu as “a white guy doing an impression of a white guy making fun of my father.”“If I saw Hank Azaria do that voice at a party, I would kick the s–t out of him,” he said.

The Simpsons, has discussed when he thinks the show will end, and confirmed if he will ever leave the series.The actor – who has also starred in Friends, Pretty Woman and The Smurfs – discussed the prospect of the long-running animated series coming to an end last week (April 20). The 58-year-old actor was at the season 5 premiere of his current project, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, in New York City when he confirmed he has no plans to leave the series any time soon.“Well, I’d be silly to leave because they pay me, first of all,” he told People, later going on to explain that he “wonders about” the future of the series.

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures has acquired action/horror/comedy Hell Naw with Scott Mescudi AKA Kid Cudi attached to star and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson producing. Academy Award Nominees Keith & Kenny Lucas are writing the script, which is in early development. Mescudi will also produce along with his partners Karina Manashil and Dennis Cummings through their Mad Solar banner with Sam and Ashley Levinson producing through their Little Lamb production company. BRON and H. Wood Films are also producing.

The Weeknd has said he didn’t think he was “marketable” when he first began his music career.The artist, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, was talking to Interview magazine about his reasons for hiding his identity when he first began releasing music on YouTube back in 2010.“I wanted to be very calculated about how I wanted people to see me or hear my music. The initial reason I did that was I didn’t think I was marketable when I was younger, especially for R&B. I didn’t think I had the right look,” he explained.“The R&B look was very sexual back in the day.

The Weeknd and Future have released the new collaborative single k ‘Double Fantasy’ for the soundtrack to new HBO drama The Idol.The track is the first to be released from the official soundtrack of the new HBO Max series The Idol. The Weeknd co-created the show with Sam Levinson and Reza Fahim, and is said to be “one of HBO’s most provocative” shows yet.‘Double Fantasy’ is a darkened space pop track where The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – sings about a toxic relationship.

The Weeknd has been stepping out of his stage persona to introduce fans to the man behind the alter ego, Abel Tesfaye.

The Weeknd is speaking out about the criticism “The Idol” has experienced.

Syndey Sweeney is already an it-actress for HBO, thanks to her turns on “The White Lotus” and Sam Levinson‘s “Euphoria.” Now add “Reality” to that list: Sweeney stars as American whistleblower Reality Winner in Tina Satter‘s “Reality,” fresh off its world premiere at the Berlinale in February.

“torture porn” — is here.The “Blinding Lights” history-maker, 33, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, portrays shady nightclub owner Tedros, who becomes obsessed with Jocelyn, an up-and-coming pop star played by “nepo baby” Lily-Rose Depp, 23. “When was the last truly f – – king nasty, nasty bad-pop girl?” asks Jocelyn’s friend Caleb, portrayed by singer Troye Sivan, 27, as she poses for a sexy photo shoot in the teaser.

Being a pop star has its dark side.

On the heels of Harry Styles’ highly publicized pivot to acting and Taylor Swift’s already-infamous cameo in David O. Russell’s latest flop “Amsterdam,” another major pop star is throwing their hat in the acting ring.

the latest teaser and June premiere date for the controversial new series,, starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp.Co-created by Sam Levinson, The Weeknd — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — and Reza Fahim, the upcoming drama follows a pop star named Jocelyn (Depp) who is determined to reclaim «her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America» after a nervous breakdown derailed her career. In doing so, she encounters Tedros (The Weeknd), a nightclub impresario who reignites her passions while also possibly leading her down a dark new path. In the new video set to Britney Spears' «Gimme More,» viewers get a taste for what's to come as Jocelyn navigates the ups and downs of being in the spotlight as she deals with video shoots, social media updates and various managers, publicists and entourage members all trying to control her narrative. In addition to The Weeknd and Depp, the series also stars Troye Siva, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Ramsey, Suzanna Son and Hank Azaria.Leading up to its debut, sparked controversy after a investigation reported that the production had «gone wildly, disgustingly off the rails» with regard to chaotic scheduling, going over budget, last-minute script changes and overhauls on graphically violent and sexual scenes.In response, The Weeknd shared a clip from the series, in which his character slams the magazine for being «irrelevant.» The singer even threw additional shade in the caption, by writing, "@rollingstone did we upset you?«Depp also spoke out, telling ET, „Sam is, for so many reasons, the best director I have ever worked with.

McKinley Franklin editor It’s time to gawk at the rise (and fall?) of a new megalomanic pop star.  HBO has announced that its original series “The Idol” will premiere on Sunday, June 4 at 9 p.m., with the network releasing another erotic teaser for the series. The new footage touts the series’ inclusion in the out of competition selection of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The trailer opens with the question of when the industry saw “the last truly-fucking-nasty, nasty pop-girl.” Cue Britney Spears’ “Gimme More.”  “The Idol” stars Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, a fame-hungry young woman looking to take over the entertainment industry. When she meets Tedros, a powerful, sex-obsessed cult leader portrayed by Abel “The Weekend” Tesfaye, Jocelyn’s career expands to new heights.

The Weeknd had previously responded to reports about his HBO show The Idol and the alleged controversies surrounding some behind-the-scenes stories (including numerous delays, “torture porn” vibes from Sam Levinson, and more).

#theweeknd #fyp #xo #coachella #doublefantasy #metroboomin #newmusic #weeknd Last year, the Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia co-headlined at the last minute when original headlining performer Kanye West dropped out. At the time, it was announced that production on “The Idol” had paused so that The Weeknd could do Coachella, but it was later revealed that the show was going through a complete creative overhaul even though, it was rumored, 80% of the show had already been shot.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor The Coachella festival probably has more top-shelf musical talent in one place at one time than any other event in the world, and 2023’s day one was no exception: All three Boygeniuses — Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus — joined Muna for an afternoon finale, the two surviving members of De La Soul united with Gorillaz for their 2005 joint hit “Feel Good Inc.,” and Metro Boomin’s hour-long set featured more guests than a DJ Khaled album, with the Weeknd taking the stage for six songs and features from Future, 21 Savage, Diddy, Don Toliver, Mike Dean and more. Less successful was a hotly rumored team-up of main-stage headliner Bad Bunny with Post Malone, which was hobbled by major sound problems — “Something happened to el cabron cable!” Bunny fumed — but his duets with Jowell & Randy and Nengo Flow and Jhay Cortez were more successful (hey, there’s always next weekend). Elsewhere, Kaytranada brought out Kali Uchis and Amine, and the National’s Aaron Dessner joined Taylor Swift at — wait, that was a different concert…

Metro Boomin was joined by a star-studded support cast at his Coachella set on Friday night (April 14) – watch him perform with The Weeknd, Diddy, Future, John Legend and more below.During the set, the producer and rapper also welcomed the likes of 21 Savage, Mike Dean and Don Toliver to the stage.Opening with ‘On Time’ (featuring John Legend), he then went straight into introducing ‘Future’ for ‘Superhero (Heroes & Villains)‘ and three Future covers with the rapper.Elsewhere in the 23-song set, he covered three Weeknd songs alongside Abel Tesfaye, closing with an all-star performance of ‘Creepin’‘ featuring The Weeknd, 21 Savage and Diddy.See footage from the performance, which also featured a preview of a new track from The Weeknd, below.XOCHELLA